My partner and I stopped by Cafe 86 in Carson hoping we had found our next go-to halo-halo spot…read more Unfortunately, authenticity and customer service were both missing from the recipe. Parking was easy, and when we walked in, there was only one occupied table. Three employees were chatting in the back. We were greeted, but it felt more like, "What would you like?" than "Welcome in." No smile, no conversation, no thank you--just a transaction. After taking our order, the employee returned to chatting with coworkers. When our order was ready, our name was called, the halo-halo was placed on the counter, and that was the end of the interaction. As for the halo-halo itself, my partner rated it a 2/10. It was overwhelmingly sweet and overpriced for what we received. We were hoping for layers of flavor and nostalgia but got a sugar rush that could probably power a small city. As a business owner myself, I understand that customer service is one of the biggest drivers of customer retention. Great products can bring people in once, but great service brings them back. Unfortunately, this visit missed the mark on both. The good news? These issues are fixable. A little more warmth, engagement, and hospitality would go a long way. Until then, we'll continue our search for our next favorite halo-halo spot.

The most EXPENSIVE halo-halo you'll ever see in Cali. Overly priced. A definite NO…read more Found them on Yelp, and apparently their prices have since gone up. $13 for just ice, a scoop of ube ice cream and SOME stuff inside with corn flakes. NOT AUTHENTIC nor original. It's sad that Filipinos are serving this and it's not even what it's supposed to be. Didn't even have the beans nor the other fixings to make it a true halo-halo. Only the green and red jelly, and flan. That's it. Worst of all, they blend the ice and evaporated milk with brown sugar. Not the original. I asked them if they just had original halo-halo and they said yes, so I paid. When it was done, what they gave me was brown ice inside of my halo-halo. I thought it was mixed with coffee but they said it was with brown sugar. I was like okay whatever I'll try it. It was SO OVERLY sweet. They should have left it alone and not messed with the original recipe. It was sugar on top of sugar, and was sweet on top of sweet. It was hard for me to finish it, let alone pay so much for it. There was no balance. Everything was so sweet. Customer service was also nonexistent. The people that work there don't greet at all. Didn't even say a word while we stood at the register until we opened our mouth to order. The young girls that work here don't seem to care. I asked questions and they were nonchalant about everything. Didn't really explain much, clearly I was new. My order also came out within a minute! Meaning everything was pre-made. Now I can see why there's no customers here on the weekend (Saturday). Those are always indicators of a slow business. Too expensive, no customer service, and not authentic. Will not be returning. First and LAST time. *I will do them a favor by posting a nice photo I took*

Knew of this spot because of friends. I was very impressed by the pricing!!! Guaranteed an…read moreenjoyable box of sweet goodies to bring for any occasion. My favorite part of these is when they are hot and fresh!!! They are like donuts but not exactly? They're more firm, have a nice glazed crust, and more chewy like bread rolls but not tough to bite. Such a delicious piece of bread!!! I don't know any other way to explain the Senorita bread. This branch has no tables, no bathrooms by the way. Small parking lot but plenty of spots I feel. Easy to order and pick out what you want. The side desserts like pandan mochi bread was very yummy and also a great solo treat. We also grabbed a bag of pan de sal and they were tasty and delicious. PS Make sure to warm them up for a more yummy treat!!!

So my sister was on social media when she asked me if I ever tried the sweet bread at Starbread…read moreBakery? She told me her coworker brought some into work one day and said it was really good. While being bored on a rainy day, I grabbed my keys and said let's go. Omg!! the senorita bread was fabulous! It was freshly made, hot and just the right amount of sweetness. I have to say, I don't frequent Carson that often but will surely put Starbread Bakery on my have to go again list!

Stopped by Ben Scoops after having lunch; it's located inside The Enclave's food hall, with tons of…read moreother food spots to check out. Ben Scoops specializes in Filipino/Southeast Asian ice cream flavors, including cool flavors like macapuno, lúcuma, even durian! I opted for a small cup (two flavors) with one scoop being ube and the other cantaloupe (seasonal). ...and wow, did they deliver! The cantaloupe was my favorite, having that juicy, sweet taste associated with the fruit. I'm typically not a huge fan of cantaloupe, but this one was so good, even having little chunks of the fruit inside!! I also liked the ube scoop: the flavor was more-subtle, but I think it's because they use real ube to make it, instead of artificially-flavored. Made for a lightly-sweet, slightly-savory and earthy experience which I enjoyed. Ben Scoops really surprised me in taste and quality. Solid ice cream with interesting flavors to try. I definitely want to return to try more flavors out!

I wanted to update my review since they moved…read more After lunch I decided to check out their new location in a food hall. They are located right inside one of the open concept buildings right by a bar. I love that they had a bunch of different flavors including seasonal flavors as well. They also have creations they make. Sadly they do not allow sampling anymore and they were out of a lot of different flavors while I was there. I got a small which allows up to two different flavors. I went with their chocolate peanut butter and thai tea flavor. Both were pretty good but nothing crazy. The person I came with got their coconut and some other flavor they enjoyed. I love that they have unique asian inspired flavors and exotic fruit flavors. It has the right consistency and sweetness. A small was perfect for each of us. There is communal seating. It's more of a counter and you order and they just hand it to you. The place is very casual. Overall I would come back and try their other flavors.

I don't know why I took so long to try Noon since it's walking distance from me!…read more I know we have a lot of options when it comes to treats in the South Bay Area but Korean bingsoo is in a class of its own. For me, regular shaved ice usually lacks enough syrup or the ice is too hard. I'm such a wuss, I know, but I hate feeling like I overpaid for a cup of ice. It has been brutally hot and today seemed like a great day to have some shaved ice. The cafe is located in a Korean plaza on Western and 154th. Smoking Tiger coffee is also in the same plaza. The cafe is on the smaller side but there's lots of seating and you can take your orders to go if you want. It's cashless and you take your tray and trash to the counter once you're done. The menu has everything from fruity flavors to Asian flavors like hojicha and injeolmi to Cinnamon Toast crunch. You can get an individual size or larger size to share. The interior is minimalist with vintage-looking posters of the business. They have WiFi and complimentary water. We ordered matcha and mango flavored bingsoo. Both had a tall pile of ice with ample toppings and more syrup layered inside the ice which I think is an important very often overlooked step. I can't wait to return to try out more flavors!

Went here last Saturday night after dinner as one of our friends recommended this place since she…read moreoften come here for dessert. She ordered for us - we picked matcha, mango and sweet corn. We also added tiramisu afterwards. The shaved ice is soft like clouds and almost creamy in texture. You dig in and there's more fruit underneath. Out of the 3 I'll rank sweet corn as the highest, next mango last matcha. Sweet corn nailed down all the elements I want because of the crunchy toppings. But they have so many other flavors so if I ever go back to this area I'll try the other ones. Tiramisu is also a good option if you don't want shaved ice. The place is crowded with groups and for a place that has fluorescent lighting it did not matter as I noticed customers stayed and we also ended up being here for over 1.5+ hours. Maybe that's why they have Stevie wonder "overjoyed" on continuous play? Is that a ploy to get customers out? It didn't work for us and made us laugh until we cried because it played endlessly for 27 times!!! So yes 1 star less for a broken playlist or whatever sound system they use.

I initially gave this spot a lower rating last year because my drinks felt watered down, but I'm so…read moreglad I gave them another chance. I came by recently with some friends after dance class and we were all impressed. I tried the Biscoff Matcha Latte and it was fantastic. You can tell they use high-quality ceremonial grade matcha. The flavor is spot on. It's rare to find that level of quality in a specialty latte, and I'm definitely coming back just for that drink. I'm looking forward to trying their other matcha options next time! Also need to try their desserts.

Review #998 2026-068…read more Lychee Berry with Crystal Boba $6.58 Large Strawberry Mochi Shaved Ice (served w/strawberry bunny jello, mochi, fresh strawberry, house special strawberry puree) $11.71 Formerly Get Shaved, Boba Bunny Coffee & Tea takes over with a stylish pink-themed dining space & IG-worthy shaved ice with cute jiggly animal jellos. The boba shop is located on the northwest corner next to Dentist of Old Torrance with plenty of parking. The shop's dining space is mostly of 2-tops that can be adjusted to seat larger groups, with a unisex restroom is in the back. There's a corner to the right of the entrance with a Boba Bunny neon sign & powder blue scooter that's great for taking pics! I first learned of the shop via Toast last year when they offer a $2.00 birthday treat. My son has tried most of the local boba shops so I wanted to see how this ranks on his list. The menu is pretty extensive for its size with: fresh fruit teas, blended fruit/smoothies, fruit yogurt, fruit mocktails, premium milk teas, pure teas, cheesy bunny teas, tea lattes, ice milks, coffees, toppings ice creams, build your own (bubble) waffle, bubble waffle combo, churros, shaved ice, hot sandwiches/paninis, toasts, croissants, rice bowls, salads, munchies, add-ones... whew! There's also collectible boba bear bottles that's refillable; I don't think the refillable bottle is more than their large drinks unlike some other shops with refill options. Stopping by on a late Saturday morning, it was quiet. It took a few minutes to peruse their menu & I had a few questions since the electronic menu & kiosk didn't have a description of the ingredients. I ordered Lychee Berry with Crystal Boba, & M picked a large Strawberry Mochi Shaved Ice. It took a few minutes before my order was ready. I liked the Lychee Berry... it has a floral & sweet tart taste from the lychees & strawberries, with a moderate serving of crystal boba. The shaved ice was definitely IG-worthy! It's piled high with ice fluff & topped with fresh strawberries, mochis, & a strawberry bunny jello; their house special strawberry purée, a bit too sweet for my liking, is set aside to prevent diluting the shaved ice. The mochi is colored, but it doesn't taste flavored or fresh (in-house) made; fresh as in chewy & pillowy like a marshmallow. The jiggly bunny makes a fun pic (see videos)! M thought it was funny to tap its behind, & we had it angled so that it looks like it's eating a pink mochi. Hehehe... While it's creative to a certain extent & tasty, the menu is on the expensive side for the serving size. Service was positive since we were the only customers, though slow due to the order execution process. Alas, the location is not quite marketable even though there's high traffic from Ralph's. It's the same owner, rebranding the Boba Bunny to Phin Coffee a couple of months ago after 2 years as a boba shop, which makes sense since there was a special run 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM with a 20% discount on coffee & matcha before the transition.

Okrumong is consistently my stop for bingsu after having lunch next door at Jang Su Jang…read more We usually either get the black sesame or oreo bingsu (snowball). Sometimes we add extra rice balls, but I appreciate that the toppings are also mixed into the snow and not just placed like a cherry on top of a sundae. I haven't tried any of the other desserts, but they do have some tasty looking treats on the counter and in the display case.

Loved the chocolate chip cookies! I got them for my daughter and she really enjoyed them. They are…read morea little overpriced in my opinion, but definitely good. I also tried the strawberry mini ice, and unfortunately that was my least favorite. I felt like it was missing a creamy, milky flavor. I think adding condensed milk or something similar would make such a big difference and bring all the flavors together. Overall, cute spot with some really good treats!

Tucked away in the mall almost like a gem in the rough. Those that love gelato craftsmenship made…read morewith care and charm, this is it. Open your mind (or tongue) and try the different options! Great for couples, family, and friend. If you have a foodie friend who doesn't judge on exterior but rather the taste, this is a worthy spot. The lady helping us allowed us to try different options until we landed on Thai tea, almond amaretto, riceberry horchata on The Special (3 flavors) on a waffle bowl. It was placed on coconut sticky rice. At first I raised my eyebrows but when I tried it, I was blown away how GREAT of combo this is! 5/5 I would go out of my way to try this. What I also love about this is that it isn't sweet like typical dairy icecream but just sweet enough like the true gelatos you have in Italy. You must at least try this with the waffle bowl - it was quite the delight. The portion is big and you'll be surprisingly full. The special (3 flavors) is best for 2-3 people (regular serving). If you're going to eat this by yourself I'd just get 1 serving or the gelato cup. Restroom? No Seating? No

Tried Moom Maam at Smorgasburg Los Angeles at ROW DTLA, the big Sunday pop-up food event downtown…read more The event itself was pretty cool, although a few of the vendors I was hoping to try apparently didn't show up that day. Luckily this was one of the stands that had good reviews, so I gave it a shot. Between the language barrier and my excitement for dessert, I somehow ended up ordering more than I planned. The ice cream was good and the Asian-inspired flavors were definitely different from the usual. It didn't completely blow my socks off, but it was a solid treat. I kept thinking a little syrup or extra topping would've taken it up another level. Overall, glad I tried it. Half the fun of these food events is randomly discovering stuff you normally wouldn't eat anyway. I'd probably check out their Torrance brick-and-mortar location sometime and give them another shot.

Ice Cream 5/5 Yum!!! I had their matcha/hojica soft serve…read moreand loved every part of it. Tea Master in Little Tokyo still wins my heart when it comes to matcha ice cream since theirs is really creamy. However, this is one of the best hojicha soft serves out there. Service 5/5 Standard, nothing special. Ambiance 4/5 Located inside Mitsuwa. Busy grocery store with lots of seating in the food court.

Yamari is a matcha shop located inside the Mitsuwa food court in Del Amo Mall. There is a new 2nd…read moreYamari location at the Mitsuwa food court in Cypress. Yamari specializes in Uji matcha straight from Kyoto. [Parking]: The parking lot for Mitsuwa can get busy during the weekend, but it is not impossible to find an open spot. [Ordering]: There was no long waiting line and I was able to get my order within 5 minutes after placing an order at the counter. [Menu]: Yelp's top highlighted items are Iced Matcha Lattes, Strong Uji Matcha Green Tea (sweetened), and Stone Ground Uji Matcha (contains no sugar or milk). They offer small, medium, and large sizes for their drinks. In addition, they also sell hojicha drinks as well as parfaits and soft-serve ice cream. *** Strong Uji matcha green tea (sweetened - small $4.50): The matcha flavor was strong alright. The drink did hit the spot and the sweetness level was about right. Mixed Soft Serve (half matcha and half hojicha - $6.75): Ice cream had a strong matcha flavor, but the texture didn't hit the spot. It would be nicer if the flavor was slightly less dense as this ice cream really made me want to drink more water afterward. The milk chocolate was a nice add-on, but I am not sure if it was really needed. *** I would stick with their drinks and there are better soft-serve matcha ice creams in Los Angeles (e.g. Meccha Matcha in Artesia or Tea Master Matcha Cafe & Green Tea Shop in Little Tokyo).

We are so fortunate to have Laurie's Pie Bar here. To have such an awesome place in such a…read moredifficult area to do business... When I cook and entertain, I like to order from here via Door Dash. Everyone raves what a treat it is. I'm super picky with food and only eat at places that have high-quality ingredients and which take care to prepare healthy stuff. I don't eat out much and get most of my food straight from farms. Laurie's is a very worthy spot.

Food The flight was…read morefantastic. Louisiana - A balanced dopamine bomb. Delicious. 4.8/5 Raspberry - A bit too sweet but excellent. 4.6/5 Mexican chocolate - Incredible. 4.9/5 Key lime - Tart and excellent. 4.7/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 4.8/5

This mom and pop shop is uhmaaaazzing! Chestnut galore! It's…read morea tad on the pricier side for dessert but there's not many chestnut specialty stores or restaurants. Mont Blanc was about $10, wheel cake was about $4 for 1, and fuji mountain was about $6. These are made to order so it does take some time. Also, the store does not have circulation so it's just super warm. Ample parking spaces.

Decided to try this after eating lunch. First impressions, not many people were visiting this…read moreplace, which wasn't a good sign. Felt very mom and pop/family owned with Polaroids on the walls, which was a nice touch. Overall their ice cream I think is just okay. I tend to like creamier ice creams with depth of flavor, and this didn't really stand out to me. The chestnut also didn't stand out which I was hoping for since it's known for it. Service was okay too - when I asked for additional spoons, the lady just pointed to a spoon jar in the waiting area. Probably won't try again.