Chè — Vietnamese sweet desserts and drinks — covers a vast category of sweet soups, puddings, drinks, and frozen treats. From chè ba màu (three-color dessert) to chè đậu xanh (mung bean pudding) to chè trôi nước (glutinous rice balls in ginger syrup), the world of chè is as diverse as it is delicious. In Boston, Vietnamese bakeries and delis are the best places to find these treats.
Ba Le top-pick
Ba Le's refrigerator case is a treasure trove of tea. They regularly carry three-color dessert — the classic three-color dessert with red beans, mung beans, and pandan jelly in coconut milk — as well as green bean dessert and mixed dessert (assorted desserts). The contributions are generous and the prices are very reasonable.
King Do Restaurant & Bakery best-value
King Do has a rotating selection of tea. Their three-color tea is well-executed, with distinct layers of color and flavor. They also carry banana sweet soup (banana in coconut milk) and seasonal specialties.
Ánh Hồng Restaurant hidden-gem
Ánh Hồng offers a few dessert options on their menu, including Thai dessert (fruit cocktail in coconut milk) and black bean dessert. They're a good way to end a meal.