Written by Lital Shoshan
Perhaps it’s a fad but California Mad Poppers, located on Shoup Avenue and Sherman Way, may be onto something with its frozen popcorn.
Opening the door to the store, the smell of freshly-popped kernels greats the nose. An eye-popping, colorful menu captures attention. Sticky, gooey caramel and hand-popped popcorn combine to make a frozen treat delight.
At California Mad Poppers, everything is handmade. They turn the caramel and pop the popcorn by hand. They make frozen popcorn for can satisfy even non-popcorn lovers. The popcorn can be eaten at room temperature, but the colder the popcorn the better it tastes.
The caramel has just the right amount of sweetness and stickiness. If any kernels get stuck in costumers’ teeth, Mad Poppers has got you covered with toothpicks on hand. The popcorn has no seeds, so it’s fun and easy to eat, and the toppings are just as good; some toppings are drizzled on top while others are dipped.
Sample as many flavors as desired. The flavors range from sweet and tangy to spicy and savory. Some of the sweeter items include chocolate, caramel, toffee and peanut butter, while the tangier and spicier flavors can include lemon, lime, chili and jalapenos. Savory items include bacon, cheese and garlic. Leftovers aren’t a problem; the popcorn can be frozen and refrozen as many times as needed until it’s gone.
The prices for the popcorn bags are $6 for a regular size from the classics menu and $7 for a regular bag from the loaded menu. Popcorn can be mixed and matched from both menus until the bag is full.
The décor is simple; the counter is similar to that found at an ice cream shop. The menu is the attention grabber, since it’s colorful with a few designs and cartoons. The names of the items are catchy and fun; for example, they have Pokadot, Cupid’s Heart, Dark Side of the Moon, Dirty Laundry, Euronut, T-N-T and Pigs in Space.
There is one bench but not a lot of sitting room, so the orders are only to-go.
For a fun and unusual frozen treat, California Mad Poppers is a new way to see popcorn.
7138 Shoup Ave. West Hills, CA 91307
Phone: (800) 357-3769
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday @ noon – 9 p.m.
