Mama Dearest
In d'Bali Asian Bistro, "Mama Jeannie" Choi has created a beloved local institution in the West Plains area outside of Spokane, with the aim of sharing her love for Southeast Asia.
Hidden among the stretch of strip malls and fastfood places west of Airway Heights, “Mama Jeannie” Choi runs d’Bali Asian Bistro, a restaurant that is as uniquely likable as she is.
Mama Jeannie is unlike any chef you’ve ever met. The moment you step into d’Bali Asian Bistro, you are greeted with the aroma of her mouthwatering food and immediately feel welcomed into her family. Her infectious smile and love transfer to every dish she creates and every corner of the dining room at d’Bali. Just like in a typical family, Mama is in charge of everything. Nothing goes out without Mama Jeannie inspecting it, and she often is the only one taking orders and busing tables, too.
“Our food is like sharing love with our guests and our community,” said Mama Jeannie. “It’s like sharing my experiences through food.”
Mama Jeannie was born in beautiful Seoul, South Korea. She spent several years in the international hotel and hospitality industry, traveling around Southeast Asia for her work. After she relocated to the Inland Northwest over 15 years ago, her family and friends encouraged her to open a restaurant of her own so Spokane could get a small taste of Southeast Asia. In October 2018, d’Bali Asian Bistro officially opened.
“As I traveled through Southeast Asia, I have always been so welcomed by my friends and their families,” Mama Jeannie said. “They are so welcoming and loving, with a caring heart. So I want everyone who comes into my restaurant to have the same experience that I had there.”
Customers love the signature chicken wings, which are tossed in Mama’s addictive caramel sauce, and the scratch-made seasonal curries, which Mama Jeannie makes fresh in small batches. Smells of exotic ingredients like garlic, ginger, garam masala, curry, and lime fill the air, but the kitchen also makes use of many Washington-grown ingredients.
“We have wonderful four seasons (in Washington), so we can grow apples and pears and seasonal fruits and veggies, which can be hard to get there in Southeast Asia,” she said. “So people really appreciate that Washington state grows these things — people there can get the same experience that we enjoy here.”
Now, her menu serves as a love letter to the many people and places she met and fell in love with during her travels. The experiential dining menu allows customers to sample dishes from Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, and Singapore. She works day in and day out to make sure customers are satisfied and welcomed in. There really is nothing quite like d’Bali Asian Bistro anywhere in Spokane or the Airway Heights area.
