Starfruit

Okay. I wanted to like this Healthy Alternative to Ice Cream/​Froyo,
truly I did. But, this was not to be.
So I researched this thing called” Kefir” and it sounded like a great
concept, and the fact that I like yogurt made me think I would love
this stuff. Uh No.
Yes, I do love Yogurt, mainly Yoplait Light and mainly Red Velvet
Cake and Vanilla Flavors but I don’t like Activia and this is what this
Kefir reminded me of today, Activia!
Now, Jamie Lee Curtis may get a nice paycheck to endorse Activia
but I think it’s just nasty.
Anyway, I had a groupon to try Starfruit, I paid $ 10.00 for $ 20.00
worth of Kefir so called delights, and I spent $ 7.38 on my Original flavored
Kefir cause they only had original, mango, and coconut flavors since they
are permanently shutting their doors this Sunday September 2.
I did attach some oreo bites and yogurt chips to my original kefir, oh yeah,
and some mini m&m’s hoping to sweeten the deal.
But, as hard as I tried I couldn’t get over the extreme bitter taste!
Well, I took like 4 tastes and then I couldn’t stand the taste any longer
so I took it to the trash and dumped it!
And I was given a cosmic card good for future visits, however I’m pretty
sure I won’t be making any future visits.
Good news though for those of you that like this Kefir Stuff there are 3 other
locations, One at the Merchandise Mart, One in the Loop, and One in Wicker Park.
Sorry Starfruit, I will be staying loyal to Forever Yogurt and Yogurtland,
They have lowfat yogurt that tastes really good, and I guarantee I won’t ever
be dumping any of their delights in the trash…
P. S. If any of my Unilocal Friends would be interested in using the remainder
of my balance left on my Starfruit Cosmic Card please contact me!
I would hate to see it go to waste and I think there’s about $ 12.00 left on it.

Yummy yummy in my lactose intolerant tummy! I’ve been meaning to try this place for the last 9 months since I started grad school at neighboring DePaul.
I personally dig the strong tart taste; I like strong flavors that tingle my taste buds. I really like that the small cup is only 75 calories! What? Shut the front door, me so happy. And you can keep it healthy by choosing fruit toppings, granola or something along the lines of carob chips. But don’t worry you can also get sugary toppings as well. As far as I could tell they only have two choices of frozen kefir on tap at any given time. I went with the original because I had heard good things (all true btw).
I wish I could put my own toppings on it though. I would rather choose the amount and pay accordingly rather than be limited by whoever is scooping toppings that day. You pay by the cup, and any topping after one is 50 cents.
The vibe is kinda new school trying to be old school soda pop shop, but it’s cute. Plenty of little tables or you can get it to go and stroll the shops along Halsted.
Definitely going to the top of my «fro yo» list — healthy probiotics for the gut, low calorie, healthy topping choices and easy to get to. Oh and they offer a DePaul discount — yay!

Kefir so good. I love the smoothies here as a fabulous reward for working out at Flirty Girl Fitness nearby. My goto smoothies are the Detox and the Berry Good 4U. This starfruit café is a good size and very colorful with a good amount of seating. If you need a happy pick-​me-​up, come on in and soak in the bright and positive décor and sweet treats.

Starfruit is the best froyo in the city — hands down. It actually tastes like yogurt as opposed to some places where it’s really more like ice cream. Plus it’s practically guilt free since it’s made from kefir. Tons of probiotics, protein, and fiber. My go-​to is a create-​your-​own smoothie but I always choose different flavors and mix-​ins. Tasty recommendations:
–pomegranate frozen yogurt with blueberry base with pineapples and spinach mixed in
–strawberry frozen yogurt with raspberry base with peanut butter, strawberries, and Fruity Pebbles mixed in
–chocolate truffle frozen yogurt with chocolate truffle base with strawberries, almonds, and chocolate syrup mixed in
The Lincoln Park location is close to my office so my friend and I have a standing lunch date where we take advantage of Two-​Punch Tuesdays. Once you buy 9 frozen treats, you get one free. Two punches for the purchase of one yogurt gets you there faster! Shout out to Dante, our fabulous kefir mixologist who’s always making great smoothie suggestions!

There was a group of little kids running around when we arrived, and as a result, things were a bit loud and disorganized. It also wasn’t entirely clear where to order. One staff person seemed to be doing busy-​work and ignored us until her boss told her to help us. Once we were finally served, we took our frozen kefir back to our B&B, as the café was simply too noisy.
As for my frozen pomegranate kefir, it was just so-​so. The super-​tart flavor just isn’t my cup of tea. My girlfriend liked hers (although she got a different flavor w/​blueberries added), but personally I wouldn’t come back.

Finally, somewhere the lactose-​intolerant can enjoy a yogurt smoothie! This place makes me VERY HAPPY. :) Dessert is a priority for this girl. When it comes to frozen treats with dairy, I often sacrifice my body for a few moments of pleasure. I will spare you the gory details of the consequences.
So back to Starfruit — service is fast and friendly. They were really helpful when I was trying to figure out what I should try first. I had the Detox Smoothie which was delicious. I’m due to go back there since my goal is to work my way through the smoothie menu.
Looking forward to my next visit!

So here’s the deal. I’ve lived in the wonderful city of Chicago for well over a year and have yet to try one of the many places/​chains that offer frozen yogurt. Starfruit was the first one I’ve ever tried, and it absolutely blew my mind. Here is the story:
A co-​worker of mine kept telling me about Starfruit and frozen kefir. I, at the time, had absolutely no idea what kefir was. And frankly, it didn’t sound appetizing at all.
When I arrived at Starfruit, I was a little overwhelmed by the menu and how to order the correct way. I didn’t want to be «that guy» and wander around starring aimlessly trying to figure out what to do. Luckily, Nini, was there to help. Normally, I could care less about customer service, as long as I get my order and it’s delicious. But she went out of her way to explain to me the world and benefits of frozen Kefir. It wasn’t in a cheesy or corporate way, it just seemed honest and real. She even helped me choose a flavor. Having worked in food service in the past, Nini really impressed me by taking the time and effort to explain and recommend choices to me during what seemed to be a crazy influx of people.
On to the frozen kefir!
Being a huge fan of all things pomegranate, I decided on choosing the low-​fat pomegranate/​acai as my base. I simply added granola, and it was pure awesomeness. Not too sweet, and not too tart. I’m going to have to go back soon and try the strawberry banana.
The only negative aspect of Starfruit is, it’s kind of ridiculously overpriced and I could probably buy a full on meal with the money I spent. Hence why they lose a star. But hey, it’s something tasty and different.

Frozen kefir! Freaking delicious.
I didn’t quite know what to make of Starfruit initially: compared to tart fro-​yo, the original frozen kefir is lighter, less tart and less sweet. Overall it’s just less intense. It’s grown on me, though. Super refreshing when you’d like a frozen treat but don’t want to feel your waistline expanding as you eat it.
I’d give five stars if they didn’t mess up the texture/​temperature about a third of the time. Also, I object to paying per topping. They could stand to stay open a bit later in the summer, too.
Still, good job here.

I like that the kefir is a healthier option for a frozen treat. I’m sure the stuff is still high in calories but at least it’s got probiotics going for it.
Now, if you’ve never had kefir, be advised that it’s a bit tart. Frozen form is the same deal. So, don’t expect it to taste as sweet as ice cream.
Starfruit has a great assortment of toppings too and usually have a couple flavors of kefir to pick from.
The smoothies look good but are pretty pricey I think.

Coming from NYC, I have high standards for my sour tart frozen yogurt (Shout out to Pinkberry!). Found this place on Groupon and figured I could definitely do some damage with $ 20 worth of credit.
Overall, very pleased with my find. Flavors of the month here are good (truly enjoyed the pomegranate) and comes with toppings of your choosing. I also appreciate the health benefits of the kiefer– although im unsure whether it’s just marketing. (I’ll do some research and check back)
Downside: Welcome to the 201_’s! Stop charging per individual topping– I’m sorry but $ 1 for a few smashed up graham cracker crumbs. Puhlease.
Overall 3 stars but only because my groupon off-​set the price.

Starfruit is fantastic! After a long day at the beach, this place really hit the spot for my friends and I.
The staff was nice & friendly letting us sample their Kifer frozen yogurt before we purchased. The location was super cute. I loved the stark whiteness of it with splashes of color. Plus, parking was not hard to find at all.
A small size was only $ 3 for Pomegranate frozen yogurt. It was very tasty and just so refreshing on a 90 degree almost summer day. They have a lot of options for smoothies and toppings which I may look into the next time I go.
The final thing that sold me was their Loyalty card… get 9 punches and you get 1 free! I love a great deal. :)

Incredibly friendly staff!
Probably the best smoothie I’ve had in my life. Loved it, will definitely be back.

Hello Unilocal!world, I am proud to say that this is my first review ever… Here it goes…
I am writing about Starfruit today after countless positive experiences. My product of choice is generally frozen Kefir, a tangy sweet alternative to frozen yogurt. There are usually about 4 different varieties to choose from at any given time, and you can top your cup off with all different types of healthy fruits and nuts, or chocolate delights if you are feeling naughty… The frozen Kefir is always good and if you are health conscious, then this is the best option you’ve got for a good treat. The frozen Kefir is one of the reasons I keep coming back, however it is the staff who puts the icing on the cake.
The staff is always an A+. They smile, say hello, interact with you, offer samples, give coupons, and are genuinely happy. They are intelligent, offer suggestions, and are just straight up cool people. It is a relief to come across people who are enjoying themselves. They are always a little too overstaffed, which is good for the customer because I never have to wait. The healthy treats, good service, clean environment and Groupon affiliation (of which I bought entirely too many) makes Starfruit a go to in the City of Chicago.

Wonderfully refreshing. I am the kefir-​whisperer, so I always know the exactly right combo of kefir flavor and fresh fruit. For my latest trick, I combined pomegranate with kiwi and blueberries. Excellent. The cold tartness of the kefir blends beautifully with the lush sweetness of the fresh fruit.
This place makes me feel like a little kid. The colors are hypnotizing. The white walls in combo with the circular shapes and pastel colors make you pay attention only to the kefir (smart marketing). Once I’ve ordered, I mutter «gimmegimmegimme» until I have my treat in hand. I’ve found myself doing the ‘i gotta pee’ dance here more than once. Not because I needed to relieve myself. I did it because I was excited. See? Kid-​like. Plus, the workers — to a person — are really nice. Really. I know what I am talking about. I worked in both an ice cream and frozen yogurt (it wasn’t fro-​yo in my day) place when I was younger. I wasn’t nice. I was surly. These folks? Nice.

Starfruit you are a prince, and you have found a new serial patron. And for that I am vowing immense love for frozen kefir.
All of this free time. All of this Indian Summer heat. What’s a girl to do? Go for gelato was out of the picture since the workouts are back in full effect. The ever faithful froyo? Hmm, Red Mango. or Red Mango? Or try something new like frozen kefir.
Plan C sounded absolutely and positively appetizing especially when I was wandering through the area and feeling the grumblings of my hungry tummy. It’s a perfect treat for a mid day snack racking up at a whopping 22 calories? How is that even possible? The amount of time it took to walk up the stairs just blew that sweet treat’s calories right out of the ballpark and down the river, so there was no way you could feel any shame in adding some fresh fruit to knock off one more layer on the nutritional pyramid.
Of course you can add all of the other fixins but I keep things simple and healthy with the fresh fruit and the occasional mochi. Immediately taking note of the Pomegranate flavor I had the wonderful gal behind the counter swivel up a nice bowl and tossed in some fresh strawberries and kiwi to get a mouthful of fruity flavors.
Fantastic is all that I can say. The shop has a ton of seating for all to enjoy their frozen goods either along the walls or next to the window to watch some foot traffic. While I still love froyo, Starfruit is inching up as a go to spot for an everyday snack that is not going to kill my wallet or make me fatty mcfatty.
Thanks for the ride prince, we’ll be seeing each other soon!

Um. I’ve been here every single day for the past week. They changed their hours. They now close at 11 PM everyday… you have no idea how happy this made me. No idea.
Anyhoo, got 10 holes on my punchcard. so I’ll be back for my free cup of Starfruit this week! LOL.
Also, my tummy doesn’t hurt after I eat this (AND I ALWAYS GET A LARGE) b/​c it’s 99% lactose free!!! Wee!
I have to explain to my friends that this is NOT frozen yogurt. I actually do NOT like frozen yogurt. Frozen kefir is lighter/​tangier/​icier/​yummier/​healthier/​-​er-​er-​er. haha.

Kefir. If you don’t like it, you probably wouldn’t like it frozen.
Well, I do like it. And after mindlessly looking through reviews, I found Starfruit and decided I must try it. I’ve been trying to go for about a year. Living in the suburbs and going away to school 140 miles away were minor bumps in the road. I tried to go last summer, but there was major construction and I gave up.
Finally, I have tried Starfruit. And I am a fan.
The décor is very bright and colorful, and everything is nice and clean. The staff was very helpful. They had a few flavors (strawberry, blueberry, vanilla and pomegranate) and I went with the vanilla. To be healthy, I chose pineapple and strawberries as my toppings.
Mmmm definitely a good choice!
They also have parfaits (a smoother Kefir consistency; NOT frozen) and smoothies, as well as bottles of Lifeway Kefir for sale.
If you’re looking for sweet and creamy frozen yogurt, it’s not here. Frozen Kefir is tart, tangy and sweet, and has probiotics that are good for your digestive system. The calorie count is about 22 calories per ounce, plus toppings. Which they have a lot of (Mochi! Lucky Charms! Sprinkles!). I wonder if they have starfruit available as a topping…

What the hell is Kefir and where does it come from???
Who cares because it makes great frozen yogurt. Not too sweet, not too tarty, fruity, and delicious. Ok I just looked it up. It comes form the Caucasus region. So Russian Armenian ish areas. Lots of healthy bacteria and yeasts. Grrreaaat I don’t really want to think about what I’m eating.
Probiotics, Macrobiotics, antibiotic, robiotic, WHO CARES. I stuffffff my face and eat you.

I finally made it to Starfruit to get more than a sample… and it was wonderful. .!
As many other people have noted, Kefir is a distinct taste that not everyone will enjoy, It is not like traditional frozen yogurt or ice cream whatsoever, it’s like an intensely tangy yogurt, but without the sugary-​sweetness that some have. It is crisp, tart, tangy and refreshing. The frozen Kefir is delightful, even more so than traditional/​non-​frozen kefir (many flavors available in-​store at a good price, comparable and even lower than many grocery stores, fyi).
You have the option here of smoothies (frozen K + fruit), parfaits (regular K + fruit + toppings), regular/​frozen K with the option of adding toppings ($ 1 for first, $.50 for additional).
I tried a frozen peach smoothie with raspberries, and it was probably the best smoothie I have ever had. Creamy, fruity (a lot of berries!), not too sweet. So good… I also got a vanilla/​raspberry frozen kefir to go for a different day — with no toppings (would have loved to, but didn’t want to spend $ 2 on toppings, sorry.)
This place is definitely worth a try no matter what. And, if you enjoy the taste of yogurt, you will most likely love this stuff.

Yum Yum Yum. Who knew frozen fermented milk can be so good. Frozen kefir is similar to froyo in texture and taste but it is better for you! Would you call it frofir? I had a delicious treat for under 100 calories AND I can say I was enhancing my immune system, promoting gastrointenstinal health and aiding my body in vitamin and mineral absorption.
Starfruit provided four flavors to choose from: Vanilla, Pomegranate, Strawberry and Peach. They had the typical fresh fruit toppings and Brazilian gogi berries which apparently helps fertility. I hope frofir makes it’s way to San Francisco soon!