With 27 locations opened in seven years, local fast-casual chain Just Poké has been busy. But when the Mercer Island store started serving its Chipotle-style build-your-own bowls in Town Center this May, it meant a little bit more to co-founders Norman Wu and Danny Brawer: the pair met as fourth graders at Lakeridge Elementary.

They first brought their fish-forward concept to their hometown in 2020, as a food truck. At the time, Wu said they were both excited to be back in the neighborhood, seeing the friends and teammates from childhood come by to try their food.

The pair had parted ways after their Lakeridge days, but both ended up going to school for finance and working in Los Angeles. They first joined forces in a head-hunting business, then used the money from selling that to propel themselves back to the Seattle area, toting an idea to bring their favorite LA lunches north.

The first shop opened in 2016, and the current 27 locations are all in the Seattle area, including inside T-Mobile Park and Climate Pledge Arena. With the opening of the Mercer Island location, they’ve come full circle, but they have no intention of stopping now: the chain plans to open eight more locations before the end of the year.

Just Poké is located at 2758 78th Ave SE.