Pokébowl took its name from the poké dish of Hawaiian cuisine. At the turn of the 20th century, many Japanese immigrated to the islands in search of work. At one point, they made up as much as 40% of the population, a fact that was not without echo in Hawaiian delicacies. This is exactly what happened with poké, which has seeped into Japanese eating habits. The classic version of the dish comes close to sashimi. Some, however, compare the Pokébowl to a sushi spread.

The main ingredient of the dish is jasmine rice or shari. It should be warm as opposed to fresh, cold and diced fish - the main ingredient of pokébowl. The fish must be of the same quality as that used for sushi. Tuna or salmon will work best. Pokébowl is prepared with soy sauce, but also based on ponzu or black beans. Toppings include leafy vegetables, bean sprouts, avocado and edamame.