Ice Cream Shops in Kaohsiung’s Alleys – Super Cute Bear Paw Sundaes & Aromatic Tea-flavored Ice Cream

Text & Photos /Kuma

While researching, I stumbled upon adorable bear paw ice cream being sold in Kaohsiung. Deciding to check it out during my holiday, I headed over. Tucked away in a quiet alley on Dafeng 2nd Road, J.C.co Italian Handmade Ice Cream offers not only authentic Italian gelato but also super cute bear paw-shaped ice cream treats — each flavor is rich and satisfying.

We came from Jian Gong Road that day, turned onto Dafeng 2nd Road, and quickly reached the alley where J.C.co Italian Handmade Ice Cream is located. Next to the alley is Yu Ying Institute of Health Sciences. The alley isn’t very wide — if you’re driving, it’s recommended to park in the spaces outside. Once you walk into Alley 564 on Dafeng 2nd Road, you’ll see an extremely cute pink bear paw sign right at the entrance.

Inside the shop, the space is small with only three tables. The simple decor, along with white butterflies on the walls and some greenery, gives off an outdoor vibe.

I really liked the clock on the wall — retro with a sense of age. Paper butterflies flutter nearby, and though it's simple, it’s just charming.

One side of the shop has seating, while the other is the workspace. On the shelves, there are three types of free toppings you can add to your ice cream.

All the Italian gelato in the display case is available for tasting, and some are even innovative flavors — great for those who like to try something new.

Aside from Italian gelato and shaped ice creams, J.C.co Italian Handmade Ice Cream also offers light meals like pancakes.

The shaped ice creams come in various forms, including regular shapes as well as bear paws and hearts, and feature fruit-based flavors. There's also a cute little iron robot nearby.

We ordered two scoops of Italian gelato — one was Earl Grey (Twinings-style) and the other was Japanese matcha from Komuraen (Wakoucha). For toppings, we chose gummy bears, almond slivers, and Oreo cookies, and the staff drizzled chocolate sauce on top. Both flavors had a strong tea aroma, balancing bitterness and sweetness perfectly. The cool, melt-in-your-mouth texture was infused with their distinctive tea flavors.

The spoons provided by the shop made the ice cream look a bit like a little snail.

After enjoying the sophisticated tea-flavored gelato, we moved on to the adorable bear paw-shaped ice cream. There were four flavors to choose from, and we picked matcha and sesame. We could also add any of the three free toppings. We asked the lovely owner to take a photo of the bear paw before toppings were added — the shape is just super cute and hard to resist.

The bear paw ice cream becomes even more colorful with toppings added. The matcha version kept the same toppings as the plain gelato, while the sesame version got marshmallows, chocolate rice, and puffed rice. The owner even added a few violets, giving the sesame bear paw a little garden-like feel.

The paw pad part of the bear paw is vanilla-flavored, while the base has a rich matcha taste with that characteristic slightly bitter aroma. When dipped in Oreo cookies, it gains a sweet yet bitter chocolate note. The crunchiness of the almond slivers and the chewy firmness of the gummy bears make the ice cream taste rich and varied in texture.

Considering the colors, we chose a range of vibrant toppings for the sesame bear paw. Unlike the matcha version, which is comfortably cooled by gummy bears, the sesame bear paw sits in a colorful garden — it's an ice cream treat that stimulates the senses of sight, taste, and fun.

Carefully picking up the ice cream to take a picture, worried all the toppings might fall off.

The shop’s business card holder also caught our eye — it’s a brush, such a creative idea.

Discovering this hidden bear paw gem in a quiet alley that day was memorable not just for the shapes, but also the unforgettable flavors. J.C.co Italian Handmade Ice Cream also has branches in Hsinchu, Pingtung, and elsewhere in Taiwan. Interested visitors can Google the locations.

Shop Info:J.C.co Italian Handmade Ice Cream

Tel: (07)398-7386
Address: 1F, No. 3, Lane 564, Dafeng 2nd Rd., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City
Business Hours: 14:00 ~ 21:30 (Closed Mondays)
◎ J.C.co Italian Handmade Ice Cream Facebook:https://goo.gl/96dMDZ

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