DeluxeGravy: LA FROZEN YOGURT

It began with what I'll affectionately refer to as Pinkberry Pandemonium.

It arrived on the scene in 2005 - a frozen yogurt like none other in existence. It was sweet. It was tart. And it changed the face of the frozen yogurt industry as we knew it.

An avid 21 Choices connoisseur at the time, I remember being skeptical. What was this so-called “Crackberry” that was turning even the most discerning of Angelenos into dairy-hungry clods?

"It tastes like real yogurt, but frozen," a friend had explained to me, when I asked what gave Pinkberry its edge over the rest.

I was skeptical at first. But five dollars and one bite later, I, too, was an addict.

Looking back now, it’s hard to imagine that I once waited in hour-long lines – and suffered two parking tickets (darn you, Pinkberry on Huntley!) – for the sake of my fix.

But then again, it’s even harder to imagine life without that “Plain Tart” flavor which has come to be synonymous with frozen yogurt in LA.

Pinkberry may always be a staple in LA, but luckily for us, numerous copycats have sprung up over the years offering delicious and wallet-friendly alternatives.

Here are some of the best frozen yogurt options the city has to offer, summarized for your convenience in Haiku form. Enjoy!

Bigg Chill (10850 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles)
Terrible parking
Call in advance for flavors
Diet friendly blends

21 Choices (Old Pasadena or Claremont)
The Cold Stone of fro-yo
Seven new flavors each day
Be warned: workers sing

America’s Cup (427 E 17th St, Costa Mesa)
DIY. Uber cheap.
Local fav. Mom-and-pop shop.
Great after the beach

Pinkberry (Click HERE for locations)
The O.G. dessert
Why does the green tea cost more?
Never enough fruit

Yogurt Stop (8803 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood)
Self-serve. Tart or creamy.
Toppings from local bake shop
Is that a disco ball?