Sam Choy's Poke to the Max - Redmond

This is my first time being to this location but not the first to Sam choy. I been to Sam Choy many many years ago and thought it was average and I still think it's average today.This location is small and clean and street parking is available. We went because it was their 10 year anniversary and they were having a promotion where most of their items are $10. We were able to order online with the promotion which was nice. And food came pretty much on time. It wasn't super busy to be honest.Food wise:Bento -- this came with some katsu chicken, rice, Mac salad and an option of kalua pork or beef short ribs. We got the kalua pork. The portion is hefty but I would expect that since it normally cost around $19. Everything was ok but the kalua pork was super dry, like it was hard for me to swallow...Shrimp tempura musubi -- for $18, not worth it at all. The flavor was good if you can get some of the shrimp, otherwise it's literally all rice. I got one but with shrimp but the rest was just white rice. If they can add more shrimp, it would have been good.Poke plate -- my husband was actually disappointed with the other two dishes and had to go back to get this one to see if the poke was decent. Out of the 3 dishes, this was probably the best. It wasn't dry, it was flavorful and I definitely like the seaweed salad. Overall, probably not coming back any time soon, but if I do, I probably will stick to poke.

Easy listening tunes from the 90s and earlier are blasted from the speakers as you dine in the bright, airy, and modern space. The music seemed dissonant with the setting and cuisine, but not a big deal.Food is easily ordered on the tablets in the front of the store. The default tipping starts at 18% and goes up from there. The 18% minimum setting is on the high side considering you order at the tablet, pick up your own utensils / napkins, and bus your table afterwards.The Rainbow poke option was pretty bland (as was the side of Mac Salad that came with the Fried Chicken), but the Garlic Fried Chicken was decent, and the Ube Butter Mochi was moist. At the end, I felt disappointed because I was expecting the same flavorful experience I've had in their Hawaii and California locations.

6.12.2023 I was so excited to see new poke place opened in Redmond. I was sad when Sam Chou was gone in Kirkland location, so I am happy they opened! Parking: it was hard to find parking on the street, so we parked at barbershop, smoke shop parking space. Service was quick because we ordered everything on touch panel and name was called when food was ready. Restaurant is pretty small because they have 4 small tables and long table by the window. I enjoyed salmon poke with sweet soy sauce and musubi! Musubi rice was soft with delicious with sweet sauce. I'll definitely come back!!

Redman needs more Hawaiian restaurants!- spot is a nice addition to Redmond however, I can't say that the food is good. Unfortunately, I just feel like it was a bit over priced for the quality/flavor that we received. Hopefully I can give them the benefit of the doubt and let them improve upon where they are starting since I went to visit them opening week. But right now I would only rate three stars. Location is nice parking is easy enough, menu is pretty nice. But actual food is lacking what I would call authentic this. And I was a little bit disappointed that a few things on their menu wasn't available..

This review is rounded up because they hadn't officially opened when I tried it out. My actual rating is 3.5. I saw that it had soft opened and decided to stop by for lunch. I ended up getting a poke salad because I felt like eating more veggies that day. The ordering is via touchscreen kiosk. The menu seemed mostly complete minus I believe 1-2 poke options. It came out relatively quickly. As a poke salad, overall it was good. The poke was yum and everything went well together. The only nits I have is that it felt like they had used slightly old bagged salad because it had already started to discolor. Personally not huge on having several large slices of cucumber and tomatoes but I know it's a salad thing. Overall, I think I might give them another shot if I'm in the area but for now I'll wait to see how other people feel about it once it officially opens.

Been into Hawaiian food lately and have found a couple great places in Kirkland. Husband found this place on ubereats so we unfortunately gave it a try. I disliked everything except the "furikake" fries which had no furikake on them. Oi. My shrimp was definitely from Costco or something and fried then reheated. Plus, it had so much sauce on it it was mushy. The rice in our dishes was the weirdest white rice ever... dry and crumbly and CHALKY. my husband is from Korea so we're big on rice. The Mac salad was so disappointing. It also had a weird grainy texture somehow and was firm. It barely had any flavor and almost had a bitter after taste. My husband liked his fried chicken okay but that did not stand out in any way to make us eat here again. It is so expensive for like joke quality. I'm very confused how they're open. I didn't eat my dinner cuz it grossed me out, so I apologize if I seem a bit hangry.

The only great thing about this place was the staff--they were nice and quick with the food. Their isn't an option to get a "no sauce" poke, so I requested it in my order, as I prefer the fish flavor.This fish had no flavor--it's clearly been frozen and rinsed beyond recognition, not even visible fat veins. If the fish isn't fresh and delicious, there's no point to poke for me. The Mac salad had no flavor at all, the lumpia is tiny, and my honey said his beef rib meal was also flavorless. The ube butter mochi was mostly good, tho it didn't seem fully cooked on the top, as it was very soggy and smooshy compared to the rest of the usual mochi texture. We had high hopes but after trying a well rounded mix of items, we won't be back here.

So so happy Sam Choy's is opened in Redmond (yay all the Eastsiders are celebrating another wonderful restaurant opening over here!!!) I love all the varieties of food offered on the menu! The pokés are so fresh, musubis so moist, kalua pork perfectly cooked. And of course, for all the ube lovers, the butter mochi and ice cream are such delightful desserts to finish the meal!

Quick lunch today for me and the double-yolk getting ready to graduate this week. Having been regulars at a couple of the local poke joints we thought we'd try the newcomer on the block. My initial impressions: very fresh ingredients in a super clean atmosphere, but more expensive than "normal". Staff was definitely new to the game but a trainer was there to keep them on the rails. And they were very kind and welcoming.I should explain - some of those impressions (expensive) above were because this was my first time. I regularly get a "large" 3-protein poke bowl at the other shops - that's three smaller ice cream scoops and then I'm off to the races choosing from 20 or so mostly free add-ons. Sam's is different - you choose from a protein in a style and they build your bowl their way. There is a TON of fish in the 'regular' size so resist the urge to make it a large for another $9. You can add tobiko, egg and/or avo, each with additional cost, but that's it. Nice side salad with seaweed salad and marinated cukes.Other two entrees were beef teriyaki/katsu bento, and poke tacos (sorry missed the photo). They were both fantastic and I was pleased that the mac salad was really well balanced and not the over-starched "muck salad" you can often end up with in the side. All in all we will be back - though for 4 entrees and a side lumpia with tip, we were at $110.(One Poke bowl came as Lava style which meant jalapeños, chili oil and spicy aioli. We ordered Mo Betta (unagi and wasabi). We ate it anyway - it's their first week - give a little grace!

Just had an incredible meal experience from Sam Choy's Poke to the Max in Redmond, and it's definitely worth sharing. I went for the Maui Bundle, and it did not disappoint!Food: The Maui Bundle was a delightful discovery, consisting of crispy katsu chicken, sweet garlic chicken, and perfectly steamed rice. Each component of the meal stood out for its flavor. The katsu chicken was crisped to perfection, providing a satisfying crunch with each bite. The sweet garlic chicken was a flavor explosion, balancing sweetness and garlic wonderfully without overwhelming the palate. Remarkably, the dishes weren't salty or heavy, which is a pleasant departure from what one might expect from such flavorful fare. The steamed rice served as the perfect base, complementing the meal's rich flavors without competing for attention.Service: Service was quick and the staff was friendly, making the overall experience even better. The food felt like it was prepared with care, and the flavors were a testament to the quality ingredients used.Ambiance: N/ADidn't dine in due to the parking situation, so I can't comment on the ambiance inside. However, the efficiency of their takeout service deserves praise.Parking: The only downside of my visit was the parking. Finding a spot was a bit of a challenge, as the area seems to have limited parking options. It's probably a good idea to opt for takeout or delivery if you're not up for the parking hunt.Overall:Despite the parking hiccup, Sam Choy's Poke to the Max in Redmond is a must-try for anyone in the area craving Hawaiian-inspired eats. The Maui Bundle, in particular, is a meal that I'll be coming back for. Whether you're a fan of katsu chicken, looking for something sweet and garlicky, or just in the mood for a well-rounded meal that hits all the right notes, this place has got you covered. Just remember, consider ordering to go to skip the parking hassle!