Black Ice

Black Ice is still closed. the chairs are still stacked up on the tables. been checking out this place for 2 years.
now, the dance studio across the hall has closed also.
black ice used to sell taiwanese styled drinks and foods. no mo.

Had the fried calamari – not what I expected at all. I was expecting the typical Taiwanese snacks that you get (small little pieces with a lot of white pepper and spicy red powder), but they used a batter that was too American (maybe even with rosemary or something) with large calamari rings. I guess it’s good if you were at Chili’s or something, but not when it’s supposed to be a Taiwanese style restaurant. Oh, and the overcharged me for it.
So, not a good experience, but a cute little place, so I may possibly go back. But why would I take my chances when there’s the Tea Station…

Talking about bad «Feng Shui!» I would say that this very decent Taiwanese-​styled cheap eats is located at the worst location in the entire Lion Food Center plaza. It is located at the very last stall on the right hand side as you walk straight into the plaza and make a right at the Lion Food Center (away from all customer traffic).
As mentioned by Eric W, this use to be the location for Konyac Healthy Drink but was crushed by the milk-​tea competitors in the immediate area and by the lack of customer traffic due to the horrible location.
This place may be in competition with other Taiwanese cheap eats in the immediate area (such as «Porridge House» down the street from here:
). Although I would describe Porridge House as quality no-​nonsense porridge and its side-​dishes focused and not so much on its décor. Where Black Ice is focused more on the overall chic experience (modern décor, ambiant lighting, new comfortable furniture, internet café angle with free Wi-​Fi and boba drinks, entrée served in bento boxes or retangular plates).
The ambience is modern and decorated in an Asian internet café type of way (they offer free internet Wi-​Fi but can’t see myself coming here for that). They also offer a menu on slushy and milk-​tea drinks. The walls are painted in a calming lime-​green with ambiant lighting hanging from above. There are other picture-​framed decorations lining the walls including a large flat-​screen television (very Asian) that greets you from the back of this small establishment as you walk in.
There are six tables total here, each seating four: three shorter tables and three longer legged taller tables (which I found interesting and required bar-​stool height taller chairs). I liked the classic dark-​wood tables and very comfortable quality leather chairs (which tells me that the establishment made an effort in remodeling the place).
I didn’t see any reviews here on the food itself but we thought that the food was actually very decent. Along with our orders, we were served complimentary glasses of refreshing winter-​melon iced tea! We ordered:
— the #L-​5 Fish Lunch special in Terriyaki sauce ($ 7.99, served on a rectangular plate with rice and baby bok-​choy; lightly pan-​fried fish — just the way I like it — w/​minimal oil and not over cooked; inside was tender and meaty; the special came with a tiny 3 wonton soup side and a milk-​tea [watered down — milk-​teas at Porridge House are much better]).
— the #4 Salt and Pepper Chicken Bento Box Special ($ 5.52, served with white rice, tasty fried salt and pepper popcorn chicken, marinaded special seaweed and a hard boiled egg in Chinese herbs [“Lo sui dan”]).
— the #1 Roast Chicken Bento Box Special ($ 5.52, served with white rice, a good portion of roast chicken, marinaded special seaweed and a hard boiled egg in Chinese herbs [“Lo sui dan”]).
— and a traditional tasty Taiwanese styled Chinese herb rice [“Lo sui fan”] mixed with ground pork and minced mushroom/​fungus ($ 6.45).
There were no other customers here when we walked in on this Saturday for lunch. We were trying to decide where to eat when we were drawn to some of their specials posted out front. There was teen-​aged girl behind the counter and two other women that looked bored out of their minds watching a Chinese drama on the flat screen when we walked in. The two other women apparently prepared our orders and went to the back to cook once we placed our orders.
In summary, I recommend giving this Taiwanese-​styled cheap eats a try. Food is tasty and acceptable. Location is terrible for the business and they need to get more advertising out. Hopefully this review will help.

I saw this coupon for a Free milk tea at Black Ice that I found in the Tri-​City Free local paper, so I had to check it out. It’s in the Lion Center shopping mall, to the Right in the far corner. Really bad location.
Gave it to the lady and asked if I could use it, she took it and said sure. Then she went into the back to make my drink. When I got it noticed it was way smaller than your typical milk tea drink. She didn’t ask if I wanted pearl or not, I assumed none was given, but my drink had Pearls. Oh gawd, I hate those nasty things.
Picked the wrong straw, the skinny one, and the stupid black nasty pearl got stuck in the straw. oh hell no. Had to rip some of the sealed cover to try to drink it w/​o the straw. Total mess, but finally managed. Drink was just ok, but FREE for me.
If I get my hands on more coupons I’ll tell them NO Damn Pearls!
Finger Food Mon-​Fri 3−6pm buy one order, get second order 50% off.
Lunch specials 11:30−3pm $ 6.99-$ 7.99
Homestyle cuisine $ 4.98−6.98
Special Select beverage menu $ 1.50; Astrology Tea $ 2
Open Daily
M 11:30−6; Tue & Wed until 8p; Fri & Sat til 9p; Sun til 8p

Situated in the farthest corner of the Lion Food Center (
), Black Ice now occupies the site of the former Konyac Healthy Drink. Konyac (or konjac) itself is some sort of plant extracted jelly beverage (
) very popular in Taiwan, Japan, and LA, but has never caught on in the Bay Area. This is not to be confused with the drink that rappers are referring to when talking about «sippin’ yack,» mind you.
Although the set up was nice, with a free internet bar type of feel, the somewhat hidden location and rampant competition on the same block (Fantasia, Quickly, Tapioca Express, Tea Station, Desserts Zone, just to name a few) spelled imminent doom for poor Konyac. What I liked was not only did they offer free wi-​fi, but computers as well, which I have only seen in one other Chinese beverage shop (Tapioca Express in North Valley, San Jose). Apparently, even this was not enough to drum up any business. Before you knew it, Konyac was Gone, Jack. As with any Chinese owned establishment, the sign on the door never reads «Closed for business,» but rather the obligatory «Closed for remodeling» or «Closed for vacation.» Really now. This has been done so many times, I don’t know who they are trying to fool.
For several months, nothing changed. It was the same note stuck on the door, with a fading Sing Tao newspaper covering up the windows. I guess no new tenants were willing to give it another shot. However, yesterday afternoon, as I was strolling down to Lion Supermarket, I noticed something different.
«Milk tea $ 1.50!» the A-​frame sign in the middle of the path boastfully proclaims. Where is this place? I curiously glanced down the hall, and was thrilled to see… light! Finally, the empty eyesore in the corner was being put to good use. Although not necessarily packed to the rafters, I did see more patrons in this one visit than all the times I passed by the old place combined (a collective zero). In addition, instead of your typical teenaged crowd, it was mostly filled with middle-​aged men and women in business suits!
With a quick gloss over of the menu, I noticed that not only do they serve milk tea and the obligatory Taiwanese fried snacks (chicken, calamari, etc.), but sandwiches, and Chinese and Japanese noodle and rice dishes. They even have an alcoholic beverage license plastered on the window, although I didn’t really see anything to indicate that on the menu.
As mentioned a million times before in various reviews, when it comes to milk tea shops, I couldn’t care less what the drinks taste like. All I am concerned about is the environment and clientele (aka the scenery). To be honest with you, this remote location, with minimal, bare bones decoration, plus an older customer base, doesn’t exactly fit my criteria of a nice place to chill, but I’d be willing to give them a few more chances. Give it some time, and let things play out. How will Black Ice fare against all the stiff competition listed above? Well, hopefully, they will do better than Konyac. From the looks of it, they are already off to a good start.