More Poke Shops Are Coming to Northern Virginia This Summer

The poke craze has no end in sight, and Poke it Up is the latest Hawaiian bowl shop to sign a new lease.

The homegrown brand has secured a 1,700-square-foot space that will open at Arlington Square (4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia) this summer. Poke it up currently operates another location in Pentagon City Mall, letting shoppers check off their picks for fresh fish, toppings, and beverages.

Soup shop Zoup! also just signed on the join the same Arlington complex in 1,900 square feet this summer. Along with lobster bisque and chicken potpie soups, the 20-year-old chain offers made-to-order salads and sandwiches.

Meanwhile, another poke maker is on the move. Pokéworks, which debuted late last fall in Tysons Corner Center (7933 Tysons Corner Center), is expanding to Chantilly this summer.

The Irvine, California, based chain announced plans last fall to flood the city with seven locations over the next several years. To celebrate its arrival in Tysons Corner, there’s a buy one, get one free deal on Tuesday, January 22, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Other growing fast-casual brands include another California import, Poke Bar, which opened inside Merrifield’s Mosaic District complex and in Rosslyn last year. Union Station welcomed Chicago-based Aloha Poke Co. last spring and has another location scheduled to land in Dupont Circle.

More additions include include Honeyfish Poke downtown, Poke Papa in Chinatown and Foggy Bottom, and Lei’d in Tysons Corner.

• Fast-Casual Pokeworks’s Big D.C. Plans Include Seven New Locations [EDC]
• Merrifield’s Debut Poke Bar Will Slash Prices During Its Opening Weekend [EDC]
• Chicago Chain Aloha Poke Arrives Next Week at Union Station [EDC]