If you're a foodie with a sweet tooth, you MUST try Ah-Boong, a Korean dessert that is loved by many.
There are several places in Northern California that you can try Ah-Boong and other traditional variations of this special dessert, but the closest to Sacramento is Somisomi in Elk Grove.
Somisomi's Ah-Boong is a fish-shaped waffle cone ("taiyaki") that's filled with whatever filling you'd like - custard, Nutella, red bean, red bean and cream cheese, or taro. YUM! Then, it's topped with soft serve and other toppings like Oreo crumbs, strawberry, macaron, graham crackers, Fruity Pebbles, and rainbow sprinkles, to name a few.
If you're just looking for soft serve, Somisomi has cups available without the taiyaki cone.
It's important to me that you get a full understanding of Ah-Boong and taiyaki's history. I myself don't know much about it, and so I am currently learning about it. But I also wanted to share these beautiful desserts with you to try, because I admire how delicious and special they look! Much of the information I just provided is directly from Somisomi's website, but a Google search also shows way more information on the beginnings of these desserts.
Taiyaki's origin dates back to the 18th century in Japan and is traditionally filled with sweet red bean paste. According to Japan Experience, other shapes were used to increase sales of the desserts like turtles ("Kameyaki" or "grilled turtle") and rabbits ("usagiyaki"). The other animal shapes were not as popular as the fish-shaped cakes, however.
Read more about taiyaki's origin and history here.