Although I haven’t quite recovered from that Cupcake Challenge earlier this month (and you’re probably sick of hearing me blab about cupcakes), I had to check out the new Santa Monica location of Yummy Cupcakes. Since the original store is all the way in Burbank, I had resigned myself to pining for the Elvis cupcakes long distance. Now with a new Westside location, I have another reason to up my cardio at the gym…once my cupcake craving returns, that is. Located just off the 3rd Street Promenade and next door to Sur La Table, Yummy doesn’t have a storefront sign yet but you can’t miss those cupcakes near the window.
My friend John and I ducked in at lunchtime and there wasn’t anyone in the store but there were a bunch of workers in back. One girl was applying pink frosting to the “Happy Day Cupcakes” and let me take her picture.
The other girl who took our order didn’t seem very knowledgeable about the store. I asked her if the Elvis cupcake (peanut butter cupcake with chocolate/banana buttercream) was only a special order item and she shrugged and mumble-repeated what I asked except as a statement. Okayyy.
However, when John shied away from the piled-high frosting on the cakes, the girl came to life and suggested he try the Fudge Yummy Cupcake ($3) which just had one of the thinnest layers of frosting on it, aka a normal amount of frosting. “People who don’t like that much frosting usually buy this one,” she explained. Looking at the selection, I could see why. All the cupcakes looked like they were topped with meringue when really it was all buttercream. Apparently there are die-hard frosting fiends out there since there’s also a listing on the menu for a spoonful of frosting. Ew.
There are about 11 standard flavors to choose from (about $2.50 each) and then four specials of the day ($3 each). You can check the Yummy site for the daily menu. Today’s was Chocolate Malt, Creamsicle, Irish Coffee and PB&J. I ordered up the St. Paddy’s Day leftover special, Irish Coffee ($3). They said it was made with a shot of Irish Cream so I wasn’t about to turn that down. This cake was topped with coffee-colored, meringue-looking frosting which was firm to the touch and a chocolate espresso bean.
They didn’t box our purchases but rather gave us our own brown paper bags. If you want to protect your frosting, you can opt for the special cupcake container (“Cup-a-cake,” $2.50) they sell but I ain’t that fancy. However, I was a little sad when I got back to my desk and found that my frosting had since softened and was mooshed during transport.
Just as well, cuz when I tore into it and took that first bite…blech. The cake had a weird texture and was dry and spongy as well as oh-so flavorless. WTF? The frosting was actually pretty good but with so much of it I found myself wiping some off with a napkin. Too. Much. Sugar. Suffice it to say that my favorite part of the Irish Coffee Cupcake was the chocolate espresso bean.
John liked his cupcake, though, and said, “Good fix for a chocoholic like me and the frosting was light.” I complained, “Mine sucked! It was flavorless and that frosting? Blech.” He thought this was a pretty harsh assessment about “such a happy dessert.” Anyhoo, maybe I was just mean because I’m still not ready for cupcakes or maybe I have high standards now. You try it out and let me know what you think.
313 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90401
(310) 393-8283
That’s all buttercream?! Good grief. I think I’ll skip it! (:
I find the staff in there to be super duper rude. They smash those pretty cupcakes as well. I rather liked the red velvet cupcake, but can’t put up with such awful and mean girls behind that counter. When did frosting slingers get such ego?
Great pictures… makes me want to go there.
My wife and I live right next door to this place. We used to live in NYC where we could get Magnolia, so we were excited about this – what a disappointment. If you see a place that does only one thing like cupcakes, you’d expect it to be damn good right? Wrong.
The first time we went, I got an old-fashioned chocolate and I don’t remember what my wife got. The review was dead on – wierd grainy texture, no flavor, and too much frosting. On top of that, there was this wierd chemically aftertaste.
I wanted to give the place another shot – maybe it was a bad batch. So we walked in, told them about our previous purchase, and the high school flunkie behind the counter went to get another flunkie from the back, who looked at us indifferently and handed us another cupcake. At least he didn’t charge us for it. The wierd chemically aftertaste was worse – like too much baking soda? Anyway, I had a minor bloated stomachache a short while later and its no wonder this place is always empty despite its proximity to 3rd st.
Well, there’s some hope – there’s another cake bakery opening nearly across the street on 5th and Wilshire – looks promising and could put this place out of business.
the red velvet cupcakes at toast on 3rd are incredible! the crowds are pretty insane for burnch, but they are very spacious and mellow in the afternoons and evenings!
I love Toast for brunch and the occasional paparazzi frenzy. And I’ve had their cupcakes before but forgot what they taste like since this was before I developed a refined palate. ;)
Some of the cupcakes at Yummy are good, some, I haven’t liked so much…the Black Forrest one is verrry good, and I’m partial to the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. I have to say to the comment poster named David, you sound like a very unhappy individual. Your mean spirited remarks about the “high school flunkie” behind the counter really says a lot about who you are – and I feel badly that they and other young people who wait on you in public venues have to tolerate your negative judgements. My son works at Yummy Cupcakes…and he’s a good, hard working kid. By the way – he is a high school graduate.
how much satisfaction can you expect from a cupcake?
I have had a variety of their offerings and have found most of them to be quite delicious! my favorite is the fudge yummy but also recommend the vanilla with sprinkles ;)
Don’t blame the smushed frosting on the packaging- you handled it.
I think Caroline should stick to crack, frosting will never have that effect.
also in regards to davids comments, i love yummy cupcakes, they have an old fashioned home feel, im sorry yummy isnt your typical starbucks replica like the other horrible cupcake shops. if you have to take to making those comments you must be a loser who voices himeself online because he cant in real life, not that you would even take the time to research before you open your mouth, but most of the bakers are culinary school graduates and college kids. it is funny how people tend to make comments to make themselves feel big because they are so little in real life!
you people are insane. i like yummy cupcakes way better than sprinkles. they are amazing!!!!! not too much frosting eihter. nothing is worse then when you are eating a cupcake and run out of frosting. once i week, when i treat my sweet tooth, this is ALWAYS MY FIRST CHOICE!!!
How can you not like YC. They have a variety of flavors. You want chocalate, they got it , you want vanilla they got it, you want peanut butter……you get it!
Its silly not to like anything this delicious. I love the Chocolate truffle…. Oh and if you dont like too much frosting, this is the cupcake for you.
I give the staff alot of credit. I have been there early in the morning waiting to get in and they are working hard to get those cupcakes out. Whats especially nice is that they are doing it in front of you. Not it the back somehwere! How can they do anything inappropriate, when they are in the public eye. Its silly to read that in print. Obviously some of you work for the competition.
Im just a cupcake consumer, have no judges and like to give my opinion. Ladies and Gents at YC, keep up the good work.
Oh,Im still waiting for my low fat cupcake if that is even possible.
yummy, gonna have to try this. Thanks for your website. Never too much info on cupcakes.