Ahi Poké to open in Nova Victoria as first step in expansion

The Hawaiian-themed group was founded in 2016 by the BVC Group – namely Jeremy Coste, Gabriel Cohen-Elia and David Ballaiche ‒ who found they craved the raw fish dish after returning from a trip to Los Angeles.  

The all-day Ahi Poké Victoria will be the first step in the group’s wider expansion plan, and feature a menu created by classically-trained chef Coste.

It will primarily offer made-to-order bowls to take away, designed to eat in Nova’s communal outdoor seating area.

There will be four signature dishes, comprising the Oahu (rice, ahi tuna, red onion, fried onion, radish, carrot, coriander, sesame shoyu), the Sweet Green (kale, mushroom, edamame, confit ginger, radish, carrot, sweet ponzu), the Heat Wave (quinoa, salmon, avocado, kimchee cucumber, red onion, coriander, sriracha mayo) and the Venice (quinoa, shrimp, confit ginger, pineapple, edamame, radish, leche de tigre).

There will also be daily and weekly specials. Desserts will include milk chocolate cookies.

Décor-wise, the site will seek to echo relaxed Hawaiian beaches, and the laid-back bars of LA.

The first Ahi Poké opened on Mayfair’s Percy Street. The BVC Group also operates Mayfair’s North Audley Cantine (opened 2013) and Chez Chow (opened 2015).

Often served with Japanese-Asian-style flavours, Poké is originally said to be inspired by fishermen, who would eat the off-cuts of their catch as a snack.

It has boomed in popularity in London in recent years, notably at Mayfair site Black Roe, from restaurateur and Chotto Matte founder Kurt Zdesar.

Ahi Poké Victoria will join a host of other restaurants at Nova, including Bone Daddies, Aster by D&D London, Shake Shack, Hai Cenato by Jason Atherton, and Franco Manca.