Our Story

For our family, Japango has been a labor of love from the start. Jon joined the Japango team in 2001 and when the original owner wanted to explore something new in 2008, he turned to him hoping to keep Japango in the “family”. Jon was excited to bring back the original head chef, Iwasan, with goals to expand on traditional Japanese cuisine with modern influences, introduce an innovative bar program and grow into a family of restaurants our guests could call a second home. Erin joined the restaurant the same year Jon took it over and the rest is history! 

In 2013, we expanded into the Boulder space we know today, seeing so many of the goals Jon set out to achieve come to fruition. In 2020 as the world halted all around us, we welcomed Isla into the world and Charley, along with our Fort Collins location, followed 3 years later. Our third concept, Sugar Salt Sand, is truly an extension of our own hearts, opening in early April. As we enter our 25th year in Boulder and first year in Fort Collins, our gratitude for the guests and the team that shape the restaurants we love, only continues to grow.