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From ice cream to patisserie, downtown Mountain View has plenty of options for a sweet treat. But a new spot is specializing in a type of dessert not seen before in the area: bowls of jellies, beans, fruits and other toppings covered in milk.
Since its early July grand opening in the former Teaspoon space on Castro Street, Makkee Dessert has been drawing long lines for its traditional Chinese desserts. Makkee Dessert is a rebranded version of Mai Ji Milk, a dessert chain with a thousand locations in China, and is the first to land in the Bay Area. The modern Asian dessert cafe also has locations in Los Angeles and New York City, with two to three additional stores expected to open in the Bay Area in the next two years, according to Yiwen Kang, who is spearheading Makkee’s expansion to the United States.
Kang, who said that she undertook the project because she personally loves this type of dessert, described her shops as an elevated version of Meet Fresh, a dessert chain with locations in San Mateo, Santa Clara and more.
“I’m from the Bay Area. People need a place to sit and enjoy dessert, and also I think it’s a better alternative to milk tea,” Kang said. “I think our products are on the healthier side (with) more natural taste.”
Signature menu items include the Makkee Deluxe, a bowl of chewy taro balls, red beans, grass jelly, peach gum and lotus seeds with a choice of regular or oat milk ($12), as well as the Tapioca Deluxe, with chewy tapioca pearls instead of grass jelly ($13). Both desserts can be ordered iced or warm.
For those who haven’t tried traditional Chinese desserts before, Kang recommends ordering the mango pomelo sago, which features a base of mango puree, coconut milk and condensed milk, topped with mango cubes, pomelo and chewy sago ($12). Other options at Makkee Dessert include various milk teas and ice cream snow, a shaved ice dessert topped with ice cream, black sticky rice and fresh mango or taro paste ($11-$12).
Seating is limited indoors, but about 10 tables are available for outdoor dining. Some guests report that 40-minute wait times are common. Kang thinks that Makkee’s popularity is primarily because its dishes taste like home for the Chinese community.
“Makkee fills a gap in the market,” she wrote in an email. “There are many boba shops and ice cream stores in the U.S., but very few brands specialize in authentic Asian-style dessert soups and traditional sweet treats.”
Other dessert options in downtown Mountain View include ice cream from Kween’s and Gelato Classico; cakes from Maison Alyzee, Alexander’s Patisserie and Paris Baguette; bingsoo from Sulbing; Chinese baked goods from Hong Kong Bakery; and boba tea from UMe, Yi Fang, Tea Era and Happy Lemon.
Makkee Dessert’s opening follows an increase in Chinese restaurants coming to downtown Mountain View in recent years. In 2024, Joyous Cuisine made its debut; in 2025, Ox 9 Lanzhou Handpulled Noodles, Mr. Bao Kitchen, Fish With You and Four Seasons Tea House Hot Pot all opened; and in June, Bloom and Vine brought Peking duck to the area.
Makkee Dessert, 134 Castro St., Mountain View; Instagram: @makkeedessert_usa. Open noon to 10 p.m. Sunday to Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday.
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