HONEYMEE, a Korean-owned chain of gourmet soft-serve ice cream boutiques, recently celebrated the opening of its first Houston store, located at 9938 Bellaire next to San Dong Noodle House. It specializes in fresh-tasting, subtly sweet ice cream and drinks made from simple, all-natural ingredients including milk, pure honey and honeycomb from family-owned, Kosher-Certified dairy and honey farms.

HONEYMEE launched its first location in Los Angeles’ Koreatown in 2014 and quickly expanded to eight locations across Southern California. It has only two locations outside of California — one in Gilbert, Arizona and the latest in Houston’s Asiatown, which held its soft opening on July 20. All the stores are in areas with large Asian populations, and the offerings are perfect for those who prefer desserts that are not too sweet.

The soft serve — which HONEYMEE calls “True Milk Ice Cream” — is made with pure USDA Organic and CCOF certified organic milk from California and contains no heavy cream or artificial sweeteners. It is light-bodied, yet still delivers pleasant, creamy richness. Some of the most popular options include Honey Affogato with coffee and a drizzle of raw honey, Dear Chocolate with Ghirardelli chocolate and sea salt, the eponymous Honeymee with 100% natural honeycomb chip, Matcha Sweetie with ceremonial matcha and a drizzle of raw honey and Yuzu Affogato with honey, yuzu peel, yuzu pulp and corn flakes. Flavors range in price from $6.50 to $6.75 while waffle cones and extra toppings are available for an additional fee.

Milkshakes are available in a variety of flavors such as Cookies ‘n’ Cream, Sea Salt Caramel, Strawberry, Green Apple, Lavender and a Misugaru Milkshake with natural raw honey, multi-grain powder and roasted brown rice. 

On the drink menu, there are a number of teas, which can be made hot or iced, including Honey Hibiscus, Honey Matcha and Honey Yuzu. You can also treat yourself to one of the iced lattes, such as Honey Matcha, Brown Sugar Milk with boba and Honeymee Cold Brew Latte. 

The decor is bright and cheerful with white tile, wood shelving and decorated black chalkboard backdrops. There is even a large, modern photobooth from Korean-owned Life4Cuts to capture group memories. The service is friendly, speedy and efficient. Upon entering the store, guests are immediately greeted by the whole team from behind the counter and are likewise bid farewell upon departure. The store has around a half-dozen tables and is about the same size as your average ice cream parlor. It can get rather busy during peak hours, but the line moves rapidly. There is also a contactless ordering kiosk. It should also be noted that this is a cashless establishment.

It’s a wonderful option for customers of all ages, whether as a respite from the Texas heat or as a treat after dining at one of the many fantastic nearby dining options.

Honeymee – Houston is open Sunday through Thursday from noon until 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon until midnight. Plentiful parking is available throughout the plaza.

Mario-Sebastian Berry

Mario-Sebastian Berry is a wine and spirits vendor who has been in the hospitality industry since 2002. Currently, he represents Blanco, Texas-based Andalusia Whiskey Co. and multiple wine labels. Somehow, he also finds time to be Houston Food Finder’s associate editor and social media manager.