To be served, or self-serve? That is the question to ask in the world of froyo these days.
Frozen yogurt phenoms such as Pinkberry, Cefiore and Red Mango are blazing trails across Southern California.
But, there’s a few self-serve concepts popping up in the region, claiming to offer more variety and value in the trendy and healthy world of frozen yogurt. Among them are Buena Park-based Cherry on Top and Yogurtland.
In Orange County, Cherry on Top, which charges 39 cents an ounce, plans to open new self-serve froyo shops in Old Towne Orange, Santa Ana, Brea, Yorba Linda, Buena Park, Lake Forest and Tustin, according to the company’s website. Other shops are also planned in Lompoc, Santa Monica, Pasadena and San Diego. (List of Cherry on Top locations)
Yogurtland, which charges 30 cents per ounce at its self-serve froyo cafes, has nine Orange County shops. It plans to build four more by the end of the year in the following locations: Anaheim Hills, downtown Fullerton, UC Irvine, and the Market Place in Tustin. For addresses, see Yogurtland’s directory.
“Orange County has been very receptive to our concept,” said Terrence S. Chan, Yogurtland’s director of franchise development. “Prior to our expansion (in O.C.), many guests drove from San Diego and L.A. just to visit one of our stores. There have been many nights when we have encountered hundreds of people lining up, waiting to taste our unique, proprietary flavors.”
That’s great. But, having visited both self-serve shops, I have to say the jury is still out for me.
The pros: I like serving myself because I can combine flavors and control my toppings without paying more. As Yogurtland’s Chan mentioned, self-serve froyo shops also offer a slew of flavors such as mango, blueberry, vanilla, plain tart, cheesecake and cookies and cream.
I wish Pinkberry and Red Mango would come out with a few more flavors. Although, Pinkberry just announced a new Italian-inspired dessert called the Granita.
The cons: It can get pretty cramped at these self-serve machines. Note the photo above showing the elbow-to-elbow line at the Yogurtland in Tustin during a recent week night. I also think Pinkberry, Yogurberry and Red Mango serve a better tart yogurt. Although, this L.A. website said Yogurtland beat everyone in a blind taste test.
In the end, I do feel like I’m getting more flavor and variety for less price at self-serve froyo shops. What do you think when it comes to frozen yogurt? Self-serve or be served?
Related stories:
- Forget froyo. We still scream for ice cream, new survey says
- New Pinkberry CEO has ties to Starbucks
- O.C. is ground zero for froyo wars
- Golden Spoon tests tart froyo to compete with Pinkberry, others
- Cefiore beats Pinkberry with 6th O.C. froyo shop opening
- Cold Stone Creamery testing Pinkberry knock-offs
- Red Mango to Pinkberry: I’m real yogurt
- Starbucks chairman to invest in Pinkberry
- Pinkberry’s frozen swirls now legit
- Pinkberry settles fake frozen yogurt suit
Nancy
you are complaining about the same thing you often criticize. You wish that pinkberry would come out with more flavors. But i dont know how many times i have read you write that concepts are over complicating their menus and adding TOO many choices. . oir arent focusing on core products . . . .the less flavors you have the more consistency you should have and the ability to keep your costs in line to still turn a tidy profit while offering good value to your guests.
Dear Aidacra: Thanks for being a detailed Maven reader. I have to say, I’m not sure what concept you are talking about.
Maybe Starbucks? Yes, I have asked the chain — “Why so many new products?” But, I’m holding Starbucks to the fire on that one, because the chain has said it was going to focus more on coffee, not food. On Pinkberry, all they offer is froyo, and I’m simply asking for more flavor variety — not food.
hope that helps.
Not sure what all the comotion is about. I have tried all the above places and wouldn’t go back to any of them. Pinkberry is the worse, Yogertland is too icy, Redmango is bland and boring.
TCBY is better than any of these. Else give me real icecream.
Yuck I find TCBY to be the worst.. There’s one down the street from me and I never go there. I’ll go twice the distance to find a Golden Spoon.
I love the new froyo shops. I especially like Yogurtland and Cherry on Top because I can self-serve and get all the toppings or different flavors that I want. I can also get a very small snack and only pay a couple bucks, unlike Red Mango, Pinkberry and the like. Now that there is a Cherry on Top close to my house, and a Yogurtland next to my work, I’ll never have to go far for froyo!
and you didn’t mention G.A.Y. ????? Great American Yogurt is by far the BEST!
I haven’t caught onto the froyo fad. I tried a Pinkberry once and thought it was OK, but can’t see going there regularly at $5-6 per serving. They’ve opened up all over OC now, but I rarely feel the urge to visit one again.
Went to a Cherry Top once when it opened up nearby. I did like the more variety of flavors and toppings and the self-serve aspect, but still too pricey to be regularly eating this stuff, even at 39 cents/oz. I think my cup weighed about 14 oz., so it was still about $5-6.
Also seen a couple of Swirls locations. Even got a 50% off coupon in the Clipper magazine for the Newport location, but unsure if I’ll even use it.
I guess I still prefer the taste of ice cream over froyo.
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I prefer self-serve. I like Yogurtland, it’s pretty good. I prefer tart yogurts though and I find that YL doesn’t have as many tart options as I’d like.
By far, my fav tart yogurt place is in Orange called Bliss. It isn’t self-serve but the staff there is really great and you never feel rushed. Their tart yogurt is WONDERFUL and they have at least 8 flavors to choose from. I wish they would open more locations though. It’s a bit of a drive for me to visit them and seeing that YL is opening a shop in Anaheim Hills I will probably be more inclined to go there.
I like that we at least have some choices for frozen yogurt in OC. I haven’t tried Pinkberry, Red Mango or Bliss yet, but I do love Golden Spoon & Cherry on Top. P.S. if you sign up for Cherry on Top’s email newsletter, you get coupons for buy one get one free all the time.
Nothing beats the Very Berry Sundae at your neighborhood COSTCO food court. Try the chocolate with berries for variety. And it’s under $1.50 with tax for a substantial portion.
Quite a bargain, but melts pretty fast.
Self-serve Froyo is starting to spring up here in North San Diego County too. We recenlty got a Frugos near us and there is another one in the works. There are 2 other shops going in nearby as well. It’ll be interesting to see if they all make a go of it. We don’t have any of the stores mentioned in the article yet, so maybe a couple of the new ones going in will be one of those. We do have a GS, but it’s a bit of a drive and not in my normal direction. I like going there, but I think I do prefer the self-service type of place. I do wish there was somewhere to put lids on though (which they give you to do yourself as well) without holding up the line!
I hate Golden Spoon. I think it’s by far the worst. When I lived in Irvine I loved going down to Yogurtland because it’s only .30 an oz. I’m glad they opened one up in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach recently. I just love that they have more flavors to choose from even though I always end up mixing plain with blueberry tart and taro flavor. It’s so good when you put bananas and fresh blueberries on it with a little bit of granola. I’ve tried Red Mango and it was ok, but I’m really stuck on loving Yogurtland. Pinkberry made my mouth feel weird and my throat was itchy after eating it.
I hate it when people say “froyo” by the way.
self serve yogurt shops are opening up everywhere, its seems where ever i turn there’s a new one…im a bit of a yogurt fanatic and im always looking for that quality and consistency and i think i finally found it. its a new chain that just got started in san juan capistrano and az too i think, called Mojo Yogurt. soooo good a must try, a little more expensive than others at .44 cents an ounce but so worth it