After Meridian restaurant closes, ‘delicious’ new one opens in its place

Fans of traditional Hawaiian cuisine were probably disappointed to see Paddles Up Poke close last month at 13601 W. McMillan Road.

But the raw, diced fish void was temporary.

Poke Vibes, a similar new restaurant from the franchisee who operated the Paddles Up store, opened Monday, June 8.

The rebranded eatery doesn’t have the same menu as Paddles Up, a popular, growing Idaho chain with stores in downtown Boise and Ketchum. (And soon Nampa.) But Poke Vibes is using the same kitchen equipment, so customers still will find a menu rooted in poke bowls, owner Jordan Tapangco told the Statesman last month.

Unlike Paddles Up, there will be no poke burritos. Poke Vibes also will offer a larger assortment of specific poke styles, he said, along with customizable bowls popular with customers.

“My dad’s side of the family is from Hawaii, so I asked them to give me as many recipes as they can,” he added.

Tapangco had planned to open Poke Vibes in late May, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed shipping of supplies. Last week, he updated customers about the new launch date on the Poke Vibes Facebook page. “Tell all of your friends and stop by to say hello and grab a bite of delicious poke!” he posted.

Poke Vibes is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant should offer delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub within the next few weeks, Tapangco said via Facebook message.

Today’s debut is “kind of a soft opening,” he added, because “we still don’t have our official signage, new tables, and (are) still missing some odds and ends for decor and what not. So we will hold a grand opening party once that arrives and do a ribbon cutting with the city.”

Online: pokevibes.com.

This story was originally published June 8, 2020 at 11:43 AM.