Buns that poop chocolate and ice cream covered in popcorn are just some of the crazy concepts around the city
Those of you with a sweet tooth looking to try something a bit different this summer are in luck. We’ve put together a list of five desserts in Hong Kong with crazy concepts: from ice cream served with popcorn to buns that poop chocolate.
Dim Sum Icon: chocolate buns
You’ve probably seen photos or videos of the so called “pooping” buns. The little buns with faces – that have been likened to cartoon character Gudetama – are filled with either chocolate or custard.
Customers have been buying these buns and poking a little hole to make it look like they’re pooping chocolate syrup, or puking custard. As disgusting as it sounds, the buns are very tasty, and Dim Sum Icon, in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, is where it all began.
They have all sorts of fillings, from chocolate to egg and we ordered the restaurant’s signature dish – two chocolate dim sum buns for HK$39. It’s hard not to love these, although whether it’s for the flavour of the cute factor, we can’t quite decide.
Just remember, this bun is very hands on, so prepare to get messy.
Verdict: 8/10
Smiles Yogurt & Dessert Bar: chocolate lover
If you love frozen yogurt, this place in the K11 Mall in Tsim Sha Shui, is for you. The chocolate lover is decorated with delicious toppings like chocolate mochi roll, brownies, Oreos, and an explosive pocky stick to top it off.
It may look average at first glance, but this concoction will surprise you upon tasting – especially the popping chocolate stick (yes, it actually pops). This one isn’t as quirky as some of the others, but it’s definitely a highlight for chocolate lovers. The yogurt balances the rich chocolate to create a dessert that, overall, is quite impressive. However, a treat like this does not come cheap, coming in at a whopping HK$63.
Verdict: 9/10
Sweet Monster: cheese and caramel monster
Who would have thought popcorn and ice cream would ever appear on a plate together? But that’s exactly what the cheese and caramel monster is. A mixture of cheese and caramel flavoured popcorn served with Hokkaido milk ice cream, this Korean favourite is only for the adventurous.
At HK$27 for a medium, it’s also a cheap way to get your sugar fix. The contrast of the sweet and savoury popcorn accentuates the flavours, and the ice cream adds another dimension to it.
One thing to watch out for is that the popcorn will fall out of the tub as you try to eat it. Sweet Monster has branches in Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay and Tai Koo.
Verdict: 7/10
Cafe Aboong: aboong ice cream (custard bun)
Our final stop was the Korean Dessert shop Cafe Aboong. It was tough to decide between the red bean and green tea buns, but eventually we ordered the iconic Aboong Ice Cream with custard bun. For HK$35, we were presented with a fish-shaped custard bun filled with yogurt-flavoured ice cream with chocolate syrup and sprinkles.
Chocolate covered grapes added to the theatrics. But aside from the interesting presentation, the dessert was nothing special. On their own, the ice cream and the custard bun were enjoyable, but the watery texture made eating messy, and the sweet and sour tastes from the chocolate grapes were just weird. Cafe Aboong can be found in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui.
Verdict: 6/10
Oddies Foodies: night wolf
At the end of Gough Street lies Oddies Foodies, a gelateria famous for combining gelato and egg waffles. We ordered the night wolf, Oddies signature dish. The base consists of a buttery crumble and a passion fruit panna cotta, layered with a delicate mix of vanilla, dark chocolate, and caramelised banana ice cream – topped, of course, with chocolate syrup filled egg waffle.
At HK$60, the night wolf isn’t cheap, but you get a lot for your money. The gelato works with the egg waffle and crumble to produce different textures in every mouthful, and the passion fruit panna cotta gives it an exotic flare.
Verdict: 9/10