南山区（Nanshan District）

荔芳传统糖水铺 – The OG Mango Temple

• Liwan Nostalgia in a Bowl

  Opened in 2019 by two Cantonese sisters who missed their grandma’s slow-cooked tong-sui, this shoe-box shop in Nanshan has become the city’s worst-kept secret. Tables are shared, benches spill onto the pavement, and locals order “one for here, three to go”.

  • Must-Order
    • Yang Zhi Gan Lu (¥18) – golf-ball-sized mango cubes, real coconut milk, zero artificial color.
    • Taro Balls & Red-Bean Pudding (¥16) – silky milk jelly layered with hand-rolled taro balls.
  • Damage ¥24 per head
  • Address 111 Lifang 1st St, Nanshan District (7-min walk from Line 11, Houhai Station Exit G)
  • Reservation? Walk-in only. Expect 15-30 min queue after 19:30.
  • Seating 12 inside stools + 8 curb-side benches; high-chairs unavailable but staff will hold toddlers on laps if needed.
  • Service Style Order at counter, food delivered to table. English menu photos on wall.
  • Other Diners Say> “Mango chunks were bigger than my spoon! Worth the sidewalk squat.” – @l.a.foodie> “We came with a stroller—team lifted it over the step for us.” – TripAdvisor family review

予棠糖水 – Modern Swirls & Instagram Gold

• • Must-Order
    • Rice-Mochi & Taro “Phoenix Milk” (¥22) – stretchy mochi, slow-steamed taro, egg-yolk custard.
    • Whole Pear Winter Warmer (¥26) – one complete snow-pear stuffed with lotus seeds & loquat, slow-stewed.
    • Pistachio Paste Soup (¥20) – thick, nutty, sprinkled with mini rice balls.
  • Damage ¥30 per head
  • Address Shop E50, 1F, Bldg 56, Xin’an West Rd, Bao’an District (Line 5, Lingzhi Station Exit A, 5-min walk)
  • Reservation? Not required; however, weekends see 45 min waits. They open a WeChat mini-program wait-list—scan the QR outside.
  • Ambience Lo-fi beats, pastel walls, neon “Sugar is Life” sign—pure IG bait.
  • Family Perks One high-chair, changing mat in unisex toilet, allergy chart at counter.
  • Other Diners Say> “Pistachio soup tastes like liquid gelato—kid licked the bowl.” – @momabroad> “Staff spoke perfect English and swapped dairy for oat milk at no extra cost.” – Yelp elite

福田区（Futian District）

阅莲轩潮汕甜品 – Teochew Snow & Crunch

• • Must-Order
    • Teochew Five-Grain Soup (¥19) – gingko, red dates, sweet potato, water-chestnut & crunchy “ginger-taro”.
    • Black-Sesame & Taro Snow Ice (¥22) – airy ribbons of sesame ice topped with warm taro mash.
  • Damage ¥29 per head
  • Address 1F, Bagualing Food Alley, Futian District (Line 9, Yuanling Station Exit B, 3-min walk)
  • Reservation? Groups 4+ can DM on Instagram @yuelianxuan 1 day ahead; otherwise walk-in.
  • Experience Counter seating for 10; chef narrates the origin of each ingredient while shaving ice—kids love the mini-show.
  • Other Diners Say> “Ginger-taro crunch was like sweet water-chestnut—never tasted anything like it.” – @nom_life> “Quiet alley hideaway; perfect escape from Futian chaos.” – Google review

 黄氏养生甜品 – Grandma Wong’s Elixirs

• • Must-Order
    • Hand-Pulled Ginger Milk Curd (¥14) – 30-second tableside “collision” of hot ginger juice & milk. Spicy-sweet.
    • Double-Skin Milk w/ Mango (¥18) – chilled milk custard under a blanket of mango cubes.
    • Red-Bean & Sesame Tang-Yuan (¥16) – warm glutinous balls in silky bean paste.
  • Damage ¥21 per head
  • Address 35-4 Zhongkang Rd, Meilin Subdistrict, Futian (Line 9, Meilin Station Exit C2, 2-min walk)
  • Reservation? Not accepted; 6 tables, arrive before 20:00 for seats.
  • Interactive Moment Mr. Wong times the ginger-milk reaction with an hourglass; kids get to flip it.
  • Other Diners Say> “Ginger curd cleared my sinuses and tasted like dessert—double win.” – @expatmom> “Grandpa Wong gave my daughter a free red-bean dumpling because she asked questions in Cantonese.” – TripAdvisor

百草堂祖传凉茶铺 – Heritage Cooling in Shekou

 中福棠•传统糖水铺 – Silken Tofu & Summer Rescue

• • Must-Order
    • Milk Dew Tofu Pudding (¥16) – silky house-pressed tofu swimming in chilled evaporated milk.
    • Chilled Mung-Bean Soup (¥12) – rock-sugar sweetness, pandan leaf aroma.
  • Damage ¥20 per head
  • Address 171-3 Jinglong Middle Ring Rd, Longhua (Line 4, Longhua Station Exit D, 350 m south)
  • Reservation? Not needed; 14 seats, 4 high-chairs.
  • Cultural Nugget Wall mural explains how tofu was once a “poor man’s dessert”—great conversation starter for kids.
  • Other Diners Say> “Mung-bean soup tastes like childhood summers.” – Dianping local

罗湖区（Luohu District）

章姐水牛奶糖水铺 – Milk Bombs & Mango Pearls

• Must-Order
  • Hainan Qing Bu Liang (¥20) – coconut milk, barley, red dates, taro cubes, basil seeds.
  • Mango-Coconut Popping Boba (¥18) – mango spheres burst like caviar.
• Damage ¥22 per head
• Address 49 1F, Bldg 32, Xinzhou Village, Beicun 1st St, Futian (Line 3, Shixia Exit B, 5-min walk)
• Reservation? No; 10 stools, outdoor milk-crate seating.
• Pro Tip Ask for less ice—coconut milk thickens as it warms.
• Other Diners Say> “Queue moves fast, but the mango boba explosion is worth the sidewalk wait.” – @foodiehk

 南街清补凉 – Pineapple Ice & Unexpected Crunch

• Must-Order
  • Pineapple Ice Sea Jelly (¥19) – diced pineapple, sea-bird-nest jelly, single scoop of soft-serve.
• Damage ¥19 per head
• Address Shop 11-6, Changkan Yuan, Qingping Rd, Luohu (Line 9, Renmin South Exit A, 6-min walk)
• Reservation? Walk-in; 8 shaded courtyard tables—strollers welcome.
• Secret Menu Ask for “extra jelly” (free before 15:00).
• Other Diners Say> “Felt like eating dessert in grandma’s backyard.” – Google review

龙岗区（Longgang District）

田也日式刨冰专门店 – Pineapple Boat & Bubblegum Snow

• Must-Order
  • Pineapple Boat (¥32) – shareable for 2, crowned with coconut flakes.
  • Watermelon Bubblegum Ice (¥28) – candy floss topping, popping candy sides.
• Damage ¥30 per head
• Address 100 m from Wuhe Station Exit D1, Longgang (look for pink torii gate)
• Reservation? Optional via Dianping mini-app for window seat; weekend wait ~40 min.
• Kid Perk Free sticker sheet with every fruit boat.
• Other Diners Say> “My 5-year-old squealed when the fireworks candle arrived.” – @mommydiary

宝安区（Bao’an District）

一方冰事 – Hand-Carved Snow, Budget Hero

• Must-Order
  • Strawberry-Cheese Shaved Ice (¥22) – freeze-dried berries, house-cultured cheese foam.
• Damage ¥22 per head
• Address 150 m from Pingzhou Station Exit A, Bao’an
• Reservation? None; 12 counter seats, turnover <15 min.
• Payment WeChat/Alipay only—cashless like most Shenzhen spots.