by Aaron Lamar
with water reviews by Jack McCarty and Sam Kulla

Free strawberry water at YogurtLand - for customers only, of course - seems like a great idea until you realize the strawberries have not been changed for so long that they probably have more cultures in them than the yogurt. But it's pretty to look at. Photo by SK

Three hundred and sixty days of sunshine is one aspect of living in Santa Barbara that would make anyone want to dive into a giant tub of frozen yogurt and berry goodness. But where to get such a thing? State street offers several in a three block radius: YogurtLand, PinkBerry & Rockin’ Yogurt.  Too many to choose from on one trip to Santa Barbara.  So I personally froze my brain trying each one to get you the frosty details from within these operations. (In order of the tasting)

1.  YogurtLand

Well before this review, Yogurtland promised to be my favorite out of them all. Cheap, Huge selection of yogurt flavors and toppings. This preconception is why I headed to Yogurtland first. It’s cheaper, less trendy and quite busy, often with a line out the door. For $0.39 an ounce you can easily walk away with more than enough yogurt accompanied by a vast array of nuts, berries and cheese cake bites, just to name a few toppings.

2.  Rockin’ Yogurt

Smaller, locally owned and operated with a smaller selection of yogurt. What got to me wasn’t the small amount or flavors but how the yogurt tasted, like real yogurt. I got the Green tea yogurt with no toppings cause that was a $1.50 extra. Tart at first but delicious. This unique taste I wasn’t familiar with got me ready for what was to come.

Rockin' Yogurt's sweet instructional art by the owner's daughter is a plasure to view while sipping a $1 bottle of arrowhead water. Nothing for free here. Photo by Jack McCarty

3.  PinkBerry

A lot like YogurtLand, with a very modern look inside, friendly smiles greeting you on your entrance, whereas at YogurtLand the lone clerk is usually too slammed to even notice you’re there. Same toppings but with fewer yogurt flavors. At first glance, and full from the last two places, I did not want any more yogurt, nor impressed on pricing. Unlimited toppings cost $1.35 extra.

After a twenty minute talk and two cups of frozen yogurt later – (mostly free samples from the manager, eager to please me) – I agreed never to go into YogurtLand again. PinkBerry’s commitment to tasty yogurt with over billions of live cultures had me convinced that it wasn’t all about the toppings and mass flavors, but the quality of the frozen yogurt itself. I actually enjoyed most of the yogurts without any toppings, whereas at YogurtLand the yogurt is all basically different colors of the same thing until you add toppings. It seems they hide the high sugar and bare minimum live culture yogurt with more sugary delights.

Free water at Pinkberry is no big deal, and comes with samples of yogurt that look a lot like their sweet lamps. Photo by SK

My expectations of YogurtLand to be the best without actually ever trying any others was like filling my cup to full with preconceived ideals and ignorance of fine frozen yogurt. The amazing service, eagerness to help and amazing tasty tub of Pinkberry’s finely churned recipe received my vote of tastiest frozen treat on State Street.