In recent years, poke has been taking America by storm. For those who don’t know, poke (pronounced POH-kay) refers to diced raw fish, served with several vegetables and garnishes.  In the contiguous United States, poke has more frequently combined with sushi rice and toppings to form what is known as a “poke bowl”. What I find particularly interesting about the poke bowl is that it somehow combines the mainstream “bowl craze” (as seen in burrito bowls, smoothie bowls, etc.) with raw fish to form a particularly unique offering. Contrary to popular belief, poke is not Japanese or associated with sushi; it is native to Northern Hawaii. State College has its fair share of poke, as seen in Hibachi San at the HUB and Kondu downtown. However, I would like to discuss one of my favorite poke places in Lancaster, Chop Sushi.

Chop Sushi is a tiny little shop on Prince Street serving poke bowls. For those averse to raw fish, Chop Sushi also sells hibachi bowls, which contain cooked meats. To begin, you can choose either a rice or salad base. Personally, I can’t pass up delicious sushi rice. Then, you can choose to add meats. The hibachi is very popular, but I enjoy the ahi (raw) tuna and salmon. There is also the option for spicy tuna, but I just love the fresh taste of the plain tuna. Then, you can add toppings and sauces. Chop Sushi offers a sweet shoyu sauce, a sriracha or wasabi aioli, yum yum sauce, or ginger dressing. The sweet shoyu adds a sugary note to the otherwise savory bowl, while the sriracha and wasabi add a bit of spice. For the toppings, there are also endless possibilities. There are standard toppings like edamame or onion, but there are also several more unique ones like avocado or mayo. Lastly, you can choose to add garnishes. Some of my favorite garnishes include masago (fish eggs) and seaweed flakes.

Chop Sushi is in a perfect location for walking around downtown. It is a First Friday favorite for many who choose to browse the art galleries and then get a bite to eat nearby. Even better, you can stop by one of the numerous ice cream places for dessert afterwards. There is the delicious Penny’s Ice Cream Truck, in addition to the quite photogenic rolled ice cream at Rolled Cold Creamery. As a whole, Chop Sushi is a perfect casual stop to make with friends and enjoy each other’s company!