How an Expecting Mom's Cravings Sparked a New Restaurant in Modesto

Sushi enthusiasts in northeastern Modesto can look forward to a thrilling new choice for their midday and evening meals.

"My spouse had quite an affinity for boba teas, whereas I favored poke bowls. So, when this chance came along, it felt like a match made in heaven," explained Navjot Kaur. She runs the recently launched Pokemoto alongside her partner, Harpreet Singh, at Village One Plaza.

Kaur mentioned that she conceived the idea for her business in 2023 while searching for places to dine during her pregnancy. "I had a craving for sushi, but being aware that consuming raw fish isn’t advisable when expecting, I opted for a chicken poke bowl," she explained. "I became enamored with it—it offered all the flavors of sushi without the potential risks."

Shortly after, Kaur mentioned, she came across a Facebook advertisement offering franchising opportunities for Pokemoto, which seemed like an omen.

In just a few months, Kaur and Singh had started looking for spots in Modesto. According to Kaur, their clients expressed enthusiasm about having this choice available in their part of the city. "Customers have been stopping by and opting for this rather than greasy or oily foods," she mentioned. "They’ve shared that what they really appreciated was finding something both healthy and tasty."

Pokemoto focuses on Hawaiian-style poke bowls, typically featuring chunks of fresh raw tuna and salmon atop sushi rice, complemented by a variety of garnishes ranging from avocado to seaweed and numerous umami-rich ingredients. The prices for these dishes fall between $14.99 and $16.99, with additional charges for extra components.

The bowls are entirely customizable, yet if constructing your own feels overwhelming, you have five special bowls available on the menu. Those hesitant about raw meats can opt for options like chicken, shrimp, Spam, or tofu. According to Kaur, these servings come generously sized; additionally, salads may replace rice upon request, as well as offering an option where a bowl can be served as a poke burrito, akin to a substantial sushi roll.

Singh suggests getting a boba beverage to go with your bowl. Pokemoto provides around twelve varieties of iced boba tea, available both with and without milk and tapioca pearls, ranging in flavors like mango, taro, watermelon, matcha, and lychee. The teas begin at $4.99 for a standard size, going up to $5.99 for a larger one. Kaur mentioned that they have a daily happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m., during which you can enjoy discounted boba teas priced at half off.

The eatery provides an assortment of chilled salad options such as seaweed, lobster, and kani. Additionally, they serve freshly prepared-to-order miso soup along with spam musubi.

Thomas Nguyen, who founded and owns the Pokemoto chain, attended the event to back Kaur and Singh. Having resided in Hawaii previously, he launched his business in Connecticut in 2017 after noticing a scarcity of poke eateries in the New England region.

Within merely eight years, Pokemoto has expanded to include more than 40 outlets across the country. In California, there was initially just one Pokemoto, situated in Petaluma. Now, the establishment in Modesto marks the second branch in the state.

Kaur and Singh expressed their desire to introduce additional sites in the Central Valley within the coming years and are already exploring expansion possibilities in Manteca and Ceres.

We believe the idea stands out as it caters to both adults and children with healthy meals and refreshing beverages," stated Kaur. "Most other poke spots concentrate solely on poke dishes, whereas this place aims to appeal to not just the older demographic but also to the younger crowd.

The store initially held a two-day preview followed by a three-day grand opening event beginning on March 28.

Pokemoto is located at 3020 Floyd Avenue, Suite 103. It operates every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and provides online ordering as well as delivery via GrubHub.