I tried a bubble waffle - a deliciously moreish Hong Kong comfort food now available in Portsmouth
Pancake day may have been and gone but for those not observing lent there is still plenty of chances to get your hands on light and fluffy batter-based desserts.
The store, run by Olive Chan and Ken Lau, has been open less than a year and specialises in its customisable range of bubble teas. The duo from Hong Kong have now brought one of the region’s favourite food specialities to Portsmouth.
On a wet and windy February day I headed to the shop to give the bubble waffle a try. Now, I love a waffle, be it American or Belgian, you can’t go far wrong. However, I have not heard of a bubble waffle before let alone tried one.
Speaking to Olive at Happy Lab, she explained they were all the craze in Hong Kong with the sweet treats available throughout the city. They share the same characteristics of what would be considered a more traditional waffle in the UK but they are slightly sweeter which enables them to be enjoyed on their own without relying on a topping.
Tucking into a bubble waffle I can see why they have become so popular. The outside forms a crispy sugary shell while the deep ‘bubbles’ means the inside is soft and smooth and almost gooey. It was deliciously moreish.
I definitely recommend giving it a try, especially if you're a fan of waffles, and I polished off the ample portion in a quick time.
Since opening, Happy Lab have introduced a number of desserts to its menu, including a Biscoff Berry Chew and one of Olive’s own inventions, milk toast. The milk toast is inspired by the likes of French Toast with bread topped with a sweet, crisp and and crumbly topping.
Watch the video embedded in this article to see my visit to Happy Lab to try a bubble waffle.