Kulfi, the Portland dessert shop that has been quietly building one of the city’s most loyal followings since launching from a bike cart in 2021, is opening its newest location at 12695 SW Crescent Street, Suite 120, in downtown Beaverton. Co-owners Kiran Cheema and Gagan Aulakh are in their final week of construction, with equipment already moving in and an opening date announcement expected soon.
The brand’s story is one of Portland’s most charming. Aulakh did the pedaling, and Cheema worked the magic in the kitchen. That’s how Kulfi started, as a rainbow-umbrella bike cart making the rounds at farmers markets and community events across the city. From that humble beginning, the couple grew into a brick-and-mortar on NE 15th Avenue in the Alberta Arts District, then moved to a larger space on N. Williams Avenue when they outgrew it. Beaverton is the next chapter, and the first time their handcrafted frozen treats will be available west of the Willamette.
Kulfi specializes in the South Asian frozen dessert of the same name, a denser, richer alternative to traditional American ice cream made by simmering the cream base rather than churning it. The shop offers six classic kulfi flavors alongside a vegan coconut option, all-natural fruit popsicles, and a rotating seasonal menu that has made each visit feel like a discovery. The mango lassi flavor is the undisputed fan favorite, though the classic malai is the perfect starting point for first-timers.
