When the weather heats up, my primary concern becomes how to consume sugary ice in every form possible. Here are four of my favorite frosty desserts across Portland to cool you down, from kakigori to cendol and beyond.

Soen
The Japanese comfort food spot Soen, housed inside Courier Coffee, serves kakigori, a type of Japanese shaved ice, seasonally. Owner Sakiko-Soen, who formerly worked as a lifestyle editor in Tokyo, writes, “The events of 2020 brought about the most significant shift in our journey. It prompted me to reconsider why I embarked on this venture in the first place. Starting Soen wasn’t just about fulfilling my personal craving for kakigori as a Japanese creative mind; it was also about conveying the deeply symbolic culture of respecting the invisible and intangible aspects inherent in Japanese beliefs.” You won’t find any chunky chips of ice here; Soen’s machine spins it into the most ethereally fluffy, feathery texture not unlike cotton candy, resulting in a show-stopping sight that will draw stares from passersby. Seasonal flavors include strawberry rhubarb, matcha, and coffee, and if you’re indecisive, you can order a combo of two flavors. I got a split strawberry rhubarb and matcha, and the earthiness of the matcha perfectly balanced the fruity flavors, rounded out by a cloud-like dollop of cream and a spoonful of sweet red bean.
West End

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