Pokeworks, the Irvine, California-based fast-casual poke chain, has launched a limited-time High-Protein Surf & Turf Bowl that combines ahi tuna and chicken breast in a single entrée delivering 44 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber. The item became available system-wide on June 16.
The nutritional profile is notably dense for a fast-casual format. At 44 grams of protein per bowl, the offering exceeds the average protein load of comparable LTO entrees at major fast-casual competitors, which typically range between 30 and 38 grams for dual-protein builds. The 10 grams of fiber places the item in the upper tier for the poke segment, where fiber content is rarely a primary marketing lever.
The launch reflects a broader pivot across the fast-casual sector toward macro-forward menu development. Operators from burrito chains to grain-bowl concepts have accelerated high-protein LTO cadences in 2025 and into 2026, responding to consumer demand shaped partly by the mainstreaming of GLP-1 medications and the continued growth of fitness-oriented eating occasions. Pokeworks, which built its brand around customizable poke bowls and burritos, is leaning into that demand with a pre-configured, ready-to-order format that reduces friction at the point of sale.
The dual-protein structure — pairing a seafood base with a land-animal protein — is a differentiated move within the poke category, where single-protein bowls remain the dominant format. The combination also allows Pokeworks to command a premium price positioning consistent with elevated fast-casual entree trends that have pushed average check sizes higher across the segment over the past 18 months.
Pokeworks has not disclosed the bowl's retail price, promotional window length, or participating location count. The chain operates across the United States and Canada, with a footprint spanning both corporate and franchised units.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.