“AWWWW! HOW CUTE!” Servers working behind the counter at Eiswelt Gelato in Westminster probably hear as many gushy greetings as baby animals at a petting zoo. That’s because the desserts they hand over are artfully crafted to resemble the most adorable critters in the pen. And if the routine has gotten old since the shop opened more than two years ago, the servers sure don’t show it. They beam with an ear-to-ear grin as people continually fawn over the sweet treats.
Vyvy Hoang, a Vietnamese immigrant from Germany, opened Eiswelt Gelato while taking business classes at UC Irvine. If the long lines that routinely assemble outside of the dessert shop nestled in the corner of a busy Little Saigon plaza are any indication, she picked the right major. Teddy bears, pigs, chickens, bunnies, even a Pikachu are just a few of the little fellas that are stuck on cones or served in cups, attracting kawaii fans from miles around.
There’s an array of gelato flavors from French vanilla to Ferrero Rocher to start your pet. A steady stream of chocolate pours like a fountain for Eiswelt Gelato’s artists to dip from. They dot beady eyes on perfect scoops while drawing snouts and smiles on affixed marshmallows. Of course, the final product is insatiable fodder for Instagram foodies. But the designer desserts are tasty on the tongue, too!
Only problem? Feeling like the big bad wolf when devouring those cute little piggies!
Eiswelt Gelato, 9605 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, (657) 245-3141; eiswelt-gelato.com.
Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!