Local Yogurt

Used to love going to Nana Taco for dinner and then local yogurt for dessert. For doing that tonight, I was booted because I went to Nana Taco first. $ 125 later, I’ll never go back to Local Yogurt. The yogurt is not bad, but definitely middle of the road and not worth the terrible ambiance and complete lack of customer service.

The serving size and ambiance I find lacking, but the flavors I have found to be richer and creamier than other yogurt shops I’ve come across. I’ve had the Watermelon sorbet and the Dulce de Leche, and was pleasantly surprised by both. They were both really flavorful and creamy, almost ice-​cream like. However, I don’t find it worth the price, perhaps if they had more per serving.

I had my first experience with Local Yogurt at the Durham Food Truck rodeo this past weekend. I had heard from some friends that they love going to the shop in Durham and that their yogurt is amazeballs! So glad I gave them a shot, even with the long line.
I waited about 15 – 20 minutes for this frozen delish and it was totally worth it. I love froyo but I LOVE good quality frozen yogurt and this was right up there with the best I have tasted, the best being Pinkberry. It is a strong comparison as it just tastes fresher, healthier, and more… real! I opted for the cup of vanilla with the dark chocolate shavings and fresh strawberries and that is exactly what I got– fresh strawberries and shavings that were done right on top of my yogurt. It was $ 4 for the cup which I thought was well worth the money.
I look forward to venturing to the Local Yogurt shop next time I am in Durham for this delish treat again!

I heard this place was good, but I was sorely disappointed.
I walked in, all the lights in the place were off. It was really bizarre… if it was a green thing, then that’s cool, but it did start the experience off to a weird foot! Secondly, it was just really dirty, the place seemed kind of beat up and the counter area and everything was messy. Everything seemed unorganized and messy.
I convinced myself to try the yogurt despite the place not being very clean, and it was the biggest let down of all. I tried chocolate, pretty basic, right? It was just nasty… and icy. Didn’t take more than two bites.
Overall, I was really surprised, and not in the good way unfortunately!

The land of Southern California flows with milk (frozen yogurt) and honey (toppings), which made my transition to Durham a few years back an arduous quest for a refreshing sweet treat.
With practically no competition in town, LoYo opened and the Durhamites went wild. I, however, was unimpressed and remain so. Serving up merely FOUR flavors daily and cute topping containers sans my favorite toppings I didn’t get what the fuss was about.
Moreover, the PRICE is outrageous. Beware: they do not fill the cups, so you’ll need to order a size up. But at their prices you might as well get gelato.
Pro: the University Drive location has an area for kids
Con: décor hurts me on the inside

This is a locally owned and operated dessert kind of place serving frozen yogurt. My recent visit enticed me to order the «Ted», which is chocolate with almonds, marshmallows and chocolate flakes, ie. their version of «Rocky Road.» I got the petite size and the total cost was $ 4.04 for what amounts to about a little more than one scoop of ice cream. It tasted good, but a little bit high for the price. The inside of the shop is a little more than just plastic chairs and plastic tables. As far as parking goes, not much.
Food A
Staff B
Décor D
Location C
Health Inspection Grade (N/​A)

I do not like the name of this joint. It’s so boring, makes me think of a couple of horses hanging out and eating yogurt in some dusty ass ghost town. Because of the name, it seemed highly suspect and I refused to even go there, girlfriend. My pals, Allison and Max, who I trust as good eatin’ types, said that it was bangin’ so when my handsome beau offered to buy me one after we sweatily vacuumed his car, I said OK!
Local Yogurt is roomy and clean. There are some cute seating options and plenty of awesome toppings for the flavors they carry. I chose the plain (I love the sour yogurt taste!) topped with banana and fruity pebbles. It was just as good as my pals maintained!
While I was daintily eating my cold cup of wonder, a little girl noticed me and nodded at me. I nodded back, just because I kind of have no idea what kids are about and if they’ll flip into crazy zone like the screaming child at the register. She pointed at her ponytail and pulled it out to show me she had long hair and then pointed at my long hair. She pointed at her fancy purple dress and then pointed at my dress to show me that too. It took me a second to realize that this 5 year old was a baby femme and trying to speak my language!
I called her over and found out her name was Hazel (my absolutely favorite name ever) and she named all of the birds and bees and flowers on my tattoo sleeve. Now we are best friends forever and ever and we are going to get necklaces to prove it so back off.
THE END.

I think Local Yogurt mostly gets good reviews from people who haven’t had the luck of running into a self-​serve yogurt shop before, such as Tutti Fruitti, Local Yogurt, The Skinny Dip, or Marmalade Skies. Not only are they much cheaper, but they really do taste better and have a whole spectrum of different flavors — and this goes for whether or not you go for more of the tart or creamy tastes.
LoYo is more on the cheaper-​tasting, oversweet side. If this isn’t your cup of tea, give a shot at the other froyo places, namely self-​serve ones (which you would think would taste of lower quality, but surprisingly enough have consistently tasted better than any of the other fixed price froyo places I’ve been to).

I wanted so much to like this place because I like frozen yogurt and I love the idea of what they are doing here, but I honestly didn’t love the product. I love a good frozen yogurt with a creamy, smooth «mouth feel,» and all three times I’ve tried this at the first location I thought the texture was a wee bit cheap tasting. (That will not be a popular sentiment, I’m sure.) There was just something about the finishing texture and taste that made it seem as though it had added products that one wouldn’t expect to find in a fresh frozen yogurt without preservatives, chemicals, etc. (I’m only making an assumption that they don’t add those things.)
I admit it may be the flavors I’ve tried and offhand the only flavor I remember trying was chocolate, because it was one of only two flavors left the first time I visited.
I’ve heard that people like the new Erwin Rd. location’s product better, so I’m willing to give it a try. Onward and upward with the frozen yogurt quest!

I love this place because they use YoCream brand yogurt. Good stuff! I like the fact that they change up their flavors, but still keep a few of their regulars. They have a plethora of toppings you can add to your frozen yogurt. They have different frozen yogurt flavors for those who like it creamy or just a little tart. Staff has always been friendly. You can even sample a flavor if you’re not sure what you want to get.
My only complaint is that their serving sizes are pretty puny. I feel that other froyo places I’ve been to were more generous with their portions. For the amount you pay, they can afford to give a little more. Other than that, I’ve always had a pleasant experience there and think they have great quality froyo.

Love this place. They only have four flavors on rotation at a time (join their twitter to keep up to date). Over the weekend they had plain, watermelon sorbet, chocolate, & peanut butter. All the ingredients & toppings are local (duh) and fresh. Can’t make up your mind or just aren’t creative? There is a board outlining creative mixtures for your tasting pleasure.

The past few times I’ve gone have just been disappointing. You pay for a small and get it half-​filled (even though the bottom half is a smaller volume than the top half due to container design). One time they ran out of JUMBO containers, so I got 2 large or medium containers instead (same size, they told me).
When I got home, I opened it to find 2 half filled large containers that probably would’ve added up to just over 1 of the large or medium containers (whichever two of makes up the JUMBO size).
You pay $ 0.75 for the first topping and you’ll end up getting like 4 blueberries. It’s not worth it any more. Yofrutt in CH on Franklin is much better, you get it by weight, they have way more flavors (including the Original one served at LoYo), and their toppings bar is great. You never feel you’re getting jipped b/​c it’s by weight.
I hear Tutti Frutti in Durham is similar so I will check it out. Local Yogurt, it was fine at first, but the relationship quickly soured with your half-​assed serves, dearth of selection, and miserly sprinkling of toppings.

A few years ago I fell prey to the Pinkberry/​Red Mango Asian-​style froyo phenomenon in NYC, and went into serious withdrawal whenever I came down south. I would, sadly, fantasize about my next original yogurt with mango chunks and mochi bits, and would always organize my day in Manhattan around at least one Red Mango visit.
So…thank freaking goodness there is a place in Durham to satisfy my froyo addiction! The froyo here is in the same vein as Pinkberry/​Red Mango, a bit sour and not as sweet as froyo of places past. But it’s the perfect base for a wide variety of toppings. I still go by my old standby, original flavor with mango chunks and mochi, but I occasionally stray and try other toppings which have all been excellent here. The other yogurt flavors are pleasant enough (the peanut butter is particularly tasty), but I prefer the original flavor as a base.
I also can’t say enough about the staff, who are super friendly and cheerful but not in an obnoxiously perky way. There is a board of suggested combinations if you’re overwhelmed by the many, many jars and cafeteria-​style bins of different toppings.
The décor is, well… a bit funky, with lots of curvy white furniture and bright green walls. The lighting is harsh so this might not be the best date place, unless your face can withstand crazy bright lights.

As a recent convert to the Fro-​Yo bandwagon, I have one request (not that you’re listening), don’t come here. I mean, I’m all for local businesses, and I hope they improve, but this place was not good. Yes, it might be cool that they «spin» four flavors, but seriously, why stick with 4 flavors when other places offer more?
First, their yogurt flavor is not tart or sweet at all. Its like eating sour yogurt. Also, it wasn’t kept at a very good temp, which meant it melted fast and didn’t have that nice fro-​yo texture. Second, Their toppings were NOT fresh, I had peaches and pears, while my friend had strawberries and all of the fruits were either overripe or not ripe enough.
Chapel Hill has better places, and I’m willing to make the 10 – 15 min longer drive for more toppings and flavors and fresher ingredients.
Its too bad this place isn’t better because I love dessert and Local Yogurt is like 5 min from my apt. I think I’ll go wallow in my pint of Ben & Jerry’s now.

I feel as though in contradicting my duchess status, but Local Yogurt is ok. It’s the only place in Durham doing the tart yogurt with a variety of toppings. If another yogurt place openned that actually used a local creamery and fresh ingredients, Local Yogurt would lose.
Local yogurt is delicious, the topping selections are varied and great, and the prices are fair. I wish they did a better job of rotating flavors, and perhaps had 1 more machine with 2 more flavors.
I like that they’ve tried adding some local toppings, ie. Chocolate from Dali Mama, but a few local ingredients does not a local yogurt shop make!

No, thank you. Too sugary, not like the frozen yogurt places that are popping up everywhere. We made a special trip while passing through and afterwards wished we didn’t. The servers weren’t too friendly either.
They take credit cards, but you have to purchase a certain amount or they will charge you a service fee. Not a fan.
Waste of time and taste.

Update: I upgraded from four to five stars, since I’ve started obsessively geting froyo here. Their seasonal peppermint (I get it with Oreos) is so freaking good, a little part of me dies and goes to heaven every time I taste it. Also, this fall saw the limited run of pumpkin, which was delicious with ginger snaps and caramel.
Now, on to the previous review:
Yay! I AM a fan of LoYo!
Today was my second visit and I got brave, tried the peanut butter with strawberries and potato chips, and I’m so glad I did. The PB has a rich, yet subtle taste to it, so that it’s still smooth, light, and tangy, like you’d expect, and doesn’t overwhelm you with peanut butter taste. Last time I tried plain/​original with strawberries and Graham crackers. Yummy, yum, yum. I had a medium that first visit, and it was way too big, in my opinion (not a bad complaint to make, eh?), so this time I opted for small, and it was just right.
I just love that they use local ingredients; that’s a big deal here in Durham: we actually seek places like this out. And the quality of the yogurt really sets it apart from places like, say TCBY, which is where I got my froyo fix before I discovered LoYo.
I think this little strip mall (with Thai Café, The Little Gym, Wine Authorities, etc.) is not the easiest one to get in and out of with its oddly angled parking spots and the seemingly constant presence of delivery or moving trucks of some type, and I also have to go out of my way to get this delicious treat, although I’m not suggesting that it’s not worth it once in a while.

Finishing up our pre-​dinner dessert from LY had me replaying the frogurt scene from an old Simpsons special…
Shopkeeper: [Homer has agreed to purchase a Krusty doll for Bart’s birthday] Take this object, but beware it carries a terrible curse!
Homer: Ooh, that’s bad.
Shopkeeper: But it comes with a free frogurt!
Homer: That’s good.
Shopkeeper: The frogurt is also cursed.
Homer: That’s bad.
Shopkeeper: But you get your choice of toppings.
Homer: That’s good!
Shopkeeper: The toppings contain potassium benzoate.
[Homer looks puzzled]
Shopkeeper: …That’s bad.
Homer: Can I go now?
I think LY does some things right and some things not so well… keep in mind that I’m using Yogurtland as my gold standard of «frogurt» type establishments. That being said, I can easily give this place a solid 3 stars and would definitely come back. This place is not that bad and I have to give them kudos for offering a decent selection of toppings as well as the tasty recipe for their tart frogurt! But… as far as put-​some-​random-​toppings-​on-​my-​tart-​frozen-​yogurt genre establishments go, I think there are definitely better to be had elsewhere (I have yet to find one here in NC). For our visit, ~$ 9 got us two small cups with 3 toppings each (a blueberry with strawberries, pineapple and almonds; an original tart with kiwis, coconut and mochi).
That’s good!
–great tasting original tart yogurt (was definitely creamy and substantial… I do agree that this really compares better or at least equal to Red Mango and Yogurtland)
–they use what look to be biodegradable paper cups — very eco minded!
–appear to offer a better selection of toppings than what I had seen at the Yogurt Pump
That’s bad…
–limited choice of frogurts — only 4 today (original, blueberry, chocolate and coffee)
–I think the price: value ratio is pretty low b/​c you get a small size with a limited choice of 3 toppings and that runs you almost $ 5!
–still a limited selection of toppings compared to what I’ve expected from similar places out west.
–Inconsistent topping distribution — I felt a bit jipped on the amount of toppings i received when compared to my wife’s cup.
Overall, it definitely satisfied my short term cravings for frogurt, but I just felt a bit puzzled like Homer. Why not charge on a weight basis like $ 0.40/oz instead of being all stingy with the toppings behind the plastic blast shield? The inconsistent servings just made me feel like I was being ripped off. I can accept that they can’t have 15 different flavours on hand (supply and demand)…but if they at least allowed us to mix/​match as we would like (toppings and frogurt), they would have a winning combination here. But as I said, they do have a great original tart frogurt recipe… that really is the bomb and the main reason I’d come back… oh yeah… and the mochi… that’s good.

Great place… albeit isolated. This establishment is in a tiny mall in Durham.
I would recommend the Bilberry (mix of blueberry and mulberry) and Chocolate flavour frozen yogurt.
If you are a student or you’re a former student with your ID, you get $ 1 off from your order.
Will definitely come back… perhaps the next time I’m in Durham, there will be more locations. :)

I always love coming to local yogurt. It always takes me foreve to decide on yogurt and toppings because they have over 40 toppings! Always have chocolate and vailla yogurt and change out the other two. Pumpkin with Dolly’s chocolate, golden grahama, and caramel.
They have a handy board with all of the employees’ favorites of the day (or week, I’m not that sure. I don’t come here *that* often!) so that’s always a helpful tip. Normally I have some sort of flavor on my brain and Local Yogurt is there to help me out!
Do remember to bring cash! There’s a minimum for a card payment, and a single person’s (girl-​sized) isn’t enough to make it to the minimum.