Poke Burri

Poke Burri is a fast casual Asian fusion concept founded in October 2016 by Atlanta based entrepreneurs Seven Chan and Ken Yu. Together, they bring nearly 40 years of experience in technology, restaurant operations, and brand development. The flagship opened inside the We Suki Suki food hall in East Atlanta Village. Chan has nearly 20 years of experience in business strategy, social media, and marketing, while Yu has over 20 years in startup logistics, quality assurance, and food safety for restaurants. Their work led to KSP Restaurant Group, which oversees Poke Burri, other food concepts, and franchising. The brand operates approximately 2 to 3 units across its corporate and franchised portfolio, including at least 1 franchised unit. Its February 1, 2024 opening in Winter Garden, Florida marked expansion beyond Georgia. Poke Burri competes in the full service and fast casual restaurant category, within a global foodservice market projected to reach $1.59 trillion to $2.05 trillion by 2035. Buyers must weigh the brand's awards and differentiation against its limited operating scale.

The broader restaurant market offers meaningful demand drivers, along with competitive and operating challenges. Depending on the definition used, the global full service and fast casual market ranges from approximately $15.38 billion for narrower segments to over $1.59 trillion across sit down and experiential dining. The broader market is projected to reach $2.05 trillion by 2035 at an annual growth rate of approximately 2.6%. North America holds roughly 45% of global market share, supported by rising disposable income, recovering demand after the pandemic, and interest in varied culinary experiences. Asian concepts held 49.05% of full service restaurant market share by cuisine type in 2025. Fresh ingredients, plant based choices, locally sourced proteins, and customizable meals also support poke formats. Dine in represented 65.83% of restaurant market share in 2025, while delivery is projected to grow at an annual rate of 7.15% through 2031. Technology such as menu personalization, contactless payment, and data driven pricing is changing restaurant operations. Poke concepts remain fragmented outside a few emerging national players, leaving room for local brands with effective execution.

Poke Burri's initial franchise fee is reported as either $30,000 or $35,000, depending on the source and agreement terms. Estimated total investment ranges from approximately $90,000 to $275,000, with another estimate placing the range at $93,300 to $203,500. Costs vary with the market, build out needs, conversion opportunities, lease terms, and equipment timing. Franchisees must show liquid capital of at least $75,000 to $100,000 and a minimum net worth of $125,000. Ongoing charges include a 6.0% royalty on gross sales and a 1% advertising contribution, for a combined fee of 7% of gross revenue. KSP Restaurant Group offers financing options to qualified candidates. Passive and semi absentee ownership is permitted, although the concept requires a physical commercial location. Each location has approximately 4 employees, creating a lean staffing model if sales volume supports the operation.

The operating menu includes poke bowls, sushi burritos, sushi donuts, and a secret menu intended to encourage repeat visits and social media activity. Staffing averages approximately 4 employees per location. Franchisees may convert an existing sushi business to the Poke Burri brand, which can reduce build out expenses and shorten the opening process. Initial training lasts two to three weeks at the Atlanta, Georgia headquarters or a franchisor designated location and begins approximately 8 to 12 weeks before opening. A trainer then provides one to two weeks of onsite support, starting a few days before opening and continuing for roughly a week afterward. Annual refresher training lasts up to two days in one or two sessions. Corporate support includes operations, marketing, purchasing, supply chain, accounting, legal resources, and research and development. Representatives visit every two weeks during the first three quarters, monthly in the fourth quarter, and every two months thereafter. Territory protection is based on a population center of 50,000 to 100,000 residents or a 5 mile radius, documented by zip code and evaluated using population density, median household income, median age, and competition.

The February 2024 Winter Garden opening and stated activity across multiple Atlanta locations indicate continued expansion. Poke Burri's Loan Activity Score on PeerSense is 43, rated Fair, reflecting its early stage franchise development.

Poke Burri began franchising in 2018. Its approximately 2 to 3 operating units include at least 1 franchised unit and at least 1 company owned or affiliated unit, placing it among emerging regional concepts rather than mature national systems. The February 1, 2024 Winter Garden opening was the first confirmed expansion outside Georgia. The brand's differentiation comes from more than 50 wins across competitions, awards, and festivals, along with sushi burritos, poke bowls, and sushi donuts. Atlanta Magazine named Poke Burri the best destination for poke bowls in the city, and Creative Loafing included it among the top 100 dishes in Atlanta. Seven Chan's nearly 20 years of digital marketing and press experience supports an organic customer acquisition approach. The secret menu also encourages repeat visits and referrals. Poke Burri is accepting franchise inquiries in all 50 U.S. states and has no announced international expansion plans.

The intended franchisee is an entrepreneurial operator who can work within an early stage system and contribute to brand building. Passive and semi absentee ownership means prior restaurant experience is not required, while Ken Yu's more than 20 years of food service experience informs the training program. Public disclosures do not formally detail multi unit requirements, but territory availability across all U.S. states suggests that multi unit agreements are available and encouraged for candidates with sufficient capital. Territories covering a population center of 50,000 to 100,000 residents or a 5 mile radius may suit suburban areas with strong millennial and Gen Z populations. Urban locations with food hall infrastructure, similar to We Suki Suki in East Atlanta Village, are another potential fit. Existing sushi operators can use the conversion option to reduce investment and build on an established customer base. Buyers should review the franchise term and renewal provisions with a franchise attorney because those terms affect resale value and transfer rights.

Poke Burri offers award recognition, a differentiated menu, a lean operating model, and an estimated entry cost beginning at approximately $90,000. Its combined royalty and advertising burden is 7%, within the stated restaurant industry range. The limited unit base makes the brand's early development stage a central investment consideration. Buyers should conduct direct franchisee interviews, compare similar poke and Asian fast casual concepts, and model revenue for the target market. PeerSense reports a Loan Activity Score of 43, rated Fair, and provides franchise research such as SBA lending history, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data, and comparison tools. The market backdrop includes projected growth to $2.05 trillion by 2035, a 49.05% Asian cuisine share of the full service restaurant market in 2025, and continued interest in health focused meals. These factors may support the category, but location economics and execution will determine the individual franchise outcome.