Jason L.
Yelp
For the ultimate Acai bowl experience in LA, look no further than indulging your taste buds at The Hive in Santa Monica.
As an avid Acai Bowl connoisseur, I hold high standards with how my Acai bowl should taste. For example, how is the balance and ratio of all the ingredients in the bowl? Are the fruits fresh? Does the Acai taste cheap or premium?
I've tried Acai Bowls at franchise spots like Uba Tuba, as well as spots like Body Energy Club. And of all the places I've been to, none have quite reached the pinnacle set by The Hive in terms of price, quality, and taste. In fact, the only two places I would ever have an Acai bowl in LA would be 1. The Hive and 2. Body Energy Club. To me, The Hive has established itself as the benchmark for Acai bowl excellence, so much so that it has rendered alternatives like Uba Tuba to be inadequate in comparison.
I ordered the build your own Acai Bowl with an Acai base. Complemented by strawberries, banana, and blueberries for my fruits. Hemp granola and cacao nibs for my toppings. And finishing it off with almond butter and a drizzle of honey. Judging by the taste alone, you can tell The Hive only uses premium ingredients. And with locations in SM and Marina Del Ray, it comes to no surprise, as less than premium ingredients used would not fly with the demographic in these areas. You can also really taste the freshness of the fruits, which I appreciate. They don't cheap out by using fruits that are days past its peak in terms of taste and freshness. I come here every Saturday after my running workouts and it has not failed in terms of consistency and quality to this day.
You can also expect an inviting ambiance, and the staff here are a delight. Parking is fairly easy to find, but they will be meter parking by the half hour as an FYI.
Overall, a fantastic place for Acai bowls! Also, their other warm dishes are phenomenal as well. The smoked salmon avocado toast and breakfast burritos are some of the most tastiest dishes I've had in LA by far. I can't find any complaints about this place thus far, so 5 stars to The Hive.