exceptional (156)
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Hop Shu-Kuri-Mu Matcha Cream Puff: I randomly passed this pastry shop in Azabu Juban and made a mental note to return based on the quality of bread in their window. I'm glad I did, because their cream puffs are insane. The exterior has a crispy baked texture, similar in some ways to dutch crunch bread from San Francisco, and the filling is of the highest quality I've had in any bakery, with a creamy and not too sweet flavor and ideal matcha bitterness. The most interesting part to me was a bruleed base that resembled a nor... (read more) 5.0/5.0

japanese exceptional azabujuban creampuff tokyo sweets hopshukurimu matcha cream puff 5.0
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Horizon cheddar snack crackers: I've always had a soft spot for cheese crackers in cute shapes, but that doesn't mean I'm not discerning in comparing the several options on the market. Goldfish have long gone downhill, with Pepperidge Farm substantially increasing the sodium content and with an unacceptably high risk of getting a burnt batch. Next best are Annie's cheddar bunnies, which are perhaps the crunchiest of the bunch but have good cheddar flavor and an ideal level of salt. Slightly better is Trader Joe's cheddar r... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional cheddar cheese crackers horizon cows 4.5 snack
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il laboratorio del gelato sorbet and gelato: I've known about this spot for some time because many restaurants in NYC offer their ice cream, but I never had the opportunity to give it a try until now. Located directly next to Katz's, the place has a bit of a clinical science lab vibe, with chemical abbreviations for each flavor and minimalist furnishings. The shop has a distinctly neutral scent. I think it's because there are no toppings, which I appreciated. It's really solely about the gelato here. I shared four different flavors, a... (read more) 5.0/5.0

illaboratoriodelgelato gelato icecream sorbet 5.0 exceptional nyc ginger honeydew strawberry greentea les
2016 10 09 14.59.59 hdr

i-Tea Honey Brown Rice Milk Tea with Basil Seeds and Agar Boba: From Taiwan, this bubble tea chain has all the signs of an authentic Taiwanese tea shop: its menu is ridiculously long; you can customize sweetness, ice, and toppings; it's cash only; there's absolutely no place to sit and chat (you purchase your drink and enjoy it elsewhere); and while there are lines out the door, service is fast. Drinks only come in one (large) size but are very reasonably priced. I ordered their honey brown rice milk tea at 30% sweetness, and the drink was one of the b... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional drink boba itea honey brown rice milk tea basil seeds agar 4.5 bubbletea
2016 12 07 18.27.46

i-Tea Avocado slush with grass jelly: If you follow Tasty Snacking, you will have gathered that I am in love with this Bay Area bubble tea chain. I've had a lot of bubble tea in my life (an embarrassing amount, in fact), both in Asia and in the US, and i-Tea is as good as it gets. On my last visit, I ordered an insanely good avocado slush with a generous helping of grass jelly. Very fresh and creamy, and pleasantly sweet at 30%. The grass jelly had a delicious herbal flavor that complemented the creamy avocado well. Their j... (read more) 5.0/5.0

exceptional taiwanese drinks itea avocado slush grass jelly 5.0
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I-Tea 3G milk tea with boba, grass jelly, and pudding: I made a dangerous discovery that my new favorite bubble tea shop has a location in San Francisco, much closer to work than the Downtown Oakland spot. I ordered their third most popular drink, the 3G, named because of its three toppings: boba, grass jelly, and pudding. It comes with classic milk tea, and, by default, is served in a "chubby" container that's short and squat. I opted for the more portable standard cup (all drinks come in a single size). The black milk tea was done just right -... (read more) 4.5/5.0

exceptional drinks tea sanfrancisco itea 3g milk boba grass jelly pudding 4.5 bubbletea