Kekou Gelato House

I’ve procrastinated on writing a review for this place, but hey, what counts is that I’m getting to it right?!
This summer I was hanging out with my friend in Canada and she took me here after walking around Eaton Centre and hanging out at the Youth Faire that was happening at Dundas Square.
When we got there, I was overwhelmed by all the flavors that they had. I felt like a kid in a candy store! I’m not too big a fan of sweets, but this place definitely caught my eye, so much so that when I went to explore Toronto by myself, I stopped by AGAIN to try more flavors!
I absolutely love the spicy salted pineapple flavor. How they are able to achieve that amazing combination just baffles me. It’s an explosion of flavor in your mouth when you take your first bite. It’s a bit salty, then spicy, then sweet. I couldn’t have enough of it!
I also love that they have milk tea flavors, vietnamese coffee, durian, and other exotic fruits.
Best gelato I’ve had anywhere, hands down. I can’t wait to come back and have some more again. We definitely need to have one of these in the states.

Like all the other reviews written here — it is seriously one of the best gelato places I’ve been.
The first time I had was the Tsing Tao Peach. What a combination! You can really distinctively taste the peach mix with the Tsing Tao (which is a Chinese beer btw). It’s sweet, refreshing (perfect for the summer) and you can a little tipsy from it.
Other flavors I recommend include the Green Tea Whisky, Makegolli, Viet Milk Tea, HK Style Milk Tea, Seasame (THE BEST!).
You can order 1 or 2 flavors. If it’s your first time, definitely do more variety so you can know which ones you like. If you’re with a few friends, get a wide variety and share!
They also provide sampling if you’re not sure how it will taste like (very nice and friendly staff). You can also buy a tube home if you definitely know you want more of this delicious stuff!
Remember to collect and bring your stamp card!

The few desserts in my life that I will ceaselessly continue to enjoy until my inevitable death include: ice-​cream and 3 kinds of pie (a la mode).
I was already stuffed from dinner that I had just scarfed down less than 20 minutes ago, but Kekou was on my list of «must eats,» so I soldiered on.
When I got there and saw the various flavours and was hit by a wall of the oh-​so-​amazing durian aroma.
The milk tea was amazing, it tasted like the real stuff and maybe even better. It’s great when paired with the Tsingtao peach and osmanthus. Another combination I recommend would be the durian, whiskey green tea, and soursop — simply heavenly. Texture was smoother than Barney Stinson, hands down.
I was on vacation and had a packed schedule but still made time to get down to Kekou every night for five days. That’s how good it is.

There were so many options! So many options that I’ve never even seen, but boy am I glad I tried a few of them. I had the sour sop, which was absolutely spectacular and Vietnamese coffee, which wasn’t as good as what I had hoped (I was expecting it to be like the coffee itself). Nonetheless, the staff was great, the place clean, it’s located in a nice little pocket in the city, and the business itself is actually run out of what looks like a converted house, which is wicked.
Definitely stop by, because I think you’re in for a surprise.

Not a big fan of gelato but definitely a big fan of the flavours they have here. You can get a small size with two flavours for $ 3.75. They also offer samples which is good because I wanted to try durian without actually committing to it. The conclusion is no I would never get it. However, I did end up getting the black sesame, and the staff suggested I try it with peanut sesame. Glad she did because I preferred the peanut sesame more. They do take-​away as well, I believe it’s $ 9 for a pint.
I definitely understand why this place is so popular. They offer new and exciting Asian inspired flavours such as Durian, Hong Kong Milk tea and Tsing Tao Peach, which is a nice change from the usual. It was really nice to see so many people enjoying gelato inside and outside the place. I hope to make it out again before the end of summer.

Yes for the roasted oolong tea! So refreshing for a humid summer day.
The durian gelato has a stronger taste, but I still prefer the tea flavor.
Moderate price.
Just be careful when you hold the waffle cone cuz the gelato melts very fast.

5 stars for the durian gelato! It was nothing short of eating the real thing — pungent, creamy and delicious. Even if you don’t like durian I think you will still be pretty impressed with the creative selection — roasted oolong, Hk milk tea, Tsing Tao peach, Viet coffee, rice wine milk and even spicy salted pineapple (what?). I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these. Another thing I loved was the creativity in the waffle cones. There were seasame and even seaweed flavours — we tried both and thumbs up :)
Definitely a great place to have fun trying different options before making a decision — it could be a hard one. We had no shame and asked to try 5+ items each and the staff was still really friendly about it. Will definitely be back!

Perfect gelato spot! Combine specialty asian flavours and mighty gelato!
I had the durian (some people might hated that) and black sesame gelato, it’s so creamy and good I want to cry!!! I always loved gelato over ice cream, and Asian flavours over the usual. This place combine two of my favourite so I am loving this spot, will visit whenever I am around the neighbourhood.
P. S. Gelato is less fattening than ice cream

Excellent gelato shop for its rich, unique flavours and for its fair prices.
It is open at 3:30PM on Mondays-​Thursdays (I think) so don’t be depressed if you see it closed on a morning gelato run!
They don’t serve the typical Italian gelato flavours here – think more Asian fusion. I love the HK milk tea, black sesame and white choc & red bean flavours. Tried roasted oolong but the HK milk tea was slightly more flavourful. There are different kinds of cones as well, such as regular and seaweed (the seaweed is not overwhelming which is nice).
There is «happy hour» from 3:30 — 5:30PM, where you can get double your stamps! The stamp card is great, and 9 stamps = 1 medium cup /​1 scoop on any cone /​1 cooler bag.
There is a small seating area with benches out front.

During a trip to Toronto last week that spanned 3 nights, I had Kekou Gelato all three nights. Yes, it was that delicious. Hailing from NYC, I come from a place where there’s plenty of gelato and ice cream spots around town, such as Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. However, CICF doesn’t even come close to Kekou when it comes to interesting Asian-​inspired flavors. There are no seats inside, but plenty of seats outside. From what I’ve heard, it’s rumored that this place doesn’t stay open during cold season.
As many have said, the flavors here taste exactly like they sound like. Of the three times I visited, I had the following:
— Durian — tastes JUST like fresh durian, but it’s not fresh durian. Seriously. It’s an acquired taste and smell for sure, but for durian lovers, this is a must.
— Oolong milk tea — I preferred this over the HK milk tea… tastes just like the real thing and actually has a lot of tea flavor in it
— Avocado banana — this is really rich and thick but the two actually make for a delicious combination. It’s definitely a heavier option
— Soursop — I love soursop! It’s light, tangy, and refreshing.
— Osmanthus berry — you can barely taste the osmanthus but the berry flavor is extreme.
— You can actually taste the alcohol in the alcoholic flavors
They have many, many other varieties to choose from and honestly, they’re all delicious. I love the flavors they have here and the fact that they taste exactly like they’re supposed to. This is going to be a must-​visit everytime I’m in Toronto from now on!
PS: they have frequent buyer punch cards, too!

I love this place! The first time I saw it, a friend and I had just had some ramen on Baldwin and she had mentioned an asian gelato shop in the area, we were disappointed to find it closed. However, all was redeemed when we finally got to try it the next time we were in the area. The flavours are so interesting and delicious! It’s so hard to choose! Definitely check out their unique, smooth tasting gelato!

I feel a deep sadness for anyone who has not tried this gelato place yet. I love this restaurant so much that I am willing to overlook all its faults (tiny, overly-​warm and super crowded) because it is simply… delicious.
And addicting.
Kekou Gelato House is nestled amongst other food-​related «stuff» like cafes and restaurants. Christmas lights are draped outside from one end to the other, hanging over long, wooden benches. No matter what the weather is like, there are people milling about, happily scooping out ice cream with their brightly coloured spoons. Upon entering I get a blast of warmth, which undoubtedly feels comforting in the winter but unbearable in the summer. The menu is supposed to be «Asian-​inspired», including flavours such as durian and Tsing Tao Plum.
When you pick your cup size for your ice cream, the «small» and «medium» size can hold 2 flavours, but the «large» size offers you up to 3 flavours if requested. They let you try out samples before ordering, and it’s usually a quick procession to the cashier despite the lineups. It’s definitely tastier if you eat outside, and there’s a lot more space too!
The fruit and tea flavours are mixed better than the other options in my opinion. The sweetness is very balanced and not overwhelming, while the texture is quite smooth to the tongue. Their sorbets are scrumptious as well! Kekou’s uses a «traditional custard base, which [they] age and pasteurize in house for 10 – 12 hours» (taken from their website), thus combining the ingredients naturally. They have quickly become my dealer in all things sugary. I love it here!
The best part, of course, is their stamp card. After you collect 9 stamps, you can receive a free medium-​sized cup of gelato or sorbet! I am personally insulted that not enough places have this stamp system yet. Free food is the perfect way to encourage people to do anything.

Great gelato, great service. There was a line-​up even before it opened up at 3:30pm. They’re okay with you trying a few flavours before deciding on your 2 or 3 flavours. Tried the durian, and while I’m a fan of eating real durian, the smell/​taste of the durian gelato was very, very strong. So if you’re not a fan of durian, don’t go for it! Had the black sesame and HK style milk tea, both of which were very flavourful!
There’s like a dozen or so flavours that regularly change, but do be careful if you have any allergies though. Only thing is that they should be open more hours each day!

My goal was to try the durian gelato. Upon entering the store there’s this smell that reminds me of home (Malaysia where durian is our national fruit). I don’t know why durian is often described for smelling like hell but it smells and tastes like heaven to me. Anyway, back to reviewing gelato. I knew I was getting durian for sure but I tried black sesame and Vietnamese coffee. I found black sesame would be too sweet to pair with durian so I picked Vietnamese coffee. I told the server what I wanted and she asked if I wanna try before «making such a drastic and bold choice». Lol.
Duran gelato didn’t disappoint at all. It’s creamy and pungent — HEAVEN! I wished I picked two scoops of the same flavour. I bet it tastes better than buying those frozen durian from Chinatown.
I would definitely return for more durian gelato and I highly recommend this place!

I loved the variety of flavours. The sizes and pricing are very fair and it’s cool that you can get 2 flavours in a small.
The service was very efficient, friendly, and helpful.
I can’t wait to go back and try more flavours.
P. S. Durian is interesting, but smells like cat pee.

Amazing gelato. I tried the durian x avocado banana and it tastes just as it sounds. Mmm. The boyfriend got whiskey green tea x red bean white chocolate. The whiskey green tea was a lot strong that expected — the strong matcha flavour at first then you kinda get punched with whiskey. The red bean white chocolate helped to balance it out with its sweetness — definitely more chocolatey than red bean.
Can’t wait to try the other flavours.

You know, contrary to most people, I actually LOVE durian — pungent smell and all.
You know what I also love? Gelato.
So when I find a place that combines two things I love, I. FREAK. THE FLIP. OUT. Kekou Gelato House is a unique ice cream shop in that it turns traditional Asian snack/​fruit flavors into gelato.
First impressions? This shop is cute as heck — the outside is very charming and I love the neighborhood that it’s in. There’s limited seating inside, but there are benches and stairs outside available if you’d like to sit and relax with your creamy treats. It’s also fairly close to Chinatown; like, a ten minute walk.
When we arrived, there was already a hefty line forming out the door, but we made it just in time to beat the rush. I ordered a small cup of the Durian and Vietnamese Coffee gelato. At first, I was wary that the flavor wouldn’t be all there (since a lot of people are actually scared of eating durian, I thought they would’ve toned it down), but they definitely packed it in there! I loved it; and the coffee wasn’t too shabby either, I swear I almost got a caffeine buzz. I also sampled the Spicy Salted Pineapple and the Mango, and they were both fabulous. My family likes to dip sweet pineapple in a chili-​infused salt mixture and I gotta say that the flavor of the gelato was spot on. It would be so awesome to see how they make these ice creams.
Service was incredibly friendly; the girls behind the counter were very informative and answered any questions I had, as well as generous with any samples I wanted. The line also moved pretty quickly, so you can tell that they’re used to the crowds.
I do wish I’d gotten the chance to try out more of their flavors, like the Rice Wine Milk or the Tsingtao Peach — but I guess that means I just need to visit Toronto more often. So, if you’re in the area (or even if you’re not), I definitely recommend!

I had the Whiskey Green Tea and Roasted Oolong Milk Tea gelato.
Though my brother did not enjoy the Whiskey Green Tea as much, I thought both were very good. I suppose its very subjective. The whiskey green tea (made with real whiskey) had a hint of both flavors so it wasn’t too strong of either spectrums. Not enough whiskey to get a small kick but also not the richest green tea flavour I’ve had. Regardless, I found the unique mixture of the two flavors quite enjoyable and innovative! The roasted oolong was nice and rich on the other hand. It was just like having an ice cream version of bubble tea minus the tapioca.
The price is standard for any gelato. which isn’t cheap. Not expensive, but not something you can get on a regular basis. (Unless you drink a frappucino everyday — then maybe you do live that life)
I would also like to point out that the service was great. The employee was patient and kind, allowing me to try many of the different flavors before ordering. I didn’t feel rushed nor bothersome so thumbs up for that.
For such a small store, there’s a really cute seating area outside so it’s quite accommodating. I would definitely go again to try another flavour another day.

When Asian flavors meet Italian ice cream, you get Kekou Gelato. Very difficult to choose what flavor (s) to get but the staff is very accommodating and will let you sample whatever you’d like and do so with a smile. I’ve been to many similar places that seem a little stingy with their samples. Not the case at Kekou.
I ended up getting a scoop of rice wine milk and a scoop of osmantus plum berry. I don’t even know what either is really but they pleased my tastebuds. I liked how the fruitiness of the plum berry mixed with the creaminess of the rice wine milk. Good combo!
It’s a little bit of a stroll through a residential area to get there from Chinatown but not too bad. Indoor and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy gelato regardless of the weather. Flavors change according to what fruits are in season so they give you plenty of reasons to come back and have a loyalty card to reward you.

Who doesn’t love asian flavor gelato!!! I’ve been here two in the past two days and this place is absolutely amazing. All there flavors are extremely unique from Durian to HK milk tea. Today I got the Viet coffee and spicy pineapple, love love love both of them. I would definitely come back multiple times this summer. A small cup of gelato (2 different flavors) came up to $ 3.95 with tax.
The shop is very cute on the inside and they let you try as many flavors as you would like.
Highly recommend this place if your in the area!!!