Gangnam poke restaurant with Super Protein: Hola Poke

A quiet Seolleung poke spot just after the break

The break here is a little shorter than at the other branches, which makes me like it even more. I stopped by Hola Poke Seolleung Branch, one of the signature poke spots around Seolleung, and had a meal here again as usual.

I usually rely on takeout, but today I happened to have just enough time before work and had errands nearby, so I ate in quickly. I went right after the break, when the place was spacious and not yet busy, and it was lovely to eat as if I had rented out the whole place.

Super Protein with salmon and avocado

The sides were good too, and the main poke bowls seemed to be flying out thanks to all the topping choices. There is something nice about choosing toppings somewhere quiet. I was a little tempted by tuna or duck today, but I went with my usual Super Protein.

I love the salmon-and-avocado combination. From chickpeas and salad to pleasantly chewy brown rice, red onion, and pineapple, there is not a single thing in it that is not my taste, which is why I like this combination. One bowl is exactly ₩14,000. It does not seem expensive to me.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and orange-and-white interiors

There are lots of branches, but among the Seolleung poke places, this one feels especially well located, nicely settled on the second floor of a good building. The clean orange-and-white interior is easy on the eyes from every angle, right?

The city view through the floor-to-ceiling windows is pretty striking, right? It is quiet and peaceful—there is nowhere better for sitting down to eat alone on a weekday. Everyone in Seoul and the greater metropolitan area ends up with one regular place fixed in their heart, and this has become one of mine.

The important thing, first of all, is food quality. They really use only natural whole ingredients here, so my stomach tends to feel light after eating.

A pop-art space that is great for dining alone

It is decorated in a pop-art style, with a smartphone stand over on one side, and there were plenty of spaces that were simply perfect for enjoying on your own. In front of the semi-open kitchen, there are eye-catching chairs with a pop-art feel where you can wait, too. The atmosphere is so cute, really, right? It felt like a leading Seolleung poke spot with a lovely, charming vibe.

A self-service bar for extra dressing

There was also a self-service bar over on one side. What I liked were the toothpicks and straws, but above all, the generously stocked sesame and yuzu dressings. If the poke feels a little lightly seasoned, it is nice to pour them on liberally and let everything get coated.

The food overall is not heavily seasoned, so this was a nice way to give the mild natural ingredients that proper extra tasty touch.

Seeing the ingredients always so neatly prepared through the window makes me trust the place even more. The sauces are all well prepared in their many varieties, too. Sriracha goes beautifully with the Super Protein I eat, but if you do not want mayonnaise, you can switch to a soy sauce-based one instead.

There was a clean water dispenser set up on one side, too. Of course, they also sell a range of drinks and sparkling waters.

A generously mixed bowl

At last, today’s daily bread arrived. The harmony of red onion, chicken breast, raw salmon, sweetcorn, fresh European greens, brown rice, chickpeas, pineapple, avocado, and more is a work of art. One bowl alone is enough for a day’s calories and nutrition.

There was lots and lots of shredded chicken breast in there, too. Beetroot, onion flakes, boiled egg—everything works together beautifully. You can add more toppings to your taste, but it is already plentiful and generous as it is. The nutrition was abundant all around. This bowl gets a big thumbs-up.

Literally, mix it all up shake-it style and scoop up a bite—the first bite is heaven. Koreans just cannot let go of that bibimbap feeling, can we? Think of this as fusion bibimbap (mixed rice) eaten Western-style.

Buldak octopus kkakdugi side

You are probably wondering what the buldak octopus kkakdugi (cubed radish kimchi) side I ordered is. It is a salad generously covered in buldak sauce; it has no rice, but it is a really good protein-boosting side, so I always go for it.

Its savory pairing with sriracha sauce was superb. Add some of the dressings kept on hand to adjust the seasoning, and that is the kick. Among Seolleung’s good eats, this was simply a place where I could trust the clean ingredients. Just as I expected, there seemed to be especially many female customers.

Hola Poke Seolleung Branch information

• 2-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seolleung Station, Line 2
• Hours: 10:30–20:30
• Break time: 15:00–16:30
• Closed during holiday periods, on public holidays, and Sundays
• Takeout and delivery available