And here is the point– I love Deli winters best of all. The fog and the sweaters and the night drives… and recently, Bingsu. Even a cold evening in Delhi becomes a bit more pleasant by serving this Korean shaved-ice dessert. I tried it the first time (a Biscoff Bingsu at Snowberry after a tiresome shopping spurt at Connaught Place) and I tell you it was like eating a snowflake that had been dipped in caramel. I have been ever since on the hunt to discover the best bingsu in Delhi NCR, one icy spoon after another.
When you are willing to give up your chai on a bowl of Korean snow, these are my 12 best places that will definitely warm your heart (and make your tongue freeze) away.
Snowberry – The One that Began my Bingsu Addiction.
It was the start of my journey into bingsu, when it was a cold evening at Snowberry in Gurugram and the wind was blowing bitterly against the Delhi rivers, yet that Biscoff Bingsu? Pure comfort. The melting of the ice into creamy sweetness seemed to be unreal. Their Mango Bingsu is the sunshine in a dish, even in December. It is also among the few cafes that seem to have Korean desserts nailed.
Where: Gurugram, Noida & Saket
Pro tip: Go early evening -they do it fresh and fluffy.
Insta: @snowberryindia
Dalgrak Cafe – South Korean Slice in South Delhi.
I fell in Dalgrak because I went on a random K-drama spurt over the weekend and I was firmly convinced that I was going to need a “Seoul” experience. Their Strawberry Bingsu was serving as a pink cloud– light, milky and sweet to the inner child. It goes well with a serving of Tteokbokki or Kimbap and suddenly Lajpat Nagar turns into Hongdae on a Sunday.
Where: 25, Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar.
Feel: comfortable, welcoming, extremely k-pop-core.
Insta: @dalgrakofficial
Beekend Cafe – Where the Chill Never Ends.
Beekend is the secret spot in Gurugram to appear as a cool hangout place, but it has the next-level bingsu. I visited it after the brunch of my friend and ordered the Oreo Bingsu just to have a taste. Big mistake — I couldn’t stop. Each spoonful was smooth and chocolatey and as messy as to make you smile. Their Watermelon Bingsu is also refreshing like summer and snowstorm.
Where: Sector 43, Gurugram
Vibe: Gigawatt, happy, and grossly Instagrammable.
Insta: @bbeekend
Sibang Bakery Dessert Heaven with Korean Twist.
I had first walked in Sibang to get their croissants and I could not expect I was going to dream about bingsu. Their Red Bean Bingsu is nostalgic, pure and easy, silky, and not too sweet (your mom would love it). One winter evening, I ordered a Coffee Bingsu instead of my regular cappuccino and to be perfectly honest? Never going back. It is that ideal after meal snack that has the flavor of frozen tiramisu.
Where: Other Outlets, Saket, Gurugram.
Insta: @sibangbakery
Tea Bub – Frosty Cousin of Bubble Tea.
I learned about Tea Bub by chance in the course of strolling along Hudson Lane when I simply needed a quick boba. However, I caught a glimpse of their Mango Bingsu, which shone like snow of gold, and the desire to know more struck. It was crispy and creamy and laden with a lot of fruit which made me feel a little bit less guilty. Secret: get a Brown Sugar Boba to go with it – that hot-cold will hit in a different way.
Where: NSP, Hudson Lane and Other Outlets.
Insta: @teabubindia
The metropolis by Giani – Old Delhi Charm Meets Korean Cool.
You see, Giani is the place everybody goes when they feel like going back. Now suppose it were like that, only different. Their Kunafa Bingsu literally bamboozled me, as well soft snow ice is mixed with buttery strands of kunafa and sweet cream. It is East/Middle East, the most Delhi way to be. I once got it when I was on a sugar rush after a binge at the street food in CP – the sugar rush was well worth it.
Location: Gurugram, Kamla Nagar, and Other Stores.
Insta: @gianisicecream
Spanish Churros – When Warm Meets Cold Perfection.
In case you are a bit like me and cannot decide what to have in terms of hot and cold desserts, then you should go to Spanish Churros. I have dipped a churro, crispy, right into their Nutella Bingsu on one occasion, and I truly believe that the universe stopped a moment. The ice melts, the chocolate drips, and the churro crunches – the dessert harmony.
Where: Subhas Nagar, Gurugram and Other Outlets.
Insta: @spanishchurros
Moim Cafe – Minimal, Modern, and Melt-in-Your-Mouth.
Moim is a cafe that you go to have a cup of coffee, and you spend an unbelievable amount of time. Their Matcha Bingsu is said to be tranquil in a bowl, terrestrial, creamy, and meditative. The Biscoff one however, caught my heart on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Combined with the K-pop songs and dim lighting, it is the final comforting winter cure.
Where: Humayunpur, Safdarjung Enclave.
Insta: @moimofficial_india
Bingsu Bae – Dessert Worth a Fandom of Its Own.
Bingsu Bae is as though a pastel fantasy in a miniature form: cute, adorable, and unbelievably aesthetic. I had visited their Berry Bingsu after a tiresome metro ride and it was very refreshing that I literally vaguely remembered being stuck in an hour of traffic in Janakpuri an hour ago. Another mix that is a favorite among the crowds is the Oreo-Choco combination that is a messy, rich and Instagram worthy.
Where: Nangal Raya, Janakpuri
Insta: @bingsubaecafe
Cafe Tesu The Luxe One Dessert Lover.
Looking to take your bingsu to the next level, then you have to do it at Cafe Tesu. Their Biscoff Bingsu is like a Netflix K-drama item – sleek, creamy, and served in a beautiful plate. On one occasion I visited it after a meeting (during full corporate burnout mode), and even a single bite of cold caramel delight was enough to restore my spirits.
Where: Essex Farms, Aurobindo Marg.
Insta: @cafetesu
Harajuku Tokyo Cafe – K-Pop Energy Japanese Style.
Also you are likely to be familiar with Harajuku Tokyo Cafe due to their Jiggly Cheesecakes, and their Matcha Bingsu should have its own fan base. I did it because I had gone shopping at Select Citywalk and I found myself lingering in order to observe how they served the desserts, so good. It is creamy, just bitter-sweet and unashamedly extra.
Where: Select CITYWALK, Saket
Insta: @harajukutokyocafe
The For-est -Hidden Gem of Dessert Geeks.
This small, green-belted cafe is situated in Noida and it is there that I discovered my new best secret, a Mango-Coconut Bingsu, which tasted like a tropical cloud. And so I sat by the window drizzling down, with my spoon in my hand, it was even pleasure. It is a little far off the road, however, believe me, it is the type of dessert that makes the trip well worth it.
Where: Sector 104, Noida
Insta: @theforestcafe
Final Scoop
But there is my Delhi bingsu truth, you do not need any excuse to eat the shaved ice during the winter. All one requires is a spoon and a friend (or not, I will not judge). Traditional red bean or extreme Biscoff and Nutella, it will make you feel that the winter in the city is a sweet sugar daydream in these cafes.
