Imitation Pinkberry

[Julefish]

Has anybody tried any of these places? I have noticed Kiwiberry among others. Any thoughts?

[foodhuntress]

I tried the Yogurberry in the Mainplace Mall in Santa Ana. After a spoonful, I couldn't eat any more, and had to throw it out. It tasted -too- yogurty. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be like that.
On the other hand, I'm a huge fan of Yogurtland in Irvine! Perfect tart taste in so many flavors! (and cheaper than pinkberry)

[jellybeen]

i LOVE yogurberry on wilshire. they have different flavors that taste like real fruit. you can even see the actual seeds in the blackberry flavor. the flavors keep changing and they give a lot of toppings which they have a pretty big selection of. there's free parking and the space is huge.

[bsantoro]

I went to the local Pinkberry, wanted to see what all the fuss was about, hated it, how can they say it taste Italian, I dont think anyone here has had Gelato in Italy, well I have and it doesnt taste like anything Italy would have.There yogurts and Gelato's are cremey and they dont have all those fresh fruits there. I never tasted such junk

[nancyc4fun]

bsantoro - Ditto. We just got a new Pinkberry in Westlake Village. I sure don't see what all the fuss is about. I think the froyo at Costco is better! And yes, I have also had the original in Italy and it is completely different. No comparison. Sorry Pinkberry - meh.

[kevinucla2000]

sorry man.. even tho pinkberry is not my 1st choice, but it's much better than cthe froyo at Cosco!

[SauceSupreme]

Isn't Pinkberry actually an imitation of Red Mango in Korea?

[Das Ubergeek]

"Yoguberry" is opening in the food court at Santa Ana Mainplace this summer (along with Beard Papa). It's odd to me that things like that would have any shot in, er, Santa Ana.

[aurora50]

Any imitation Pinkberry's around my neck of the woods (Ontario, Calif)?

[amandine]

I have to say I'm really disappointed to see my favorite froyo spot, 21 Choices (Pas), has offered "Tart Plain" as a choice of the day for two days in a row (I check online). I haven't tasted it but I wish they wouldn't jump on the Pinkberry bandwagon... that makes for one less creative combo in the express lane. Those are what makes them stand out from the rest of the yogurt places IMO. :(

[pkittie]

Then there's Cantaloup (or is it Cantaloupe?) on La Brea and Hollywood-I don't think it's open yet.

I've noticed a Pinkberry-type yogurt place fixin' to open up on Fountain and Highland-I forget the name tho'. There are about 8 parking spots in their little mini-mall-good luck...

[Muskrat]

I went to Cantaloop yesterday (22). I'm not the person to compare it to Pinkberry, which I've never patronized, but:

Cantaloop strikes me as overpriced (a friend paid for mine; I wouldn't have)
Their add-ons are tiny, and I'd hate to be the person who had to dice the strawberries.
Two flavors: plain, and pomegranate.
If they ask if .you want a "swirl," say "NO!." My friend had one; I didn't. His cost extra, and neither of us could really see the difference between the two.

On the other hand, it tasted OK, and the "small" cup was more than enough for me. And points for not including "...berry" in their name.

[PlatypusJ]

Cantaloop isn't priced higher than Pinkberry, and the portions are significantly larger. The amount of toppings are also equivilant. If Cantaloop is out of your budget, there are plenty of other options in Koreatown, but with a prime location it's hardly unfair for Cantaloop to charge what the market can bear.

[ITurnedOutTV]

Yogo Tango is the one on Highland. I pass it every day to and from work. Yesterday the sign changed to NOW OPEN. I'll stop in soon (just for the sake of research).

[luv2savr]

YOGOTANGO ROCKS!!!! I went there today and was very pleasantly surprised. Tasted as good if not better than the other 5 chains I've tried, prices are great...I think it was like $2.50 for a small, and then 55cents per ounce of toppings and they let you put the toppings on yourself. The guy at the counter was really friendly and loves his job as well as the product. It's also bigger than most of the other yogurt places and they offer some other random items like belgian waffles, cookies, tomato yogurt w/ breadsticks...very creative. ...and they're giving out 2 for one coupons.
(NE corner of Highland and Fountain)

[MrShoop]

Who has the most tart yogurt? That's what stands out to me and I like the most about Pinkberry.

[Das Ubergeek]

I haven't done any comparisons but the place by Disneyland (Yogurt D'Italia) came as a shock with the tartness -- I think it's definitely tarter than Pinkberry, which is the only other "Italian-style" I've had.

[Pei]

I haven't been to the one by Disneyland, but in West LA Pinkberry is probably the most tart. Mondo Gelato on Pico has a "Italian plain" and a "tart," and their tart comes close to Pinkberry's in tartness. Especially if you add the raspberries swimming in raspberry juices! That's my favorite combo.

[Vegasbuff]

Orange Bowl in Anaheim Hills. Next to the chinese restaurant across the street from the post office. Imperial Hwy & Santa Ana Cyn Rd.

[Jwsel]

Another good one is Limelight in Sherman Oaks. It is in a strip mall at Ventura, between Noble and Kester. The yogurt tastes very similar to Pinkberry, is the same price point, and I think they have more toppings. I had a plain with mochi and strawberries, and it was very good.

[Skorgirl]

I'm a fan of the oh-so-creatively named "Starberry" on Wilshire and Ardmore in Koreatown, next to the very mediocre Noodle Time. I discovered it during my lunch hour and enjoy the Mangosteen flavored yogurt. The owner is friendly and accomodating to special requests I or my coworkers have had. He's very proud of his mangosteen concoction and will tout its health benefits, though I am skeptical of how much mangosteen essence is actually in the yogurt. He seems to be experimenting with how "mangosteeny" the yogurt is; last time I went there it was milder whereas in the past, it had a stronger fruit flavor. Prices are more or less the same as Pinkberry and all of its imitators.

[slacker]

I noticed about 4 or 5 imitators on Arlington, between the 10 fwy and Olympic. One of them was Starberry. The others also had similarly, as you say, creative names.

[MeowMixx]

There's a Snowberry on 6th and Western. I can't remember where I saw Iceberry........

[Pei]

There's a Roseberry in Glendale near Porto's, but I didn't notice if it was fro yo (but with a name like that, how could it not be?)

[ciaobella]

Roseberry had to change their name! Now it's "RoseGreen" and there are stickers covering the old name on all the cups!

[MeowMixx]

Oh, I saw a cactusberry in Palm Springs. It's funny how these people don't even TRY to be original..............

[wilafur]

lol. i saw the same one 2 weeks ago on my way back from PS. just sat there with an "ummm....wtf?" look on my face.

[MeowMixx]

I think I'm the only one out there who still hasn't tried pinkberry......

I tried kiwiberry but didn't really think much of it. I saw a sign at the Century City mall saying a Pinkberry would be opening soon....perhaps I'll give it a try then.

[wilafur]

overrated. =)

[snowy]

ah yeah seriously overrated. =P

[xxsarah83xx]

iceberry is 4th and western in that carwash place. its not nonfat, but low fat. it was crappy

[MeowMixx]

Just noticed a sign for a Yogurberry opening on Wilshire/Western.......when will it end..............

[westsidegal]

hopefully it won't end until there is enough supply to drive some of the prices down.

[snowy]

There's another one called.....Polar Bears opening in Westwood also?!

[jalensz]

Yogurberry actually happens to be the original 'berry' place. Pinkberry copied its name and logo. (I saw yogurberry in Korea like 3~4 years ago)

[dee]

i tried yogurtland in fullerton a few weeks ago. the yogurt was so so, and the fruits were still frozen!!! I had kiwi and raspberry for topings. I don't think I'd be going back there.

[Pei]

That reminds me I forgot that a few Lollicups have frozen yogurt now too. It's very close to the rest. I know for sure the 99 Ranch on Nogales and the Lollicup in the same plaza as J&J and Mei Long have yogurt.

[chen36387]

i tried Lollicup yogurt and was horrible, never gona order again. It was so thick and heavy unlike cefiore or pinkberry yogurt. Lollicup topping was all dried up too.

[Pei]

Sigh, trust Lollicup to do something right the first few weeks and then let quality go out the window. So disappointing, but thanks for the update!

Someone please remember to post when cefiore opens up their new branches! I never make it to Little Tokyo but am very curious.

[snowy]

Aw...I was thinking about trying Lollicup's. Guess not anymore...
BTW, cefiore just opened one up in Newport Beach.

[seba]

really? i actually went to lollicup several times and rather like theirs. notas sweet as pinkberry's, but not as sour as kiwiberry... their price is a bit cheaper than pinkberry but not as many selection of fruit topping, but the yogurt itself is pretty good.

[Das Ubergeek]

Try Yogurt D'Italia on Harbor and Katella (NE corner) in Anaheim. Yes, it's smack dab in the middle of the Anaheim Resort (AHGAHD TOURISTS AAAAAAAAAAAGH!) but it's the same price as Pinkberry, they have various flavours (plain, raspberry, strawberry and mango yoghurt -- the mango is quite good) and the fruit is not frozen. It's pretty decent.

[notmartha]

Even the Tous Les Jours bakery has frozen yogurt like Kiwiberri/pinkberry, but a little sweeter.

[Pei]

Wow Julefish, you and I are on the same wavelength today. I posted the exact same query after you, so I'll copy my comments here and have them remove my original:

I thought it might be fun to compile a list of all the places that serve Pinkberry-style Italian frozen yogurt. We all know Pinkberry--what else has cropped up in your neck of the woods?

The newest one I've seen is on Robertson (I forget the cross, but around Santa Monica/Olympic): BerriGood is the name. Way to not be creative, guys. I did not stop in.

Milano freeze on Olympic (west of Robertson) is not bad, but somehow a little heavy on the tongue. They do have a frequent customer punchcard, which is a nice bonus. The parking lot was full when I got there but the valet guys let me double park for five minutes while I grabbed a yogurt.

Red Mango inside California Roll & Sushi on Westwood. Good, but it's prices are crawling up. More infuriating, the prices are inconsistent! When I first went, it was a free small with food purchase. Then it was $5 for a large. Then the large started shrinking. Now, it's priced per ounce (give me $3 worth, for example).

Yoku Yoku on Sepulveda and Palms. This place looks the most like Pinkberry on this inside, complete with a flatscreen TV in lieu of the usual backboard menu. Yogurt was fine, more creamy and sweet than Pinkberry.

Baristar (?) on 6th and Vermont, in the same plaza as Kobawoo. This is a Korean coffee shop but they also have Italian frozen yogurt. It's just fine, but it's been awhile so I can't recall the finer points of its flavor.

And my current favorite, Mondo Gelato on Pico near Westwood. I don't care for their gelato, actually. Some flavors are fine, but others taste extremely artificial in a way that reminds me of Meiji or Lotte Japanese candies. Cloying like Asian car air fresheners. Anyway, there's both a tart and plain Italian yogurt to choose from. The tart is more like Pinkberry, the plain is creamier and sweeter. Their fruit selection varies, but for $1 I've managed to always get too many raspberries for my yogurt. Unfortunately it is $1 per topping (you can't just ask for less of each), but compared to Pinkberry this is a fantastic deal. The $3.50 medium, no toppings, is bigger than Pinkberry's large. I have a hard time sharing a medium Pinkberry, but sharing a medium Mondo Gelato is possible :). Plus, they have pints and quarts, which shared among a few people would make plenty of fro yo cost less than $2 a head. Here's a medium, 1/2 and 1/2: http://www.chezpei.com/2007/03/mondo-...

I'm no Pinkberry hater. I don't see how we can demonize her for wanting to expand her company and for having the foresight to predict and take advantage of an unmet demand. But I also think that with all the alternatives out there, people shouldn't feel bound to stand in 20-person deep lines in 47 degree weather to get bad service and overpriced yogurt.

[Ogawak]

Great minds think alike. I too thought about posting this very topic; Glad that Pei and Julefish beat me to the punch.

After trying several Pinkberry imitations, I went back to the Sawtelle Pinkberry to see if there was a significant difference. I've never ventured to the original locations.

My GF has tried Red Mango, but I have not. She thinks Red Mango is comparable to Pinkberry

We have tried Yoku Yoku, Bigg Chill, Mondo Gelato, and a new place across the street from The Counter on Ocean Park. Yes, Pinkberry is a little better, crisper, but is it worth the parking and the lines? Not really. All these other alternatives are satisfying to me. My alternative favorite is also Mondo Gelato, but I also like Yoku and the new place near The Counter. The new place (can't think of the name) has larger portions, or maybe the serving girl liked me. Bigg Chill's version advertises that theirs is made from real yogurt and not a powder, so that may be a plus.

Whichever one we go, this tart Italian frozen yogurt sure is addicting.

[Chowpatty]

I think ceFiore in Little Tokyo is very good -- tart and refreshing, not too sweet -- just the thing after something salty like ramen or sushi.
The place in the Eagle Rock mall next to the supermarket is awful.

[bodie]

For me, ceFiore really hits the spot. It is similar enough in taste to Pinkberry, has more variety of flavors and the service, at least at the one I frequent, is far friendlier and more efficient than PB.

[chen36387]

I think ceFiore is much better than the rest. I love the tarty and refreshing taste and they have fresh, not stale fruit toppings. Also it doesn't have the after taste like the other yogurt places. I hear they are opening up many stores across country including rowland heights!! Cant' wait so I don't have to drive so far.

[gsonhjs]

I agree CF seems to be the one that gives me a great taste while im eating and after...cleans my mouth sort of feeling
anyways
im so glad they opened one near my house in Ventura
Encino area
near "the spot"--if you are aware of the bar, or "yamato" and the theatre
you'll be seeing me there often!

[diningdivala]

That red mango in Westwood isn't the real thing from what I've read. Imposter. A real Red Mango shop is opening in westwood this spring.

Has anyone been to Cantaloop yet?

[spankbot]

I'm pretty sure Pinkberry is Korean style.

[Pei]

But most of the places listed, including Pinkberry, get their powder shipped from Italy. It may have been popularized in Korea, but I don't think the product is from there.

[Pei]

Awake enough to back up my assertion...

Correction: Pinkberry won't tell, but others have admitted they use a yogurt powder from Italy.

http://www.eastwestmagazine.com/conte...

[westsidegal]

at this point, most of the pinkberry wanna bees are just as costly.
i'd love to find a place that tastes as good, has parking, has seating, and is CHEAPER!

[luvluvluvtoeat]

Yes! I love Yoku Yoku on Sepulveda & Palms in West LA. A tad more expensive than Pinkberry, (I know - it's already too much, really) but better taste and smoother texture.

[naboli]

I second Yoku Yoku! And they are more generous with their toppings too!

[kra81]

i like Milano Freezer even more than Pinkberry.... it has the same kinda plain yogurty froyo. but much better as far as i'm concerned!!

Milano Freezer
9182 W Olympic Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA
90212
Phone: [phone]

there's one on Beverly Hills...