Pinkberry Friday (It’s Free!)

Pinkberry is releasing their new flavors today: Coconut and Passion Fruit

To celebrate the new flavors, Pinkberry is giving out free yogurt from 5-9pm. My co-worker and I went at 4:50 and waited about 10 minutes in line. The sample is a size small with 2 toppings.

I chose Coconut with mochi (Japanese rice cake that has gummi like texture) and shredded coconut. Definitely my new favorite flavor. Hope you get your free sample at your local Pinkberry!

Edit: Sad news everyone, but these new flavors have replaced the Green Tea flavor. Pinkberry only serves: Regular (tart), Pomegranate, Coconut, and Passion Fruit. It’s an unjust world.

Trader Joe’s Plain Nonfat Frozen Yogurt

Pleasantly Tart with active cultures

It is my latest find at Trader Joe’s. Well, it’s not really my latest find. I’ve been eating this for a few weeks now, but have been unable to post about it because I am so overcome with excitement and happiness about it that I forget to take a picture. Finally, after finishing my nightly bowl I remembered to take a picture of the aesthetically pleasing container. It’s tart. More tart than Pinkberry. It also has active cultures too (something Pinkberry doesn’t have). You can tell this when you bite into it because it tastes so similar to yogurt. However, it is almost custard like in texture. Not what I initially expected, but delicious.

Yoku Yoku

Pumpkin Pie and Peanut Butter: Happiness in a Cup

Yoku Yoku
11146 Palms Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-0571

Yoku Yoku

I went here for the first time about two weeks ago. I have fallen in love. It has become my new favorite frozen yogurt place. As you can see below, the pros outweigh the cons which makes this place rank very high. I was tempted not to write about it because I wanted to keep it my little secret, but then I decided I wanted to share it with the world ten people.

The cons
-Kinda far from where I live; farther than Bigg Chill (it’s practically in Culver City)
-Completely furnished with the predictable “Ikea” style

The pros
-Close to a Trader Joe’s (2 birds, 1 stone)
-Not as busy as Bigg Chill
-Takes credit cards ($5 minimum, so you HAVE to get a large with toppings)
-Parking lot is not too crowded or overwhelming (like Bigg Chill)
-You’re practically in Culver City so you might as well go get a glass of wine at Bottle Rock
-Pretty wide selection of flavors (tart, chocolate, vanilla, cookies and cream, peanut butter, specials for the week)
-Menu offers nutritional information (allowing me to know that I am eating way too much)

I am a simple girl and ordered Peanut Butter and Chocolate. No toppings necessary, even though they had mochi. Peanut butter is my favorite flavor ever and Yoku Yoku’s seems to have the best recipe for it. So if you too enjoy Peanut Butter frozen yogurt, you should go try it. Or if you just like frozen yogurt, check it out.

Yoku Yoku
11146 Palms Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(310) 391-0571

Red Mango

Stopped by Red Mango last week to see if it was in anyway like Blue Mango. Turns out the answer is No, it’s not like Blue Mango at all. Instead, it is exactly like Pinkberry. Red Mango has two flavors: Plain Tart and Green Tea. They have the standard toppings of fruits and cereals. I chose the Twist of Tart and Green Tea with mochi. It tasted so similar to Pinkberry that I would probably have to try them side by side to distinguish the real differences. I think that Red Mango might be less tart as Pinkberry, though. Red Mango claims that their yogurt is fat-free, gluten-free, and certified Kosher. If there were one closer to me (there are only 10 total located in Southern California), I would place it in the yogurt rotation more often to add “variety.” If you need your yogurt fix and enjoy the taste of Pinkberry, then there is a high chance that you will also like Red Mango.

Red Mango
3101 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: 310 664 9600
Hours: noon-11pm
Other Locations

Tutto Tutti

I recently read on the LAist that Tutto Tutti on Melrose is the best frozen yogurt in Los Angeles. Those are some brave words! Naturally, I had to check this place out. All their yogurt is organic and from the pyramids of Horizon Organic Nonfat Yogurt tubs (which you can kind of see in the picture) I am guessing that is the yogurt they use. They do not have a website up yet, but here is what I gathered from just being there.

They have six flavors:

1. Virgin - Plain Organic Yogurt

2. Double Wonder - Sea Salt and Caramel mixed in with Plain Organic Yogurt

3. Seven - 7 Healthy Whole Grains Blended with Plain Organic Yogurt

4. Super Bee - Ginseng, honey infused in with Plain Organic Yogurt

5. Freckle Snow White - Black Sesame Seeds and Plain Organic Yogurt

6. White Velvet - Vanilla Organic Yogurt

Along with their unique flavors they also have different toppings: Balsamic Raspberry Reduction, Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce, Balsamic Berries, Banana Nut Berry, Candied Walnuts, and probably a few more that I don’t not remember. No kiddie cups here, one size fits all. The yogurt starts at $4.50. If you add 1 “layer” (topping) you add 1.00 to your total. If you add 2 “layers”, you add 1.50 to your total. If you add 3 “layers” you add 2.00 dollars to your total. Yes, they take credit cards! But, you can’t tip on the receipt, if you’re into that sort of thing.

I sampled and enjoyed all flavors, but one really stood out for me. Call me boring, but I ordered the White Velvet with Balsamic Raspberry Reduction and Banana Nut Berry (more of just Bananas and nuts). The White Velvet is creamy and thick. Out of all the yogurt places I have tasted, this is on the more custard side of textures (which I love). The vanilla is sweet and subtle, but stands out (especially in comparison to the other flavors made with plain yogurt). I greatly enjoyed the balsamic raspberry reduction and thought it worked well with both the bananas and the yogurt. I hope to go back again. It is organic, delicious, and they have a parking lot! Don’t be fooled though, there are approximately 8 parking spots with 10 minute only signs AND the lot is shared with a California Chicken Cafe. So it might be one of those just go at night when street parking is free places. They also have organic coffee, but I forgot to look at that menu because I was so excited about frozen yogurt. In the end, I cannot say that it is the best frozen yogurt in Los Angeles, but I can say it certainly does rank high in my book. It’s worth checking out.

Tutto Tutti
6803 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Get Directions(323) 939-9424

Blue Mango

I recently stopped by Blue Mango on Sunset with my roommate. It is bright, blue, and clean inside and there was no line because it was a weekday afternoon. I noticed immediately that there was a large variety of both frozen yogurt flavors and toppings.

The flavors, which are all kosher (UO-D), are: Plain Tart, Blue Mango (which is their crazy bright blue colored tart yogurt), Peanut Butter, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Coffee, and a Flavor of the Day.

The toppings available are: carob chips, yogurt chips, butterscotch chips, mini m&ms, white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, reeses chips, sprinkles, gummy bears, mochi, oreos, pecans, cashews, peanuts, sliced almond, hazel, walnuts, pistachios, strawberries, pear, kiwi, blueberry, mango, peach, blackberry, lychee, raspberry, pineapple, peanut butter crunch, apple jacks, captain crunch, fruity pebbles, honey bunches, coco pebbles, granola, and coconut. So many decisions!

I sampled the Blue Mango flavor, but the novelty of the neon blue colored tart yogurt was not enough. Instead, I ordered Peanut Butter with Mochi and Blueberry. I know it sounds a little weird, but it was delightful. The peanut butter yogurt was not too creamy but not too icy, nor was it a dominating flavor to the toppings. I love mochi/rice cakes and am thankful they do not sell it at stores (or I don’t know what stores they sell it at) because I would snack on it all the time. I enjoyed the yogurt, but the location is too far away for me. Their brochure says they validate 30 minute parking at 1114 Hilldale Street from 11am-8pm and then at 8961 Sunset Blvd from 8pm to close. However, I don’t know if that means free. They also take credit cards!

Blue Mango
8961 Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Get Directions(213) 590-4545

Hours:
Sunday - Wednesday: 11am-12am
Thursday - Saturday: 11am-2am