Hot on the heels of last year's cloud cone sensations come a new range of widely instagrammable - but also, crucially, delicious Chinatown desserts. We've picked out some for you to try over the summer.
The Japanese Taiyaki waffle fish cone at Bake
Bake Chinatown, 9 Wardour Street, London W1D 6PF
Taiyaki are usually fish shaped cakes filled with red bean paste or custard but this Wardour Street bakery have turned the Japanese classic into a summery treat. They've come up with a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with soft serve matcha tea ice cream.
Bubble waffles at Bubblewrap
24 Wardour St, London W1D 6QJ
Just around the corner from Bake is Bubblewrap serving Cantonese street food bubble waffles. The original Hong Kong version is usually plain so the London souped-up waffles, loaded with gelato and toppings look pretty amazing. There is a savoury version featuring avocado with salt and pepper egg but we fancy the Fudge Lover - with dark chocolate, pecan and fudge for £6.99. Beware of the perma-queue though.
Bingsu at Shibuya
110 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5EJ
This teeny space covers two floors of Chinatown and is a café, bakery, bar, sushi joint, and ice cream parlour, all rolled into one. The Bingsu is a popular Korean dessert featuring flaky shards of ice milk topped up with Oreos, strawberries, mangos and azuki red beans. They're frankly enormous. We like.
Mochi at Little Moons
Whole Foods, 20 Glasshouse St, Soho, London W1B 5AR
Brother and sister team Howard and Vivien of Little Moons Mochi were supplying to Japanese restaurants around town when they got the chance to open a self-serve mochi concession at Whole Foods in Piccadilly Circus. You can either skewer these gelato balls covered in rice flour mochi in sets of three or pack into a bigger box to take home.
Sago Lo dessert at Shan State
100-102 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 5EF
Chinatown's first Burmese restaurant opened this year and serves up provincial Burmese dishes including a wide range of desserts. This dessert mixes kiwi with ice blended fresh fruit and sago pearls.
