Sweet News: South Korea's Dessert 39 Opens First SEA Branch in the Philippines

(SPOT.ph) The food scene in Korea is full of surprises—you're likely familiar with their KBBQ and fried chicken, but they've got serious game in the baked goods and pastries department, too. One chain you need to know about is Dessert 39, known for pastries like the flaky Croissant Choux and specialty drinks like the velvety Einspänner coffee. Now, you don't even need to fly out to try their stuff: Dessert 39 has opened its first Southeast Asian branch right here in the Philippines.

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Dessert 39 has officially planted its flag at SM Mall of Asia, setting up shop on the second level of the Entertainment Hall. The space seats 138 people, with an outdoor area that looks out onto Manila Bay—because if you’re going to eat cake and drink matcha by the bucket, you might as well have a sunset as your backdrop.

Design-wise, it closely follows the brand’s South Korean vibe. Expect a light, minimalist space softened by plenty of greenery—or as they like to call it, "planterior." It’s the kind of space designed for long catch-ups or alone time, working your way through Dessert 39's library of desserts, pastries, savories, and beverages.

Founded in Gyeongridan-il, Itaewon in 2015 (they now have over 700 stores in South Korea!), Dessert 39 is a full-blown dessert wonderland for anyone who has a sweet tooth—more so for anyone who also loves a visually pleasing, Instagrammable space. So yes, it tracks that its Philippine outpost would hit the same pleasure points: pretty desserts, photogenic drinks, and several flavor options to choose from.

Start with the cakes. Crowd favorites include the Original Tokyo Roll (P220/slice, P1,045/whole), Pure Milk Cake (P285/slice, P1,565/whole), and the Green Tea Omelet (P60)—that, to be clear, is a cake omelet, not an egg omelet. If nothing scares you more than commitment, Dessert 39 will soon have a Special World Cake sampler, letting you taste your way through a chunk of its 17 cake lineup.

Not in the mood for cake? No problem. There are other baked goods like doughnuts; the cult-favorite Custard Cream Croquant Choux (P198); and the food trend darling that is Salt Bread (P55). The menu further stretches into savory territory with sandwiches, rice bowls, and pasta bowls.

As extensive as the food and dessert selection is, Dessert 39 takes it to another level with its beverages. Coffee drinkers get seven options, including the Einspänner (P180/Grande, P190/Venti), an iced espresso-based drink topped with a cloud of sweetened whipped cream.

Matcha lovers on the other hand can go big (literally) or go home with an option like the Matcha Cream Bucket Latte (P599). Yes, really—that's a whole bucket of matcha. For other tea lovers, Dessert 39 has standouts like the Brown Sugar Milk Tea (P145/Grande, P165/Venti) and the Philippine-exclusive Black Tea Honey Peach (P265/Grande, P285/Venti).

For those abstaining from anything with caffeine, Dessert 39's cold and ice-blended section is just as extensive. You can try their bestselling Strawberry Cream Frappe (P235/Grande, P255/Venti) if you're in the mood for something sweet, tangy, milky, and cold. They also serve something more straightforward: three Philippine-exclusive sparkling juices in Pomelo Grapefruit (P225), Calamansi (P165), and Sakura Lychee (P245).

The Bistro Group brought Dessert 39 to the Philippines as part of its push to expand its lineup of international dining concepts, introducing the South Korean dessert café to the local market.

Dessert 39 is at Level 2 North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City. For more information, check out Dessert 39's Facebook page.