Aqua S: The New Australian Soft-Serve Shop in Bellevue

Aqua S:
Australian Soft Serve Comes to Bellevue

Three years ago, Frankie Zhao traveled to Sydney, Australia with her sister. After walking into a soft-serve sweet shop, she couldn’t forget the memorable taste.

“The ice cream was beautiful and fun, and tasted so good,” Zhao said. “It’s something we didn’t have here, so after I got back to the U.S., I connected with the franchisor in America.”

With endurance and hard work, Zhao became the owner of Aqua S Bellevue, the newest premium soft-serve ice cream shop in Downtown Bellevue.

The mission behind Aqua S is to elevate the traditional desert experience to a picture-perfect work of art. With a wide range of over 100 flavors, Aqua S combines bright colors with outrageous toppings for a treat that tastes as good as it looks.

“We offer many different flavors so people from different backgrounds can find what they love,” Zhao said. “People enjoy our candy cotton topping the most. It’s unique and fun!”

Zhao, like many other new business owners, had some difficulties opening the sweet shop during a pandemic. She has many reasons to keep pushing on -- one of them is the people.

“I have my family and my kids. I have employees that need to work to pay rent, buy a car, or pay for tuition,” Zhao said. “The people I work with is a huge factor overall.”

Zhao said the best thing about her job is letting people try new flavors and seeing their reactions.

“The ultimate goal is to keep offering a good variety of soft-serve flavors for anyone on the eastside,” Zhao said.

Most Popular Flavors:

Aqua S has only been open for three weeks, but Bellevue fans have already chosen their favorites! Here are the most popular flavors according to Zhao: 

Signature Sea Salt

The idea of "Sea Salt" came from Japan, with the purpose to master the art of contrast: sweet & creamy with a hint of saltiness.

Durian Mini Tub

This flavor is made from the durian fruit, including small pieces to create a bold flavor. Grab a mini tub to-go! 

Images courtesy of: Aqua S U.S. & Aqua S Bellevue

 

---

This blog is part of the Heart of Bellevue: our campaign to showcase local businesses while connecting you with stories of activity, creativity and recovery. Find out about our campaign and explore more of what’s happening around Downtown.