Taipei Mango Shaved Ice

Mango shaved ice is a Taiwanese summer dessert made of finely shaved ice piled with fresh mango and drizzled with condensed milk, and the shops around Yongkang Street made it famous worldwide. On a summer afternoon, tourists hold up their phones in front of the No. 15 corner — the spot where Taipei mango shaved ice gained international fame. A large plate piled high with bright orange Irwin mango chunks, drizzled with condensed milk and topped with a scoop of mango ice cream: dig in and feel cold sweetness dissolve in your mouth.

The pioneer of Yongkang Street mango shaved ice was Bing Guan, founded by Luo Jun-hua; sources disagree on the exact founding year (one report cites 1997, another cites a 2005 opening at the No. 15 corner on Yongkang Street), so this guide does not commit to a single date. CNN once named Bing Guan's mango ice (later rebranded ICE MONSTER) one of the 'world's top 10 desserts.' Hit by the collapse in tourism during COVID-19, the original Yongkang shop permanently closed in December 2020; Smoothie House now operates at the same address as a separate business. Irwin mango season runs roughly May to August, with Tainan's Yujing District as the leading growing area; off-season, shops typically switch to Jinhwang mango or frozen fruit.

What is Mango Shaved Ice

Taipei mango shaved ice uses finely shaved ice or snow ice as a base, piled with generous chunks of Irwin mango, drizzled with condensed milk or mango sauce, and often topped with a scoop of mango ice cream or a spoonful of pudding. During the peak season (roughly May to August), Tainan Yujing Irwin mangoes are at their sweetest. Off-season, shops switch to Pingtung Jinhwang or frozen mango — a noticeable difference. Regulars specifically time visits to the harvest season.

No. 15 Yongkang Street, the corner location, is the former site of Binguan — considered the originator of mango shaved ice, the shop that brought the dessert from a local snack to international media coverage. After Binguan closed, Smoothie House (Si Mu Xi) took over the same address and continues the role of tourist landmark. Honest note: Binguan and Smoothie House are different operators. Do not transfer Binguan's historical reputation directly to the current tenant, and do not conflate the two.

How to eat it like a local

Local knowledge

Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, the Taipei City Government Tourism website, and large-scale public reviews; sponsored content has been filtered out. Photos are placeholders until Dio's on-site shots replace them with exclusive channel footage.