A Gluten Free Vegan’s Review of Miko Poke in Madison, WI
Miko Poke is a Hawaiian poke bowl restaurant on Monroe Street in Madison, WI. It first opened in 2016 and Ben Brady is the general manager, who also manages Everly located next door.
Miko Poke is a member of Food Fight Restaurant Group, which is a collective of locally owned restaurants in the greater Madison area.
If you’ve never had poke, it’s like sushi but in a bowl. Poke bowls typically include raw protein with chopped vegetables, sauces, and other toppings over rice.
Poke bowls have been a rapidly growing trend in the past few years. Continue reading to learn about our experience at Miko Poke in early January, 2023.
Entrance to Miko Poke in Madison, WI [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Details
Designation: Dedicated Gluten Free, Vegan options
Price Range: $-$$
Style: Hawaiian, Bowls
Meals Served: Lunch, Dinner
Location:
Wheelchair accessible entrance, but no automatic doors
In a nice area on Monroe Street near many restaurants and other stores
Bike Parking
Right beside a bus stop
Parking lot with on street parking also available
Near Wingra Park and UW Madison Arboretum
Atmosphere
Dining room at Miko Poke in Madison, WI [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
The restaurant had a trendy and coastal theme.
There were large windows along the front wall that let in lots of light, but otherwise the dining room was more dimly lit.
They were playing pop music softly in the dining room.
View of the entrance from the dining room at Miko Poke in Madison, WI [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
The restaurant is smaller but there are plenty of tables and booths.
We came for lunch on a Sunday. There were a couple other people dining in and a several picking up to-go orders while we were there.
Overall Miko Poke has a nice, casual atmosphere.
Counter at Miko Poke [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Menu
Poke bowls menu at Miko Poke [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Beverages menu at Miko Poke [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
To-Go Menu at Miko Poke [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Miko Poke has house creation bowls that have flavors you know will go well together. There is also the option to create your own bowl and choose all of the ingredients in your bowl.
Their menu also features a unique bowl of the month and Dole Whips.
All vegan sauces are clearly marked on the menu.
If you would like to see their online menu, you can find it here.
Food
My order
Unagi Style Bowl at Miko Poke [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Unagi Style Bowl ($10.45)
Cucumbers, edamame, grilled pineapple, fried onions, vegan unagi glaze, scallions, white and black sesame seeds with a brown rice base
Modified to be vegan by replacing the scallion ginger aioli with a vegan sauce
My MIL’s Order
Build your own bowl at Miko Poke [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Build Your Own Bowl ($10.45)
Mixed Green Base, marinated tofu, grilled pineapple, veggies, and other toppings
Sparkling Honolulu Iced Tea at Miko Poke [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Sparkling Honolulu Iced Tea ($3.25)
Barely sweet, steeped with lime, cinnamon, mint, and pineapple
Naturally vegan and gluten free
Taste: ★★★★☆
My bowl was good! It had a lot of great flavors and everything blended together well. The grilled pineapple added sweetness and I really like the flavors of the sauces.
The marinated tofu has a lighter flavor that would go well with any bowl.
My MIL thought her bowl was pretty good. I think she would prefer to get one of the house creation recipes next time.
My MIL also liked her Honolulu Iced Tea but thought it had a stronger ginger-y taste than she was expecting.
Quality: ★★★★★
All of the ingredients were fresh and recently prepared. The vegetables were crisp and the rice was perfectly cooked.
Variety: ★★★★★
I think there is a decent variety for gluten free vegans at Miko Poke. You can choose a salad and/or rice base.
They have a number of vegan toppings and several vegan sauces as well. You can customize any order and can get different combinations every time.
Quantity: ★★★★★
We all had the regular sized bowl. I thought my bowl was a perfect portion for lunch.
My MIL and husband thought the portions were on the larger side and didn’t finish the entire bowl.
They also offer small and large sized bowls, which is great for different appetites.
Value: ★★★★★
For the freshness, style, and quantity of food, I think Miko Poke is worth the price.
Service
Hospitality: ★★★★★
Everyone we spoke to was very nice and helped answer all of our questions.
Efficiency: ★★★★★
The service was pretty quick despite them being busy with many to-go orders. It only took about 15 minutes for us to get our bowls.
Accuracy: ★★★★★
Our food came out exactly as ordered.
Safety
Staff knowledge: ★★★★★
The staff is knowledgeable. I called ahead and they were able to confirm their ingredients are all gluten free.
They are also able to tell you which ingredients are vegan.
Preparation: ★★★★★
All of their ingredients and sauces are gluten and dairy free
Always tell staff you are vegan and have celiac disease, or a gluten intolerance, to make sure they take extra precautions and prepare your food with clean surfaces.
Did I get *glutened? No
*Glutened (verb, past tense)
When a person who has celiac disease, or a gluten intolerance, consumes gluten accidentally and experiences gluten induced symptoms.
Overall
★★★★☆
Would I go back? Yes
Miko Poke has a great and unique menu for the area. Because they are dedicated gluten free you won’t have to worry about cross contamination.
I think they are a great place to get a healthier lunch and will be back to try other bowls in the future.
Table near the front window at Miko Poke in Madison, WI [Photo by Courtney Vanorio]
Tips
House Creation Bowls
Some of the flavors might be new to you. If you aren’t a poke bowl expert, I recommend getting a house creation bowl. This ensures all your ingredients work together.
You can always make modifications to the house creations to substitute ingredients you know you don’t like.
Punch Card
Be sure to pick up a punch card when you order. After your 10th bowl, you get one free!
Double Punch Tuesdays
On Tuesdays you can get your card punched twice for one bowl.
Want to learn more about eating vegan and gluten free in Madison, WI? Check out my article listed below.
Have you been to Miko Poke? What’s your favorite bowl? Be sure to add your thoughts below!
Madison, WI has many options for gluten free vegans. Learn all of my tips, tricks, and favorite restaurants for vegan and gluten free food in Madison, WI, USA. Use the map to find vegan and gluten free restaurants near your hotel and popular tourist destinations.