Whether it’s soufflé pancakes or matcha treats you’re after, there’s no dearth of dessert places in Hong Kong — but with the summer heat still in full swing, we can’t help but find ourselves salivating over shaved ice and its many shapes and forms. From Japanese kakigori to Korean bingsu, there’s no shortage of shaved ice to try — and no shortage of flavors, too, whether it’s Thai milk tea or durian you’re after. We’ve rounded up some of our faves below.
Shari Shari Kakigori House
Japan’s version of shaved ice is kakigori, a fluffier, softer take on the dessert that’s flavored with syrup. At Shari Shari Kakigori House, founder Shingo Take imports ice straight from Japan, which is then combined with different syrups and toppings — the Earl Grey milk tea with milk tea syrup, cookie crumbles, and Hokkaido milk pudding is especially popular. Other desserts on the menu include pastries like soufflés, cakes, and cream puffs.
Multiple locations including G/F, 14 Haven Street, Causeway Bay.
ChaTraMue
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One of Thailand’s most popular tea brands with over 70 years of history, ChaTraMue offers tea, coffee, and milk tea and soft serve ice cream. But the bingsu — the brand’s take on the Korean shaved ice dessert — is what we’re interested in. It’s flavored with milk tea syrup, of course, and comes topped with cream and served with grass jelly and biscuits. There’s a rose tea option, too.
49 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay.
Meet Fresh
Boasting locations throughout Asia as well as in the UK, the US, New Zealand, and Australia, this Taiwanese dessert shop serves up a variety of sweets, from taro balls and grass jelly to pudding and mochi, with plenty of herbal teas and other drinks to wash it all down. Try the Q Mochi Milk shaved ice with mochi, sweet potato balls filled with taro paste, winter melon jelly and ice cream. There are red bean, taro milk, and other flavors available, as well.
Shop 1, G/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, 2566-1318.
Chung Kee Dessert
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This homegrown Chinese dessert shop has been serving sweet soups, puddings, and other desserts since 1981. Its shaved ice is known for being particularly creamy and smooth, with mango being one of the most popular flavors. Pick among an array of other sweet and fruity flavors, including banana, chocolate, tofu, or even durian.
Multiple locations including G/F, 23 Parkes Street, Jordan, 2736-7895.
Nakamura Tokichi
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Having cultivated green tea since the mid-19th century, this family-owned, Kyoto-based tea brand made waves when it opened its first international flagship store in Hong Kong — and the hype hasn’t died down since. Visit the teahouse to indulge in hot or iced matcha-based beverages, as well as parfaits, soft serve, dessert plates, or even purchase packaged chiffon cake or jelly to take home. Their Uji kin ice desserts are available in matcha, hojicha, a blended combination of the two, or matcha and brown sugar, and are served with mochi balls and red bean paste.
Multiple locations, including 3005-9, 3/F, Miramar Shopping Centre, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2156-1168.
Cheung Chau Bing Sutt
Founded by a Cheung Chau local, this modest dessert shop offers cakes, ice cream, pudding, and sticky rice in a laid-back island setting. The shaved ice offerings are both unique and colorful; think grass jelly, Thai milk tea, matcha or mango shaved ice piled high with red bean paste, multi-colored taro balls and ice cream served in a rice bowl.
G/F, 19C Pak She Praya Road, Cheung Chau.
