The End of Yalla Mediterranean

 

site of Yalla Burbank

Fro-yo girl here. Back in June 2020, I wrote about how Yalla Mediterranean was no longer serving Greek froyo at any of their locations. Once they stopped serving froyo, I stopped going, of course. In March 2021, I noticed that half of Yalla’s locations had closed. Now I’ve learned that all their locations have closed.

Yalla Culver City, Walnut Creek, and Burbank closed about a year ago. Yalla seems to have closed in Culver City in February 2022. The last Yalla post on Instagram and Facebook was made in April 2022.

The Yalla space in Burbank is going to become Dave’s Hot Chicken.

Yalla was a new concept from Daphne’s that launched in 2014. Their Greek froyo was a bit icy but I did like it. I appreciated the small portion which was perfect for dessert. 

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.

Half of Yalla Mediterranean Locations Have Closed

Fro-yo girl here. Last June, I mentioned that Yalla locations were no longer serving Greek froyo. Now I’ve learned that half of Yalla’s locations have closed. Last year, pre-pandemic, Yalla had branches in the following cities:

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

The Fremont location at 3141 Mowry Ave. closed and the space has been taken over by Nick the Greek, the fast casual Greek chain which happens to serve Greek froyo. It looks like it closed at the end of 2020. It opened in 2016. I used to go fairly often because if you checked in on Yelp, you’d get a free Greek froyo with baklava. The food was decent, healthy, and reasonably priced. But once the froyo machine broke, the food didn’t seem as good either. The portions got smaller. The broken froyo machine seemed to be a sign that they weren’t making an effort to maintain their standards.

Yalla Seal Beach, 12420 Seal Beach Blvd, opened in 2016 and seems to have closed in September 2020. I went once for froyo but the froyo machine was broken. The machine worked for two years and the it seemed like they “broke” at every Yalla location. The froyo was always on the icy side but it became icier over the years.

The Yalla Dublin location at 5246 Dublin Blvd opened in November 2015 and closed for good some time during the 2020 pandemic (hard to say when exactly since it was probably a temporary closure that turned permanent), maybe in the fall or late summer? It became a Nick the Greek as well.

Yalla Pleasant Hill, 55 Crescent Dr Ste F, opened in December 2014 and may have been open earlier this year. Yelp says it is permanently closed and the location is no longer on the Yalla website. Yalla Pleasant Hill was the first location. It was a new concept from Daphne’s California Greek, with 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 and FAT Brands in December 2018.

As of March 2021, only Burbank, Culver City, Walnut Creek and Chicago remain open. Those locations do not serve froyo. I used to go to the one in Burbank for froyo but once they stopped offering it, I stopped going.

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 Burbank Froyo Guide

Fro-yo girl here. Back in 2015, I visited every place in Burbank, CA that offered soft serve froyo and found six froyo shops. Since that time, Pit Stop Froyo and Yumz Express went out of business. Otherwise, not that much has changed. No new froyo shops have opened, although Yalla Mediterranean offered Greek froyo for about 2-3 years. Yalla (1781 N Victory Pl) is part of that huge strip mall off the I-5. The casual Greek eatery opened in October 2015. I used to come for their Greek froyo, which is made with their house recipe. They had one flavor, plain, which I enjoyed topped with baklava. For years, you could check in on Yelp and get a free Greek froyo w/ a topping. The soft serve machine seems to have broken down, just like it has at their location in Seal Beach. Froyo is no longer on the menu, so I don’t have a reason to eat there.

Where you can get froyo in Burbank:

• Yogurtland (304 N San Fernando Blvd.) is in downtown Burbank. I like this location (it’s friendly and clean), but it’s across the street from Pinkberry, so I tend to go to Pinkberry instead. It’s not that I go to Pinkberry more often, but there are fewer Pinkberry locations than Yogurtand locations. I usually go to Yogurtland closer to home.
• Yogurtland (2400 W Victory Blvd.) is in a strip mall called Landmark Shopping Plaza closer to the airport. I’m rarely in that area but I’ve had a few pleasant visits there. It’s the highest reviewed froyo shop in Burbank, based on Google Reviews.
• Pinkberry (120 E Palm Ave.) is across from the AMC Burbank 16 movie theater in downtown Burbank and it has the distinction of being the first self-serve Pinkberry location. There are 12 self-serve froyo flavors a day and your typical Pinkberry toppings bar (fresh fruit, popping boba, mochi, candy, nuts, cookies, sauces, Nutella, granola, coconut, cheesecake, brownies, cereal, waffle cookies, and luxe toppings) for 49 cents an ounce. It’s very similar to a regular Pinkberry only with more flavors, larger cups and the self-serve format. Surprisingly, the price hasn’t changed in years. It was 49 cents when I wrote the post in 2015 and it’s still 49 cents. I used to like to visit this location because they had more flavors and sometimes even test flavors, but during a recent visit, the texture of the froyo was way off. 
• Menchie’s (3800 W Verdugo Ave) is in a strip mall. The ownership changed over a year ago and it’s actually gotten better since then. They renovated the shop. It seems cleaner and friendlier now. They also had a new flavor that I had a hard time finding closer to home.

Interestingly, all the froyo shops are self-serve. The froyo shops that closed definitely weren’t as good as the ones that are still open. Yumz was horrible and Pit Stop was okay. Burbank never had innovative froyo options.

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.

Froyo Wish List for 2017

Fro-yo girl here. It’s the new year and time for my ninth annual froyo wish list. Before I share my wishes, I’d like to review my 2016 wishes.

My 2016 wishes:

* Going to more countries to try their froyo (e.g., Llaollao, Frozen by a Thousand Blessings, Sour Sally, Berry Culture, The Local Frozen Yogurt, Pick Yo)

Update: This didn’t happen. I didn’t even leave California.

* I'm still looking for good tart froyo at the supermarket (or popsicles).

Update: Jeni’s Ice Creams always makes wonderful froyo. While they’re carried by supermarkets, very few carry their frozen yogurt flavors. However, I live in LA, so I can always go to the Jeni’s scoop shop for froyo.

* Collecting froyo spoons from other countries, including the Hello Kitty spoon from Yogen Fruz Mexico, the Hello Kitty spoon from Yoppi Yogurt Taiwan, Moyo spoons, Sour Sally hand spoons, etc. I still need Joji spoons from Florida.

Update: I didn’t have any luck with the spoons I mentioned but a friend brought back some special froyo spoons from Norway.

For 2017, my froyo wishes are:

• To try Pinkberry Pops: They’re now available in UAE, KSA, Lebanon, Qatar and Turkey. I would love to try one without traveling to the Middle East!
• To try Llaollao: Llaollao seems to be everywhere (e.g., Russia, Slovenia, Cambodia, Uruguay, Chile, El Salvador) except North America.
• For Menchie’s to add flavor finder feature on the Menchie’s My Smileage mobile app: I’d like easy access to list of flavors carried by specific Menchie’s locations
• For Daphne’s Greek to be converted to their new concept, Yalla somewhere close to me: I’d like a closer Yalla so that I can get my Greek froyo w/ baklava fix on a regular basis. I’m obsessed. I doubt Souvla SF would open here any time soon.

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.

Baklava Froyo, Froyo Topped with Baklava

Fro-yo girl here. Did you know that today is National Baklava Day? Baklava is good on its own – the papery thin layers of filo pastry, chopped nuts and honey or sugar syrup – but it is dense, sweet and rich.

Baklava happens to be the perfect froyo topping, for plain froyo. It’s not as sweet or rich when paired with a light, tangy froyo. I became obsessed with baklava topped froyo when I had it at Souvla in San Francisco. Mini-chain, Yalla, also serves plain Greek froyo with baklava in Northern and Southern California. And it’s been spotted at the Pago cart and GRK in NYC, Yiaourtaki in Greece and Blu Spoon in Australia.

Turkey Hill had a baklava flavored froyo but I never had a chance to try it. Turkey Hill isn’t available in California, I think.

I found a recipe for homemade froyo with baklava: http://www.kalofagas.ca/2013/08/02/homemade-frozen-greek-yogurt/

Check out my Pinterest board for pictures of froyo with baklava: https://www.pinterest.com/froyogirl/froyo-with-baklava/

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.

Hidden Froyo Gems 2016

Fro-yo girl here. What’s a hidden froyo gem? It’s a place that doesn’t have a clearly visible froyo sign. It’s a place that you might not expect to see froyo. Also, I’m limiting the list to places that serve good froyo.

I haven’t written a post about hidden froyo spots since 2008. It’s definitely time for an update. All but one of the Bay Area shops in the 2008 post have closed. This new list is for Southern California.

* LOHA’S FRESH MART (300 W Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801): LOHAS Fresh Mart is the healthy, organic Asian market that opened recently in downtown Alhambra. Head to the deli for a big cup of organic frozen yogurt. They only have one flavor.

* NICOLE’S GOURMET COFFEE & CHOCOLATE (928 S Western Ave., Ste. 145, Los Angeles, CA 90006): Located in Koreatown Plaza, Nicole’s is a popular Korean café that serves coffee, patbingsoo, taiyaki and frozen yogurt. They only have one flavor of frozen yogurt, plain/original, but it’s a good flavor and $4 gets you a big cup piled high with frozen yogurt.

* SPREAD MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN (334 S Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90034): The Middle Eastern food is tasty and you can get a mini housemade Greek froyo with topping for just $2.50. It’s a casual place so it’s easy to stroll in, order your froyo at the counter and go.

* SUNNY BLUE (2728 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405 & 12608A Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066): Sunny Blue has the best omusubi (Japanese rice balls). They’re made to order with warm, furikake topped rice and generous amounts of tasty, healthy Japanese fillings like miso beef, shiso ume, tuna, spicy salmon, etc. Both of their shops are adorable and both offer froyo (2 flavors a day) that they've flavored themselves. The toppings included red beans, Pocky, yuzu jam, Hello Panda, strawberries, etc.

* YALLA (multiple locations in CA, http://www.yallamedi.com/): Yalla has a set up that’s similar to Chipotle only they serve Mediterranean food; you choose your style/base and choose your protein, sauces and toppings. They have one flavor (plain) of Greek frozen yogurt that’s available with honey, chocolate, sour cherry sauce or chopped baklava. The small size is just right for dessert. Their froyo is their own proprietary recipe.

Did I miss any hidden froyo gems in Southern California? If so, let me know.

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.

New Chain Review: Yalla Mediterranean

Fro-yo girl here. The race is on to be the next Mediterranean version of Chipotle. Yalla is a new concept from the owners of Daphne's California Greek chain. Yalla launched in Pleasant Hill in 2014 and now has 7 locations in the Bay Area and Southern California. They have that assembly line where you choose your style/base and choose your protein, sauces and toppings. Choose a wrap, salad, or plate. Then pick a protein (falafel, shawarma, kabobs), add sides, toppings and sauces. 

I won’t go into too much detail about the food since what I really care about is their Greek frozen yogurt. The Greek frozen yogurt set up reminds me of SF’s Souvla. They use the same Carpigiani machine, offer only one flavor (plain), and offer similar Greek toppings.

The yogurt is apparently a “special house recipe.” It’s available with honey, chocolate or sour cherry sauce for $2.25 or with chopped baklava or chocolate pita crumbles for $2.95. It’s a small portion but good for dessert.

How was it? Souvla’s Greek frozen yogurt is definitely better in terms of flavor and texture; it's creamy, smooth and tastes like yogurt. Yalla’s frozen yogurt is smooth but icy and it tastes like original tart yogurt. Yalla's sour cherry syrup isn’t very sour but it’s very good with yogurt.

The frozen yogurt was disappointing and the food was as well. Their hummus was so salty. The falafel was salty too. But Chipotle is also a sodium bomb, so maybe people will like their extra salty food.

I’m hoping that San Francisco's Souvla or GRK opens in SoCal one day. Or maybe Spitz will add froyo. GRK, which got its start in NYC, recently opened a location in Dubai but they aren't present on the West Coast yet.

* YALLA: 3141 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA 94538

3.5 out of 5 stars

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.