It’s been the norm for my college friends to look for a dessert café or coffee shop after every meal. One of them suggested trying Korean dessert in Glorietta, and that’s how we ended up at Hobing, a well-loved restaurant in Makati that specializes in Korean shaved ice desserts. It was my first time trying bingsu, so I was euphoric at the thought of finally tasting Hobing!
We ordered at the counter and find a seat. While waiting for our order, groupie took place.
The first two orders arrived first, and we waited patiently for Bhing’s order. It took forever, so Bhing followed up and found out that her order hadn’t been punched in. Like, OHMAYGAHD. The server apologized, but Bhing — being the Kimmy of Kimmy Dora — was understandably unhappy with what happened.
Anyway, I ordered the normal, or shall I say, the “traditional” bingsu. To define what bingsu is, it’s a famous Korean dessert made of shaved ice topped with red beans, also known as “patbingsu”, and sometimes garnished with chewy rice cake.
The usual flavor Koreans enjoy is green tea, so I didn’t hesitate to try the matcha bingsu (P185). It came with milk on the side, which you can pour over the dessert to enhance the pleasant bitterness of the matcha.
I loved it!
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Cashew, almond, and hazelnut – this caramel coffee bingsu (P255) is so American just like Danicca! It is topped with vanilla ice cream.
Bhing’s order, the Mango Cheese Bingsu (P195), is just like her — it stands tall with its towering whipped cream. The fresh mangoes are perfectly sliced into cubes, and the cheesecake adds a delightful hint of salty flavor. From the texture to the taste, there’s a lot happening in this bingsu — no wonder it’s one of their bestsellers!
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A little story
Danicca asked me why I wasn’t mixing my bingsu. I smiled and told her, while reading what was written on the café’s wall, that bingsu is best enjoyed without mixing the ice and the toppings. Teehee!
Verdict
The place is surprisingly spacious, considering it’s just a café for desserts. However, the arrangement of chairs and tables makes the branch feel a bit crowded or cramped.
Honestly, the price seemed a bit too high for me. But while eating, I realized I couldn’t even finish my regular-sized order because the serving was very generous! We had burgers beforehand, and although I believe in the saying, “There’s always room for dessert,” this time, my “room” wasn’t enough.
I felt so full that I ended up standing while eating the remaining three-fourths of my bingsu. In short, this dessert is definitely good for sharing — we didn’t expect the serving to be that big!
As for the taste, it wasn’t overly sweet, and the sensation of the finely shaved ice felt like heaven.
Ambiance: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Serving: 5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Taste: 5/5
Hobing Address: G/F Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City
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