Nico Sweet potato donut: There's a pocket-sized store close to the train station that sells freshly made donuts about the size of a Montreal bagel. They're a bit pricy relatively, compared to how inexpensive most things are in Japan, but a purple Japanese sweet potato donut caught my eye, and I purchased one at about $2.50. The texture of the donut was very unique, not crumbly like cake donuts, but also not oily at all like heavily fried donuts. Almost like a very light pound cake, but barely sweetened. In fact, th... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended tokyo japanese dessert nico sweet potato donut 4.0
Nong Shim Banana Kick Snack: Who would have thought that banana flavored puffs, airy and porous with a slight glaze and crispy texture, would be such a delicious snack? I'll admit that I purchased this bag from the narrow, never-ending aisles of Manhattan's HMart solely based on its cute packaging. Yet there was also a driving curiosity for what a sweet fruity version of a cheese puff might be. Texturally, they are far more interesting than Cheetos largely due to its crispy yet light consistency. Its flavor taste of ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended puffs hmart korean nongshim banana kick snack 4.0
Noosa Pumpkin Yogurt: I’ve recently been getting back into Noosa yogurt since they continue to release new flavors I haven’t seen from other brands. This pumpkin one is especially good, with a creamy spiced pumpkin-pie-like filling swirled into rich smooth whole milk yogurt. It’s perfect for those who like the silky consistency of non-Greek yogurt but still prefer a denser texture. My only criticism is that it’s on the sweet side, but flavor wise, this is definitely worth a try. 4.0/5.0
recommended noosa pumpkin yogurt 4.0
Noosa Pear and cardamom yogurt: This uniquely spiced pear and cardamom yogurt combines the comforting flavor of baked spiced fruit (like apple pie) with creamy and sharp yogurt, similar in effect to having a dollop of creme fraiche on a rich, sweet dessert. High quality whole milk yogurt with a distinct flavor combination. Would buy again. 4.0/5.0
recommended pear cardamom yogurt 4.0 noosa
Noosa Mango whole milk yogurt: This is Noosa week, where I’ll share a review a day of the whole milk yogurt flavors I’ve tried over the past month. First up is the mango flavor, which contains cubes of ripe mango and whose sweetness pairs well with the slightly tart, creamy yogurt. While these containers are marked as single serving, I find the yogurt filling and sweet enough that I never eat more than half in a single sitting. This is a classic and quality fruit flavor that is easy to recommend. 4.0/5.0
recommended fruit noosa mango whole milk yogurt 4.0
Omomo Tea Shop Matcha Cortado: Is bubble tea ever worth waiting an hour in line for? Maybe not, but when 90% of the line is made up of Asian customers in Irvine, it's probably a good sign. This popular bubble tea shop has two locations in Irvine, and this unassuming shop in the middle of a large strip mall, sandwiched between a Ralph's and CVS, unfortunately only takes in-person orders (the other location has an online ordering system). I went with my family and was able to sample four different drinks, but the one I o... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended irvine bubbletea greentea omomoteashop matcha cortado 4.0