As an East Coast native, I’d never tasted an acai bowl before coming to UCLA. If you’re not from the West Coast you probably haven’t either.
Known and frequently eaten throughout the Los Angeles area, acai bowls are the newest health craze. They’re perfect for any meal or mid-day sweet craving and can be customized to your preference. Get a fruit heavy bowl for a sweet wake up, or add some vegetables if you’re feeling really healthy. Acai bowls are topped with fresh fruit and granola, making for both a super tasty and well-balanced meal. Here are my top five favorite places in Los Angeles to get an acai bowl.
5. Juice Crafters
Photo by Mary Kate Turner
Pros: They have multiple shops in West L.A., with one being only two miles from campus in Brentwood. They offer three different types of acai bowls along with a bunch of smoothies, from your average banana-strawberry to your meal-replacement or health-treatment blends.
Cons: Their acai bowls are merely ok and a little bland. Ask to add more fruit to the bowl or have them top it with granola if you are looking for some extra flavor.
4. Robeks
Photo by Mary Kate Turner
Pros: Their three different bowl options all taste amazing, and they include the calorie count for health conscious customers. You can even sit outside or in the park across the street to enjoy your bowl, too.
Cons: Located in Pacific Palisades, Robeks is a 20-minute drive from campus.
3. Sunlife Organics
Photo courtesy of @sunlifeorganics on Instagram
Pros: This is one of the best acai bowls I’ve ever had. They have lots of options for bowls, and they only use gluten free granola.
Cons: Sunlife is far from campus, which is why it ranks at three, not one, on my list. The closest of their three stores is in Malibu. Thankfully, they’re set to open a new one in Cross Creek, Malibu. While even that’s still a drive, it’s ten minutes closer to campus than their current Malibu location.
4. Whole Foods
Photo courtesy of @wholefoods on Instagram
Pros: It’s only a mile from campus, and their acai bowl is really, really good.
Cons: They only have one flavor option, making it a little if you plan on getting an acai bowl at least once a week (or guiltily walking into Westwood whenever you’re craving one, like I do).
5. Nekter Juice Bar
Photo by Mary Kate Turner
Pros: Nekter has a shop in Westwood, so it’s an easy walk. They have five options of different bowls, all of which are delicious. They have gluten free granola, too. And, one of their bowls (the Acai Banana Berry Bowl) is nicknamed the Bruin Bowl.
Cons: None; go try it!