Azabuya 麻布屋 COCO Park (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

It was a good sign to see little nugget back on his feet this week. Man, the last two weeks after his surgery had been a nightmare for him and everyone concerned. I’m sure his wounds hurt like hell. His facial expression said it all.

So this Shenzhen trip was long overdue. He told me he felt like he hadn’t been here in ages. The fact was, it had only been less than three weeks.

After a long stroll through One Avenue (卓悦中心), we were ready to head back to COCO Park to wrap up our trip. Just before a quick supper, little nugget spotted Azabuya (麻布屋), a Japanese café that also doubles as an ice-cream parlour. His eyes immediately lit up when he saw the ice-cream bar.

Weeks ago, he was holding my hand very lightly, telling me how painful he’d been in the hospital after the surgery. Today, he was holding my hand firmly, asking me to get him a scoop of ice cream. I immediately said no, telling him he shouldn’t get just one scoop. He needs three. 🤣🤣

I have to admit, Shenzhen is a lousy place to look for a truly nice scoop of gelato. The cookie-and-cream wasn’t bad, but the lychee and peach ones both had too much sharp sweetness and acidity. It definitely served the purpose — thirst-quenching on a hot summer day but it didn’t wow me with the creamy texture I expected.

No complaints from this fella, though… obviously.

Food Rating: 5/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop 107, Level 1 COCO Park, 268 Fuhua Road 3rd, Futian, Shenzhen, China

深圳市福田区福华三路268号星河COCO Park 北区一楼L1-107

Closest Metro Station: Shopping Park (購物公園)

Tel: +86 18948785655

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm (Sun - Thu), 10:00am - 10:30pm (Fri - Sat)

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/1e/QvNk

Island Gelato Shenzhen Bay MixC 深圳灣萬象城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Little nugget and I have been patiently waiting for the first branch of Island Gelato in Shenzhen to be fully up and running at Shenzhen Bay MixC (深圳灣萬象城).

Founded in 2014, Island Gelato an award-winning gelato shop, originated in Auckland, New Zealand, and has multiple locations across Auckland. Since its soft opening at the luxurious mall last November, the shop had been selling beverages only — without any actual gelato.

Happy times at last! They were finally serving scoops of their signature gelato now. Little nugget couldn't wait.

Little one is a bit of a purist when it comes to gelato indulgence. Despite the more vibrant, contemporary flavors on offer, he still went with his usual vanilla and strawberry. I told him he really needs to be a little more adventurous sometimes!

I like this place a little more than Il Laboratorio del gelato, another gelateria a few blocks down from Island Gelato which was more focused on classic Italian flavors.

Food Rating: 5.9/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop B187, Zone B, B1F Shenzhen Bay MixC, 3213 Keyuan South Road, Nanshan district, Guangzhou, China

深圳市南山区粤海街道海珠社区科苑南路3213号深圳湾万象城2期B区负1层B187号

Closest Metro Station: Houhai (后海)

Tel: +86 19068084375

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm (Sun - Thu), 10:00am - 10:30pm (Fri - Sat)

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/91/SEnM

Il Laboratorio del gelato Shenzhen Bay MixC 深圳灣萬象城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★☆☆☆

We had a lot of food today (again), and with our bellies totally stuffed, we took a slow walk towards Houhai Station (后海站). Little nugget had been browsing left and right the whole time, and it didn’t take long for him to spot something that caught his eye — a gelato shop from New York City.

It was a pretty warm day, so I could totally understand his need for something thirst-quenching. When we stumbled upon Il Laboratorio del Gelato & Caparesh, he made his own choice though I’ll admit his choice of gelato left me scratching my head.

As soon as he found out his favorite vanilla flavor wasn’t available, he went with a scoop of Fuji apple sorbet and toasted coconut gelato (over the NY cheesecake!). I don’t get this!!! 🤔🤔🤔

I thought this was slightly disappointing. The apple sorbet had a bit too much acidity for my liking and the toasted coconut was topped with far too many coconut flakes. Not good.

Food Rating: 5.2/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Zone B, G/F Shenzhen Bay MixC, 3213 Keyuan South Road, Nanshan district, Guangzhou, China

深圳市南山区粤海街道海珠社区科苑南路3213号深圳湾万象城B区

Closest Metro Station: Houhai (后海)

Tel: +86 19075333387

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/e3/G9kM

Melt Alpine AVIC City 融酥作山 中航城店 (Shenzhen, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

There’s nothing quite like a relaxing oil massage after a sweaty hour of pickleball—especially when you’ve managed to play hard and somehow still look like you’ve been through a battle. Our session was near Huaqiang North (華強北), so naturally we headed to AVIC City (中航城) for post-game recovery — cuz what better way to unwind than pairing sore muscles with the ultimate shopping-complex wander? 😆😆

The oil massage was exactly what the doctor ordered. Warm, soothing, and weirdly satisfying in that “okay, I can breathe again” kind of way. And just as we were settling into that blissful recovery mode, we stumbled upon Melt Alpine (融酥作山) right across from the massage place — it was either fate, or just excellent timing.

Sea salt cheese soft serve (海鹽芝士冰淇淋) — This was delightfully refreshing with a perfect balance of savory and sweet. Most importantly, it wasn’t as cheesy as I first feared. In fact, it tasted lighter, cleaner, and way more enjoyable than I expected.

This is definitely a spot I’ll be revisiting. 

Food Rating: 5.8/10

Price: ¥¥

Address: Shop 110, Zone A, Level 1 AVIC City Junshang Shopping Centre, Futian, Guangzhou, China

深圳市福田区华富路中航城君尚购物中心A区一层110号

Closest Metro Station: Huaquiangbei (华强北)

Tel: +86 13312926490

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/cf/GThM 

Dossa Gelato Panyu Tee Mall 東山的山 意式手工冰淇淋 番禺天河城店 (Panyu, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

We were going to Panyu Tee Mall (番禺天河城) one final time before taking off to our lunch venue this afternoon.

The plan was to get to the metro station right underneath the mall, but we decided to spend some time checking out a few of the little shops, and that’s when we stumbled upon Dossa Gelato (東山的山 意式手工冰淇淋) in the basement level.

Little nugget simply could not resist.

Three scoops for ¥36. Not bad at all. I thought the vanilla and Oreo milk flavors (the two white ones) were too much alike. I had high hopes for the gooseberry one but that turned out to be pretty average as well. 

He didn't really care as long as they were frosty.

Food Rating: 5/10

Price: ¥¥¥

Address: Shop 1048-1, B1F Panyu Tee Mall, 366 Hanxi Avenue East, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China

广州市番禺区汉溪大道东366号番禺天河城B1层 B1048-1号铺

Closest Metro Station: Nancun Wanbo (南村万博)

Tel: +86 13246840551

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm daily

Map: https://j.map.baidu.com/2e/UbaM

Tokachi Milky K11 Musea (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Initially, I didn’t have any New Year’s Eve celebration planned but with my sister leaving in a few weeks, I had a last-minute change of heart. So, I booked a random restaurant at K11 Musea, and we ended up enjoying a lovely family gathering there. That marked the perfect close to a wonderful 2025 and set us up for a remarkable 2026.

Afterwards, we took a stroll and enjoyed some fresh air outside on the promenade.

Back inside the shopping mall, little nugget spotted Tokachi Milky, a soft serve shop from Hokkaido that he had previously discovered in SoHo and decided he wanted one last sweet treat before the year came to an end!

Tokachi Soft Serve ($42) – Old dad just wanted to keep it simple. The soft serve was rich and milky, exactly what you'd expect from Hokkaido. We wouldn’t settle for anything less.

Strawberry dip ($50) – Not long ago over dinner, I gently suggested to little nugget that he consider getting fit and shedding a few pounds in the new year. Obviously, he wasn’t listening.

The soft serve was dipped in a rich, strawberry sauce, and from what I’ve heard from this kid, it was very nice and sweet. Just look at his smile.....

I guess getting fit could wait another day. Now that’s a wrap for 2025. 2026 here we come!!! 

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 008 & 008A, G/F, K11 Musea, Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: East Tsim Sha Tsui

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 9:00pm (Sun - Thu), 11:00am - 10:00pm (Fri - Sat)

Daimyo Soft Cream Daimyo 大名ソフトクリーム 大名店 (Fukuoka, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

At 9pm, with our last night in Fukuoka, most of us (except for mom) simply refused to return to the hotel and sleep early. However, Fukuoka is hardly a city that never sleeps, and with the majority of the shops and restaurants preparing to close for the day (if they weren't already closed), was there anything worthwhile to prolong our night?

I, for one, had one more itch to scratch before this trip ended, so I decided to venture over to Daimyo (大名).

Daimyo Soft Cream (大名ソフトクリーム) is a Japanese soft serve shop I visited when they had a branch at Hakata Station many years ago. Their creamy and silky smooth soft serve made quite an impression on me, and I really wanted a taste of it to close out this journey.

Daimyo's milk soft cream (600 yen) – This was exactly how I remembered it — thick, creamy, and flavorful. I'm glad I can finally cross it off my list.

Unlike most ice-cream shops, this branch of Daimyo Soft Cream offers a spacious dine-in area.

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 1-11-4 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0041, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Akasaka / Tenjin-minami

Tel: +81 (0)92-791-1594

Website: http://daimyosoftcream.com/

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 9:00pm daily

Soil Select Farm いちごcafe (Yanagawa, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

Just steps away from our hotel, Soil Select Farm (いちごcafe) was an irresistible first stop on our adventure in Yanagawa (柳川). This charming little café is a strawberry lover’s dream — a cozy haven dedicated entirely to the beloved berry.

Run by a warm and welcoming team representing various nationalities, the café radiates passion and care in everything they do. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with smiles and the sweet aroma of fresh strawberries. 🍓 🍓

The menu is a delightful celebration of all things strawberry. Whether you're in the mood for something refreshing or indulgent, there’s something here for every palate. Guests can enjoy fresh-picked strawberries, creamy strawberry ice cream, and even take a few treats to go.

One of the most surprising items on the menu? Strawberry ramen. We haven't seen this one before.

Little nugget decided to check out this rich vanilla soft serve topped with juicy, fresh strawberries (700 yen). 

The cone itself was partially infused with strawberry flavor, adding an extra layer of berry bliss. 

The soft serve was luxuriously creamy — perfect for a mid-morning pick-me-up.

What a nice way to start off our day in Yanagawa. Now time to explore more local produce along the canal. 

Food Rating: 5.9/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 4-23 Shinhokamachi, Yanagawa, Fukuoka 832-0069, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)80-3956-9329

Website: https://farm.soil-yanagawa.net/

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 4:00pm (Wed - Mon)

Saga Hirakawaya Takeo Onsen Honten 佐嘉平川屋武雄溫泉本店 (Takeo, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

This one was never on my itinerary but sometimes the best finds are those unplanned ones. After arriving in Takeo (武雄) in the late afternoon, we dropped off our luggage at the hotel and stormed out to the Takeo Onsen Tower Gate (武雄温泉楼) for a few photos before sunset.

That’s when we stumbled upon Saga Hirakawaya Takeo Onsen Honten (佐嘉平川屋武雄溫泉本店), a strikingly modern structure that stood out amidst the traditional Japanese architecture around it.

The sleek, minimalist beverage bar was just as impressive as the exterior, drawing us in for a closer look.

To our surprise, Saga Hirakawaya turned out to be a well-known soybean food producer, offering a variety of products including tofu, dumplings, and other frozen goods. While a small corner of the space was dedicated to showcasing their packaged items, the spotlight was clearly on their soy-based beverages and desserts.

We decided to sit down and soak in the atmosphere while indulging in their soybean soft serve. That's when we discovered a mezzanine floor dining area hidden behind this designer wall.

And little nugget wasted no time racing up the stairs to check out his new found space.

A spacious dine-in area on the mezzanine floor, capable of accommodating 30–40 people and finished in the same contemporary style, was waiting in the wings.

Soy bean gelato with sesame and olive oil (790 yen) — The most expensive item here.

The incredibly smooth gelato delivered a rich, deep soybean flavor, while the olive oil and cornflakes added a lovely texture and complexity, but I thought the sesame panna cotta and red bean paste at the bottom was a bit of a mismatch with the rest of the ingredients.

Most cafés in Takeo opens and closes early. Last order here at 17:30. Something to keep in mind if you're planning a visit.

Food Rating: 6.7/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 7411 Takeocho Oaza Takeo, Takeo, Saga, 843-0022, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)954-27-8481

Website: https://saga-hirakawaya.jp/brand/shop/

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm daily

Bee Honey Yufuin ビーハニー 湯布院店 (Yufuin, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

After spending two relaxing days in Beppu (別府) indulging in the town’s famed onsen culture, it was time to continue our journey. Tonight’s destination would be Saga (佐賀), but before arriving, we had a few meaningful stops planned starting with a brief yet always memorable visit to Yufuin (湯布院).

Our first stop was the familiar panoramic viewpoint overlooking Yufuin and its picturesque surroundings. No matter how many times we stop here, the sight of this charming spa town nestled between mountains never fails to impress. As usual, we took a moment to capture a few photos before heading into town for a leisurely walk.

Next it was a walking tour of Yufuin, a peaceful, artsy town with a laid-back charm that’s hard to resist. Our first stop was Bee Honey (ビーハニー) Yufuin, a specialty shop dedicated to honey and beekeeping products from Ōita Prefecture.

Bee Honey also doubles as soft serve ice-cream shop so we all decided that it was time for a little dessert before lunch.

Soft cream with honey and honeycomb (850 yen) – A classic, well-executed combination. The milk-flavored soft serve was exceptionally smooth and creamy, with the local honey adding a rich, floral sweetness. 

The addition of honeycomb gave it an artisanal touch, both visually and texturally pleasing.

Soft cream with chestnut purée and honey (850 yen) – Everyone got the milk soft serve except for mom who’s a sucker for chestnut and as soon as she saw the poster of this on the wall, she couldn’t resist.

The chestnut purée added a warm, nutty depth that paired beautifully with the sweet creaminess of the soft serve while cornflakes at the bottom provided a lovely crunch, rounding out the dessert with a playful contrast in texture.

With a few souvenirs in hand and our sweet cravings fully satisfied, it was time to move on to our next agenda item: Lunch.

Food Rating: 5.4/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 1481-1 Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu, Oita, 879-5102 Japan

Tel: +81 (0)977-85-2733

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 4:30pm daily