Poké Co outlets have become a firm favourite with health-conscious customers for their fast, casual dining experience and healthy, delicious poké bowls, of which an average of 16 000 are sold monthly.
Due to this popular demand, Poké Co opened its sixth store in Somerset West before the festive season break.
If you haven’t yet discovered the new kid on the block, which opened its doors at The Forum, 13 Drama Street on Saturday 10 December, here’s what to expect.
Pronounced POH-keh, “poké” is a Hawaiian word that means to cut or slice. Originally it referred to raw, marinated seafood – often tuna – served in a bowl with rice, vegetables and umami-style sauces. Think: all the flavours you love in sushi and Asian food, rediscovered in a unique and convenient way.
Poké Co outlets can be found everywhere in Hawaii, from smart restaurants to roadside stands and petrol stations. Demand and supply quickly spread around the world. The founder of the Poké Co discovered a similar trend in Bali, and immediately knew it would be a hit back home. After a “rigorous trial-and-error process”, the result is one of the most unique and delicious food experiences in and around Cape Town: simple, quality ingredients for a delicious meal along with a great atmosphere and customer experience.
Besides the clean, umami flavours, every fresh, health-supporting ingredient served in a Poké Co bowl can be traced right to its source, which is direct from local fishing and small-scale farmers. “It is all sustainable,” says co-founder Andrew Flanagan. “We invest in ‘good’, and every time you buy one of our Poké bowls you do too.
“At Poké Co there’s something for everyone. There are tuna, salmon and prawn choices, of course, and there are vegan, chicken and beef bowls too, plus customers have the option of building their own bowls. All are served on a base of your choice with sesame seeds, spring onion and togarashi spice. We now also offer a healthy breakfast menu – think delicious smoothie bowls, overnight oats, and a variety of smashed avocado toast options for everyone to enjoy.”
After opening five restaurants in five years around the Cape, Flanagan opened a second outlet in the Helderberg. He explains that the success of the company is built on the unique food and experience: “People are looking for concept-driven, smaller restaurants and fast-food options other than pizza, burger, and chicken.
“More and more of our customers were asking us on social media to open in Somerset West, and here we are! Our Stellenbosch restaurant opened earlier this year and has been a great success so opening this store was a natural extension of our business. With the semigration from Durban and Johannesburg to the Cape Winelands, the time was right. Also, we found the perfect location at The Forum.”
The Poké Co offers a loyalty app that allows customers to order ahead for either delivery or pick-up and earn loyalty points at the same time. They also offer a private event catering service.
For more information, visit www.pokecoct.com.
