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.

21 Choices Pasadena Reopens, More Types of Vegan Bases on the Way?

Fro-yo girl here. Is it just me or does it seem like 21 Choices Frozen Yogurt has been closed a lot these past few years. The renovation of their old space on Colorado Blvd. took forever and then they moved into a brand new spot around the corner. Space NK, the beauty retailer, took over their old spot. Then they closed right before the safer at home order was issued. I think they closed on 3/16 and no updates were provided after 3/18, until they reopened on May 22.

They quietly reopened just in time for Memorial Day weekend. I visited to see if anything had changed. They’re making their non-dairy soft serve with housemade oat milk now. The employee had a face shield on and the yogurt and toppings are behind a shield as well. Mix ins are still available. Everyone who enters is required to wear a mask.

I tried their non-dairy oat milk soft serve for the first time, opting for Peanut Butter Coconut mixed with toffee chips. The toffee chips took over the flavor and made the pb and coconut seem mild, but the base was fairly creamy. It tasted pretty clean with a hint of oat flavor.

I hope the soy milk base will still be offered. I did see some soy milk in the fridge, but not much of it. It’s so hard to find soy-based soft serve/frozen yogurt. They also had cashew milk, almond milk, and macadamia milk in the fridge.

I’ve been going to Old Town Pasadena periodically during the safer at home order and many businesses remain closed, including restaurants and retailers. Only a handful are open for takeout, like True Food Kitchen, Motto Tea Café, and Starbucks. Some retailers are offering curbside pickup. Madewell is behind on rent. The food hall on Union and Fair Oaks is expanding and taking over the old Gap and Crate & Barrel spaces.

There hasn’t been much foot traffic in the area for months. It could be tough for that area for a long time if the crowds don’t return. 

P.S. 21 Choices just reopened in Claremont Village (Claremont, CA) as well.

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.

21 Choices Pasadena Looks About Ready to Open

Fro-yo girl here. I was in Old Town Pasadena for the Wanderlust Creamery grand opening (September 20) at the old Coolhaus space inside Indiana Colony when I walked by 21 Choices. The custom counters have been built and the froyo machines have been delivered. They removed the paper that covered the windows. Most of the lights have been installed. Based on what I saw, it looks very close to opening…

Meanwhile, the Yogurtland space is still unoccupied and Jamba Juice is returning to their Old Town location, the one that’s been dormant for years. One Zo just opened because we needed another boba place in Old Town. I am sad that Midori Matcha closed but it was a terrible location with very little foot traffic or even car traffic.

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

* 21 CHOICES: 44 N Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103

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 Pasadena Moving Day

Fro-yo girl here. 21 Choices last day at their Old Town Pasadena location (85 W Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA) was yesterday, December 30. Today they were moving out their signs, machines, and equipment. They will reopen in early 2019 at the corner of Fair Oaks & Union at the new food hall. The old location has its windows papered over but the door was open and there was a truck and trailer parked on De Lacey filled with items from 21 Choices.

At the moment, the only froyo shop in Old Town Pasadena is Yogurtland. Yogurtland is open on New Year’s Eve from 11 AM – 6 PM and New Year’s Day from 12 PM – 10 PM. Regular hours resume on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

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 to Move to Another Location in Pasadena, CA

Fro-yo girl here. 21 Choices is moving soon to a new location, not far from their current location in Old Town Pasadena. The new location will be the corner of Fair Oaks and Union – in a new food hall that’s currently under construction. Expect the move to take place in early 2019.

I love the current location – it’s so central. It will be hard to see it become something else…

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.

Future Froyo Shop Picture: Bloomfield Creamery to Take Over The Blissery Space in Pasadena

Fro-yo girl here. The space that Yoguroo occupied that later became The Blissery will be occupied by yet another dessert shop. The sign is up for Bloomfield Creamery. According to the banner, Bloomfield Creamery will offer ice cream, edible cookie dough and of course, frozen yogurt.

While Pasadena has many places to get froyo, these locations are concentrated in west Pasadena. Bloomfield Creamery will serve northeast Pasadena/East Washington Village. It won’t be the first business in town to offer edible cookie dough; 21 Choices has been making its own cookie dough for years. However, I don’t think there’s a cookie dough place in east Pasadena and edible cookie dough has become the treat of 2017.

I took a peek inside and it didn’t look that different from before – the counter was still in the same place and there were tables and chairs on the left.

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

* BLOOMFIELD CREAMERY: 1727 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104

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 Pasadena – It’s Back

Fro-yo girl here. Pasadena froyo eaters, the day you’ve been waiting here has finally arrived. After ten long months, during which their building was being seismically retrofitted, 21 Choices has reopened as of today, April 22, 2017. The marble slabs aren’t working though, so they’re only doing soft serves this weekend.

The opening flavors are:

• French vanilla
• Old school chocolate
• Simply yogurt (plain tart)
• Princess peach 
• Circus animal cookie
• Nutella malt
• (Non-dairy) Peanut butter pretzel: Made with natural peanut butter, pretzels, chocolate chips and organic soy milk
• Root beer float

I like getting the soy milk non-dairy soft serve when it’s available. It’s one of the few places to get soy based froyo. Their peanut butter flavors are great too.

The interior looked similar to what I remember. Mix-ins will be available this Tuesday.

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

* 21 CHOICES: 85 W Colorado Blvd., 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.

21 Choices Pasadena to Reopen Any Day Now

Fro-yo girl here. I know I’ve posted several updates about 21 Choices reopening. The retrofitting of their building took longer than anticipated. However, I do have good news to report. Today, the window shades at 21 Choices were down for the first time in months and I spotted four people inside. One guy was polishing the floors. The shop looks ready to reopen. They even had froyo in the machines today and some toppings…BUT they are waiting on one last permit, so they’re not sure exactly when they will reopen. It will be any day now – tomorrow, Sunday or Monday is the best guess. And yes, they really missed you too.

The other businesses in that building have all reopened, including a new clothing retailer from NYC.

Check 21choices.com – if you see the flavors listed for Pasadena, you’ll know that they’ve reopened. This is my last update till they actually reopen. 

UPDATE: They'll reopen on April 22, Earth Day!

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

* 21 CHOICES: 85 W Colorado Blvd., 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.

21 Choices Pasadena IS Reopening Soon

Fro-yo girl here. It’s been a long time since 21 Choices brought smiles to the faces of Old Town Pasadena visitors. Their building was closed for months for earthquake retrofitting. Some despaired that 21 Choices would never reopen.

Good news Pasadena froyo eaters. Progress has been made and the 21 Choices equipment has been taken out of storage. The froyo machines are back.

The new sign says that they are “hiring for store opening in late February-March.” 21 Choices Pasadena is almost back.

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

* 21 CHOICES: 85 W Colorado Blvd., 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.

21 Choices Pasadena to Reopen Next Month?

Fro-yo girl here. The white spray that they sprayed the windows of 21 Choices with has started to wear away. The building retrofit is taking forever. While there is no new sign at the location, the 21 Choices website now says, “The construction to our building seems to be finishing up! We do not have an opening date yet but are hoping to be back next month.”

Meanwhile, you can stop by and peek inside. The 21 Choices sign is still up and you can see the menu 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.

21 Choices Pasadena (Temporarily) Closed, Building Undergoing Earthquake Retrofit

Fro-yo girl here. Bad news, Pasadena froyo eaters – 21 Choices is closed indefinitely while their building undergoes earthquake retrofitting. The closure affects the other tenants that share the building as well: Father Nature Lavash Wraps and Sunglass Hut.

A sign in the window of 21 Choices says “we are told that we will have to close for about 4 months.” They list their other locations in Claremont. They’ll be back and the building will be safer than ever. It will be a long four months though. Miss you already, 21 Choices.

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

* 21 CHOICES: 85 W Colorado Blvd., 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.

21 Choices Customer Appreciation Day

Fro-yo girl here. Today is 21 Choices Free Day (aka Customer Appreciation Day), a thirty year tradition. All 21 Choices locations are participating by providing guests with their choice of a small frozen yogurt all day.

At the Old Town Pasadena locations, there are 6 flavors to choose from and you can get more than one flavor plus free toppings.

Pasadena free fro-yo flavors: 

• Madagascar Vanilla Bean
• Belgian Chocolate
• Oreo Cookie Magic with Oreos, cookie dough and rainbow sprinkles
• Nutella Chocolate Chip
• Non-Dairy Build Me Up Butter Cup with natural peanut butter, carob chips, flaxseed oil and organic soy milk
• Baja Strawberry with fresh strawberries and mangos

The line moves quickly and they’re still happy to give you free samples.

Thanks 21 Choices! Love you too.

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

* 21 CHOICES: 85 West Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104 

About 21 Choices

“Gourmet frozen yogurt made fresh all day long using only the best and freshest ingredients available. 21 Choices uses only the best and freshest ingredients like fruits, nuts, chocolates and coffees to make each and every yogurt. 21 Choices will make almost any yogurt your imagination can think of right in front of you in our Mix-in machines or on our frozen table top. Additionally, we make 6 different gourmet soft serve choices everyday that are unmatched anywhere.”

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.

Pasadena Fro-yo Report: Fro-yo vs. Cupcakes

Fro-yo girl here. Lovely Pasadena, the 9th largest city in Los Angeles County, has quite a few fro-yo options. While the line always seems to be the longest at 21 Choices, several fro-yo shops in town closed last year including Cantaloop, Frozziyo, and Yoguroo.

I’ve mentioned 21 Choices several times on this blog. It’s similar to Cold Stone Creamery only with fro-yo as a base and better toppings than CSC. The mix-ins are added to your fro-yo on a cold slab and mixed together. 

In Old Town, other fro-yo options include Pinkberry (a smaller location), Moka Cafe, TCBY/Mrs. Fields, Jamba Juice and Cold Stone Creamery. TCBY and Cold Stone Creamery offer scoopable fro-yo. Jamba Juice has a mix-in style similar to Yogen Fruz. 21 Choices has many more mix-ins than Jamba Juice. Moka Cafe offers two flavors of fro-yo a day (not self-serve) and feels more like a coffeehouse than a fro-yo shop.

The self-serve frozen yogurt shops are closer to CalTech and Pasadena City College. Buzio’s and Cherry on Top are both self-serve fro-yo shops. Buzio’s is independently owned while Cherry on Top is a SoCal based chain. Cherry on Top also offers pretty good tea based drinks there, including boba milk tea.

The nearest Yogurtland is several miles away in Alhambra, while Menchie’s, Buster’s and Penguin’s offer fro-yo in South Pasadena.

I’m pretty sure that there are more cupcake shops in Pasadena than fro-yo places. Once you reach Alhambra, fluff ice and boba tea places seem more popular than fro-yo. 

If I had to pick a favorite fro-yo shop in Pasadena, I’d choose 21 Choices. Some of the fro-yo flavors that have candy and cookies mixed in are so good! Plus the flavors are more customized. Try the Circus Animal Cookie fro-yo. 

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

* 21 CHOICES FROZEN YOGURT: 85 West Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104

21 Choices Customer Appreciation Day

Fro-yo girl here. Yesterday (November 20) was Customer Appreciation Day at 21 Choices Frozen Yogurt and they were giving away free small fro-yos all day long. There were six fro-yo flavors to choose from and complimentary toppings too (sprinkles, graham cracker crust, whipped cream). You could get more than one flavor.

Pasadena free fro-yo flavors: Circus Animal Cookies, Vanilla Bean, Valhorna Chocolate, Pumpkin Pie, Reeses Peanut Butter Cup, Fresh Strawberry

Yesterday they weren’t offering custom mix-in fro-yo flavors. There was one line, the line for free fro-yo. The line moved quickly. You could still ask for samples.

The small cup of fro-yo was a generous size and my fro-yo tasted just like Circus Animal Cookies (it had bits of Circus Animal cookies).

This is an annual event, so look out for it around the same time next year. 21 Choices announced the event on their Facebook page and Twitter account.

Thanks 21 Choices!

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

* 21 CHOICES: 85 West Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104

Los Angeles Fro-yo Treasures

Fro-yo girl here. Los Angeles...the capital of fro-yo, fro-yo central, fro-yo land. I like to visit several times a year to immerse myself in SoCal fro-yo. My favorite tart fro-yo shop has closed and other good tart fro-yo places have also closed their doors, but I was still able to find special fro-yo shops. These places excel in...sweet fro-yo and each one stands out in a sea of fro-yo shops.

* 21 CHOICES (locations in Pasadena, USC & Claremont): it's been around for in Pasadena for years and years, before the tart fro-yo explosion and it looks sure to survive the fro-yo meltdown. They make their own unique flavors, soft serve blends with cookies, fruit, candy pieces, and more. You can get the soft serve (6 flavors a day, they change daily) or add mix ins and/or toppings. And the mix ins - wow, they have donuts, cupcakes, cookies, cheesecake, tiramisu - everything. They even use organic ingredients when possible. Super fresh and super good.

* FROST FROZEN YOGURT (1848 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA): They have as much fro-yo variety as a self-serve shop, 10 flavors a day, and the soft serve sorbet and soft serve gelato flavors are top notch. The fro-yo toppings were really fresh, sampling was encouraged. Tasty all around.


* YOGURT STOP (8803 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA): the fiercest fro-yo shop I've ever been to - filled with attitude. The fro-yo flavors have the best names, like I'm Coming Out Cake Batter, Lezbionic Tonic, and Milk My Harvey Chocolate. And they have plenty of best of fro-yo awards too. The toppings bins are overflowing and the fro-yo tastes great. They also encourage sampling unlike some self-serve fro-yo places. Fun!

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