When you hear “dirty soda,” what do you imagine?
National restaurant chains and small local businesses, especially food trucks, have picked up on the social media trend.
At least seven are on the Treasure Coast, including a bagel shop, two coffee shops and four food trucks.
What is dirty soda?
Similar to a float, dirty soda is a non-alcoholic drink made with any soda as the base, plus a splash of cream and sometimes a squeeze of citrus or other flavor inclusions.
Girly Pop Sips food truck, which travels throughout the Treasure Coast, has many of its own variations of dirty sodas, including lemonades and “energy pops” using energy drinks such as Alani Nu. Owner Kristy Leigh runs the food truck with her daughter, Kaylee Stott, and they come up with rotating seasonal menus together.
“It instantly blew up,” Leigh said about the concept.
They decided to start selling dirty soda and energy pops after Leigh needed a second income and saw dirty sodas trending on social media. They sell dirty drinks made with only vanilla or coconut-flavored coffee creamers because Leigh hasn’t been able to find an alternative that doesn’t curdle.
Dirty soda at Taco Bell, Sonic, Dunkin’ and more
The trend has become so popular that many national restaurant chains — including Dunkin’, Taco Bell, Texas Roadhouse and Sonic Drive-In have added, or are planning to add, dirty sodas to their menus.
Dirty soda near me?
Girly Pop Sips gives customers an incomparable experience to national chains, Leigh said. She offers a personalized experience that’s more focused on the drink-making process — and she’ll become your new friend, she said.
“I know when somebody’s having a baby, getting married, I’ve sent gifts to people. I’ve surprised them with pre-built dirty sodas and dropped them off to say ‘just thinking of you’,” Leigh told TCPalm. “You’re not gonna get that with Taco Bell.”
Where to find dirty soda on the Treasure Coast
Valeria Bartra is TCPalm’s food reporter. Contact her at valeria.bartra@tcpalm.com, 772-978-2246 or follow her on Instagram @vbartrajourno.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: 7 Florida restaurants, coffee shops, bagel shop that serve dirty soda
Reporting by Valeria Bartra, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
