mOre sesAme

Reporter Shayna Tran reviews SweetHoney Dessert

ARTICLE BY SHAYNA TRAN • PHOTOS & DESIGN BY TAYLOR NGUYEN

Accompany my friends and I on an adventure to SweetHoney Dessert! SweetHoney Dessert is a franchise that began in Hong Kong and started opening more shops in the U.S. and Canada; they have over 600 now. There is one in Milpitas located in Milpitas Square right next to Xiang Home Kitchen and Shancheng Lameizi Hot Pot and is open every day, except on Mondays, from 2 to 10 p.m. It offers both savory and sweet items and is dedicated to creating the freshest and finest Hong Kong desserts with consistency and integrity, so let’s see if that’s true.

When you first walk in, the cafe is very roomy and the decor is super pretty. It has that sort of minimalist Pinterest vibe with the abstract shapes on the walls and cute hexagonal lights. Along with the nice and inviting atmosphere, the staff was very approachable. Before we ordered, one of the workers approached us and asked if we were going to eat there or take out, and they did not rush us at all. My friends and I decided to get the mango pancakes, durian pancakes, durian and vanilla ice cream with vanilla frost—similar to shaved ice but with vanilla milk—and the sesame and almond soup with sesame rice balls. The total came to around $40. You can pay at the front counter and sit anywhere. If you’re not in the mood to chat, there is a QR code on the table that shows the menu and allows you to order from your phone.

Ten minutes after ordering, we got our desserts. At first glance, it was a bit disappointing because they came in recyclable bowls, plates and packaging. Their dishes used to come in cool, light yellow bowls with yellow spoons, but they unfortunately stopped doing that. Even with the small disappointment, the desserts looked scrumptious, and the fruits looked fresh.

The mango pancakes and durian pancakes were delicious. My only complaint was that the mangoes were slightly hard, so they were difficult to cut into. Even so, it was so cold, sweet and delicious. My friends Haylie Yee and Taylor Nguyen thought the durian pancakes were disgusting, but Chloe Luu and I personally thought the durian pancakes and all of the durian desserts we tried that day were glorious. Durian is of- ten an acquired taste because some people find it too stinky and others find it amazing. Chloe and I were forced to eat durian as kids, and we just grew to love it. My mom would always come home from the market with either a durian or a jackfruit. Watching her cut up the durian and jackfruits is such a nice memory because it brings me back to my childhood when I would jump around the table begging to eat more fruit. I became allergic to it, but I still love eating it because it is so creamy and absolutely delicious.

Remember to eat the durian and vanilla ice cream with vanilla frost as soon as possible because the frost melts fairly quickly. The ice frost was really soft and fluffy and tasted amazing with the two toppings. There was a nice plop of durian that I enjoyed because Taylor and Haylie gave it all to Chloe and I. You can also add more toppings including fresh fruits, grass jelly and more. We didn’t add any because we wanted to see if the treat was worth it as is.

The sesame and almond soup with sesame rice balls garnered mixed reactions. The black sesame was like crunchy peanut butter but without the actual crunch, and had a very roasted, nutty flavor. However, the almond soup had no flavor; it just gave the soup a jelly-like texture. My favorite was the sesame rice balls, which had the texture of mochi: a pleasant chewy texture that was not hard. The buttery and addicting black sesame inside left Taylor and I speechless because it had this amazing, earthy taste with a sweet, bitter undertone. It was a nice balance between the flavorless almond soup and flavorful black sesame.

The desserts were underwhelming at first because of the disposable bowls and utensils. However, I want to return and try the desserts that I was not able to try this time. There are also a number of restaurants in the same plaza, so after you finish eating lunch or dinner, you can make a quick stop at this dessert place. If we were to come back, the pancakes and the black sesame balls are a must. See you on our next foodie adventure!