Navigating the vibrant, bustling streets of Koreatown in NYC, especially on West 32nd between Broadway and 5th Avenue, is an experience in itself. The energy is palpable, particularly in the evenings when the aroma of Korean BBQ fills the air and crowds spill onto the sidewalks, eagerly awaiting their turn at popular spots like Jongro BBQ. Amidst this lively scene, my partner and I were on a mission to find a sweet escape: Grace Street Coffee and Desserts, a Korean coffeehouse I had earmarked for our date night in Koreatown. It was he who finally spotted it, but I was the one ready to burst through the doors, my excitement for dessert destinations, especially one like Grace Street, barely containable.
Grace Street has perfected the art of efficient service. The system is streamlined: place your order (I opted for the X.O.X.O, because, let’s be honest, pink desserts are irresistible), pay at the vestibule counter (a reasonable $20-plus for two, including tip), and take your buzzer. Then, step into the surprisingly spacious main room, choose your spot, and wait for the buzzer to call you to the back counter to collect your order. Don’t forget to grab those essential long metal spoons – your defense against the delightful, but potentially messy, combination of sweet milk snow, strawberry puree, lychee jelly, and homemade organic rose syrup that makes up their signature shaved ice. (Sticky hands? Not a fan.)
One thing you won’t encounter at Grace Street Coffee and Desserts is a sticky table or lingering trash. The staff is impressively prompt in maintaining a clean and welcoming environment.
The moment our X.O.X.O shaved snow arrived, it became the subject of an impromptu food photography lesson, courtesy of yours truly. My partner, the talented photographer behind many of the images on this blog, patiently shared his expertise on capturing the perfect shot. He has an innate ability to see light, color, and composition that I admire and am trying to learn from.
Armed with long spoons, partly for practicality and partly for a touch of whimsy (and perhaps why my food photos are often… unique), I attempted to style the melting mound of shaved ice. The spoons, predictably, didn’t quite hold in the soft dessert. “What’s the most important thing to capture?” my partner gently prompted.
“Texture! Strawberries! And lychee jelly!” I declared, rotating the shallow bowl to showcase the star toppings. Point, focus, shoot. Grace Street was indeed picture-perfect, and tasted even better.
The X.O.X.O shaved snow was a revelation. A veritable tower of finely shaved milk, it dissolved in our mouths, each spoonful a blissful mix of textures and flavors. The beauty of it was the ability to customize each bite, balancing the subtle sweetness of the shaved ice with the bursts of lychee jelly and the luscious strawberry and rose syrup at the base. Despite it being almost winter, the strawberries, though predictably a little tart, were wonderfully complemented by the sweet snowmelt.
Shaved ice of this caliber had been on our dessert radar for a couple of years, and Grace Street Nyc not only met but exceeded our expectations. It was every bit as delightful as years of anticipation had promised. If you’re in Koreatown and craving a unique and utterly delicious dessert experience, Grace Street Coffee and Desserts is an absolute must-visit.
