As a kid, going to get ice cream after dinner was a luxury. Not inherently due to the large amount of sugar the dessert would give me at 7 p.m., but due to the fact that there was only one ice cream place in my small town. So I submitted to having ice cream bi-monthly at the local spot called Charlie’s. 

However, when I had private swim coaching lessons once a week 30 minutes away, I would beg my mom to stop at the one frozen yogurt place in the surrounding area: Tasty Waves. Despite this being about 10 years ago, Tasty Waves solidified my love for sweet treats, but specifically frozen yogurt, with its endless toppings and flavors to choose from, making it so special. Tasty Waves and froyo have lived in my mind rent-free ever since, and now with the resurgence of frozen yogurt in New York City, 2026 really is the new 2016. 

With the term “Fat Friday” in mind, every week since the start of this semester, on  Fridays my best friend and I have journeyed to a new frozen yogurt shop in the city. Birdie’s, Mimi’s, Culture, Madison Fare, Butterfield Market, 16 Handles, Go Greek; you name it and I have tried it. 

So here are my thoughts on each new frozen yogurt creation: 

Starting with the classic 16 Handles (I’m calling it classic as it was featured in “Sex and the City” back in the early 2000s), they understand the assignment. They have not attempted to reinvent the wheel, rather they boast a selection of over 40 plus toppings from fresh fruit to cereal to try and all of their flavors are simple. Their prices are fair for the amount you’re getting, as well as a punch card that rewards you with a free yogurt after ten trips. 

Mimi’s was not my favorite, contrary to its popularity. It was overpriced ($27 for a medium with toppings) and had limited topping choices. There were few seating options inside the store, which took away from the relaxing environment needed to truly enjoy frozen yogurt. 

Culture, Go Greek and Madison Fare are all marketed as being “healthier” with their tart, Greek honey and original flavors tasting more similar to an actual yogurt than anything else, minus the characteristic sour taste. They are all on the thicker end of consistency and offer a main topping as a sort of drizzle, whether that be Nutella, honey or a fruit sauce. 

My least favorite was Butterfield Market. Not only was it difficult to get to, but it also felt like more of a market add-on than a place to get froyo. Also, Butterfield Market was fundamentally different  from frozen yogurt. From the first bite, I could tell that it was actually soft serve, which was a really big let down in my eyes. 

The one reigning supreme over all of these locations was Birdie’s Frozen Yogurt in the West Village. Not only were all of the employees nice, but the toppings, flavors and overall quality were superior. 

So, why is froyo going viral again? This isn’t an accident in my eyes. The frozen yogurt boom of the early 2010s collapsed partly because the product got lazy — watery bases, fake flavors and places were charging $12 for a cup that tasted like something mediocre. So people moved on. Ice cream shops got creative and soft serve leveled up. Froyo seemed simply finished. 

But here is what has changed: this new wave of froyo shops actually cares. They’re sourcing real yogurt cultures, offering seasonal flavors, hiring people who think about the texture, tang and topping combinations the way a chef thinks about a dish. The overall product improved, leading to it being more popular on social media, as influencers noticed. This gave us college folk something to flock towards. 

In an era of hyper-personalization, the froyo bar is genuinely democratic in a sense. You build exactly what you want, pay by weight and no two cups are the same. It’s participatory food where you’re not just a consumer, you’re the chef for five minutes. It is an experience people can share together, giving it a reason to invoke such a rapid and wide spread.

My verdict on froyo? I am 100% here for the well deserved hype. Not every trend deserves its moment, but this one has earned it. The shops are better, the product is better and the culture around it is genuinely fun. Although my best friend and I’s Fat Fridays originally started as a bit, they have evolved into something that is now the highlight of my week, and I will simply have to keep trying each of these new froyo places as they come to join the competition for which is the best in New York City!