This review is late and this incident happened a few months ago, but I can't stop thinking about it. I stopped by Somisomi pretty late, almost at closing, but people were still coming in at that time. While staff were tidying up, the guy working on my taiyaki caught my attention -- he was on the heavier side, with long, unkempt hair. Honestly, I could barely see his face. He was wearing gloves to handle my food, but while my taiyaki was cooking, I watched him wheel a trash cart and use the SAME GLOVES to pick up my taiyaki. That was so unbelievably gross and unhygienic. I was exhausted that night so I didn't bother saying anything, but I could tell he looked miserable and totally uninterested in doing things right. It seemed like he hated being there. It's super unprofessional to touch non-food items (especially something that holds trash) and then handle food with the same gloves. That crosses a line in basic hygiene. I wanted to file a complaint with Orange County's Environmental Health Division because of this. Seriously, such terrible handling. Ugh. read more

A very convenient location at Irvine Spectrum. It's located near Shake Shack and there are only a few outdoor tables available. There is usually a short line and you order off of a kiosk. They now offer black sesame custard and matcha custard. We ordered a milk tea upside down ah boong with regular custard. They have a variety of flavors and toppings available. Ours was ready almost instantly and the flavor was very good. The tea flavor was not too strong and the ice cream was very smooth. read more

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While walking around the mall, we stumbled onto Somisomi. It's down a short alleyway so it hard to see from the main walkways. Grab a snack there. It's ice cream in a fish-shaped waffle cone. There's additional toppings. What I like when eating is the outer crunch of the waffle and hot fillings. I especially like the custard. Service is quick. There is a bench inside and a few small tables and chairs outside. read more

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Love somi! Their ice cream is so smooth, creamy and flavors are delicious! Their waffles are fresh and light and crispy! They are generous with their fillings also! Definitely one of my OC faves!! read more

I looove SomiSomi! Affordable, lots of options, and authentic Asian flavors like ube and black sesame, which taste amazing. There is usually a line out the door, but the service kiosk and quick staff make it easy to get in and out quickly, so it never takes too long. The store itself is little but lovely and lively, and is set up so you order at a kiosk, and then wait by the counter. You can watch them make your treat and take a look at the toppings while you wait. I also love that you choose your toppings at the end with no extra charge. I'll be going back for sure. read more

Somisomi - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

I love SomiSomi. It's one of my fave places to treat myself! After a couple of times of getting the ah boong and having the ice cream melt and make a mess, I finally learned to get the upside-down ah boong - you still get the waffle with a filling but the the ice cream nicely contained in a cup. Soft server flavors rotate, as do fillings. I've liked all the flavors I've tried - milk, ube, matcha, black sesame, cookies n cream and banana milk. They also offer swirls, but those are limited to whatever flavors share the same dispenser. Love the Nutella, custard and ube fillings. Have yet to try red bean. Once your order is ready, you can choose your toppings - like Oreo crumbs, Fruity Pebbles, graham cracker crumbs and so much more. You order from the kiosk and then your order is done pretty quickly (at least the times I've been here - I've never been when it's really busy). There are tables outside where you can sit and enjoy your dessert. read more

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Came here with my cousins on a Sunday night. The line was going out the door but the service was pretty quick. Although it was busy, it would've been nice to be acknowledged by the staff and if they made themselves more available to answer any questions I had about the flavors. There's no seating inside, but there is plenty of space outside to sit and hang out. I got the ube soft serve with a custard filled waffle. The ube was so tasty and sweet! It was definitely a favorite amongst the family. I'd love to come back and try the other flavors soon. read more

Somisomi - Ube soft serve - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

Who doesn't love a sweet treat! Somisomi is a bit overhyped in my opinion, but it's good! Soft serve is very average, but they do have some fun flavors. My favorite is their taiyaki - it's always fresh and crispy! Except the ones added to the soft serve.. to my disappointment. I get it though - hot pastry on top of soft serve is not the best idea. read more

Somisomi - Front: taro taiyaki with strawberry matcha swirl - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

Each location I've been to is consistent. I ordered the cookies n cream ice cream with custard filling and got cocoa pebbles

This SomiSomi is located in the Irvine Spectrum. It was a bit difficult to find at night since it's a bit out of the way; however, it was definitely worth it. I visited on a Saturday night so it was very busy inside. Despite the long line, the service was very quick. I ordered inside the store through a kiosk, and waited for my order outside since I didn't get any ice cream. The store itself is a bit small, so they try to get non-ice cream orders to wait elsewhere to save space. I ordered five taiyaki in total: one with Nutella, one with taro, one with Oreo, and two with custard. The Nutella one was very sweet, but everything else was just right. Sometimes the taiyaki can get a little burnt on the edges, but it was cooked perfectly this time. The mochi dough was chewy and complemented the filling extremely nicely. Overall, this SomiSomi location is much better than others I've been to. They have a lot of workers so the wait is never longer than a few minutes, regardless of how busy it is. Plus, the taiyaki here is amazing and I would definitely recommend it! read more

Somisomi - taiyaki - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

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As I have to venture out to get Somisomi now (RIP the Arcadia mall location), I always try to get some when there's a unique swirl flavor out. Seeing that they had sweet corn (something that I've never seen a soft serve of before), I had to stop by as we were already at the Irvine Spectrum. At around late 9 PM, there was quite a long line outside (most things close around 10 PM but they're open until 11 PM), but it moved fairly quickly with the ordering on the 2 touch screen kiosks that they had. I got the upside down taiyaki with the cookies and cream and sweet corn swirl, black sesame filling and a macaron as a topping. Literally less than 5 seconds after I put in my order it came out, which is INSANE. I've never seen such a quick turnaround time, but I guess that efficiency makes sense with the crowds that they get. The taiyaki was not crunchy or crisp in the slightest and was soft and a bit undercooked. Soft serve melted super quick despite it not being a hot night. Tasted mostly sweet corn (which was good), but nothing much of the cookies and cream. Black sesame was plentiful and was a yummy balance to the sweetness. And of course, their spoons are always cute. Not the best Somisomi out there, but it did the job. read more

Came here after wanting something sweet from lunch so I ordered the strawberry ice cream very good creamy not sweet and we also ordered a chocolate and vanilla, which was also very good read more

This is our go to spot to take visitors from out of town or whenever we are at the mall honestly lol I'm not a big sweets person and this is the perfect amount of "not too sweet". One order is usually plenty for my wife and I to share. read more

Somisomi - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

I haven't been to this location in a long time, but I used to frequent Somi Somi. My usual order is the ahbong upside down, but I got the taiyakis last night. I had 2 taiyakis: nutella & custard. I also like the oreo taiyaki. I don't really like the other flavors. read more

Thus is a great place when you're looking for a sweet treat that isn't too filling. The flavor options change regularly - so there's always something new to discover. They don't offer sample tastes, but the friendly staff can talk you through the options. There's limited searung inside. It's fun to bring your treat outside to enjoy. read more

Somisomi - I prefer to order my treat upside down so I can enjoy every bit & reduce drips. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

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Very disappointing experience at Somi Somi - Irvine Spectrum. We brought friends from another city who were visiting with two kids, and we had promised the children ice cream from Somi Somi. We arrived about 20 minutes before the posted closing time on Google, and the line was very short. Despite this, the staff refused to serve us. They could have easily served the remaining customers in line, especially considering two kids were waiting, but they chose not to. It felt very clear that the staff simply wanted to close earlier than the advertised time and leave. If the store plans to stop serving earlier than the posted hours, that should be clearly communicated so customers don't waste their time and effort. We drove all the way from another location just for this, and the experience was extremely frustrating. I'm writing this review to let others know that if you're planning to come anywhere close to closing time, don't bother. The ice cream itself is good, but customer service and customer experience matter, and unfortunately this location failed badly in that regard. read more

I loved it was my first time trying and it was so good! I'm happy that it has lactose free options! It's a card only payment I wanted to pay with cash but there was no cashier when I went to pay. Still very good! read more

Best soft serve ice cream that I have ever tasted. Also, the workers will give you the ice cream SUPER quick! I recommend going here!

I've always heard about this place, so I wanted to give it a try to know what the buzz was about! It is unfortunately pretty small in space so there isn't seating inside. While there are a few chairs outside, it's likely to be taken. Regardless, it's Spectrum so you're bound to find a spot to sit down nearby if needed even if it's just a little bit of a walk away! I ordered the oreo-flavored soft serve with nutella-filled taiyaki. The price was okay and expected for ice cream at Spectrum. The soft serve itself was also alright overall. Nothing particularly special, in my opinion. It tasted more like a plain chocolate flavor than particularly oreo-flavored. I'm also not sure how much nutella is usually supposed to be in the taiyaki, but there was barely any in mine, so it tasted pretty plain to me. That's the main thing I was looking forward to so that was pretty disappointing. I did want to give stars to note the service and the hours for sure. The kiosks were super easy to use and this shop was one of the only dessert places open at the hour we went which I appreciated! And the line wasn't too long at all. My overall experience was okay. I'm not sure if this is a place I would be eager to come back to! But I might just want to try the taiyaki by itself at some point in hopes of more filling! read more

Somisomi - oreo soft serve with nutella filled taiyaki - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

What a treat! I took my son here on a weekday later morning and we both loved it. We walked over to the ordering kiosks and placed our order for ah boong, red bean, and ube, with oreo crumbs, graham cracker crumbs, and fruity pebbles and toppings (gotta love the mind of a kid). I've been to a few places in Spectrum that have these kiosks and at first didn't like them, but after bringing my kid and seeing the indecisiveness as he scrolled through the menu a few times, I get it. I love how we can see everything made in front of us. The smell of the batter cooking is intoxicating. The person working the counter was really friendly too and indulged me kid in his many questions and requests. The soft serve was amazing. Great crunch from the toppings, wonderful ube flavor (though it could be a little stronger), and I especially enjoyed the warm "cone" and red bean. Such varied flavors, textures, and temperatures. Definitely a fan! read more

Oh my. I'm glad this place is far from me, otherwise, I'd be here every day. The soft serve is absolutely delicious, especially the matcha filling--it's incredibly tasty. The service was super fast; I placed my order and had it in less than 30 seconds. Seriously, try this place if you're in the area. read more

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Ahhhhh!! Another super yummy ice cream spot that I #LOVE!! This location specifically at Irvine Spectrum is my favorite location because of the staff and the vibes. You have the choice to order on the kiosk, or the register, and the service is INSANELY quick. Sometimes I would order on the kiosk, and my ice cream would literally be out the SECOND that I finish pressing the pay button. The employees are very kind with the toppings and the portions, and personally I find it hilarious whenever they call out customers' names in sync so it's a lot louder. The ice cream itself is very smooth, not too sweet (which I LOVE), and the swirls are (generally) very pretty. My favorite flavor is the Ube ice cream. You can never go wrong with it. Also the taiyakis are soooo good,,, make sure you eat it right after you receive it so you can taste the sweet crunch on the outside, along with the soft and warm filling of your choice in the inside in the fish. The inside of the store is not too big, but there's seats outside so that's perfect. Overall, great dessert spot for a casual hangout with friends. Love you somi somi read more

I ordered 1 black sesame, 1 matcha custard, 2 cheddar cheese, and 1 custard. The taiyaki were warm and tasted good at first. However, when I brought a custard and cheddar home for my daughter, she bit into one and found a thin metal wire inside. Thankfully, she didn't swallow it or cut her mouth, but it was a very dangerous situation. She had to throw the rest away. This was extremely disappointing and concerning -- something like this should never happen with food. It made me question the safety and cleanliness of their preparation process, possibly from a cleaning brush or other equipment. read more

Somisomi - Zoom in to see the thin metal wire. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

The soft serve is super creamy and it's even better with the warm fish bun! Highly recommend especially if you've never had Japanese soft serve. read more

Somi somi is always and excellent choice for dessert at the Spectrum! Especially after some great ramen at Silverlake next door. The Ah Bongs are my daughters favorite with fillings like nutella, red bean, custard and more on top of a soft serve ice cream. Today she got the matcha and milk swirl with a nutella filled fish. It was delicious as always! They used to take your order at the end of the counter but recently installed self ordering kiosks. The staff are pretty friendly when you do receive your order and it comes out pretty quickly. Overall the nutella Tayaki are always my go to and my husband loves the cheddar. read more

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This is a nice place to go get soft serve and the strawberry milk was very good and creamy. There was a pretty long line and it's quite small. Not a lot of room to sit outside since it was next to Shake shack read more

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We got matcha "upside down" and everyone gobbled it up and wanted more. Great little place but be warned - barely any seating.

First time here!! Can you believe it?? anyways I like they have self check out kiosks so we don't have to hold a worker and make them wait for my order. Kids loved it!! I loved my cold brew coffee! Place was clean and had lots of chairs outside for you to seat and enjoy. Will come back! read more

Somisomi - Upside downs - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

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If I had a favorite dessert, my all time fave is ice cream, specifically chocolate at somi-somi. The first time I experienced taiyaki and ice cream was in Japan. So when I saw this open a few years back I had to try it. Since then I've been addicted. There's other somisomi's I've visited but this one consistently has chocolate flavor on the rotation. I get Ah-Bong, with Nutella filling, chocolate soft serve, and fruity pebbles sprinkled on top. They have a variety of flavors, fillings, toppings, and other yummy things. Great spot for dessert or a snack! read more

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1st timer here at this Irvine Spectrum location. Came on a Saturday around 7 pm for dessert after dinner at a restaurant in the center. There wasn't much a line til after I got there. Thank goodness, we beat the rush. There's not much seatings inside the SomiSomi shop but there was a few tables and chairs outside the store along w Thru out Irvine center. Due to it being on a Saturday and busy hour. The service was still great & decent turn around time. Ordered a Soft Serve in a cup, Ahboong original & Nutella filled Taiyaki was all yum & satisfying. Ice cream is creamy and not overly sweet. Taiyaki is good, warm & Crunchy. Ice cream shop wall decor had cute sayings along with it being yellow, their main color. Definitely recommended. Sometimes Loving their weeks swirls. Unique flavors of soft serve. Lots of Parking throughout the center from regular parking, valet or parking structure. read more

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First time trying it and wow it was amazing. The soft serve is as good as you can get. Add to it the homemade soft waffle cone shaped like a fish with an open mouth line with Nutella and you'll be in heaven. Must try when you are in Irvine! read more

This location is great!! The worker Joseph always provides the best service and is quick to our order. He make sure everything is good and organized!! The ice cream is super creamy and flavorful! read more

This has been one of my son's favorite places to get desserts, but I didn't catch on to it until recently. I've always avoided it as I had a misconception of it being too sweet, 'til one day I was craving some matcha/vanilla soft serve that I discovered during our trip to SF. I was too lazy to drive to Garden Grove, where Matcha Cafe Maiko is located, so this was the closest alternative. They have several matcha flavor selections: PLAIN MATCHA, MATCHA/GUAVA, and MATACHA/UBE. I've tried all three, but my favorite is the Matcha/Ube. They make theirs a little sweeter than Matcha Cafe Maiko, but it is tolerable and a great option than to drive 35 miles to Garden Grove. My kids also love their TAIYAKI's, which is a Japanese fish-shaped baked cake with a texture similar to mochi, with a filling of your choice. We've tried the TARO, NUTELLA, and CUSTARD. So far, the Nutella is the family favorite. These things are deadly! It's such a delightful dessert paired perfectly with their soft serve ice cream. They make it fresh upon order, and it comes out piping hot. They have two locations in Irvine, and many others in OC. This branch is always busy with long lines out the door, but it's far better than the one located in Diamond Jamboree. The servers at this location are fast, helpful, and friendly. So, even though the line can be discouraging, rest assured that it goes by fast. Overall, Somi-Somi has been a family favorite to grab some delicious tasting desserts and a good alternative for matcha soft serve ice cream. read more

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Sometimes you just need to have the soft serve by itself and let it shine. My absolute favorite flavor is their ube. It's the perfect amount of sweetness, dense, and creamy. It's our dessert must have when we visit the Spectrum. read more

Somisomi - Ube with toasted coconut - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

I didn't even know about this place lol, my daughter and her friend were with us and they wanted me to try it. The cashier is quick taking people's orders. And the orders are ready quickly. Their ice cream is delicious, it does not feel like regular ice cream when you bite into it, it is way better. My favorite thing though, was the fish-shaped waffle thing, that was absolutely amazing! Lol read more

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This place is always packed but worth the long lines. I wish they would bring back the chocolate ice cream. read more

Somisomi - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

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The service is non-existent. People usually on their phones, orders take long, and there is no connection with the employees. The value is decent if you ordering the taiyaki packs but I'm not sure if it worth the ice cream combo. It tastes good and is a cute photo, but I wouldn't do it again. There aren't many places to sit since there is construction and it's off to a corner, but I'm sure there will be once shake shack opens. (This doesn't affect my rating). If the service was better, I would've rated it a 3, maybe a 4. But I much rather get taiyaki from the Diamond Jamboree location, maybe even from Sul and Bean. read more

Somisomi - My friends striking a pose - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

Are you kidding me? Here has the best ice cream and fillings in the world! I am not ice cream fan in general but this place gives me a pleasure that I can't describe. If you're having a bad day, treat yourself one of their goodies. Although their store is tiny, it has a great space. Thank you Somi Somi. read more

Love somisomi, always great flavors that taste fresh. Very fast and kind service. Love that i can ordered on my phone and received text updates for the order read more

Somisomi - taiyaki icecream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California

This was a quick stop while visiting the Irvine spectrum! With serval different options it's hard to pick just one! Ultimately ended with the matcha and strawberry twist which was nice! Not too sweet. I'd definitely come back and try their ube flavor. read more

Somisomi - Strawberry + Matcha twist - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Irvine, California