Phnom Penh eats: Where shaved ice meets a sugar rush

Shaved ice, fruit toppings, and a squirt of cream – these are the ingredients to make a perfect bingsu. Hailing from South Korea, bingsu is a shaved ice dessert that has recently found one more home in Cambodia, at Breaktime Café and Dessert. Located on Street 163 in BKK3, owner Lay Monika's team can be found serving up sweet treats, drinks, and even toast.

Wanting to be her own boss, Monika decided to set up her own business and went to Thailand to learn more about bingsu. The shop opened two months ago, and Monika says it is currently attracting a younger crowd.

Her shaved ice is made from fresh milk, which is frozen for 5 hours and doled out to eager customers in large snowy heaps. It’s topped with sliced fruit, such as honeydew or strawberries, and then cream. It’s a delicious alternative to more traditional Khmer desserts like Num Kong (doughnut topped with palm sugar) or On Sorm (banana or pork and coconut wrapped in a banana leaf).

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