Our Story
Seas Kim, owner of Pokebap, has always enjoyed traveling to different places and immersing himself in local cultures and food. Growing up, he was exposed to diverse ethnic cuisines and fondly carries memories of his family coming together over his grandmother’s traditional Korean cooking. During a trip to Hawaii, he tried poke and fell in love with its fresh and complex flavor combinations. His culinary experiences from Hawaii, along with his Korean-American background, inspired him to want to bring this Hawaiian staple to Ohio with a creative and innovative concept. He includes “bap” in the business namesake, which means “rice” and is at the center of every Korean meal, but also refers to an entire meal itself.
Pokebap, Ohio's first brick and mortar poke restaurant, was established in Dublin, Ohio in 2016. The passion and love for poke is evident through using only fresh, high-quality ingredients, with signature sauces made from scratch for creating personalized perfect poke that can accommodate every palate and dietary needs including vegan and gluten-free.
From creative food to dedicated service, our team is committed to going above and beyond to make sure you have a great dining experience. At Pokebap, we believe that imagination and creativity are the key elements to give our guests “A Fresh Way To Create!”
We are excited to announce that Pokebap has been selected as one of nine local chef partners to be featured in Budd Dairy Food Hall.
Budd Dairy Food Hall is the first chef-driven food entrepreneurial launchpad in Columbus, Ohio, providing us with a unique opportunity to grow our business and continue to build our loyal following while sharing space with other like-minded food innovators.
A one-of-a-kind gathering spot located in Italian Village, Budd Dairy Food Hall will feature culinary creations from the city’s best chefs, as well as live entertainment, a rooftop deck, interactive games, a bar, event space and more.
We are thrilled and humbled to have the opportunity to bring our unique brand of food to this exciting concept and look forward to serving you. Learn more here for more updates on the 2021 opening!
