The Never-Ending U Dessert Story

BY TAMARA PALMER

Both of Tammy Boonlieng’s two locations of U Dessert Story feature murals depicting a canal in Venice, Italy on the wall. Each mural has eight birds, which Boonlieng (who is originally from Thailand) says symbolizes infinity. Every future location of U Dessert Story, which draws its culinary ideas primarily from Thailand, Korea and Japan, will have the same Italian mural, a beautiful symbol of the thoughtfulness that this chef puts into her food.

I’ve probably been to U Dessert Story’s two San Francisco locations more than anywhere else in the city in the last two years, oops. The newest, U Dessert Story: Vintage Brunch, has emerged as a personal favorite because of that location’s addition of daily savory brunch, but I’m delighted any time I can go to either spot.

Putting this collection of photos together has made the craving to go back rather insatiable.

Thai tea kakigori (Japanese shave ice)

Pandan coconut crepe cake

Mango bingsu (Korean shave ice) with sticky rice

Hot matcha

Iced matcha

Volcano bingsu

Yuzu matcha spritzer

Lychee rose spritzer

Salad with ebi katsu

Japanese breakfast

Japanese omurice

Japanese omurice

Japanese omurice

Pork katsu sandwich

Avocado toast

Thai tea crepe cake

Canteloupe bingsu

Canteloupe bingsu

Canteloupe bingsu

Strawberry cheesecake kakigori

Iced matcha and hot hojicha

Chocolate matcha lava cake

Chocolate matcha lava cake

Blue lychee and mango tango spritzer

Thai tea lava toast

Hojicha bingsu

U Dessert Story, 3489 16th Street, San Francisco

U Dessert Story: Vintage Brunch, 2120 Greenwich Street, San Francisco