Orange County Froyo Guide: Huntington Beach

 

Cool King

Fro-yo girl here. Huntington Beach in Orange County, a city of 200,000 inhabitants is known for its beaches and surf culture. It’s also been the home of many froyo shops, past and present. Great American Yogurt, 19073 Beach Blvd, was one of the oldest, if not the oldest froyo shop, in Huntington Beach. The family-owned shop closed in late 2019. I’m not sure when it first opened. Golden Spoon, 8915 Atlanta Ave Ste A, is still open and has been serving Huntington Beach since 1996. It’s still counter serve and keeping up the old school froyo flame. Golden Spoon is a chain that started in Southern California.

There are four remaining self-serve froyo shops.

• Cool King, 7011 Warner Ave, is the independent self-serve shop that opened in 2014. Like Yogurtland, it offers 16 self-serve froyo flavors a day. During my visit, I was impressed with the froyo texture, range of toppings, cleanliness, and customer service.
• Holsom by Yogurtland, 7598 Edinger Ave. is the remodeled and renamed concept from Yogurtland that opened in November 2020. Holsom by Yogurtland offers wholesome, delicious and affordable options including hot and cold beverages (no coffee), savory toasts, sweet toasts, grain bowls, acai bowls and Yogurtland soft serve froyo, ice cream, and sorbet. This the currently the only Holsom by Yogurtland location.
• Yogurtland, 9961 Adams Ave., opened in 2008. It was the first Yogurtland in Huntington Beach.
• Yogurtland, 18525 Main St., opened in Five Points Plaza in 2016. It was the third Yogurtland location to open in Huntington Beach. The location on Edinger opened in 2013.

Here’s the list of former froyo shops in Huntington Beach:

• 33 Degrees Gelato & Yogurt, 10061 Adams Ave # 101, from 2011-2014. The successor to Yo Yum Yum added gelato and continued to offer self-serve froyo. The space is now occupied by Poki Poki.
• Beach Cities Yogurt & Gelato, 16895 Beach Blvd, from 2007-2009: Known as the first tart froyo shop in HB, Beach Cities had froyo and gelato. It was the only Shakeaway in Orange County.
• Cefiore, 200 Main St, Ste 109, from 2007-2011: This was the first Cefiore to open in Huntington Beach and it was near the beach. The counter-serve froyo shop specializing in tart froyo was often compared to Pinkberry.
• Cefiore, 6846 Edinger Ave, from 2007-2009: The second Cefiore to open in Huntington Beach received favorable reviews while it was open.
• Cherry on Top, 7011 Warner Ave, 2008-2014: This was a popular self-serve froyo shop. In 2014, Cool King took over the space. In between Cherry On Top and Cool King, it was called Super Cool briefly.
• Fresh Yogurt, 16556 Bolsa Chica St., from 2010-2013: This self-serve froyo shop offered 10 flavors a day.
• Menchie’s, 19694 Beach Blvd, from 2008-2016: This location offered 14 self-serve froyo flavors a day.
• Pinkberry, 7811 Edinger Ave #116, located in Bella Terra, 2007-2017: Ten years of swirling – not too shabby. It was counter-serve and it sounds like it was dirty and run down towards the end.
• Shakeaway, 120 5th St, from 2015-2018: The global UK milkshake chain was not technically a froyo shop but they did offer froyo. I went there once but the froyo machine was out of order and they didn’t know when it would be fixed (sounded like it had been out of order for awhile). They mixed ingredients into the froyo.
• SweetXO, 7631 Edinger Ave Ste 151, from 2014-2015. The short-lived sweets emporium featured Established in 2012 in California, SweetXO is an independent social, lifestyle and shopping concept self-serve Xogurt, baked goods, soda, candy, apparel, gift and décor items.
• Whipp’d, 15887 Gothard St, from 2014-2017. Named after Dole Whip, Whipp’d offered Dole Whip, Carbolite, shave ice, Blue Bell ice cream, and more.
• Yo Yum Yum, 10061 Adams Ave # 101, from 2008-2011: Another self-serve froyo chain, Yo Yum Yum had a few locations in Southern California. The Huntington Beach location it was renamed 33 Degrees Gelato & Yogurt in 2011.
• YogiBella, 15887 Gothard St, from 2013-2014.The self-serve froyo shop also offered juices and smoothies.
• YogiBerry, 15887 Gothard St, from 2011-2013. YogiBerry was sold in 2013 and became YogiBella.

As the home of the first Holsom by Yogurtland and the only Shakeaway in Orange County, Huntington Beach has seen plenty of froyo activity.

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.

 

Holsom by Yogurtland Grand Opening Coverage

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland (7598 Edinger Ave.) in Huntington Beach, CA has been remodeled and renamed Holsom by Yogurtland. The grand opening of the new Holsom by Yogurtland concept was this morning at 9:30 AM on November 14, 2020. Spaces were marked to maintain social distance. The first 100 guests received a wristband and a scratch off card. One of the cards had a prize of one year of free Holsom. Mine was for a free entrée. Yogurtland associates handed out samples to those waiting in line. There was also a DJ and an outdoor tent for dining. Indoor dining is currently not allowed.

Only a few people were allowed inside at a time. Orders were placed at a kiosk, with a Yogurtland associate wiping the screen between each guest. The interior was modern looking with white being the main color and light wood accents, a look reminiscent of the newer Yogurtland design. Holsom employees had Holsom masks, hats and aprons.

Holsom by Yogurtland offers hot and cold beverages (no coffee), savory toasts, sweet toasts, grain bowls, acai bowls and Yogurtland soft serve froyo, ice cream, and sorbet. The emphasis is on wholesome, affordable, delicious options. Toasts are $5.99-$7.99, grain bowls $5.79-$7.29, and acai bowls $4.95-$7.75. The full menu is online.

The froyo is currently full service. They did away with half of the machines, so Holsom will offer 8 flavors a day with toppings. There are three sizes, mini ($3.99), signature ($4.99) and premium ($6.99). Samples are not offered. I heard that the plan is to offer self-serve again, once it is safe to do so. The toppings bar is much smaller.

I had the avocado toast with a matcha green tea latte. The toasts are pretty good. They chose good bread. Also, the bread is thickly sliced, so it’s actually filling. I’m not so sure about the drinks (the matcha latte was way too sweet), dressings and sauces. Also, the menu seems more appropriate for summer than winter. A winter grain bowl would have roasted veggies and squash. I’m craving soup, roasted veggies, and mac & cheese these days.

Good luck to Holsom by Yogurtland!

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.

Holsom by Yogurtland Concept Revealed

 

Fro-yo girl here. Thanks to my obsessive internet froyo research, I was the first to write about the new Holsom by Yogurtland concept. The official announcement from Yogurtland followed a few weeks later. My guess that they would soon launch a new concept was correct. Holsom by Yogurtland is expected to open in mid-November at 7598 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92647. This is the site of a current Yogurtland shop, one that will be remodeled and become Holsom by Yogurtland.

Holsom by Yogurtland will provide healthy, delicious and affordable grain bowls, sweet and savory goumet toasts, handcrafted beverages and Yogurtland’s frozen yogurt. Some of the menu items will include Everything Egg Toast, Roasted Tomato Basil Toast, Southwest Crunch Toast, made-to-order grain bowl flavors such as Classic, Thai Peanut, Greek and Chipotle Southwest, Ricotta & Berry Toast with fresh blueberries, and customizable sweet bowls such as Strawberry Banana Granola or Peanut Butter with acai and sweetened chia pudding as base options. The menu will also feature handcrafted beverages such as Strawberry Lemonade Fresca, Strawberry Mint Sparkler and Pineapple Green Tea. Sounds good. Who doesn’t like grain bowls and fancy toasts? The bread has to be really good though.

Keep up with what’s going on at Holsom by Yogurtland on Facebook and Instagram.

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.