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I WISH I HAD TAKEN MORE PHOTOS HERE, but got too busy stuffing my face in the absolute delight that was their ube flavor. So this one will have to do for now until I'm back! Sugar Koi is one of those rare spots where the experience is just as good as the ice cream. It's locally owned, and the owner is genuinely the sweetest human, remembers customers, and makes everyone feel welcome. Exceptional customer service and just... good vibes all around. Now the ice cream: the ube is the star. It's the best I've had in years. Perfectly smooth, not overly sweet, real ube flavor, and absolutely addictive. Their other flavors are great too, but the ube alone is worth the drive. If you're in Cary (or honestly anywhere nearby), this is a must. Support a small business, eat incredible ice cream, and leave happier than you arrived
Cute place...I had seen some pics of their ice cream creations online somewhere and wanted to try it. I had no idea there was anyplace local to get an affogato (espresso over ice cream). They have fish cookies that they can put on top of ice cream so it would be an especially great place to take kids for a memorable ice cream experience.
The BEST ice cream and the nicest most accommodating owner and his cute assistant who is likely on his first job.
You will have a whole family of returned customers whenever we're in town because the older gentleman working was just the sweetest and their icecream was delish! We've had Taiyaki/Bungeoppang with icecream before, so we were expecting red bean inside but it's just the pastry itself, no complaints but I also love the sweet red bean too. They have a lot of variations of how you can make your combo, I truly liked the rice mochi topping the most. I had the ube and blueberry icecream with fruity pebble toppings. I did not realize what a combo this was until that day! My kiddos also enjoyed theirs, zero complaints. We did come at a very busy time, so the tables and sitting area weren't the cleanest but given the zero downtime they had between customers I'd give them grace. The place itself is small, not much room but I would not skip trying out Sugar Koi!
This is one of my FAVORITE local ice cream places in Triangle. Their seasonal/rotational ice cream flavors make you want to visit them all the time *sigh* - If you are looking to try uncommon Asian ice cream flavors, this is where you should go! Additionally, I absolutely love the owner Nat. He is super friendly and always makes small chats with the customers. The vibe inside Sugar Koi is also welcoming and friendly. I only have good things to say about this place!
Updating my review since my original review was years ago from when they were still in Durham! SugarKoi remains one of my favorite ice cream shops in the triangle (might be THE favorite anywhere really)! I always get one or more flavors of Nat's Asian ice cream / sorbets with a koiyaki which is made fresh in-house. He does rotate through flavors regularly so I recommend following SugarKoi on Instagram for the new flavor drops. They also have pints you can bring home! While I'm sad SugarKoi is no longer in Durham, the current Cary location comes with ample seating indoors and a nice parking lot for easy parking.
The customer service was wonderful. It was a line with 1 person working, but he was friendly and efficient. I went on New Year's Day. The shop was very clean and offered seating. They offer a variety of flavors. My favorite are Ube, Honey Dew, and Muscadine Grape. I selected the Koiyaki dessert. It comes with the fish shaped cone, 2 scoops, a topping, and 2 treats. It was so good. The current price is $8. The flavors switch every so often. I can't wait to see the next line up. They have plenty of parking. They also sell points of ice cream, coffee, tea, etc. THIS IS A MUST GO TO FOR YOUR ICE CREAM!!!
The ice cream and toppings were great! The service was quick and the employees were very kind. It's a very family friendly place but also a good hangout or date spot.
Stopped in for a milkshake. Put the milkshake ordering to the side for a minute because I was so blown away by all the options of flavors that they had for ice creams, which also can be choices for milkshake flavors. Nat allowed me to try many flavors, all of which were delicious and unique! They were all very much true to taste with the description of each. It made the decision hard of what flavor to choose! I ended up choosing the purple yam flavor and then decided to also get a key lime pie milkshake for a dessert at a later point in time too. Upon checkout, I saw he had some baked goodies that they actually make in their own kitchen. They also have unique bottled drinks you can purchase. At this point, I then realized that there were more specialty drinks and they had holiday flavored specials. I ended up getting a toasted marshmallow latte as well. Everything was really good and it did not take much time to make all 3 orders at all. Nat was a delight to chat with. Will definitely be back!
first time here, the koiaki dessert is a must get! the ambiance was so cozy! The staff was so nice and let me try all the flavors before deciding on one!
Heard this place was good! So I had to go there myself. This is a famous ice cream store too. There are various ice cream and sorbet. The server was nice and answer all the questions and let have samples!!! I didn't want ice cream and decided on the dragon fruit sorbet!!! Very nice place and had seating inside. The guava ice cream was delicious too!! So if you're In the area. Stop by and give it a try!!!!
Small shop but the flavors were great. They have two sets. The first set contained classic flavors and the second set had more variety that i would expect. All the samples we tried were great and not overly sweet. The koi fish on top is served warm.
Fabulous !! Took us a minute to find as it's in a warehouse building right on Main Street. Adorable and trending. Nat was welcoming, jovial and patient when explaining the options. Toasted coconut and Brown butter bourbon truffle were both excellent. If we lived here we would frequent Sugar Koi and stop in to chat with Nat. Make this a destination. Dine in and take out both available. read more
Affable owner Nat creating utter yumminess! Ice cream was rich, creamy, and flavorful. Brown butter bourbon paired well with the toasted coconut. The warm fresh baked fish cone tempered the ice cream wonderfully. As beautiful to eat as it was to photograph. Yum is the only word! read more
I am so glad I finally got to try this place! It was even better than I'd expected! The fish koiyaki can be ordered with one scoop or two. I decided to try one scoop and I'm glad I did because it was a generous portion. I was expecting the fish to be crunchy like a cone but it actually tastes like a waffle! They're made fresh and are served warm with the ice cream. The guy behind the counter was so polite and kind and explained everything to me while my fish was cooking. It's a really cute little shop that's decorated with many vintage ice cream scoops, which we really enjoyed checking out. This place is a great option when you're looking for a unique sweet treat! read more
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you so much Kori
Located in the Brightleaf district and the entrance was a little difficult to find due to the construction, but that should be clearing up soon. The ice cream was typical, but it was nice to have a variety of toppings. I think the most common reason to grab ice cream here is for the presentation and koi fish cone. Unfortunately, it is a bit too pricey to make Sugar koi my go to ice cream shop. read more
5 years ago
NEW FAVORITE ICE CREAM PLACE. We got toasted coconut and Bourbon truffle and holy cow. So good. Also you need the peanut butter cup cookie. It has an actual reeses baked in it. I'm so picky with cookies. This is the best cookie. Hands down. The person there told us to take it home and microwave it for 13 seconds and it's to die for. And you know what. Holy crap. Melt in your mouth goodness. This is an experience. The person there is SO NICE and very helpful. You ask him what's better there and he'll tell you what he thinks is best! The fish cone is soft and delicious it kind of reminded me of cake! Will definitely be back!! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Delicious!! We brought two kiddos for a Saturday ice-cream treat and they absolutely loved it. We all tried a few samples and everything was great. The husband and I shared a koiyaki with brown butter bourbon truffle ice cream. First of all, it was adorable and second, it was so yummy and creamy. This flavor is amazing! The koiyaki was kind of like a waffle with a nice flavor (maybe almond or vanilla?). One kiddo got strawberry and mint chocolate chip. Everyone was pleased and we'll visit again! read more
4 years ago
The koiyaki is super adorable! It's a waffle, not a cone. The earl grey tea and strawberry fields were delicious! Tried the chocolate peanut butter and it was more chocolate than peanut butter. For the kids, the fish cone was the winner and the ice cream came in second. read more
I'm so excited to have Taiyaki close to my house!!! It's new location in Cary is awesome. Their ice cream is so good. My daughter tried the vegan raspberry & lemon sorbet with a (non-vegan) Taiyaki fish come. I got the gluten-free & vegan oatmeal cookie with Halloween sprinkles. They had so many delicious looking flavors - goma (black sesame) and ube. You gotta try them all!! Such a fun treat! Parking is super easy in the strip mall lot. read more
2 years ago
First time visiting and was not disappointed! Delicious, reasonably priced and great portions. Staff was nice and the vibes were very cute. read more
Are you tired of ODing on sugar and just want some good ol' ice cream? Look no further! Despite this shop's name (and therefore my hesitation to try this place out for a long time), the flavors are so very delicate and addictive. I normally can only handle the smallest ice cream sizes in general and then feel bloated on my way out - but not true here at all. Finished my 2 scoops and wanted more. We ordered the yuzu (our favorite), green tea, ube, earl tea and (insert traditional flavor, maybe it was butter pecan) and they were all delicious! The fish waffle was adorable and tasted really good, delicate and fluffy, as well. read more
I loved Sugar Koi when I found it in Durham but now I'm thrilled that they moved to Cary. I'm so happy to have such a good ice cream shop now closer to home. They are conveniently located at the intersection of Maynard and Kildaire Farm Road in the shopping center where Big Lots is located. All of the ice cream flavors are delicious and there are some wonderful unique flavors that you can't find anywhere else. My favorite is ube, a very delicious flavor that is a beautiful purple color. You have to try the delicious koi shaped waffle. The waffle is soft and slightly crispy and oh so delicious with the ice cream. Everyone here is friendly and will help you find your favorite flavor. There is space to have a seat indoors to enjoy your treat. read more
2 years ago
Sugar Koi has the most amazing staff and delicious desserts! I've visited Sugar Koi on multiple occasions and it always hits and the staff is always joyous! read more
3 years ago
My son wanted to try this place because he has been looking for a similar dessert spot where he had soft serve ice cream and taiyaki when he was in CA. It was absolutely delicious. Thai tea flavor hit the spot! Taiyaki was good too. It made me want to eat sweet azuki beans with it. We will definitely come back. read more
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you very much Yummy L.
1 year ago
3 years ago
Great service and ice cream! My kids had ice cream with the waffle (fish) that are made to order. I'm gluten free so I was very happy for the labeled ingredients AND the gluten free cones!! The cappuccino crunch (I think it's called) is my favorite! The service was great! Owner is so kind and friendly along with the staff. Don't pass this place up! read more
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you Ines
3 years ago
I love this place it is a beautiful place. There are so many fun flavors like earl grey it taste like the tea. Definitely drive out of your way to come here Service was very friendly read more
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you so much Anne.
3 years ago
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you so much Yesenia.
2 years ago
Nate was awesome and ice cream was amazing super nice atmosphere was able to try the ice cream all were really good read more
7 years ago
If you had asked me at 10am this morning, I would have told you I was a Parlour loyalist, no question. But but but but... I love this place. I snuck out of work to meet my friend for a "who needs lunch?" jaunt here after seeing all the cute fish cone pics, and it totally lived up to the hype. As others mention, the owners are absolutely delightful and generous with their time. They *also* suggested, and I completely agree, that probably just one visit isn't enough and I should probably try again just to confirm my opinion - in fact, when I left, the woman working called out, "See you tomorrow!" Honestly? Yeah, probably. #TIL that they make several flavors on their own (Toasted Coconut, Matcha, and Thai Tea) and that the rest are Hershey's. When I made a face, the owner explained to me how most people have only had food-service grade Hershey's, which is yuck, but that he stocks the (significantly pricier and higher quality) Premium Gold line. I went with a small, which is two scoops - one Bourbon Brown Butter and one Cappuccino Crunch - with a fish jammed on top because OBVIOUSLY. It was delicious but I do not recommend you read the Hershey's ingredients list. When consulted, my Parlour ride-or-die did correctly suggest that a dollop of the Parlour's coffee-mascarpone whipped cream would have elevated the cappuccino crunch into something otherworldly, and he's not wrong, but this was still damn fine ice cream. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you so much Kelly
So glad they moved from Durham to this location! Now we can have their ice cream all the time!! Love how the owner is bringing the culture of Thai Land here to Cary. The staff are also the owners and family so the service is top notch. The vibe is so cool! We enjoyed the wall of different ice cream scoops. So many unique flavors. Definitely try the fish cone; it's sooooo good with the ice cream. Almost like dipping a doughnut into the perfect cup of coffee. If you haven't been here, get off your ass and go! read more
You guys!!! We finally have a taiyaki shop in Durham A friend told him about @sugarfishicecream this morning and I ended up cancelling my other plans just to check it out. I have no regrets. I tried the vanilla soft serve with rainbow sprinkles, strawberry pocky sticks, and mochi. My friend tried the green tea soft serve with chocolate sprinkles, pirouette wafer, and mochi. Ahmazing, y'all! They are located in Brightleaf Square! Show Durham's newest shop some love. Go follow them and visit them today! read more
I didn't realize that the shop had rebranded itself. Loving the new concept and recall stopping here before for ice cream. It was good ice cream. I thought I would try something different and got the teriyaki ice cream to see what the hype was all about. In my opinion, it was quite pricey -- $7.xx for the experience. I went with the green tea and vanilla swirl + sprinkles on top. The ice cream started melting immediately. It was a bit watery for soft serve ice cream. It was definitely instagram worthy and cute but it was a bit off in my opinion. The ice cream was ok. I couldn't really enjoy it because I had to eat fast as it was melting all over my hands. The bread part was good. It was probably the best part of the experience. It's unique and worth giving it a shot if you have never had it before. read more
3 years ago
I love this place. It is hands down my favorite place for ice cream!! The koiyaki is so good! We are new to town and have been trying many ice cream shops in Cary and Apex and this one is the clear winner! I will be back soon with visiting friends and family in tow! Service was great too. read more
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you so much Julie
2 years ago
4 years ago
Great new ice cream spot near downtown Cary! The Asian flavors like mango and black sesame are made in-house. The taiyaki is delicious and has a hint of cinnamon in the batter. It's my first time having them with cinnamon and it works well. Will definitely be back. read more
5 years ago
First time here, Although it's been on my bucket list since they opened, which was awhile ago. I originally wanted to get the fish waffle but they said there's no red bean in it. I ended up not getting that one just because I thought it was a little pricy without the red beans in it, but my friend got it. I ended up just getting the regular scoop of Thai tea, which was really good. I can't recall any places around the triangle sells Thai tea Ice cream. It's a small place but lots of outdoor seating spots. Service was good. They stopped serving the soft serve matcha green tea which was a disappointment read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you Susan!!!
3 years ago
Very much enjoyed my trip! I will probably return. The employees were nice, the flavors were good. And they do a great job of making you want to take a photo of your ice cream for a yelp review. read more
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you so much Emily
3 years ago
The service was exceptional, I got more than I bargained for and was able to enjoy 4 of their unique, delicious flavors! read more
4 years ago
Saw an ad about this place a little while ago and decided to drop in. Great ice cream, great service, and a chill place in general. Lots of interesting snacks, plenty of ramune sodas by the register, and an appropriate amount of Totoros. The ice cream comes in a variety of unique flavors, and it's creamy and dreamy enough. And if you're an afogatto enjoyer, they make a pretty mean one with whatever flavor you choose. The only thing they need is a grass carpet in the wall, or maybe a string or two of ambience inducing firefly lights to cement status as a young nerd's utopia... But it's already well on its way as it is. read more
6 years ago
Absolutely loved everything about this place. The ice cream flavors were delicious. The taiyaki was amazing! Everything was wonderful! The staff member who assisted us was very friendly and kind. He did a wonderful job and was so patient. The store was extremely clean and absolutely adorable! I'm going to be making a special trip out to Durham just to eat here again! read more
5 years ago
Wonderful local ice cream shop! Had the small koi waffle with Ube and coconut ice cream, best combo ever!! My husband had the banana pudding and he (mister picky) loved it. We also had the pleasure of meeting the most friendly and engaging owner. Thank you for making our visit awesome! Will definitely come back! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Business owner information
Nat J.
Thank you so much Joe.
More info about Sugar Koi
116 Kilmayne Dr
Cary, NC 27511
Directions
(919) 757-2399
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http://sugarkoi.com
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