Bonsai Kakigori

Where do I start? I wasn't expecting to find a shop in New York that sells kakigori exclusively - after recently having learned more about the Japanese dessert, I was dying to try it out; much to my surprise, I stumbled across Bonsai Kakigori's Instagram page, which was full of colorful and enticing photos. I decided to make the trek there from New Jersey, and boy am I glad I did. The shaved ice alone was worth the trip! Unlike snow cones, which are crunchy in texture, the kakigori I had was very soft - almost like eating snow, and surprisingly not quick to melt! My kakigori were served in a wooden bowl and were both quite large; for $7 each plus tax, the portion was generous and the shaved ice was both layered and topped with flavorings, which was great because each bite was full of flavor as I made my way down to the bottom (as opposed to having just a dollop of whipped cream sitting on the mountaintop with plain ice underneath). I had two kinds while I was there - the coconut lime crunch and the mango & ginger, both which were delicious yet incredibly different. The coconut lime crunch was both creamy and light, with a subtle kick of lime zest throughout, while the mango and ginger was bursting with a refreshing mango flavor and interspersed with delightful candied ginger crunchies (definitely a great summertime flavor, but I enjoyed both flavors very much despite it being so cold outside!). The shop is nestled indoors at the Canal Street Market, sharing space with other eateries and vendors; there isn't a seating area at the shop, but there is plenty of counter space for those who don't mind standing by and eating their treats (plus, it is pretty fascinating being able to sneak a peek at how the kakigori is made, while you eat!). The person who waited on my friend and I (who I believe is one of the owners) was also extremely kind and down-to-earth, taking time to chat with us and adding positive vibes to what was already a fantastic first impression. All in all, I cannot say enough good things about this place. From the stellar customer service to the excellent quality of the desserts (did I mention the toppings are homemade, too?), I ache for the chance to go back and have been telling everyone I know about it. If you get the chance to go, I highly recommend it!