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5 Qs with Chef Elmer Guzman

By Catherine Toth Fox • September 18, 2012 • Food

When I first tried to schedule an interview with Elmer Guzman, chef/owner of the popular Poke Stop (@pokestop) for a story in a local travel magazine, his public relations person told me he would be available — in two weeks.

“He’s really busy.”

Apparently.

And after meeting him, I can see why.

This Baldwin High grad manages two locations — one in Waipahu, another in Mililani Mauka. He spends his weekends catering events — once he catered six weddings on a single Saturday — and is working on franchising his casual-eats concept that focuses on innovative poke, quality seafood and hefty plate lunches.

He carved out some time between a photo shoot to answer a few quick questions for my blog:

1. What’s your favorite poke?

Creamy ‘ahi. I came up with the recipe myself.

2. Why not open a Poke Stop in town or on a different island?

Eventually, the leeward side will be pumping. And the communities out there already have their (poke) places. I want to grow old with this community.

3. I hear you’re into beer now. What’s your favorite brew?

Right now, Blue Moon. I like the citrus tones in there. Because I deal with seafood, I’m always drawn to citrus to cleanse my palette.

4. If you weren’t a chef, what would you be doing?

I wanted to be a sportscaster. But this just fell into my lap.

5. OK, so what are your favorite teams?

For football, it’s Dallas; basketball, the Lakers; and baseball, Dodgers. But I’ve liked them for a long time.

Meaning, he’s no frontrunner. But we’d never think that anyway.

Poke Stop

Poke Stop
Image 1 of 21

Guzman opened his first Poke Stop in 2005 in Waipahu. It was so popular, he opened a second location a few years later in Mililani Mauka.


Scenes from my visit to Poke Stop in Mililani Mauka

Poke Stop Mililani Mauka, 95-1840 Meheula Parkway. Hours: 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Phone: (808) 626-3400. Also, there’s a location in Waipahu.

5 QuestionsChef Elmer GuzmanHawaiiMililani MaukapokePoke Stopwaipahu
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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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7 Comments

  • Reply David Jackson September 19, 2012 at 2:18 am

    Just hand the plate in picture 9 over to me and I’ll eat the whole thing.

  • Reply M September 19, 2012 at 6:36 am

    Hello Cat!
    I never been there so I have to make it a point to go and get me a poke bowl.

  • Reply Makiki September 19, 2012 at 7:14 am

    Great! Now I crave Poke.

  • Reply Annoddah Dave September 19, 2012 at 8:22 am

    CAT: Boy, poke has come a long way from the basic kukui nut oil, fish, and salt.

  • Reply WildeOscar September 19, 2012 at 11:09 am

    Yummmy! I don’t think I’ve ever quit advancing through the pictures on one of your posts before seeing them all. I have to go eat something now, or I’m going to start chewing my pencils.

  • Reply Paco September 19, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Their smoked meat plate lunch, gumbo and poke bowls are also good.

  • Reply uncleb September 20, 2012 at 11:11 am

    Just because of you, I stopped by on my way home to get din from the Mililani Poke Stop. Might go again today.

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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