Best Shave Ice Locations on Oahu
To visitors and locals alike, shave ice (not “shaved” ice) is a Hawaii staple. It is a cool, refreshing snack on those hot Hawaii days. All shops have a set of standard creations, but if you don’t want any of those, you have the option to create your own using the flavors they have available. Many shave ice shops offer a wide variety of flavors, whether it be vanilla to mango to root beer, you are sure to find a flavor combination you love!
Here’s a few of the most popular locations.
Waiola Shave Ice
They have the finest ice shavings of all the shops, which has a very smooth texture in your mouth. It basically melts on your tongue! Also, they put enough syrup to cover all the ice (even the ice in the middle)!
Toppings they offer at an additional cost include condensed milk, lilikoi topping, li hing mui powder, and chocolate. You can also add ice cream, azuki beans, and mochi balls inside. Many locals like their shave ice with condensed milk on top because it adds a sweet, rich flavor.
Cash or Card: Cash only (ATM located inside)
Address: 2135 Waiola St., Honolulu, HI and 3113 Mokihana St., Honolulu, HI
Website: http://www.waiolashaveice.com/
Matsumoto Shave Ice
One of the most well known shave ice shops on Oahu is Matsumoto Shave Ice. Visitors and locals flock to Matsumoto’s for a delicious, refreshing snack. The ice shavings are a little coarser than Waiola’s, but it still has a smooth mouth feel. They also put enough syrup to cover all the ice (even the middle)!
Available toppings for an added price include condensed milk, mochi, ice cream, and azuki beans. They have different flavors than Waiola’s. Some of which include yuzu, ramune, pineapple, and ume.
Cash or Card: Both
Address: 66-111 Kamehameha Hwy #605, Haleiwa, HI
Website: https://matsumotoshaveice.com/
Shimazu Shave Ice
“IMG_4120.jpg” by liyu01 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Shimazu Shave Ice is another popular location for this cool, refreshing snack. Known for their extra large (The Larry) cone (image above), Shimazu’s offers a wide selection of flavors and sizes. The ice shavings at this location is pretty similar to Matsumoto’s, making it melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Also like the other locations, they put enough syrup to cover the entire cone.
Available toppings and add-ins for an additional cost include azuki beans, mochi, ice cream, li hing mui, condensed milk, and dulche de leche. Shimazu’s also offers flavors not available at other locations. Such flavors include durian, choco p-nut buttercup, tutti frutti, and mojito.
Halo Halo, a popular Filipino dessert, can also be purchased here.
Cash or Card: Cash only
Address: 330 N. School St., Honolulu, HI
Website: https://shimazu-store.business.site/
Honorable Mention (not shave ice but still good): Frostcity
Frostcity specializes in snow ice, which is a mixture between shave ice and ice cream. Ice shavings are very fine and somewhat creamy. It has a very light and airy feeling that melts in your mouth. They offer standard flavors like strawberry, cookies, and cream, mango, lilikoi, etc. and they also offer a combination flavors like strawberry & mango, mango & coconut, lychee & watermelon, etc.
Each dish comes with an assortment of sides depending on the flavor. The sides include popping boba, mochi, and fruit.
Cash or Card: Both
Address: 2570 S Beretania St #105, Honolulu, HI
Feature image “Shave Ice!!!!” by kundalini is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
