Mr. Yogato: Wackiest frozen yogurt ever
Domo origato, yogurt fans. It's like the Pinkberry craze that took over the West coast and made its way East – though its origins really are from the far East. The tangy, low-fat dessert has become so popular thanks to Mr. Yogato's prime location on 17th Street in Dupont. Here, the line usually goes out the door of the brightly lit, no-frills, basement shop on hot summer evenings. It's a great place to stop after dinner, with friends, or with a first date to play old-school Nintendo games while enjoying a refreshing alternative to ice cream.
There are usually around four flavors of yogurt available (tangy, original, and then a couple flavors of the week like chocolate, mango, kiwi, strawberry, mojito, etc), but it's the mixing-and-matching of toppings that bring the dessert to life. Will it be raspberries and mango chunks, or strawberries with granola? Oreos or sprinkles? Captain Crunch or brownie bits? The possibilities are endless.
There are some free toppings as well that you add yourself, such as chocolate sauce, honey, and even olive oil – which, according to the energetic, happy disciples/ employees of Mr. Yogata, is actually quite tasty.
Owned by rocket scientist Steve Davis, Mr. Yogato is more than just a yogurt shop; it's a regression into his childhood, apparently. Besides the Nintendo games, there are trivia questions posted on a white board which serve as excellent time passers while waiting in the long line, occasionally, getting correct answers translate into a discount.
Mr. Davis hails from Los Angeles, near Disneyland, which had perfected the art of making long lines bearable and entertaining. If you come back 30 days in a row, a flavor of yogurt will be named after you; if you return 10 times and have a special card stamped each time, the next one is free.
Part of the Yogato experience really travels beyond just a cup of frozen yogurt but the ridiculous process by which one can receive a discount. For example: have your forehead stamped with Mr. Yogato and you’ll receive 10% off, recite the Stirling Battlefield speech from Braveheart for 20% off, or perform the 47-second Thriller dance for 20% off.
The franchise has made its way to Baltimore and now in Jacksonville, Fla. Each echoes the fun, retro, no-frills attitude with Nintendo games, trivia and bright colors. In winter, hot chocolate and cupcakes are served if you think frozen yogurt is too cold.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
