East Nashville Restaurant Opens Today With Smoothie Bowls and Poke Aplenty

With the delayed Nashville landfall of the poke craze comes a long-awaited opening on the east side. Owned by Chicago transplant Yev Mikhailov, Kawai Poké Co. brings poke dishes, breakfast bowls, smoothies, and other Hawaiian favorites to the new spot, which opens today.

Poke bowl options will include tuna, salmon, shrimp, tofu, and vegetables. Customers will then select white or brown rice, or a salad instead, then choose from an assortment of add-ons and sauces. Baked goods will also be a focus with a variety of cookies, muffins, individual pies, and pineapple upside-down cake at the ready. Daily bakery features and real fruit shaved ice offerings will be posted on chalkboards inside the 30-seat restaurant. A small selection of beer and wine will be available, with all brews by the bottle or can.

Mikhailov spent most of his life in the restaurant business, and last owned an Eastern European sausage and salami company in the Windy City. He recently made the move to Nashville, and also shifts from land to sea with his new venture.

Kawai Poke Co. opens 9 a.m to 8 p.m. Monday — Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

• Nashville Will Get Its First Poke Shop Later This Month [EN]
• Nashville’s First Poke Shop to Open on the East Side Next Spring [EN]