Showing posts with label new froyo shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new froyo shops. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

The Miami Froyo Rankings

Fro-yo girl here. I visited Miami to check out all the new froyo shops and rank them. I had the tart froyo at six shops. Four were dedicated froyo shops and two were not. Here’s my ranking from my most to least liked:


#1) MELI Frozen Yogurt, 210 NE 98th St, Miami (Miami Shores), FL 33138

MELI was my favorite froyo in Miami. They make their own Greek-style froyo with clean ingredients. It’s sweetened with allulose, a naturally occurring sugar found in foods like maple syrup and dried figs. It tastes like sugar but has 90% fewer calories than sugar and doesn’t raise your blood sugar.

During my visit, there were two froyo flavors: tart and cinnamon. Ask for samples. For toppings, they had honey, condensed milk, sauces, nut butters, fresh fruit, jams, toasted coconut, chocolate chips, housemade crunches (baklava, pavlova), housemade granola, crushed pistachios, pistachio kataifi, etc. The toppings labels had information on allergens.

Prices: Small, $6/ Medium $9/ Large parfait with 3 toppings, $12. Regular toppings are $0.75 each. Premium toppings are $1 each.

Small tart froyo with housemade baklava crumble: At 6 oz of froyo, this was the right size – not overwhelming but a good amount of super creamy, super smooth, very thick yogurt that did not melt quickly. I loved that there was a hint of sourness and a good amount of tang. The baklava topping was crunchy but not that sweet. This felt and tasted like premium froyo with a premium topping.

The cinnamon froyo flavor had the same tart yogurt base, I think. It was good and similar to the tart. The cinnamon wasn’t overpowering.

The place is very small but cute with a blue and white theme. There was only one table and three chairs outside, and an upholstered bench near the window.

MELI opened on November 19, 2025.




#2) MYKA Greek Frozen Yogurt, 551 Lincoln Rd #5, Miami Beach, FL 33139

MYKA, founded in Madrid, Spain, opened its first US shop in Miami Beach on December 8, 2025. It had the longest lines and possibly the best toppings (tied with MELI). The froyo is counter-serve. It’s made with imported Greek yogurt, pasteurized milk, and goat kefir.

Available flavors: Natural Greek yogurt, yuzu yogurt, blood peach sorbet

Toppings were kept in blue and white bowls with wood spoons. I spotted coconut flakes, chocolate chips, granola, baklava, crumbles, pistachio kataifi, cacao nibs, honey, olive oil, compote, fresh fruit, etc. It was a bit hard to see all the toppings because of the crowd of people waiting to order.

Prices: Kids with 1 topping, $7.90/ Regular with 2 toppings, $9.90/ Large with 3 toppings, $11.90. A regular takeaway tray with 3 toppings was $20 or $25 for a large takeaway tray. Extra toppings were $1.25 each.

Regular Natural Greek yogurt with berry crumble and baklava: Both the texture and taste were superior. The texture was very creamy and thick. It did not melt quickly. The flavor was a little less sweet than usual, with a distinctive flavor that was like yogurt plus something extra (from the goat kefir?) and a slight sour note. The baklava was crispy but not very sweet. The berry crumbles tasted like a cookie crumble, only berry-flavored and not that sweet.

The interior was white with a woven white fabric above and blue accents. There was no seating inside and no seating set up outside either.





#3) Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, 900 S Miami Ave, Suite 172, Miami (Brickell), FL 33130

VL’s downtown Miami Brickell location opened on March 19, 2026. It was the first VL outside of NY to offer VL froyo. The froyo is made with A2 Bulgarian yogurt and cane sugar.

There were four froyo flavors available:
  • Tart
  • Matcha (non-tart), the best-seller
  • Strawberry (tart)
  • Chocolate (non-tart)
The toppings were displayed on the counter in white bowls. They included fresh fruit, toasted coconut, sprinkles, mochi, nuts, granola, gummy bears, sauces, crumbles, strawberries in syrup, cherries, honey, whipped cream, sauces, etc. They had more toppings than the other shops that I visited.

Prices: Small with 1 topping, $7.95/ Medium with 2 toppings, $9.25/ Large with 3 toppings, $10.25

Tart and Strawberry froyo with fresh strawberries (small): The texture was creamy and smooth, though I found it wasn’t firm enough. Both the tart and strawberry flavors tasted like real yogurt with natural tang. The strawberry flavor had little strawberry flavor, though.

This location is also an ice cream scoop shop with over two dozen flavors, including vegan options. They had basic flavors like vanilla bean, chocolate, and strawberry, but also interesting flavors like Earl Grey tea, key lime pie, and strawberry matcha latte. You could also add a cookie. One scoop was $7.95. I’d much rather have a small froyo with toppings than a scoop of ice cream. You can also pick up a pre-packed pint of ice cream from the freezer.

The shop was spacious with a long yellow tiled counter and yellow wall tiles. They also sell froyo hats and t-shirts.




#4) Tata’s Yogurt Bar, 2992 McFarlane Rd, Miami (Coconut Grove), FL 33133

Tata’s Yogurt Bar is an upscale, stylish Greek froyo shop in Coconut Grove with a European vibe. It’s just steps from the beach. The Greek froyo was developed in-house. It is made with no refined sugar and lightly sweetened with local raw honey. I was told that it was made with four ingredients.

The idea is that you can customize the yogurt, including the sweetness level, to your liking. Add more honey if you prefer a sweeter froyo. The toppings were kept on the counter in white bowls. They carry healthier toppings, including honey, olive oil, fresh fruit, housemade granola, housemade nut butters, toasted coconut, honeycomb, fig preserves, cacao nibs, etc. The pistachio butter is the most popular topping.

In addition to froyo, Tata’s also offers baked goods (made for them) and smoothies.

During my visit, there was one froyo flavor available. They are working on adding new flavors.

Prices: Small, includes one topping, $10; Medium, includes 2 toppings, $12; Large, includes three toppings, $15. Additional toppings are $1 each.

Tart Greek froyo (small) with almond butter on the side: The cup was small but the 6 oz portion felt satisfying. The froyo was smooth and clean-tasting. It was less sweet and mild in tartness. I could taste the honey. It was pleasant but not as flavorful (possibly because it was lightly sweetened). It wasn’t as rich and creamy, but it was thick, firm, and smooth. I liked that it did not melt quickly, and it tasted lighter and healthier. The almond butter was rich and creamy; it might have been sugar-free (I’m not sure). Pharos was more flavorful, but Tata's had better toppings, was cleaner in flavor, and had better texture (firm).

Tata’s opened on February 3, 2026, and is named after the founder’s grandfather. The interior is serene with soft, neutral colors, lots of curves, light wood, and plants. The interior smelled fabulous.



#5) Pharos Greek Frozen Yogurt, 110 Washington Ave CU9, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Pharos is a bit hard to spot as it shares a space with Sandwich Qbano. Look for the counter to the left of the entrance.

There were two froyo flavors available: plain Greek Yogurt and hazelnut.

The toppings were displayed in white and blue ceramic bowls on the counter. The toppings are healthier and include fresh fruit, nuts, granola, coconut, cacao nibs, crumbles, zero sugar spreads, kataifi pistachio crunch, honey, olive oil, matcha powder, etc.

Prices: Small, one topping, $7.99/ Medium, two toppings, $9.99/ Large, 3 toppings, $11.99

Plain Greek Yogurt with chopped pistachios, small: The froyo was smooth, creamy, and had more air than average. It also tasted sweeter than Tata’s, Meli, Plants & Bowls, and Myka. There was a bit of an icy edge. It tasted like yogurt but also had a distinctive taste. It was moderately tangy. The texture was softer, and it melted more quickly.

The hazelnut froyo had a mild hazelnut flavor and was also creamy and sweet.

The décor is Greek-inspired with lots of white and blue. There is limited seating inside (two small tables). Pharos opened in November 2025. It is counter-serve.



#6) Plants & Bowls, 140 NE 39th St #241, Miami, Florida 33137

Located inside MIA Market, an upscale food hall in the Miami Design District, Plants & Bowls is a clean-eating concept offering fresh juices, shots, superfood bowls, salads, smoothies, and wraps. They added Yōva Greek yogurt ice cream, made with 2% milk and no sugar, in March 2026.

One scoop is $6, and toppings are $1. While the menu says one scoop, it’s served as a swirl out of a soft serve machine. Toppings include fresh fruit, granola, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, chia seeds, nut butters, agave, honey, maple syrup, and sugar-free syrups. There was one flavor, plain.

Greek froyo: The texture was thick but not as creamy as some of the other Greek froyo places in Miami. The main issue is that it did not taste like yogurt. The flavor was faint in general. It tasted more like cream. It was not tangy. On the other hand, I appreciated that it was less sweet. In terms of flavor, it was on the bottom of my list of Miami froyo shops.

The toppings didn’t look as appealing as the other Miami froyo shops. However, in terms of value, the portion was larger than average and the price was reasonable.

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

I skipped Go Greek Yogurt because I’ve been to the California locations many times. I prefer MELI and MYKA to Go Greek. Go Greek's texture is creamy but too soft. The froyo is also too sweet.

It's so interesting that all of these new shops are counter-serve. I also spotted a lot of sugar-free and no sugar added yogurt and toppings. The toppings are better and healthier as well. And most places charge based on cup size, bundling the cost of a topping or two in that price. 

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.



Saturday, December 20, 2025

California Froyo Shop Openings and Closings in 2025

Pinkberry, Santa Clarita



Fro-yo girl here. I’ve been tracking froyo shop openings and closings all year. This year, I found 36 new businesses serving froyo in California, including seven new Nick the Greek branches, four new Menchie's branches, four new Golden Spoon branches, and three new Pinkberry branches. 

This was slightly more than 2024, when I found 30 new businesses that serve froyo. 

I found seventeen froyo shop closings in 2025 (vs. 14 in 2024). Two froyo shops were lost in the LA wildfires. The two shops had the same ownership, and they also closed another location primarily due to the strain from losing two shops.

My goal is to track any new venue that serves froyo in soft serve form, including restaurants, convenience stores, pop-ups, froyo trucks, froyo trailers, vending machines, amusement parks, stadiums, etc. It's easier to track openings, since they're usually announced, but many places close quietly.

With 25 new froyo businesses set to open in 2026, that's considerably more than the eight we found at the end of 2024. Notably, Yogurtland plans to open 13 locations in California in 2026.

Businesses are listed in alphabetical order with the location noted.


Openings


  • The Farmacy, San Francisco
  • Gelato Sweet Spot, Poway
  • Go Greek, Newport Beach
  • Golden Scoop, Rancho Palos Verdes
  • Golden Spoon, Fountain Valley
  • Golden Spoon, Laguna Beach
  • Golden Spoon, San Marcos
  • Golden Spoon Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Menchie’s, Cameron Park
  • Menchie’s, Clovis
  • Menchie’s, Madera
  • Menchie’s, Manteca
  • Myka, San Diego
  • Neptune’s Frozen Treats, Palos Verdes Estates
  • Nick the Greek, Ceres
  • Nick the Greek, Laguna Niguel
  • Nick the Greek, Mira Mesa, San Diego
  • Nick the Greek, Modesto
  • Nick the Greek, North Hollywood
  • Nick the Greek, Palo Alto
  • Nick the Greek, Stockton
  • NuYo Frozen Yogurt, Solana Beach
  • Pinkberry, Citrus Heights
  • Pinkberry, Roseville
  • Pinkberry Santa Clarita
  • San Froyo, Daly City
  • Slo Yo, San Luis Obispo
  • Sunnyside Swirlz, Fresno
  • SweetFrog, Clovis
  • Sweets & Swirls, Los Angeles (cart)
  • Swrlies (trailer), Los Angeles
  • Yogo Berry, Tracy
  • Yuja Kitchen, San Francisco
  • Yumi Yogurt, Redwood City
  • Yummy Spoon, Chula Vista
Of the 32 new businesses serving froyo in 2025, two were mobile units (6%) and eight (25%) were eateries (and not primarily froyo shops). A surprising 49% are counter-serve.
 

Not New, Added Froyo


  • Scott's Malibu Mart, Malibu


Closings


  • Active Culture, Long Beach
  • Amazon Go, Woodland Hills
  • Bon Bon Berry, Los Angeles – might be turning into a bakery
  • Cantaloop, Los Angeles
  • Frog Frozen Yogurt, Hollywood (April liquidation)
  • Got Scoopz, Livermore
  • Jayna Gyro, Roseville
  • Sprinkles on Top, Elk Grove
  • SweetFrog, Lancaster
  • Sweet Spot, Escalon 
  • Toppings Frozen Yogurt, Pacific Palisades (fire)
  • Tutti Frutti, Tracy
  • Urban Desserts, Gold River
  • Valley Swirl, Los Angeles (mostly an ice cream shop but they do have mix-in froyo)
  • Yogofina on Lakeshore, Oakland
  • Yogurt Flavors, Bellflower
  • The Yogurt Shoppe, Pacific Palisades (fire)
  • The Yogurt Shoppe, Santa Monica (couldn’t keep open after the fire)
Of the 16 closures, several shops were over a decade old, including Bon Bon Berry (2014), Cantaloop (2007), Frog Frozen Yogurt (2012), SweetFrog (2014), Toppings (2012), Yogofina (2010), Yogurt Flavors (2009), and The Yogurt Shoppe Pacific Palisades (2011). The owners of The Yogurt Shoppe and Toppings plan to rebuild the shops.

New Ownership


  • Jus Chillin’, Palm Springs
  • Simon’s Frozen Yogurt & Dole Whip, Murrieta
  • Simon’s Frozen Yogurt & Dole Whip, Temecula
  • Tutti Frutti, Canyon Country, Santa Clarita
  • Tutti Frutti, Palm Springs


Coming Soon


  • Cuppa Yo, Danville
  • Froyo and Fido, Simi Valley
  • Go Greek, Brentwood, Los Angeles
  • Go Greek, Larchmont, Los Angeles
  • Go Greek, San Diego
  • Golden Spoon, Santa Clarita
  • Golden Spoon, Aliso Viejo
  • Lillie Yogurt, Beverly Hills
  • SLO Froyo & Italian Ice, San Luis Obispo
  • Swirlicious, Newbury Park
  • Toppings Frozen Yogurt, Pacific Palisades
  • Yogurtland, Carlsbad
  • Yogurtland, El Monte
  • Yogurtland, Gilroy
  • Yogurtland, Oceanside
  • Yogurtland, Ontario
  • Yogurtland, Pleasanton
  • Yogurtland, Rancho San Bernardo
  • Yogurtland, Redwood City
  • Yogurtland, San Diego (2)
  • Yogurtland, San Leandro
  • Yogurtland, San Mateo
  • Yogurtland, Sunnyvale
  • The Yogurt Shoppe, Pacific Palisades
It looks like 2026 is going to be a good year for froyo. 

Did I miss any froyo shop openings or closures in California? 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. 

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

2024 California Froyo Shop Openings and Closings

Go Greek, Studio City


Fro-yo girl here. I’ve been tracking froyo shop openings and closings all year. I found 30 new froyo shops and shops that aren’t primarily froyo shops but serve froyo in 2024. This is considerably less than last year, when I found 41 new places for froyo. In 2022, I found 46 new places that serve froyo. However, I always find more new froyo shops after publishing this post, so the number will most likely increase. 

Of the 30 new places for froyo in 2024, 20 are froyo shops, two are mobile froyo units, and seven are non-froyo shops that offer soft serve froyo. Most of the new shops are not part of a large franchise. Last year’s growth was driven by Nick the Greek, which opened 11 new branches in California. This year, Nick the Greek opened seven new branches in California.

I found sixteen froyo shop closings and six ownership changes. Two closings resulted in a name change and a replacement with another froyo shop.

My goal is to track any new venue that serves froyo in soft serve form, including restaurants, convenience stores, pop-ups, froyo trucks, froyo trailers, vending machines, amusement parks, stadiums, etc. It's easier to track openings, since they're usually announced, but many places close quietly.

Businesses are listed in alphabetical order with the location noted.

Openings


  • Aggie Yogurt, Davis
  • Cuppa Yo, Dublin
  • Easy Breezy, Walnut Creek
  • Go Greek Yogurt, Studio City
  • Golden Spoon, Tustin
  • Golden Spoon, Irvine
  • Golden Spoon, Oceanside
  • Got Scoopz, Livermore
  • Kulfi Cone, Yuba City (mobile trailer)
  • Lol Yogurt, Santa Maria
  • Rainbow Froyo, Benicia
  • Rainbow Frozen Yogurt, Moreno Valley
  • Spoon and Cone, West Hollywood
  • Supermoms to Go, Ceres (froyo trailer)
  • Top A Lot, Gilroy
  • Tutti Frutti, Montebello
  • Yoberries, Fresno
  • Yoga-urt, Granada Hills, Los Angeles
  • Yogurt Lounge, Murrieta
  • Yogurt Mill, second truck
  • Yogurtland, Santa Monica
  • Yokli Yogurt, Manteca
  • Yum Yum Yogurt is back in Kingsburg, California. It was Yum Yum Yogurt, then it was The Froyo Co, and now it’s Yum Yum Yogurt again

Not a Froyo Shop but Serves Froyo


  • Nick the Greek, Berkeley
  • Nick the Greek, Santa Barbara
  • Nick the Greek, Pinole
  • Nick the Greek, Greenbrae
  • Nick the Greek, Yorba Linda
  • Nick the Greek, Santa Maria
  • Nick the Greek, San Mateo

Closings


  • Apizza & Loving Cup, San Francisco (Fillmore)
  • Culture Shock, Grass Valley
  • The Froyo Co, Kingsburg
  • Froyology, Montebello
  • Golden Spoon, Upland
  • Got Scoopz, Livermore
  • iYogurt, Brentwood
  • Kalamaki, Los Angeles
  • Menchie's, Thousand Oaks
  • Pinkberry, Redlands
  • Sweetie’s Ice Cream Shop, Santa Barbara
  • The Sweet Stuff, Buellton
  • Yogurt Farms, Santa Rosa
  • Yogurtland, Santa Monica
  • Yogurtland, Almaden Expressway, San Jose
  • Yogurtland, Madera

New ownership


  • CoCo Swirl, Pleasant Hill
  • Heavenly Yogurt, San Diego
  • Menchie’s, San Fernando
  • Menchie’s Rancho San Diego, El Cajon
  • Spoons Frozen Yogurt, Porterville
  • Tiger’s Yogurt, Stockton

Future Shops


  • Golden Spoon, Laguna Beach
  • Menchie’s, Manteca
  • Menchie’s, Cameron Park
  • Menchie’s, Clovis
  • Menchie’s, Madera
  • Nick the Greek, Palo Alto
  • Nick the Greek, Ceres
  • Pinkberry, Roseville

Since I find out about openings and closings after publishing my post, I’ll keep updating this post. Did I miss any openings or closings? 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.