10. Creamistry Creamistry is probably one of the more unique ice cream shops in the OC, and we’re lucky to have one in Irvine. Everything is hand-crafted and made from liquid nitrogen (believe it or not), giving their ice cream a really smooth and thick texture. They also have over 50 flavors to choose from and even more toppings. The only slight downer is the price, but you can get $1 off with a Yelp check-in to help you out!
Photo from https://creamistry.squarespace.com/
9. Cookie Stax
This is a newly opened campus favorite. UCI has been waiting for our very own ice cream cookie place and it is finally here. If you’ve ever had a problem deciding between cookies and ice cream, the solution is here. Cookie Stax puts both of your favorite snacks together into one delicious ice-cream-cookie sandwich. It’s literally an explosion of sugar in your mouth.
Photo from http://foodenthusiastmag.com/cookies-ice-cream-stax/
8. Meet Fresh
This dessert house is definitely not something you come across all the time, but with Irvine’s significantly large Asian population, an Asian dessert place is sure to follow. Meet Fresh offers an assortment of healthy options like herbal jelly (aka grass jelly), tofu pudding, and handmade taro balls. Eaten all together, the different textures melt in your mouth. They have tons of really great tea drinks as well, but Meet Fresh is still not your typical boba teashop since everything is on the healthier side.
Photo from http://cestlavieirvine.blogspot.com/
7. Hamada-Ya
Located in the Mitsuwa Marketplace food court is this traditional Japanese bakery. Not only do they have delicious pastries and sandwiches, their soft-serve matcha green tea ice cream is extremely refreshing. It also comes with bits of cereal at the bottom to add some extra texture and flavor. This is definitely one of their specialties.
Photo from http://www.latimes.com/food/
6. Shaved n Boba
This teashop seems extremely underrated among UCI students, only because you have to drive to get here. However, it’s really popular with the Irvine High School students. This place is in the Heritage Plaza right next to Mitsuwa, and has the fluffiest shaved ice you can get in Irvine. Sure there are other places dedicated to shaved ice, but the texture here is so soft it melts in your mouth the second you eat it. They have a pretty good frosty cup drink and other tea drinks as well. There are so many choices here!
5. Mochilato
This place is loaded with all kinds of desserts and foods, but the best ones here are their ice cream mochis. I once saw them take the mochis out of manufactured boxes, but don’t be fooled by that! Apparently they make their own ice cream gelato and send it to a company to shape it into the perfect ice cream mochis for easy eating. It’s $2 a piece but I think it is definitely worth it!
Photo from http://www.foodspotting.com/places/2196-mochilato-irvine
4. Tokyo Table
Sometimes UCI students may feel the urge to get some brick toast, but there isn’t always a teahouse nearby that opens late. On the other hand, not many know about Tokyo Table’s honey brick toast. It comes with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and a block of toast–all the works! This trendy restaurant may seem like only a restaurant, but no one is going to judge you for walking in just for their dessert menu. As far as I know, this is the only place in Irvine that serves brick toast.
Photo from http://www.urbanspoon.com/rph/20/777255/orange-county-tokyo-table-restaurant-photos
3. Class 302
There are two locations in Irvine, and one of them just opened up with self-serve boba. They give you a giant cup and you can pile on unlimited toppings. Then as a snack, you can order their giant shaved ice servings. They are all about the size of your face with tons of toppings and heavy amounts of condensed milk. They also open until 12 or 1 am (each location has slightly different hours); so coming here is perfect for late-night food adventures.
2. Fluff Ice
Even though there seems to be a lot of different shaved ice places in Orange County, Fluff Ice is one that has not opened up down here until now. Here, they truly specialize in shaved ice. Back in LA, this is one of the top shaved ice shops. They have plenty of fun and refreshing flavors, and even their own food truck. Hopefully the grand opening of Fluff Ice means more dessert shops coming here from LA.
Photo from http://fluffice.com/
1. Strickland’s
This isn’t your normal ice cream that you buy at the market. Strickland’s is locally made and is a unique product of its own. They have different flavors every day, and it is conveniently located in the Albertson’s plaza across from school. Aside from their typical ice cream cones, they have banana splits and chocolate sundaes as well. Strickland’s is the perfect place to get a snack during a study break.
Photo from: http://www.stricklands.info/base.cfm