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| - Wow, I'm a little speechless right now. My heart rate is skyrocketing from a harmonious combination of excitement and simple carbs. The bingsoo (Korean shaved ice) here is top-tier, or at least from what I've had throughout my years in Toronto.
I arrived here around 9:30pm on a Sunday with a small party of three (myself included). The restaurant has a small square footage like most of the establishments in the Midland and Finch area. Still, at this time of the night, one or two tables would usually be free for any new clients, but it was a different case at Snow Time. The joint was packed with customers! I could tell that the managers had arranged the tables in a way that would maximize the number of people they could serve at any given time, but, ultimately, a constant line-up is a reality here. To enhance their traffic control, I believe they are even opening up another Snow Time branch in the same plaza (there is construction going on opposite to this one). Nevertheless, a constant line-up is a good sign that they have quality desserts, especially since Snow Time hasn't been marketed profusely in the same way that Uncle Tetsu has been.
Although we were a small party, we had to wait 10 minutes to be seated. The service is efficient and the workers communicate well and promptly. While you wait, they even encourage you to peruse their menu so that you can get a sense of what to order ahead of time. Unfortunately, they were out of mangoes when we checked in, as it's a popular summertime topping. We opted for the Injeomi Bingsoo instead, which is shaved ice topped with roasted soy bean powder, red bean paste, almond flakes, and mochi bits. Part of our reasoning behind this was the fact that this variation is considered by different accounts to be "more traditional", "the original", and what have you. I've had injeomi bingsoo at other establishments before, so it was a great opportunity to compare the quality - and I was blown away!
The workers didn't skimp on the toppings, so every bite was a paradise of creamy ice, soft and sweet red beans, chewy mochi, and crispy almonds, all of which were enveloped by the mellow roasted undertones of the soy bean powder. When you order this, the workers also give you a side of condensed milk, an addition that I never experienced at other Korean dessert places in the GTA when I ordered bingsoo. My Korean partner and his cousin noted that having condensed milk on the side to add extra creaminess and sweetness to your bingsoo is the norm. Therefore, I applaud Snow Time for this! The condensed milk acted like a binding agent in my opinion, melding together the flavours of all the ingredients within the bingsoo while giving it an extra kick. Hey, it may cost you several hundred extra calories, but it's far better than just tasting milky ice pellets - even if the milk in their ice pellets also seem higher in quality!
Portion-wise, both the regular and large come mountain-topped. I would say that the regular is great between two people and the large is great for a party of three to four, that is unless you're a big eater! The prices are 1-2 dollars more expensive than their competitors, but their sizes are also more generous, so the price to portion ratio evens out to what you would normally see elsewhere in the GTA. My Korean bf's cousin, who just flew in from South Korea, even admitted that the bingsoo here has the same quality as what she's had in South Korea throughout her teenage years. We all thoroughly enjoyed the bingsoo and left feeling quite elated over this new gem! Therefore, given the higher quality that you can receive here, I would implore any dessert aficionado to come here for bingsoo.
Plus, if desserts aren't exactly your cup of tea, then you can at least have the luxury of taking selfies with all the oversized plushies that are themed after KakaoTalk mascots.
NOTE 1: If you order the Injeomi Bingsoo, don't breathe when you dig in. Otherwise, the soy bean powder will get caught in your throat and nose!
NOTE 2: According to my Korean bf and his cousin, you add the condensed milk after eating away most of the soy bean powder from the top of the Injeomi Bingsoo. Otherwise, the condensed milk will just combine with the layer of powder, making it difficult to mix with the rest of the bingsoo. Also, add the condensed milk in intervals in-between eating layers of the bingsoo to ensure there will be an even distribution.
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