Sheraton Tribeca, Executive Lounge

I live in New York now, so why am I reviewing a hotel there?  Well, due to a conference getting cancelled at last minute (!), I wound up not using a high value free night award that comes with my credit card, so I decided to do a little staycation before it expired.  But in NYC, nearly every full service hotel has a daily amenity/destination/resort fee.  I didn't want to actually *pay* to utilize my free night, even if some of those come with a F&B credit that sorta makes up for it.  This left with me with only two options in all of Manhattan, besides Residence Inn/Fairfield Inn/etc level hotels: The Renaissance Midtown (which I've stayed at and reviewed before) and the Sheraton Tribeca.  Given that I didn't care for the Renaissance, and the fact that the Sheraton just completed a full renovation a few months prior, it seemed like the right choice.  

I did partially pick this for the Club Lounge, a rare thing in the city.  I visited both at night for the evening offerings, and in the morning for breakfast.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served 6:30-9am M-F and 7-10am on weekends.  The 9am stop seemed a bit early, particularly for those coming in from other timezones, but still nice to see they served 7 days a week, as many places have dropped weekends.

The lineup is your standard continental offering plus a couple hot items.  The single coffee machine was in high demand.

Fruit and Yogurt.

The yogurt was little pots of an off-brand (Upstate Farms), and the fruit was melons/grapes/pineapple only, no berries.  I'm allergic to melons so I had to avoid this.  The yogurt was just sitting on the counter like this, not kept cold, which was ... a choice.  They had plain, vanilla, and one fruity flavor.

Breads.

White or wheat bread, several kinds of bagels, and English muffins for toasting.

Condiments.

Generic packets of jelly, butter, and cream cheese, plus randomly some packaged room temp Belgian waffles were up top.

Pastries.

Below were generic pastries, all croissants/danishes, no scones nor muffins.

I first tried the almond croissant.  It was exceptionally dry and stale tasting.  The filling was even dry, not like a usual moist paste. 1/5.

Pecan Swirl.

I stopped back by the lounge to get more coffee 2 hours later, and they were cleaning up post-breakfast, but still had the pastries remaining.  I couldn't help grab another, this time, the pecan swirl.  The pastry was again very dry and not fresh tasting.  The bits of pecan were fine, the sticky topping was ok, sorta sticky bun inspired, but it mostly made me want it to actually be a sticky bun.  1.5/5.

Pain au Chocolat.

I was really, really craving chocolate.  I always have chocolate in the morning with my coffee, and although I brought some with me, I didn't bring enough.  I was really craving chocolate, so once breakfast was long over, and there was still a pain au chocolat sitting there, I grabbed it, not for the pastry that I knew at that point would be dry and stale, but for the filling.

Alas, even the filling let me down.  Instead of the usual bars of chocolate, this was actually a very thin layer of chocolate paste.  Barely any inside, just two thin strips of the paste.  Not chocolate.  Boo.  1/5.

Cereal.

Cereal rounded out the cold lineup, with Cheerios, granola, and what looked like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  I had the granola, it was fine, with raisins, but not a style I really like.

Juice & Oatmeal.

I tried the oatmeal, it was very thick, and not cooked very well. 2/5.  Toppings were things like cinnamon, coconut, sliced nuts, dried fruit.  No chocolate chips.

Scrambled Eggs.

The hot food was super basic, starting with scrambled eggs.  Clearly powdered style, dry, no real flavor to them. 1/5.

Bacon.

Bacon came next, I didn't try it.

Sausage.

The final hot offering was sausage links.  Not labelled, but I assume pork.  They had a nice snap, and decent maple flavor, but were clearly very low quality ultra processed meat, as they didn't taste like actual meat. 2/5.

There were no warm vegetables, pancakes, etc.

Evening Drinks & Snacks

It is notable that the Sheraton does offer complimentary drinks, including alcohol, and snacks, every night from 5:30-7:30pm.  Most Manhattan properties 1) don't have alcohol and 2) don't serve on weekends.  That said, this isn't a particularly compelling offering.

Soft Drinks.

All day long there is a fridge stocked with bottles of water, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, ginger ale and Fanta.  The bottled water was nice at least, and they did have a tap with sparkling water.

Wine.

I was impressed they had more than just a single white and red to pick from, but instead had 2 reds, a white (chardonnay), and a rose.  Unfortunately, neither of the reds I tried was good (they are in the $5-7/bottle range).

Gato Negro Red Blend:  This tastes like children's grape juice.  Not wine.  Grape juice.

Harthill Farms Cabernet Sauvignon: This was at least wine-like, but super harsh and acidic.

I wasn't quite sure if I was supposed to serve myself or not, but the staff member didn't seem to mind that I did.

Beer.

They also had two kinds of beer.  Likely a safer choice if you like beer.  They seemed ok with people walking out with the beer.

Veggies / Cheese / etc.

A pretty generic lineup of carrots/celery/tomatoes, one kind of meat, 3 kinds of cheese cubes, tortilla chips, and several dips (hummus, ranch, guac).  Strangely no salsa.

I tried the veggies, they were fine. Crisp. 3/5.

Mozzarella sticks.

The hot foods weren't labelled, but these were mozzarella sticks.  Soggy.  Barely warm.  No dipping sauce available. 2/5.

Spring Rolls / Dumplings.

Since they weren't labelled, I wasn't sure what to expect inside, but the spring rolls turned out to be veggie, the dumplings ... mystery meat.  Perhaps chicken?

The spring rolls were even soggier than the mozzarella sticks, and had mushy insides.  2/5.  The dumpling wrappers were ok, but some were really dried out.  2.5/5.  They did have sweet chili sauce to dunk these in, but no soy sauce.

Everything seemed microwaved perhaps.  Not high quality.

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Burmese Bites

Burmese is not a cuisine I know well at all.  It is obviously not nearly as common as other Southeast Asian cuisine, so I don't just stumble upon it, and haven't had any natural exposure to it. At some point early on while living in San Francisco, I definitely went to Burma Superstar for the famous tea leaf salad as that is a thing people did, and later on I did pick up a few togo salads and sandwiches from Burma Love at the airport (which I reviewed), but that is likely all the Burmese food I have had. I haven't ever actively sought it out.

And then, it came to me.  My office has a program where they bring in outside food popups for a 3 day run, and there was much buzz and excitement when the vendor of the week was listed: Burmese Bites.

"Discover the vibrant flavors of Burma at Burmese Bites in Astoria, NY. Our authentic menu boasts a selection of traditional dishes, expertly crafted to bring the tastes of Burma right to your doorstep. From aromatic curries to savory noodles, enjoy the rich culinary heritage of Burma with every bite."

My understanding from talking with co-workers, and reading a bit online, is that Burmese Bites was a fixture at the Queens night market, super popular, delicious, etc, and then they stopped attending and were able to open a brick and mortar this past July.   It too, seems well loved.  

Given the acclaim, and the fact that it was a cuisine I knew little about and would love to learn more, I quickly moved my meeting schedule around to carve off time to be at the popup as close to opening as possible (because, zomg, lines).  I managed to visit every day they were there to try several dishes. 

I liked what I had, but the limited menu served at our event was not items I would ever normally select, so I'd really like to try again with a different selection.

Menu.

Our menu had three entree choices, two chicken, one vegetarian:

• Coconut Ramen
• Nan Gyi Kaukswe Thoke
• Vegetable Dum Pot

The two chicken dishes had noodles (different kinds) and the vegetarian dish came over rice.

Noodles/rice.

They had a very efficient setup, with one staff member plating up the two kinds of noodles or rice in batches.

Mains.

Then the mains were added on top by another worker when you ordered.

Toppings.

And finally, the garnishes applied by a third.

Chilis!

I loved that they had some legit red chilis for us to apply ourselves to get the desired spice level.

Nan Gyi Kaukswe Thoke 
Burmese Udon Noodle Salad. $16.

"Thick rice noodles in chicken meat sauce, garnished with roasted bean powder, onion, cilantro, lime, hard-boiled egg, and chili powder."

The first time, I went for the nan gyi kaukswe thoke, or "the chicken noodles" as the staff called it.  Yes, I picked this even though I don't really like udon and definitely don't like chicken.  But I wasn't feeling the rice as the base of the veggie dish, and logistically I didn't want to deal with messier/harder to transport ramen (that also had chicken).

I did like this, but certainly would have preferred another protein.  The noodles were well cooked, not too soft, not mushy, not clumped together.  The chicken meat sauce was really quite flavorful, although yes, chicken.  Besides the chicken flavor though, I liked the depth to it. Once stirred together, it coated the noodles really well.  The red onion was raw, but somehow wasn't harsh.  I opted for no cilantro.

The egg was ok but not great.  The white part was perfect, not rubbery, but inside was really too firm, kinda gray, and was strongly flavored.  

Overall, a comforting dish, and one I'd get again ... with a different protein if given the option.  3/5 for my preferences, but it really was better than that.  My favorite of the dishes I tried.

Ohno Kaukswe / coconut chicken noodle soup
/ Burmese coconut ramen

"Wheat noodles in thick chicken broth cooked in coconut milk, topped with shredded onion, hard boiled egg, chopped cilantro. A wedge of lime and chili flakes are optional but highly recommended."

I was very excited the next day to get the “chicken soup”, even though that’s the last thing you’d ever normally find me ordering. I read a ton of reviews about Burmese Bites after my visit the first day, and this dish seemed universally loved (which also probably explains why everyone ahead of me in line both days was getting it), but most importantly to me, people compared it to khao soi. I fell in love with khao soi the first time I had it, so this sounded amazing to me.

Sadly, I didn’t end up liking it. It had the same ground chicken topping as the noodle salad, that I almost like (but, gah, chicken!), but it also had broth that also was chicken. Yes, slightly masked by coconut, but, it was chicken. I did not care for it. The noodles and toppings were the same (I forgot to ask for no cilantro).

2/5 for me on taste, but there was nothing wrong with this.

Vegetable Dum Pot (no rice).

"Basmati rice, mixed veggies and biryani spices."

The final day I got the vegetarian option.  This is supposed to be Burmese Biryani, but I got it without the rice, as I just wanted the veggies.  At the restaurant, this is also available with chicken, beef, or goat.

It was basically a gloopy stew.  I'm sure it eats very differently over rice, so some of this is my fault.  But the gloop just wasn't very enjoyable, and the flavors aren't ones I generally like either (cloves, cumin, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon in savory food).  The veggies (huge hunks of cauliflower, some cabbage, carrot coins, eggplant) were all fine, not too mushy.

So sadly another 2/5 for me, but again, I omitted the rice, and I don't like these spices in general.

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Orion Turtle Chips

As you know, I love snacks.  Even better is snacks from other countries.  And best yet, snacks with interesting flavors.  Which gets us to Orion, a South Korean brand, one of the top manufacturers in the country.

Orion makes Orion a variety of items, like biscuits, cookies, pies, crackers, chips, chocolate, gum, and candy.  If you don't recognize the Orion name, you may know one of its products: Choco Pie, its top seller that has been around since 1974.

"Turtle Chips are characterized by rich texture and double flavor because they create the feeling of eating several chips with only one bite. When you slowly chew your sweets, it maximizes crispiness in your mouth and the resembling turtles are also the alluring features of Turtle Chips."

The largest of their chip lines is the kkobuk chips, or "turtle chips".  The name of the chip comes from the shape, that somewhat resembles a turtle shell.  The come in many flavors, both savory and sweet.  On the savory side, flavors include truffle, corn soup, shrimp, crunch cheese, flamin lime, onion, nutty bean, and seaweed. For sweet, there is vanilla, sweet soybean, cinnamon, and choco churro.  I've tried every flavor I could get my hands on.

Update Review, October 2026

Flamin' Lime.

“Four-layer corn crisps covered with a hot and tangy blend of red chili peppers and lime. Named for their turtle shell shape, these richly textured multi-layer chips create the experience of eating four flaming-hot chips at once with every fiery, crunchy bite.”

These are definitely not a flavor I’d ever pick.  I do like spicy, but I don’t care for lime, and don’t care for Mexican flavors, as these seemed inspired by.  But when they had them stocked in my office ... of course I tried them.

They were zesty, they had salsa sort of flavors going on with tomatoes and chiles, and they tasted a bit like flavored tortilla chips ... just, not what I really care for.

But … I still adored the actual form factor of them, they were sooo snackable, I loved how they dissolved in my mouth, and I really truly wanted to appreciate the salsa-eque thing going on, I just didn’t.  So 4/5 on form factor, texture, fun, but 3/5 for me due to the flavor.

Update Review, May 2025

Truffle.

"Truffle is one of the most expensive foods you can buy. It is scarce to produce, seasonal, extremely difficult to grow and take many years to cultivate. Truffles provide oaky, nutty and earthy, sweet and juicy aroma which you can't taste from any other food. Transforming this unique and delicate truffle flavor into delightful crunchy bags of chips is ultimately amazing! Layers of crispiness and truffle flavor goodness leave a mark in your heart leaving you craving for another bite, and another, and another!"

This was my first time trying a savory flavor of turtle chip.  I started off my savory journey at the top: truffle!

Well, sorta savory that is.  My first bite left me a bit confused.  As always I absolutely adored the turtle chip form factor: light, airy, crispy, so many layers, zomg, why aren't all snack foods turtle chips?  But the flavor was very confusing.  I did taste the truffle salt.  I also tasted a ton of other savory elements: potato powder, onion powder, sour cream powder, butter powder, oregano, basil, parsley, they all did their job of creating quite a complex mix of flavors.  But those were only about half the ingredients.  There was also sugar.  And fructose.  And stevia.  And molasses powder.  And aspartame.  Yup, um, every common sweetening agent was also in here.  So they were savory, but very sweet, and not in a kettle corn way.

I loved the turtle form.  I really like the first hit of truffle.  I think I liked the other savory flavors, although they did seem a bit muddled.  But ... my brain didn't love the sweetness mixed in there, which is odd, given that I really do generally like sweet and savory mixes.  

I still enjoyed my bag, and certainly wouldn't give up even a single chip, but I'd move on to another flavor in the future.  3.5/5.

Flaming Mala.

"Experience the unique flavor of South Korea's Turtle Chips Mala. Made from a special blend of spices, this classic snack will delight your taste buds with its bold flavor. "

Wow.  Wow, wow, wow.

I finally really, truly understand what mala is all about.

But let me back up.  Another savory flavor, and one I expected to bring some heat.  After all, they are named "flaming" mala, AND the bag has a big "OMG!! HOT!" right on it.  I proceeded carefully.  I took a small handful, and was slightly surprised by the fact that they didn't seem particularly spicy.  The flavor was remarkably complex, and hard to nail down exactly, but, spicy or hot weren't really the words that came to mind.  I really liked the fascinating flavor, and of course *adored* the form factor (so light! so crispy! zomg, layers!), but I was thinking, "eh, these aren't very spicy."  I had more and more and more.  Because, that form factor is just so addicting.

And then a few minutes passed.  And I realized my entire mouth, and in particular my tongue, were sorta numb and tingling.  And that tingle lingered.    

Well, huh.  Yeah, ok, *that* is mala.  The ingredients list is pretty long, and somewhat explains the complexity of flavor, as there is just so much going on - "mala chilli seasoning" to start, and "umami powder", onion powder, garlic powder, shrimp powder, soy sauce, black pepper, salt, paprika, yeast extract, red pepper paste, white vinegar, gouda cheese powder, and so much more.  I can safely say that I didn't expect gouda cheese to be in that list!  Nor shrimp powder really, but yeah, so much complex savory tastes in there, and many strong ones at that (e.g. soy sauce, vinegar, red pepper).  The chips do have a sweetness to them too though, with with sugar, sucrose, fructose, and aspartame all in the mix too.  As I said, complex, fascinating, and indeed, tingling.  Mala.

And yes, these were gone far too fast.  4/5.

Sweet Corn.

"The lightly sweet, savory, and creamy corn soup taste."

Although these are called "sweet corn", they really are corn soup flavor, which is a bit more specific of a flavor, and one I'm familiar with due to other Asian snack foods (e.g. YBC Aerial corn potage very similar chips from Japan, or the corn potage flavor of Umaibo, also from Japan).  While I've enjoyed other sweet corn snacks, these were actually my favorites so far, as the flavor wasn't quite as strong in that niche potage department.  But still quite pronounced, most definitely sweet corn.

As always, I adored the form factor.  The Aerial snacks look nearly identical, but Turtle Chips really just get the layers, the airiness, the crunch perfect.  Absolutely nothing to change about the form factor, they are so crispy, so crunchy, yet they melt in your mouth, and break apart in the most addicting way ... swoon.  <3 these things in general.

The corn flavor is one you need to be in the mood for, but when you are, it is enjoyable.  Low 4/5 just because it isn't a flavor I find myself always wanting.

Original Review, February 2023

I got these on a whim from a Korean grocery store in San Francisco (along with the Honey Butter Chips), and I'm glad I did.  They were incredible.  I'd get them again in a heartbeat, and would love to try more flavors, but alas, they only had one.

Choco Churro.

"This snack, composed of four crunchy layers, harmonizes and blends in the flavor of Choco Churros."

Ok, these are wild.  I sorta thought I knew what to expect, but it turns out, I really did not.  

The form factor truly is unlike anything else I've seen, with the signature four layers.  The eating experience of these is fantastic.  Just as they say, it really does give you the sensation of eating several chips in a single bite.  They are perfectly crisp, and certainly addicting just based on the shape.

And then there is the taste.  This is where I was even more thrown off, as I was expecting a strong cinnamon component, per the churro name.  There was cinnamon, but really not much of it.  For me, this was a good thing, as I like cinnamon, but, cinnamon and chocolate aren't a magical combination for me.  The pieces did have a great chocolate flavor, a deep cocoa, and additional sugar coating that made them sorta lightly glazed.  Sweet and chocolately, with just a hint of cinnamon.  

The flavor reminded me of unhealthy children's breakfast cereals, but the form was more of a snack, or even a dessert if you wanted to dunk them in whipped cream, which sounds like a wonderful idea to me.  Ok, honestly, I think I'd really enjoy them for breakfast too, and I think the nutrition stats really aren't any different from sugary chocolately breakfast cereals, but mine never lasted that long.

I really enjoyed these, and will get them again if I ever find them!  4/5.

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I'm Donut?

Yes it is called I'm Donut?  Yes, it opened in New York with a ton of hype, the first location outside of Japan (yes, it is from Japan and known around the world).  Oh, and they make not only sweet but also savory donuts, which of course garners even more attention (I'm talking scrambled eggs, honey, and tomato mayo in one, three cheese bechamel and anchovy in another ...).

I've had a lot of great donuts in my life (I have a label on my blog devoted to them after all), so I rolled my eyes at this place, and assumed I'd find it fairly boring.

I did not.

This is truly the most magical donut I've ever had.

"Get ready to try nama donuts - airy, melt-in-your-mouth delights that are soft and light. Our specialty dough and toppings are meticulously handmade on-site 
daily, for a donut you'll never forget."

Apparently "nama" means fresh or raw in Japanese, and they use it here to refer to the texture. Which sounds crazy, until you have it. I've never had anything like this before.  So fundamentally different than any other donut, yet clearly identifiable as a donut at the same time.  It confuses my brain to eat these, but I delight in every moment of it.

I'm Donut? Original. $3.98.

"Airy, melt-in-your-mouth nama donut."

Magic voodoo.  That is all that I can say after eating this donut.  They are doing magic voodoo with these donuts.  I don't understand how this texture is possible.  So fluffy.   So light.  So airy.  Not at all greasy or oily, but clearly fried not baked.  Not too sweet, even with the powdered sugar.  This is a donut that doesn't leave you feeling weighed down, and even makes you consider eating a second one with no regrets.

If you are curious, the answer has to do with their donut base that is a mix of Japanese flours, squash, and organic shortening.  And clearly some interesting technique.

I don't understand how a donut can be this good.  5/5.  Stunned.

Strawberry Chocolate Ring (Vegan). $6.98.

"Strawberry chocolate coated glazed donut, sprinkled with fruity strawberry flakes."

I was stunned by this donut.  A vegan one at that.  I originally took only half, but went back for the rest immediately.

The glaze on it was remarkable - so fruity, not too sweet, and somehow ... juicy.  Yes, this was a juicy donut. Like biting into a fresh juicy strawberry.  I don't know any other way to describe, as totally crazy as that sounds.  Fruity and juicy and delightful.  The donut underneath the glaze was light and fluffy, didn't taste like like oil, and certainly didn't have any strange vegan vibes.

Adored this.  4/5 or maybe higher.

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Cubby's

Cubby's is a fast casual burger join in Hell's Kitchen, that I never would have discovered if it wasn't for the summer of Paze*, but I'm so glad I did.  It is a unique setting, the quality seems high, and the staff were always friendly.

*If you are unfamiliar, Paze is a digital wallet system (like Paypal or Google Pay) that you can use to check out with some merchants.  In the summer of 2026, when they launched, they had a promotion with most major credit cards and banks to give you back a $10 credit, up to 10 times, per card/account, if you spent $10 and paid with Paze.  One of their launch partners was Clover, the company behind many restaurant POS systems, so if you ordered online through their Clover storefront, and paid with Paze, you got $10 free (over and over, again, 10 times per card/account).  Tax, tip, it all counts towards the $10, so you could get something <$10, and just tip up to the $10 to trigger the credit.  I love a freebie, and I love excuses to check out places that I wouldn't normally stumble into, so I used Clover and Paze to go on little missions every weekend, gettings $100s in free food along the way.

Exterior.

Cubby's is relatively easy to notice, with several signs advertising their offerings, and bright flags decorating the awning.

Counter Seating.

Inside is unique and charming, with games laid out on the counter to play, with everything from Uno to chess to even a mini pacman arcade game.  The stools and bar seating make it great for solo diners too, and they had a few small tables as well.

Ordering Area.

Orders are taken at a register in front, although I ordered online and just picked up from the same area.

The menu is mostly burgers, in many variations, plus close siblings like hot dogs and grilled cheese, along with fried sides, and ice cream/shakes.

Sides

The lineup of sides at Cubby's is great: fries (regular, seasoned 4 different ways, chili cheese'd, or even loaded with a chopped cheeseburger and sauces on top), sweet potato fries (again, 4 different seasoning options), tots (shaped like tetris pieces), or onion rings.

Sweet Potato Fries. $6.25.
(no pepper).

"Medium cut sweet potato fries seasoned with salt and pepper."

I adore sweet potato fries, and since moving to New York have been mourning the loss of my favorite sweet potato fries in San Francisco, so I've been trying them everywhere I go.  These were, hands down, the best I've had in New York.

They were a average size, not big and think like I really prefer, but they were crispy, and very well flavored.  Perfect salt level, not greasy.  You can also get them seasoned with old bay, cajun, or truffle seasoning for $1 more, but I opted for the basic experience this first time, although I asked for no pepper (they include S&P normally).

I really enjoyed these, and plan to get them again soon.  4/5.

Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries.  $7.25.
Cajun, no pepper.

My next visit, I got the sweet potato fries again, no pepper, but also added cajun seasoning for $1 more.

The cajun spice added a bit more flavor to them, but I wouldn't say there was all that much seasoning, and I don't think it necessarily added much.  Probably not worth the $1 extra, but it was fun to try. The fries themselves were just as before, nicely crispy, clearly fresh.  4/5.

Mizz Honey Mustard / Truffle Aioli / Black Pepper Aioli.
$0.90 each with fries / $1.14 separately.

I was really excited by Cubby's lineup of house made sauces, and ordered three to try with my fries.

Mizz Honey Mustard:

A very creamy style of honey mustard. I liked it; it wasn't too sweet or too mustardy, but you definitely have to want a creamy mayo version, not a mustard forward version.  This was very mayo.  Probably best for the burgers, less of what I wanted for my sweet potato fries. 3/5.

Truffle Aioli:

Nicely creamy, pretty good truffle flavor, nice aroma.   Definitely my favorite of the sauces.  4/5.

Black Pepper Aioli:

"Mayonnaise, black pepper, minced garlic."

This was fine, but really just mayo.  I didn't really taste garlic. The black pepper flecks were large, and did give some flavor, but not much beyond what you get with properly seasoned food in the first place.  It was fine mayo, but not something I'd order again unless I really wanted mayo with pepper in it for some reason. 3/5.

Mizz Honey Mustard / Wheely Sauce (BBQ).
$0.90 each with fries / $1.14 separately.

Even though I thought the honey mustard was too mayo-y last time, I still got it my second visit, as in my world, sweet potato fries need honey mustard.  I also tried the Wheely Sauce this time, their version of bbq.

Wheely Sauce (BBQ)

A decent bbq sauce.  A bit tangy, a bit sweet.  Not overly complex, no smokiness, but it was fine.  3/5.

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Mister Softee

Mister Softee.  An iconic brand you'd think I would have experienced before now, given that I adore soft serve ice cream.  And yet, although I had great brand awareness, I hadn't ever actually visited a Mister Softee truck before now.

"Mister Softee was founded by William Conway and James Conway in 1956 in Philadelphia and is one of the largest franchisers of soft ice cream in the United States, with about 350 franchisees operating 625 trucks in 18 states. The headquarters have been in Runnemede, New Jersey since 1958. It is still run by the Conway family, co-owned by cousins Jim Conway Jr. and John Conway."

Mister Softee trucks are ~everywhere in NYC, but the city also has so much actual premium high end specialty soft serve I've just never prioritize it, although I've walked by the trucks many, many times.  Also, I'll admit I've always thought they were overpriced for what is pretty basic ice cream at the end of the day.  They do NOT post their prices on the trucks (hello, tourist tax), but when I've stopped by to ask a few times I recall a basic cone being $6-8, which seems crazy to me.  They have just the basics: vanilla and chocolate soft serve (or twist), cup or cone (or double cone), and standard generic chocolate or cherry dip, sprinkles, and simple sauces for sundaes.  I think they only do a single size.  That is it.  Iconic, yes, premium, no.

Visit #1: Catered truck, June 2026

But ... they also do catering, and I attended an event with the Mister Softee truck for all attendees, so I seized the moment to finally get to try it.

Small Vanilla with Rainbow Sprinkles.

This was such a basic cone!  It wasn't made with any particular care, it was kinda small (although really the size was fine with me), the sprinkles weren't particularly well applied.  Basically, generic, you can get it anywhere, in terms of looks.

The taste was good, but again, pretty generic you can get it anywhere.  The base flavor was perhaps a bit vanilla, not too fake tasting, not too sweet, but definitely more akin to frosting flavor than a deep rich vanilla.  It was very creamy, perfect temperature and consistency, and melted beautifully.  Their machine is clearly well calibrated.  The sprinkles were standard sugar sprinkles, the cone a triangle shape cake cone (which is actually my favorite style - I grew out of sugar cones for the most part, but I get annoyed by the flat bases of standard cake cones).  Both were fresh though, no staleness detected.

I see this as what is probably a very reliable, basic cone.  It is good, there is nothing at all wrong with it, but it is not an interesting, unique, or premium product.  Certainly many steps above a fast food cone though.  High 3/5, maybe 3.5/5.

Visit #2: Citi Field Concession Stand, July 2026

About a month after my first time actually having Mister Softee, I found myself again at an event with their ice cream, this time, at Citi Field, where several of the concessions had their soft serve.  Since it was a special event, the menu was very basic: cups only (no cones), vanilla/chocolate/twist, sprinkles.  That's it.

I again really wanted to like Mister Softee more than I did.  It was a bit better than fast food soft serve, but, barely.  It is just a shame to eat this kind of soft serve in a city with such better soft serve. 

Twist w/ (Mets) Sprinkles.

Since I had a vanilla cone my first visit, this time I went for the twist, even though chocolate ice cream of any kind isn't my favorite.  I got the sprinkles of course, and they were Mets colors in honor of the venue.

I was not very into this.  As I sorta feared, the chocolate ice cream was a miss for me (it was fine, but just not my thing).  I really like my soft serve in a cone (unless being used as an a la mode component) and only bowls were available.

It was a nice consistency, and melted nicely, but I found myself less and less into it with every bite.  Very low 3/5, really probably 2.5.

Vanilla w/ (Mets) Sprinkles.

At the end of the event, I decided to give Mister Softee one more try, opting for vanilla only.  Of course with sprinkles, which were pretty meagerly applied.

I liked this more than the twist, but the ice cream flavor just wasn't particularly good, a bit sour.  The ice cream melted nicely, but it was less creamy and premium than really good soft serve.  Another very low 3/5, if that.

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MIXUE Ice Cream & Tea

Update Review: 2026 Visit, New York, New York

I'll always remember the first time I went to Mixue.  It was in Sydney (in 2023, see my original review blow), and the idea of a $1 soft serve cone, even all those years ago, was wild to me.  AND it was decent?  Woah.  So when Mixue finally reached NYC this past December, I took notice.

"Mixue Menu has officially arrived in New York, bringing its renowned soft-serve ice cream, milk tea, and refreshing fruit drinks to one of the world’s busiest cities. Known for its great taste and affordable prices, Mixue New York is quickly becoming a popular destination for dessert lovers, students, and anyone seeking a quick sweet treat. Also, you can explore Mixue USA Menu."

The first NYC location opened on Christmas Eve, 2025, and was soon joined by 3 more.  They all seem crazy busy all the time, which sorta makes sense. Yes, there are a slew of bubble tea and soft serve spots in the city, but not with this price point.

Snow King... for Halloween.

Like all Mixue locations, there was a huge Snow King statue, and given the upcoming holiday, he was surrounded by a Halloween explosion.

There was also ... the jingle. ZOMG the jingle.  I was there less than 10 minutes, but it drove me low key insane.  And, it wouldn't leave my head the rest of the day.  A short jingle, sing-songy in all the catchy ways, on repeat. Gah.

Menu.

The most notable thing about the menu at Mixue really is the prices.  $1.19 for a soft serve cone.  A big one. In THIS economy.  Wild.  The ice cream lineup is rounded out by the pricier sundaes which come with toppings like chocolate, strawberry, cookie bits, etc.  The rest of the menu is the tea drinks: fruit teas and milk teas, fairly standard with mods like sweetness and a few toppings, although a considerably smaller topping lineup than most bubble tea shops. They certainly keep costs down by streamlining things.

Soft Serve.

There was one staff member solely responsible for soft serve.  He'd call out your number, and upon confirmation that you were there (a wave, an aggressive attempt to get near the counter,etc), would make your ice cream and hand it over.  He had a steady queue - when I ordered, I was behind 13 others he made first, which is remarkable given that most people were getting tea drinks (that station was REALLY backed up).  His station had the toppings exclusive to the soft serve (chocolate sauce, cookie bits) but he needed to dunk over to the tea station if you opted for toppings that are also used for tea.

Super Mango Sundae. $3.49.

"Sweet mango jam over soft serve."

This was my first time trying a sundae, far more pricey than the $1.xx cone, but still very reasonable at $3.49 for a decent size sundae (definitely bigger than fast food joint sundaes).  I had a hard time picking a flavor, but somewhat randomly picked the mango (er, "Super Mango") version.

It really was good.  The ice cream was creamy and not icy.  The soft serve machine was well calibrated, the ice cream was the right consistency, not too runny not too thick.  It melted really nicely.  The flavor was fairly classic vanilla-ish, although a bit more milk forward.  The serving was pretty large, no hollow center, really a full cup of soft serve.

The mango topping was enjoyable, very sweet, fruity, but clearly not fresh actual mango.  It worked though, and for this price, I didn't expect a fancy artisanal mango compote.

I enjoyed this, and it certainly out ranks any fast food or other soft serve in this price range.  4/5.

Original Review: 2023 & 2024 Visits, Sydney, Australia

I had never heard of Mixue before I visited Sydney recently, but once I saw it when I was walking by, I was pretty instantly drawn in, by their cheery "Snow King", and ridiculously affordable prices.  It turns out to be a large Chinese franchise, with 22,500 stores worldwide.  It started in 1997, but the first location in Sydney didn't open until February 2023, not long before I visited.

Storefront.

Visiting the store is, um, a cultural experience.  It does draw you in though, with the very welcoming mascot, the Snow King, showing up in many places.

$2 ice Cream.

The very low prices are definitely one of MIXUE's main attractions, and are displayed prominently, like the one here for the $2 cone (which, was $1.50 just a few months prior).  Note that these are Australian dollars, so that is actually just $1.25 USD with today's exchange rate.

Tea.

Milk and fruit teas make up the rest of the menu, and are mostly reasonably priced as well.

Snow King Magic Shop.

Off on the side is the branded "Snow King Magic Shop" where you can purchase toys and tumblers.

Signature Cone. $2.
(November 2023)

I had seen people walking down the street with these cones, so I knew it would be comically large, but, I still wasn't prepared to have this handed over.  The cone itself is, well, worthy of the Snow King perhaps.

My cone didn't actually look particularly made with care.  Nor did it look as well filled or as big as others, and they only make one size, so, it wasn't like I had a different size.  They lose a few points for that, as part of my cone was pretty hollow.  And, as I said, I was pretty apprehensive this could really be very good.

I took my first bite of the ice cream.  Well, huh.  It was creamy.  It wasn't icy.  The flavor was sweet, but not cloying.  Nothing artificial about it.  Milk flavored, I guess, but I detected hints of coconut even.   Certainly better than any fast food ice cream, and it rivaled many ice cream shops.  Not blow your mind special, but very good.  3.5/5, on the verge of 4/5.

And then the cone.  Ice cream cones are often sorta a throwaway component, a means to getting ice cream in a satisfying to lick form factor, and little else.  But this cone, this cone was part of the experience too.  It was a unique style, like thin sweet wafer cookies rolled into a cone shape, 2-3 layers.  It was sweet, it was crunchy, it was really quite good.  It got to maybe be a bit much, just given how big it was, but I truly enjoyed it.  I think it would be good just as a standalone cookie to eat alongside a coffee.  A memorable, and tasty, and unique, cone.  4/5.

So overall, made with care?  No.  Perfectly swirled and filled?  No.  But actually very enjoyable, and ridiculous quality for the price.  4/5, and I'd gladly get another.

Signature Cone. $2.
(February 2024).

Two months later, I was back in Sydney, and the moment it was a warm day, I was right back at Mixue.  This time I knew exactly what to expect, and I'll say that Mixue seems highly consistent, at least based on my experiences.

My order was ready relatively quickly, the soft serve was a bit haphazard and did have a bit of a hole in the middle, but, the cone was crispy, unique, and not stale, and the soft serve was fairly creamy, again lightly sweet milk flavor.  I added my own sprinkles, and was still just amazed that I got such a decent and unique ice cream cone for literally $1.20 USD.  3.5/5.

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