![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Originating as a traditional Korean dessert from the Joseon Dynasty, bingsu has evolved into a global phenomenon, with restaurants across the world offering creative twists on the finely shaved, milk-based ice. Topped with everything from fresh mango to mochi to red beans, the variations are endless. But here in the Bay Area, finding a high-quality bowl of bingsu can be a challenge, with many places serving bland shaved ice with not enough toppings. Determined to find the best options, I tested numerous bingsu spots this past summer and compiled a list of my top five favorites.
5. Sulbing
With lines often out the door, Sulbing, a popular South Korean chain, became one of the Bay Area’s most well-known bingsu spots when it opened its first U.S. location in Santa Clara. Considering the hype surrounding Sulbing, I was ultimately disappointed by the actual taste of their bingsu.
I ordered my usual mango and strawberry bingsus. While I wished the strawberry bingsu’s ice had a stronger milky flavor, I did enjoy the mochi topping, and the strawberry-to-ice ratio was solid. The real letdown, though, was their mango cheese bingsu. The “cheese” elements in the shaved ice left a strange aftertaste that clashed with the mango flavor, ruining what could have been a great dessert. Especially given Sulbing’s popularity, which results in long wait times and crowded seating, I would only recommend visiting during off-peak hours and skipping the mango-cheese bingsu.
4. Sul and Beans
Sul and Beans claims to offer customers a taste of Korea through both their bingsu and interior design. I ordered their mango bingsu, and I was pleased by the generous amount of fresh mango toppings. The ice itself was also soft, but its milky flavor was so faint that it reminded me of regular ice from a freezer. However, the abundance of toppings somewhat made up for it, and their bingsu was refreshing with the right amount of sweetness. The large portion size also makes Sul and Beans one of the more reasonably priced bingsu spots on my list. Another stand-out aspect is their interior, which is neatly decorated with light wooden furniture and greenery, creating an inviting atmosphere perfect for enjoying bingsu with friends. Overall, I would recommend Sul and Beans to anyone looking for a generously sized, refreshing bowl of bingsu in a charming setting.
3. Honeyberry
Honeyberry appears to be a cozy, family-run dessert shop tucked away in a small strip mall in Santa Clara’s Koreatown. After reading their mediocre reviews on Yelp, I did not enter with high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of their bingsu. I ordered their mango flavor, which seems to be a customer favorite. Their mangoes were the freshest I have had in any mango bingsu in the Bay Area — perfectly sweet and juicy. They also topped the shaved ice with a small scoop of mango sorbet, which enhanced the overall mango flavor.
The dessert also came with a side of lychee jelly and condensed milk that added just the right amount of sweetness to tie the dessert together. For new customers, I would strongly recommend the mango bingsu. Beyond the bingsu, I also loved the delicious smell of freshly warmed roti bread that filled the shop, as it made the experience of enjoying a refreshing bingsu even better.
2. MandRo Teahouse
MandRo Teahouse is a hidden gem among the more popular bingsu spots in the Bay Area, offering a variety of flavors, ranging from matcha red bean to classic injeolmi. I was pleasantly surprised at the freshness of their fruits. Their strawberry bingsu, in particular, is also topped with two large chunks of soft, chewy mochi that pair beautifully with the strawberry flavor. Beyond the high-quality toppings, the shaved ice itself also has a light, milky flavor that compliments the sweet fruit and condensed milk perfectly. The texture of their ice is impressively soft— just like true snow.
MandRo Teahouse fell short on their customer service, though, as I had to wait around 20 to 30 minutes for my bingsu to be served on a less-crowded day. On crowded days, the wait will likely be even longer, but I can overlook this because of how delicious their bingsu is. I recommend their strawberry bingsu to anyone looking to give MandRo a try.
1. Meet Fresh
It’s the dessert spot we all know and love. Meet Fresh is a popular chain serving Taiwanese desserts, and when it comes to shaved ice, they’re truly unmatched in both flavor and quality. It is important to note that the shaved ice at Meet Fresh is a Taiwanese dessert, which is different from classic Korean bingsu.
The shaved ice flavor at Meet Fresh is truly unmatched. Unlike other shops that serve shaved ice with insufficient toppings or flavor, Meet Fresh delivers the perfect ice-to-topping ratio, with the ice itself boasting a rich, milky taste. I love that Meet Fresh allows me to customize my shaved ice, as this truly elevates the flavor profile of the dessert to the next level. I often order my desserts with half sugar, and I appreciate how they are never too sweet for my liking. For toppings, I enjoy adding boba and mini taro balls, which most other bingsu places do not offer.
My go-to flavors are the strawberry-mango and Q mochi milk shaved ice. The strawberry-mango is always made with fresh, ripe fruit, while the Q mochi milk is packed with a delightful mix of jellies and mochi, which complement the milky ice perfectly. I truly have no complaints about Meet Fresh and would recommend their shaved ice to anyone looking for a place that consistently delivers delicious desserts.
