Franchising
Pokeworks co-founders launch fast casual burger concept
July 13, 2022
Ojai Burger, a fast casual concept serving Wagyu beef, is making its debut next week in Orange, California, at 238 W Chapman Ave.
Created by three co-founders of Pokeworks — Michael Wu, Kasper Hsu and Peter Yang — Ojai Burger was conceived after a vacation to Ojai, California, when the friends stumbled onto Yume Japanese Burger Cafe via Yelp. After meeting with Yume's founders — Takeshi Ozaki, a Japanese tennis coach and his wife, Chikage Ozaki — the Pokeworks team decided to partner with the duo to create a fast casual version of Yume.
"Ever since discovering Takeshi's Yume concept, we have dreamt of bringing his incredible Wagyu burgers to other parts of the state, and we are thrilled to finally be opening Ojai Burger in Orange's Old Towne Plaza," Tong said in a company press release. "We have high hopes that the concept will take off in Orange County, due to the demand for high-quality product and fusion cuisine that embraces the flavors of other cultures and we look forward to celebrating the Grand Opening with the local community and introducing our guests to the Wagyu burgers we fell in love with in Ojai."
The 1000-square-foot burger joint, which offers indoor dining space as well as a patio space, features Japanese-American cuisine ranging from Wagyu Burgers, featuring patties prepared in a rich and savory marinade for 24 hours served on a brioche bun, to traditional Japanese Mochi Waffles available in Ume (purple yam) and Matcha. Appetizers include Karaage Chicken, Japanese Croquettes and Takoyaki, and chicken sandwiches and loaded fries are also available.
"It was absolutely paramount for us to authentically represent Takeshi's dream with Ojai Burger, which is why we're staying true to his philosophy of serving guests with only the highest quality products at an affordable price," Wu said in the release. "We witnessed firsthand how Yume, which appropriately translates to "dream" in Japanese, has thrived within the Ojai community, and the ultimate goal will be to expand Ojai Burger beyond this first location in the near future to share this culinary mashup of Japanese and American cuisine far and wide."
Pokeworks was named No. 12 on this year's list of Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers.
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