SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki

Last updated
SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki
Type Private
Industry Chain restaurant/Franchise
Founded Koreatown, Los Angeles (2016;7 years ago (2016))
FounderMatt Kim
Number of locations
33
Area served
United States
Products Soft serve & Taiyaki
Website www.somisomi.com

SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki is an American chain of independently owned and operated franchised stores based in Los Angeles, California. [1] They primarily serve Korean Bungeo-ppang (fish-shaped pastry) paired with soft serve, known together as ah-boong. [2]

Contents

History

SomiSomi was founded in 2016 by Matt Kim in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, California [3] The location quickly gained popularity and built a cult-like following, resulting in a fast expansion across Southern California. [4] [5] These locations include Irvine (Spectrum & Diamond Jamboree [6] ), San Diego (Convoy [7] [8] , Mira Mesa [9] , & UTC), Torrance, Garden Grove, Ontario [10] , Little Tokyo [11] , Huntington Beach, Fullerton, Long Beach [12] , and Sawtelle [13] .

In October 2018, SomiSomi opened their first location outside of California in Honolulu, Hawaii. [14]

In February 2019, SomiSomi opened their first location in Northern California [15] in Cupertino and later expanded to Elk Grove [16] , San Jose, Santa Clara, Sacramento, San Francisco, Natomas [17] , Palo Alto [18] , San Mateo, and Pleasanton.

In July 2019, SomiSomi began expanding into Texas. opening a location in Katy. [19] They would later open locations in Frisco [20] , Carrollton [21] , and Sugar Land. [22] [23] [24]

In May 2020, SomiSomi opened their first Nevada location in Las Vegas. [25] They would later open a second location in Henderson.

In August 2022, SomiSomi opened their first Washington location in Seattle. They would later open a second location in Bellevue.

In August 2022, SomiSomi opened their first Arizona location in Chandler [26] [27] .

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References

  1. Woo, Candice. "Korean-Style Soft-Serve Ice Cream Swirls Into Mira Mesa". Eater San Diego. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  2. Espinosa, Cristin. "Crepes and fish-shaped cakes: 5 must-visit Asian dessert spots at Frisco Ranch". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. "Meet Matt Kim of SomiSomi Soft Serve & Taiyaki in Koreatown". VoyageLA. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. Addison, Brian. "Popular Korean soft serve creamery SomiSomi coming to Bixby Knolls". Long Beach Post. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  5. "SoCal's SomiSomi Brings Their Taiyaki And Soft Serve To The Bay Area With South Bay Location". Alt 105.3. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  6. "Somi Somi brings Japanese-inspired ice cream to the Irvine Business Complex". Hoodline. August 23, 2018. p. 1.
  7. Kushi • •, Marianne (2018-02-09). "Korean Dessert Shop Brings Taste of 2018 Olympic Winter Games to San Diego". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
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  9. "SomiSomi makes Mira Mesa debut". Yahoo News. 2019-07-27. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  10. "SomiSomi brings new dessert tastes to Ontario Mills". Daily Bulletin. 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  11. "SomiSomi Brings Soft Serve to LIttle Tokyo". Los Angeles Downtown News - The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles. 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  12. Addison, Brian (2019-10-30). "Popular Korean soft serve creamery SomiSomi coming to Bixby Knolls". the Hi-lo. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  13. Foodgressing (2022-05-16). "SomiSomi Sawtelle Los Angeles Korean Dessert | 2022 Visit [Review]". Foodgressing. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  14. Braiotta, Kelli. "Wait, Ala Moana has a third soft serve: SomiSomi is open". Frolic Hawaii. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  15. "SomiSomi brings ah-boong desserts to San Jose, Palo Alto, San Mateo". The Mercury News. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  16. "Somisomi". FOX40. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  17. Sorich, Sonya (July 12, 2023). "5 things: SomiSomi dessert shop opening July 14 in Natomas". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  18. Xu, Esther. "SomiSomi: Palo Alto welcomes soft serve chain". Verde Magazine. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  19. Rubottom, Cicely. "This Popular California Ice Cream & Taiyaki Shop Just Opened Its First Texas Location In Katy". Narcity. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  20. Albee, Amanda. "Popular LA Soft Serve Shop SomiSomi Opens in Frisco". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  21. McCarthy, Amy (2020-02-10). "SomiSomi's Ice Cream Stuffed Pastries Will Soon Arrive in Carrollton". Eater Dallas. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  22. Hall, Christine. "SomiSomi to open in Sugar Land". Community Impact News. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  23. Albee, Amanda. "Popular LA Soft Serve Shop SomiSomi Opens in Frisco". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  24. McCarthy, Amy. "SomiSomi's Ice Cream Stuffed Pastries Will Soon Arrive in Carrollton". Eater Dallas. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  25. Martin, Bradley. "Two Korean Dessert Restaurants Open in Chinatown's Shanghai Plaza". Eater Las Vegas. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  26. "SomiSomi Soft Serve and Taiyaki to open first Arizona location in Chandler". ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV). 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  27. "Korean Style Soft Serve Chain Opening First Arizona Location". iHeart. Retrieved 2023-12-07.