One of many new developments to the Idylwood Plaza on Leesburg Pike has been the addition of Happy Froyo, a small frozen yogurt joint that opened on March 30. At first glance, this small shop doesn’t seem much different from any other popular froyo chain; the air smelled starkly of chemicals, and the churn of the froyo machines serenaded us as we entered. However, Happy Froyo offered a more welcoming atmosphere than neighborhood favorites like Sweet Frog do, with white and pink accents tied together to grey details on everything from the walls to the cups. The establishment was also very clean and well maintained: there were no stray gummy worms lining the counters or frozen yogurt leaking onto the floor. In terms of flavor and topping offerings, there was a limited variety compared to other froyo places, but there were still classic flavors like chocolate, mango and watermelon. Despite a limited offering of flavors and toppings in comparison to other local froyo shops, we were still impressed by the satisfying and rich blend of flavors in each of our bowls.

Addie’s Bowl
Rating: 4/5

Flavors:
1. Georgia Peach
2. Euro Tart
3. Mango
Toppings:
1. Mini cheesecake bites
2. Gummy bears
3. Strawberry popping boba

I’ve always preferred fruity and sweet flavors in my frozen yogurt, so I didn’t hesitate to find fruit flavors and toppings upon arriving at Happy Froyo. The flavors I chose complimented each other very well, with overlapping flavors of tart and sweet that blended fluidly together. The Euro Tart flavor reminded me the most of regular yogurt, but with a thicker, sweeter taste. Georgia Peach took me slightly off guard as it was creamier than I expected, mirroring an ice cream-like flavor and consistency rather than that of a sorbet. Nonetheless, the peach flavor came through strongly and was well complimented by the Mango flavor, which was a tart sorbet-inspired flavor that blew all the others in my bowl out of the park.

To compliment the creamy tartness of flavors like Euro Tart and Georgia Peach, I topped my bowl with mini cheesecake bites which were rich, tangy and incredibly soft, pleasantly complimenting the fruity and tart flavors of my yogurt. Additionally, the strawberry popping boba and gummy bears were refreshing and provided a unique combination of textures to improve my overall experience in eating my bowl. Not only did my flavors and toppings complement each other well, but the cost of my bowl was quite reasonable at just $4.85. Though, as with any frozen yogurt shop, prices depend on the weight of your dish(es). For all fruit-lovers with a heavy sweet tooth, Happy Froyo is a great local spot for an affordable yet satisfying dessert that is easy to get and even easier to eat.

Lauren’s Bowl
Rating: 3.5/5

Flavors:
1. Vanilla
2. Dulce de Leche
3. Cookies and Cream
Toppings:
1. Cookie dough bites
2. Mini white chocolate chips
I’ve tried numerous frozen yogurt places throughout the years, and Happy Froyo was no different than any of the others. The froyo was tasty, if a bit overly sweet, but there was nothing special to differentiate Happy Froyo from every other place. I tried three flavors: Vanilla, Dulce de Leche and Cookies and Cream. The vanilla and caramel were my two favorites, both extremely rich and creamy. The Vanilla flavor was a tiny bit too sweet for my liking however, making Dulce de Leche my overall top pick. The Cookies and Cream flavor was far less sweet than the other two and even had a weird aftertaste, almost like matcha. The texture was also less appealing, as it was more watered down and crystalized than the other two softer and creamier flavors. I paired the froyo with bites of cookie dough and white chocolate chips, which complemented the bowl nicely. The cookie dough was soft and chewy. They were definitely my overall favorite part, while the white chocolate chips added a bit of crunchiness and texture. Overall, I was satisfied but not impressed with my bowl, and while I would eat at Happy Froyo again, I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to visit.