Taiwanese culture is undeniably growing in the Bay Area, with the aggressive expansion of Boba Guys, the recent introduction of Din Tai Fung to the area, and more. Joining the list is Powder, the Taiwanese shaved ice cream company that, as of this Friday, September 23, is opening its first brick and mortar (it was previously found at Off the Grid). Located on Divisadero amongst a slew of new restaurants (Souvla, Namu Stonepot, Horsefeather), this is the first shop in San Francisco dedicated solely to shaved snow.
Founded by David Chung and Mimi Hanley (two ex-tech workers who wanted a change of pace), Powder’s product is a very local, very San Francisco take on the Taiwanese treat, made with filtered water and Straus Family Creamery organic dairy. Rotating flavors — like black sesame, horchata, and Vietnamese coffee — are frozen into cylindrical blocks and then shaved into paper-thin ribbons to order on machines shipped in from Taiwan. Those delicate ribbons are then topped with a variety of ingredients such as TCHO chocolate crumbles, mochi, seasonal fruit, local honey, or sweet milk glaze. Take a look at the entire process above.
The store itself, also pictured above, is a small, yet bright space that greatly benefits from the new parklet recently installed by next door neighbor Repose Coffee. Powder officially opens to the public on Friday, September 23 and will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Loading comments...