Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Linda Vista, and Serra Mesa set the bar with 20 tantalizing dessert options. Add these to our previous list of 22 dessert spots in the neighborhood, and you’ll have your taste buds doing a happy dance.
Rich and decadent cakes, light and fluffy macarons, and creamy Korean bingsoo are only a few of the selections you’ll find nearby. Grab a fork—or spoon—and get ready to dig into decadence.
Kearny Mesa Dessert Options
Sul & Beans
Sul & Beans specializes in bingsoo (or bingsu), Korean shaved ice with a milk base, making it creamier than your typical shaved ice. Sul & Beans makes theirs from scratch, offering unique flavors like black sesame, milk with red bean paste, and sweet corn. More Americanized flavors, such as yogurt berry, chocolate banana, and Oreo, are also available for those with a less adventurous palate.
Sunmerry Bakery Cafe
This Japanese bakery chain focuses on the flavors of Taiwan. Their flagship pastry is the mooncake, which has a soft outer layer and a gooey center. Molten chocolate, rainbow egg yolk custard, pistachio milk, and oolong tea matcha are just a few of the many flavors you’ll find at Sunmerry. Donuts, cakes, cream puffs, and cookies also fill their dessert menu.
J Crepes
Inside the Mitsuwa Market at J Crepes in Kearny Mesa, you’ll find a sweet delight—traditional Japanese Harajuku crepes. These dessert crepes originate from the Harajuku district in Tokyo. Cone-shaped crepes are stuffed with goodies such as ice cream, fruit, whipped cream, and other toppings. Pro tip: if you’re a student or military, you’ll get an extra 10% discount.
TOUS Les JOURS
TOUS Les JOURS is a French-Asian bakery that offers a variety of cakes, pastries, and breads. Their cake menu is extensive, featuring options such as cloud cakes, sponge cakes, mousse cakes, tiramisu, and traditional cheesecakes. Flavors abound, ranging from sweet potato to red velvet to triple berry. Sizes range from mini six-inch cakes up to 10 inches in diameter. You’ll also find things like pain au chocolat and strawberry croissant pastries.
LAB Dessert
Cotton candy burrito, anyone? What’s in it, you ask? Cotton candy acts as the tortilla wrapped around ice cream and toppings, making this dessert the ultimate indulgence. Looking for less of a gut bomb? Try their light and airy macarons or Korean shaved ice instead.
Cafe Hue
Cafe Hue is where you go when you want a self-indulgent dessert for breakfast. Sweet, stuffed crepes and golden, fluffy Belgian waffles reign supreme. Select from flavors like butter cookie, red bean and cream, caramel banana and cream, Nutella and smores, or mixed fruit. You’re sure to make your stomach smile.
Boba Bar and Desserts
From creamy or fruity smoothies to frozen desserts, Boba Bar and Desserts is a little slice of heaven on Convoy. Flavors like purple (ube) Oreo are a collision of American and Asian culture that explodes in your mouth. Or go all out with a Chocolate Lover’s Puffle, a blend of frozen chocolate custard, brownie bits, and Oreo and Hershey chocolate pieces wrapped in a puffy waffle.
Clairemont Dessert Options
Arely’s
Perhaps you’re in the mood to experience eating a decadent dessert on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, minus the whole traveling to France part. Clairemont has the next best thing. Experience authentic French desserts at Arely’s French Bakery Cafe and let the flavors of chocolate truffles, strawberry eclairs, or a candied crème brûlée melt on your tongue. A vast assortment of cakes, cookies, scones, croissants, brownies, and more will make your decision difficult.
Intoxicated Desserts
Sometimes you want to kill two birds with one stone. Or at least indulge in two vices at once. Intoxicated Desserts blends the buttercream with the booze for a sweet treat that hits all the right spots. These desserts are great for weddings, bachelorette parties, and 21st birthdays. All orders are custom-made in Clairemont for pickup or delivery.
Candra’s Delightful Desserts
This in-home cottage-licensed Clairemont baker whips up custom cakes, cookies, and even DIY cookie kits, so you can kind of feel like you baked something from scratch. Additionally, Candra offers gluten-free, keto, and vegan options for those who can’t indulge in the more traditional dessert fare. All orders are custom-made per your specifications.
Feng Cha Teahouse
Feng Cha’s decadent milk foam cakes couldn’t be named more appropriately. Light, airy, and creamy, without being cloyingly sweet, these desserts pack a perfect sweet-tooth punch. The flavors include strawberry or Oreos with cheese milk foam, taro chocolate, matcha, sea salt with boba pearls, and tiramisu.
GuilTea Cravings
Baked in-house macarons. Creamy banana pudding. Ube Basque cheesecake. Black and cream Oreo butter cookies. Macaron ice cream sandwich. Mouth watering yet? It should be. GuilTea Cravings’ vast dessert menu is enough to tempt the taste buds of nearly anyone. Pair your dessert with a creamy milk tea for the ultimate display of decadence.
Me-Me Tea & Dessert
Craving cheesecake but want to try all the flavors? Me-Me has you covered with their mini cheesecake flights, which let you sample an assortment of flavors, including mixed berry, Oreo, mango, espresso, and black sesame. And if you’re aiming for something a little less rich than cheesecake, try their mango pudding or housemade mochi cakes.
Na Tart
Na Tart satisfies both the sweet and the savory. The bite-sized tarts allow you to sample multiple flavors without feeling too guilty. Savor flavors such as chocolate boba, tiramisu sunflower, and matcha creme brulee, to name a few.
Crumbl
This cookie and cake dessert chain has earned itself a cult-like following for its decadent rotating flavors, fresh-baked aromas, and solid service. Taste classic flavors like milk chocolate chip cookie or pink sugar cookie, or go for the gusto with an Oreo birthday cake cookie. Feeling cakey? Try the two-tiered confetti cake.
Linda Vista Dessert Options
Cafe 88
Café 88 is a brand-new addition to the Linda Vista neighborhood. Its original location is in El Cajon. Right down the road from USD, this place should be a hit for college kids seeking a sugar rush. Crepes, cream puffs, Belgian waffles, milkshakes, and acai bowls are your options to indulge. Kinder chocolate pancakes may not be a healthy breakfast, but dang if it isn’t delicious.
Rose Donuts (and second location)
Rose Donuts is a Linda Vista staple, and frequenters often praise their donuts as the best they’ve ever had. Soft, fluffy dough and primarily traditional flavors like glazed, powdered, chocolate, and red velvet satisfy the pickiest donut connoisseur.
Serra Mesa Dessert Options
Bear Buns Bakery
Bear Buns Bakery offers a wide variety of baked goods that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings, like sticky buns and muffins you can sink your teeth right into. Try a homemade warm, gooey cinnamon roll paired with a dark roast to start your morning off with a sweet sugar high.
Yogurt Lounge
As their instructions state, “Get cup. Fill with yogurt. Add toppings. Weigh and pay.” Yogurt Lounge is a self-service yogurt shop that regularly rotates flavors to keep your palate pleased. Fill up with creamy vanilla or pomegranate sorbet, and top off with fresh fruit or more sinful chocolate. Yogurt Lounge also offers smoothies, milkshakes, and matcha.
Goody’s Donuts
If you’re feeling nostalgic for a traditional donut shop with classic flavors and no frills, head to Goody’s. This mom-and-pop donut shop offers classic flavors, including glazed, powdered, sprinkled, and chocolate. You’ll also find more whimsical options, such as panda, rainbow, and Hello Kitty donuts.
