Last Updated on June 25, 2014 by Nancie
Linking up to Foodie Tuesday at Inside Journeys. You can check out past Foodie Tuesday posts here.
Korean summers can melt you, and when Koreans want to sink into something cool their first choice is often the popular dessert Bing Su. At its simplest, bingsu is shaved ice with a fruit topping. The most traditional is Pat Bing Su, where the shaved ice is topped with red bean. Red bean is very common here, and definitely an acquired taste. I don’t know too many Expats that like the stuff. Thankfully, the makers of Bing Su have moved away from the traditional, and the flavors, from strawberry to mango, are endless.
Heading home yesterday, I checked out the Bing Su offerings at “A Twosome Place”, one of my favorite Korean cafes. As you can see, they’ve even changed the name to “Ice Flakes”. Personally, I think Bing Su has a more interesting ring.
From traditional red bean to tiramisu, there’s a flavor to tempt everyone’s taste buds.
Not made for the solo dessert lover, Koreans can often be seeing dipping their spoons into the communal bowl. At about ten bucks for a huge serving, very affordable when sharing with friends or family. Available at every cafe, and some restaurants.
Have you tried Bing su? What did you think?
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21 responses to “Foodie Tuesday: Korean Bing Su to Beat the Heat”
I haven’t tried Bing Su – yet, but I want to! the only problem is I don’t like to share my food and I’m afraid I could eat the family size alone 🙂
Hi Michelle. Go for it by yourself. I won’t tell anyone 🙂
Thanks for the foodie tip! There’s a Koreatown here in Toronto and I never know what to order. So I’ll definitely give Bing Su a try!
Enjoy, and let me know how good it is in Toronto Korea town.
I agree that Bing Su has a pleasant sound to the name. I guess if I grew up using a communal bowl and everyone scooping from it, I wouldn’t be grossed out. I’m not a germaphobic, but that dessert looks so yummy that I’d make sure I had a big spoon.
Hi Neva. Communal eating was something I had to get used to when I came to Korea. They seem to share everything. A big spoon is definitely the way to go!
I am not familiar with this dessert. Thank you for introducing me! My family loves to share and take bites from each other, we would fit right in!
Hi Suzanne. If you have the chance to try it, give it a go!
Will definitely try this if ever I have a chance. Probably not with red bean though.
I am not a red bean fan, either. Thankfully, there are some other great flavors!
I was expecting spicy barbeque to be the antidote to heat. But sweet and icy works, too.
Hi Kristin. I prefer icy to spicy, in the heat! 🙂
Bing Su sounds more interesting but I guess to Koreans, esp those going to A Twosome Place, Ice Flakes is exotic. We do shaved ice in Jamaica as well with different syrups. It’s so refreshing. Just looking at the photo with the lime wedges made my mouth pucker.
Thanks for linking up this week, Nancie. See you on Thursday!
Hi Marcia. With all the competition, I different name get people interested (maybe) 🙂
Mmm this sounds so refreshing for a hot summer day (we’re finally getting some of those here in NYC!)
Hi Jess. It’s definitely a good way to cool down.
Never heard of Bing Su but you can bet I’ll be on the lookout now!
I’ve not heard of thisp before and it sounds very refreshing. I think I’d go for mango or raspberry flavour 🙂
Hi Suzanne. Mango is my first choice.
Oooo I can’t wait to get to Korea in a few months and check this out! I just traveled around Central America and a similar thing-called granizadas- were quite popular. Those were shaved ice with flavoring topped with condensed milk, super tasty!
Is the ice in Bing Su flavored (like shave ice) or is just plain with the toppings? When we visited Japan it was beastly hot and flavored shave ice (or what we would call shave ice) became a go to way to cool off for us—-especially if it was served indoors with AC. (In Japan, people do not walk around eating food like we do. Apparently, it’s a pretty big faux pas to do so). Anyway, if you don’t mind, I’d like to include this link which is to an adorable photo (to me anyway) of Mr. Excitement getting ready to dig into some green tea shave us topped with sweet bean paste. http://www.boomeresque.com/would-you-like-salted-fish-guts-with-that/