Smoothie King was founded in 1973 in Kenner, Louisiana by Steve and Cindy Kuhnau. They opened their first non-US location in 2003, and in 2012 it was purchased by one of the company’s franchise owners, the South Korean Wam Kim, who still acts as the company’s CEO.
Ever since the early 2010s, the company’s been focused on providing healthy foods and whole ingredients and has since become the world’s largest smoothie company. Fitting for a company named "King".
You can find out more about the company on their official website here.
Which Countries Have a Smoothie King Restaurant?
Smoothie King currently has restaurants in the United States, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Cayman Islands. Most of their locations are in the US, however, with, 1125 different locations in 33 states.
Texas is the state with the most locations, at 267, almost a quarter of all US locations, followed by Florida with 129 locations and Louisiana with 113.
What is Different About Smoothie King?
The first differentiator of Smoothie King is the variety of smoothies they have. With over 40 ingredients and multiple “fitness enhancers” like whey protein, you can be sure to make the smoothie of your dream.
Another thing that keeps Smoothie King apart from its competition is its “Healthy Awards” program. This is a loyalty program, but it’s a bit different from most since you don’t need to pay any fees to reap its benefits, it is completely free!
Immediately after signing up for “Healthy Awards”, you get $2! For free! Moreover, you get points with each purchase that you can use to get rewards. They also give you a free size upgrade on Fridays that increases your smoothie size from 20 ounces (0.76 kg) to the 32 ounces (1.21 kg) version. They even give you a free smoothie on your birthdays!
All you’ve got to do is install their app.
Is Smoothie King Spicy?
No. Their smoothies are made from natural food and none of them offer spicy ingredients, though you might find some spicy variants on limited-time items when they become available.
Smoothies!
What a surprise!
And although they’re laser-focused on a single product, at least they do it really well.
They have 5 main types of smoothie blend categories. They are…
- Feel Energized Blends: These blends are perfect when you want a kick-up in energy. As you might expect, most of these blends come with coffee, and some of the blends include the Vegan Coffee Mocha blend, the Coffee High-Protein Vanilla blend, and the Coffee D-Lite Mocha blend.
- Get Fit Blends: These blends are ideal for those wanting to get some extra muscle or as post-workout smoothies because they’re extra rich with protein. They include the High Intensity Workout Veggie Mango, the Gladiator Chocolate, and the Original High-Protein Banana blends.
- Manage Weight Blends: If you want low calories, then this is the category for you. All of these blends have less than 350 per 20 ounces (0.76 kg) and include the Lean Pineapple Mango blend, the Slim-N-Trim Blueberry, and the Slim-N-Trim Veggie.
- Be Well Blends: Full of micronutrients and vitamins, these are great for keeping up your health and bodily functions. Some of these blends include the Daily Warrior blend, the Greek Yogurt Pineapple Mango blend, and the Immune Builder blend.
- Enjoy a Treat Blends: If you’re looking for a delicious and refreshing blend while staying fairly healthy, then these are for you. The Banana Boat blend, Berry Punch blend, and Orange X-treme blend are some of their more popular blends in this category.
On top of choosing a blend from one of their 5 main categories, you can also customize your blend by adding your choice of a “Nutritional Enhancer”, which is divided into the following 4 types…
- Fitness Enhancers: These will include the amount of protein and other muscle-building nutrients to help grow muscle. They include Keto Protein, Whey Protein, and the Sunwarrior Organic Vegan Protein.
- Energy Enhancers: These are all about increasing your energy levels, like the Pure Recharger that comes with coffee bean extracts.
- Slim Enhancers: This one includes additives to help metabolize your fats, like the Diet Down, which includes L-carnitine.
- Wellness Enhancers: These are all about nutrients to improve your overall health, like Multivitamins, Probiotics, and Fiber.
And although smoothies are their primary item, some locations will also offer snacks like banana chips.
How Do I Order Food at Smoothie King?
You can place your order in person, online, or use their app to order without having to be in line.
Does Smoothie King Cater to Vegetarians?
Yes. Currently, all of their ingredients are vegetarian-friendly, and many of their items are vegan-friendly as well.
Yes! Besides their 5 main blend categories, they also have a 6th one for children, called “Kids Blends”. Some of the blends in this category include the Lil Angel blend, the Choc-a-Laka blend, and the Strawberry Bluegurt Blitz blend.
What Are Smoothie King’s Opening Hours?
Their hours vary a bit by location, but you can expect them to open at 7 am and close at 9 pm during most days of the week, and generally have slightly different hours for the weekends.
Is Smoothie King Healthy?
Yes! That is their main competitive advantage. Their smoothies are full of nutritious foods, they have no added artificial sugar in most of their blends, no hydrogenated oils, 0 trans fats, no artificial colorings or preservatives, no fat substitutes, and a long list of other ingredients they do not add to their foods.
Moreover, they give you extra choices for a healthy smooth – like extra protein, vitamins, and fiber.
There are basically no unhealthy items on their menu, and the unhealthiest category is the “Enjoy a Treat” blends and some of their “X-Treme” blends that come in at a higher calorie count than most other blends. But even those are relatively healthy, so you don’t have to worry too much!
Can I Cook Smoothie King at Home?
They offer no cook-at-home products, but you can attempt to copycat some of their recipes.