Pokemoto to launch four new restaurants in New Haven region

The popularity of takeout- and delivery-friendly poke prompted the signing of four new franchise agreements in the New Haven area for Pokemoto, a chain specializing in the raw fish dish, the company announced Monday.

The 19-restaurant chain, a subsidiary of Texas-based Muscle Maker Inc., will add four locations in Milford, Danbury, North Haven and Shelton. Connecticut is currently home to 10 operating Pokemoto locations, six corporate and four franchised. 

“The Pokemoto real estate team will concentrate on sites that check the brand’s demographic boxes including a heavy presence of Millennials and Gen-Zs, typically in an area with a heavy collegiate presence,” the company said in a statement.

Since Muscle Maker acquired the chain in May, it has expanded its footprint 238%, for a total of 44 Pokemoto locations nationwide. 

Muscle Maker CEO Mike Roper said, “Our franchising team has been working tirelessly to keep the momentum going with new deals and prospective franchisee outreach as we head into the new year. Our goal is to be the largest Hawaiian poke company in the $1.2 billion poke market space.”

Based on a Japanese-influence blend of raw fish, crunchy toppings and rice, Hawaiian-style poke has taken off nationwide as a cheap and healthy fast food. Three different poke restaurants were once open in downtown New Haven alone, but all but Pokemoto outlets have since closed. 

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.