4.5 (128)
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Powder Black sesame Taiwanese shaved ice with mochi: During my childhood, my family would visit Taiwan every few years, spending several weeks in the scorching heat of the summer months. Once in a while, we would be treated with the best cure for a heatwave: baobing, or Taiwanese shaved ice served alongside a variety of toppings like peanut and red bean, all saturated with a sweet syrup that flavored the ice crystals. In anticipation, we would watch as a machine transformed a large block of ice into a heap of snow, spinning into a sharp rotar... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional sanfrancisco powdershavedice blacksesame powder black sesame taiwanese shaved ice mochi 4.5 dessert frozen
2017 05 06 13.34.15

Riska Mentai Corn Snack: I love that Japanese culture is seemingly contradictory. There is the upmost respect for serenity and simplicity, along with an obsession with quality and workmanship (e.g., tea gardens, sashimi and sushi rice, Yurbai melons) - yet, at the same time, it can be loud, brash, and colorful (e.g., manga, Pachinko). This purple bag of Mentai (cod roe) puffed corn snacks is sensory overload all on its own, with multiple exclamation points, bold lettering, and metallic silver foil highlighting. I... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional japanese mentai cod roe fish seafood junkfood riska corn snack 4.5 tokyofishmarket
2017 06 04 11.03.11

Ellenos Rhubarb Greek yogurt: A Seattle favorite, with a stand in the center of Pike Place market, Ellenos has a variety of flavored whole-milk Greek yogurt, from chai to passion fruit to mixed berries. Their flavors are shown off in a traditional ice cream display, with containers of yogurt topped with fresh fruit spreads, blending in with the produce stands that surround it. At the stand, you can purchase a generous portion in a walk-around cup, with yogurt spilling out from the top. It's hearty and filling and can ... (read more) 4.5/5.0

greekyogurt seattle pikeplace exceptional ellenos rhubarb greek yogurt 4.5
2017 06 16 21.13.08

Secret Scoop Thai Gelato Thai Iced Tea and Roasted Coconut Gelato: Just a few paces away from the Trader Joe's in Berkeley is a small ice cream shop specializing in Thai-inspired flavors ("Thai Gelato" refers to the unique flavors rather than a specific style of making gelato). Their curated set of gelato and sorbets range from chocolate lemongrass to soursop, originals you're unlikely to find elsewhere, even in a diverse, food-minded community like Berkeley. The Thai iced tea gelato is easily the best I've had; it's very lightly sweetened and tastes stro... (read more) 4.5/5.0

icecream sweets desserts berkeley exceptional secretscoopthaigelato thai iced tea roasted coconut gelato 4.5
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Morgenstern's Raw milk ice cream with blueberry and strawberry jams: A Fourth of July special with two scoops or raw milk ice cream and streaks of blueberry and strawberry jam throughout. A largely flawless dessert: rich and indulgent, while fruit jams add welcome sharpness. Perfectly smooth texture. Basically as good as it gets for a clean, classic ice cream cone. 4.5/5.0

exceptional icecream rawmilk morgensterns raw milk ice cream blueberry strawberry jams 4.5
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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 flav... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional uji lavender soft serve in taiyaki cone 4.5 ujitime