Kyungsung café with a friend: shovel-spoon melon bingsu, Taerae Queen

Where is Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch, and what are its hours?

Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch is on the 1st floor of 11 Yongso-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, and it is open every day from 12:00 to 24:00. Last order is at 23:30, and takeout, delivery and Wi-Fi are all available.

Why we picked a thread bingsu café near Kyungsung University on our Busan trip

On day 2 of our Busan trip, after lunch, I stopped by Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch with a friend. Busan was still hot in the daytime, so we wanted something cold and sweet. While searching, we found this place, famous for thread bingsu, called a new revolution in the bingsu world, and decided to try it.

This is the thread bingsu that was a legendary hit with long waits at hot spots around the capital area like Gangnam, Sinnonhyeon and Hongdae, and now you can have it in Busan too! The entrance looks different from the inside, which is cozy and tidy, with generous space between tables. It seems like a good place to chat with a partner or friends.

What is thread bingsu (taerae bingsu)?

Taerae Queen's taerae bingsu recreates kkultarae, the dragon's beard candy you see on the streets of Myeongdong in Seoul, a snack made by pulling and stretching malt sugar. Looking at the menu, I thought again about how unique this bingsu is.

It was a while ago now, but snowflake bingsu was once a huge craze, and everyone ate it even after summer and in winter. They say taerae bingsu has taken that spot. Thread bingsu? The name may sound unfamiliar, but just think of kkultarae and it's easy. Its texture is very unusual and fun.

Recommended and new bingsu at Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch

The four best-sellers here are red bean injeolmi taerae bingsu, apple mango taerae bingsu, Dwaejibar taerae bingsu and ripe persimmon mango taerae bingsu. New this time are Shine Muscat, ube, milk chocolate and fresh melon. I wanted cool, sweet melon, so I ordered the fresh melon.

Personally, I recommend fruit bingsu over chocolate bingsu, since it's more refreshing and doesn't leave your mouth feeling dry!

Fresh Melon Taerae Bingsu: price and what's in it

Fresh Melon Taerae Bingsu costs ₩17,500 and comes with fresh melon, chapssal-tteok (glutinous rice cake), cereal and thread-like milk bingsu.

• Fresh Melon Taerae Bingsu ₩17,500
• Fresh melon + chapssal-tteok + cereal + thread-like milk bingsu
• Besides cereal, you can add more toppings like choco balls, granola and injeolmi powder to have fun with it

The texture of taerae bingsu, eaten with a shovel-shaped spoon

Even the spoon at Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch is shaped like a shovel, so it was clearly no ordinary place, haha. As you can see in the photos, it isn't ordinary bingsu: you can see each strand alive like a skein of thread, and the texture is different from regular bingsu. My friend and I started shoveling (?) away at it in no time.

How does 100% milk bingsu with late-season melon taste?

Taerae Queen makes its bingsu with a 100% milk base and no water, so you get the milk's smoothness and rich, nutty flavor as it is. Naturally, it goes well with cereal and with fruit too.

It felt like scooping up the milk left over from a fancy bowl of cereal?! Cold and sweet in the mouth, so goodbye, summer. Even though melon season is almost over, the melon wasn't mushy and tasted sweet, so they seem to prepare it with high-sugar fresh fruit.

Beyond bingsu: what else Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch serves

Besides thread bingsu, Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch also sells yogurt taerae ice cream, roasted coffee, homemade-syrup ades and other drinks and desserts. This was my first visit, so I tried the thread bingsu: the one-of-a-kind-looking thread bingsu, cleared!

With studying and assignments, students must crave sugar badly, so, super power~! It's near Kyungsung University, so it's the kind of café students would love.

Who should visit Taerae Queen Kyungsung University Branch?

• If you're tired of regular bingsu and want one with a different look and texture
• If you want the fun of taking photos as well as eating
• If you want to eat bingsu with a variety of toppings