New Hawaiian restaurant saying aloha to Modesto. Here’s where it will be located
A new Hawaiian restaurant is establishing itself in Modesto as only California’s second location.
Pokemoto Hawaiian Poke is exactly as it sounds — a restaurant that serves poke bowls (and boba). Poke is a native Hawaiian cuisine traditionally made up of diced fresh fish, but modern twists can include chicken, tofu or shrimp with strong influences of Japanese and Korean cuisine, according to the company’s website.
“Think of it as deconstructed sushi with all your favorite proteins, mix-ins, toppings and crunches with your favorite sauces,” the website says.
The restaurant is moving into Village One Plaza at 3020 Floyd Ave., Suite 103 — where Edible Arrangements once was. The only other location of the chain in California is in Petaluma.
There are 80 Pokemoto restaurants established or opening soon in the United States, as well as one that will open in the territory of Puerto Rico. A majority of the locations are on the East Coast.
Thomas Nguyen founded Pokemoto in New Haven, Connecticut, in 2017. While living in Hawaii, he discovered and fell in love with traditional Hawaiian poke, according to the company’s website, and realized there was a gap in the New England market.
The restaurant serves signature and build-your-own poke bowls. Signature bowl options include Hawaiian (ahi tuna), miso salmon, sweet and spicy shrimp, Pokemoto tofu and sesame ginger chicken.
To build a bowl, customers can choose a base — a bowl, burrito or salad — a protein, mix-ins, toppings, sauces, and crunchy items.
Mix-ins include mango, mandarin oranges, vegetables, seaweed and cilantro. Topping choices are tobiko, pickled ginger, kani salad and avocado, among others.
Sauce options include spicy mayo, creamy miso, wasabi aioli and sweet teriyaki. Crunchy toppings include furikake, wonton crisps, garlic chips and tempura flakes.
Pokemoto also serves boba teas and milk teas.
An opening date for the Floyd Avenue location has not been announced.
.jpg)