Pokemoto to open new location at Foxwoods

A lobster seafood salad from Pokemoto.

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Pokemoto, a chain restaurant that serves Hawaiian “poke” bowls, is planning a new location at Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods.

The franchise will be on the Grand Pequot Tower side of Foxwoods Resort Casino, the chain’s owner, Muscle Maker Inc., said in an announcement Monday.

The Foxwoods location will be Pokemoto’s 19th in Connecticut. The restaurant has 57 franchises nationwide.

Poke is a customizable, Hawaiian-Japanese concoction of raw fish and vegetables served over rice, which has recently become popular. Pokemoto’s parent company announced four new Pokemoto franchises planned for the New Haven area in December.

The Pokemoto at Foxwoods is considered a “non-traditional location for the brand,” the company said, because its footprint will be smaller. However, the space will have similar design elements of a standard Pokemoto.

“We’re open to non-traditional deals as we have a versatile concept outside of your standard burgers, pizzas and sandwiches, requiring less equipment with a lower buildout cost,” said Michael Roper, CEO of Muscle Maker.

Roper said that casino guests and shoppers will be able to eat their poke bowls on the go.

“The scoop and go linear model keeps the line flowing, allowing guests to move through the line quickly crafting their poke creations,” he said. “You leave the guest line with your bowl, ready to enjoy. This makes Pokemoto very attractive to entrepreneurs looking for a concept that can serve guests who are on the move.”

An opening date has not been announced.