Acai Bowl: a thick smoothie made with acai berries (a superfood), typically topped with granola and fruit, with "basic" written all over it.
How do you even pronounce "acai"? Uh-kye? Aw-sigh-ee? Uh-psy? Now all I can think of is Psy from Gangnam Style...
How do you even pronounce "acai"? Uh-kye? Aw-sigh-ee? Uh-psy? Now all I can think of is Psy from Gangnam Style...
I don't know how to pronounce it & you probably don't know either! But if one thing's for certain...we've both likely heard of acai bowls - and they're all the rage these days. They're not that new (I had my first acai bowl 187 weeks ago, according to Instagram), but they are increasing in popularity.
So let's talk acai bowls! I'm here to give you an OC native's perspective on the best and worst places to grab a bowl in Orange County.
Great:
Banzai Bowls
"The original banzai bowl"
This is the place that locals get really snotty about - they claim it's the original acai bowl shop before acai bowls became popular.
Maui Sunrise and Shark's Cove are favorites
Generous portions
Arguably worth the wait
Locations in: Costa Mesa, Laguna, Huntington, Newport, and San Clemente
Growl Juice Pub
Tiny storefront
Intimate, cool vibe
Relatively more pricey than other shops
Circle Sunrise and Rio Riser are popular
Location: in the heart of Old Towne Orange
Acai Republic
"Brazilian Juice Bar"
Inspired by the traditional cafes of Brazil
Located in Old Towne Tustin
Barefoot Bowls
The portions and pricing are reasonable
Fresh, authentic toppings
Friendly, helpful workers
Located in Irvine
Nekter Juice Bar
Pretty expensive
Similar to others, but still good
Very trendy
Locations: Irvine (Orchard Hills), Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar, Long Beach, Anaheim Hills, etc.
Not so great:
Juice it Up/Jamba Juice
Really watery
Not much flavor
There are nearly 10 locations of each in Orange County -
Jamba Juice: The Marketplace, on campus at Chapman University, the Outlets of Orange, the Spectrum, UCI Student Center, The District, etc.
Juice it Up: The District, Foothill Ranch Towne Center, Alton Square Shopping Center, etc.)
Maybe just don't go to a stereotypical smoothie place?
Cold Fusion Fruit Bar
It's a standard acai bowl - but there's nothing great about it
Located in Tustin (near Trader Joes, off Newport Ave)
So let's talk acai bowls! I'm here to give you an OC native's perspective on the best and worst places to grab a bowl in Orange County.
Great:
Banzai Bowls
"The original banzai bowl"
This is the place that locals get really snotty about - they claim it's the original acai bowl shop before acai bowls became popular.
Maui Sunrise and Shark's Cove are favorites
Generous portions
Arguably worth the wait
Locations in: Costa Mesa, Laguna, Huntington, Newport, and San Clemente
Growl Juice Pub
Tiny storefront
Intimate, cool vibe
Relatively more pricey than other shops
Circle Sunrise and Rio Riser are popular
Location: in the heart of Old Towne Orange
Acai Republic
"Brazilian Juice Bar"
Inspired by the traditional cafes of Brazil
Located in Old Towne Tustin
Barefoot Bowls
The portions and pricing are reasonable
Fresh, authentic toppings
Friendly, helpful workers
Located in Irvine
Nekter Juice Bar
Pretty expensive
Similar to others, but still good
Very trendy
Locations: Irvine (Orchard Hills), Costa Mesa, Corona del Mar, Long Beach, Anaheim Hills, etc.
Not so great:
Juice it Up/Jamba Juice
Really watery
Not much flavor
There are nearly 10 locations of each in Orange County -
Jamba Juice: The Marketplace, on campus at Chapman University, the Outlets of Orange, the Spectrum, UCI Student Center, The District, etc.
Juice it Up: The District, Foothill Ranch Towne Center, Alton Square Shopping Center, etc.)
Maybe just don't go to a stereotypical smoothie place?
Cold Fusion Fruit Bar
It's a standard acai bowl - but there's nothing great about it
Located in Tustin (near Trader Joes, off Newport Ave)