It's diagonally across the street from Leocynn's Lumpia where we just had some Filipino grub...
and housed in Kababayan Bakery (new there since Fall 2013 when they relocated from the Nestor area)...
They offer two types of desserts here...
at the curiously named "Snoice" which is pronounced "Snow Ice", but most likely will be pronounced as "Snoyce" due to the spelling. Aactually if you look at their website linked at the end, it's a bit of a reference to a Key and Peele skit "nooice". I assume the owners of this pop up are young and pop culture savvy if they're referencing Key and Peele!
As you walk in, the small roofed bamboo kiosk is where you place your order. There were a few workers sitting at a table just watching us. A young man walked in within minutes and helped us right away. I figured later that the women were working for the bakery next door, which is connected to Snoice.
The two desserts they offer here are Taiwanese shaved snow and Filipino halo-halo (a refreshing shaved ice dessert with many different sweet and savory ingredients), which both utilize "snow" and "ice". I asked for my shaved snow dessert to be put on the plate. I read on yelp that if you do not specify, it will be served in a cup. I chose the mini. My flavor was ube and the two toppings were kiwi (chosen specifically because I knew it would look good against purple and not necessarily because I liked the fruit, which I do) and mini mochi (there are three flavors and the guy said I could have a little of each flavor instead of just one which was nice of him). TC chose the Special Halo Halo with a scoop of ube ice cream.
Next time, I want to try the coffee snow ice. If I were to get halo halo, I would choose the Langka (jackfruit) ice cream for my scoop.
There is no AC but a big fan by the door. We strategically sat near the fan. This was the view from our table. The roofed bamboo shelving held jars of Filipino mayonnaise (I forgot the brand) and some Cheese-Whiz like product but with a different name. TC recognized it as "the cheese that Grandpa likes".
Our desserts:
TC's Special Halo Halo - it came topped with a scoop of ice cream (she chose 'ube' or purple yam, as her flavor; it is most likely the Magnolia brand), a cube of leche flan and pinipig (young, flat pounded and toasted rice crisps).
There is crushed ice within, along with evaporated milk. The ingredients at the bottom were a mix of cubed jelly, palm fruit, yellow beans, and nata de coco. She couldn't finish it and ended up freezing it when we got home to enjoy for later. It was a pretty generous cup.
Some folks will "mix up" (halo halo in fact means "mix mix") their dessert by stirring the spoon in the cup. TC is like me and kept everything as it was and just scooped up the layers like an archaelogical dig. She does not like seeing things get all blended.
For the sake of the blog, I chose the Taiwanese style shaved snow.
It was already starting to melt, but man, doesn't that look pretty?
The layers are not as fluffy as Yogurt Swirl or Iceskimo but I suppose if you live down south and don't want to drive up to the Mira Mesa or Convoy area respectively, then Snoice would be the closest choice for this particular dessert.
Note to self, I will not get mini mochi again. They didn't taste soft at all. TC tried a few and said the same thing that they were too chewy. The flavors (mango, strawberry and original) also tasted very artificial. So yeah, I would probably choose popping pearls next ime.
Snoice (pronounced as "Snow Ice") - They should really put a hyphen in between the words or something!
8423 Paradise Valley Rd., Suite B
Spring Valley, CA 91977
(619) 432-5735
www.snoicesd.com
We'll have to come back when it's not so hot to try the other snow-ice flavors!
Before we left, I took a quick peek at the adjoining bakery to get a few snacks...
9 comments:
The halo halo looks so gooddd. I've only had halo halo at this trendy restaurant in NY and it was good but it felt a little too avant garde / fusion-y (there was captain crunch and pickled something in it). I really want to try this one :)
Hi JS, you can also get halo halo at other Filipino places in National City and Mira Mesa. It's also quote easy to make your own siince I know you like to DIY.
Here is an older post where I made halo halo:
http://pinkcandlesatridgemonthigh.blogspot.com/2009/05/sab-e-lee-halo-halo.html
You can buy the jarred ingredients at Seafood City (there's one in Mira Mesa) or Vinh Hung (a VN Market; I just did a post which featured many of the halo halo ingredient jars) or probably even Lucky Seafood. All 3 of these markets are in Mira Mesa. You can get the ice creams there too. The milk you pour over the icy mix is evaporated or you can skip it altogether if you put ice cream on top of it all. If you want to get fancy, you can top it with flan (I normally don't eat it that way). I like the pinipig toppings as well.
Snoice has never been open when we stop by Kababayan. I will be making an extra effort to though, now that I have paid attention to the options. You take great photos!
Hi Cathy - The young man working there said they haven't had their grand opening yet. The ice ribbons aren't as pretty as at other places but it's still a good option down here instead of making the drive.
Went there today, for our apparent weekly garlic peanut and fried chicken skin fix. It was open! The Mister hadn't read your post and ordered all on his own. Halo halo with the corn-cheese ice cream. Wow! This was great. It'll be a new regular stop now- for all three items. (we sat in front of the fan too)
Yay! You went! I didn't get fried chicken skin during my visit to Kababayan. I hope the Mr enjoyed our version of the ice dessert. Yes, be strategic and camp yourself by the fan! Next visit, try the shaved snow.
The whole time I read the name, I kept saying it the "wrong" way because it sounded funnier to me, haha. I don't like to mix up my stuff, either. I don't like it when it's not as pretty or if the colors get all muddled and weird looking. Not appealing! Love the color on the ube snow ice - so pretty!
I HATEW how they have it spelled without a separation or at least a hyphen.
I don't think the quality of their snow ice is as good as Yogurt Swirl in Mira Mesa (closer to you) or Iceskimo. :(
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