Naya Dessert Cafe (Hayes Valley)
Imagine standing outside a trendy cafe late on a warm summer night, chatting with your friends and looking forward to sharing delicious shaved ice together as the sidewalk comes to life with chatter and lights hanging from the trees.
Some restaurants are simply standouts as neighborhood icons. Naya Dessert Cafe is one of these neighborhood icons that draw in customers from near and far. Lines can always be seen stretching out the door and lively conversation is present in the atmosphere.
In fact, the very word “Naya” is a Thai word that expresses the feeling of becoming closer to someone, something that the cafe hopes to do with their customers through their desserts. And while there are two locations in San Francisco (Inner Richmond and Hayes Valley), this review will focus on the Hayes Valley branch.
While Naya does also offer delicious Asian fusion food, the main draw of the cafe is without a doubt its desserts. Ranging from various crepes, sweet toasts, to shaved ice selections, the menu is sure to satisfy any sweet craving.
My personal favorites are the shaved ice- or bingsu- items as they come in so many different flavors and unique presentations. Below are a few of my selected items which I recommend:
The mango tango is first on this list. It is a popular customer favorite, and for good reason. It comes with a large bowl of milk shaved ice with a side of freshly cut mango as well as a cup of sweet sticky rice. The bingsu is best enjoyed by spreading the mango “sauce” over the top of the ice and eating bits of the cubed mango bits. The taste is incredibly balanced, bringing both the sweet and creamy elements together. It is the perfect summer dish to eat by yourself or with friends. As a note, the mango tango only comes in the large size.
Next up is the Thai tea bingsu. I chose this one because many readers probably have had Thai tea before, but never in shaved ice form. One of the first things that you’ll notice about this item is that it comes with even more accompanying side dishes than the mango tango. Served alongside the Thai tea shaved ice, this dish comes with toasted almonds, crystal boba, condensed milk, and brown sugar. The taste- when combined with the various toppings- can best be described as an earthy sweetness that is both subtle and unique. For those that are fans of Thai tea, this one is sure to be a treat that satisfies that craving in a fun way.
Lastly, to depart from the bingsu options, another fantastic option is the chocolate salted egg lava cake. As its name states, it is a chocolate lava cake that has a salted egg custard center that oozes out when broken into. It is served alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream and freshly cut strawberries. For those wanting a more familiar dessert, this one is delicious and carries its own unique twist with the salted egg custard. As it comes in a smaller portion, it also makes it perfect for indulging on your own.
And as previously mentioned, the menu contains so much more that will cater to every type of taste, whether one is looking for a meal or dessert. Being open until midnight, Naya is a true neighborhood gem that brings energetic crowds late into the night to talk while enjoying delicious food. Highly recommended by Xplorago, Naya Dessert Cafe is a must-visit in San Francisco.
