6 things to know about King Fish Poke, opening in University City today

Competition is heating up on the poke scene, with the newest addition making its debut at 350 East McCullough Drive – and to celebrate, they’re doing BOGO meals all day.

Co-owners Derek Dong and Ben Zheng are excited to bring their love of poké to a part of town that hasn’t been totally exposed to this “sushi in a bowl.”

Here are 6 things you should know about King Fish.

(1) Derek and Ben are serious about their poke.

These guys spent a few years traveling around learning as much as they possibly could about this dish.

They graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2014-2015, so they’re looking forward to connecting with college students in the area and introducing them to the poke world.

(2) Fish is delivered daily to the restaurant.

Freshness is key when it comes to poke, and with daily fish deliveries, I don’t think these guys will be lacking in that area.

(3) You can totally customize your order.

Choose your base (sushi or brown rice, burrito, or salad) and your protein (salmon, ahi tuna, spicy tuna, organic tofu, shrimp, chicken, char siu pork). Two proteins (regular) costs $8.95 while three (large) runs at $10.95.

Best part? You can get crazy with unlimited mix-ins, sauces, and toppings.

(4) If you’re not feeling creative, try one of their six signature items. They even named one after their neighbors: The Niner.

(5) Your mix-ins will literally be mixed in.

Unlike other spots around town, King Fish combines your proteins and mix-ins in your specified sauce before topping your bowl. This allows everything to marinate.

If you’re not into that, just ask for your sauce on the side.

Keep in mind that “toppings” are just that: toppings. They’ll be added once your mix-ins are coated in sauce and placed on your base.

(6) Speaking of sauces, they’re all homemade.

My favorite was the Yuzu Wasabi. People will be big fans of Derek’s family’s secret Shrimp Sauce recipe and Ben’s own Korean Gochujang concoction.

You can find King Fish Poke at 350 East McCullough Drive, Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.