(Photo by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)

During the hot, sticky summer, Sulbing is one of the places many Koreans go when they want something cold and sweet. Korea has a strong café and dessert culture, and Sulbing fits right into it. Sulbing is a dessert chain with locations across the country. It is best known for bingsu, a Korean shaved ice dessert served with toppings such as injeolmi rice cake, red beans, fruit, chocolate, matcha and ice cream. If it is your first time trying bingsu, Sulbing is a great place to start as it offers so many options.

Bingsu is usually a seasonal dessert popular in the summer. But at Sulbing, you can have bingsu year-round with a modern café-style twist. You can still find the classics like injeolmi (roasted soybean powder) bingsu or red bean bingsu, but the menu also includes trendy styles with mango, melon, chocolate, cheesecake, tiramisu, yogurt and seasonal flavors. Part of the fun is also adding extra toppings such as chocolate rings, popping candy, rice cakes or brownie pieces. In summer, look for watermelon or fruit punch-style bingsu. During the colder months, strawberry and other seasonal menus take over. Some menu items change by season and location, so checking what is available when you visit is part of the experience.

Sulbing is not only about shaved ice. It also serves Korean desserts and light snacks including injeolmi toast, croffles, churros, hotteok, tteokbokki, fried rice and many drink options, just like regular cafes.

At Sulbing, customers usually order with self-service kiosks. They offer different language options including English and each menu has photos on the screen, so it is easy to order even if you are new to Sulbing. Most bowls are big enough to share between two or three people, and single-sized bingsu options are also available. Cooling off the Korean way with a bowl of bingsu at Sulbing is one of the best ways to enjoy summer in Korea.

Things to know

(Photo by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)

(Photos courtesy of Sulbing)