It wasn’t just a blip. The froyo resurgence is real, and the lines are out of hand. Keep in mind, it’s not even warm out yet. People are lining up at Chinese imports as well, like soft-serve chain Mixue, where a chipper theme song plays on a loop every 47 seconds. Grab a cone, then head to Park Slope, where the scene is heating up.

THE TRENDSFroyo Is Back, And It’s Chic As Hell

We called it last year. Frozen yogurt is back, and not for the first time. A deep dive demands mention of 40 Carrots, which started serving frozen yogurt in Bloomingdales in the early 1970s. In the 2000s, it was the era of Red Mango, Pinkberry, and 16 Handles. The next wave is here, and it’s chic as hell.

Mimi’s arrived in Nolita in 2025, and Madison Fare—originally from the Upper East Side—expanded to Greenwich Village, a block down from Culture. In the West Village, Birdie’s recently opened in the dead of winter, which felt like a questionable choice, until the entire neighborhood showed up. Across the street, signage is up for Spanish chain Myka. If you can’t wait for that, there’s always the new Mimi’s sequel, just a short walk away. We’re probably going to be updating this guide all summer.

Every few decades, there’s a froyo boom. What’s different this time? Ingredients, for one. Mimi’s stresses the sourcing of its matcha and raspberries, and Madison Fare offers pistachio butter and fruit coulis toppings. There’s also the aesthetic, which seems more crucial. Neon is out. The hottest froyo spots are chic and monochromatic. Maybe that’s why, on a recent, warm Sunday afternoon, the Pinkberry in Park Slope was pretty much deserted. This isn’t a boom for everyone.

Park Slope Is Hot?

The Park Slope Pinkberry (see above) doesn’t appear to be doing record business. In general, however, the neighborhood is heating up. Corima offshoot Vato arrived with curd-filled conchas and breakfast burritos in late 2025, then the fifth location of Mariscos El Submarino parked itself next door. The two actually share an address. 226 Seventh Avenue tastes better than ever.

Pangat, from a chef who used to work a few feet away at Masalawala & Sons, opened last year in Park Slope as well, serving Maharashtrian specialties, with pop-ups on Sundays. Read our recent review, then get yourself a thali. The historically hype-free neighborhood has a new tough reservation as well. Il Leone, a Neapolitan pizza spot that migrated south from Maine last November, is often short on seats. In other news, Williamsburg’s Pies ‘n’ Thighs has expanded after 20 years. Where’d they plant their second location? The top of Park Slope.

Chicken Chops From Mayfair & Pani Puri On Pedestals

If you want to get into Ambassadors Clubhouse, your best bet is booking a ticket to London, where the original has plenty of available reservations. Open since early February, the Nomad location is still booked solid. The city is ready for more ambitious new Indian restaurants. They’ve arrived, with more on the way.

The coastal South Indian scene in particular is gaining momentum. Around since 2021, Semma helped kickstart the trend, and reservations are tougher than ever. Flatiron’s Kanyakumari came next, and, last year it was followed by Lungi, a South Indian and Sri Lankan spot on the Upper East Side. In February, Kidilum opened in Flatiron, not too far from the new-ish Chatti. Both restaurants are Kerala-inspired. Keep an eye on Malvan, a coastal Indian place that just showed up in Cobble Hill, and stay tuned for a Lungi sequel in Queens.

Some of these new Indian spots love a good spectacle. At Kidilum, the beef fry is portioned into bite-size pieces, each topped with a disc of gold-speckled gelée and arranged on a branch repurposed as dishware. Goofy, but fun. For a more regal experience, try recent Houston import Musaafer in Tribeca, where you can eat pani puri on tiered pedestals in a room partially inspired by the Taj Mahal. And then there’s Ambassadors Clubhouse, which has roughly one square mile of paisley carpets and a number of chandeliers across both floors. Unlike the London location, no DJ yet.

China’s Chains Have Arrived

Remember when Raising Cane’s opened in 2023? The place was mobbed. This city loves a chain, especially when it comes from somewhere else. Lately, that somewhere else has been China. In Flushing, Bao’s Pastry has stayed busy since it opened in late January of 2026. The pristine yellow shop is lined with neatly packaged taosu, puff cakes, and tiramisu egg tarts, with a squad of pastry chefs at work behind a glass partition. Try one of their pork floss cakes. The coffee one, preferably.

The world’s largest chain, Mixue, which arrived from China last fall, is drawing crowds as well. They specialize in soft serve (icey, but scratches the itch) that starts at $1.19. On top of their 50,000+ locations worldwide, the chain already has three in NYC, which would be impressive if fellow Chinese import Luckin Coffee hadn’t opened 10 in the past year. Meanwhile, Cotti Coffee, from a pair of former Luckin execs, has new branches from Flushing to Chelsea, and NaiSnow—which has over 1,000 locations in China—has opened three locations since 2025.

LA Wants In On NYC, Too

We deserve it, honestly. NYC gave LA Momofuku, Levain, and Roberta’s, and now it’s only fair we accept a few of their spots. Need an oatmilk latte? Canyon Coffee has them on tap. But avoid the place on weekend mornings. Originally from Echo Park, the transplant opened mid-March in Prospect Heights, so the hype is still fresh. If you prefer matcha, you can also try Maru, which landed in Williamsburg last year. In LA, both are on our guide to coffee shops where people go to look cool.

Canyon and Maru were obvious hits. Croft Alley we didn’t see coming. Founded over a decade ago, the vaguely healthy daytime spot isn’t particularly hot in its hometown. Since it opened in Soho last December, the place has been packed. Other than the fluffy banana pancakes, the food is so incredibly normal, and maybe that’s the appeal. Over-the-top, virality-seeking stuff could be on the way out. Just give us a simple tuna melt.

Mini-Chains For Everyone

A homogenous scene isn’t ideal, but, in a way, it’s kind of nice. Homegrown chains are doing well for themselves. Mariscos El Submarino launched three new locations in the past year, and L’Industrie just opened their third, in Little Italy. Lucia, another contender for the city’s top slice, is bringing an outpost to the Upper West Side this fall, their fourth in three years. On the Upper East Side, Chicago-style pizzeria Emmett’s will be making an appearance soon. (Lucia beat them there.)

In five years, will every neighborhood look the same? If so, Williamsburg will probably be the model. In 2025, the neighborhood welcomed outposts of Little Ruby’s, Fish Cheeks, Sushi Counter, and Miami import Pura Vida. Another Miami native, Motek, is headed that way as well. They opened their first two NYC locations last year.