Meet Fresh offers not so fresh options

This past summer, we had the pleasure of traveling to Taiwan. Although we traveled separately, these trips spoiled both of us a bit and elevated expectations of what makes genuine Taiwanese cuisine.

When Din Tai Fung, a traditional Taiwanese restaurant, opened in Valley Fair this past May, we were disappointed by its Americanized dishes. However, we had high expectations for Meet Fresh, a dessert shop located in the newly constructed plaza on Stevens Creek Boulevard. We hoped that its menu items, which included bowls of different traditional Taiwanese toppings, would redeem Taiwanese cuisine in the Bay Area.

Upon approaching Meet Fresh’s building on a Sunday afternoon, we were astounded by the long line of people, which translated into a 30-minute wait. On the menu, we found a selection of traditional Taiwanese desserts, but were also introduced to some new toppings, such as the crystal jelly noodle. The noodles, which we were too scared to try, resembled a long, translucent tentacle.

After much consideration, we ordered three desserts in total. We picked a cold bowl of dou hua — a traditional Taiwanese delicacy made of silken tofu doused in a sweet sugar water mixture — topped with boba and glutinous rice balls. For our second bowl, we chose the Meet Fresh signature, which comprised of cream, grass jelly, yam balls and taro balls. Our last bowl was the piping hot Taro Ball No. 5. Each bowl was around $6.80 regardless of the toppings — a little too expensive for people whose favorite kind of meal is a cheap one.

The cashier handed us a buzzer before we took a seat. The the large windows, neutral colors and soft lighting contributed to the relaxed atmosphere, reminiscent of a refined and modernized 1960s Taiwanese night market. Because the shop was crowded, the table arrangement seemed messy, but overall, the space was clean and comfortable.

After waiting for 20 minutes, we received our order and began to  feast. We dipped our spoons into the dou hua and found that it tasted similar to watered down honey. Out of all the toppings we ordered, the honey boba, a classic in Taiwanese cuisine, was the only one executed well with its chewy texture and slight sweetness.

The Meet Fresh Signature was too sweet, but it would be a tasty treat for those new to Taiwanese desserts. On the other hand, our experience with the hot Taro Ball Bowl was lackluster. The yam balls had a plastic-like flavor — evidently the shop had sacrificed taste for texture. Still, the warmth from the dish  balanced out the iciness of the other two bowls.

All in all, we enjoyed our dishes and appreciate that Taiwanese cuisine has found its way into the Bay Area. However, considering the long wait time and lack of punch in flavor, we’ve concluded that Meet Fresh is overhyped.

Rating: 3/5