Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bars Review

Shao Mei & I-Mei boba ice cream bars

Shao Mei bar

Shao Mei bar, interior

I-Mei bar, interior

I-Mei bar

Fro-yo girl here. I first heard about boba ice cream bars last year. They kept selling out, so I didn’t track any down. Fast forward a few months and the boba ice cream bars are now easier to find. I found three different brands at 99 Ranch Market in Alhambra, CA. No, they don’t contain yogurt.

Shao Mei is the most popular boba ice cream brand. A rival brand, I-Mei, produces a similar product. Both are Taiwanese brands. I-Mei calls their product Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Ice Bar. Both offer 4 individually wrapped bars per box. They were even priced the same, $7.99/box.

Shao Mei Brown Sugar Boba Ice Cream Bars: The bar had a deep brown marbled appearance and a prominent brown sugar scent. The first bite surprised me with contrasting flavors and textures. The exterior was an icier brown sugar shell. The interior was white, rich, milky, and creamy. I also bit into a boba which was sweet, soft, and chewy. The tapioca pearls were chewier than I expected. The flavors meld together in your mouth like a sip of a creamy brown sugar boba drink. I didn’t detect any tea flavor. Still, I really enjoyed the different textures and flavors. Yes, I would buy them again. One bar is 154 calories, 5g total fat, 16g total sugars, 25g total carbs, and 1g protein.

I-Mei Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Ice Bars: The bar had a lighter brown marbled exterior. The brown sugar flavor wasn’t as strong and tasted more like caramel than brown sugar. The interior wasn’t as creamy as Shao Mei’s. The bar was firmer and chewier because it had a lot more boba. The tapioca pearls were chewy and soft, though not as soft as Shao Mei’s. Also, Shao Mei’s bars were more flavorful. One bar is 160 calories, 5g total fat, 17g total sugars, 27 total carbs, and 1g protein.

I’d give Shao Mei 4.5 out of 5 stars and I-Mei 4 out of 5 stars. They’re both good!

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

2020 Glendale, CA Froyo Roundup

Fro-yo girl here. Back in 2015, I visited every place in Glendale, CA that offered soft serve froyo and found six shops. I included Pressed Juicery, even though its plant-based soft serve, Freeze, is not technically frozen yogurt. That was five years ago. Since that 2015 post, the three of the six shops have closed: My Yummy Yogurt, Pinkberry, and Yoppi Yogurt. One of the Haagen Dazs locations, the one inside Glendale Galleria, no longer offers froyo. Ice ‘N’ Cream inside the Glendale Galleria was open in 2015, but it wasn’t serving froyo at that time. They were serving soft serve ice cream in 2015. The last time I checked, they were serving froyo. 

I'm so sad that Pinkberry was replaced by a medical office called Forward. The Americana location was my favorite Pinkberry in the area.

Since 2015, three new froyo shops have opened in Glendale, and Ice ‘N’ Cream, inside the Glendale Galleria, started offering froyo.

Yoga-urt, which I’ve written about many times, opened in July 2015 in Kenneth Village. It’s the best place to get froyo in Glendale, hands down. Glendale is lucky to have such an innovative small business. Yoga-urt is LA’s first all organic plant-based froyo shop, with handcrafted, probiotic, all-natural soft serve. The froyo is also kosher, soy-free, and gluten-free. Toppings and cones are gluten-free and soy-free as well. Their soft serve tastes so natural and fresh and it’s thick and dense. It’s not self-serve but that’s a good thing because servings are generous and pretty. They just added breakfast and the gluten-free, soy-free, vegan waffles are so good! You can get a waffle topped with froyo! Breakfast is served Wednesday - Sunday from 9 AM - 1 PM.

Menchie’s opened in downtown Glendale in February 2017. I was there for the grand opening and I still swing by occasionally. It’s a good location, better than most in the area, but they’re slow to get the new flavors of the month. There are 12 self-serve flavors a day, plus froyo cakes.

Go Greek Yogurt, which offered self-serve Greek froyo and Greek fresh yogurt, opened inside the Glendale Galleria in 2018 and closed in 2019. Another froyo concept, Prinkipia, is taking over their kiosk though. Prinkipia is a chain that is primarily mall-based. Some locations have boba drinks and no froyo. Others are have froyo and no drinks. It looks like the Glendale location will carry froyo. 

Ice ‘N’ Cream is an old school snack stand inside Glendale Galleria that opened in 1988. The menu includes fresh juices, gelato, Thrifty Ice Cream, fruit cup, bionicos, smoothies, slushies, nachos, frozen bananas, ICEE, boba milk tea, etc. It’s has a Mexican fruit/dessert/snack shop feel. They had 6 types of froyo and sorbet during my visit. I was disappointed in my froyo and wouldn’t go back. 

Pressed Juicery hasn’t changed that much, though they added new flavors of Freeze and developed another frozen dessert with a coconut cream and almond base called Frozen. Frozen is scoopable. 

Current places to get froyo (or plant-based soft serve) in Glendale:

• HAAGEN DAZS: 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
• ICE ‘N’ CREAM: 100 W Broadway, Glendale, CA 91210
• MENCHIE’S: 251 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203
• PRESSED JUICERY: 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
• YOGA-URT: 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland PremiYUM Rewards Day, June 23, Recap

Fro-yo girl here. Today was PremiYUM Rewards Day at Yogurtland, a customer appreciation event for Real Rewards members. Originally scheduled for June 9, the date was changed to June 23. Anyone who joined Real Rewards by June 22, 2020 received the 8 oz free reward good for June 23 only.

PremiYUM Rewards Day is one of several recent promotions from Yogurtland. In the LA area, recent grads received free froyo last weekend at some Yogurtland locations, many locations also gave out free prepacked froyo cups with purchase in May, and the new flavor, Orange Blossom White Peach light ice cream was finally introduced (the introduction was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic).

I knew that I couldn’t miss out. I was delighted to find Peanut Butter froyo nearby, plus Nutter Butter cookies, peanut butter sauce, chocolate shell and Teddy Grahams. I was surprised to find that you could serve your own froyo at Yogurtland Eagle Rock but an associate adds the toppings.

All Real Rewards members earn points that can be redeemed for free froyo. You can join at any Yogurtland location, on the Yogurtland website, or by downloading the Real Rewards app from the Google Play or App Store.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Where to Get Froyo for Breakfast (Los Angeles)

Chill, Studio City

Penguin's, South Pasadena

Fro-yo girl here. With Yoga-urt adding breakfast items to the Glendale location recently, I was able to enjoy froyo for breakfast again. I also realized that I hadn’t updated my froyo for breakfast post since 2013!

All the places that I mentioned in the 2013 post have since closed, except for Caffe Ambrosia in downtown San Francisco’s Financial District. Sadly, I can no longer get my favorite froyo for breakfast item, the SF Chronicle Special (Slow cooked, warm steel cut oatmeal, your choice of five toppings in between and your choice of yogurt or frozen yogurt on top) at Fraiche Yogurt. The ownership changed and the froyo went downhill.

Of course, now that Yoga-urt has breakfast, my froyo for breakfast woes are over. And, it turns out that a lot more places are serving froyo early than I thought. So, here’s an updated list of places to get froyo for breakfast in and around Los Angeles. These shops are open at 10 AM or earlier.

• The Bigg Chill, 10850 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles (West Los Angeles), CA 90064: This froyo institution has been around since the 90s. It’s not self-serve but they pile on the froyo and toppings. People love their housemade vegan cookie dough.
• Bon Bon Berry, 1848 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles (West Los Angeles), CA 90025: Bon Bon Berry is known for acai bowls. They also have froyo (not self-serve), smoothies, oatmeal bowls and other drinks. The acai smoothie comes with a swirl of froyo on top.
• Chill Café, 11706 Moorpark St., Studio City, CA 91604: Chill Café serves bagels, crepes, sandwiches, coffee, and self-serve froyo. I haven’t been there since the ownership changed last year.
• CoffeeWalk YogurTalk, 700 S Flower St., Los Angeles (Downtown), CA 90017: I went once and didn’t like it but it’s convenient if you work right downtown near the BLOC. The space is small but they manage to offer self-serve froyo and toppings.
• Crepes N Shakes, 7105 Eastern Ave, Ste H-A, Bell Gardens, CA 90201: When I visited this shop, it was called Tutti Frutti. I think they still have self-serve froyo, plus crepes, waffles, milkshakes, and more.
• Go Greek (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Woodland Hills): Fancy, high end Go Greek Yogurt offers fresh Greek yogurt and frozen Greek yogurt. The yogurt is actually from Greece, where the founder is from. You can serve yourself and add healthy toppings, including some Greek toppings. 
• Penguin’s Frozen Yogurt, 1105 Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030: They open at 7 AM every day except Sunday! They serve Peet’s Coffee. It’s an old school froyo shop with lots to choose from: soft serve, shakes, smoothies, sundaes, and even ice cream. The froyo side usually opens at 10 AM though.
• Pinkberry, 6000 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230: Since it’s a mall-based location, Pinkberry Culver City opens when the mall opens. 
• Pressed Juicery (various locations): Not every Pressed Juicery location has Freeze, their dairy-free soft serve product but Freeze would be delicious for breakfast. The best sauce is the almond butter. Get extra almond butter! 
• Red Mango, 1011 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles (Downtown), CA 90015: Since Red Mango at LA Live offers juice, smoothies and acai bowls, in addition to self-serve froyo, they open early. 
• Yoga-urt, 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201: The homemade waffles are gluten-free, soy-free, vegan and yes, still scrumptious. You can get them topped with a scoop of vegan froyo, toppings, maple syrup, and Cocowhip. They might even be good for you? I like how the waffles aren’t too sweet and they have a chewiness that remind me of moffles (mochi waffles). 

Business hours have changed due to COVID-19, so check with the froyo shop before heading out there. 

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yoga-urt Adds Breakfast Items & Morning Hours

Fro-yo girl here. Yoga-urt just started serving breakfast at the Glendale location this week (the official launch date was Wednesday, June 17). The hours have changed as well. Breakfast is served Wednesday through Sunday from 9 AM – 1 PM. The vegan, gluten-free breakfast items are:

• Smoothies: not new, but you can get them earlier now
• Super Bowl ($12): a thin layer of soft serve (you choose the flavor) with 3 – 4 toppings
• Housemade GF vegan waffle w/ your 2 choice of regular toppings, maple syrup, and Cocowhip ($10)
• Housemade GF vegan waffle w/ your choice of 2 regular toppings, a big scoop of vegan froyo, maple syrup, and Cocowhip ($12)

Like you’d expect from Yoga-urt, the waffles (and their famous froyo) are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and all natural. Anything new at Yoga-urt garners my interest. Plus, I love eating froyo in the morning!

I chose the waffle with a scoop of Vanilla Harmony froyo, strawberries and the ginger + turmeric granola that I’m so fond of. The waffle is made to order. I’m not sure if I’ve had a gluten-free, vegan waffle before but I trust Yoga-urt to serve something delicious. I wasn’t disappointed. The waffle was big and flat, with slightly crispy edges. The interior was chewier than usual, but in a good way. It reminded me of a mochi waffle. I thought I detected a hint of coconut? It was sweet but not too sweet. The Vanilla Harmony melted a bit and made the waffle even yummier. And the toppings kept things interesting. It’s a big, filling breakfast. I'd love to have the waffles again, even after breakfast hours (but a smaller size). Waffle sundaes?

Yoga-urt serves Groundwork Coffee (organic, local) if you’d like some coffee with your waffle. They also have tea from Art of Tea (organic, local). Bring your dad for Father’s Day brunch. Outdoor seating is available again.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl. 

* YOGA-URT, 1407 ½ W Kenneth Rd., Glendale, CA 91201

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Father’s Day 2020 Froyo Specials

Photo from Smile Yogurt, @smile_yogurt_

Fro-yo girl here. Well, most self-serve froyo shops that I’ve been to are still full service for now, though Menchie’s in Eagle Rock (Los Angeles) offers self-serve froyo again. Yoga-urt let customers back inside and offers outdoor seating. Most froyo shops that plan to reopen after the pandemic shutdown have reopened in time for prime froyo season.

I haven’t heard anything about TCBY’s annual Father’s Day promotion or plans to reschedule the Mother’s Day promotion from the main TCBY account. However, a few TCBY locations plan to offer free froyo for dads on Father's Day.

Here’s a list of froyo shops with Father’s Day froyo specials this year. I’ll keep updating the list until some time on Father’s Day. Shops are listed in alphabetical order:

• 3 Crazy Berries (Fayetteville, AR): Buy one froyo, get one 1/2 off up to $5 on June 20-21, 2020
• 16 Handles: Get TWO Toppings FREE with every order. Use CODE: FREETOPPINGS at checkout, through July 31, 2020
• Alpine Chill (Alpine, CA): Free 16 oz froyo for dad on Father's Day
• Berryville (Deland, FL): Dad of the year contest on IG, @berryville_bowlicious
• BLK 513 (Philippines): Buy a Dark Side cup on Father's Day and get a free White Cheese Frozen Yogurt drink (*one free drink per order person)
• CC's Dairy Bar (New Baltimore, MI): Dad gets a free cup of froyo or custard with toppings on June 21, 2020 from 11 AM - 9 PM
• CherryBerry (MN): Dads get 8 oz free of froyo or cookie dough on June 21, 2020, show offer on Twitter, @CherryBerry_MN
• Chiller Bee Frozen Yogurt (TX): Free froyo for dads on June 21
• Chippies Frozen Yogurt (Cocoa, FL): Dads get 50% off on June 21
• Creme De La Ice Cream (Santa Maria, CA): 50% to all fathers on June 21, must bring your kids
• FROLO (Manteca, CA): Father's Day froyo contest
• Frost (Kailua, HI): Free shaved ice or froyo for dads on June 21
• Froyoholic Cafe (Phoenix, AZ): Buy your froyo and get dad's free on June 21
• Froyos & Vinos (Peachtree City, GA): 30% off for dads on June 21
• Frozen Land (Los Angeles, CA): Mention Father's Day flyer for 15% off for the whole family on June 21, 2020
• Goji's Treatery (Canada): On Father's Day, get a newbie dipped cone for a toonie
• Hoopla (St. Joe, MI): 50% off dad's cup on 6/21/20
• House of Yogurt (Costa Mesa, CA): Dad gets free froyo (up to 5 oz) on June 21, 2020
• Kiwi Loco (Ontario, OR): 25% dad's froyo on June 21
• llaollao (Houston, TX): Show the IG post, @llaollao_houston, for 10% off your entire order on 6/21/20
• llaollao (El Salvador): Free toppings with purchase on Father's Day, June 17
• llaollao (Phllippines): Free delivery on Father's Day when you pre-order by June 20, 2020
• Loving Cup (Northern CA): Buy 2 pints for 1 use DADSDAY code at checkout
• Marcel’s (South Africa): Father’s Day contest, share your dad’s most iconic dad joke for a chance to win a Marcel’s voucher
• Menchie’s (El Centro, CA): Buy one, get one free on June 21
• Menchie's (New Caney, TX): Buy one, get one free on June 21 
• Menchie's (Weaverville, NC): Get two 32 oz prepacks for the price of one, 20% off froyo cakes on June 20-21, 2020
• Menchie's Kelsey Creek (Bellevue, WA): Mention the word “DAD” at the register and receive 20% off your entire order on June 21
• Nikki's Froyo (Abilene, TX): Dads get 20% off when they bring their family on 6/21/20
• Nosh Cafe (Des Moines, IA): Froyo pie giveaway contest on Instagram and Facebook
• Ohana Frozen Yogurt (Asheboro, NC): Dads get to fill up a 12 oz cup for only $5 during Father's Day weekend, mention the Instagram offer
• Orange Leaf: $2 off dad's froyo at participating locations on Father's Day
• Orange Leaf (Ames, IA): Buy one, get one 1/2 off during Father's Day weekend
• Orange Leaf (Bastrop County, TX): Dads get $2 off on June 20 & June 21
• Orange Leaf (New Braunfels, TX): Dads get $2 off on June 20 & June 21
• Orange Leaf (Amarillo Plaza & Western Plaza, Amarillo, TX): Dads get $2 off on June 20 & June 21
• Orange Leaf Avery Ranch & Southpark Meadows (Austin, TX): Dads get $2 off on June 20 & June 21
• Orange Leaf (Lakeway, TX): $2 OFF Online Orders for Father's Day Weekend when you order from the online menu for store pickup at https://mylocalfroyo.com get $2 OFF by adding coupon code: Father'sDay in the payment.
• Orange Leaf (Council Bluffs/Omaha, NE): Dads get $2 off on June 21
• Orange Leaf (Owensboro, KY): Dads get a free small froyo on June 21
• Paradise Yogurt (San Diego, CA): Buy one yogurt, get one at equal or lesser value for 50% off on 6/21/20, show offer on FB or Twitter, @paradiseyogurt
• Pinkberry (Liberia): Share your story of how awesome your dad is for a chance to win a Pinkberry voucher
• Pinkberry (Ghana): Share your story of how awesome your dad is for a chance to win a Pinkberry voucher, plus 20% off orders on June 21
• Pinkberry (Nigeria): Free topping on any large or take home cup on June 21
• Rosie's Frozen Yogurt (Oak Bluffs, MA): Dads get 20% off their frozen yogurt when you show the offer IG post @rosiesfrozenyogurt to the cashier
• Smile Yogurt (Hong Kong): Special Love U Papa froyo parfait
• Sweet CeCe’s (Murfreesboro, TN): All dads will get a sweet cup for $1.00 on June 21st, 2020.
• sweetFrog (Fort Belvoir, VA): Ask for the All About My Dad Promo activity sheet. Complete the activity sheet and return it to sweetFrog Fort Belvoir for a free small cup (up to $5) from 6/1-6/21/20.
• sweetFrog (South Bend, IN): Bring dad in on Father's Day weekend, make a purchase and get a $5 bounceback coupon for your next visit
• sweetFrog (Wilkesboro, NC): Bring dad in on Father's Day weekend, make a purchase and get a bounceback coupon for your next visit
• sweetFrog (Brambleton, VA): Dads get 20% off when you mention the IG post on 6/21/20
• sweetFrog (Palmdale, CA): Dads get 50% off on June 21
• Sweetspot (Longview, WA): Buy your froyo, get dad's for 50% off on June 21
• Swirl (San Anselmo, CA): Buy a $10 gift certificate for dad and get 25% off one froyo from June 15-21, 2020
• TCBY (Auburn, AL): Dads get 6 oz free on June 21
• TCBY (Charlotte, NC): Dads get 6 oz free on June 21
• TCBY (Summerville, SC): Dads get 6 oz free on June 21
• TCBY (Fort Collins & Greeley, CO): Dads get 6 oz free on June 21
• TCBY (Champaign & Shorewood, IL): Dads get 6 oz free on June 21
• TCBY (Northport, AL): Dads get a free small cup on 6/21/20
• Tutti Frutti (Montrose, CA): Buy your froyo and get dad's 50% off on 6.21.20
• Urban Swirl (Granger, IN): Dad's froyo is free (up to 6 oz) with any purchase on June 21, mention Father's Day offer to redeem
• Yo! G's Frozen Yogurt (Poulsbo, WA): Get 25% when you mention the tweet on 6/21/20
• Yogen Fruz (Norridge, IL): Show IG offer @yogenfruz_norridge for 20% off on June 21, 2020
• Yogli Mogli (Niles, IL): Mention IG post to receive 20% off your total purchase on 6/21/20
• Yogurt Hut (Southern Oregon): 15% off shakes & smoothies on 6/21/20, all day at all locations
• Yogurt Beach (Naperville, IL): Dads get 50% off on Father's Day
• Yogurt Mill (Central CA): Father's Day giveaway contest
• Yogurt Mountain (Hoover, AL): BOGO free on Father's Day when you bring dad
• Yogurt Shoppe (Pendleton, OR): Buy a medium cup of froyo and get 50% of a second medium cup on 6/21/20
• Yogurtini Legends & Shoal Creek (Kansas City, KS): Free froyo for dads on Father's Day with another froyo purchase, $5 max discount
• Yomm Yogo (Mexico): Father's Day IG contest
• Yotopia (Iowa City, IA): Froyo pie giveaway contest on Instagram and Facebook
• Yoville (Oroville, CA): BOGO free on Father's Day

For more Father’s Day froyo images, check out the Father’s Day Froyo Pinterest board.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Favorite Locations of Froyo Chains, 2020 Edition, Los Angeles

Fro-yo girl here. It’s been four years since I posted my favorite locations of several froyo chains in Los Angeles County. I recently reread my post from 2016 and realized that none of the locations that I mentioned in that post are still on my list of favorites. Since not all chain locations are the same, I thought it would be helpful to share the best ones in the area.

Though a considerable number of froyo shops have closed since 2016, it’s still true that the chains with the most locations in Los Angeles are Menchie’s, Pinkberry, Tutti Frutti, and Yogurtland. Red Mango has one location, while Yogen Fruz, Orange Leaf and sweetFrog have no locations in Los Angeles. sweetFrog has a few locations outside of LA county.

2016 Favorite: Yogurtland Pasadena (Lake)

Ownership changed in late 2018 and the shop quickly went downhill. There were multiple price increases which made it one of the most expensive Yogurtland locations. Quality and service declined. The old employees left. They weren’t keeping up with promotions.

2020 Favorite: Yogurtland, 927 E Las Tunas Dr D, San Gabriel, CA 91776

I remember when the San Gabriel location first opened in 2013. Service is good, they keep the place clean and they keep up with current promotions. Sometimes I can find the new flavors here early (earlier than the scheduled start of the promotion), which is always a nice surprise. They tend to have more Asian flavors and they have chocolate shell. Prices are average compared to the other Yogurtland locations in the area. Since they sold coupon books, you can get monthly deals on froyo that aren’t available at Yogurtland locations that chose not to participate in the coupon books promotion.

2016 Favorite: Menchie’s Monrovia

Sadly, the Monrovia location closed in 2018. The signs were still up for two years but they’ve finally been removed. A new business will probably open there soon.

2020 Favorite: Menchie’s, 4849 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Valley Village, CA 91607

It’s a tough call because there are so many exceptional Menchie’s locations in the Valley (SFV), including Menchie’s Encino, Northridge, and Valley Village. The Valley Village location is the very first Menchie’s and it feels different. The décor is a bit different and the service is something that every Menchie’s should strive towards. Even the cheerful phone manner makes this location different. It’s always clean and well-stocked. Too bad it’s not closer to where I live.

2016 Favorite: Pinkberry Glendale

I was pretty devastated when Pinkberry closed the Americana (Glendale) location in 2018. It was the best location. The owner took pride in the shop. In 2018, the California Pinkberry shops in Azusa, Original Farmers Market (Los Angeles), Playa Vista, Santa Barbara and San Jose also closed. What a tough year.

2020 Favorite: Pinkberry, 2829 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

I’ve had mixed experiences at the Pinkberry locations in Monrovia, Burbank and Los Angeles (Los Feliz) and I haven’t gone to the Sunset and Beverly Hills locations often enough to judge consistency. Sunset has the most flavors and Beverly Hills used to be the innovation kitchen. If I had to choose between the locations I’ve been to on a regular basis, I’d choose Los Feliz. They’re pretty good about keeping up with promotions and the texture has been better than Burbank and Monrovia.

2016 Favorite: Tutti Frutti La Crescenta

Tutti Frutti La Crescenta closed in 2018 and then moved to a new location in downtown Montrose. The new location opened in August 2019. The new location didn’t have the soy froyo that I liked at the old location. I’ve only been there once.

2020 Favorite: None

I don’t go to any Tutti Frutti often enough to be able to choose a favorite location.

Looking back at the old favorites, I noticed that 2018 was a turning point for all four of them. Two have closed for good.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

21 Choices Frozen Yogurt Crunchy Choices

Fro-yo girl here. When 21 Choices reopened in its new spot on the corner of Fair Oaks and Union, they added vertical batch freezers. These freezers allowed them to offer something new, Crunchy Choices. Basically, it’s like their regular soft serve frozen yogurt, but with bigger pieces of toppings, e.g., brownies, cake, marshmallows, chocolate chips – that is, the froyo is crunchier. I finally tried Crunchy Choices. It’s scooped out of the batch freezer but has a similar consistency to the soft serve with more texture because of the toppings. You can also have them add mix-ins on the marble slab.

Crunchy Choices of the day:

Nutella Caramel Brownie made with Nutella, Guittard caramel, house made brownies & Guittard chocolate chips

Fluffy Peanut Butter made with organic soy milk, natural peanut butter, marshmallows & Guittard chocolate chips. I could see the marshmallows and the chocolate chips. The yogurt had a fluffy, whipped texture which was pleasant. It tasted like peanut butter, so I liked it, but I think the marshmallows made it too sweet.

Crunchy Choices are good choices. They’re as good as the soft serve.

Prices: Small $4.25/ Medium $5.25/ Large $6.25

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

* 21 CHOICES: 44 N Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Nick the Greek Bringing Greek Froyo Throughout California

Fro-yo girl here. While I was feeling sad about how mini chain, Yalla Mediterranean, stopped offering Greek froyo, I was reminded that the Nick the Greek franchise has been growing throughout California. A new Nick the Greek location opened in Ventura on May 23, 2020.

Nick the Greek was established in 2014 by three cousins, all named Nick, and all 2nd generation Greeks. The authentic Greek fare served in a fast casual setting. The specialities are souvlaki and gyros. The first location opened in downtown San Jose. They added Greek froyo in 2018 at one location in San Jose and now offer it at all their locations. They offer one flavor, plain Greek frozen yogurt. You can get it plain or with honey and baklava. I hope they’ll offer a smaller size in the future. The current size is huge.

Nick the Greek currently has 13 locations; 11 of the 13 are in the Bay Area. The Ventura location is their first in Southern California.

The locations and the year they opened are:

• Downtown San Jose, 2014
• Almaden Expressway, San Jose, 2015
• Sunnyvale, 2016
• Willow Glen, San Jose, 2016
• Santa Teresa, San Jose, 2016
• King Road, San Jose, 2016
• Redwood City, 2017
• Stevens Creek, San Jose, 2018
• Morgan Hill, 2019
• Santa Cruz, 2019
• San Carlos, 2019
• Santa Clara, 2019
• Ventura, 2020

According to the Nick the Greek website, future locations will be opening in:

• Gilroy
• Mountain View
• Napa
• Newport Beach
• San Diego
• South San Francisco
• Union City

I can't wait to eat Greek froyo from the new locations! They also make loukoumades, Greek donuts. Donuts & froyo!

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yalla Mediterranean No Longer Serves Greek Froyo

Fro-yo girl here. Some time last year I was in Orange County and on the way back home, I took a detour to Seal Beach for froyo at Yalla Mediterranean. However, when I visited, I was told that the soft serve machine wasn’t working and that it had been broken for six months. The employee said that they probably wouldn’t fix it because of the high cost of the repair. I was told that it would be cheaper to get a new machine than repair the old one. While I was quite disappointed at the time, I didn’t think too much about it.

Recently, I read that the soft serve machine is “broken” at the Yalla locations in Burbank, Culver City, and Walnut Creek. The Seal Beach experience was not an isolated incident. It made me wonder what’s going on with Yalla.

The newer paper Yalla menu does not list frozen yogurt, though frozen yogurt is still shown on the Yalla website, including the online menu. The last Yalla post showing froyo was on November 25, 2018 on Instagram.

From what I can tell, the frozen yogurt is no longer offered at any Yalla location. This is sad because they developed their own recipe for Greek froyo and offered tasty toppings like baklava and chocolate cookies. It was available in one flavor, plain tart. The frozen yogurt was rather icy but it was refreshing and I enjoyed the baklava topping. 

Also, for a few years (2016-2018), you could get a free froyo with baklava there with a Yelp check-in. I went fairly often to get a salad and froyo for dessert. I probably won’t go back there since they stopped offering Greek froyo. Would you still go? The food was decent but the froyo was the main attraction.

Yalla started in late 2014, when Daphne’s California Greek, the Greek fast casual chain, started the new concept. Yalla had a different look, a broader Mediterranean menu than Daphne’s, and an emphasis on sustainability by using local GMO-free ingredients, responsibly raised meat and fish, and eco-friendly packaging. Daphne’s was acquired by Victory Park Capitol Advisers earlier in 2014. The first Yalla location opened in Pleasant Hill, CA in December 2014.

The expansion phase followed, with new company owned locations opening in Northern California first, then Southern California. Most of the new locations were converted from Daphne’s. The last of the new locations opened in 2015.

FAT Brands, a global franchising company that also owns Fatburger, Ponderosa, Buffalo’s Café and other franchise brands, acquired Yalla in December 2018. At the time, Yalla had 7 locations. Since then, no new locations have opened but none have closed either. Yalla is looking for franchisees.

Currently, there are Yalla locations in

• Burbank, CA
• Culver City, CA
• Dublin, CA
• Fremont, CA
• Pleasant Hill, CA
• Seal Beach, CA
• Walnut Creek, CA
• Chicago (delivery only)

On a happier note, Nick the Greek, a fast casual Greek eatery, is expanding rapidly in California (13 locations and counting) and offering Greek froyo.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Menchie’s New Flavors: Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip with Almond Butter & Café Mocha & a New Cup

Fro-yo girl here. Menchie’s had new flavors scheduled to come out in April, but then the coronavirus struck and many Menchie’s locations temporarily closed. Most Menchie’s have now reopened on a limited basis and I noticed a handful mention the new flavors, Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip with Almond Butter and Cafe Mocha.

Froyo samples still aren’t allowed in Los Angeles at this time. I read that some froyo shops in Orange County allow self-serve and provide customers with gloves, and to my surprise, self-serve is back at Menchie’s Eagle Rock. They ask that you use hand sanitizer. The toppings are packed in small cups or plastic bags for safety.

Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip with Almond Butter (vegan) is dairy-free, gluten-free, has no high fructose corn syrup, and is made with no artificial colors or artificial flavors. It sounded promising since I like mint chocolate. And, I did like it. It tasted less sweet and cleaner than the typical dairy-based froyo. The mint wasn’t too strong or toothpaste like. The texture was creamy yet not as rich as a dairy-based froyo. Recommended toppings: Andes Mints, chocolate shell, almonds. The sign did not mention live and active cultures.

Café Mocha froyo is made with real coffee and cocoa and no artificial colors or artificial flavors. It is lowfat, gluten-free ad free of high fructose corn syrup. I like coffee flavored froyo, so I was looking forward to this flavor. I asked the employee what it tasted like, since samples were not available. He said it tasted like chocolate with a coffee aftertaste, that the chocolate flavor was much stronger than the coffee flavor. I found it more balanced and the coffee flavor lingered longer than the chocolate. The texture was smooth and creamy. I tried it again and the chocolate flavor seemed stronger. Perhaps I confused the Mudslide Pie froyo in my cup with the Café Mocha flavor the first time I tried it? Recommended toppings: OREOs, chocolate shell, almonds.

I was pleasantly surprised to find new cups for the Scoob movie. The cups say that there are 7 dog tags hidden in the store and if you unscramble the mystery word, you’ll get a prize. I also picked up more limited edition yellow Sprinkle flower spoons.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.

Yogurtland PremiYUM Rewards Day, June 9

Fro-yo girl here. A few days ago, Yogurtland sent out a save the date, June 9, announcement on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Details were scant but Yogurtland promised something big for Real Reward members.

The details are in. Real Reward members get a special customer appreciation reward, free froyo on Tuesday, June 9, aka PremiYUM Rewards Day. The reward will be sent to the accounts of Real Reward members. The number of ounces was not specified in the Yogurtland email, but it will probably depend on your reward level. 

Joining Real Rewards is free and anyone who joins by June 8 will receive the reward. You can join at any Yogurtland location, on the Yogurtland website, or by downloading the Real Rewards app from the Google Play or App Store. Don’t forget to register by June 8! 

Update: PremiYUM Rewards Day has been moved to June 23.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

Looking for more frozen yogurt news, discussion boards, and resources? Check out the International Frozen Yogurt Association website at http://internationalfrozenyogurt.com/. The IFYA is the independent voice of the frozen yogurt industry.