Wicked Snow
Despite its name, Wicked Snow is a homely café with a warm, welcoming ambience. Soft Korean music plays as customers chat with one another. There are numerous drink and dessert options, from boba teas and coffee to fresh waffles and cookies. Of all the establishments I visited, Wicked Snow has the best overall environment, with the perfect level of music to eliminate silences without infringing on conversations. The prices are slightly on the expensive side, as I could easily spend more than $10 on a single dessert.
I ordered the Mango Bingsu for $10.77 after tax. Instead of straight ice, the dessert contains hints of vanilla and cream, making it melt in my mouth, much like ice cream. There is a generous amount of mango on top, covered in a sweet cream sauce with a mango coulis infused throughout the base of the ice. After eating this dessert, I wasn’t left with an uncomfortable fullness, but instead felt refreshed. While expensive, I would definitely come back and try the other Bingsu flavors. This is a perfect dish to split with your friends.
Atmosphere: 9/10
Food: 9/10
Affordability: 5/10
Cocohodo
Cocohodo is a small dessert shop in Koreatown. The atmosphere of this small shop is quite overwhelming. The music is extremely loud and did not fit the look of the shop. I found it difficult to hold a conversation in the quaint store. Otherwise, the chairs and tables appear worn, which also worsened my opinion. Aside from the negative aspects, the store is appropriately decorated for the fall season. The menu offers a variety of options, ranging from various kinds of drinks to assortments of pastries, to ice cream in a fish-shaped cone.
I ordered the So. Boong with green tea ice cream, a graham cracker topping and a custard filling. The dessert is priced at $5.90 with tax, which is suitably priced for the size and quality of the ingredients. The green tea ice cream is my favorite aspect, and the graham cracker shavings are the worst addition because they add no flavor or texture. The cone is more like a bread, and I enjoyed the mixture between soft and crunchy it presented. Once I reached further down the cone, I noticed the lack of a mess this dessert was causing. However, this did not last long. Once the ice cream is down to the level of the cone, the mess begins.
With each bite, more and more ice cream came rushing onto my belongings and the table. It is by far the messiest item I encountered on this excursion. The custard is very far down within the cone and I did not enjoy it. I am not a huge fan of custard, but I did not think any of the other filling options matched the rest of my customized decisions, so it became my only choice. Overall, I’m not sure I would go back to try this dessert again.
Atmosphere: 4/10
Food: 6/10
Affordability: 6/10