Cebuanos are happy to see the return of froyo ice cream!
Did you know that frozen yogurt used to be a very popular treat in Cebu?
Many Filipino millennials would flock to different malls, especially around the early 2010s, wanting to try this healthy ice cream alternative. What made it even more enjoyable is that you could add a bunch of fruits and dessert toppings to your heart’s content.
Red Mango in Ayala and Tutti Frutti in SM were among the go-to frozen yogurt shops at the time. But as food trends changed, they lagged behind newer, more trendy dessert bars.
Both these beloved froyo ice cream shops unfortunately closed their branches in Cebu, as milk tea and coffee shops took over. For many years, froyo seemed like a thing of the past, something Cebuanos merely reminisced about.
Fast forward a few years, and froyo shops like Llaollao, Yogorino, and Tahmee brought frozen yogurt back to the city. In their opening weeks, crowds of customers would flock to their quaint stalls to try these nostalgic desserts.
Soon, frozen yogurt shops started to spread throughout the island. Some are small kiosks that are almost always surrounded by buyers, while others are sit-down cafes where customers can hang out and pass the time.
Several business-minded Cebuanos decided to jump on the bandwagon, serving unique takes on frozen yogurt and experimenting with price ranges and special offerings.
With a higher demand for this tasty dessert, we’ve come up with a list of the newest dessert shops that you can try out with family and friends.
CEBU’S FAN-FAVORITE FROZEN YOGURT SHOPS
- 18 Degrees
First on the list is the Cebuano-owned yogurt shop called 18 Degrees. The owners wanted to emulate the abundance of froyo shops in Manila, so they took the opportunity by opening a frozen yogurt shop on the second floor of Verve Point in Talamban back in 2020.
According to an article on Sunstar Cebu, the store’s name comes from the desired temperature in Fahrenheit to achieve the creamy and light consistency of the soft serve. (2020) With over 32 toppings to choose from, it brought back the do-it-yourself gimmick of yogurt shops.
Aside from froyo, they also sell other kinds of frozen desserts like ice cream and chilled drinks, as well as snacks like mozzarella sticks. Their bestselling froyo is also 97 to 99% fat-free, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened.
Today, you can try out their froyo bowls at their main branch in Verve Point, as well as their secondary branch in Century Plaza near Mango Avenue.
- Prutasan ni Adan
Prutasan ni Adan is primarily a supermarket where you can buy fresh fruits and produce. But it is also known for having the best froyo in the city.
With their Healthy Cups, customers can take a break from shopping and indulge in freshly made soft serve yogurt. They only have 10 toppings to choose from, which include fresh fruits like strawberries, kiwis, and mangoes.
Aside from getting to make your own healthy cup, Prutusan ni Adan also offers pre-made ice cream flavors with different variations every month. Flavors include mango, melon, and avocado.
Their main branch is located at Tancor Residences in Barangay Kasambagan, with another one at Banilad Town Center. You can also find them on Grab Food.
- Kuku by Don Macchiatos
Don Macchiatos is the ubiquitous coffee kiosk offering delicious coffee drinks at extremely affordable prices. Its success spawned several secondary business ventures, including Kuku Frozen Yogurt.
Kuku continues on its parent company’s pursuit of affordable products by offering their froyo for as low as Php39 for a plain cup, Php59 if you add a flavored syrup, and Php99 for syrup and two toppings.
This frozen yogurt shop stands out by serving matcha-flavored froyo, which they claim is 100% authentic.
There are dozens of Kuku branches around Cebu, with their main one located along Urgello Street in Cebu City. Alternative branches include one in Tisa and another as far as Daanbantayan.
- Yogurt House
One of the newer frozen yogurt shops on the island is located at the Calyx Center at Cebu IT Park. Yogurt House opened in 2024, and it has already garnered attention as one of Cebu’s best frozen yogurt shops.
According to reviewer EatsyPeezy on the r/CebuRestaurantReviews subreddit, their soft serve is balanced: not too sour, but also not too sweet. They even compare it to those that were served at Red Mango.
Customers can choose a base of either yogurt or matcha ice cream, with over 30 toppings available. The reviewer also pointed out that the yogurt blends well with whatever fruit or dessert topping you choose.
One of the biggest advantages of Yogurt House is that they close at 11 PM. Unfortunately, their physical store only has a few seats, so you might opt to walk around IT Park while enjoying your froyo.
WHY IS FROYO SO POPULAR?
One of the main benefits of froyo is that despite its soft serve ice cream-like consistency, it is relatively healthier.
According to WebMD, frozen yogurt contains live probiotic cultures, which are the good bacteria that can help build a healthy gut, lower blood pressure, and improve your immune system. (2024)
Some frozen yogurts can also be a good source of bone-building calcium. So even if it feels like you’re eating something delectably unhealthy, you do get a lot of advantages from it.
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In a way, frozen yogurt shops are more luxurious than your typical ice cream parlors, with their selection of toppings and healthier content.
Thanks to its irresistible taste, you can customize it however you want. That way, you can feel like you’re definitely getting your money’s worth.
REFERENCES:
Cabilao, Karl Aries Emerson. 2020. “Cooling down with froyo.” Sunstar Cebu.
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/lifestyle/cooling-down-with-froyo.
Barney, Alicia and Shawna Seed. Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD. 2024. “Frozen Yogurt Health Benefits.” WebMD.
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/health-benefits-frozen-yogurt.
