This summer, the Annex is the battleground for Toronto’s frozen-yogurt war, now that fro-yo shops are almost as ubiquitous as cheap sushi in the neighbourhood. Here’s a look at the four fronts.
Yogurty’s
Set-up: A 16-ounce cup to fill yourself.
Price: 55 cents per ounce.
Beat the system: Pick your toppings carefully: Skip the waffles (they’ll add to the cup’s weight) and opt for crumbly chocolates or toasted coconut. Samples come in mini-cups and are free.
Variety: There are up to 16 flavours at any given time. Espresso and coconut, and honey and Greek-style yogurt are notable combos.
World-domination strategy: This new kid is plotting an aggressive Toronto expansion—another store will open every 15 days this summer. There’ll be 13 locations when all is said and done.
Potential downfall: Starbucks-style over-expansion.
527 Bloor Street West. 647-344-6223, yogurtys.com.
Menchie’s
Set-up: A 16-ounce cup to fill yourself.
Price: 55 cents per ounce.
Beat the system: Whole cookies and brownies are yummy but add bulk; the Graham cracker crumbs are a better bet. Small sample cups are available.
Variety: There are almost 80 flavours in Menchie’s repertoire; 18 of them are available at any given time. There are eight kinds of vanilla, including French, country, and latte.
World-domination strategy: Celebrities. Each shop has a wall devoted to photos of famous people (mostly tween favourites like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift) snapped while eating Menchies.
Potential downfall: Photos of celebrities getting arrested while eating Menchies.
511 Bloor Street West. 416-645-0222, menchies.ca.
YoYo’s Yogurt Café
Set-up: A 16-ounce cup to fill yourself.
Price: 55 cents per ounce.
Beat the system: Instead of the gummy worms, get Mochi (sugary Japanese rice balls), which have the same chewy consistency but are lighter. Two spoonfuls will suffice.
Variety: There are eight ever-changing flavours to choose from, including maple syrup, red velvet–cake, and Amaretto. Citrus lovers will delight in the many variations on orange: orange-chocolate, orange creamsicle, mango-orange, orange-pineapple. There are also non-dairy sorbets.
World-domination strategy: Slow and steady. This is the only Toronto shop and it’s in a nondescript old house, with a small patio out front.
Potential downfall: See above.
417 Bloor Street West. 647-346-2917, yoyosyogurtcafe.com.
Yogen Früz in B.B.Ques
Set-up: Pick a fruit and have it made into frozen yogurt in a six- or 12-ounce cup.
Price: Small $3.50, large $4.75.
Beat the system: Since price isn’t calculated by weight, the only way to get more bang for your buck is to choose the “money fruit.” For example: Blueberries are worth more than bananas.
Variety: There are nine fruits to choose from, as well as vanilla and chocolate.
World-domination strategy: Mission accomplished. There are more than 1,300 locations in 35 countries, and the machines are found inside businesses, like B.B.Ques. The Serruya brothers, who started the franchise in 1986 in Thornhill, also own Yogurty’s.
Potential downfall: Being edged out by the newbies.
650 Spadina Avenue. 416-323-3663, bbquesgrill.com.
