Sorry, Remicone, Softree Serves the Best South Korean Soft-Serve in Sanlitun

Another day, another quirky Korean ice cream shop popping up in Sanlitun. A few months after Seoul-based dessert company Remicone opened around the corner of Nali Patio, Softree now opens its doors in the basement of Sanlitun North Taikoo Li complex.

And this new store is about to give Remicone a run for its money. Instead of touting bland soft-serve topped with Remicone's trademark, smog-esque cloudy cotton candy, Softree features richer organic iced milk and a range of tastier, more creative toppings. The best of the bunch are the honey-chip option (RMB 39 for a cone); liquid honey (RMB 35); the "It's Magic Lamp," topped with caramel and a savory-sour powder for contrasting flavor (also RMB 35); and basac han yogurt, coated in chunks of hardened Greek yogurt (RMB 35).

The latter Grecian variety was especially distinctive, boasting a subtly bitter flavor in each of its hardened yogurt chips.

Softree's menu also features a rendition of the smoggy grey cotton candy topping served at its Korean competitor around corner (though this newer outlet refers to flavor as "snow like steel" for RMB 39). Thankfully, that flavor is not prominently displayed as the signature menu item at Softree and, better still, there are quite a few more appetizing option on offer. If only Remicone could say the same.

Softree
Daily 10am-10pm. B/1 Taikoo Li, 19 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang (8405 9861)
太古里三里屯路19号

Photos: Kyle Mullin