When in La Union, no matter what the weather, it always seems to be the perfect time to enjoy a sweet cold treat like ice cream. The next time you’re in San Juan, La Union and you find yourself craving some quality ice cream, sweet treats, and desserts, make your way to Halu Ice Cream.
Halu is a cozy ice cream shop and dessert store located along the National Highway in San Juan, La Union; just a few minutes away from the beach.
Halu is a homegrown brand started by Sab Potenciano, Trixie Ison, and Jess Pantalla, who started selling their homemade ice cream in the midst of the pandemic. In 2023, they finally opened a physical store in the north’s “Surfing Capital”.
We checked out their store was instantly fell in love with their space. It’s like entering a very cutesy ice cream store that belonged in a fairy tale world. The walls were painted purple and pink, the counter featured murals of swirly flowers, and even their cozy tables were shaped like flowers. If you love all things cute and colorful, you’ll feel right at home at Halu.
Halu currently has 18 ice cream flavors on the menu, with 11 of them having a vegan option. Some of my favorite flavors were Mango Tango which comes with a tamarind syrup drizzle and a sprinkle of Tajin seasoning, offering the perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy; and the new Maminkmink flavor which is a sweet yet light combination of melon and dragon fruit ice cream.
All of Halu’s ice cream variants are made with coconut cream and coconut milk. The only difference between the vegan and non-vegan options is the use of regular condensed milk.
Because Halu’s ice cream is mostly coconut milk, it’s definitely a lot lighter on the gut than regular ice cream. It’s perfect for anyone who is lactose intolerant or lactose sensitive. Even after eating multiple scoops of Halu’s ice cream, it still felt guilt-free.
It’s amazing how Halu was able to formulate coconut-based ice cream that tastes just as rich and is just as thick as premium ice cream completely made with dairy. When it comes to taste and consistency, you probably wouldn’t even notice that their ice cream is completely coconut-based, except for how good and light it feels in the stomach.
You can enjoy Halu Ice Cream in cups or in their waffle cones that are made in-house. Personally, I couldn’t get enough of their waffle cones and waffle crisps; they’re ultra-thin yet packed with flavor. And if you opt to get scoops of ice cream, don’t expect to receive just a literal scoop of ice cream. Each order comes with toppings and sauce drizzles, too!
The great thing about Halu is that you can enjoy their ice cream in a variety of ways. They’ve partnered with Masa Bakehouse for freshly baked goods that are perfect to partner with their coconut-based ice cream.
First, there’s the classic ice cream sandwich—or at least Halu’s version of the sorbetes sandwich we all grew up with. It features a scoop of Halu Ice Cream sandwiched in a fluffy and tasty brioche bun from Masa. Of course, you can expect this thing to be massive. It also comes with additional toppings depending on which ice cream flavor you choose.
For something extra cutesy that definitely deserves a spot on your IG feed, try the à la mode Kamote Donut. If you’re familiar with Masa’s Kamote Donut, it’s pretty much the same thing, except Halu serves a customized flower-shaped kamote donut with a scoop of ice cream on top!
They also serve French Toast with ice cream, featuring a massive slice of freshly-baked bread from Masa Bakehouse.
And for a classic yet elevated Pinoy favorite, try their delicious Turon topped with ice cream and syrup. They recommend pairing it with their Cheesy Coco ice cream (a.k.a. classic cheese).
If you’re in the mood for cold drinks, you can try an ice cream shake with whatever flavor of ice cream you want.
You also have to try their ice cream floats. We’d recommend the Maminkmink Fizz, which is basically a cup of Milkis soda topped with their melon-dragon fruit ice cream. It’s the perfect combination, IMHO!
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Halu also has massive palm-sized cookies available on the menu. These sweet treats are made in-house and are available in a variety of options, including Matcha Mochi, Cookies and Cream Cheesecake, and regular Choco Chip Cookie. It’s a great pasalubong option to bring home to your family after a weekend escape to LU.
Want to let everyone at home taste Halu’s ice cream, too? You can opt to get ice cream by the tub. They have multiple sizes available—from a pint to 1 gallon.
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In case you’re planning an event, party, or special occasion in La Union, give your guests the gift of ice cream with Halu’s ice cream bar specifically created to cater events! Who wouldn’t love premium ice cream at their La Union party?
With the brand’s extensive menu, various flavors, beautiful food presentation, and stunning physical store, Halu proves that ice cream doesn’t have to be just ice cream. It can be even more fun and exciting than just your regular ice cream flavors on a regular ice cream cone. Plus, ice cream can also be guilt-free thanks to Halu!
The next time you’re in La Union, treat yourself to premium coconut-based ice cream at Halu Ice Cream.
Halu Ice Cream
G/F Plaza de Castiel Hotel, San Juan, La Union
Open from Wednesday to Monday, 12 NN to 9:30 PM
instagram.com/_hellohalu
tiktok.com/@_hellohalu
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