Aussie froyo brand Yo-Chi now in Singapore, with local-inspired toppings — is it worth the hype?

Food fads may come and go, but it seems like frozen yoghurt, or froyo as some might prefer to call it, looks set to stick around, judging by the queues drawn by the opening of Yo-Chi Singapore at Orchard Central on August 15. 

If you’ve not heard of the brand, which hails from Australia, its name is basically a portmanteau of the words “yoghurt” and well, “chi”, the concept of energy or life force in Chinese (yes, as in the “chi” in “taichi”). 

Started in September 2012 in Melbourne, this popular self-serve Aussie yoghurt chain doesn’t just want to bring you yummy frozen yogurt, but an “infinite flow of good energy” — and this energy has translated into close to 60 outlets around Australia, in all major states.

Yo-Chi’s Singapore outlet isn’t just its first in Singapore, it marks its first international outlet outside Australia. 

In addition to that, Yo-Chi Singapore is said to also be the first in Singapore to offer a self-serve acai experience. 

How it works

You step into Yo-Chi’s store, and first decide whether you’d like a cup or a cone. 

Then, you choose a flavour. There are a total of 10 flavours at the moment to choose from:

• Signature tart
• Mango
• Coconut
• Acai
• Cookies and cream
• Salted butterscotch
• Strawberry cream
• Matcha
• Classic vanilla
• Chocolate

If that’s too many, fret not, the friendly Yo-Chi staff are on hand to offer you samples, in cute little cups which resemble cupcake liners, to help your decision-making process. 

Once you’ve dispensed your desired flavours into the cup (or cone), you make your way to the toppings bar, where a smorgasbord of toppings awaits.

There are healthier fruit options, such as strawberries and bananas, but you might find yourself more drawn towards toppings that are not often seen in local froyo shops. 

Fun ones we spotted included mango and strawberry mochi, chocolate soil (cacao nibs), crumble, and even chocolate chunk cookie cake and chocolate fudge brownie bites. 

There are also local-inspired toppings such as nata de coco and coconut jelly, if you’d like.

You can opt to drizzle your Yo-Chi in yummy sauces such as Lotus Biscoff, peanut butter or even its flowing Nutella fountain, and the crew will finish it off with a “Yo-Chi is so shiok” wafer. (Now this is a nice local touch, we have to say.)

Lastly, weigh your creation (it’s priced at S$3.50 per 100g, which we understand is nearly the same as its Australian stores with conversion factored in), pay, and you can be on your way. 

Opt to have it in-store at its spacious shop space, at the mall’s first floor, or grab it to go. 

Is Yo-Chi worth the hype? 

When we first chanced upon the brand’s impending entry into Singapore, we were sceptical about the hype — after all, this millennial here has experienced not one, but multiple, waves of froyo in Singapore. 

Remember the now-defunct brands Yami Yogurt and Frolick? 

While Llao Llao and Yole opened after and still have a number of stores dotted around Singapore, the general crowd seems to have pivoted towards milk teas such as Chagee instead. 

That said, the moment we stepped into its spacious outlet in Orchard Central, we understood why its Singapore Instagram account had racked up more than 10,000 followers even before it launched. There was a sizable queue on its threshold even before its doors opened at 11am, too.

The Yo-Chi crew are passionate, very passionate, about their product — made using 100% Australian milk — and very friendly. 

We had waited quite a bit in the line at the media preview (understandable, we would take just as long to choose our flavours and toppings, too) and the crew were quick to swoop in with offers to sample the flavours, as well as share their faves. 

With 10 flavours and a whole counter full of toppings, all of which change from time to time, the permutations you can come up with are endless, too. 

We loved the signature tart flavour (classic is best, and it even faintly reminded us of Frolick’s version, but more robust), mango, and salted butterscotch the most. 

Toppings were relatively run-of-the-mill, though the generous cake and brownie chunks were definitely new to us. 

We also appreciated that there was some effort to localise the toppings, though there’s always room for more unique ones. (Chendol, anyone?)

And to top it off, the weight-based pricing? Perfect for those days when you just want a little bit of yoghurt to ease your craving — you literally take as much as you can finish, and pay for as much as you take. No wastage, nada.  

My only gripe? The lack of differing cup sizes. 

At the time of our visit, there was only one cup size available, which was more suitable for two to share. Granted, the cone is a little “smaller” in capacity, but I’d appreciate the flexibility of allowing for different sizes, or at least just a smaller cup.

That said, it’s definitely not life-changing yoghurt by any means, but Yo-Chi Singapore is a fun self-serve experience to head to with friends, especially if you’re in the ‘hood, especially with such good energy (or “chi”) from the affable crew. 

Just be prepared to queue — don’t say we didn’t warn you!

This was a hosted tasting. 

For more ideas on what to eat, check out Flourish Bakehouse at SMU which is sadly closing soon for good, or peruse our new openings round-up.