Pokeworks

Who are we

Our Story Founded in late December of 2015 in a tiny grab-n-go and delivery location in Midtown Manhattan, Pokeworks® has quickly established itself as the nation's largest and fastest-growing poke franchise, the pioneers of the poke burrito, and a leader in innovation within the restaurant franchise industry with a focus on fresh, quality, delicious food. From the beginning, Pokeworks attracted huge consumer and industry attention when hundreds stood in line willing to wait 45 minutes or more to build their own poke burrito or bowl. While countless New Yorkers were enjoying poke per day, one outlet created a short video "The 'Sushi Burrito' has hit NYC and it's amazing." That video went viral and has received more than 52 million views. After intelligent growth comprised almost entirely of multi-unit institutional franchisees, Pokeworks joined forces with Toridoll Holdings Corporation in 2018. The agreement with the $1.6 billion publicly traded 1,740+ location restaurant giant (TYO:3397) allowed the brand to leverage Toridoll's considerable expertise in global brand development while maintaining a highly effective founder-led focus and control. Today, Pokeworks continues to gain recognition from reputable restaurant media. The brand recently earned a top-five ranking in Restaurant Business's 2021 Future 50 list and is currently the only poke franchise to make the 2021 Entrepreneur® Franchise 500® list. Additionally, Pokeworks appears on the QSR Future 50 ranking and made the Fast Casual Movers and Shakers list for the third consecutive year. "The energy at Pokeworks is contagious, and enthusiasm about our growth opportunities is certainly spreading," said Michael Chen, Pokeworks' president and one of its co-founders. "We came into the poke space as a disrupter and haven't lost sight of innovation. From supporting franchisees' development with flexible build options and simple kitchen operations to rolling out new unique menu items for guests, we're continuing to raise the bar for ourselves and competitors. We're thrilled our momentum has helped us attract such strong leadership partners and is sparking conversations with well-experienced operators. We look forward to welcoming more growth-minded developers to Pokeworks in the months ahead." Our Menu & Operations Efficient operations and a flexible footprint assist franchisees in providing streamlined, exceptional service every time. Pokeworks has created an inexpensive and uncluttered cohesive restaurant design that averages 1,250 square feet but can range in size from 500 to 2,000 square feet. The Hawaiian fusion menu caters to anyone with various dietary restrictions, including those maintaining gluten-free, nut-free, vegetarian, vegan, and cooked or raw protein diets. The consensus is the Pokeworks consumer appeal is fueled by the exceptional quality, consistency, and affordability of our healthy and diverse chef-driven menu. Restaurateurs on the other hand, marvel at the ease of execution, menu flexibility as well as the simplicity of Pokeworks kitchens. OUR SUPPORT The Pokeworks franchise opportunity also comes with unmatched corporate support from experienced restaurant franchise experts. The leadership team is accessible and driven by shared core values. The brand's franchising momentum comes in tandem with both highly-involved founders and high-level expert executives leading Pokeworks' growth strategy. Pokeworks continues to welcome a number of seasoned franchise leaders to help lead the strategy for the rapid national growth ahead. Other support elements include: Cost-free project funding review by industry experts National site selection and lease negotiation Award-winning environmentally friendly design National construction management support Comprehensive 3-week initial training Operative POS, scheduling, and inventory control systems National purchasing and procurement program Grand Opening marketing and event planning Business development support: Online 3rd Party Delivery ordering and management technology Pokeworks' own mobile loyalty app with ordering technology Traditional and digital internet advertising initiatives Strong social media programming and guidance Local and brand-centric public relations assistance High-profile contributing chef menu development Innovative and effective marketing initiatives Community fundraisers and campaigning efforts Exceptional fresh, sustainable seafood supplier Our Ideal Candidate With more than 60 locations on the map today, the famed "poke burrito" originator continues to garner interest from multi-unit, multi-brand franchise operators who see increased real estate and sales opportunities in both proven and untapped markets. "Having owned large full-service restaurants, we diversified with Pokeworks to profit from a scalable fast-casual concept," said multi-unit franchisee Sri Divel, who alongside her husband also owns a location in Laguna Niguel, Calif. and is signed on to open at least two others. "We've been blown away by the Pokeworks team's vision and strategic leadership as we add more locations to our portfolio. Plus, we've benefitted from the reasonable build-out costs and the brand's easy-to-execute menu. We can't wait to open our doors in Ladera Ranch later this summer--but it's just the beginning of our growth journey with Pokeworks." Ideal North American candidates have 5+ years of food and beverage management experience and a minimum of $300,000 in available capital for each restaurant they wish to develop. Multi-unit location development is preferred (not required) for primary and secondary markets. Single unit development is a consideration in smaller thriving markets in North America. Pokeworks also welcomes multi-unit international master franchise development with well-funded, experienced restaurant groups that have a familiarity with their region. If you would like to join other highly accomplished multi-unit franchise owners in one of the most notable healthy, fast-casual restaurant franchises in modern memory, we welcome your inquiry. We will be happy to address your initial questions and explore available opportunities in your market. Add to Request List AddedRequest Information