The Poke Guy

What The Poke Guy does

The Poke Guy is a privately held, founder-owned Hawaiian poke and grill restaurant operator founded in Vancouver in 2016, operating two company-owned storefronts in downtown Vancouver (420 Richards Street and 150-840 Howe Street) under a single brand. The company's core product portfolio centers on customizable poke bowls (both signature recipes such as Sunset Scallop, Hulapeno Albacore, and Da Buddha, and a build-your-own configuration), Hawaiian hot plates (Chicken Curry, Maui Ribs, Shrimp Tempura Curry, Fried Tofu Curry), and supporting add-ons including boba teas, sides, and desserts, with a new Poke Wraps category introduced in 2025 to address grab-and-go occasions. Its supply chain is differentiated by an Ocean Wise certified sustainable-seafood program making it Canada's first poke restaurant to partner with that organization, sourcing wild-caught ahi tuna, sockeye salmon, scallops, shrimp, and tako, with in-house Hawaiian-style marinades that are largely gluten-free.

The company distributes through four channels: dine-in and pick-up at its two stores; direct delivery via the proprietary thepokeguy.store e-commerce site; third-party delivery aggregators Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash; and a direct corporate/event catering line with minimum-order thresholds of 10 individual bowls or 15 buffet guests. Its technology stack is operational rather than technically novel: WordPress-based website, Square for payments, loyalty (Poke Guy Rewards: 5 stars per dollar spent with tiered redemption), and e-gift cards, plus organic social media on Instagram, Facebook, and X as its primary customer-acquisition channels. No external funding, parent company, or franchise structure is disclosed.

Revenue is generated through unit pricing on food and beverage items (pricing not publicly disclosed), plus catering transactions and a recurring loop via loyalty and gift cards. Customers are predominantly health- and sustainability-conscious Vancouver diners seeking fast, customizable meals, supplemented by corporate and event organizers purchasing catering for groups. The company has received editorial coverage from Food Network Canada, Vancouver Magazine, and Citymash Vancouver, validating brand awareness in its local market but not extending significantly beyond Vancouver.

Name

The Poke Guy

Legal name

The Poke Guy

Website

https://thepokeguy.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Poke Guy is a Vancouver-based, privately held restaurant operator running two downtown storefronts serving Hawaiian poke bowls, hot plates, wraps, and catering, distinguished by Ocean Wise certified wild-caught seafood and direct-to-consumer pick-up and delivery sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hawaiian Poke Restaurant

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Sushi/Sashimi-Grade & Raw Ready-to-Serve Seafood (Including Poke) (AFANALAI)

Keywords

• Hawaiian poke bowls
• Fast casual dining
• Sustainable seafood
• Event catering services
• Build your own bowls

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in/Pick-up Sales: Revenue from customers ordering poke bowls, Hawaiian hot plates, wraps, sides, drinks, and desserts for pick-up at either Vancouver location. Same-day fresh fish, closes when sold out.
2. Delivery Sales: Revenue from direct delivery orders placed through the company's own website (thepokeguy.store) as well as through third-party aggregators (Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, DoorDash).
3. Catering Services: Revenue from catering orders for events including individual ready-to-serve bowls and buffet-style poke bars. Minimum orders apply (10 bowls for individual orders, 15 people for buffet).
4. Loyalty Program and Gift Cards: Revenue from Square-powered loyalty program (Poke Guy Rewards) where customers earn 5 stars per $1 spent, and e-gift card sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Poke Guy operates two fast-casual dine-in and pick-up locations in Vancouver that prepare and sell Hawaiian poke bowls (signature and build-your-own), Hawaiian hot plates, poke wraps, boba teas, sides, and desserts. Orders are fulfilled in-store, through the company's own online delivery storefront (thepokeguy.store), through third-party delivery aggregators (Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, DoorDash), and via a separate event catering service. The business emphasizes Ocean Wise-certified wild-caught seafood and daily-fresh preparation, and closes when the day's fish sells out.

Product overview

The Poke Guy is a single-location restaurant chain (two Vancouver locations) offering Hawaiian poke and grill cuisine. The core product portfolio centers on Poke Bowls (available as signature varieties like Sunset Scallop, Da Classic Salmon, and Hulapeno Albacore, or as Build-Your-Own customizable options) and Hawaiian Hot Plates (including Chicken Curry, Maui Ribs, and Shrimp Tempura Curry). Supporting offerings include Poke Wraps (new grab-and-go category), Boba Teas, Fresh Sides, and Desserts. Add-on services include Catering (Individual Bowls & Plates or Buffet-Style) and a Rewards Program with e-gift card functionality powered by Square.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Poke Bowls Fresh, made-to-order poke bowls with premium proteins (ahi tuna, wild salmon, scallops, shrimp, tofu, chicken), vibrant toppings, and handcrafted sauces; available as signature recipes or fully customized Build-Your-Own combinations. Targeted at health-conscious Vancouver diners seeking sustainable, customizable meals.
• Hawaiian Hot Plates Hearty island-inspired plates featuring grilled meats and bold flavors served with rice and classic sides. Menu includes Chicken Curry, Fried Tofu Curry, Maui Ribs, and Shrimp Tempura Curry. Targeted at diners looking for a more filling Hawaiian-style entrée beyond a bowl.
• Poke Wraps Grab-and-go poke wraps featuring fresh poke wrapped in a soft tortilla with crisp vegetables and signature sauces, offering portability for customers on the move. Targeted at Vancouver diners seeking a portable, fast-casual meal option.

Quantifiable outcome

• Canada's first and only restaurant to serve Ocean Wise certified sustainable seafood
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ocean WisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Wise is a conservation organization focused on sustainable seafood. The Poke Guy is Canada's first and only poke restaurant to partner with Ocean Wise, serving certified sustainable wild-caught seafood including Ahi Tuna, wild sockeye salmon, shrimp, scallops, and tako. This partnership positions The Poke Guy as a leader in sustainable dining.
• Uber EatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUber Eats is a third-party food delivery aggregator. The Poke Guy is available for delivery through Uber Eats at both Vancouver locations, allowing customers to order poke bowls for delivery through the Uber Eats platform.
• SkipTheDishesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSkipTheDishes is a Canadian third-party food delivery aggregator. The Poke Guy is available for delivery through SkipTheDishes at both Vancouver locations, providing customers an additional delivery ordering option.
• DoorDashminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDoorDash is a third-party food delivery aggregator. The Poke Guy is available for delivery through DoorDash at both Vancouver locations, expanding delivery reach to DoorDash customers.
• SquarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSquare provides payment processing, loyalty program infrastructure (Poke Guy Rewards), and e-gift card services for The Poke Guy. The loyalty program allows customers to earn 5 stars per $1 spent with tiered rewards, and e-gift cards can be purchased through Square's platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Just Poké: Poke-focused restaurant brand operating build-your-own poke bowls with similar menu architecture (proteins, bases, toppings, sauces) and direct-to-consumer ordering model.
• Yo Mama's Poke: A poke-focused fast-casual concept operating multiple locations in Canada. Direct competitor with similar build-your-own poke bowl format, fresh-protein positioning, and urban Canadian market footprint.
• Poké Bar: Multi-location poke-focused fast-casual restaurant offering build-your-own bowls with similar customization and grab-and-go framing. Direct format and menu peer in the poke category.
• Poke Express: Poke-focused quick-service brand with multiple Canadian locations, offering similar customizable poke bowls with delivery and pick-up models that overlap with The Poke Guy's channels.
• Ahi Poke: Canadian poke restaurant brand focused on build-your-own poke bowls with a similar freshness and customization proposition. Operates as a comparable Canadian poke concept.
• Island Poke: UK-based poke-focused fast-casual brand with a build-your-own format, sustainability messaging, and multi-location presence. Closely mirrors The Poke Guy's product, brand voice, and operational model.

Emerging players

• Su & Shi: Poke and sushi-inspired fast-casual concept with a build-your-own model. Comparable fresh-raw-fish bowl proposition, though typically smaller scale than The Poke Guy's two-store Vancouver footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Freshii: Canadian-founded fast-casual chain offering bowls, salads, wraps, and poke on a customizable platform with multi-channel ordering. Directly comparable health-conscious positioning with similar pricing and urban footprint.
• SweetGreen: Large publicly-traded fast-casual chain built on customizable bowls, fresh ingredients, and tech-enabled ordering. Comparable in format and target customer (health-conscious diners seeking build-your-own meals) though broader menu.
• CAVA: U.S. fast-casual leader in Mediterranean bowls with a build-your-own model, loyalty program, and omnichannel ordering. Comparable in customization-driven fast-casual positioning even though cuisine differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thepokeguyyvr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-poke-guy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Poke Guy