BESFREN

Ambiance: Clean, cute little stools. Perfect for a brief meeting, catch up or impromptu date.
I had the green tea dessert that everyone has been raving about. All I can say is get it! Its light, cool, not too sweet and does not have a bitter taste. The raspberry chocolate macaron is also cute and delicious. My friend had the chocolate chip cookie which if you are a chocolate lover, you will love it. It is super chocolaty. A little too rich for my liking but still good. I will definitely be returning to try the drinks.

Holy cow! Ginger lattes??? I love ginger. The flavor on this drink was incredibly strong and flavorful. I wish they had these in California!
The experience was smooth. Walked into the store to pick up a finger latte and paid something around $ 4.50. It’s close to the cost of Sbux anyway with incredible tasting choice and they have a rewards but 10 get one free stamp.
Loveee!

This place is phenomenal. I had no idea it was sitting at the corner of 5^th Ave right in the middle of the mayhem and had so much to offer. I work across the street and with the Empire State Building traffic often avoid leaving the office during the day. This place is worth it.
They have an incredible selection of cakes, pastries and cookies. The green tea cake is out of this world and something I feel like I would have had while in Japan, not in the middle of NYC. I also loved their Ginseng Green Tea which is delicious and a great pick me up. Haven’t tried the chocolate chip cookie yet but it’s next on my list.
They have good seating so if you want to treat it like a café you are welcome to. Staff are very friendly.
I loved how they sell beauty products on site as well. I have a million of those Korean face masks from when a friend visited Korea and they are phenomenal. Granted the ones BESFREN sells are way more expensive but still reasonable and quality stuff.

Dropped in here because I needed an impromptu place with wifi where I could work. Instead I was delightfully greeted by all of the above AND a case of dessert. Ordered the green tea roll cake which was immediately consumed. Unlike typical roll cakes which are mostly flour/​bread and sandwich a thin layer of cream in between, the roll cakes here are mostly cream encased by a ring of breading. I would describe the consistency of the cream as something in between whipped cream and ice cream so try to eat it right away after you receive it (I liked mine on the frozen side). Definitely coming back to try the salted caramel and tiramisu flavors!

I almost took off two stars, one for bad coffee and the other for the name. The name is terrible but the place itself is fantastic. I cringe every time I see this spelling of what I presume to be «best friend» all cutesyfied with rabbits everywhere.
If you can get past the name it’s a little sweet shop with café seating and lots and lots of carbs and processed sugar deliciousness. And in the corner or by the 5^th ave side there are Korean gifts of which I didn’t fully process as either facial products or ginseng?
Anyway I did appreciate being able to sample with little bites of dessert. The best out of the bunch I sampled was the key lime pie and the rainbow roll which features rainbows and an almost lemon meringue tasting middle cream. The rose mochi filled Bön Bön is a meh. The chocolate pie is good too but I like my chocolate in hard bar form.
I’d be a repeat offender as soon as my waistline will allow.

Why did I just find out about this place??? The drinks and the cakes are to die for.
I had the taro teapuccino iced, and the green tea roll. Both so amazing. I’m so sad that I didn’t frequent this place more when I lived in NYC. This will be the place for dessert and tea/​coffee for me going forward when I visit!
They have so many interesting flavored drinks. I want to try the ginseng latte, pomegranate yuzu tea, and the green tea doughnut next time I visit.
Highly highly recommended!

I don’t think they bake on the weekends, as the pastry display case looked quite sparse — and quite sad — when I arrived (a lot of the items were sold out). I opted for a hot drink instead.
After perusing the menu and looking at the list of ‘top drinks in 2015′, I ordered a ginseng latte. I’m not usually a fan of ginseng, but I figured that I needed a change in palate. I’m really glad that I tried it! The ginseng flavor was not very strong, and I think it would be a great alternative to an afternoon cup of coffee if you want something warm and energizing but can’t or don’t want to have caffeine. Also, they do sell ginseng in the store. so that makes me a little less weary about the quality of the ginseng they use in their drinks.
I don’t know of any other places in the city that offer this drink, so for those adventurous ones, I’d definitely recommend trying it out! The seating isn’t all that comfortable since the tables and stools look about child-​sized, but on a busy Sunday afternoon, we were able to grab a spot and enjoy a bit of people watching through the large floor-​to-​ceiling windows.

Everything was delicious, after eating at Jongro in K-​Town, I had to try some great dessert. My boyfriend got the green teas roll cake which he commented was «super soft and sweet» and of course I had to get the triple chocolate chip cookie which was TDF. I was actually really sad I couldn’t get another picture because my phone died but I’m sure there are more than enough here. It is talked about for a reason, absolutely delicious. The place is really clean and adorable with very cute small tables.
Sad, why?
Their outlets don’t work! — Still 5 stars

Their roll cake is so soft, fluffy and creamy! I’ve tried the jasmine green tea and salted caramel roll cakes and both are really really good. Get this. Get two. Dare I say this is even better than the matcha cream puff at Bibble & Sip.
Raspberry chamomile chiffon donut cake — this looked adorable from the shelf but it’s not as good as their roll cake. It’s a bit like birthday cake consistency.
Pink grapefruit yuja tea — quite good! It’s like a sweet grapefruit citron tea — comes in hot or cold. Need to come back and try any of their ginseng teas /​lattes.

Small bakery and coffee shop with very limited wooden seatings. This place aldo sells korean beauty products.
Got to make use of the extra space!

BESFREN is located within/​behind the Korean ginseng store on the corner of 32^nd and 5^th. Blink and you could miss it.
Seriously, this is some of the best Asian dessert EVER. After a meal at Her Name is Han around the corner, my friends and I dashed real quick around the corner to make it 2 minutes before they close at 8pm on Sunday. This place serves all sorts of baked goods and sweets from truffles to canelle to petit fours. They also sell gelato by il laboratorio del gelato. However, the piece de resistance — the roll cakes in multiple flavors and the chiffon donuts. So many things, so little room in my stomach.
I had bites of my friend’s roll cakes and oh my goodness gracious I was wishing I had gotten those. The jasmine green tea is different because it actually tastes like jasmine tea, not just the normal hardly flavored matcha flavor. The salted caramel is the perfect marriage of salty and sweet. The cream for both are not too sweet, a very fresh milky flavor, and filled with vanilla beans which are my favorite! I will most definitely have every single flavor of these the next time I stop by this dessert shop.
For myself, I ordered the Jasmine Green Tea chiffon donut, which was unique… kind of. It’s nothing like a donut at all, really… more like an Asian pound cake. It tastes like the honey cakes you can get at the Asian supermarket and is a little moist with some sort of honey or sugary sap. The green tea flavor isn’t as pronounced in this cake, but it’s still very delicious though sweeter than the roll cakes. The white chocolate on top makes the «donut» a little hard to eat since its hard on top, but nevertheless it’s a great dessert. I just prefer the outstanding roll cakes more.
Not much seating inside, so I’d suggest this as a take out dessert place. They’ve also got a nice array of interesting hot and cold drinks on their menu also, ranging from ginseng lattes to grapefruit yuzu tea.
Will definitely be back.

This little café is literally on the corner of the block. There are three tables with about 10 or so seats, so it gets a bit cramped if there’s a large group of people.
I first came upon this place in search of something cute that would cheer up my fiancé and the bunny decoration theme was a sure bet to make her feel better. She had also wanted some taro ice cream, but seeing that the weather had been a bit too chilly as of late, I decided that the Taro Teapuccino was a good alternative to get your taro fix.
I tried their Ginger Ginseng Latte and my fiancé had the Taro Teapuccino. Both tasted great. There was a good abundance of taro flavor in the teapuccino, plus the purple color of the drink is different and unique as compared to common colors of a drink. The Ginger Ginseng Latte was flavorful and strong, there were actual chunks of ginger in the latte that really gave it a spiced burn. It went well with the ginseng at the beginning but as I finished my latte, the ginger overpowered the flavor of the ginseng. In the end, I enjoyed both drinks and I think their unique twist and use of ingredients motivates me for another visit.
On my visit, I didn’t try their cookies, but instead ordered a Jasmine Green Tea Roll Cake. The cream inside of this roll cake was thicker and much creamier than roll cakes I’ve tried elsewhere. Lite and flavorful, the green tea was apparent in every forkful. We also ordered their Mango Ginger Mousse, which had a very sugary shell. There was a bit too much sugar in this egg shell like cover for the dessert. Plus the sugary pearls that lined the sides was too much sugar in my opinion. Good thing I had the tea and latte to wash it down otherwise I would not have finished it. The mango ginger mousse filling was very good. I enjoyed the chunks of mango and the rest of the mousse.
Ratings:
Food (out of 2 stars) — 1.5 — Although I found one dessert too sugary, the rest of the drinks and cakes were very good. I enjoyed it enough that I would like to have more.
Décor (out of 1 star) — 0.75 — Small, but they make up for the size with utter cuteness and bunnies. You can’t beat bunnies for décor.
Service (out of 1 star) — 1 — Friendly service and quick to prepare the drinks. Also they do latte art if you ask them to.
Price (out of 1 star) — 0.75 — A tad pricey for some items on their menu, but that’s Manhattan for you, still isn’t the priciest I’ve seen in the city.
Plus they give you a stamp card and for every 10 drinks you will get 1 for free. Don’t forget to ask for a card if you plan on coming back.

A Unilocaler I follow posted a photo of a Raspberry Chamomile Chiffon Doughnut from BESFREN, and I remember that I have walk by them a few times and looking for a special Valentine Day gift of a jewelry box with mini Chaps Truffles, Canelé & Macaroon deserts inside that I saw an advertisement. I was thinking of not doing the usual Godiva Heart box thing for a change but they never had when I went and I never got anything else.
But the doughnut in the photo looked yummy, so off I went to K-​Town where I can play tourist and walk around checking out some of the other spots. Now playing tourist is no game in K-​Town, If you think ‘Running Of The Bulls’ is dangerous then I dare you to stop and stand at 32^nd Street and Broadway, you will have stories to tell your grand-​kids of the experience. Now one more block east across 5^th Avenue is BESFREN.
I soon as I went in could see the four flavors of doughnuts, Salted Caramel, Raspberry Chamonmile, Dark Chocolate Espresso, and Jasmine Green Tea. Also there where slice Roll Cake, Black Forest, Cappuccino, Tiramisu. Mango Mousse, Strawberry, Mascarpone.
Then I saw these mini dessert about 20 different ones their could be more due to selling out but you can get 6 for $ 12. So I went for the Coconut, Salted Caramel Macaroons, Raspberry Truffle, Mini Caramel Canelé, Red Ginseng Mini Napoleon, Lemon Tart, and an extra Rainbow cake roll.
They also have other cakes, cookies, coffee, lattes, tea, even gelato and more. There are a few small tables-​stands in the store that is divided in half between the café and the Red Ginseng product counter. But I needed to get back to my 51^st Street office and try out and share my goodies though.
I had the Red Ginseng Mini Napoleon with a piece of mint white chocolate on top, and I was sorry I ate it. BLAH,
But then came the Salted Caramel Chiffon Doughnut which is really a light cake with cream filling in the small middle hole. And a caramel top that tasted like the brown sugar of a pineapple upside down cake??? The inside of the cake was moist like if some liquid was poured on top and absorbed but I could not pinpoint the flavor other than it taste real good.
But the best I felt was the Tiramisu Cream Roll cake, It was small but I still sliced it so to share with others. It was soft with a light cream center and the edge had powdered Tiramisu sprinkled on top. After I had my piece I went and got more it was so good, I think I ate 3 of the 4 slices, sorry office buddies I will make it up to you next time it was to good just let stay there waiting for a taker, YUM, I had to give in to selfishness and eat it, YUM, YUM, YUM.

The Green Tea Chiffon Donut was sold out, along with a few other desserts that I wanted to try. Perhaps it’s better to visit this place earlier in the day.
Raspberry Chamomile Chiffon Donut– The frosting is made of white chocolate. The donut was okay. It wasn’t as moist as I would have liked. The filling had a lovely scent and taste. ($ 4.50)
I will return to try the giant chocolate chip cookie!

Came here to pick up a few of their desserts after hearing about how popular they are! Yes, this place can be hard to find because there is no sign outside that prominently displays the name «Besfren». In fact, there’s actually a sign with ginseng in the name instead… HUH? To make things simple, just know that it’s the store on the corner of 32^nd and 5^th. The store itself is pretty small with limited seating so definitely have another place in mind to consume your goodies. The place is clean and vibrant and the staff was exceptionally nice! Service may be slow depending on how many people are ordering but that’s understandable since they are popular.
Green tea chiffon doughnut– Gave this to my best friend as a gift for being awesome! It’s one of their most popular desserts and it definitely makes for a great instagram photo. Taste-​wise, he said that he liked the hard icing because it complimented the soft cake very well and that the cake had very nice green tea taste to it.
Triple chocolate chip cookie– Another one of their popular pastries and wow it was so good! The cookie had the perfect texture, probably because the amount of butter used to make it was spot on, and was rich in chocolate flavor! Definitely one of the better chocolate chip cookies that I’ve had. Way better than Schmackary’s. I didn’t know what triple chocolate chip meant but, putting our heads together, my friend and I were able to deduce that the term comes from the fact that the chocolate chips come in 3 different shapes. #2headsarebetterthan1
I don’t remember exactly how much I paid for the two pastries that I got since I was in a hurry but I think it was ~$ 7, which I would say is reasonable. Very nice place that gave off good vibes and has tasty desserts. Pay this place a visit and get something for your best friend as well!

Very interesting exotic options with Korean influences! Didn’t come here with my BESFREN, but with a FREN today. We were super full from eating at Five Senses, but there’s always room for dessert! I love desserts, and there was a $ 12 for 6 promotion for the mini-​desserts that I definitely took advantage of. If you get 6 of them, they come in 6 mini display boxes encased in a larger box that’s perfect for gift giving.
My FREN ordered a Choco Berry drink that tasted like a chocolate covered strawberry. Would be nice if the drink were a bit creamier and thicker; some foam would also be nice. The flavor could be a bit stronger too. #sweetfoodiedreams haha c: Perfect drink for the winter!
My 6 mini-​desserts:
1. Lemon egg tart– nice and tangy; lemon taste, however, was a bit strong, and encased in a crust with an eggy taste like that of a Chinese egg tart.
2. Rose Mini-​Dessert That I Forgot the Name Of– could be more soft and moist. The inner outer part that encased the rose flavor was dry and stale. Took some effort to bite into.
3. Red Ginseng Bön Bön — had a great chocolatey taste altogether; viscous ginger layer was rich and smooth. It would be nice if there were a chocolate truffle version with the viscous ginger syrup centered in the core and surrounded by the same smooth chocolate.
4. Chocolate Ganache Napoleon– pumps of chocolate ganache sandwiched between flaky puff pastry layers topped with a chocolate finished with the BESFREN logo. Yummy!
5. Raspberry Mini-​Dessert That I Forgot the Name Of– this was recommended by the staff member who was assisting me. The raspberries itself were what made this taste good as a whole. The «cake» layer could be more moist, but that’s just my preference.
6. Raspberry Chocolate Macaron– the macaron shells caught me off guard. Although they felt steady between my fingers, they were incredibly soft when I bit them. Perhaps they were a few days old or refrigerated too long? Chocolate ganache was on point tho.
Other desserts:
1. Rum flavored Canelle from Celine–
Maybe because this is not made by BESFREN, I had mixed feelings about the Rum Canelle, which could likely be attributed to my timing.
2. Champagne Truffle– chocolate taste was nice and sweet as usual, but I did not taste any alcohol, and thus not even the Champagne.
Final Verdict: ⁴⁄₅
+The mini-​desserts were cute, small, and tasty. Perfect for anyone who loves desserts, and wants to try a lot of them at once. I would not recommend the macarons; you can get them almost anywhere else anyways.
++It would be nice if BESFREN also showed pictures of what the inside of the pastry looked liked and listed (optional) the ingredients like Paris Baguette.
+++The white rabbit theme throughout the café is really cute and innocent. I’ll be back to try the drinks, cookies, and roll cakes.

Pastries. I love em. Like, a lot. I’ve tried them from lots of different countries and cultures. However, when it comes to Korean pastries, I really can’t say that I’ve had any. Korean savory food, of course, yes, and, I love it, but was unfamiliar with the Korean world of pastry. So, I needed to check out BESFREN in K-​Town, NYC
Along with their own in-​house made classic Korean pastries, with a modern twist, you’ll find some classic pastry items like chocolate chip cookies, and items from local vendors.
Now, these guys have been getting a lot of Insta-​love for their Triple Chocolate Cookie, so, I had to see what all the hype was about. First off, it’s large and in charge, pretty much the only way I like my cookies. There are three variations of chocolate chunks, hence, the triple part. Now, the cookie is super delicious, but, I wouldn’t go so far to say it’s anything ground breaking, it tastes like a good chocolate chip cookie. What they got really right is the great consistency, the edges are slightly crisp, the center is soft and chewy, and the chocolate chunks are rich and melty. So, while it’s not the most unique thing there, for it’s size, at only $ 2.50, it’s certainly worth getting.
Then, I went with something more unique to the shop, I got their Jasmine Green Tea Roll Cake. Visually, it’s really pretty and definitely photogenic (because, in this age, if you didn’t take a picture of it, it never happened). The cake is super moist (terrible word) and somewhat spongy, with a light green tea flavor. The center is where you’ll get a much more rich and strong green tea flavor, with the consistency of a buttercream. All together, it’s lovely and delicious, and has a feeling of decadence, yet still light enough so that you can scarf down that mega cookie.

Pictures are deceiving!
As good as this green tea chiffon donut looks, I wasn’t all that pleased. I was having the craziest doughnut cravings and went here right before yoga (YES I KNOW, SHAME ON ME) expecting it to be one of those dessert spots I’ll return to but I don’t think I will. It was more of a cake, not a donut. The green tea chocolate layer on the top didn’t go well with the cake and the cream in the middle wasn’t any better. Thought I’d go to yoga with one less problem but nope.

Cute and bright café. It’s a shared space with a ginseng shop. There’s only a handful of tiny tables so it’s more of a grab and go spot, unless you’re with just one or two others.
With an hour to kill before dinner at Her Name is Han, I met up with the birthday girl for tea and a few of the desserts. They source gelato from il labaratorio de gelato and macarons from Bisous Ciao but mostly everything else is homemade. I ended up getting the ginseng ginger latte and we split the jasmine green tea chiffon doughnut and a mango ginger mousse. Service was pleasant and quick.
Where else can you get ginseng lattes? This was my first and it was good. Very gingery. Rejuvenating, although a tad on the sweeter side. As for the desserts, they definitely look better than they taste but both were decent. The doughnut had a distinct green tea flavor but texture wise, tasted nothing like a doughnut. It was more spongy and on the drier side. The icing, which I expected to be soft for some reason, was a hard chocolate shell and impenetrable with just a fork. It was some very delicious chocolate though!
We agreed that the mousse was the better of the two although I’m a sucker for anything mango. This dessert was also encompassed in a chocolate shell but the center was a delightful mango mousse with mango chunks and a hint of ginger. We wanted more!
I’d definitely come back to get another ginseng latte and try some of their other desserts (cookie !)

What I liked:
— Jasmine green tea roll cake! Really liked this, the cream wasn’t heavy and was kind of like an ice cream texture.
— They have a stamp card
— Outlets next to the wall (get the seats next to the wall)
— BUNNIES on their coffee sleeves, bunnies
What I didn’t like:
— Small stools and having to lean on the window because my back hurts
It’s weird that they share the same space as a ginseng beauty store, but I guess you can sit and stare at face masks while you sip your latte.