Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Chain restaurant/Franchise |
Founded | Koreatown, Los Angeles (2016 ) |
Founder | Matt Kim |
Number of locations | 33 |
Area served | United States |
Products | Soft serve & Taiyaki |
Website | www |
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]
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] .
99 Ranch Market is an American supermarket chain owned by Tawa Supermarket Inc., which is based in Buena Park, California. 99 Ranch has 58 stores in the U.S., primarily in California, with other stores in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Virginia. The company also started offering shopping via its website in 2014. In February 2021, the company also launched their mobile app for grocery delivery.
Frozen custard is a frozen dessert that is a type of ice cream that is made with egg yolks in addition to cream and sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and an additional flavoring such as cocoa, vanilla, or fruit such as strawberries or peaches. It is usually kept at a warmer temperature compared to ice cream, and typically has a denser consistency.
Bungeo-ppang is a fish-shaped pastry stuffed with sweetened red bean paste, which originated from the Japanese taiyaki. One of South Korea's most popular winter street foods, the snack is often sold at street stalls, grilled on an appliance similar to a waffle iron but with a fish-shaped mold. Red bean paste is the standard filling but many bungeo-ppang sold as street food are filled with pastry cream, sweet potato, pizza toppings, chocolate, kimchi and others. Usually, it costs about 1,000 won (KRW) for three bungeo-ppang. However, small bungeo-ppang costs 1,000 won for five and large bungeo-ppang costs 2,000 won for one, indicating that the price range varies depending on the size.
Shaved ice is a large family of ice-based desserts made of fine shavings of ice and sweet condiments or syrups. Usually, the syrup is added after the ice has been frozen and shaved—typically at the point of sale; however, flavoring can also be added before freezing. The dessert is consumed worldwide in various forms and ways. Shaved ice can also be mixed with large quantities of liquid to produce shaved ice drinks.
Booza is an Eastern Levant frozen dairy dessert made with milk, cream, sugar, mastic and sahlab, giving it its distinguished stretchy and chewy texture—much like dondurma.
Jacques Torres is a French pastry chef and chocolatier based in New York. Torres is a member of the International Culinary Center community as Dean of Pastry Arts, as well as holding pastry demonstrations. He appears on the show Nailed It!.
Carac is a tart-like Swiss dessert pastry traditionally made of ingredients such as chocolate, cream, fondant, and shortbread pie crust, usually found in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
Sprinkles Cupcakes is a bakery chain established in 2005. It is considered the world's first cupcake bakery.
Salt & Straw is an ice cream company based in Portland, Oregon. The company was launched in 2011 by cousins Kim Malek and Tyler Malek.
Christina Tosi is an American chef and cookbook author. She is founder and co-owner with Momofuku of Milk Bar and serves as its chef and chief executive officer. Food & Wine magazine included her in their 2014 list of "Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink".
Korean baked goods consists of either snacks or bread. Examples include bread, buns, pastries, cakes, and snacks.
Fifty Licks is an ice cream parlor with several locations in Portland, Oregon.
Cloud City Ice Cream is an ice cream parlor in Portland, Oregon.
Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream is an ice cream parlor with multiple locations in the Seattle metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Washington. The business was founded by chief executive officer Molly Moon Neitzel in 2008.
Zuckercreme is a bakery, cafe, and market in Portland, Oregon's Montavilla neighborhood, in the United States.
NOLA Doughnuts was a doughnut shop with three locations in the Portland metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The original shop opened in Lake Oswego in 2015, and a second opened in northwest Portland's Pearl District in 2018. A third location opened in Beaverton in 2022. All locations closed in January 2023.
Twisted Croissant is a bakery with two locations in Portland, Oregon. Owner Kurt Goddard began selling pastries at farmers' markets in the Portland metropolitan area before opening the first brick and mortar bakery in northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood in 2019. A second bakery opened in southeast Portland's Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood.
Kulfi is a restaurant with two locations in Portland, Oregon.
Dahlia Bakery is a pastry shop in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood, in the U.S. state of Washington.
Hello Robin is a woman-owned bakery with two locations in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. The original bakery opened on Capitol Hill in 2013. A second location opened at University Village in 2020.