By: Kyrie Sismaet By: Kyrie Sismaet | May 6, 2022 | Food & Drink, Culture,
On a hot day in the city when you aren't necessarily feeling ice cream or popsicles (although we have incredible selections of both!), another delicious way to cool off is with a large bowl of Asian style shaved snow!
Light, refreshing, and decorated with a generous amount of creative toppings, these popular Asian confectioneries are known as Bingsu in Korea, Pang Yen in Thailand, Taiwanese shaved snow, and more. While the names and variations all have their signature differences, one thing they all have in common are their extravagant serving sizes and toppings.
Many dessert shops here have taken to specifically crafting these thinly-shaved, silky smooth ribbons of ice, also providing a cute atmosphere to enhance the sweet experience. Perfect for any age, we've rounded up all the best shops that offer the most unique and irresistable creations.
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260 Divisadero St / Website
With a name like Powder, you know this place in Lower Haight will be devoted to providing only the best quality of Taiwanese shaved snow. With over 10 creative flavors such as Marshmallow Cereal, Thai Tea, Mexican Chocolate, and over 20 diverse toppings (!), Powder's customizable experience has garnered them notorious features in several publications. This is the best place to refresh at after a day of sightseeing the Painted Ladies.
3489 16th St / Website
U:Dessert Story is highly inspired by the dessert cultures of Thailand, Japan, and Korea, offering not only a ton of imaginative bingsus, but also many other sweet treats such as crepe cakes and lava toasts. Their instagrammable bingsus are must-tries here, though, and we recommend ordering their Mango Sticky Rice or Hojicha Banoffee bingsus, perfect to share. Although, you may not want to!
535 Octavia St / Website
Na Ya might take the cake, or shaved ice, on being the cutest shop, as this Hayes Valley storefront provides the warmest and most delightful interior, fitting for its name. “Na-Ya” means to bring people together, which they tremendously achieve with their Royal Milk Tea Bingsu and other must-order Ferrero Crepes and Thai Tea Toast with Oreo Ice Cream. You will definitely feel at home here or in their equally popular Inner Richmond location.
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955 Larkin St / Website
This is the most expansive traditional Thai and Lao street-style menu in the Lower Nob Hill, and you can guarantee that they also provide an equally generous dessert selection. To cleanse your palate, they offer several light and fruit-centered shaved snows, or traditional Pang Yens, such as their high-topped Cantaloupe, Lychee Thai Tea, or Matcha Snowflake with Red Bean.
1919 Irving St / Website
The Sunset's OH Dessert Café delivers Korean and Japanese-inspired sweets that go above and beyond with their tiramisu and Thai tea soufflé pancakes that are wonderfully flavorful and velvety. Their cool bingsoos are just as luxurious, with must-try extraordinary flavors like black sesame and Injeolmi or shaved almond.
148C Serramonte Center, Daly City / Website
Meet Fresh has locations in Daly City, San Mateo, Oakland, and more in the South Bay, and are the most rewarding shops to visit on a hot day. Their cold dessert "soups" or Icy Series are outstandingly novel, refreshingly filled to the brim with cultural ingredients of Potaro balls, taro paste, grass jelly, red bean and more. They also serve premium-quality boba teas and more, making it the go-to place to chill at when Karl the Fog is away.
Your sweet tooth is sure to cool off and be indulged fully with all of these various Asian shaved snows that differ from traditional American-style, hopefully offering some insight on their cultural flavors and background as well!
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Photography by: Crystal Jo/Unsplash