661321 Wed Oct 21 18:48:25 -0700 2009 1 25 Elsewhere In America 0 5121367 Haven't seen mention of this place (or more likely, missed it) but we were amazed at the sashimi and poke' at this hole in the wall. After lunch in Honolulu, decided to stray far from our usual Windward haunts with a friend visiting from the mainland to pick up some sashimi at Tanioka's in Waipahu. By the time we crawled through rush hour traffic it was closed, so motored further out Farrington to Poke' Stop. Very friendly greeting with an offer to literally taste everything when my friend (who had never had poke before) asked what the counter guy suggested. (While we were busy tasting, a tiny Asian granny walked in with her granddaughter, looked us up and down and declared, "What are you boys doing out here?") A woman, who turned out to be the co-owner, Samantha, made sure we trried almost everything and the kicker was the discovery of Hamachi sashimi -- fresh. I got a real stink eye when I asked which fish were fresh and which frozen (the mussels, they said). The hamachi was outstanding, better than I've had at any sushi bar here on the mainland (have not been to Mitch's). Samantha suggestedthat for an easier drive that next time we try the slightly larger Poke Stop in Mililani, which we did a week later on our way back from a run to the North Shore. When I asked if they had hamachi sashimi, the counter kid turned and asked -- and someone else pulled out an entire fish, fileted and trimmed it for our sashimi. Again, outstanding. (As we were finishing up in Mililani, Samantha arrived, so clearly the owners keep a close eye on everything.) Anyone else sampled anything here? I know they draw reader support in the Advertiser Readers' Choice recommendations, but those can be loaded, so I'll ask here what others have had and recommend...we know we'll be back for the pristine sashimi and poke'. Wed Oct 21 18:48:25 -0700 2009 28256 MRMoggie 1 5123097 Poke Stop is excellent. I had them cater my birthday party and they did the most amazing job. The food was great and chef Elmer and his crew couldn't have been more flexible in what they did, we even had "action stations." Their eggplant fries are really good as well. Oh, you'll be seeing much more of them as Guy Fieri filmed for "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives" there this past Monday. Thu Oct 22 12:09:01 -0700 2009 5121367 41725 manomin