A RESTAURANT OF HER OWN: JO JO BOWLS AND BOBA MAKES IT OFFICIAL
Jo Jo Bowls and Boba hosts a grand opening celebration to be held Thursday.
NEWS / EDITOR’S PICK
Co-owner Marieta “Reta” Denan sits by the mural, made by her husband Dimas Awang, inside her downtown eatery Jo Jo Bowls and Boba. Photo by Deann Armes
You may have noticed a new restaurant if you’ve been on Historic 25th Street in Ogden this past year: Jo Jo Bowls and Boba. After almost a year, it’s time to make it official. On Thursday, April 13, they are having a grand opening celebration. In preparation, I sat down with co-owner Marieta Denan, better known as Reta, to hear a bit about her story.
Originally from Indonesia, Denan has been in Ogden for the past four years. She started in the restaurant industry while living in Tennessee, and then worked at Tokyo Station restaurant when she moved to Ogden. From there, Denan built relationships in town and when a space opened for a new restaurant, co-owners Gilmar and his son Kenny Salvador offered her the opportunity to start an eatery of her own.
Jo Jo Bowls & Boba located on 252 25th Street in the historic London Ice Cream Parlor building in downtown Ogden. Photo by Deann Armes
Wanting a little more boba tea in town and a place for quick, delicious meals, Denan decided on a teriyaki bowl restaurant. However, she went beyond teriyaki sauce. Pulling from her experience in different restaurants, Denan developed new sauce flavors including Wasabi Butter–created by her husband, Chef Dimas Awang–and Mango Pico with Sweet Chili Glaze inspired by her time working in Mexican restaurants.
Jo Jo Bowls and Boba offers a simple no-fuss menu: choose one of three sauces, a protein (chicken, shrimp, salmon, beef, or tofu), and upgrade from steamed rice to fried rice or noodles. Appetizers include edamame, gyoza, spring rolls, Agedashi tofu, and chicken fingers and fries. Along with all the boba flavors, there is wine, beer (imported, domestic, and craft), and sake to compliment your bowl.
The Ogdenite Editor’s Pick for April dining: Jo Jo Bowls & Boba Salmon with Wasabi Butter and fried rice. Photo by Deann Armes
Denan mostly talks about the community response. Despite years in the industry, this is her first time running a restaurant and she received a lot of help and support from the community to make Jo Jo Bowls and Boba successful. She got advice and tips—everything from throwing the official grand opening to where to supply her bowls. Hearing Denan talk you can definitely tell that Jo Jo Bowls and Boba, named after her daughter, is a labor of love not just for good food but for the community it stands in.
There hasn’t been much advertising for Jo Jo Bowls since they first opened on May 30, 2022. Denan just put the sign up and word of mouth quickly spread the news. But now she’s ready to make it official.
Jo Jo Bowls & Boba branded glass, reusable boba tea cups are raffle prizes for Thursday’s grand opening celebration. Photo by Deann Armes
The Jo Jo Bowls and Boba Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting is Thursday, April 13 from 12:30 to 9 p.m. There will be karaoke (1–4 p.m.), a live DJ (5–8:30 p.m.), boba samples, and a raffle for gifts from neighboring businesses, and reusable, glass Jo Jo Bowls brand boba cups that you can bring in for a discount on your boba. All orders will be 15 percent off for the day. Come by to enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner to celebrate this wonderful new local restaurant and grab some boba. Personally, I recommend taro.
Jo Jo Bowls and Boba
252 25th Street
(385) 432-0859
Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p .m.
Closed Sunday
Facebook @bowlsboba
Instagram @jojobowlsogden