Kona Bowls

2020 has been a roller coaster for restaurants, both old and new. The number of both local spots here in Denver/Boulder and long-running eateries back home in Boston that have permanently shut their doors during Covid is beyond devastating.

But some places have thrived. Adapted. Even flourished, in finding new ways to navigate this weird world we’re livin’ in.

One such place that going full speed ahead is the incredible Kona Bowls, located in the uber cute Tributary Food Hall in Golden, which opened late last summer. They hardly had six months in business before the pandemic hit. But their awesome smoothies, smoothie bowls, oats, toasts and wraps/Buddha bowls, are pretty much one-of-a-kind in Golden and they’ve stayed consistently busy for most of this year. One bite from one of their plant-powered dishes, and you’ll understand why!

It’s no surprise that these beautiful bows take me right back to Hawaii, where I enjoyed some of the BEST smoothies I’ve ever had. Full of greens or superfoods, loaded with fresh toppings and not too sweet-that’s my ideal smoothie mix! I haven’t had many places in Colorado or the rest of the country that compare, but since Kona Bowls is clearly rooted in all things Hawaii. Owner Alissa Mattson is currently exploring the mountains here, but raised her family on the beaches on the Big Island. They’ve brought that influence to Kona Bowls, and it shows. The space itself has a laid-back surfer vibe, that matches their menu. Lots of tropical fruits, spirulina, acai, charcoal, gogi berries, anything you could possibly thing to feature in a smoothie, they’ve got an option for it!

My favorite part? Have you ever noticed that when you order a smoothie bowl most places, the fruit is chopped very uniformly. Almost TOO perfectly? That’s because a lot of juice bars or cafes, buy pre-chopped fruits. But Kona HAND CHOPS all their ingredients, and the quality and freshness is not overlooked. Can you imagine chopping fresh pineapple and kiwi all day? That takes SO much work, but it really ups the quality of the bowl and I really, really appreciate that hustle.

Their menu is massive, so you can check it out for yourself here. I opted for the Big Wave bowl, because I’m a sucker for anything with that gorgeous blue hue. It’s topped with fresh pineapple, kiwi, banana, blueberries and chia granola, and every single bite was heaven, even in the dead of winter. I got to try their brand new Buddha wraps too, and had a really nutritious, filling and delish Bahn Mi variation. I didn’t have any room left for their loaded avocado toasts or their oats, so I’ll try to save some space for those on my next visit.

Kona Bowls cannot be missed, people! Tributary itself is really wonderful, with cute, private outdoor seating so you can enjoy your Kona smoothies through every season 🙂