Active Culture

Delicious savory bowls. Vegan options. Two vegan frozen yogurts and a sorbet. Nice outdoor chill vibe where you can see the ocean across the way. Friendly staff!

I usually love Active Culture and always get the Wholesome Bowl. However, my last TWO experiences at the Laguna Beach location have been hindered by one of the employees. I hate to even point this out, but genuinely it has affected my experience. One of the women at the front smells incredibly bad. I really don’t want to sound hateful. I have never complained about something like this, and to be completely honest I rarely leave google reviews. I do however take hygiene very seriously. Especially when it comes to food. I am not sure what exactly this woman’s position is in the restaurant but she is someone who is around food all day and cannot be smelling so bad. I will not trust food coming from someone like this. This needs to be handled by management because I truly do love AC. People need to be more aware of themselves.

I would consider myself a regular here and have always enjoyed grabbing a açaí bowl and enjoying the view! I really do enjoy it there but one of the employees was having hygiene issues and it honestly made me lose my appetite. Not to sound rude but this lady was on the larger side and the smell was unbearable. I wouldn’t say it will keep me from coming back but it’s definitely something I prepare myself for when walking in.

I am in shock. This place is already expensive and now they charge an extra 10% on top of your order and said it is because of inflation.. I got a bowl of vegetables. There are no inflation increases on vegetables. I think it’s so overpriced this is crazy

It’s mostly raw food with some cooked items like rice, quinoa and lentils. Each entree is unique in taste, especially the bowls. The staff are friendly and even cute and presentable. It seems that the restaurant is female owned because all the are female except for the cooks/chefs.

I’m obsessed with the froyo, I love the 32 oz flat rate to take home! The Earth Bowl is my go to…..love the warm beans and rice, and crunchy cabbage and OG sauce for the win!

My wife and I stopped there to share a delicious acai bowl. It was quiet while we were there (about 9:30 am on a Saturday morning), and we enjoyed sitting out on the patio with our dogs. There was a slight view of the ocean, but quite a bit of construction going on. The service was very good.

Do not tip. Awful, awful service Foods alright, but the employees are rude. I left a generous tip and they forgot my food and were rude and unapologetic when we reminded them after 25 minutes We also noticed another table next to ours who had the same issue. Reading the reviews this seems to be a common complaint here The staff are also very haughty, they almost spilled our drinks because of how carelessly they threw them on the table. Their seating is open to the public, maybe grab food from somewhere else if you want to sit here, I wish I’d had done that!

My daughters favorite go to place for smoothies and açaí bowls. We make a stop here every time we come to Laguna Beach.

This is the best Active Culture location! Its is located in a house type of building that was converted to a business. It has steps in the front to the entrance or easy access from the back small parking lot. It's always bright and clean with an ocean view. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner - healthy food full of veggies. They also have frozen yogurt. I like to get their veggie bowl with chips and salsa. Just a heads up that they don't use too many seasons but the natural flavors taste great. They're mostly vegetarian but they do have one dish that has meat.

Honey Lavender Bloom Shake is absolutely DELICIOUS! The lavender flavor is not too overwhelming. The honey gives it the perfect sweetness. I definitely recommend this shake! I will be coming back to try other items on their menu.

I love coming here for lunch on a beach day! they have so many healthy food options such as acai bowls, salads, wraps, and more! my friend and I got our food to go and ate on the beach. even though my acai was slightly melted it was yummy LOL they use sambazon acai which is always reliable. they also do have a build your own froyo which I do like getting after going to the beach. all the girls who work there are super friendly and its a great beachy vibe because its super close to the street beaches.

really yummy and healthy food that is super attentive to medical dietary restrictions. And the staff seems so nice and helpful. The cashier spent a lot of time trying to find sugar or something for my grandma, just went above and beyond.

It's always so crowded here during the summer and what a prime location this is across the street from Laguna Beach. Frozen yogurt is pretty tasty, especially the coconut vanilla.

We had açaí yogurt and two protein shakes. Great flavors quick service perfect after beach snack

I love active culture and I've taken many friends here over the last few years for their healthy frozen yogurt. I love that everything is healthy and that they make their frozen yogurt with simple ingredients and it taste really good. However you certainly pay the price for health and their food and frozen yogurt are incredibly expensive. The prices have gone up and are incredibly steep so it's not a place I visit often anymore. Just for our two bowls of frozen yogurt it cost $18 which was pretty expensive for what we were getting and way more than anticipated. I'd love to visit more often, but unfortunately, the price is really preventing us from visiting frequently as it's far from affordable especially for a little sweet treat!

My girlfriend and I visited this location for a health breakfast meal after staying the night in Laguna Beach. The shop's aesthetic was very cute and played well into the healthy nature vibe of the food and experience they were trying to sell. There is also a small art exhibit that is connected to this shop just around the dining area that is fun to look at while you wait for food. They primarily sell salads, acai bowls, and soft serve ice creams. We ended up ordering the Big Salad and a Medium-sized Bountiful Bowl. These two items were plenty and filled us both up with almost no leftover. I would definitely recommend the medium-sized or small-sized acai bowls if youre ordering another item to share, especially if you got the big salad. Big Salad: Voluminous, filling, hearty. The mixed greens played well with the beans, onions, tomatoes, seeds, and dressing. The texture was just short of crispy and tastes were relatively mild considering how many different vegetables were in there along with the vinaigrette. I was initially very reserved with the vinaigrette but once I realized how much there was in the bowl and how mild the vinaigrette was I ended up dumping the whole thing in and it was just the perfect amount of flavor needed to make the salad fun. I was expecting a cold and crispy salad but it vegetables were oddly just under room temperature and the avocados were a little browned by the time we got our bowl. We did ask for the avocados on the side because of my girlfriend's allergies. She woke up that morning with some stomach upset and the salad was the perfect remedy to help feed her without further irritating her GI. Bountiful Bowl: Cold, refreshing, tart. The acai bowl was very refreshing to eat after the Big Salad and it was almost like a sorbet which was perfect for the hot afternoon. The fruits added on top along with the granola added some much needed texture to the otherwise smooth and homogeneous acai and yogurt. There are also some rice crispies thrown into the mix with the granola which made for a fun little find. I didn't notice any difference in flavor or texture from the rice crispies. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND you order the medium size acai bowl unless that is all you are ordering. Quality wise, the food was pretty on point. I was a little disappointed with the Big Salad being just under room temperature since I was expecting something cold and crispy and refreshing. The avocados were also a little brown by the time we got it but that is to be expected since you can't really permanently preserve ripe avocados. Price wise, the food was quite expensive and we spent around $30 for two items. I guess its hard to expect anything more reasonably priced if you are shopping around a tourist area. Smaller details like the room-temperature salad and browned avocado aren't things I necessarily nit pick at but for the price it should be expected that vegetables and ingredients are better kept fresh and cool.

I visited Laguna Beach a week ago. On my stroll, we stopped here at Active Culture. I just wanted frozen yogurt and it looked like a pretty wholesome spot. (I honestly had a passing thought that they probably served frozen breast milk too. FORTUNATELY no!) Anyhoo... they DO serve the absolute BEST FROZEN YOGURT that I've had. Euro Tart is my fave but I will gladly have ANY of the other flavors on any given Sunday. I definitely have another reason to revisit this beautiful seaside city soon!

Great yogurt, easy and quick to get my bowl, and there was a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. Overall, a great place to find some dairy and nondairy frozen yogurt options!

Someone at work recommended this place, we all ordered the LB bowl, which was the only menu item that had meat in it. It consists of brown rice, dates, apples, aged Gouda, basil, prosciutto and lemon vinaigrette. You have to mix it well together to get all the flavors in. I like how it was salty and sweet and savory at the same time. It doesn't look appetizing but it's packed with flavors. Since we ordered it to be delivered, I'm not sure if it's supposed to be warm, room temperature or cold. I didn't get to finish the bowl. I am on the fence with it, I didn't dislike it but didn't love it either. Personally, it was just alright. I still rate it 4 stars due to the quality and freshness.

Everything I've tried here has been great! Very fresh and super filling. Me & my friend also got their fro-yo today and wow that was the best frozen yogurt I've honestly had in a long time! The only bummer was that it melted quickly- but the flavors, texture, and toppings were all . Also always nice to sit outside and eat by the beach :)

We were looking for a light healthy lunch and WOW! Not so light because the portions are huge! Everything was so fresh and amazing. I nibbbled on it all day.

My friend and I ordered the Velvet Bowl and Bountiful Bowl. We LOVED our acai bowls. Great flavor and fresh ingredients. You can't beat the location and view of the ocean.

I have been to the locations in San Clemente and Long Beach as well... good , fresh food - we sit outside and enjoy the fabulous weather. I always get the Vegan chili.. love it. The vege bowl was great - nice flavor and great tasting. Check out the art piece "Alice" inside - she has a story to tell!

Madison- AMAZING customer service! Such terrific people skills! Knows the right thing to say. First time here. Got a large cup of yogurt. As Madison rung me up, I asked her about the special orange yogurt drink they have that looks amazing on the counter flyer. She legit sounded excited that I would buy one if I had room after eating the self-serve frozen yogurt. (I did & bought the orange drink afterwards. Was delish &so smooth). PS. Download their app to get 50% off your next order!

Best place for frozen yogurt in laguna beach. Love this place + it has a great view if you wish to sit outside and have an ocean view from across the way.

Lentil sandwich is fire I'm getting it every time I also like their salads Mango fro yo is delish too

Flavor: 3/5 - The froyo was alright and the toppings were fun. Price: 4/5 - The prices are pretty fair considering most items are organic. Quality: 4/5 - Many items are organic, and two yogurt options are organic. Uncertain about additives in the froyos compared to similar places. Service: 3/5 - The service was good, but there was an odd smell inside. Ambiance: Fast, casual, and healthy.

Great vibe, filling food, kind staff! I love the menu, colorful bowls, refreshing froyo

Nothing like getting beach front delivery! I took a chance on this place and it totally paid off. I got the 1/2 wholesome bowl with cheese and it was fantastic. Crescent Bay is my go-to beach and now Active Culture will be my forever beach day lunch!

3/5 Food 3/5 Service 2.5/5 Ambiance 0/5 Parking I would give this place 2.5 stars. I was passing through the area and was craving something healthy! I read the good reviews on Yelp and decided to give this place a chance. I read there is a small parking lot in the back so I decided to take my chances and see if I could score a parking space rather than have to park at a paid meter. It was a really hot summer day today so I was trying not to walk far. By "lot" these reviews should have clarified that there are a grand total of THREE parking spaces in the super narrow alleyway behind the building. Of course they were all full when I got there. I decided to drive further down the alley and park in the section designated exclusively for a clothing store named "The Shop." I did a bit of perusing in there until one of the THREE spots designated for "Active Culture" opened up. Parking is a huge hassle if you are just passing by and totally not worth it imo if you are not a local or spending the day in the area. If you are planning a day trip at the beach and park at one of the metered areas, then stopping in for a smoothie or a healthy bite may be a good option. As for service, when I walked in, nobody greeted me or even simply acknowledged me by saying "hi, we will be with you in a few minutes" or anything of that nature. They had their back facing the counter a good 5-7 minutes. Super awkward. I decided to go with the Simple Salad and the Fancy Avocado Toast. I wasn't super hungry but I wanted to try more than one item to give a helpful review on the food. More importantly, since parking was such an issue I knew I wouldn't be back for a good while (if ever) so I needed to make the struggle worth it lol. My order took a while to come out. However I totally understand that they were busy and it looks like they were definitely short-staffed. Lots of people were coming in and out. Also, there's not that that many tables inside but there are tables outside. Apparently they have an app to order ahead. I would totally recommend doing that. I wasn't a fan of the ambiance. Inside it feels really dark as you can tell by the photos. As for the food, the portions are huge. The one thing I would give 5 stars for is the portion size. The Simple Salad was really good and has lots of goodies like avocado, garbanzo beans, carrots, cabbage, tomato, and sprouts. I would recommend it. As for the avocado toast, it wasnt my favorite. I've had better elsewhere. Also some of the spinach leaves had yellow/ black discoloration. It was also served with salsa and chips which I thought was a strange combo. I might have to try one of their other locations in the future. Hopefully those have better parking and service. However, after just now reading some reviews on here about how several people have found rocks in their food (big yikes), I think I might have to give their other locations a hard pass.

Visit this cute spot with me, perfect to hang in the weekend. Frozen yogurt flavors: 1. Salted caramel 2. Cookies cream 3. Vegan vanilla coconut 4. Pom-Raspberry 5. Strawberry shortcake 6. Passion orange guava 7. Euro tart 8. No sugar added raspberry 9. Organic vanilla 10. Dairy free chocolate fudge Other items: 11. Strawberry smoothies 12. Big salad bowl - organic mix greens 13. Lentil quinoa salad Make your own frozen yogurt bowl with all the yummy flavors and toppings. So good! Servers are really nice. I also tried their smoothies and salad and it's great. Such a healthy and fun spot!

So yummy. I recommend the wholesome bowl, the ac bagel, and the avocado toast. All their frozen yogurt is very good too.

I recently enjoyed another delightful meal at Active Culture, and once again, I couldn't resist ordering my all-time favorite, the Wholesome Bowl. This dish never disappoints, with its wholesome combination of organic brown rice, organic black and red beans, cheddar cheese, green cabbage, salsa, creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, and a delectable seasoning, all generously drizzled with their tantalizing OG sauce. The burst of flavors in every bite is truly a treat for the taste buds. But that's not all - Active Culture offers a variety of other fantastic options. I highly recommend trying their Big Salad, a hearty and satisfying choice, or the Southwest Wrap, which packs a punch of Southwestern flavors that are simply delicious. And for those who love a refreshing and guilt-free dessert, don't forget to indulge in their Velvet Acai Bowl. It's the perfect way to cool down and satisfy your sweet cravings while keeping it healthy. Active Culture consistently delivers flavorful, wholesome, and satisfying meals, making it a must-visit for anyone looking for a delicious and nutritious dining experience.

Great place for the healthy vegetarian, vegan, gluten free yummy food and snacks. Staff is kind, considerate and accommodating. Blueberry smoothie was delicious and very filling. Acai bowl was huge and plenty to share. Location was great to the beach and easy to get in and out and they have parking in the back. Ambience nothing memorable in terms of design concept but the food options do speak volumes I give short of one start just because of small inconsiderate hiccup by the staff but it was remediated.

Great spot to stop at while in Laguna beach. Such a cute area. Good people working. Recommended lavender bloom shake which was so tasty!!!

first timer!! i ordered the small, original acai bowl. it was fairly small and i wish i got a bigger size because it was so yummy! the fresh fruits were definitely fresh and delicious, wasn't unripe or too ripe. just perfect! my order was taken quickly and came out pretty fast too! the girl employee who took my order wasn't that friendly towards me so that was a bit upsetting. customer service is super important to me since i worked a lot in customer service. other than that, i can't wait to come back and get a bigger acai bowl and try out other menu items!

overall pretty good food! the acai bowls and southwest wrap are great. nothing groundbreaking though. i do love the view and the vibes overall. i like that they have almost all vegan options. the service was nice and friendly. i can see how it would be hard to find parking during the busy summer season or weekends.o

The question of what is actually vegan should be an easily answered question. Unbelievably, this place hires staff that are clueless. Almost 50 years vegan and they answered that question incorrectly and supplied me with 3 bites swallowed of Greek yogurt before I realized. Thanks SO much. Not!!! Wish I had a severe dairy allergy so I could sue them. Come on. It's 2024. Don't trust this place.

Connor took our orders and was so nice and fun. We got the hannalei (spelling?) açaí bowls. I asked if I could sub bananas for raspberries and he said of course! We could even add more toppings for free! And then before making our orders right away, he said we could sample some frozen yogurts. They were so good!!! And the savory bowls looked good too. Great place overall, especially because of Connor's service! And he's only been there 2 weeks! Thanks Connor!

I had a small issue with my smoothie and the manager addressed and fixed it. As a laguna local I am always trying to find cozy, healthy spots and this is one of them. Their date shake is my favorite. Thanks for your kindness and fixing the issue.

Spacious spot with another indoor area for viewing of art installations, I came here looking for a good acai bowl on a hot day. I got the medium Hanalei bowl which was sweet and refreshing. I saw a Sambazon machine so I don't think the acai is freshly blended. However, it did the trick for what I was seeking and the granola and fruit were fresh. Medium bowl was a hefty and large bowl so honestly a small will be enough for one person. Parking was easier than expected, street parking with meter available. Plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. Servers were courteous and nice. Would say 4/5 because I have tried other places with fresher acai/smoothie bowls and more toppings with the same price.

Menu full of great options- bowls, smoothies, bagels, and more! Save 10% when you check in via Yelp.

Not a vegan but very good food. The young ladies working there were very attentive and knowledgeable. Just go there!

I was so excited to try food here and the experience was horrifying! Not only did it take way too long to get my order.... But there was literal glass in my smoothie!!!! Thank god I caught it in my mouth and didn't swallow it! Also thank god i took the first sip and didn't let my 2 yr old take a drink. The reaction of the people were un bothered and said I have to wait to get refunded which the issue is why bigger than a refund... I'm literally disgusted.... There is a lot of kids here and I'm so disappointed in the carelessness of the staff... the reaction of the staff pissed me off even more... I even called back and some guy was like "I don't even know where the glass would come come from " Don't eat here... I can't help to think what would happen if my daughter or I would have drank that.....

I rarely write yelp reviews or barely have the time to do so but i feel as though it is my moral value as a person to bring to attention to other customer about this issue. If there was an option to select no stars I would. Unfortunately my last resort was to write this review as I was told this is the only way to bring it to their attention. Last week i found 6 ROCKS in my food....I was disgusted. Encountering ROCKS in my food not only compromised my dining experience but also raised questions about the quality control and food safety measures in place at the establishment. They said it was from their vendor. The fact that this has been a reoccurring issue for other customers and the upper management has yet to investigate the issue is even more concerning. I was told that the staff has told the upper management before, but apparently they have not cared to take care of the matter.Apparently they said this has been a reoccurring issue. I called the restaurant and they were so unbothered, to give me a refund as well. I am not someone that will ever ask a restaurant for a refund as I understand human errors happen, but this was a very serious case. It is just so bewildering to find 6 rocks in your food and not only that, but to see the staff so unbothered. They asked me if I wanted a free meal next time, but I will never eat here again and just wanted a refund. It's just so appalling as it can easily break customer's teeth if they bite into it, costing them thousand of dollars to repair. If you like your teeth where they are, I do not recommend ever considering this place as an option. I have attached photos of the rock below I was told this is the only way that I can bring this to the attention of the upper management, very concerning. No response when I emailed manager.

We just grabbed our salads delicious kale prosciutto garbanzo sliced apples Parmesan and dates.... With vinaigrette lemon dressing. If you've never had this combo he must try it it is out of this world I am still trying to figure out how I can make this for my daughter at home as she loves this so much... we ordered ours to go however after telling our server we want this to go two times they still brought it out to us as we were eating it here we had to run and we told them we've got to go this is a to go order... my advice make sure you talk very slowly to The person that's taking your order.

The food is very delicious and the service is very good. However the price is just a LITTLE too high. And I only mean a LITTLE. So it's overall a great place to get some brunch or anything at.

Their frozen yogurt is really both delicious and healthy. My favorite flavors were cake batter, organic coconut, and pomraz sorbet! It was so fun testing out some of their unique flavors with my kids. Definitely coming back the next time we visit Laguna Beach!

This is one of my absolute favorite places to eat!!! The healthiest, yummiest food!!!

Super good every time we visit, I don't believe we can get a bad meal from here. The price is fair and the açaí bowls are always super delicious!

The food is so good and wonderful for your body. Check out thr frozen yogurt, It has health benefits. I felt good giving it to my son. The management rocks too. The acai bowl is healthy.

Pumpkin fans!!!! This pumpkin pie shake is the best I've found with a lot less calories. My mama's favorite is Naked Coconut kicked up a notch with blueberries and raspberries. She started drinking it before I could snag a photo. Note: the parking is rough, so be patient cause it's worth the wait.

This place is one of the popular healthy food spots in Laguna Beach and it's less crowded than the main beach area. It's my favorite spot for a meal & dessert. They have so many options and there are gluten-free, vegan, soy-free, and dairy-free choices. It's almost good for everyone. The shop has one indoor dining area and two outdoor dining areas, one of them face to the beach with a wonderful ocean view. The parking lot is in the back, very small, so it can be hard to find parking. Good luck with that. We got a couple of yummy bowls, one yogurt, and 4 healthy smoothies. I love everyone especially love their wholesome bowl and quinoa bowl. They have not only a bunch of healthy ingredients but also a good amount of flavors. Service is fast and every staff has smiles on their face. You can tell them what they are doing a lot. It's one of the tastiest healthy food shops in OC. Will give a 5 stars!

I got sick from eating their prosciutto egg bagel. I don't think it was food poisoning but I had bad pain for a while. I would've left a one star review but the ice cream was pretty good.

You should be ashamed of yourselves. I was a repeat customer until yesterday when I was made aware of the worst customer service ive ever seen, some may even say discriminatory. A man of color walked in and bought two of your overpriced smoothies. Waited patiently and when his order was done and he was about to grab them, he was told they werent his then said HIS NAME. He preceded to take the smoothies when she stopped him and said he had to pay. He offered to show his reciept and was just told he needed to pay. He went to the register again to offer reciept so he could take his smoothies and still the people working are saying he needs to pay, denying the proof of receipts. This happend two more times until the woman just rudely told him to take them as if he was stealing. Disgusting behavior.

I had little interest in Active Culture but my daughter is a mega fan and pushed us to go. I am so glad she did and i can say that I not only ate my words but also their delicious yogurt. If you are on the fence about trying it let me be the one to push you to going so that you too can be surprisingly delighted