Your Guide to Kosher Froyo Shops in Los Angeles

Fro-yo girl here. Shana Tova! In honor of the Jewish New Year (aka Rosh Hashanah), I looked into kosher froyo, including what kosher froyo is, who certifies kosher froyo, and where to get kosher froyo.

Kosher dietary laws originate from the Torah and are detailed in the Talmud. Under the Kashrut Laws (aka dietary laws), certain foods like pork, rabbit, and shellfish, are not kosher. Also, meat and dairy products must not be manufactured or consumed together.

While many froyo flavors are certified kosher in their sealed containers, few shops are fully kosher. If the kosher froyo container is opened and the froyo is mixed with non-kosher items, it is no longer kosher.

There are different types of kosher certification and different certification agencies. Broadly speaking, businesses apply to a kosher certification agency and are assigned to a rabbi who is the point person for the account. The rabbi will check the ingredients, production facility, and production to ensure that there are no non-kosher substances and that Kosher Law requirements have been followed. Once the business passes inspection, a contract is signed detailing the requirements and obligations of both parties.

Rabbinic law requires supervision during the milking process but the Orthodox Union ruled that in the United States, the Department of Agriculture’s regulations and controls provides enough assurance that only cow’s milk is sold commercially. Some rabbis disagree with this position and feel Jewish supervision should be required to ensure the purity of the milk.

Main Distinctions: Cholov Yisroel vs. Dairy Chalav Stam

Cholov Yisroel: refers to kosher milk that was produced with full-time Jewish supervision to ensure that the milk is from a kosher animal.

Dairy Chalav Stam: This is a less stringent designation that indicates that the dairy milk wasn’t supervised (i.e., under Jewish supervision) during the production but was assumed pure for other reasons (e.g., government regulation of the dairy industry makes it likely that the milk does not come from non-kosher animals). Commercial milk produced in the US and European Union nations is considered chalav stam.

Kosher Certification Agencies

There are many kosher certification agencies. They tend to be regional since part of the certification process includes a site visit. The main ones serving the Los Angeles area are:

• Kosher LA: Kosher LA is a kosher certification agency that was established in 1994 and is based in LA.
• KSA: the symbol for Pareve, the product does not contain milk or meat ingredients, from the Kosher Supervision of America, the largest kosher certification agency in the Western United States. Pareve foods are neutral and may be eaten with meat or dairy foods. KSA-D is the symbol for kosher dairy from the Kosher Supervision of America.
• Orthodox Union (OU) Kosher: can certify closed containers of froyo and in some cases, the entire froyo shop. “The OU (Orthodox Union) Kosher is the world’s largest and most widely recognized kosher certification agency, certifying over 1,261,754 products produced in more than 3,000 plants located in 103 countries around the world.”
• RCC Kosher: The RCC is a regional agency. The Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) is a non-profit organization of Orthodox Rabbis in California. One of the services they provide is kosher food certification.

Kosher Froyo & Froyo Shops

While hard to find, Los Angeles does have kosher froyo shops, not just ones that serve kosher froyo. Many froyo shops offer kosher froyo though they are not certified kosher shops.

• Abyss Yogurt, 5406 Whitsett Ave., Valley Village, CA 91607, opened inside Abyss Market in February 2022. The fro-yo and toppings are certified kosher by Rabbi Yitzchak Feglin, with two Cholov Yisroel flavors from Klein’s and the other eight kosher flavors from Dannon YoCream.
• Anita Gelato, 18700 Ventura Blvd #120, Tarzana, CA 91356, is the first LA branch of the international gelato chain that was founded in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2002. They offer one flavor of froyo, plain, with unlimited toppings. Anita Gelato is certified Dairy Chalav Stam by Kosher LA.
• Menchie’s (multiple locations) frozen yogurt flavors are certified kosher by Kosher Supervision of America or Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America in their sealed containers.
• Toppings Yogurt, 349 S Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211, is certified Dairy Chalav Stam by Kosher LA. The froyo is self-serve.
• Valley Swirl has two locations: 524 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, California 90036 and 9516 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035. While it’s primarily an ice cream business, they have frozen yogurt, available as a base for their hand-crafted mix-in style soft serve. Everything is RCC Kosher/Cholov Yisroel certified. In addition to ice cream and froyo, they serve puffle waffles, waffle nachos, milkshakes, boba drinks, smoothies, frappes, acai bowls, and hot beverages.
• Yoga-urt serves all organic, plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free, kosher, probiotic, hand-crafted soft serve at three locations: 1407 W Kenneth Rd, Glendale; 2211 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles; 1700 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, Yoga-urt is kosher certified by the International Kosher Council (IKC) under Rabbi Zev Schwartz.
• Yogurtland (multiple locations) serves proprietary frozen yogurt mixes that are produced in a Kosher certified facility and bear the KSA-D symbol of kosher certification.

Did we miss any kosher froyo shops in Los Angeles? Let us 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.

Chobani Zero Sugar Greek Yogurt Review

Fro-yo girl here. Chobani launched a zero sugar line of Greek yogurt back in June 2021. I did see it in stores, but the idea of yogurt sweetened with sugar alternatives didn’t appeal to me (e.g., I did not like Two Good Greek yogurt). But with all the new zero sugar products coming out, including Chobani’s new zero sugar line of yogurt drinks, I decided to give Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt a try. Chobani Zero Sugar has done well thanks to the interest in zero-sugar products.

Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt is made with filtered milk and only natural ingredients. It’s lactose-free and has live and active cultures. The main ingredients are ultra-filtered nonfat milk, water, and skim milk. It’s sweetened with allulose, stevia, and monk fruit.

I found Chobani Zero Sugar yogurt at Target for $1.25 on sale (regular price, $1.69). One cup is 5.3 oz.

Available flavors: Strawberry, Toasted Coconut Vanilla, Vanilla, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Cheesecake, Blueberry, Milk & Cookies, Key Lime Pie, Peach, Black Cherry, Pumpkin Spice, Raspberry, Lemon Meringue Pie

Milk & Cookies: It’s hard to imagine a cookie without sugar. The yogurt was thick and creamy. I was surprised by the whiteness of the yogurt and the lack of visible cookies. It did have a chocolate sandwich cookie flavor but it was more like a hint of cookie flavor. The yogurt seemed very sweet in an artificial way (yes, the sweeteners they use are natural but they have an aftertaste). The flavor was bland, very sweet, and chalky.

Vanilla: This one was smooth and creamy. It tasted sour, rotten, and sweet with a very heavy mouthfeel. It reminded me of glue. One serving is 60 calories, 0g total fat, 5g total carbs, 0g sugars, and 11g protein.

I don’t like Chobani Zero Sugar at all. I don’t think I can finish a cup of it.

1 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.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Takeover Yogurtland in East Hollywood

 

Fro-yo girl here. I reported that Yogurtland had partnered with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem movie by naming a froyo flavor Fr-ooze, giving out special TMNT stickers, and displaying TMNT signs. That’s the extent of the promotion for most Yogurtland locations.

However, the TMNT took over Yogurtland East Hollywood with a party on September 7 with special cups, special flavors, special toppings, and TMNT decorations. The storefront was covered with images of the turtles. The tables had TMNT images. Inside, Donnie, Mikey, Leo & Raph spraypainted their names, had clues on a board, and decorated lockers.

TMNT cups were only available at the East Hollywood location. The cup shows the four turtles and a city in the background.

Raph’s flavor is Sai Strawberry, Leo’s Katana Pop Sorbet, Donnie’s Ube, and Mikey’s Mango Mayhem. Special toppings included green apple syrup ooze and gummy pizza slices. And of course they had plenty of TMNT Yogurtland sticker sheets.

* YOGURTLAND: 1132 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029

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 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Promo, New Stickers

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland dropped a new video yesterday for Fr-ooze and the release of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem movie. Fr-ooze is Yogurtland’s pistachio froyo, renamed.

I visited Yogurtland and saw the TMNT signs. I was told that the pistachio flavor hadn’t changed. They are offering pistachio froyo nationwide through October 1 as part of the promotion.

They’re also giving out TMNT sticker sheets. The stickers feature the TNMT characters, weapons, and a mutant green Yogurtland cup and spoon. Use the stickers to decorate your Yogurtland cup and spoon. The stickers are available while supplies last.

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.

Pinkberry My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Promotion

Fro-yo girl here. September 7 was My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 Day in New York City and Los Angeles. In NYC, various restaurants and businesses offered Greek-inspired treats, products, and gift cards. Five NYC Pinkberry locations gave away My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 froyo special: mini original froyo with granola, honey, and blueberries.

In Los Angeles, six Pinkberry locations participated in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 froyo giveaway and The Great Greek in Sherman Oaks served a free MBFGW lunch special. The participating Pinkberry locations were: Torrance, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, and Burbank.

Pinkberry Burbank had My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 signs and they gave out 250 mini cups of original tart froyo with granola, blueberries, and honey. The taste did make me think of Greece.

The movie is in theaters on September 8 (today). Tickets are available at www.MyBigFatGreekWedding3Tickets.com

I wonder if Pinkberry shows up in the movie?

FYI, Pinkberrygreek was launched nationwide ten years ago. It was a non-frozen refrigerated yogurt that they served in Powerbowls and used to make smoothies.

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.

Yogurt Stop To Close After 15 Years in West Hollywood

Fro-yo girl here. The owners of Yogurt Stop in West Hollywood announced that the shop will close on October 2, after fifteen years. They wrote the following on Instagram, “THANK YOU for 15 unbelievable and amazing years!!! When we opened January 2nd, 2009, YOU made us a healthy business. For the past 15 years, YOU kept us healthy. Because of YOU, we are able to close our doors a healthy business. Our last day of operation will be October 2nd, 2023. Again, thank you for all your support throughout the years. We’ve made many friends and are so grateful. We couldn’t have done it without you. We love you so much! XXX, Marta & Shoshana (and Elf).”

The shop is closing because the landlord chose not to renew the lease and would not give the owners the option to sell and extend the lease to a potential buyer of the business. The owners have had multiple issues with the landlord over the years. Back in 2019, an attorney for the landlords sent the Yogurt Stop owners a Cease-and-Desist letter because Yogurt Stop was selling items other than yogurt. When the owners of Yogurt Stop found a viable buyer, the landlords declined the buyer. It was known several years ago that Yogurt Stop would not be able to renew the lease. They even posted a sign about it at the shop.

It’s been many years since my last visit to Yogurt Stop because it’s nearly impossible to find parking in West Hollywood. I don’t even want to try to find parking most of the time. But I had to visit one last time and I was actually able to find parking a few blocks away in a residential neighborhood. It looked like I remembered only with a lot more snacks for sale. They had some interesting toppings like a UK candy and popcorn drizzled with chocolate. I got a cup of Peanut Butter Princess froyo with peanut butter chips.

Back in 2011, I wrote, “* 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!”

The Yogurt Stop owners describe the concept: “Yogurt Stop built itself on the simple concept of offering superior frozen yogurt, delicious toppings, including many baked in-house and locally sourced fresh fruit and other frozen delights in a fun-filled chilled-out environment. We set out to create not only a self-serve frozen yogurt shop, but an experience where friends, family, co-workers and citizens of the world could come together in a community setting. Yogurt Stop prides itself in providing each guest with prompt, professional, friendly and courteous service.”

There is a for lease sign on the exterior of the shop.

* YOGURT STOP: 8803 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

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 September’s Featured Flavors & Raising Funds for the Fight Against Childhood Cancer

 

Fro-yo girl here. Happy September! Menchie’s has two featured flavors this month, Gourmet Peanut Butter Gelato and Chocolate Dipped Banana froyo made with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. They’ve also partnered with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will collect donations for St. Jude’s in Menchie’s stores this September.

Chocolate Dipped Banana froyo is a returning flavor that was first introduced in January 2021. The flavor is lowfat, gluten-free, and made without artificial colors, artificial flavors, or high fructose corn syrup. I hate bananas, so I haven’t tried the flavor.

Gourmet Peanut Butter Gelato is a NEW flavor that’s “as rich and creamy as your favorite peanut butter and as decadent as gelato.” It’s gluten-free and is made with no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial colors, and no artificial flavors. It does contain real peanut butter and live and active cultures. It seemed thicker, creamier, and smoother than peanut butter froyo. The peanut butter flavor was strong and sweet in a yummy way. Recommended toppings: Butterfinger, Reese’s Pieces, Peanut M&Ms, chopped peanuts.

Menchie’s featured flavors are available for a limited time, while supplies last.

At the register I was asked whether I wanted to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. There were also signs throughout the store about the fundraiser.

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.