Nestled in the beautiful neighborhood of Lower Haight, right on Divisadero Street, Powder Shaved Snow offers the most delicately crafted Taiwanese shaved ice.

Immediately upon my arrival, I noticed the restaurant’s quaint setting and the impressive Victorian buildings surrounding it. Although the restaurant was quite small, there was plenty of seating outdoors, where customers enjoyed their sweet treats under the hot sun.

What sets Powder Shaved Snow apart from its competitors is the unique way it’s created, using flavored ice cream instead of ice, hence the name “shaved snow.” If a customer wanted to make a DIY flavor combination, there were plenty of flavors, like Thai tea, ube, and horchata.

However, for those who wanted a more complex order, there was also a separate list of staff-recommended combinations, which I decided to choose from. I ordered three kinds: the colorful Cereal Killer, the Korean-inspired Bingsu, and the rich, coffee-flavored Big Easy.

Each offered a unique take on classic shaved ice. I tried Cereal Killer first, a fun- looking dessert with white shaved snow and a pop of rainbow fruity pebbles on top. The ice cream and cereal milk glaze paired perfectly with the crunchy cereal, giving it a perfect flavor combination that surpassed a normal bowl of cereal.

The next flavor, Bingsu, looked equally exciting with its variety of different toppings. As soon as I took a bite, I was immediately hit with the savory flavor of the azuki red bean and the chewy mochi paired with the nutty misutgaru (a Korean powder drink).

Lastly, I tried Big Easy. As an avid coffee drinker, I completely loved the strong taste of the Vietnamese coffee snow, which was beautifully enhanced by the chocolate and almonds.

Overall, I would rate this restaurant a solid 4.5/5 and would recommend a visit if you are in the area or craving a sweet treat.