“The Poke at Fishology Poke Bar in Folsom is on par with the places I love in Oahu, though maybe better, since I don’t have to catch a six-hour flight! It’s so good in fact that I have to ration myself or I would eat there daily. Their fish is always über fresh and flavorful (options include shrimp, octopus, salmon, tuna, and yellowtail), the toppings plentiful, and the vibe hip. Tossed to order with your ingredients of choice (base, protein, sauce, and toppings), it’s an eatery worth poking your head into.” fishologypokebar.com

“Have you ever heard of or had Khao Soi? I’m guessing not, which is all the more reason to stop by Thai Unique in Placerville. The hard-to-find dish translates to ‘cut rice’ in Thai and is the best bowl of soup I’ve ever tasted. Chock-full of  your choice of protein, perfectly springy egg noodles, and broccoli in a creamy yellow coconut curry broth, it’s the crispy egg noodle and green onion garnishes that really take it over the edge. To quote Andy Ricker—American chef, restaurateur, and cookery writer, known for his skill and expertise in northern Thai cuisine—it’s ‘exotic without being weird and, most important, completely delicious.’” thaiunique.net 

“I love the Teriyaki Rice Bowl at Teriyaki To Go in Folsom. With so many complex 20-ingredient Buddha bowls and poke bowls around, it's nice to go back to basics with a delicious, no-fuss teriyaki bowl. At TTG, the rice is actually sticky enough to eat with chopsticks, the meat is grilled to order (choose from chicken, beef, pork, salmon, etc.), and the teriyaki sauce is deliciously sweet and just salty enough. The simple things are often the hardest to get right…and they've nailed it.” 916-983-5560 

“Folsom’s Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar has an entire section of their menu dedicated to ‘bowls,’ and each one is customizable (pick your protein, preparation, and either white or brown rice) and delicious. During lunchtime, they offer a Blackened Chicken Bowl with rice, cabbage, avocado, black beans, Hatch chiles, jack and cheddar cheeses, salsa, cilantro, Tapatío crema, and a generous helping of grilled chicken. Part salad, part burrito, it’s a spicy, satiating, and (mostly) guilt-free way to crush my midday cravings.” lazydogrestaurants.com 

“The Righteous Rice Bowl at Cozmic Café in Placerville is healthy and hefty with a touch of hippie. You can’t help but feel closer to nirvana as you dig in to organic basmati brown rice, balsamic beans, red onions, carrots, cabbage, melted cheese, salsa, sour cream, avocado, sprouts, and fresh cilantro. Served alongside crunchy sesame corn tortilla chips, it’s a colorful combo of ingredients that works in wondrous ways. For a punch of protein, top it with turkey, tuna, or scrambled eggs. Talk about righteous!” 530-642-8481

compiled by Style staffers

photos by Dante Fontana