Better Bowls, a locally owned and operated Açaí shop in Payson, celebrated its second anniversary on August 8. Tabitha Sorensen, the shop’s founder and owner, has worked in the food industry for much of her life. She says she “loves to take healthy food and make it taste good.” She also enjoys giving South Utah County residents better alternatives to the many highly processed, filler-laden “food” options out there.
Better Bowls is one of just two organic, gluten-free, dairy-free options within a 40-mile radius. The locally owned and operated business is not affiliated with EverBowl, though the names are similar. Better Bowls offers vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free Açaí bowls made with natural sugars.
The Better Bowls menu also features other good-for-you options such as sandwiches made with organic sourdough bread, 100% natural fruit smoothies, and handcrafted organic soups. The shop even goes above and beyond to make its own almond milk for its popular chia seed Açaí bowl topping.
To build a Better Bowl, customers choose a dairy-free, gluten-free base for the bottom of the bowl. Customers then get to load the rest of the bowl up with the organic toppings of their choice. Options include hemp seeds, goji berries, bee pollen, chia seed pudding, raisins, nuts, local honey, and more.
Bowls are priced by size, not by weight, which means customers can add as many toppings as they want to their bowl without paying more. Customers can also save $2 off any bowl or smoothie during Happy Hour, which goes from 3:00-5:00 p.m. every day. Better Bowls offers additional discounts for teachers and military members.
This month, Sorensen is especially excited to introduce the Better Bowls fall menu. From September 1 through October, the menu will feature three seasonal, organic soups. Offerings change weekly but always feature a vegan option, a meat option, and classic tomato basil. Better Bowls offers tomato basil soup year-round because it’s a popular companion to the shop’s top-selling grilled cheese sandwich on sourdough bread.
The Better Bowls fall menu also features a decadent tuna melt. Sorensen explains that tuna sandwiches are a comfort food she and her loved ones “ate as kids on a snowy day.” She’s excited to offer guests a warming option that “tastes like home.” For guests craving sweet rather than savory options, the fall menu includes two mouthwatering caramel apple bowls. Customers can indulge in a warm apple crisp bowl over a coconut base with caramel, or select a fresh, cold apple bowl with lime juice, salt, and caramel.
Many people are cautious about trying something new, and healthy food often gets a bad reputation for its sub-par taste, but Better Bowls is different. Sorensen is confident that once people give Better Bowls a try, they’ll discover that healthy food can be absolutely delicious.
“Once we get them in the door, they love it and they’re hooked,” Sorensen says of first-time customers.
Recognizing that it can be difficult for some people to visit Better Bowls since there is no drive-through option, Sorensen welcomes call-in orders. When the customer arrives, Sorensen or a member of her staff will bring their order out to them.
Better Bowl’s success is largely due to the great care Sorensen takes in sourcing the highest-quality ingredients for her personally curated menu. “I won’t sell anything that doesn’t taste good,” she passionately proclaims. Her loyal customer base seems to agree.
For anyone who would like to give Better Bowls a try, Sorensen and her team are happy to make menu recommendations. Customers can also ask to see the “secret menu” at any time, which features some of the shop’s most popular menu combinations.
Better Bowls also offers catering services for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, corporate events, and other special occasions. Anyone who would like to learn more about this service or stay up-to-date with Better Bowls menu options and announcements is encouraged to follow the company on Instagram (@betterbowlsutah).
