Pokemoto opened its first Northeast Florida locations in Baymeadows and in Orange Park on April 13.
Pokemoto will use the Baymeadows store at 8060 Philips Highway as a prototype to franchise future restaurants in the state.
The Orange Park restaurant is at 700 Blanding Blvd.
The locations are company owned.
Muscle Maker, Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas, bought Pokemoto in May 2021 and made it part of its MMI Restaurant Group. At the time there were 13 Pokemoto restaurants in four states.
In December 2022, Muscle Maker reached a goal of 50 franchise agreements.
When the Northeast Florida restaurants open, Pokemoto will have locations in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Thomas Nguyen founded Pokemoto in 2017. He opened the first restaurant across from the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut.
Pokemoto serves variations of Hawaiian poke, which traditionally combines rice, seafood and vegetables in bowls. Pokemoto also includes Japanese and Korean influences, according to its website.
“We have made our concept accessible to more people by allowing them to chose from a wide selection of bases, proteins, toppings and sauces,” said Aimee Infante, Pokemoto chief marketing officer, in a news release.
Poke bowls have a base of sushi rice or brown rice and include the protein choices of tuna, salmon, shrimp, chicken, tofu and lobster seafood salad.
Vegetable and fruit choices are cucumber, mango, onions, edamame, jalapeno, corn, mandarin oranges, hijiki seaweed, oro seaweed and cilantro.
There are nine sauces and a variety of crunchy toppings.
It also serves wraps and salads combining those ingredients.
Pokemoto is open for lunch and dinner.
The Philips Highway location is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The Orange Park Pokemoto is open 10 am. to 9 p.m. daily.