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Fro-Yo Frenzy: Class of 2008
With the summer almost upon us, we thought it was time to check back in with our frozen yogurt friends. And while the "fro-yo" craze may have died down a bit since last summer's record number of Pinkberry imitators rushed to market, we anticipate this summer will reveal a new crop of wannabees once the heat comes back in earnest (we are already starting to see a few new spots popping up around town).
While checking back in with some of our favorites from last year (Snowberry, Kiwiberri etc.) we discovered that some changes are indeed afoot in the fro-yo universe. Snowberry? Gone. In it's place? Something called Berry Nutty. And remember Kiwiberri? They are now called Swirl (signage is not yet reflective of the new name, but trust us, Kiwiberri is so over).
We know it's hard keeping up with the myriad yogurt shops all over town, all of them changing flavors (and, apparently, names) faster than you can say "hold the mochi," but here at the Guide, that's what we do.
Below is a list of a few of our favorite fro-yo spots, with new additions aplenty (and we'll update accordingly all summer long). For a complete round-up of spots in Orange County and beyond, please click on the link below for Red Mango. Inside the entry, you'll find a hyperlink to our Calendar Weekend feature from last year with contact info to over 25 spots, from Scoops off of Melrose Ave. to Yogurtland in Fullerton.
Many claim Pinkberry actually borrowed the concept of clean, modern, well-lit stores serving up creamy fro-yo from this Korean chain. In 2007, Red Mango USA opened up its first location in Westwood to reclaim the fro-yo crown.
Formerly Snowberry (aka Mr. Snowberry, R.I.P.), Berry Nutty opened in May of 2008 with a new concept. The small store in a K-town strip mall is now self-serve (.30 per ounce), with around eight rotating flavors of creamy yogurt to choose from.
A new entry into the great fro-yo frenzy (2008 edition), Yogurt Star has one thing its competitors would kill for: a great location. Located smack dab in the middle of tourist-laden Hollywood Blvd., Yogurt Star has a good chance of making it this year.
Yet another straight-from-Korea import, Yogurberry does not disappoint in the taste department. After a somewhat shaky start in 2007, the growing nationwide chain is now serving up a dizzying array of flavors.
Paris Hilton has been known to frequent this popular Hollywood shop, which offers free samples of such flavors as mango and blueberry. Popular toppings include fresh fruits (they have an amazing array of fruits here, including lychee and exotic melons), almonds and chocolate chips.
The taste that launched a thousand parking tickets, and almost as many imitators. We like this location of Pinkberry better than almost any other branch (there are now over 25 other locations) in SoCal, mostly because of the nice patio in front.
Formerly Kiwiberri (a court case threatened by Pinkberry last year might have had something to do with the new name, perhaps?), Swirls' modus operandi remains the same. That means similarly tart and tasty fro-yo, with toppings such as mochi and fresh fruit ready for frosty consumption.
Yogotango used to distinguish itself from the fro-yo pack by offering up a flavor so odd, it was delicious. That flavor? Tomato. That's right, kids, tomato.
Count on a line at this flagship Little Tokyo shop, which is actually a Korean-owned chain. Fro-yo faithful swear by CeFiore's rasberry-pomegranate yogurt and new locations are opening up all over the state.
Dana and Adam Caldwell have been making friends since they opened their stylish, pay-by-weight shop in May of 2007. Flavors such as Georgia Peach have proved very popular at the Valley Village hotspot, which is very kid-friendly.
