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Ko-Li Bar

4.5 (440 reviews)
Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Ko-Li Bar Photos

KO-LI BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Strawberry
Marissa M.

This is my third time here, and I love it! I'm not sure how my last two 5 star reviews got deleted but I came here a year ago, one month ago and then again today. The staff is always so nice, helpful and talented! I've had the strawberry and chocolate kakigori and I loved both! Perfect for a summer day or any day! So yummy! :)

Jack M.

I stopped in Ko-Li Bar to not only try their iced coffees with the coffee jello, but to pay homage to a great place. I think it is called the "Coffee Jello Milk." The coffee flavor was very good in the beverage. It was a little sweet for my taste, since I never put sweetener in my coffee beverages, but it was a nice treat in a long time. I really dug the coffee jello pieces in the beverage. Those really made the drink special, given the added texture and flavor. You can have the coffee with dairy or non dairy cream on top. I think they also placed a coffee syrup right on top as a garnish. It was tasty. I am not a huge fan of ordering on a kiosk, but this one was quite functional and easy to use. The hospitality was super nice and very welcoming and thankful. The place offers inside and outside seating with decent parking.

Lisa C.

Brought my family here after having a wonderful Yelp Elite experience and I'm happy to say the desserts and service is consistent and did not disappoint! We ordered the peach, matcha and coffee jello coffee and each item was solid! Glad we were able to get parking and a table because they were quite busy on a Sunday afternoon! And contrary to the other reviews, we actually didn't have to wait too long for our desserts to be served, under 10 minutes probably, thankfully! Don't let that deter you guys from trying them out, they're a solid choice for a post dinner date dessert or on a hot summer day!

Lisa M.

Ko-Li Bar is such a cute little spot. The moment you walk in, it feels like you're in Japan. It's tucked away in a corner on Convoy, so parking can be a little hard. I've been here a couple of times and their shaved ice desserts are so good. I've tried the mango and strawberry, and both were yummy. The presentation is adorable, the portions are huge, and they aren't too sweet. The ice is super light and fluffy, and the fruit flavors taste fresh. If you're looking for a fun dessert spot, Ko-Li Bar is worth going to.

Kawaii Cups: the no faced cup was non-dairy
lisa j.

Ko-Li Bar is a cute, Japanese shaved ice bar if you want something for dessert. It is next to Yakyudori off Convoy and Clairemont Mesa Blvd. I think same owner since Ko-Li Bar shares the restaurant's bathroom, one gender neutral so there was a two-person wait at 10pm on a Friday night. Parking lot is small but there is some street parking nearby. The smaller shaved ice options were about $10 and larger creations for $18. Small selection of coffee and tea drinks as well were available. There is almost no service interaction, self-clearing tables and kiosk to order. The humans were in back making desserts and calling out numbers. The seating area is cute but only has about 8 tables inside and 2 outside. We order Hawaii cups, one serving size, matcha, matcha non-dairy and peach. Matcha with dairy was the best flavor. It had whipped cream, a large serving of matcha flavored shaved ice, extra sprinkle of matcha, scoop of ice cream and jellies on the bottom. All cups are cutely decorated with deformed bear faces.

Kianna J.

Recently stopped by for a yelp event and was surprised by the ice! It was super thin and fluffy, much better than what I was expecting! I got a cute strawberry bear that wasn't too sweet and the perfect texture! Staff and service was very friendly and helpful too!

Banana strawberry chocolate parfait
Nick P.

We decided on a whim to check this place out. Parking sucks. We parked on the street and made sure there were no signs indicating not to park there. I think it would be great if they had their own dedicated parking lot. Inside is small and cozy. You can order from the kiosk or from the counter. We ordered a strawberry bear shaved ice and banana strawberry chocolate parfait. Both desserts were refreshing and delectable. I liked that they had ice cream and strawberry syrup within the shaved ice. They also provide you with an extra cup of syrup to add on. I liked the parfait although it could use more bananas. It wasn't overly rich or sweet. The staff was helpful and kind.

Sally L.

We were here on a weekday. It was pretty busy. The place is very cute with a Japanese vibe, like you are in Japan. There is a kiosk for you to order. You can also order at the counter. I ordered the strawberry bear shaved ice, and my boyfriend ordered a banana strawberry chocolate parfait. Both of the desserts were very cute! They give you extra strawberry sauce on the side to add to the shaved ice. The shaved ice is so creamy. The inside has vanilla ice cream and some strawberry sauce. My bf likes his parfait. The staff was nice and friendly. The parking outside sucks; we had to park on a side street. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth trying.

Pauline S.

I've been Ko-Li Bar a couple times, each time after dinner and this place gets pretty busy. Very small parking lot but thankfully I've gotten lucky with snagging the last spot available so make sure to account time for this. Vibes: Japanese style decorations and set up. It really feels like going to a shave ice place in Japan. There are maybe about 8 tables inside that can fit between 2-4 people. There are also a couple of seats by the register. Each table has a unique decoration. Service: There's both a digital and paper menu and then you order up front. Both times, I have waited about 20-30 minutes. It's quite a long wait for 1 shave ice but when you get your order, you can see why it takes that long since they put some detail in it. Food: I believe they change their menu, not sure how often. Both times I ordered from their specials menu and they were so delicious, the ice was soft, and their toppings complemented each other well. One shave ice is enough for 2 people, especially after dinner. Highly recommend Ko-Li for a different kind of sweet treat!

Chocolate Go To cup - sooo delicious, perfect for one
Wendy G.

Absolutely scrumptious first time kakigori experience at Ko-Li bar. Parking was easy on a weekday late afternoon, and the atmosphere inside definitely reminded me of places I visited in Tokyo. Since I was dining solo, I didn't want to order one of the cute but large kakigori bowl options, so I chose the Go To chocolate shaved ice parfait. The kakigori was so fluffy yet still cold with a sweet but not overwhelming chocolate flavor that paired impeccably with the creamy whip topping. Half way through the dessert, my spoon stumbled upon the corn flake and vanilla ice cream layer, which was a delightful textural and flavor boost surprise. The final act is at the bottom where tart raspberry bits and macerated blueberry add another delicious component that left me ever so satisfied. Can't wait to come back with a group and try some of the larger, super kawaii creations.

Menu
Anna B.

Very cozy Japanese dessert cafe! I tried the amazake peach kakigori which was very refreshing and delicious. I wish the bowl was bigger as it was spilling over but other than that, service was quick and friendly, few seating options, really cute decor, and has easy parking available right outside!

strawberry bear
Grace R.

Refreshing kakigori is summer! Cute and the venue is so cozy and fun! We come here often. It's a bit pricey but perfect for a post dinner shared shave ice

Choco banana strawberry parfait
Liz J.

This is hands down my favorite dessert spot in SD. I am not the biggest shaved ice person so when I saw they also had parfaits. There are a few tables inside and they have a kiosk for you to order from. So far, I've gotten: 1. Choco Strawberry banana parfait ($10.00) - without fail, I get this everytime. There are corn flakes, strawberries, banana, ice cream, little cookies, etc. It tastes not too sweet and is super cute. They make a little bear on top. 2. Mochi Cloud cone ($7.00) - this one has a sheet of mochi on it called gyuhi. You get to choose two scoops of ice cream and fruit in the middle. It's good value for what you get but definitely best split among another person. The service here is really friendly and they make the orders pretty quick. I love how they have monthly specials and make all their menu items into little works of art. It's a great place to take kids to as well since they make little shapes with the desserts. There is some parking, but as others have said, Koli Bar is shared with Yakyudori. I'll definitely be back here!

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Iceskimo

Iceskimo

4.5
(1.1k reviews)
0.5 mi
$$

Unique taiwanese shaved snow place. there's no other place like this in San Diego that i know of…read more It's a small business that has been around for at least a decade. Very busy friday/weekend nights, lines usually long but if you go weekdays it's better. the snow is made with real ingredients unlike other places that use powders/syrups for flavor. The blocks of snow are already flavored (think of it like a big block or ice cream, just shaved in layers). Service is also generally good! I would recommend getting any dairy based snow with condensed milk layered! it brings out the flavor. the non dairy flavors are like sorbet but also very tasty (i like the lychee or super lemon which tastes like frozen lemonade). if you pick a build your own bowl, it's weighed (snow or softserve) after you get toppings. I notice it's usually between $5-$10 obviously dependent on weight but the minimum is 4.50 so if you are below that, they'll just charge 4.50. I'd recommend this place if you want a lighter sweet treat! Other places can be heavy but because this is shaved, it's easier on the tummy. they do also have waffle creations that seem good for couples to share~ (my favorite is the strawberry shorty, it has cheesecake bites and fresh strawberries, the waffle, and vanilla softserve). they have taiyaki too but it's not like somi somi where there's icecream inside, it's just filled or plain (the nutella one is really good). also their thai tea drink is really good

I enjoy shaved ice/ice cream treats but this style was just not my favorite. The machine that…read moreIceskimo uses to shave the ice cream cylinders is unique and fun to watch. I would have liked one more row of candy topping options, as the ones I chose (brownie bites and mini Choco cups) weren't very sweet. The shaved ice cream itself comes out in long piece which isn't as satisfying to me as smaller crystals like in kakigori or even harder pellets like dip n dots. Icekimo's shave texture just did not enhance the dessert eating experience for me. That said, I did enjoy the flavors - lychee was light and refreshing while the Thai ice tea flavor tasted exactly like the drink.

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Cheers to you iceskimo!
Cheers to you iceskimo!
Lychee Rose
Lychee Rose
Iceskimo

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Sul & Beans

Sul & Beans

4.1
(422 reviews)
0.5 mi
$$

Vibe/Interior: It feels like a cafe that you could sit and catch up with friends and family for…read morehours because it's so cozy with plenty of tables and seating. It shares a space with Somi Somi so there's a dessert for everyone. Standouts: Strawberry bingsoo - generous heaps of strawberries and condensed milk Service: So fast and the staff are kind! They offered a pup cup for our dog Value: The portion is large so you can split it between 2 people Parking: There is a paid parking lot in the front and totally worth it! Pro Tips: Ask for a side of extra condensed milk

Sul & Beans is a Korean dessert café specializing in bingsoo, shaved ice desserts, and other treats…read morethat are perfect for sharing. We walked into a space with a casual café atmosphere, the kind of place where you can settle in and enjoy dessert rather than just grabbing something to go. The seating is comfortable and the layout makes it easy to linger, which fits the style of the desserts since bingsoo is best enjoyed slowly, especially when sharing with a group. The strawberry bingsoo is one of the highlights and a great choice if you want something refreshing. The shaved ice has a soft, fluffy texture that feels much lighter than regular shaved ice, almost melting as you eat it. The strawberry topping adds a bright sweetness that balances well with the creamy base, and the portion size makes it easy to share. We found it felt indulgent without being overly heavy, especially compared to richer desserts, and the fruit tasted fresh rather than syrupy. Beyond the strawberry option, Sul & Beans has a variety of flavors worth exploring. The injeolmi bingsoo stands out for a more traditional Korean flavor with its combination of rice cake, nutty powder, and a subtle sweetness that feels more complex than the fruit-based versions. The green tea, black sesame, and mango versions offer different profiles depending on whether you prefer something earthy, rich, or fruity. The taiyaki is another nice addition if you want something warm alongside the cold dessert, with a crisp exterior and a sweet filling that contrasts well with the shaved ice. The café can get busy, especially during peak dessert hours, but the experience works well for groups since the bingsoo portions are generous. The staff handle the flow efficiently, and the turnover moves at a steady pace without making the experience feel rushed. It is the kind of place where you can slow down and share a dessert after a meal or stop by specifically for a sweet treat. Sul & Beans is a great spot for Korean-style desserts in San Diego. The combination of fluffy shaved ice, creative flavors, and generous portions makes it a place worth visiting, especially if you are looking for something different from the usual ice cream or dessert options. The focus on quality ingredients and thoughtful flavor combinations makes each bowl feel more considered than a typical dessert stop.

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Sul & Beans
Sul & Beans
Sul & Beans

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Matcha Cafe Maiko

Matcha Cafe Maiko

4.2
(861 reviews)
0.3 mi
$$

The matcha desserts were flavorful and clearly made with good-quality ingredients, especially the…read moresoft serve which stood out. That said, the sweetness level was a bit hit or miss depending on what you order, and some items felt a little pricey for the portion size.

Boy did I find a gold mine! I was looking for a place to try good-quality ceremonial-grade…read moreMatcha's and I originally started at another place which had a line out front. I was thinking no way I am not in the mood to wait in a long line outside the cafe. So, I went online again to see what else was available . I came across Cafe Maiko SD. I was able to park in the parking lot in front which was not difficult to find parking because it was later in the morning . I walked in and noticed it was decorated with a cute Asian aesthetic. The music was playing in the background which was upbeat and happy. They also play hip hop songs that I loveI ordered a Strawberry Matcha latte. The girl behind the counter told me it was made homemade daily the preserves. I also asked about their ice cream out of curiosity. They told me they make it homemade daily, and they have so many flavors too. They said I could try a float if I was interested in which is the ice cream flavor of your choice on top of the Matcha latte. I decided to get the Dole Whip Pineapple. They have a big ordering system that tells you your order is being processed and also when it's ready. It took about five minutes and it was already ready! Once I tried it, I was so impressed because the Dole Whip Pineapple ice cream was so delicious and creamy . Then I was sipping on my Strawberry Matcha latte which was so good, but I am in a sugar coma now . I forgot to take a photo of it because I devoured it so quickly. So, I had to order a banana pudding matcha to have a few sips and then take home because I was not going to worsen my sugar coma! They also have a DIY Ramen station whereby they have offend types of Ramen packages from China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia to select from . Then after you select your Ramen, various toppings already prepared stored in a refrigerator, and drink selection from their beverage refrigerator, and or snack options too you then proceed to the Ramen station where it instructs you how to cook your Ramen . Then, they also have a small bar area that you can sit at and order beer, sake, and or other alcohol beverages as well. They have happy hour daily from 3-6 for those that are interested in that. I was fortunate to meet the owners who were so professional and kind just like their workers. One of the owners gave me a complimentary Matcha snack, but I am so bummed out I accidentally left it behind. This place is perfection with everything! They are at the top of my favorite places! Whether you are a local or visitor, this is the place to be!

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Matcha Cafe Maiko
Matcha Cafe Maiko
Matcha Cafe Maiko

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Phoenix Dessert

Phoenix Dessert

4.5
(167 reviews)
0.3 mi
$

Been chasing the Hui Lau Shan high since they closed and this place comes close! The staff were…read morenice a try had a good selection of mango related desserts as well as durian desserts. Interior is pretty spacey with seating. We got the fresh mango mochi, durian mochi, and the mango pomelo sago and silken tofu. I wanted to see if it tasted like taho but it's a bit different, would probably get just the regular version without pomelo next time though. The mochi skin was not too thick or thin and the mango was good, could be a little bit sweeter. Durian was good too! The drinks were ok.

It's unfortunate that they closed shortly after my visit. Despite having "dessert" in the name, I…read moreactually found the savory items to be the highlights of the meal. Near the entrance was a display case filled with premade chilled items. Quantities were limited, and because we visited close to closing time, many of the savory dishes had already sold out. A single employee managed both the register and food service. She was incredibly generous with portions, though the self serve style setup seemed less than ideal from a food safety perspective. Prices were also noticeably lower than comparable spots in the Convoy area. *Assorted Mochi: these were served chilled from the display case and had a denser texture than most mochi. The fillings were not overly sweet, which I appreciated. The Green Tea Black Sesame was my favorite, as the earthy flavors complemented one another beautifully. The mango version was much more subdued and ultimately the least memorable. *Mango Lovers Dessert: chewy coconut jelly noodles drenched in tart mango sauce. The ice cream provided most of the sweetness, while the noodles and tofu remained fairly neutral. The portion was enormous and could easily be shared among two to four people. *Durian Lovers Dessert: similar to the mango version in that it leaned surprisingly mild. The young coconut and purple sticky rice lacked the sweetness needed to balance the dish. That said, the amount of durian was impressive. I just wished there had been a creamier or silkier component to contrast the dense textures. *Arctic Surf Clams: easily my favorite item. The clams were marinated in a spicy, peppery sauce and cooked perfectly, retaining a pleasant chew without becoming rubbery. *Ube Fried Mochi: wonderfully crisp on the outside with a satisfyingly dense interior. The ube filling was subtly sweet and fragrant, and the fritters were not greasy at all. Each order came with six generously sized pieces, making them an excellent value. I'm genuinely sad to see this business close. It was one of the more affordable dessert spots in the area, and as a durian lover, it's disappointing to lose another place that showcased the fruit. Wishing the owners all the best in whatever comes next.

Photos
Black Sticky Rice & Young Coconut Tong Sui
Black Sticky Rice & Young Coconut Tong Sui
Assorted Mochi
Assorted Mochi
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Red Bean & Lotus Seed Tong Sui

Ko-Li Bar - sandwiches - Updated July 2026

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