ChaJoy: To scoop or to sip? Why not both? 

It was one of those afternoons when you want something cold and sweet but can not quite decide between ice cream and boba. 

Dhaka has no shortage of either, but finding both under one roof is rare. ChaJoy, with its cheerful penguin mascot and the tagline "Scoop Joy, Sip Cha," seems to have solved that problem by simply refusing to pick a side.

The shop serves ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, and bubble tea, and now runs 10 outlets across Dhaka. 

I visited the Bashundhara branch — a compact space with seating for around 15–20 people, and it was full when I arrived. Families with young kids, teenagers debating sundae combinations, couples splitting drinks across small tables — the energy made it clear this is a spot for a quick dessert run, not a long, lingering conversation.

Matcha sits at the centre of ChaJoy's menu, showing up in the ice cream and as an add-in for sundaes. There's also real flexibility on the drinks side: customers can dial sugar and ice levels up or down, which I appreciated, since I like my desserts less sweetened. 

I'm not a big matcha person myself, so I saved it for last and worked through everything else first.

The Sundaes

I started with the Oreo sundae, and it delivered exactly what you'd want — crushed Oreos giving a satisfying crunch against soft, creamy ice cream. Nothing revolutionary, but the contrast in textures made every bite enjoyable.

The fruit sundaes were the real surprise, though. 

Strawberry, grape, and blueberry aren't flavours I usually trust at this price point in Dhaka — too often, "fruit" at a dessert counter just means a heavy pour of syrup over plain vanilla. 

ChaJoy did something different: the fruit flavour actually came through, especially by the middle of the cup, rather than sitting on top as a thin layer of artificial sweetness.

Blueberry was the standout. Its gentle tang worked beautifully with the vanilla, and the final layer brought that blueberry touch back again — earthy, subtle, and just enough to leave it as my favourite of the day. 

Blueberry Sundae, Price: Tk200

Strawberry Sundae, Price: Tk200

The Strawberry and Lemon Tea

Matcha sits at the centre of ChaJoy's menu, showing up in the ice cream and as an add-in for sundaes. There's also real flexibility on the drinks side: customers can dial sugar and ice levels up or down, which I appreciated, since I like my desserts less sweetened. 

After the sundaes, the fruit teas on the menu felt like a refreshing change of pace. The combinations caught my eye: guava iced lemon green tea, blueberry-grape green tea, and strawberry-lemon tea.

I went with the Strawberry and Lemon Tea — simple, but exactly what I wanted at that point in the meal. After all that cream, the lemon brought a bright, refreshing sharpness that felt like hitting reset. 

The portion was generous, and the flavour felt distinct enough to stand on its own rather than relying entirely on sweetness. It may not be the best drink on the menu, but it's the one I'd reach for on a long, tiring day — something cold, citrusy and refreshing without adding another heavy dessert.

Price: Tk230 

The Blueberry Milkshake

I like my milkshakes thick, and ChaJoy delivered. 

Since blueberry had already won me over in the sundae, I went for the blueberry milkshake next — and it didn't disappoint. 

The same gentle, slightly earthy blueberry flavour came through here, but in a rounder, creamier form. 

The fruit's natural tang kept the milkshake from becoming cloying, giving the richness just enough contrast. 

It was smooth, indulgent and satisfyingly thick. 

I tried the peach shake too, which was lighter and refreshing but felt a little thin by comparison. For me, the blueberry had the edge — fuller in flavour, richer in texture, and one of the easiest favourites of the visit.

Price: Tk100

The Ice Cream

For the ice cream itself, I went with a mix of matcha and vanilla. 

At Tk 80, the scoop felt generous for a quick stop. The vanilla was classic and creamy; the matcha brought a slightly bitter, earthy edge that kept the whole thing from tasting one-note sweet. I'm not usually drawn to matcha, but paired with vanilla, it was easy to enjoy.

The cone deserves its own mention — fresh and properly crunchy, not the soft, slightly stale kind you sometimes get. It's a small detail, but it made the whole scoop feel more complete. 

There's nothing complicated about vanilla, matcha, and a good cone, but at Tk 80, it's hard to argue with the value.

Price: Tk 80

Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea

The Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea closed out the visit, and it was a pleasant change after all the ice cream and sundaes. 

The tea flavour held its own, while the brown sugar came through gradually rather than taking over the cup. 

The boba had a good chew without turning gummy, and the drink became richer toward the bottom as the brown sugar settled in. I'm not much of a tea person, so it wasn't my favourite of the day, but after the heavier desserts, its lighter, tea-forward character felt refreshing.

Price: Tk180

ChaJoy isn't reinventing the wheel — it's ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes and boba, all things Dhaka already has plenty of. 

It is the fruit flavours that actually taste like fruit, the portions feel generous for the price, and there's enough range on the menu that I made several visits just to work my way through the options. The blueberry, in whatever form you get it, is the one I'd try first.

The Bashundhara outlet, however, is quite small, and my Friday visit was less pleasant than the food itself. It was crowded, and with what seemed like a shortage of staff, the space had become noticeably messy. It's a minor blemish on an otherwise enjoyable experience, but one worth keeping in mind if you're visiting at a busy time.