Being the smoothie bowl enthusiast I am, I have gone ahead and ranked each of the smoothie bowl places in my area, New York City and Hoboken. One of my favorite things about living on the east coast for college is all the new foods I get to try! Growing up in the Midwestern region of the United States, I never got to try such a thing as smoothie bowls, nor had I even heard of them. They're now my favorite meal, hands down!
Playa Bowls - 10
https://www.ctbites.com/blog/2018/9/11/5ho0y3inmd8cgfjj4813eqn0zha690
This one was a no-brainer for me. Playa Bowls simply has the highest quality of bowls, with the highest quality of ingredients. Not to mention that their menu is not only limited to açaí bowls; they also serve pitaya-, coconut-, green-, and banana-based bowls! Quite honestly, nothing beats this place.
Acai Ya Later - 6
https://www.hobokengirl.com/acai-ya-later-hoboken-smoothies-acai-bowls/
Although this place used to be one of my favorites, the last time I ordered from there, the fruit looked like something I could pour out of a can. In addition, there açaí is pre-scooped, which I understand boosts efficiency, but it simply does not taste as fresh. Nonetheless, they are very generous with the Nutella topping, which boosts it's score in my book!
So Bol - 5
https://1851franchise.com/sobol/fresh-fast-and-flavorful-how-sobol-franchise-is-prepared-to-grow-in-the-southeastern-us-thanks-to-millennial-friendly-offerings-2709595
I was so, so excited to try this place, for they advertised their bowls at $6.99, which is significantly cheaper than the average smoothie bowl place. Upon arriving at the place, however, I realized that if I want any toppings at all on my bowl, the price is hiked up to $10-$12 - overpriced af.
Shaka Bowls - 7
https://findyourshaka.com
The atmosphere of Shaka Bowls is pretty casual and light and beachy, which I enjoyed, and the menu truly had something for everyone, not just smoothie bowls! The cutest, healthiest, little shop.
Vitality Bowls - 6
Although the name is quite appealing, I was not too impressed with this smoothie bowl place in particular. The portions were quite small, and the açaí was not as flavorful as I expected. Nonetheless, they offer a plethora of yummy and diverse toppings.
Sweetberry Bowls - 9
https://upstatebusinessjournal.com/sweetberry-bowls-brings-super-food-to-noma-square/
These people have simply mastered the art of açaí bowls. It's honestly a miracle to me that this place is not more popular/doesn't have more locations; I have had nothing but wonderful experiences here! The fruit is always super refreshing, and they are quite generous with the toppings, especially the granola, which I adore!
Acai Berry - 8
https://www.yelp.com/biz/acai-berry-greenpoint
Although this place isn't as popular as the others, I knew I had to include it in this article. Although their menu is limited to only four açaí bowls, these bowls are packed with the most unique of toppings and fruits; some that I have yet to see anywhere else. The granola here is the best I've tasted, by far. I highly recommend!
The vibe and energy in these places is unlike any other, and they simply smell fresh and wholesome; they're in the category of superfood for a reason! Check these places out and grade them yourself! Plus, if you're telling me that your mouth isn't watering at least a little after looking at all those pictures, you're lying.