You smell ball ball waffle before you see it. Since opening in April, the traditional Hong Kong-style bubble waffle spot has filled Asia Plaza with the aroma of vanilla and cake batter. When owner Aldous Lau moved to Cleveland from Hong Kong in 2017, he noticed the Chinese staple hadn’t made its way here. He happily filled the void with a made-daily in-house batter of eggs, milk, sugar and flour. Lau’s specialty bubble waffle iron leaves the made-to-order honeycomb-shaped treats crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Ball Ball’s menu features both sweet options, such as Oreo Chocolate ($6) and Matcha Mochi ($7), and savory. While we love the sweet and even plain waffles, the Say Cheese ($6), where Lau loads the batter with cheese before making it, is a bite of gooey goodness. Add bacon for extra oomf. For something more traditional, we recommend the Red Bean waffle ($7), which delivers a sweetened red bean filling that tastes similar to a sweet potato. Wash it down with a cup of Hong Kong Milk Tea, ($3 hot, $4 iced) a caffeinated black tea mixed with condensed or evaporated milk.
When You Go
Ball Ball Waffle, 2999 Payne Ave., Suite 126, Cleveland, 216-282-3834, facebook.com/ballballwaffle
