Wanderlust Creamery Japanese Neapolitan ice cream with sticky rice and mango in an ube cone: Inventive flavors inspired by places around the world abound at Wanderlust Creamery in Los Angeles. Their Japanese Neapolitan, combining matcha, hojicha, and black sesame, was all the flavors I want to eat in one scoop, creating a beautiful marbled color. The sticky rice and mango was very rich, with a prominent coconut flavor and ribbons of mango throughout. I was most impressed by the housemade ube cone, which was probably the best cone I've ever had. The waffle cone was thicker than m... (read more) 5.0/5.0
icecream la exceptional wanderlustcreamery japanese neapolitan ice cream sticky rice mango in an ube cone 5.0 losangeles
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
Uji Pineapple softserve in small taiyaki cone: Two exciting updates on the Uji-front (my favorite soft serve spot in Berkeley): they now have "small" sized taiyaki cones, which are ideal (you still get a ton of soft serve, and it's about $5), and the new seasonal flavor is pineapple. The taiyaki cone is as good as ever - a fish-shaped waffle that's crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside, with a surprise of red bean plugging the bottom. It's the ideal serving vehicle that holds up especially well compared to regular cones (it d... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended icecream berkeley japanese uji pineapple softserve in small taiyaki cone 4.0 ujitime
Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss coconut almond in chocolate dessert: Haven't had a chocolate-covered ice cream bar in ages but my newly lactose-free dad was craving ice cream, and these coconut-based non-dairy bars were on sale at Whole Foods. Its dark chocolate coating is mixed with chopped almonds, and the whole product is organic. Overall, a really good quality product. Isn't overly rich (like a Haagen Dazs) but still decadent. Classic coconut + chocolate flavor combination. Would eat over most other ice cream bars, non dairy or otherwise. 4.0/5.0
recommended organic icecream lunalarrys coconut bliss almond in chocolate dessert 4.0 wholefoods
Yes Chips shrimp dressed in garlic: To be honest, the main reason I bought this snack was the ridiculousness of a shrimp wearing a head of garlic. Packaging aside, the chips themselves have a styrofoam-like texture, not unlike airy shrimp chips that were given to non-Asian diners in Chinese restaurants in the 90s. Still, the seafood flavor is actually quite good, and the garlic doesn't leave a strong aftertaste. The chips melt in your mouth (from all of the saturated fat, I'm sure). 3.5/5.0
yeschhips korean hmart shrimp seafood garlic chips 3.5 yeschips dressed in
Trader Joe's popcorn in a pickle: This is a prime example of purchasing a novelty snack that had a glimmer of promise. Luckily, this one turned out worthwhile. The flavor is very distinctive, with a briny and herby (dill) flavor. I imagine this would go perfectly with a sandwich, burger, or hotdog. As a seasonal item, it definitely begs for a summer picnic or barbecue. Nonetheless, I enjoy eating it on its own but recognize that people who aren't big fans of pickles should steer clear. Luckily, I'm not one of them. 3.5/5.0
traderjoes pickle popcorn dill briny picnic recommended snack 3.5 in a