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Durian and mango rolled desserts.
Durian and mango rolls.
Phoenix Dessert

22 Delightful Asian Dessert Spots in San Diego

From Japanese cheesecake to Korean shaved ice and beyond

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Durian and mango rolls.
| Phoenix Dessert

In the last few years, Asian dessert cafes have proliferated around San Diego, offering plenty of options for any kind of sweet tooth. From FIlipino halo-halo to Taiwanese tofu pudding, Korean snow bowls, Hong Kong bubble waffles, and Japanese taiyaki as well as Asian takes on everything from cheesecakes to European-style gateaus. these dessert spots showcase flavors and ingredients like matcha, ube, black sesame, and more.

Vibrant colors are almost a must for Asian desserts — visual aesthetics matter. But what matters more is that they taste amazing.

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Paris Baguette Cafe

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The South Korean bakery-café chain has quickly expanded across the U.S., touting itself as the “neighborhood bakery.” It’s the place to head for consistent cakes with a subtle sweetness ubiquitous with Asian-style desserts. The strawberry soft-cream cake and blueberry chiffon cakes are must-tries.

Meet Fresh

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Sweet dessert soup is a traditional way to end a meal in a few Asian locales, like Taiwan. This authentic Taiwanese dessert place showcases “QQ” ingredients like sweet taro balls and boba. Beans cooked in brown sugar are also popular in many traditional desserts. In the San Diego locations, there are also plenty of Asian desserts that are becoming more familiar here, like egg waffles and shaved ice with mangoes or strawberries.

The Yeti Dessert Cafe

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The cozy cafe located off the pedestrian walkway in the Village at Mira Mesa recently changed ownership, replacing Snowy Village. Snowbowls (Korean shaved milk ice) can be ordered with fresh strawberries or tropical mango. The restaurant recently expanded to morning hours, offering bubble waffles and taiyaki with sweet or savory versions.

Lady M Cake Boutique

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The luxurious confectionary shop, famous for its Mille Crepes cakes, has perched itself in Westfield UTC, gracing us with its multitude of alternating layers of crepe and cream. Founded in New York City, the patisserie showcases delicate French cakes with a Japanese bent. Popular flavors include the original, green tea, and tiramisu but they also rotate seasonal flavors.

The green tea mille crepe cake at Lady M.
Green tea mille crepe cake.
Lady M

Beard Papa’s

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If you’re looking for specialty cream puffs from Japan, this bakery group has found an abode on Girard Avenue in La Jolla after opening in San Diego for the second time. Started as a tiny shop in Osaka, Japan by Yuji Hirota (known around town for his recognizable fluffy white beard), there are now 400 stores in 15 countries. Their dessert is made of a double layer of choux pastry crowned with a sprinkling of crispy pie crust, with fillings made of ice cream or the original version, a mix of whipped cream and vanilla custard. 

Variety of Japanese-style cream puffs
Variety of Japanese-style cream puffs.
Helen I. Hwang

Phoenix Dessert

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The first San Diego outpost of this acclaimed Asian dessert chain based in Los Angeles offers all its best-selling sweets including fresh green tea mochi with a black sesame filling, Hong Kong egg waffles, passionfruit panna cotta, mango sticky rice, and treats showcasing premium Thai monthong durian including durian ice cream and mochi durian rolls.

Assorted fresh mochi.
Assorted fresh mochi.
Phoenix Dessert

Matcha Cafe Maiko

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This matcha-focused cafe chain got its start in Hawaii and has branched out across the U.S. They import their matcha ingredients from Uji, Japan, a misty region known for its high caliber of green tea leaves. A favorite is the Maiko Special Parfait, made with matcha chiffon, chestnuts, and shiratama mochi. The two locations in the Convoy District and Escondido also carry Kokonut coconut puddings and Salt & Butter roll selections, like red bean-stuffed bread.

Matcha parfait.
Matcha parfait.
Matcha Cafe Maiko

Yiko Yiko

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Refreshingly not-too-sweet, this already-popular new dessert shop, which does brisk business in custom cakes features a menu that includes fluffy chiffon cakes flavored with matcha and salted caramel, tender-skinned snowball mochi filled with fruit and cream, and a can’t-miss taro mochi cake that has a delightful texture.

Chiffon cakes with whipped cream and mangoes
Mango cakes.
Yiko Yiko

KO-LI shaved ice bar

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The owners of Yakitori Yakyudori are behind this adjacent dessert shop specializing in Japanese-style kakigori, or shaved ice. Frozen blocks of Japanese spring water are shaved into a fluffy flurry and topped with homemade syrups and fresh fruit for creations such as an adorable bear-shaped kakigori with strawberries, milk syrup, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry cream. The shop also sells sweet Japanese sandos filled with fruit and cream.

Strawberry bear kakigori.
Strawberry bear kakigori.
Candice Woo

SomiSomi

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The popular dessert chain specializes in a Korean dessert called ah-boong, fish-shaped waffle cones packed with soft-serve ice cream and fillings like Nutella and red bean. Soft-serve ice cream flavors rotate but popular ones, like chocolate and milk, are mainstays. There are now cafes in the Convoy District, Mira Mesa, and UTC.

Iceskimo

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This locally-owned dessert chain specializes in Taiwanese shaved snow ice — slivers of refreshing frozen ribbons in over 30 flavors such as lychee, toasted coconut, and Dutch chocolate. The dessert ice blocks are handcrafted by the founder in an ice snow factory in Kearny Mesa using real fruits. Customers pick a size, add toppings (like boba, almond jelly, or fresh fruit), and pay by weight. Soft-serve ice cream and taiyakis are other popular options. 

Mochinut Donuts

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The mochi doughnut craze has found firm footing in San Diego with several locations of this shop that combines mochi with an American-style doughnut, the result is a hybrid pastry that’s both pleasantly chewy and airy. Flavors rotate every Monday and Friday with favorites including the blue Cookie Monster, churro, and funnel cake that comes with a choice of chocolate, strawberry, or caramel drizzle. 

Mochinuts in three flavors
Mochinuts in three flavors.
Helen I. Hwang

Uncle Tetsu

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The famous Japanese bakery is doing bustling trade in its souffle-like cheesecakes since first opening on Convoy Street. The global chain that started in Japan nearly 40 years ago is known for its popular cheesecake flavors like original, purple ube, and pandan coconut. Burnt Basque cheesecakes have arrived, while Hokkaido-style cheese tarts and crispy cheesecake biscotti are on the horizon. 

Japanese-style cheesecakes
Wide array of flavors available in the Japanese-style cheesecakes.
Uncle Tetsu

Bing Haus

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This stylish dessert shop in the Convoy District is one of the few places that can whip up Thai hand-rolled ice cream, packing the frozen swirls in a cup and accessorizing with various toppings. with toppings of your choice. The popular bingsoo (Korean shaved ice) comes with fresh fruits like watermelon and they also do mochi doughnuts.

Hui Lau Shan

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The Hong Kong dessert chain has made a name for itself with its popular mango sago, and fresh mangoes feature prominently in most of its desserts. The Mango Romance is a good choice, with a sampling of mango balls and mango mochi.

Cafe Hue

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This friendly crepe and coffee establishment captures the atmosphere and feel of a French Vietnamese café. For a sweet crepe, try the Nutella and mixed fruits option or the Liege waffle made with sugar-studded batter paired with red bean paste and whipped cream. Add a scoop of black sesame or taro gelato for an indulgent flair. 

Liege waffle with red bean paste and whipped cream.
Liege waffle with red bean paste and whipped cream.
Helen I. Hwang

Sage French Cake & Coffee

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The French-Japanese patisserie in the Convoy District focuses on delicate, light cakes for a sit-down treat or whole cakes to take home. Be sure to order ahead of time. Items regularly sell out so get there early if you want to try a popular favorite like the Elby, composed of white chocolate and dark chocolate cream. The raspberry ganache and tiramisu are also delightfully decadent. 

Hatsuzakura

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This charming Adams Avenue cafe conveys savory homestyle Japanese dishes including omurice and yakisoba but its sweets menu is equally compelling. There are ice cream parfaits, various flavors of kakigori, and fruit sandos along with homemade skewers of dango, Japanese rice flour dumplings, and strawberry and red bean paste daifuku.

Matcha kakigori.
Matcha kakigori.
Hatsuzakura

Gelabong

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This adorable little Korean dessert cafe in Hillcrest serves dalgona, a smoky caramel toffee sponge candy that comes in small squares, which is added to coffee drinks to sweeten the taste. Made with sugar and bicarbonate of soda and made super famous by “Squid Game”, it’s a popular street snack in Korea. Gelabong also makes its own mochi donuts, taiyaki, and gelato.

Gelabong dessert with dalgona latte and milk.
Gelabong dessert with dalgona latte and milk.
Helen I. Hwang

This homegrown dessert café specializes in halo-halo, a Filipino dessert that consists of milk, crushed ice, toppings, and ice cream on top. Another bestseller is the stunning Purple Drink, an ube-taro blend with brown sugar boba with ube whipped cream and ube drizzle. 

Filipino dessert called the halo-halo.
Filipino dessert called the halo-halo.
Snoice

85°Bakery Cafe

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The popular Taiwanese bakery has four locations in the area, serving house-baked breads and light, airy desserts like honey cream cake. Don’t be shy about pouncing on a fresh batch of sweets that the chefs announce and bring out on trays throughout the day. Try the red bean and custard buns.

Mad for Cheesecake

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Bringing all sorts of trendy Asian desserts to the South Bay, Mad For Cheesecake showcases a range of Japanese-style cheesecakes including a chiffon-like version and a richer confection that layers baked cream cheese and frozen mascarpone cream cheese on a cheese sponge cake base. Other treats include taiyaki, or Japanese fish-shaped waffles filled with Nutella, red bean, or custard, and Korean ah-boong, which uses the waffle as a cone for soft-serve ice cream in flavors like milk, matcha, and ube and strawberry swirl as well as brown sugar milk tea, iced blended pineapple yogurt, and more.

Assorted cheesecakes.
Assorted cheesecakes.
Mad For Cheesecake

Paris Baguette Cafe

The South Korean bakery-café chain has quickly expanded across the U.S., touting itself as the “neighborhood bakery.” It’s the place to head for consistent cakes with a subtle sweetness ubiquitous with Asian-style desserts. The strawberry soft-cream cake and blueberry chiffon cakes are must-tries.

Meet Fresh

Sweet dessert soup is a traditional way to end a meal in a few Asian locales, like Taiwan. This authentic Taiwanese dessert place showcases “QQ” ingredients like sweet taro balls and boba. Beans cooked in brown sugar are also popular in many traditional desserts. In the San Diego locations, there are also plenty of Asian desserts that are becoming more familiar here, like egg waffles and shaved ice with mangoes or strawberries.

The Yeti Dessert Cafe

The cozy cafe located off the pedestrian walkway in the Village at Mira Mesa recently changed ownership, replacing Snowy Village. Snowbowls (Korean shaved milk ice) can be ordered with fresh strawberries or tropical mango. The restaurant recently expanded to morning hours, offering bubble waffles and taiyaki with sweet or savory versions.

Lady M Cake Boutique

The luxurious confectionary shop, famous for its Mille Crepes cakes, has perched itself in Westfield UTC, gracing us with its multitude of alternating layers of crepe and cream. Founded in New York City, the patisserie showcases delicate French cakes with a Japanese bent. Popular flavors include the original, green tea, and tiramisu but they also rotate seasonal flavors.

The green tea mille crepe cake at Lady M.
Green tea mille crepe cake.
Lady M

Beard Papa’s

If you’re looking for specialty cream puffs from Japan, this bakery group has found an abode on Girard Avenue in La Jolla after opening in San Diego for the second time. Started as a tiny shop in Osaka, Japan by Yuji Hirota (known around town for his recognizable fluffy white beard), there are now 400 stores in 15 countries. Their dessert is made of a double layer of choux pastry crowned with a sprinkling of crispy pie crust, with fillings made of ice cream or the original version, a mix of whipped cream and vanilla custard. 

Variety of Japanese-style cream puffs
Variety of Japanese-style cream puffs.
Helen I. Hwang

Phoenix Dessert

The first San Diego outpost of this acclaimed Asian dessert chain based in Los Angeles offers all its best-selling sweets including fresh green tea mochi with a black sesame filling, Hong Kong egg waffles, passionfruit panna cotta, mango sticky rice, and treats showcasing premium Thai monthong durian including durian ice cream and mochi durian rolls.

Assorted fresh mochi.
Assorted fresh mochi.
Phoenix Dessert

Matcha Cafe Maiko

This matcha-focused cafe chain got its start in Hawaii and has branched out across the U.S. They import their matcha ingredients from Uji, Japan, a misty region known for its high caliber of green tea leaves. A favorite is the Maiko Special Parfait, made with matcha chiffon, chestnuts, and shiratama mochi. The two locations in the Convoy District and Escondido also carry Kokonut coconut puddings and Salt & Butter roll selections, like red bean-stuffed bread.

Matcha parfait.
Matcha parfait.
Matcha Cafe Maiko

Yiko Yiko

Refreshingly not-too-sweet, this already-popular new dessert shop, which does brisk business in custom cakes features a menu that includes fluffy chiffon cakes flavored with matcha and salted caramel, tender-skinned snowball mochi filled with fruit and cream, and a can’t-miss taro mochi cake that has a delightful texture.

Chiffon cakes with whipped cream and mangoes
Mango cakes.
Yiko Yiko

KO-LI shaved ice bar

The owners of Yakitori Yakyudori are behind this adjacent dessert shop specializing in Japanese-style kakigori, or shaved ice. Frozen blocks of Japanese spring water are shaved into a fluffy flurry and topped with homemade syrups and fresh fruit for creations such as an adorable bear-shaped kakigori with strawberries, milk syrup, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry cream. The shop also sells sweet Japanese sandos filled with fruit and cream.

Strawberry bear kakigori.
Strawberry bear kakigori.
Candice Woo

SomiSomi

The popular dessert chain specializes in a Korean dessert called ah-boong, fish-shaped waffle cones packed with soft-serve ice cream and fillings like Nutella and red bean. Soft-serve ice cream flavors rotate but popular ones, like chocolate and milk, are mainstays. There are now cafes in the Convoy District, Mira Mesa, and UTC.

Iceskimo

This locally-owned dessert chain specializes in Taiwanese shaved snow ice — slivers of refreshing frozen ribbons in over 30 flavors such as lychee, toasted coconut, and Dutch chocolate. The dessert ice blocks are handcrafted by the founder in an ice snow factory in Kearny Mesa using real fruits. Customers pick a size, add toppings (like boba, almond jelly, or fresh fruit), and pay by weight. Soft-serve ice cream and taiyakis are other popular options. 

Mochinut Donuts

The mochi doughnut craze has found firm footing in San Diego with several locations of this shop that combines mochi with an American-style doughnut, the result is a hybrid pastry that’s both pleasantly chewy and airy. Flavors rotate every Monday and Friday with favorites including the blue Cookie Monster, churro, and funnel cake that comes with a choice of chocolate, strawberry, or caramel drizzle. 

Mochinuts in three flavors
Mochinuts in three flavors.
Helen I. Hwang

Uncle Tetsu

The famous Japanese bakery is doing bustling trade in its souffle-like cheesecakes since first opening on Convoy Street. The global chain that started in Japan nearly 40 years ago is known for its popular cheesecake flavors like original, purple ube, and pandan coconut. Burnt Basque cheesecakes have arrived, while Hokkaido-style cheese tarts and crispy cheesecake biscotti are on the horizon. 

Japanese-style cheesecakes
Wide array of flavors available in the Japanese-style cheesecakes.
Uncle Tetsu

Bing Haus

This stylish dessert shop in the Convoy District is one of the few places that can whip up Thai hand-rolled ice cream, packing the frozen swirls in a cup and accessorizing with various toppings. with toppings of your choice. The popular bingsoo (Korean shaved ice) comes with fresh fruits like watermelon and they also do mochi doughnuts.

Hui Lau Shan

The Hong Kong dessert chain has made a name for itself with its popular mango sago, and fresh mangoes feature prominently in most of its desserts. The Mango Romance is a good choice, with a sampling of mango balls and mango mochi.

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Cafe Hue

This friendly crepe and coffee establishment captures the atmosphere and feel of a French Vietnamese café. For a sweet crepe, try the Nutella and mixed fruits option or the Liege waffle made with sugar-studded batter paired with red bean paste and whipped cream. Add a scoop of black sesame or taro gelato for an indulgent flair. 

Liege waffle with red bean paste and whipped cream.
Liege waffle with red bean paste and whipped cream.
Helen I. Hwang

Sage French Cake & Coffee

The French-Japanese patisserie in the Convoy District focuses on delicate, light cakes for a sit-down treat or whole cakes to take home. Be sure to order ahead of time. Items regularly sell out so get there early if you want to try a popular favorite like the Elby, composed of white chocolate and dark chocolate cream. The raspberry ganache and tiramisu are also delightfully decadent. 

Hatsuzakura

This charming Adams Avenue cafe conveys savory homestyle Japanese dishes including omurice and yakisoba but its sweets menu is equally compelling. There are ice cream parfaits, various flavors of kakigori, and fruit sandos along with homemade skewers of dango, Japanese rice flour dumplings, and strawberry and red bean paste daifuku.

Matcha kakigori.
Matcha kakigori.
Hatsuzakura

Gelabong

This adorable little Korean dessert cafe in Hillcrest serves dalgona, a smoky caramel toffee sponge candy that comes in small squares, which is added to coffee drinks to sweeten the taste. Made with sugar and bicarbonate of soda and made super famous by “Squid Game”, it’s a popular street snack in Korea. Gelabong also makes its own mochi donuts, taiyaki, and gelato.

Gelabong dessert with dalgona latte and milk.
Gelabong dessert with dalgona latte and milk.
Helen I. Hwang

Snoice

This homegrown dessert café specializes in halo-halo, a Filipino dessert that consists of milk, crushed ice, toppings, and ice cream on top. Another bestseller is the stunning Purple Drink, an ube-taro blend with brown sugar boba with ube whipped cream and ube drizzle. 

Filipino dessert called the halo-halo.
Filipino dessert called the halo-halo.
Snoice

85°Bakery Cafe

The popular Taiwanese bakery has four locations in the area, serving house-baked breads and light, airy desserts like honey cream cake. Don’t be shy about pouncing on a fresh batch of sweets that the chefs announce and bring out on trays throughout the day. Try the red bean and custard buns.

Mad for Cheesecake

Bringing all sorts of trendy Asian desserts to the South Bay, Mad For Cheesecake showcases a range of Japanese-style cheesecakes including a chiffon-like version and a richer confection that layers baked cream cheese and frozen mascarpone cream cheese on a cheese sponge cake base. Other treats include taiyaki, or Japanese fish-shaped waffles filled with Nutella, red bean, or custard, and Korean ah-boong, which uses the waffle as a cone for soft-serve ice cream in flavors like milk, matcha, and ube and strawberry swirl as well as brown sugar milk tea, iced blended pineapple yogurt, and more.

Assorted cheesecakes.
Assorted cheesecakes.
Mad For Cheesecake

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