nyc (139)
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PaTea Brown sugar oolong milk tea with boba: I really love living in NYC, but one thing that was missing for me was a mom-and-pop super-asian bubble tea shop, the kind that has an overwhelming number of flavors that isn’t a major chain like Gong Cha or Coco. Those types of shops are omnipresent in the Bay Area, but not so much here. However, that gap has now been filled by PaTea, a very small bubble tea shop a few blocks away from Union Square. There, they have the “chubby” bucket-sized bubble tea cups in a variety of milk and fruit te... (read more) 4.0/5.0

recommended nyc bubbletea drinks milktea chinese asian patea brown sugar oolong milk tea boba 4.0
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Il Laboratorio del Gelato Gelato crunch cup: Available at Oath’s Upper East Side location, this gelato cup from Il Laboratorio del Gelato (my favorite Gelato spot in all of NYC) is a significant upgrade from ice cream cups i had growing up. Vanilla ice cream is mixed with crunchy cinnamon bits reminiscent of smashed up Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but less sweet and more spiced. It also has some oats tossed in as well for added texture. Great nostalgic snack that’s better than the sum of its components. 3.5/5.0

recommended icecream nyc dessert illaboratoriodelgelato gelato crunch cup 3.5
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Yaya Tea Clean Clothes kiwi and mango fruit tea with boba: This Little Italy-based tea shop has mixed fruit tea flavors with bizarre names like “Blue Blood” and “My First Car.” I ordered one of the weirdest ones, a mango and kiwi fruit tea called “Clean Clothes.” Somehow the tea managed to be simultaneously super artificial tasting yet also incredibly diluted, with a sweet yet sour flavor that reminded me of those Chinese jello snacks and Jolly Rancher candies. The boba was similarly subpar - overly hard and lacking any taste. Definitely the worst... (read more) 1.0/5.0

avoid nyc drinks bubbletea yayatea clean clothes kiwi mango fruit tea boba 1.0
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Roberta’s Sweet corn soft serve: Truly tastes of sweet corn and cream. Texture is mostly smooth but a little bit grainy. Pricy for its size, at $6.50. Based on flavor alone, I would give it a 4, but accounting for texture and value, it’s a 3.5. Available at the take out section of Roberta’s in East Williamsburg. 3.5/5.0

recommended nyc dessert icecream brooklyn robertas sweet corn soft serve 3.5
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Golden Steamer Hot dog bao: This savory hot dog bao comes in a swirled conical shape reminiscent of pigs in a blanket and contains a small Chinese sausage, about the size of a frozen American breakfast sausage - in other words, a sort of cultural crossover from an alternate universe. The bread is slightly sweetened and chewy. Overall, it’s a good sweet and savory option, but if you’re looking for protein, go for the Big Bun. Still, it’s tasty for what it is and costs only $1. Note: Unfortunately, I will no longer be ba... (read more) 3.5/5.0

recommended nyc chinatown bread goldensteamer hot dog bao 3.5
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Golden Steamer Egg Yolk Bao: This is one of my favorites from Golden Steamer, which I liked so much that I purchased it twice (I haven't done that for any other bun, mostly because I wanted to try buns I hadn't had before every time I went). It is a steamed white bun filled with an egg custard, textured like a cross between pudding and paste. It is very simple yet delicious and costs only $0.90. The best of the dessert bao offerings at this hole-in-the-wall bakery in NYC's Chinatown. 4.0/5.0

recommended chinatown nyc dessert bread goldensteamer egg yolk bao 4.0