In Utah, “dirty sodas” began to rise in popularity a little over a decade ago. The name “dirty soda” might sound negative, but it generally refers to a mixture of a soda or fountain drink, coffee creamer and additional flavor syrups. With a large Mormon population in Utah who do not drink coffee or other “hot drinks” for religious reasons, dirty soda shops provide an alternative option for a fun drink and a coffee shop-like experience. Now, social media is credited with connecting people across the United States with this unique drink combination, as chain restaurants such as Swig and Sonic provide people outside of Utah a chance to try it for themselves. 

The dirty soda trend has now reached Minnesota, with the first dirty soda shop, Sota, opening in December 2024. Sota is a family-run business in Maple Grove and claims to be “Minnesota’s First & Only ‘Dirty Pop.’” The menu includes various dirty soda options — all endearingly named after ‘90s songs — and a new flavor of the week. The drinks have three sizes: a small 24-ounce cup for $3, a medium 32-ounce cup for $4 and a large 44-ounce cup for $5.

Driving up to Sota, I could see the line for the store before I saw the store itself. The website had prefaced about an hour-long wait on weekends, so this was not too surprising. As I made my way thro

ugh the line and into the store, I immediately noticed how cramped it was. Many people squished themselves into the line, waiting to reach the single register. The kitchen space was pretty small, taking up a small corner of the room.

The staff members were very friendly and after I ordered my drinks, they were made very quickly. However, I believe the process could have been more seamless; having more than one cashier could have helped alleviate the wait time, as several employees in the kitchen space were not occupied while each order was made one at a time.  

I decided to try seven different drinks from the menu; “Raspberry Beret,” “Regulator,” “Where It’s At,” “Summertime,” “Satellite,” “California Love” and “Jump Around” — the flavor of the week. With all of the seven drinks being size smalls, my total was $21, including tax. This pricing felt very fair to me, and the amount of soda you get is definitely worth what you pay for.

As an avid Dr. Pepper fan, “Where It’s At” was easily my favorite soda I tried. With a Dr. Pepper base, mango puree and peach and passionfruit syrups, this drink was refreshing and citrusy, perfect for the summertime. On the other hand, ironically, “Summertime” was definitely my least favorite one I tried, with a sparkling water base, creamer, mango puree, vanilla syrup and mango add-ins. Compared to the other sodas, it had a very creamy texture and felt more like I was drinking a slightly-carbonated mango smoothie. I found that, in general, I prefer the sodas I bought without the creamer add-in. Although I know many people enjoy the unique combination, it is just not for me. 

If it was a long time or a long wait, I could understand Sota being worth the hype. However, as a student from Mounds View, the 25-minute drive to Sota in addition to the 45-minute wait ultimately made the experience not very worth it. But if you are in the area or just looking to try something new, I can understand the appeal. Overall, I give Sota a 3/5. Whether you are looking to try dirty soda at Sota or make it at home, I think it is a drink worth trying, and I am excited to see the next social media food trend.

Rating: 3/5