Downtown Gangneung gelato café with three small cups: Hi Gelato

While traveling around Gangneung looking for good desserts, I stopped by Hi Gelato, a well-known gelato spot in downtown Gangneung. Gangneung has so many famous dessert shops, but this time I decided to try gelato, since you can pick and choose from so many different flavors!

Where is Hi Gelato in Gangneung and how to get there

Hi Gelato is on Toseong-ro in downtown Gangneung, so it was easy to stop by while sightseeing. I liked that I didn't have to travel far out of my way—it's an easy, casual visit right in the city center.

What Hi Gelato looks like from the street

Inside Hi Gelato: seating and atmosphere

Hi Gelato's menu and the three flavours chosen

Walking in, there were so many gelato flavors ready that I spent a long time agonizing over what to choose haha. From familiar everyday flavors to distinctive ones that made me curious just from the name, there was plenty to choose from depending on your taste. After much deliberation, I ordered three small cups: Custard Chocolate, Cinnamon Cookie Hard, and Jinmisuyu Galbit-urak.

They said they'd give me tasting spoons so I could try other flavors too, so I picked Mango Strawberry Jeongbunsodong and Pistachio as my tasting spoons! I also loved that this place has Gangneung's famous soft tofu gelato alongside the regular gelato. It would feel like a shame to skip the soft tofu gelato on a Gangneung trip, so being able to enjoy it together with other distinctive flavors was even better haha.

Three small cups and that chewy gelato texture

I ordered three small cups: Custard Chocolate, Cinnamon Cookie Hard, and Jinmisuyu Galbit-urak. 🍨 The texture of the gelato really stood out. It felt much chewier than regular ice cream—you could feel that chewiness the moment you scooped it with a spoon. It melted smoothly in the mouth but left that chewy texture behind, so I really got to feel gelato's own particular charm. Each flavor also had a distinct personality, so it was fun going back and forth comparing all three.

Two extra flavours from Hi Gelato's tasting spoons

And what I really liked was that they give you tasting spoons! Since I could try other flavors too, I went back and forth and ended up choosing Mango Strawberry Jeongbunsodong and Pistachio as my tastes. Being able to try several extra flavors with small spoons seems great for first-time visitors who are unsure what to order. I felt like I got to experience so many flavors at once, which made the whole visit feel much more worthwhile haha.

The best flavour: Jinmisuyu Galbit-urak with brown cheese

Of everything I tried, the brown cheese-based Jinmisuyu Galbit-urak was my favorite. 🤎 The salty yet savory character of brown cheese paired really well with the gelato, and instead of just tasting sweet, the deep flavor of the cheese was added on top, making it a flavor I kept thinking about. If I had to pick my personal favorite from everything I ate this time, I'd choose Jinmisuyu Galbit-urak without a second thought haha.

The pistachio I tried via the tasting spoon was also really delicious. It had that unmistakably rich, nutty pistachio flavor, so pistachio lovers in particular would really enjoy it. The pistachio flavor was much more intense than I expected—the nutty aroma hit right from the first bite.

Is Hi Gelato in Gangneung worth a visit?

Overall, I was satisfied with how Hi Gelato lets you enjoy a variety of chewy-textured gelato flavors, and the tasting spoons made it possible to try even more. Best of all, it's located right in downtown Gangneung, so it's easy to fit into your travel route and has good accessibility—perfect for stopping by whenever you're craving dessert during a Gangneung trip. If you want to try the soft tofu gelato in Gangneung along with a range of unique gelato flavors, I'd recommend giving this place a visit! 🍨🤎