Yiko Yiko — Restaurant in San Diego

I was in Kearney Mesa for a meeting near the strip mail I had worked at decades ago. I went to reminisce and saw a desert shop that has a sign that their food would make be happy. There was also a sign that they were in soft opening. I was intrigued and went in.

There was one customer before me who asked how long they had been opened. I mentioned the soft opening sign, but the counter person said two years. This should have been by first warning. Moving on past that, they had pistachio cheesecake. I love pistachios and as a former New Yorker I had grown up with the love of cheesecake. So, I ordered it and then asked for coffee. I am not exaggerating this, the counter person looked at me with confusion and shock like he had never heard the word “coffee” before. He rifled through several clipboards on the counter and pulled out one that had drinks. Towards the bottom of the list, in large bold writing was the word “Coffee”. I pointed to it. His reaction was as if I was a sorcerer that had just prestidigitated that word onto the paper, and he was seeing it for the first time. After recovering from his shock, he entered it into the register. I paid $21 and sat down at a table that happened to directly face him.

While waiting and looking at my phone, I glanced up a few times and noticed that he had not made any attempts to acquire my coffee. Eventually he brought me the cheesecake. I quickly noticed that he did not have my coffee. I asked about the coffee and after another moment of shock on his behalf he acknowledged me and went back to the counter. Note that no other customers had come in after me, so he was not otherwise distracted.

After a few minutes I again noticed that he continued not doing any actions that would result in my getting a cup of coffee. So grudgingly I went to the counter and asked. Again, his reaction was one of confusion and surprise. After a moment of pondering, he went into the bakery area and started a conversation with another staff member. After a few moments of debate, they finally realized they had a coffee maker and figured out how to produce a cup of coffee.

Returning to the front, the counter person handed me my coffee. I then had the gall to ask for creamer. Even though he was standing 5 feet from a glass enclosed refrigerator with gallons of cream, he said they did not have any. At that point I was beaten and just resigned myself to drinking black coffee.

Finally, it came time to put my spork into the “cheesecake”. Even without taking a bite, the feeling of the utensil moving through the cake was strange. Upon tasting and experiencing the mouthfeel I came to an assumption that the language that the baker was using to name this item must have the words “cheese” and “sand” as homophones and the translator had chosen the incorrect definition. What I was eating had as much relationship to anything a New Yorker would consider cheesecake as liver and onions. Though the latter would have been tastier. The “sandcake” was gritty and dry. It was only palatable when eaten with the cream topping. Once the topping was consumed the rest was unpalatable. Taking a last sip of my black coffee, dejected and not happy, I left the remainder...

Yiko Yiko is the perfect dessert spot to brighten anyone's day with warmth and cuteness! The space is decorated with a cozy vibe, complete with soft cushions and adorable jelly cats, creating a welcoming environment. The sofas and large tables make it an ideal place for a comfortable dining experience, whether you're with friends or just relaxing alone.

The dessert selection is diverse and delightful, featuring fancy cakes in flavors like soy milk, sea salt caramel, strawberry, sea salt Oreo, and matcha. Each cake is beautifully decorated with artistic toppings such as fruit, crumbles, and intricate designs. They also serve Snow by Mochi, which is both visually appealing and delicious, along with a range of unique drinks.

What makes Yiko Yiko stand out even more is that customers can DIY their own cake toppings by contacting them through social media in advance! This adds a personal touch and ensures that each dessert is customized to your preferences.

I tried the Moonlight, a coconut milk drink with jelly, and was impressed by how the staff thoughtfully adjusted the sugar level to suit my preference. Their attentiveness added to the positive experience. They also offer several coffee and sparkling water options.

Yiko Yiko truly delivers on both presentation and taste, making it a delightful spot to enjoy desserts in a warm and charming setting. Highly recommended for anyone craving a sweet and...

The desserts and drinks we got here were divine. They were “Not too sweet” - the ultimate Asian compliment. The fruit teas my parents ordered were refreshing. We shared a mango mini cake, which had fluffy cake and succulent mango pieces.

My personal favorite was their Green Tea Mochi Ball, which I heard about through an Instagram reel. They were matcha-covered mochi that you dip into a slightly sweet/salty cream then into a cup of crunchy toppings. The flavor and texture was perfect.

My family and I came in during a busy Sunday afternoon. Some items weren’t available or you had to wait for some items to get freshly made (my mochi took 15 min to prepare, which was worth it to me). The guy at the register was really nice and communicative to customers about wait times. My impression is that the bakery just opened and their small kitchen staff is working hard to meet the high demand for their desserts.

We paid about $50 for 2 desserts and 4 drinks - a bit pricey but the quality is there. I’d come back and bring more friends...