Fast Casual, Faster Growth: How Pokeworks Rode a Viral Wave to Scale

What do you get when you mix structural engineering, with immigrant grit, a viral video, and a love for Hawaiian poke? What you get is the recipe for one of the most exciting fast-casual franchise stories of the past decade.This week on Franchise Today, Stan Friedman welcomes Peter Yang, co-founder and managing partner of Pokeworks—a premium poke concept that exploded out of a 750-square-foot shop in Midtown Manhattan and quickly became a national sensation.Peter shares how:Pokeworks went from unknown to viral, thanks to a burrito and a million online views an hourA family legacy in food and a pivot from engineering set the foundationThey use EOS and AI to drive operational consistency and franchisee support80% of franchisees come back for more—and why passion trumps experienceIf you think you know fast casual franchising, think again. This episode is a masterclass in how authenticity, values, and execution have morphed a niche idea into a thriving national brand.