Our Story

From Japan to Orange County, our journey has been shaped by family, resilience, and a passion for fresh food.

Uroko Poke is more than a restaurant. It is a family story shaped by tradition, resilience, and a deep love for quality seafood. What began generations ago in Japan has grown into a family business in Orange County, where every bowl reflects our heritage, our values, and our commitment to serving fresh food with heart.

Our Story Begins with Family and a Love for Fresh Food

Our story began in Japan, where our family’s connection to seafood first took shape. Our grandparents owned a fish restaurant, where quality, hospitality, and tradition were part of everyday life. It was more than a place to eat. It was a place where people gathered, connected, and shared moments over great food.

Years later, our family entered a new chapter. In the 1990s, my parents opened rental video shops, embracing a different kind of business while continuing to build the same values of hard work, dedication, and customer care. Growing up in that environment taught me the importance of serving people, paying attention to detail, and creating spaces that feel welcoming.

In 2006, my mother, Sumiko, made the bold decision to move to the United States and begin again. In Costa Mesa, she opened a comic café that brought together creativity, culture, and community. It was a new beginning, and I was proud to be part of helping shape that space into something meaningful.

As the years passed, we listened closely to our customers and the community around us. We saw the growing excitement around poke and recognized an opportunity to bring our seafood background into something fresh, modern, and approachable. In 2015, we remodeled and reintroduced the business as Uroko Cafe, beginning the next chapter of our family journey.

The name Uroko comes from the Japanese phrase “Me kara uroko”, which describes a moment of realization or seeing something in a whole new way. For us, that meaning is deeply personal. It represents discovery, growth, and the idea that something simple can open the door to something bigger. That spirit continues to guide us today.

Now, as we celebrate more than a decade of Uroko, our family business has grown to three locations, but our purpose remains the same: to serve fresh, high-quality food, create genuine connections, and build community one bowl at a time.

We are proud of where we come from, grateful for everyone who has supported us, and excited for where we are going next. Our vision is to continue sharing our passion for fresh and healthy food with even more people, while staying rooted in the family values that started it all.

More Than Poke. A Story of Family, Heritage, and Growth.

“Every bowl we serve reflects where we come from and what we believe in: Quality, Care, and Family”