Jamba

Founded in San Luis Obispo back in 1990, Jamba – previously known as Jamba Juice – is a Central California success story, growing from its original “Juice Club” location into an international chain with over 860 locations, the vast majority in the United States. Historically known for somewhat healthy juices and smoothies made with fruits, vegetables, and “boosts” of protein powder, vitamin powder, or 3G energy (caffeinated green tea/guarana/ginseng), the chain later expanded to healthy food items, then less healthy food items, and streamlined its drink options. Today, it’s a place to order acai bowls, oatmeal, pretzels, Belgian waffles, and empanadas, as well as classic “whirl’d famous” smoothies, blended coffee drinks, and colorfully topped lemonades.

Despite the chain’s ubiquity, which seemed to have peaked in Southern California during the early 2000s, we’ve never been huge fans of Jamba – but acknowledge its significant foodprint here. The first Orange County location opened in 1993, only three years after the chain’s founding, and has since expanded from Irvine into literally half of the county’s 34 cities, spanning its furthest north and central points, with some shops in southern OC as well. Seating tends to be minimal or shared with neighbors at plazas or schools, with counter-based ordering from either people or tablets. Five to ten-minute waits for drinks and food items are common, with the former typically being mostly made to order, and the latter generally reheated from display cases or nearby fridges; pretzels, waffles, and other baked goods are generally offered at room temperature or oven-warmed as you prefer.

In our view, Jamba’s offerings now are the textbook definition of fine – not great, generally not very good or good, but sufficient to cover a quick moment of hunger or thirst. On our most recent visit, however, there was one standout exception: The dragon fruit delight bowl ($12) paired a mostly pureed, magenta-colored dragon fruit and berry smoothie base with banana slices, strawberry bits, blueberries, and granola, all drizzled with honey and topped with coconut flakes. While dragon fruit pieces were harder to find than one might expect from a “delight,” they were buried inside the smoothie, and all of the fruit ingredients tasted fresh and fairly healthy.