Fusion Poke (and ramen, and rolled ice cream) coming soon to the east side

Fusion Poke, the second location of a Chicago restaurant, starts its soft opening Wednesday on the east side.

It's at 1813 E. Kenilworth Place, the former site of Hotch. The newest restaurant in Milwaukee to focus on the Hawaiian-style raw fish and rice bowls, it's within view of Milwaukee's first poke-themed restaurant, FreshFin, on E. North Ave.

Besides poke, the counter-service Fusion Poke will touch on other national menu trends — ramen, Thai rolled ice cream and Taiwanese shaved ice (apparently the first restaurant in Milwaukee to offer that dessert). Unlike Hawaiian shaved ice, the Taiwanese sweet is milk-based; it's shaved thin to melt like snowflakes.

Owner Yulin Zheng, who has a Fusion Poke in Chicago's Water Tower Place and also owns a sushi restaurant in Chicago, said he wanted to open a store in Milwaukee after visiting family and friends here. He liked the east side location for its liveliness and neighborhood feeling.

The east side restaurant will have six house poke bowls, and customers can design their own, from tuna, salmon, tofu, shrimp or octopus and five sauces, including mildly spicy mayo, a citrusy yuzu-based sauce and a spicy sauce. Toppings are unlimited and no extra charge, Zheng said. Poke is available in two sizes ($9.59 and $12.59).

It will have four styles of ramen ($11.99), tonkotsu, miso, shio and shoyu; another style might be added later, Zheng said. 

Besides shaved ice ($5.75), made with a machine Zheng imported from Taiwan, Fusion Poke will sell Thai rolled ice cream ($5.75) for dessert. Customers will order at a central counter but pick up ice cream at a station separate from savory dishes.

Smoothies ($4.25) made with fresh fruit will include seasonal options, such as watermelon. The restaurant also will have boba tea ($3.95) that can be stocked with tapioca balls, rainbow jelly or popping boba.

Fusion Poke's hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The restaurant has 30 or so seats for diners and will have takeout for pickup and for delivery by EatStreet. The number for the restaurant will be (414) 763-4525; the website was still under construction.

The store's grand opening will be about a week after it first opens its doors; Zheng said he expects to offer discounts on menu items that day.