Uji Lavender soft serve in Taiyaki cone: The best lavender ice cream I've ever had was in Hokkaido, Japan at Farm Tomita, where their lush, seemingly endless fields of lavender are the basis for wondrously floral and creamy soft serve. I have yet to find anything that comes close, but the seasonal lavender flavor at Uji, a Japanese ice cream shop in Berkeley, is a strong contender. The trick is their careful balance - the lavender does not overpower (which otherwise would lead to a mouthful of perfume-flavored cream), yet the flavor is clear enough to be unmistakable. It seems like Uji is now topping their soft serve automatically, adding a generous drizzling of honey on this particular cone. Ultimately, the honey was unnecessary, with the ice cream being sweet enough. Their taiyaki waffle cone can take a while to prepare, but it's well worth it. It comes out warm and fluffy, with a surprise base of red bean and a faint sweetness. Have yet to have any soft serve that is not great here, but I especially recommend the lavender flavor while it lasts! 4.5/5.0

exceptional uji lavender soft serve in taiyaki cone 4.5 ujitime