LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. —  After visiting Sweet Jill’s Bakery, the Griffin Gazette decided to visit Yago, an acai bowl shop down the street from Los Alamitos High School.

Yago Juice was established in 2015 in Long Beach, but a second location in Los Alamitos was recently added. Yago is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and even offers discounts to LAHS students!

Shop owner, Paulo Lopez, decided to leave corporate sales to start Yago, with the goal of offering people an alternative to fast food.

“I was surfing in the water, and a lot of my buddies said you should open up your own small business and one thing led to another. I opened my first shop in Long Beach about 10 years ago,” said Lopez.

Yago’s bowls have three different sizes, small, regular and large.

This was my first time going to Yago. I have always been a big fan of acai bowls and was shocked by how delicious this bowl was. I tried the “Longshoreman” and it was an absolute treat! The acai was perfectly blended and smooth with just the right amount of sweetness. Topped with fresh fruits, including strawberries and bananas, each bite was a burst of incredible flavor. The bowl’s granola added a nice crunch, and the honey tied the whole bowl together.

I got the “Dragonslayer” from Yago and it was great! The owner was very nice, and you could tell he was passionate about his business! The bowl was topped with delicious blackberries and bananas, yet none of the flavors from the fruits in the bowl overpowered each other. The bowl had peanut butter, chocolate, honey, almonds and granola on top. I liked the granola the best because it added a different texture to the bowl. All of the bowls were prepared after we ordered them. During lunch, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., Yago offers student discounts, so make sure to stop by if you have an off-campus pass!

I adore acai bowls, and Yago did not disappoint! I got the “Dragonslayer” which is their natural acai mix with layered granola as well as peanut butter and fruit to top it off. At first, I was surprised by the size of the regular bowl as I thought there was no way I would be able to finish it, but it was so great that I had no problem with it. My bowl order wasn’t extremely sweet, which I enjoyed. Aside from that, the owner was so incredibly hospitable and welcoming towards us, which made the whole experience that much better. If you’re looking to try out Yago after school, it most definitely won’t disappoint. 

I’ve been going to Yago almost every day before school. Their bowls and smoothies are delicious and full of flavor, but what I appreciated most was the balance of textures. I tried the “Queen Bee” bowl. The crunch from the fresh toppings and the smooth texture made every bite a delightful experience. 

The portions were perfect, making it a perfect light meal or a satisfying snack. The owner’s inspiring story of pursuing his passion for providing healthy food options was another reason I loved Yago. You can feel that passion in every bowl they serve. 

This was my first time trying Yago, so I was a little nervous. Luckily, I was brought to a huge surprise when I tried the “Pink Panther.” The “Pink Panther” was topped with bananas, strawberries and Nutella. This all mixed to create the perfect acai bowl!

I recommend trying Yago for anyone who loves acai bowls! I will be visiting again soon!

I tried the “Halo-Halo” bowl from Yago. “Halo-Halo” is a Filipino dessert; the name means “mix-mix.” Typically, halo-halo is made with crushed ice, condensed milk, leche flan, sweet beans and ube ice cream.

Yago’s “Halo-Halo” bowl was nostalgic and reminded me of the halo-halo my grandmother made when I was younger. The bottom of the bowl was coated with an ube base, followed by a frozen yogurt topper, granola, mixed berries and a scoop of frozen yogurt on top.  The ube flavor was similar to the ice cream used to top halo-halo, and the frozen yogurt added a subtly tart taste.

If you’re looking for a sweet, healthy treat, definitely give Yago a try!

The Griffin Gazette loved Yago! Each bowl was well-proportioned and rich in flavor some of the overall favorites were the “Longshorman,” “Pink Panther,” and the “Halo-Halo.” If you were wondering whether to try Yago, this is your sign! We promise you’ll love it!