‘Goth’ Chic LA Ice Cream Shop Opening 2nd Outlet In S’pore — We Try Its ‘Unicorn Tears’ Soft-Serve

Since its family-run business opened in 2017 in downtown LA, it has attracted dessert-lovers from all over America with its goth-chic dark-as-night soft-serve swirls on black waffle cones against its black-and-white shop decor. (Never mind that it now also, ahem, serves a blindingly blue ice cream). Why the quirky moniker? Its founder’s name is Jenny Damage (is she some cool goth chick with a mysterious ice cream-related past? We couldn’t find much info on her online and the local franchisee here declined to talk about her). The brand is brought in locally by Caerus Holding, a wine distribution company that also owns other F&B franchises in Singapore, like cake boutique Lady M. By the end of this year, there’ll be a second Little Damage outlet at Haji Lane.

Decked out in black-and-white checkered prints, the cool little outpost at Wheelock Place flaunts neon phrases seen in its LA outlet, such as “I Like Love You” and “Cute But Psycho, But Cute” for fun photo ops. A third slogan “I Licked It, So It’s Mine” is immortalised on black tumblers along shelves on the wall, adding to the outlet’s hipster-chic vibe, and will be lit in neon against a monochrome wall soon . The SG outlet is mostly a takeaway joint, save for five stools for those who want to rest their legs as they enjoy their ice cream.

Other than tumblers, there are pins and tote bags, and soon, apparel. The LA outlet prints its white slogans on black T-shirts, sweat shirts and tank tops, but it's unconfirmed which ones will be sold here.

On its US website, it says the ice cream uses “local ingredients from organic dairy farms" are used for their "zero preservatives" soft-serve. The Singaporean website repeats this message, though the Brand Representative declined to reveal their exact suppliers and ingredients here, as their recipes are "top secret". At the brand’s central kitchen in Singapore, soft-serve mix powders are created, which then arrive at the parlour where small batches are prepared each day. The ebony waffle cones are coloured with activated charcoal and freshly made at the shop daily. These will cost you an additional $2, compared to having your soft-serve in a plastic cup. All soft-serves come with your choice of one free topping of either rainbow sprinkles, chocolate balls, coloured cornflakes, dessicated coconut, cookie crumble or popcorn.

Compared to your usual soft-serves in plain vanilla or chocolate flavours, Little Damage prides itself on its unique flavours like Unicorn Tears (aqua-coloured cookies and cream). These are rotated on a seasonal basis and offer the same flavours as the Los Angeles menu though subject to changes. Each month, a flavour changes, with a new vegan flavour Choc & PB with banana joining the August menu in lieu of its vegan counterpart Cookie Butter. In the spirit of National Day, red cones will be sold here for a week from Aug 5 to 11.

If you’re dairy-free, know that the list always includes at least one vegan flavour like Vegan Cookie Butter, along with black- and blue-coloured flavours. For the month of July, these are the four flavours available: Coffee Caramel ($7), White Chocolate ($7), Unicorn Tears ($7) and Vegan Cookie Butter ($7.50). Or you can always mix two flavours in a cone for an extra charge of 50 cents.

Little Damage’s soft-serve is firmer than usual, thick and velvety on the first few licks. But the ice cream softens and melts very quickly. At least its texture is smooth. Beneath the stark, black exterior (the soft-serve contains charcoal powder) of this option lies a surprisingly yummy light coffee ice cream mixed with creamy caramel. Its flavour reminds us of kid-friendly coffee-flavoured milk tinged with a toffee-ish kick. Probably the sweetest flavour of the four here, but still worth a try. But get your selfies before digging in if you don’t wanna be photographed with inky lips and teeth.

This blindingly blue number is more perky Smurf than dark and brooding. Oh well — guess you gotta cater to both the goths and the masses. It's flavoured with cookies and cream — but it tastes to us more like just the ‘cream’ part in a traditional Oreo cookies and cream ice cream. No wonder — the soft-serve is smooth and creamy without any evidence of bits of crushed Oreos (or any other cookie in it). The Brand Rep declined to reveal what ingredients are in this — including what gives it its brilliant hue. It's apparently called Unicorn Tears as "a fun way of interpreting the colour of the soft-serve". We paired this with sweet, crunchy popcorn, and regretted not topping it with cookie crumble to amp up the cookies and cream flavour.

We’re told this dairy-free almond milk option is supposed to taste like the popular Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. However, since we haven’t had that before, we think the ice cream simply boasts fragrant butter and sugar notes on top of the salty-sweet flavours you’d find in a cookie. It’s pretty yummy, especially topped with shreds of chewy, lemak coconut.

A simple plain white choc ice cream that’s more like plain milky ice cream. We suggest pairing this with the other more intense flavours as a swirl — or skipping it altogether.

Additional toppings go for an extra charge of $1 each, if you’re feeling particularly indulgent.

About this famous black cone — we like that it is crunchy and stayed so even with the ice cream melting all over it. However, there was a slightly bitter tinge to it — could it be the charcoal powder, perhaps? Also, it wasn’t particularly fragrant even when the staff were whipping up some fresh ones at the shop. We think we’ll stick to ordering the ice creams here in fuss-free cups since we’re done with our Insta-posts.

Worth a try if you happen to be at Wheelock Place — the ice cream is pleasant and smooth enough and its striking colours are fun for Instagram. And one generously-sized serving feeds two people. But we wouldn’t make a special trip here just for a cone as the flavours are limited and the ice cream melts a bit too quickly for our liking.

Little Damage is at #B1-05A, Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd, S233880. Open 10am-10pm daily. https://sg.littledamage.com/.

PHOTOS: Pyron Tan