Winter Bear

Didn't know what to expect as it was our first time trying Korean dessert. Bingsu is a milk-based shaved ice dessert. Winter bear is a small cafe but kept very clean. Made to order and quick!

We got the strawberry cheesecake bingsu- it's a must!!! 10/10 dessert and I'd recommend sharing due to size. Such a delicious treat! It just melts in your mouth. Can't recommend it enough.

"ONE ICED TIRAMISU PLEASE"

@winterbearbc serves some of the most unique Korean style shaved ice in Vancouver, and is arguably one of the most underrated dessert spots in Downtown.

Their bingsu base is so fluffy, light, and creamy. And you even have to option to build your own custom bowl. We opted for their new Tiramisu Bingsu, as well as their Banana Cream Bingsu because these are flavours you don't typically find at most Korean cafes. And let me tell you, they were so good we polished off both bowls and still wanted more.

The Tiramisu flavour came with an actual piece of Tiramisu on top of the mountain of fluffy shaved ice. We were also pleased to find more lady fingers and espresso layered throughout the ice, as well as crunchy cornflakes at the bottom of the bowl. The espresso flavour was prominent, but not overpowering, and the bingsu as a whole was not too sweet even with the condensed milk poured overtop.

The Banana Cream flavour was a real surprise to us because we've never seen this flavour anywhere else. We're so happy that we decided to pull the trigger and try this one because it was literally perfect. The fragrant, sweet caramel flavours from the banana, paired with the thick whipped cream was a match made in heaven. We also unlocked a new flavour by eating the tiramisu with the banana--which was literally a life changing experience in itself.

Winterbear also makes the viral Tanghulus in-store now, and they are definitely worth the hype. The hard sugar shell was so crunchy, it was addicting to eat. My personal favourite was the strawberry tanghulu because it had some tartness from the strawberry that helped to balance out the sugar.

I'd definitely recommend Winterbear to anyone that's looking for an awesome bowl of Korean shaved ice. This cafe is also independently owned and deserves much more hype, so go and show them some love if you guys are ever craving a cold treat!

Have you guys ever tried Tiramisu or Banana Cream Bingsu?

10/10
‍10/10
$-$$ (approx. $10-$20/person)
907 Denman St, Vancouver, BC

Thank you @winterbearbc for the delicious treats!

Strawberry cheesecake bingsu- came with a scoop of ice cream on top, bowl lined with whipped cream cheese, and hidden corn flakes and cheese cake bits on the bottom. Absolutely delightful.

There was a bit of wait for tables though. Lots of groups hanging out here.

I've been craving White Bear since last time I came to visit, and it did not disappoint. I really like that the bingsu actually has a creamy texture and is not shaved ice like most places. There's also a lot of toppings so you don't end up running out at the bottom

Couldn't pass up trying the banana cream pie bingsu as soon as we spotted it on the menu! The place is cozy, with around 4 tables, but luckily, we found a seat right away. They were surprisingly quite busy on a weekday night, so our order took a bit of time. Good thing the banana cream pie bingsu was so yummy. Seriously, why don't more places have this on their menu? It's a good-sized portion, perfect for sharing with 3-4 friends. Definitely on my radar for a return visit if I'm in the area again.

Amazingly good bingsoo / shaved ice and, if you like creamy ice cream, maybe the best ice cream place in Vancouver. Every ingredient that goes into the bingsoo is amazing, including the ice cream, which is creamier and smoother than I've had anywhere else in Vancouver.

I find it mind boggling that Rain or Shine often has a line out the door, whereas this place has been mostly empty every time I've stopped by. Maybe people don't know what bingsoo is and are lumping it in with Asian desserts like mooncake and haw flakes? I took a friend here and she said that, based on her experience, she's re-evaluating her opinion on Asian desserts. This place is worth trying even if you don't generally like Asian desserts!

I came here one evening with a friend and it was pretty fun! The inside of the cafe isn't huge but there's definitely multiple tables for you to come with your friends. They had so many fun bingsoo flavors, but we decided to get the classic matcha bingsoo. The girl working at the counter was super sweet and didn't take long to make our bingsoo considering that she was the only one working at the time. When it came out, it was SO big and we poured condensed milk on top (I recommend not using all of it at first as it might just flow off and onto the tray).

The bingsoo itself was very light and delicious. It didn't stand out in anyway compared to other bingsoo spots, however, it was still pretty good! Wouldn't go out of my way for this spot, but if I was in the area I would love to come back!

We went a little late but they sold out the mango bingsu already, so we ordered strawberry cheesecake bingsu, OH MY GOD it was so delicious, the cheese cream ln the side; the milky shaved ice and the corn flakes on the bottoms, it's just layers and layers of flavors, every thing was amazing. Will come back again. Super cute place too.

Ordered the mango bingsu and matcha red bean bingsu. Both were really good! The mango had fresh fruit and ice cream, crispy cornflakes at the bottom was surpassingly good. The matcha was also good, has almond slices and mochi on the side. I thought it came with strawberries but maybe you had to specify from the menu. Great summer time treat!

The mango icy dessert was nice and fluffy, melt in my mouth yumminess. Lots of sliced mangoes, and then when you get to the bottom of the bowl there were some crunchy bits of corn cereal which was a nice surprise. Mix it in with every bite and then voila, all gone.