Yogurtland

Soft-serve frozen yogurt has had two flashpoint moments in the United States, first in the 1980s (remember TCBY?) and then in the early 2000s when tart yogurts redefined the frozen dessert business. Korean and Korean-American brands including Red Mango and Pinkberry went viral, but a Fullerton-based shop called Yogurtland rapidly expanded to become an Orange County favorite, leveraging two key differences: flat 29-cent-per-ounce pricing – a little under $5 for 16 ounces – and self-serve yogurt dispensers with DIY topping bars.

Yogurtland’s initial focus on tart flavors (including a basic yogurt, pineapple, and blueberry) was balanced by non-tart options including classic chocolate, vanilla, and sweet fruits, each dispensed as much as you wanted into one of two sizes of cardboard cups, then covered with anything from candies and cookies to fresh fruit and bursting boba. Over time, the emphasis on tart flavors decreased, in favor of rotating and one-off specials with seasonal or trendy appeal. Several of the original flavors remained available at most locations, so guests could enjoy tart or non-tart choices.