New to the dining scene in Montclair is Only Poke, a new restaurant that delivers a fresh take on Poke cuisine. What was once home to Puebla de Noche at 6 Park Street in Montclair, has now transformed into Only Poke. Only Poke held its grand opening on Friday, February 2nd. Read on to learn more about Only Poke in Montclair, NJ.
All About Only Poke
Only Poke is a new Poke restaurant at 6 Park Street in Montclair, replacing the former Puebla de Noche. A poke bowl is a Hawaiian dish that is made of a rice base, vegetables, seasonings, and sushi-grade seafood. According to Food + Wine, the traditional poke bowl is made with ahi tuna, but as the bowls have grown in popularity, chefs have made their own versions of the dish, experimenting with different seasonings, vegetables, dressings, and seafood.
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The concept at Only Poke delivers a fresh take on build-your-own bowls with two options: single-scoop bowls and double-scoop bowls. Customers begin by choosing from a selection of bases, which include white rice, brown rice, purple rice, quinoa, salad, or a blend. Then comes the choice of protein, which is salmon, shrimp, and tuna served in regular or spicy varieties; chicken or spicy chicken; tofu; and no protein. To finish, customers can pick from a wide variety of mix-ins, dressings, and crunch. Extra toppings such as crab salad and avocado are also available. There are nine dressings, including the O.M.G. dressing, which is described as ‘extremely spicy soy dressing’.
Aside from the build-your-own concept, Only Poke’s menu highlights its signature Poke bowls such as the Salmon Breeze Bowl, the Tropical Surf Bowl, the Aloha Bowl, and the classic Only Poke Bowl packed with salmon, tuna, mango, edamame, avocado, seaweed salad, jalapeño, and topped with Scallions, Masago, and Fried Onions. Only Poke serves fresh juices like Kale Yeah, Carrot Twist, and Beat the Beat to pair with a health-focused lunch or dinner.
The owners of Only Poke, Rose Wang and Kevin Zhang, are originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and had two Poke restaurants there called Emoji Poke. Right now, their business partners still run one at 3510 Park Avenue Boulevard Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. “We moved to New Jersey to be with family but wanted to continue what we knew best, Poké Bowls. So we looked all over North Jersey to find the perfect spot, and when we found Montclair we knew this was the perfect place,” Rose said.
The concept of Only Poke is to fit into the mood of a quick service lunch while at the same time, being a place for a leisurely dinner. “Our style is fun and family-friendly! we hope all our customers leave happy and full,” Rose said.
More information regarding Only Poke can be found on its Instagram.
Puebla de Noche
Puebla de Noche was a Mexican restuarant located at 6 Park Street in Montclair. Puebla was owned by Rosalba who also co-owns Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant in Passaic, New Jersey. This Montclair establishment opened in May 2020 after overcoming setbacks due to COVID-19 and closed for good in October 2023.
This restaurant had bright colors and beautiful Mexican-inspired murals everywhere one looked, including a tribute to Dia De Los Muertos and Frida Khalo. The walls had beautiful and colorful murals to brighten the space, and Rosalba wanted customers to feel like they were in central Mexico when they dined there.
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There were many classic and authentic Mexican menu items to try, including guacamole, flautas, burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. Some other fan favorites included enchiladas, any choice of filling rolled inside a soft tortilla, filled with tinga or mole poblano (both different types of sauces). Customers also enjoy tostadas, which are hard shell tortillas with chicken or steak.
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