Kady Chen and Yao Zhang were just teenagers when they traveled abroad and fell in love with rolled ice cream.

A year ago, the young married couple brought the popular Thai street food back to the U.S., opening their first

rolled ice cream shop in Eugene in April.

"We wanted to bring back something that wasn't here and was never here before," Chen said. Five months later, they opened a second shop in Salem, Chen's hometown.

Now Chen has brought the trendy treat to Portland for the first time, opening her third location March 9. She recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in social science. She and Zhang are planning a fourth location in Beaverton. And they have a 2-year-old baby daughter.

All this at the ripe age of 20.

It wasn't easy, but Chen doesn't seem self-impressed. "We got a lot of doubts about this plan" from family members, she recalled. "But we said, if we don't try we'll never know. If we at least try, we'll know."

The two run each location every day open to close until it becomes established.

Portland's shop has already become popular with nearby high school students, who flooded the shop on a recent weekday for lunch.

"A lot of customers, they like seeing the show where everything is made in front of them," Chen said.

The aesthetic, Instagram-worthy dessert became popular in the U.S. last year, and

as Honeybee Lavender, The Campfire, Hot Cheetos and even a special version for dogs made with bananas.

22 Below uses a lactose-free, gluten-free liquid base made from coconut milk, which is poured on a metal surface that's cooled to minus 22 degrees. Toppings and flavors are added and the mixture is spread out thinly to freeze. Then it is rolled into spirals and packed into cups, after which customers can choose even more toppings.

A cup of the ice cream will run you about $6.85. 22 Below also serves bubble teas and specialty drinks.

22 Below

1728 SW Jefferson St, Portland

my22below.com