Hawaiian poké purveyor Pokémoto has opened a second Elm City location, at 1143 Chapel St.
The eatery opened its first location in October 2017 on Audubon Street. Hungry downtown diners have embraced the cuisine and the concept in ethnic-food-conscious New Haven.
“It’s been busy,” explained Pokémoto proprietor Thomas Nguyen. That success led him to open on Chapel Street this October, exactly a year and a day after the first store debuted.
Not to be confused with the eponymous animated creatures of the early 2000s, poké is diced raw fish served either as an appetizer or as a main course and is one of the main dishes of native Hawaiian cuisine.
“Demand for Pokémoto’s specialty dishes calls for another location here in this foodie city,” New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday afternoon.
The Chapel Street storefront, which previously housed a gourmet cookie shop, is owned and managed by Yale University Properties. Vice President Lauren Zucker introduced Nguyen at the Tuesday press event.
Pokémoto offerings are versatile, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, with gluten-free and nut-free options to accommodate diners with allergies and other food sensitivities.
The restaurant opens daily at 11 a.m. on Chapel and Audubon streets.
Contact Michael C. Bingham at mbingham@newhavenbiz.com
