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Ailana Shave Ice
Categories: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Food Desserts Food Shaved Ice Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Shaved Ice
1430 Kona StSte 102
Honolulu, HI 96814
Neighborhood: Ala Moana
(808) 955-8881
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 5 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
167 reviews for Ailana Shave Ice
Review Highlights
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"their strawberry milk is RIDICULOUSLY good." In 43 reviews -
"Fresh homemade syrups - Cant go wrong with that." In 30 reviews -
"They got the Uji Kintoki and it was uber yummy." In 25 reviews
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167 reviews in English
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Review from Janine R.
This is definitely my happy... treat yourself place. I am a huge shave ice lover but just don't make it out to some of the other shave ice joints. But since I happen to work close by, I tend to treat myself often to some shaved ice!
The shave ice here is unbelievably soft with the best HOMEMADE flavors.... Yes they make everything here themselves. I was seriously impressed one day when I came in and they were making each mochi ball by hand! Who even does that? These guys do and it's totally worth it! They have great local flavors like, Strawberry milk, POG, Haupia. And they are ALL good!
But my definite all time favorite is the Uji Kintoki. This is weird for me to say because I am not a fan or green tea ice cream but for some reason the flavor of their green tea shave ice is magnificent. The Uji Kintoki is one with the WORKS! It has ice cream in the center with azuki bean and condensed milk on the top with homemade mochi around its base. Definitely try it... -
Review from Ashley N.
Honolulu, HI
I visited Ailana Shave Ice a while ago with my best friend. We both found the store by accident, since we just so happened to be walking on Kona Street, opposite of Ala Moana. We probably wouldn't have been able to find Ailana if we were looking for it, but we were both very happy to have stopped by and tried their shave ice!
My friend and I both decided on sharing their Uji Kintoki, which basically is their green tea shave ice with azuki and condensed milk toppings. I was very surprised by the flavor of their green tea, which was very different from the green tea syrups I've tried before. After hearing the owner talk to another customer, I learned that they make their syrup from actual green tea, not artificial flavorings! Overall, in my opinion, the consistency of Ailana was pretty good, but ranked just a notch under Shimazu Store. I would definitely have to come back and try their strawberry milk though, since I'm hearing rave reviews about that flavor! -
Review from Lori F.
Honolulu, HI
Three of us came here for dessert on a Sunday after lunch & we were blown away at how good the shaved ice is!
We ordered the "Tropical Trio" & the "Mocha Special." They both come with ice cream in the middle so it's filling enough to share with someone. The tropical trio was very refreshing & after the mocha one melted a bit with the ice cream, it tasted just like a coffee shake. Even when I was stuffed, I wanted to keep eating it because it seemed like such a shame to waste something that tasted so good!
Fifth star is because the owner was so nice. We sat outside eating our shaved ice, & he saw that we were one chair short, so he went out of his way to bring us another chair.
Would definitely return again & recommend to others! -
Review from van t.
Honolulu, HI
the ice quality was comparable to the other places in town, but there was nothing quite exceptional about their flavors or combinations. although, i will say, that their shaved ice shape was lovely.
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Review from Kellie O.
El Cerrito, CA
Very yummy! Although it was a little difficult to find, the search was well worth it! The shaved ice was fluffy and soft, just like shaved ice should be :) I had the strawberry milk and green tea, which sounds like a weird combination but was actually really delicious! The condensed milk and ice cream was icing on the cake. If you have the chance you should check it out, you'll be happy you did!
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Review from Jennifer R.
Pearl City, HI
The flavors of Ailana's shave ice are home made and delicious! You can't have too much of a good thing at this dessert place. For five dollars' worth you can get a giant shave ice cone of your favorite flavors: strawberry milk, haupia, mango... and you can top it with condensed milk. Don't worry, you won't keel over and die--unless it's with pleasure! The owner's shop is hidden though. If you aren't looking you could miss it. It's hidden in the alley's of Ala Moana Center--off Kona street. You'll be head over heels for this local treat.
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Review from Krysten I.
Honolulu, HI
Woohoo! I tried the Strawberry Milk and Green Tea. The strawberry milk tastes exactly like strawberry ice cream. I definitely need to come back and try the other homemade flavors :)
The parking lot was pretty easy to find, and there were plenty of spaces. The lady working behind the counter was nice, but since she was the only one working, she had to handle the shave ice and the money. It also took awhile to get my shave ice (well, longer than waiolas....). -
Review from Brooke P.
Los Angeles, CA
Literally the best shave ice on Oahu. Strawberry milk + green tea = to die for!
Family owned & run, so cute :) -
Review from Cindy L.
San Jose, CA
Really liked the ice cream center. The guy who made it was super nice. Very big. A passerby-er commented it looked like a volcano.
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Review from Roy Y.
Hand Crafted.... Homemade.... Fresh Ingredients... All descriptives of what many consider the finer things in life. However if I told you Ailana Shave Ice was what I was talking about, would you believe me? Ailana stands as that mythical desert oasis promising refreshment beyond belief. Hidden in the depths of Kona Street... You'd almost have to be a Kona Street hooligan to know where it is.
So what's so great about this shave ice spot? You can find shave ice just about anywhere! Well, you can't find homemade syrup incorporating fresh fruit JUST anywhere. You have to come here. Ailana's strong suit is their selection of syrups that will knock your socks off. They have 2 sections - aside reflecting the homemade selections and the other with the standards. Trust me, go homemade!
Today I had the pleasure of having:
- Strawberry Milk
- Haupia
- Green Tea w/Azuki, Mochi, Condensed Milk, Ice Cream
The strawberry milk had flecks of the strawberry seeds. Surely a sign of freshness and quality. It was the perfect blend of sweet & creamy. If you could take a bite out of hello kitty, she'd taste like the strawberry milk. (My real analogy for this is WAY TOO inappropriate. Use your imagination.)
The haupia was perfect. It literally tasted like good haupia and not a sickening fake coconut flavor. Again, not too sweet and perfect consistency.
The green tea had a strong matcha taste. You could literally taste the fresh "green" bite of a deeply steeped tea. Personally, I loved it! But I really like green tea. This flavor however, was a bit sweet. Perhaps it was due to the fact it was ordered as that crazy green tea combo bowl (Uji something something). At any rate, it was ono and I'd order it again. For what it's worth, the mochi may be homemade as well. It was really soft and not hard and doughy like most places.
Value is definitely there as a bowl was only $3.75. You get 2 choices of flavors if you go with the homemade side. The crazy bowl combos came out to $4.75. Still an awesome deal.
Overall, a great find amidst the hustle and bustle of Ala Moana consumerism. It's a great spot to chill in the shade and beat the heat. On this visit there was only 1 lady working the counter. Be patient and appreciate the handcrafted aspect of your shave ice. -
Review from Nat N.
After experiencing the homemade syrups at Ailana, you'll never want to go anywhere else for your shave ice fix!
My favorite concoction is the strawberry milk and haupia flavors with mochi (they make their own mochi too!). And if I feel like oinking out, I'll add a scoop of ice cream.
They also offer generic flavored syrups, but don't even bother with those. The homemade syrups is where it's at! -
Review from Brian L.
Honolulu, HI
I had something with coconut cream, and I think mango/papaya? Ok that was yummmmmmy. Great coconut flavor. The mango did get lost in my bowl...but it was still very delicious. I'm glad that I see more people there now. People thinking that it being near Ala Moana, it's a great location. Not really, it's a pretty bad spot. But there's parking, and i'm happy to see more people going there
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Review from Gina D.
Union City, CA
Visited Ailana and Matsumotos twice on our April 2012 visit to Hawaii. While both were excellent, I believe that Ailana's shave ice was of a finer consistency and their natural homemade syrups far exceed the typical flavors available at both places. As with most folks in Hawaii the owners were very friendly and accommodating. Wish we had such a place to visit at home.
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Review from Megan I.
Torrance, CA
If you've grown up loving strawberry ice cream, then all I need to say to you is strawberry milk. And I can die happy knowing I've tastes this.
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Review from Adam L.
Aliana Shave Ice was about a 5 minute walk from my hotel. I had read the raves on yelp. I walked in to 1 woman running the shop, who was so nice. We talked to whole time i was there, as she explained her and her husband ran the business. They had a great variety of regular syrups, homemade syrups, and some amazing looking shave ice/ ice cream combos. I will make sure to try several in my last few weeks here.
UPDATE: How good can shave ice be, right? I mean its ice and syrup, so they all must be the same, right? Wrong. My second time at Aliana: I got the shave ice with Haupia and Strawberry Milk, both of which are homemade. Again, shave ice aside, this is a 5 star place based on the owners alone. The first time i met the woman who ran it, and the husband was there this time. He was SO helpful. I told him i knew basically nothing of shaved ice, and he introduced me to the Azuke bean. Tomorrow i will be sure to go there and try one of their specials, and will keep you updated. I will say this: I have had shave ice i believe at 4 places now. The strawberry milk and haupia is by far the best i've had. Amazing flavor, homemade, and honestly the best shave ice around. Cant wait to review the specials there.
Third trip.....mocha special. If you like coffee this is a MUST GET!!! -
Review from Rich G.
Chicago, IL
Found this place near the Ala Moana mall, small place in a mini mall nearby. They have fresh fruit not just flavoring which makes it so much better. The owner was very friendly and there is also plenty of parking. Not much atmosphere, I bet they would do better if the location wasn't so hidden.
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Review from Jackie M.
Los Angeles, CA
The one thing I always regret when I come home to Hawaii over break is that I never eat enough shave ice.
Usually I camp out at Waiola's near Makiki, but after hearing so many good things about Ailana's, I finally broke out of my comfort zone and gave it a chance.
This place is incredible. DO NOT come here expecting normal Hawaii shave ice (although they do have a board of tactfully-named "hawaiian tradition" syrups). They make their own syrups in-house and it is SO WORTH IT.
#1 the bowls are humongous so don't let the slightly higher price throw you. For 3.25 you get a biiiiig bowl (they call it "small") and two choices of their in-house-made syrups. I tried strawberry milk and mango, and my brother got haupia and green tea with condensed milk. Holy crap, it was like Dorothy waking up in Oz and you finally see what color looks like. The haupia flavor tasted like creamy haupia. The mango tasted like biting into a cold mango! Need I go on?
#2 the staff are so friendly and accommodating. He accidentally put ice cream in the green tea one instead of the condensed milk, and when i mentioned it he immediately topped it generously with the c. milk and sent me on my merry way with both condiments.
*important note: before they pour the syrup, they poke the ice full of holes, so you never end up with that plain ice at the bottom where the syrup hasn't seeped down yet. Amazing, why doesn't everyone do that?
I haven't abandoned Waiola's, because you need a little sugar syrup sometimes, but Ailana's definitely gets joint custody of my shave ice time. -
Review from Betsy T.
Honolulu, HI
LOVE the shave ice (as usual).... HATED the wait this past Saturday. If you don't enjoy waiting in the hot sun for a minimum of 20 minutes avoid this place during peak times
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Review from Amanda G.
After checking in at our hotel, we were really craving some shave ice, and found this place through Yelp.
Awesome shave ice!!! They have lots of flavors, including some natural ones. (which is really unusual.)
The owner was there, and chatted my husband up about the Giants, (he was wearing his Giants hat.)
He also gave us a suggestion for a nearby grocery store, and let us park there while we walked over to do our shopping. That was greatly appreciated.
I REALLY enjoyed my shave ice here, it totally hit the spot.
I would definitely return here, and encourage others to check them out. -
Review from Michelle U.
Honolulu, HI
Ok, a friend and I have been eyeing out this place for a while now, ever since we saw their amazing reviews on Yelp. We finally managed to find some time to visit... and wow. The reviews don't lie; the shave ice here is AMAZING. The homemade syrups are SOSOSOSOSOSOOO GOOD!
After reading all these raving reviews, we ordered the Uji Kintoki and a small Strawberry Milk + Haupia. They use real matcha powder in their green tea syrup, and their homemade mochi balls are so soft and perfect. Their strawberry milk flavor is something I would want to bathe in for the rest of my life. Seriously. It's like melted strawberry Haagen-Daz ice cream, except yummier. The haupia was so creamy and coconut-y, and paired well with the strawberry milk!
The owner and staff here are super friendly, and our overall experience here was great! If I had known this place was SO CLOSE to Ala Moana Shopping Center, I would've came here ages ago!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! :) -
Review from Gregory C.
New Providence, NJ
Hands down, the best shave ice I've ever tasted. I did some sloppy Googling in Google maps and initially thought that this place is in the Ala Moana shopping mall... However, this little gem is located in its own little plaza on Kona. We had the tropical trio, and a keiko sized mango ice for my little 15 month old. So awesome to know that my daughter's first shave ice experience is from one of the best places to get it from, although of course she won't remember it.
Had a conversation with the owner.. really nice guy.. He actually just opened up another location on the Waikiki strip for those that cannot or unwilling to travel far from the tourist area... it's located inside the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. I'll be sure to check that one out the next time I'm in town. -
Review from Lori I.
CASH ONLY! Today I didn't have any cash, so I raided my ziploc bag of quarters because I was CRAVING all things sweet and cold like the Yeti snow monster.
LOCATION: You can enter from Kona Street, or if you're on Kapiolani Blvd going East bound, turn right at the Hawaiian Telcom/Sushi San building and drive to the back.
$2.50 will get you a small from the regular flavors section (strawberry, rainbow etc.)
$3 will get you a small from the home-made flavors side, my favorite is strawberry milk and haupia!
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
$0.50 will get you additional toppings like mochi, azuki, condensed milk, or a scoop of ice cream in the middle of your shave ice!
There are other larger sizes, fancy combinations (tropical trio! Ujikintoki!), with higher price tags, but today I had exactly 14 quarters, so I got my small strawberry milk/haupia with condensed milk topping and it calmed the inner Yeti in me...but tomorrow's another day!Listed in: GLUTEN FREE, Sweet Treats, But I only have $10!, CASH ONLY
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Review from Laurie V.
After Maripoisa, my friend tells me he's gonna take me to "the best shave ice!" I'm thinking "best shave ice" is a huuuuge thing to live up to.
I wasn't disappointed.
We got strawberry and haupia. They use real fruit juices instead of syrup to flavor the shave ice so, you can see the strawberry seeds in the shave ice as you eat it. Pretty cool and healthy.
Nice new mom and pop shave ice spot right across Ala Moana.Listed in: Hawaiian Kine.
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Review from Tucker H.
We were in the area and dying for some shave ice, so we decided to try this location of Ailana Shave Ice (which, unlike it's location on Kalakuana closes early), and this time we followed Yelp's advice to try the strawberry milk flavor. Once again, Yelp did not let us down, it was excellent! The milk in this homemade syrup makes it almost taste like ice cream, the ice is shaved so finely that it doesn't feel like a sno cone, but more silky, and the milk flavor was a great touch.
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Review from Alyssa K.
Love! This! Place!
Real papaya chunks in the papaya sauce.. have it with condensed milk and vanilla ice cream.. It is so delicious. -
Review from Lynvi S.
I've been addicted to Ailana Shave Ice since my first visit! I used to be a Waiola girl until experiencing Ailana's amazing shave ice. Now the mere thought of Waiola repulses me - dark, dirty, grungy and sticky, with grumpy employees, artificially-flavored syrups, and crappy parking. Ailana is bright and clean, the owners are nice and friendly, their homemade syrups are absolutely wonderful, and there's parking!
I am in love with Ailana's Strawberry Milk! I always get Strawberry Milk with Calpico with condensed milk. The Haupia and Lilikoi flavors are good too, but the Strawberry Milk is my favorite.
Okay, I'll admit that Ailana's shave ice doesn't have the velvety creamy texture and consistency of Waiola's, but if I had to chose between the two, I would definitely go with Ailana. -
Review from Ali H.
Hawthorne, CA
We love Ailana's! We initally found them because we wanted a shave ice bar at our wedding instead of a traditional cake. Gene and his family were so easy to work with and so accomodating! When we went to visit for the first time, the place was packed!!! Looks like it's pretty popular. The shave ice itself is really fine and the syrups are so tasty! You have to try the homemade syrups... especially the strawberry milk and haupia. MMMMMMMM! All the fruit ones like lilikoi, lychee, etc are very good as well.
If you are looking for a shave ice vendor for your next party, take a look at Ailana's. Gene responds so quickly to emails and phone calls. It was a breeze working with them. =) Thank you soooo much, Gene and family!!! -
Review from Lai T.
Located across the mall in a discrete strip mall this place offers pretty great shaved ice. They take cash only and you can tell there are many regulars who drop by. The store seats about 6 people (there are two small tables) and also has benches. There is also limited seating outside.
I came here while the bf was at work. I wanted to get an order to-go for him but there was no way it would've lasted...
We'll definitely be back though :) I really enjoyed my Tropical Trio. And to be honest, it made me happy that I didn't have to share it with anyone :p -
Review from Jonathan L.
Honolulu, HI
I found out about this place after reading jonathan F. review about this place. So one hot Saturday I decided to give it a try. When we got there the place was pretty empty. The store is super hot cause there was no A/C and the floor was pretty dirty with dead leaves that flew inside.
The girl working there was pretty nice explaining to us how to order and that some of their syrup is homemade and what not. We decided to get the strawberry milk with mango. It was not a good mix. The strawberry milk was pretty good not to sweet but not too milky. Imagine strawberry calpico But the mango was too sweet. What Jonathan F. said was true about the bottom of the bowl being junk. The bottom of the bowl got really soft due to the melting shave ice and i was afraid if I put too much pressure on it, the bowl would collapse.
The shave ice was like any other shave ice, nothing really special (texture wise) I also forgot to mention that the we added mochi ball but THERE WAS BARELY ANY MOCHI. There was about 6 pieces but the pieces seemed like they cut one ball in half so really there was only three pieces. I would probably come back here to try the haupia. But would probably go to sweet home to get my shave ice fix. -
Review from Lina S.
San Francisco, CA
Great way to cool down on a hot day in the heart of Honolulu. The strawberry milk+haupia with ice cream & mochi is my regular. The strawberry milk tastes like a shave ice version of strawberry ice cream. And the haupia compliments it so well! Dee-lish :]
Best shave ice on the island, I believe. -
Review from Austin B.
This is my FAVORITE shaved ice place so far. I think I might be hyping it too much and inflating everyone's expectations, but they hit all the right marks in my book.
They have a good variety of flavors, but what I like best are the homemade syrups. I also believe they use Dave's Ice Cream too.
Likes: The shaved ice itself is fine, but that's = pretty standard for this price range. What sets this place apart are the homemade syrups. They aren't overly sweet and they're flavorful. I've tried some of the specials, and they are quite interesting. They taste how you would expect (e.g. peanut butter, mocha).
Dislikes: The place is pretty small and you have to be aggressive to get a table and seats. The mochi isn't that great either, and they only give you a few, so I pass on it unless it's already included in a special.
Favorites: Strawberry milk. It tastes like it sounds. My first time going here, I ordered a small thinking it would be enough to share with my sister, but upon my first bite, I immediately regretted not getting a large. The lilikoi is good too.
If you like shaved ice, bring a friend or two (so you can share and try different flavors) and stop by here and give it a try. I drive to the Ala Moana area just to eat this. I haven't tried the uji kintoki (green tea and azuki bean) yet, but I heard rave reviews from a coworker (she's hyping it for me).Listed in: Sweet Tooth
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Review from Jeremy H.
Honolulu, HI
Wow!!! Best shaved ice ever. Light and fluffy with a lot of options and flavors. Especially loved the choco lovers. Will be coming back. Love the idea of having a core of ice cream in the middle.
Stopped by there today during finals week. Loved it again. Best way to take a break from the stress of finals. -
Review from Yung V.
Honolulu, HI
If you're looking for a place with THE Best Shave Ice on the island - next to Matsumoto's - then Ailana Shave Ice is the spot to be at! They're a family owned company with an array of HOMEMADE syrups with various specialty shave ice, making Ailana Shave Ice the latest rave in shave ice!
Support your local businesses! -
Review from Leah R.
This is one of the new places that replaced my need for Waiola's and bumped them down the chart. The shave ice here is better, not to mention the very friendly service and clean shop.
The shave ice melts in your mouth and it's not chocked full of sugary syrup. My fave was the Uji Kintoki shave ice. I also tried the Strawberry Mlk that everybody raved about. It's like having strawberry ice cream in shave ice form.
The only cons about this place is that it's kind of hidden along Kona Street and parking can be tight, but it's worth stopping by and enjoying some of their unique creations. -
Review from Christine K.
Honolulu, HI
Great homemade syrup! ! Soo yummy. Ice is not as soft as waiola bit just as good as Matsumotos. It's the syrup that really makes it yummy! oh there is a small parking lot, so you don't have to park at the mall.
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Review from Anson G.
Honolulu, HI
Bottom Line: holding up as my favorite island style shaved ice!
I can safely say that I've had everything on their homemade and specials menu, except the "Choco Lover." I will probably try it on my next visit.
People always ask me what my favorite menu item is, since I always rave about this place, and I can't say I have a favorite yet. EVERYTHING I've had here has been exceptionally good.
It makes ordering a very difficult decision making process every time I come here. I think I'm going to have to either start coming here every day so the other menu items don't get jealous, or I'm going to have to start ordering two menu items per visit.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/18/2011
Bottom Line: I've gone back EVERY DAY for a week while I've been on vacation. What does that say?… Read more »
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7/18/2011
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Review from Kristen C.
Waipahu, HI
#20/365
I was in the area and wanted something cool and refreshing to eat so I made my way here since Ive been meaning to give it a try anyway. I around 2 and there was only 3 other people there enjoying and waiting for their shave ice to be made so I didnt have to wait too long.
I wasnt too hungry so I just got their small for $2.50, no tax! :). The flavors I chose were blue hawaii, lychee, and hawaiian punch. The cashier that helped me, maybe the owner? was nice. Overall I'd def come here again to try their other flavors.Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge
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Review from Jordan S.
Honolulu, HI
I really love this place! I live out in hawaii kai so I take an hour long bus ride to get here. My favorites is the Mocha special and the strawbery milk/green tea. Its not too crowded and its really relaxing. I swear this is better than Matsumoto's, creative flavors and I can actually get into the store. The owners are super nice, the owner Gene is super funny and his wife is too nice! I actually like to cause them trouble by helping out without permission lol. The point being its not like a normal store, it feels like you're going to go see family. And I go to see my family every week!
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Review from gary n.
I didn't think shaved ice could get any better until I've been here. I grew up on simple shaved ice with simple flavors. Over the years, the ice has gotten finer and the flavors more complex. A good shaved ice nowadays consists of ice that is similar to freshly fallen snow, syrups that really taste like the flavors that they're supposed to, and yummy toppings.
On a recent visit, I ordered the Azuki Lover shaved ice which included azuki beans, vanilla ice cream, condensed milk, and mochi. I just had to get this one because I love all of these things! They were a little busy when it was ordered and it did take a little while. It was so worth the wait though! Their little mochis are homemade!
This is a definite must go to place on a hot day or if you're just in the mood for some yummy sweet goodness in a bowl. There was an older lady there and a younger girl making the shaved ice and they were very nice! This place may be a little hard to find if you're not familiar to the area. It is located behind of SushiSan on Kona street. A highly recommended shaved ice place!
#Yelp 365 - 30/365Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge
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Review from Shay F.
ahahaha, ever since I found this place, I visit it quite often. I just can't seem to get enough Strawberry Milk. Yes, I've tried the other flavors, but I just love how fresh and yummy the Strawberry Milk one is! If I could...I'd have one every day! LoL.
Yelp 365 Challenge #04/365Listed in: Yelp 365 Challenge, Shay's 808 Desserts
