Looking for Pinkberry vegetarian options? Here’s the full list. Pinkberry is the frozen yogurt chain that helped reignite the froyo craze in the mid-2000s. Its tart, fruit-forward flavors are still a go-to dessert for plant-based eaters. But the menu is full of dairy yogurts, gummy candies, and the odd honey drizzle. So what can vegetarians and vegans actually order? This guide walks through the current Pinkberry menu. It flags the caveats that aren’t obvious at the topping bar. And it hands you a simple playbook for ordering.
A Quick Look at Pinkberry
Here’s the short history that explains how Pinkberry ended up everywhere from West Hollywood strip malls to airports in Kuwait.
- Founded in January 2005 by Hye Kyung (Shelly) Hwang and Young Lee on Huntley Drive in West Hollywood, California. The original concept was an English-style teahouse. The founders pivoted to frozen yogurt after the city denied an alcohol permit.
- 2007: Took a $27.5 million investment from Maveron, the venture fund co-founded by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. That money fueled rapid U.S. expansion.
- 2008: A Los Angeles Times lab test asked whether the product had enough live cultures to be called “yogurt.” A lawsuit followed. Pinkberry then fixed the recipe and earned the National Yogurt Association’s Live and Active Cultures seal.
- 2009–2010: The first international location opens in Kuwait through a partnership with M.H. Alshaya Co. International expansion ramps up across the Middle East.
- 2015: Kahala Brands buys Pinkberry. Kahala is owned by MTY Food Group, the Canadian company behind Cold Stone Creamery, TCBY, and Planet Smoothie. Pinkberry is now based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Today: Co-founder Shelly Hwang stays on as Chief Product Officer. The chain runs more than 260 stores across 20+ countries. Menu and flavor selection vary a lot by location.
Pinkberry Vegetarian Options: What to Order
Good news for vegetarians: nearly every frozen yogurt and sorbet at Pinkberry is vegetarian. The shorter list is what’s vegan. The tart and non-tart yogurt lines are made with real dairy. The table below covers the core categories. Flavors rotate by store and season, so check your local shop.
| Menu Item | Vegetarian | Vegan |
|---|---|---|
| Original Tart Frozen Yogurt | Yes | No (contains dairy) |
| Tart-line flavors (Pomegranate, Matcha, Mango Lemonade, Pineapple, Yuzu Meringue, etc.) | Yes | No (dairy yogurt base) |
| Non-tart flavors (Vanilla Bean, Cookies n Cream, Chocolate Hazelnut, Snickerdoodle Cookie, etc.) | Yes | No (dairy + may contain egg) |
| Coconut Milk Chocolate / Coconut / Cold Brew / Lemon Creme / Salted Caramel / Strawberry | Yes | Yes |
| Just Fruit Tropical Mango & Just Fruit Peach Passion (sorbets) | Yes | Yes |
| Fresh fruit toppings (strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, mango, etc.) | Yes | Yes |
| Granola, toasted almonds, Fruity Pebbles | Yes | Varies (granola often has honey) |
| Brownie bites, cookie dough, NUTELLA®, milk chocolate crunch, peanut butter cups | Yes | No (dairy and/or egg) |
| Gummy bears, mochi, bursting boba | Varies | Varies (gelatin / dairy in some) |
| Pure & natural honey drizzle | Yes | No |
| Smoothies (Chocolate Banana, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana, Tropical Mango) | Yes | No (made with dairy yogurt) |
Frozen Yogurt: The Core Menu
Pinkberry sorts frozen yogurt into three families. All three are vegetarian. Only the coconut milk and Just Fruit lines are vegan.
- Tart flavors (vegetarian, dairy): The category Pinkberry built its name on. Current tart flavors include Original, Pomegranate, Matcha, Mango Lemonade, Yuzu Meringue, Pineapple, Pina Colada, Strawberry Lemonade, Strawberry Shortcake, Passion Fruit, White Peach, Strawberry Dragonfruit, Roasted Almond Cookie, Ube Honey, and Green Apple, among others. All contain real dairy yogurt.
- Non-tart / dessert flavors (vegetarian, dairy): Sweeter, richer profiles like Vanilla Bean, Cookies n Cream, Chocolate Hazelnut, Snickerdoodle Cookie, Cinnamon Churro, Mint Chocolate Cookie, Peanut Butter, Salted Butter Caramel, Tiramisu, and White Mocha. Some may also contain egg-based ingredients, like cookies or churro pieces. Ask if you avoid eggs.
- Coconut Milk & Just Fruit (vegan): The dependable plant-based picks. Coconut Milk Chocolate, Coconut Milk Coconut, Coconut Milk Cold Brew, Coconut Milk Lemon Creme, Coconut Milk Salted Caramel, and Coconut Milk Strawberry are all dairy-free. They’re made without egg or peanut, though they do contain soy lecithin. The Just Fruit Tropical Mango and Just Fruit Peach Passion sorbets round out the vegan list. These sorbets are water-and-fruit based, with no milk at all.
Toppings: What’s Safe and What to Watch
The topping bar is where most accidental rule-breaks happen, especially for vegans. Here’s how the categories shake out.
- Fresh fruit (vegan): Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, kiwi, and mango. The safest choice across the bar.
- Nuts & cereals (mostly vegan): Toasted almonds and Fruity Pebbles are typically vegan. Granola at Pinkberry usually contains honey. That makes it vegetarian but not vegan, so confirm with your store.
- Sauces (mixed): Chocolate sauce, caramel, strawberry purée, and pomegranate sauce are typically vegetarian. Pinkberry’s “Pure & Natural Honey” drizzle is vegetarian but not vegan.
- Chocolate & candy (vegetarian, mostly not vegan): Brownie bites, chocolate chip cookie dough, mini chocolate chips, cookies and cream, peanut butter cups, NUTELLA®, milk chocolate crunch, mini gems, and dark chocolate crisps all contain dairy and/or egg. The cookie and brownie pieces also contain wheat flour. Gummy bears usually contain gelatin, so they’re not even vegetarian at most stores. Mochi may contain dairy, depending on the recipe. Bursting boba is usually fruit-juice based, but check the flavor.
Smoothies, Shakes, and Drinks
This is where vegans should be most careful. Pinkberry’s blended drinks include the standard Chocolate Banana, Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Tropical Mango smoothies. Rotating limited-time options include Strawberry Hibiscus Cold Brew Fruit Tea, Island Mango Cold Brew Fruit Tea, Lava Swirl Smoothie, Peach Mango Shaken Tea, and Dragon Berry Shaken Tea. Per Pinkberry’s own dietary guidance, every smoothie contains dairy yogurt. That makes them vegetarian but not vegan. The fruit teas and shaken teas are usually vegan when you order them without milk or yogurt. Still, confirm at the counter.
What’s Vegan at Pinkberry?
If you’re vegan, your reliable lane is the coconut-milk yogurt and the Just Fruit sorbets. Pair them with fresh fruit, toasted almonds, and fruit-based sauces. Skip the granola unless your store stocks a honey-free version. Skip the gummy bears, which contain gelatin. Skip the smoothies, since they use a dairy yogurt base. Cross-contamination is the other thing to know. Most Pinkberry stores do not have a dedicated dairy-free machine. Staff clean the machines between flavors. Have a severe dairy allergy or a strict vegan practice? Ask the manager whether the cleaning routine meets your standard.
Special Dietary Requirements and Allergies
Pinkberry publishes per-flavor allergen and ingredient information on its website. A few notes are worth holding in your head before you order.
- Dairy: All tart and non-tart frozen yogurts contain dairy. The Coconut Milk and Just Fruit lines are dairy-free, so they’re your safe picks if you skip milk.
- Soy: Coconut Milk flavors contain soy lecithin.
- Sugar: Every yogurt and sorbet is sweetened, and tart flavors usually carry less sugar than the richer dessert flavors. Pinkberry lists per-flavor sugar and calorie counts on its site.
- Gluten: Many cookie and brownie toppings contain gluten. The yogurts themselves are typically gluten-free, but cross-contact at the topping bar is possible.
- Egg: Some non-tart flavors and cookie-based toppings contain egg. Coconut Milk flavors are egg-free.
- Tree nuts & peanuts: Toasted almonds and peanut butter cups are obvious. Almond extract may also appear in some seasonal flavors.
- Cross-contamination: Frozen yogurt machines and topping scoops are shared. To avoid all cross-contact, ask staff to swap scoops or pull pre-portioned product.
Tips for Vegetarians at Pinkberry
- If you eat dairy, you have the run of the menu. Pick any tart or non-tart flavor and load up.
- If you avoid gelatin, skip the gummy bears. Verify mochi and any “jelly”-style toppings too.
- If you avoid honey, skip the granola and the honey drizzle. Ask if the store stocks a honey-free granola.
- Customize freely. A Coconut Milk Chocolate base with strawberries, mango, and chocolate sauce is fully vegan and one of the most reliable orders.
- Use the locator on pinkberry.com or the Pinkberry app. Flavors rotate by location and season. A flavor at one of the downtown locations may not be at the airport branch.
That’s the complete rundown of Pinkberry vegetarian options. Bookmark this guide so you always know what to order, and check our other restaurant guides for more meatless picks.
Conclusion: What’s Vegetarian at Pinkberry?
For vegetarians, Pinkberry is open territory. Every yogurt and sorbet is vegetarian-friendly, and the topping bar has plenty of dairy-tolerant options. Vegans need to plan a little more. Stick to the coconut milk and Just Fruit lines, lean on fresh fruit, and skip the smoothies, honey-sweetened granola, and gelatin candies. Building a broader plan for eating out? Start with our ultimate guide to eating vegetarian and vegan at restaurants and the full Restaurants archive. For more dessert-and-drink chains, see our guides to Jamba Juice, Baskin-Robbins, and Starbucks. Then check the Pinkberry locator for the flavors at your nearest store.
Pinkberry Vegetarian Options: Frequently Asked Questions
