Welcome to Rancho Cucamonga, Ubatuba Acai! This new shop resides in the heart of Victoria Gardens, and with its large trees and bright purple logo, it’s almost impossible to miss.

The franchise was founded in the town of Ubatuba in Brazil. The founders, Daniela and Joe, had intentions to make their new restaurant feel warm and welcoming.

As I walked into this establishment, I couldn’t help but agree with Joe and Daniela’s intentions, as I was greeted by the energetic manager, Abby.

When I entered, I saw bright colors of purple and orange popping off the walls. As I looked around, I noticed the setting as urban and modern yet homey and rustic. With large windows and natural lighting, guests can’t help but feel relaxed. The shop also has a unique mural in the back of the building representing their traditional heritage.

What is acai you ask? Well, it is a Brazilian berry that has recently gained its popularity in America. The pulp of the berry is turned into a sorbet, which is then put into a bowl. This can be surrounded by a mixture of fruits and other mouthwatering toppings.  

I ordered the acai bowl with strawberries, banana and mango mixed with granola and topped with chocolate. My order arrived quickly – within five minutes. It looked delicious and was but presented beautifully. The acai was on one side of the ceramic bowl while the mangos were on the other. All the strawberries and banana slices were spread in rows with granola filing in the gaps. Finally, chocolate was drizzled everywhere to finish it off. Each bowl looked like it was made with passion to ensure that a customer would be completely satisfied.

Before I started eating the acai bowl, I could smell the fresh juicy fruits mixed with the chocolate laying on top of the acai scoops. Before even biting into it, I could already tell it was going to taste amazing. As I took the first bite, these chilled flavors combined to create an astonishing mixture of sour and sweet. It was like my mouth took a vacation to the tropics. The bowl was both refreshing and healthy, a total win for me!

I also tried their empanadas. I ordered the Nutella empanada created with Nutella, oreo cookies and cream cheese. It was crispy on the outside while gooey and warm on the inside. The pastry did a good job of combining multiple flavors to create a tasty dessert. Next, I ordered the samosa empanada. It was filled with peas, onions, red peppers, potatoes and cilantro. This was also crispy on the outside but a bit bland on the inside. Lastly, I ordered the chicken empanada, which was filled with chicken, onions, red peppers, olives and eggs. The chicken empanada tasted just like a chicken pot pie! It was great, but had a faint spice.

Ubatuba Acai is a very photogenic place. It may be small but it is a great place to chat with friends or to study. They played Indie music, which is typically calming and mellow, so the music was good to pair with schoolwork or during a casual conversation. Ubatuba Acai is a great place to come after the gym if you want a cold, healthy snack to replenish lost nutrients. Even if you aren’t doing any of those things, acai bowls are great for any occasion.

Speaking of how unique Ubatuba Acai is, I asked Abby about the recipes they use and why their recipes are different than other places. “Our acai is very authentic compared to anywhere else around here. We get it shipped from Brazil and then we only mix it with ten percent banana and strawberry. The way we serve it is just a lot thicker unlike all the other places you go where it’s kinda like a smoothie bowl mixed with a bunch of sugar and and other stuff,” she said.

Lastly I asked about their most popular item. “Our Brazilian style is probably the most popular,” she said.

I would recommend that Day Creek students and staff give Ubatuba Acai a try! You will enjoy the wide variety of flavors. The food, decor, customer service…everything was wonderful!