Somi Somi has become a popular treat for many locals of San Mateo. With a wide range of flavors and an exciting new take on soft serve, the fish-themed establishment has become a go-to for many.
The Korean-style soft-serve chain was created in 2016 by Matt Kim and the first store to open was in Koreatown Los Angeles. Today, the establishment has grown to over 33 stores across the US. A few notable flavors include cookies and cream, matcha, ube and more.
What makes Somi Somi stand out, compared to other competitors, is their unique “Taiyaki Cone,” also known as “Ah-Boong.” This is a waffle cone shaped like a fish and customers can choose nutella, oreo, cheddar, custard, red bean, black sesame or matcha custard as the filling.
Apart from the soft-serve and fish cone, Somi Somi also offers toppings such as coconut flakes, fruity pebbles, matcha powder and more. Through this, customers can choose between the diverse toppings, soft-serve and fillings to create a unique, personalized treat.
The closest Somi Somi to NDB is located only seven miles away in lively, Downtown San Mateo.
I chose to visit this location on March 2nd around 7:30pm. There were around ten people waiting in line to order; however, the service went by quickly and soon I had my soft serve.
I reviewed the Upside Down option which features a choice of soft serve in a cup with a waffle fish cone on top. For my combination, I chose milk tea as my ice cream and nutella as the waffle filling. The flavor combination was superb and was not overwhelmingly sweet, a common fear I have when trying different deserts. Also, the waffle cone had a satisfying crunch which paired perfectly with the warm chocolate inside.
The total cost came out to around $6 and considering the savory ingredients, the price is reasonable.
While there were no seating options inside the shop, there were a few benches outside; however, I found myself going back to my car to avoid the cold weather.
Apart from myself, NDB has many Somi Somi enthusiasts, including sophomore Arden Enright.
“It’s different than regular ice cream, because it’s more…in between…soft serve and ice cream. So I like how it’s…not as heavy as regular ice cream,” said Enright. She recommends the Upside Down with cookies and cream as soft serve and nutella for the waffle.
Overall, Somi Somi offers a customizable and friendly take on Korean-style soft-serve. Their diverse range of flavors and ingredients provide customers with options to meet dietary restrictions. Their warm service and notable soft serve creates a timeless perspective, worthy of coming back to.
