Poke bowl chain Pokemoto plans for 4 new CT locations
More poke is swimming into Connecticut. Pokemoto, a fastcasual chain specializing in the Hawaiian staple of diced fresh fish, plans four new locations in the state.
Pokemoto's parent company, Muscle Maker, Inc., announced Monday that it had signed 25 franchise agreements in the past 45 days. New agreements in Connecticut focus on Milford, Danbury, North Haven and Shelton, according to the news release, and will concentrate on sites with a "heavy presence of millennials and Gen-Zs, typically in an area with a heavy collegiate presence."
Pokemoto currently has 10 restaurants in Fairfield, Groton, Hamden, Middletown, New Haven (two locations), Norwalk, Stamford, Wallingford and West Hartford. Other stores are in Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.
Guests can build their own poke bowls, starting with a base of white or brown rice and choosing available proteins like diced raw ahi tuna and salmon or cooked shrimp, chicken or tofu. "Mix-ins" include fruits and vegetables, seaweed and edamame, with featured sauces like shoyu, ponzu, sweet chili oil, spicy mayo and creamy miso. Toppings and garnishes include avocado, daikon, cabbage slaw, green onion, pickled ginger, masago and black tobiko, with “crunch” options like crispy onions, wontons and sesame seeds.
Pokemoto also offers poke wraps, which bundle proteins and toppings together in a roll of sushi rice and roasted nori, and poke salads, with a base of romaine lettuce and/or mixed greens. Guests can also choose from pre-designed signature bowls.