San Diego Poke Co., the popular poke vendor at the Hillcrest and Scripps Ranch Farmers Markets, will open its first brick and mortar location in Mission Valley this May. Owner Yohei Umezu first launched the company to fit the farmers market model in March 2015, and now at its one-year anniversary and having amassed a remarkable following, fans can look forward to enjoying their favorite poke at a casual eatery to be open daily and feature made-to-order poke rice bowls, salads, wraps and more.
“Growing up Japanese, seafood was part of my life. Family from Hawaii introduced me to the island style of seafood, poke, and from there I just fell in love with the fusion of flavor,” said Umezu. “I noticed that San Diego was lacking poke restaurants, and I’ve also met quite a few people who had never tasted or heard of poke, yet they came to us for their first experience and loved it. Now, they’re loyal customers and are excited for our store to open.”
The casual, 900-square foot space at 10387 Friars Road will feature glossy gray concrete floors with bright white walls complemented by black, red and gray accents. Upon arrival, guests will head to the counter for made-to-order poke dishes ranging around $10 to $12 and featuring a variety of choices in fish and other seafoods, bases (varying types of rice, salad, wraps, etc.), toppings, and sauces including a house truffle soy sauce and house umami sauce to be debuted upon the restaurant’s opening. SD Poke Co. will also collaborate within the community to offer seasonally-changing desserts, and fans should keep an eye out for authentic mochi ice cream flown in via overnight shipping from Hawaii.
