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Balboa Candy
Category: Food Specialty Food Candy Stores Candy Stores [Edit]
Balboa Island301-A Marine Ave
Newport Beach, CA 92662
(949) 723-6099
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 8 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Balboa Candy
Review Highlights
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"Awesome selection of salt water taffy flavors." In 14 reviews -
"Not too strong of a black licorice taste." In 2 reviews -
"Frosted cake and chocolate chip cookie are amazing." In 3 reviews
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel T.
5/13/2012
Huuuge selection of laffy taffy.
I can imagine how amazing this store is as a kid. But as a grown-up and one that watches her sugar intake, its almost sad walking in here. They have all sorts of other store available candy, but their wide variety of taffy is what makes this store amazing. Having taffy and being by the beach is really a great summer time experience for kids. -
Review from Michelle R.
Houston, TX
Girllll shake that laffy taffy.....
Love me some taffy but hate it when it's hard as a rock - THANK GOODNESS this taffy was not a tooth breaker. And a HUGE plus for having such a variety of flavors -
Choco chip - Yes
Coconut - Yes
Cinnamon bun - YES
Bubblegum - Yes
Watermelon - Yes
(can't remember the others but oooh so good)
Now that I think about it ... after finishing the bag on the way home... I should have bought at least 2 bags full of taffy. Lesson learned.
Can't wait to go back!! -
Review from I G.
Irvine, CA
5/25/2012
crazy filled with candy. mostly taffy
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Review from Cecilia C.
Pacific Palisades, CA
12/30/2011
Delicious selection of taffy!
Cute store and the staff is so friendly! -
Review from Jessica J.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/3/2012
I really love this place! Who doesnt love candy?? Weirdos- thats who. Anyways, like I have said, I love all things vintage and candy is no exception. I came here a few weeks ago to buy a bunch of candy for my Mom's birthday. Salt water taffy, Chick-O-Sticks, caramels, Sugar Babies, Bit-O-Honey, IBC's, Cow Tails, etc etc...when all was said and done...$18! Oops. Overboard but whatever! It truly makes you feel like a kid...in a candy shop...because...its a candy shop. Riiiiiight. So a little pricey I guess? But you definitely have to stop in if you are visiting from out of town. Or once a day if you work down the street. Modesty isnt one of my traits. Don't judge.
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Review from Karen X.
Yorba Linda, CA
9/10/2011
They have a great selection of taffy. They have buttered popcorn, rum, green apple, frosted cupcake, key lime, chocolate chip, cherry cola, pear, strawberry, watermelon, guava, candy corn, grape, and many more that I can't remember.
I tried:
Candy corn: okay
Grape: Yuck!
Watermelon: so delicious!
Frosted cupcake: tastes a lot like a frosted cupcake!
Cherry cola: yuck!
Chocolate chip: good
I believe I tried more but can't get them in my head right now. They also have other candy in the back. But some you can get at stores and they overprice it. But the thing is the store candy is so hard while here they can keep it so soft. They also have the weird flavored jelly beans. And they also have other jelly beans. And caramel apple pops that I missed! UGH! SIGH! They have this really cool coke bottles and sprite bottles. But Jen T. told me that the coke tastes odd but probably because it's an aluminum bottle. Oh and I totally forgot they also have hello kitty candy and they also have these odd candy that call funny names but I can't remember any now. But if u come here prepare to waste half your gas tank looking for parking! Or buy a golf cart or a smart car! -
Review from Momo T.
Newport Beach, CA
4/14/2012
One of my daughter's favorite spots on the Island. The young women who work in there are as sweet as the candy!
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Review from Sammy G.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's really hard nowadays to find a candy shop, I feel like they're not as popular as they used to be when I was a little kid, so when I saw this place, of course I had to go in! It's really cute inside, very beachy feel and fun atmosphere.
When you walk in, tons of salt water taffy, yum! There are tons of different types of candy. I was attracted to the Jelly Bellys, so good! The price for all the candy is $2.50 for every 1/4lb, I think that's good? I'm not really sure what the going rate on candy by the pound is but this was good enough for me. They have a chocolate case with different types of goodies. We got the peanut butter cup and the chocolate coconut, which was terrific. I'm not so sure about the pbc because my boyfriend ate it all before I got to eat any of it, I'm guessing it was good haha.
My favorite part, the woman who helped us. She was SO friendly and helpful. She seemed like she really loved where she was and being in a candy store. This is the kind of person who should be working here because she's so cheerful and makes it fun to walk around. I would come back again to buy more if I was ever back on the island! -
Review from J D.
Phoenix, AZ
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
This Candy store reminds me of the Salt Water Taffy store on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. You walk into the store and you can smell the sweet flavor of the Candy....yum! My Son and I got some pieces of Watermelon flavored Salt Water Taffy.....and chewed on them all day long. ...good times.
Return Factor - 80% -
Review from Barclay W.
Santa Ana, CA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Salt water taffy? YES PLEASE! Served in barrels like they should be? YES PLEASE!
Growing up in San Francisco salt water taffy is just a part of life. I loved going to the candy stores with barrels full of different flavors. When I saw this place as I walked by I knew I had to go in. The variety of salt water taffy alone made me so giddy. There were other candies there but I didn't pay them any mind.
What I appreciated about this place is the fact that it felt like a real candy store. The old style candy stores seem to be falling by the way and this was amazing to see. The quality of the salt water taffy was also right there. I will be back to grab another bucket whenever I am in Balboa. -
Review from Tito Y.
Emeryville, CA
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Balboa Candy.. ... Salt Water Taffy.. you know - the place.
I think however its not really that same place in I know of that used to be located in Seaside, Washington. I want to see the taffy machines gumming away the candy right in front of you. At Balboa Candy, all you get is a some underpaid teenager behind a register with barrels of the candy already done. Still the place is neat and there are hundreds of candies to pick from I think your average Taffy lover will have a blast here and need to soon visit a dentist. -
Review from Sara C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/27/2011 1 photo
Even though I am still at the age where I've never come across certain feelings of "those were the good days" or "back in my day," when I stepped through the doors of Balboa Candy, I was instantly hit with a wave of childish wonder and nostalgia.
Like many places I end up visiting and falling in love with, I had no idea that Balboa Candy existed until I passed by the shop while looking for parking at Balboa. What made it stand out? "Balboa Candy" in large, old-timey letters in plain sight, and something about it really called out to me.
When I entered, my expectations were matched. Big wooden barrels held taffy in so many different flavors. Any candy you could imagine from any time in the last fifty or so years was available. Modern candy and cute knick-knacks were sold there as well.
Even though there was no music, the sound of cars calmly whizzing past the shop, for whatever reason, made the experience a bit more authentic and enjoyable.
Personally, I am not a candy person, but as an apology for taking so many pictures (the cashier was absolutely fine with it) I ended up getting a couple of taffies that definitely did not disappoint.Listed in: Sweet Teeth
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Review from Maggie G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2011
This is now my favorite candy shop. There are SO many different flavors of salt water taffy here, I didn't even think they made that many! They have more of a selection in store then they do on the website. But other then the buckets and buckets of salt water taffy there, they also have a HUGE variety of other candies. I saw a lot of things here that I haven't seen since I was a little kid.
They have a pretty decent selection of sugar free candy too, which I thought that was pretty cool.
They also have a good selection of old fashioned sodas.
I ended up walking out with a little over $15 worth of candy, but I also have no self control. I will definitely come back here for all my candy needs :) -
Review from Maggie C.
2/22/2010 3 photos
What a fun candy shop. This must be the place where Willy Wonka lives.
Salt water Taffy everywhere. Check out this store if you like salt water taffy. They sell all kind of candy: jelly beans, licorice, candy bars, gum, jawbreakers and even insect lollipop (yuck ~).
The store also sells lunch boxes (Dora, High School Musical, Cinderella, Disney Princesses), stickers, and cute stuff like miniature shell turtles. I got a really cool sticker from here!!
3.5 stars.
Balboa Candy is yummylicious!!Listed in: Candy Store
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Review from Kealoha V.
Long Beach, CA
2/28/2009 1 photo
If you didn't already know this about me...
I LOVE GUMMY BEARS.
*cough* Shameless Self Promotion = http://flickr.com/phot... *cough*
We were waiting for the boat to return so we could join the rest of the Yelpers on our whale watching trip, so we decided to take a look inside this little candy shop for some... well... candy. :)
They have taffy, hard candies, licorices and a bunch of other types of candies. I saw some black licorice coins and picked that up as well as mini Abba Zabba. They had gummy bears too, but not my favorite kind, so I pasted. We walked the length of the store looking at all they had, when I found the PERFECT candy for that day. Sitting right there in front of me was... Black Licorice Gummy Bears!!! No way!
I had never seen them or heard of them before. So I immediately took back the coins and got a bag of those gummies. I was digging through the bag of goodies by the time we got out of the store. I wanted them that second. I ripped open the bag and stuck one of the gummies in my mouth. I took a second to make it a soft bite as I didn't know if they would be tough like other black licorice candies can be. Thankfully they were not tough at all. They were chewable and had a good flavor. Not too strong of a black licorice taste. I think I've found a new favorite. A marriage of two of my favorite candies.
The find itself is worth 5 stars. -
Review from Becca N.
Costa Mesa, CA
10/5/2011
Nice stock of delicious flavors! Frosted cake and chocolate chip cookie are amazing. All the apple flavors are great! I went in to purchase a pound for a friend in London for my pending vacation and walked out with two pounds even - about four pieces of each flavor except the cinnamon and HOT flavors - per preferences. Some will got to London friend some will end up in my tummy and the rest as stocking stuffers for the holiday! Sold by 1/4 pound, they also have packaged candies and jelly beans.
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Review from Nick H.
3/1/2010
Candy Land, USA!
Wow, I ended up buying a Disney Princess purse and a bunch of candy. I also got a little gumball machine that actually worked.
This store is a kid's wonderland. You name it and they have it. I have to say that the prices were a little on the high side..but a perfect place to bring a little one.Listed in: The Kid's List. It's Great To…
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Review from Anita L.
10/1/2006 1 photo
Some of you may think I'm weird, that I've never tasted salt water taffy before, but I guess there might've been a reason for that. We had some time to kill and Balboa Candy was still open so we went in. For the first time today I decided to purchase some to try, but also, some other chewy candy which I was familiar with.
I got a handful and the total was $2.40. I immediately went ahead and unwrapped a taffy and took a small bite. YUCK!!! My husband said maybe it was the flavor, so I tried another one. GROSS! Still the same. I guess I'm just not a salt water taffy person.
But to be fair, there were a lot of flavors available and I'm sure for those who love salt water taffy this is a great place to find some flavors one would like. I did however enjoy the other chewy style candy that I got here. -
Review from Krystin T.
Seattle, WA
4/9/2009
Cute little candy store with a pretty big selection. I was like... well, like a kid in a candy store... and it was awesome.
Except I ended up spending $10 on salt water taffy, and maybe it's just me, but that seems a little steep. It was $2.40 per quarter-pound, and apparently I just went a little overboard, but I didn't see any scales with which to weigh your potential purchases. Maybe I just missed them, but it almost seemed like they were nowhere to be found... so that you end up having no clue how much you're going to spend until you are spending it. I was also said that they were just out of a few taffy flavors I really wanted to try - pomegranate, for one, and chocolate-chip cookie.
That said, though, there were TONS of varieties of taffy as well as other candies, even including the sour version of the Haribo cola gummies (I became addicted to them in Europe but can't find them often in the States). You could find a lot of older candies here, as well as older sodas, so it's definitely a fun little place. -
Review from Amanda F.
11/3/2009
LOVE. THIS. PLACE.
Great salt water taffy and jelly bean selection, and a decent variety of sour gummies to choose from. They bust out seasonal candies pretty regularly, and their selection of old-fashioned treats isn't bad. They have white AND dark chocolate malt balls, and their white chocolate nonpareils are THE BEST.
It is a little pricey, but I think if it was cheaper I would be fatter. -
Review from Carrie O.
6/14/2009
This place has pretty much every possible/imaginable flavor of salt water taffy. For that, they get four stars. I know someday I'll re-visit to stock up again!
Other than that one awesome thing, it's just a decent place. The prices are a bit high & the kid working there was not very friendly. Plus, their selection on other candies looked a bit sparse. I'd hit Powell's in La Jolla over this place if you want a much larger variety of candies. -
Review from Dave D.
Thousand Oaks, CA
8/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
We find it VERY difficult to pass by without going and filling a basket EVERY time we are there! It's like your childhood has been stuffed into this little store, and who doesn't want to go back to their childhood? Go and enjoy it!!
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Review from Ellen L.
Salt Lake, UT
3/10/2009
I love this place! It has some amazing taffy by the barrels, including other really good classic (and newer) candies that are hard to find anywhere else.
They do candy by the pound, so they give you a big ol' bucket to put it in while you shop and let you go nuts! We filled half of the bucket as a present for my dad's birthday.
I think it'd be really fun to work there. Surrounded by candy (at an employee discount when you go on break)... Disney music playing sometimes... Happy little kids unless their parents smack the taffy out of their hands like a ninja and shout "NO CANDY! DIABETES!!!!!" Then the kids become the biggest pain in the butt EVER.
In conclusion, this is the best candy store in the world. And believe me, I've had my share of Kit Kats and Pez. -
Review from Rob W.
Orange County, CA
6/27/2009
I could easily be a fan of this place, or one just like it, that didn't charge $10/pound. I'm not an expert on price per pound pricing of salt water taffy but, I've bought a bag or three in my day. I'm walking out of here with almost exactly one pound of my hand selected favorite flavors and looking at the quantity in the bag thinking it's about twice as much as it should have cost. OK, Newport location, I get it. Really - double the price though? Anyway, service was the typical uninterested tween girl.
Awesome selection of salt water taffy flavors. Some nostalgia candy. Some sugarless taffy and candy too. Some nostalgia sodas.
PS: they should probably put away the giant 5lb bags that they buy it in. Takes a little away from it. And, they sell it online for $7/pound http://www.balboacandy... . And, at http://taffyshop.com for $6/pound or less for 5lb bags. I'm just sayin' -
Review from Chase A.
Tustin, CA
10/16/2008
old skool candy shop can't you just smell the nostalgia!
They have the best selection of salt water taffy that I have ever come across in orange county.
Their taffy is extremely good, and addicting
They also have a lot of other classic candy here that is harder to find at other candy shops -
Review from Michelle O.
Los Angeles, CA
11/8/2009
Well any store that has candy gets a biased vote from me. But in honesty, this place is like most bulk candy places. This one seems to be a bit more expensive because it is located in Newport. Nevertheless, they have a good selection.
They have salt water taffy, old school "cigarettes," jaw breakers, now and laters, etc etc You name it, most likely they are going to have it. So if you are craving something you use to have when you were younger then this is the place for you.
Also a cool thing is that they have this fridge that has some cool different types of drinks. This is a nice change from some of the candy shops I know of.
Note: There was one staff member that was not the nicest, I don't know if it's because they are somewhat young and dont want to be working there, not sure, but they could have less attitude esp when someone is nothing but nice to them. But I can say this is not about all off the staff, just some in particular. :) -
Review from Namtran N.
Fountain Valley, CA
6/10/2008
I guess the other reviews had complaints about saltwater taffy.. but no complaints here. I LOVE SALTWATER TAFFY!!!! Brings back memories of grandpa coming home from a trip to Ocean City, MD, and having loads of it to share with all us kids. There are so many flavors here that it's hard to choose, so Minh and I just ended up getting two of each (minus a few of the gross ones, like buttered popcorn and black licorice). All of that ended up being only $11 (+/-), and I left with enough saltwater taffy to last me well into next year (I hope).
They also have a good selection of other candy as well, but I would mainly come back because of the saltwater taffy and the small town feel of the store (and the island itself). The cashier wasn't great, but not horrible either.. she just seemed like your typical highschooler. -
Review from Michael F.
Pasadena, CA
Updated - 4/14/2010
UPDATE 4/14/10
I just recently went to the shop and learned they don't make the taffy on premises, and its actually from Salt Lake City. Not only that, when I went to San Francisco fairly recently, I discovered they were buying taffy from the same place. The taffy here is good, but don't expect a local-vendor candy shop. At best, its commercial and run of the mill, and thus not worth paying extra for. Downgraded from 5 stars to 3 stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/18/2010
As far as candy goes, this really is as good as it gets.
Make no bones about it - you'll be paying a… Read more »
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Review from Leo C.
Roy, UT
4/19/2010
Super awesome yummy salt water taffy!
I rarely eat candy, but my girlfriend wanted some and we ate some of the taffy... it was yummy. -
Review from Jinra I.
Anaheim, CA
3/1/2009
I want to immediately fall in love with this place just because it's a store full of candy, but I just can't. Gummy bears are usually a candy store priority of mine. If you don't carry gummy bears, you just don't exist to me as a candy store. To me, it seemed like gummy bears at Balboa Candy were treated as ugly stepchildren. Or maybe I just happened to purchase a bag of really stiff gummy bears. Or rather, just 'bears' because there wasn't anything gummy about them. There's still hope for this place as I'm granting it another visit in the future to try out other candy sold.
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Review from Natalie W.
Culver City, CA
9/20/2010
Kind of pricey, but most extensive selection of taffy I've ever seen.
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Review from Trisha L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/6/2007
There's an abundance of saltwater taffy here--maybe too much, since it isn't that great. But they also had CHOCOLATE COVERED GUMMI BEARS! My favorite!!! There's lots of nostalgic candy too, like Chocolate Rocks and Necco Wafers. The teenaged employees were useless though. They were talking about boys (OMG I know!) while completely ignoring the old lady in her quest for nougat (fyi, Bit-O-Honey is not nougat).
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Review from Tristan H.
Cambridge, MA
8/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
They have saltwater taffy flavors here that I've never even seen before anywhere else (such as: Caramel Apple with real caramel, Apple Pie, Berries & Cream, and so many more I can't remember), and that was enough for me to gather up at least one of each. Totally worth the total energy crash later.
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Review from Don L.
Torrance, CA
7/27/2010
place is aiiiiiite. I give it 4 stars because I don't hate the player, I hate the game. Balboa has a mediocre selection of candy but enough to feed my sweet tooth.. what's left of it after slowly rotting from sugar.
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Review from Talley H.
Los Angeles, CA
Good service, but lackluster selection given this is a candy store! There are occasional interesting flavors. If you're looking for Saltwater Taffy, this may be a 3-4 star spot for you. I however, was not.
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Review from Anne R.
Corona del Mar, CA
10/7/2010
Average product, overpriced, rude and uninformed staff. Definitely would not support this business. I heard a staff person go balistic on another customer who wanted to use a credit card for an amount less than their minimum (which I believe was $50).
