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Kiyoraka's Golden Crunch Kakigori was immensely impressive. Superzied super light and fluffy shaved ice topped with mango puree, mango chunks and whipped ceeam. The ice was ao decadently light and refreshing. Definitely an experience in a cosmic themed modern and sleek dining room. There was a lone server during our after dinner visit on a weekday and she worked efficently to serve the post dinner stream of customers inquisitively wandering in to check it out!
The place appeared (on the outside) very hip and futuristic. It was vacant when we went. Most of the items were sold out. Got what was left and recommended, which I believe is their matcha with cheese. Their workers seemed uninterested - even saw on person on their cell texting away...but then again, it was only us there so there's nothing for her to do but watch the co-worker help us. For the price and overall taste of the match/ice/cheese, it is not worth it at all. It lacked the taste of matcha.
This place honestly looked so cool on IG but it did not live up to the hype. Ambience first of all was very odd given the location and the vibes didn't really match the food. Parking itself was very plentiful and easy in the plaza. Service was odd since it's not that busy but they only have a kiosk that you use to order it yourself. We ended up choosing the matcha. It was very powdery and tasted very artificial and bitter. The ice itself was also very icy and just wasn't what I had expected.
Supposedly this place imported japanese ice but i dont taste the difference at all. For $17, it's a pretty expensive especially the portion isnt that big. The shaved was pretty good, but other places have similar ones for way cheaper. Side note: The interior of this place was very aesthetically pleasing.
Located across the street from the entrance to Tanaka Farms, in the Parkview Center, first level. Plenty of parking in the shared lot for the shopping center. This shopping center has been here for some time as the parking aisles are nice and wide. Kiyoraka Kokigori is a unique Japanese shaved ice experience that is more than a dessert shop, more than a frozen dessert treat. It cannot be compared to ordinary shaved ice that we have all had in our pasts. Kiyoraka staff are artisans and each dish is a culinary masterpiece that they are creating for the experience. There are only SIX choices on the menu on any given day and there may be seasonal ones only offered for a short period of time depending upon the availability of the fresh ingredients. Daily hours are 12:00PM - 10:00PM because each morning, the staff is making the sauces, creams, chopping nuts and fruit for the shop's offerings. Once they run out of the ingredients, that item is removed from the available choices on the menu. The daily available choices is also monitored in their digital system for the kiosk and the register manned by the manager. Kiyoraka is a cashless shop for efficiency too. The shopping center has shared patio tables and Kiyoraka has a dining area as well as bar seating. The décor along one dark "galaxy" wall with colorful twinkling lights/"stars" and "shooting stars" every few seconds. This is paneled along the length of the shop. The bar area, the counter is a lit "marbled" surface that servers will place final orders on and customers will use as eating surfaces. It is a wide counter. The seats are very cool, they are blue in the shape of waves or blue "leaves" and there is a spring when you sit down. Very comfortable and unique. I chose a seat at the bar because I wanted to watch the artisans design the dishes. Food scales are used in every preparation. Each dish has a specific list of ingredients that is crafted in a specific order. The Japanese shaved ice requires a special machine and what appears to be special blocks of ice that are packaged as blocks in sealed plastic. In other words, do not try this at home. The empty dish is placed on the food scale and as each ingredient is added, it is done on the scale as well, making each creation exactly the same. Some of the shaved ice needs to be molded and lightly pat down to create the rounded shape. It was fascinating to observe but all of this takes time. Each dish takes 5-6 minutes to make and nothing in done in mass production nor are any of the dishes "pre-made" in any way. I visited Kiyoraka after hearing about it from Purelux Scalp Spa that I visited earlier in the day. Go read my reviews there - love that service! My Kiyoraka visit was around 4:15 PM, but the place was pretty full. The manager let me know that Strawberry Pistache was the number one favorite, followed by Golden Crunch and that Yogurt Kiwi was a seasonal offering that could be leaving at any time. I chose the Tiramisu Hikari and the manager said "that is the last one for the day." I felt like I was just awarded the golden ticket. As of 19 Jul, dishes range in price from $14.98 to $17.98. While this may seem like steep pricing, once you see the work that goes into each dish, you understand the value of the cost. Each order comes with a card with a drawing of the creation and the ingredients. Tiramisu Hikari contained lemon curd, mascarpone cream, caramel hazelnut, coffee cookie, coffee milk syrup, Japanese shaved ice (2 applications) and brown sugar that is heated with a blow torch right in front of your eyes!! Holy Moly! Each dish is about 5" tall AND YOU CAN'T TAKE THE LEFTOVERS HOME - PERIOD! Staff is very nice, accommodating and one artisan actually told me "they are super fun to make!" There you have it! While enjoying my delicious treat, I saw many Strawberry Pistache and Golden Crunch being ordered. Dishes are made to be shared, but I don't think younger children would like the flavor combinations. This is just my opinion. And why would you want to waste these yummy treats on the kids? Save this wonderful place for a teen to adult outing and make it special for "adults only!" Don't bawk about the price nor the wait time, just indulge yourself. You only live once. Ok, bye
I can't believe more people don't know about this place but either way, I love this hidden gem. They do Japanese shaved ice called kakigori that is so delicious! They have different flavors but me and my boyfriend's favorite flavor is the tiramisu one. The tiramisu kakigori has a creme brulee top that they torch with marshmallow fluff, the shaved ice is coffee flavored that melts in your mouth. The bottom has hazelnuts that are crunchy and sweet and taste amazing with the coffee shaved ice. It's priced around $15-16 but it's easily shareable with 2-3 people and it's always a hit whenever we get it after dinner or just want a sweet treat. The service is always amazing and everyone is so sweet to help you choose a flavor and they're all very helpful.
Saw this on TikTok and wanted to try Japanese shaved ice for the first time. Irvine has an endless selection of dessert places and this place more unique compared to other shaved ice places because of the detail that put into the shaved ice. It takes a while to serve so just be careful. They are carefully handcrafting the shaved ice. Matcha Shiro (5/5): This comes with a creme brulee like top and matcha power on top. The shaved ice is also matcha flavor and it comes with matcha cream on the inside. I thought the flavor was very elegant and the creation of this was very thought out as it was a really unique try. However, I wished it was a bit sweeter. Would love to come back to try different flavors
Beautiful interior! You'll be dazzled by the wall lights, lit up bar seating and the custom shaped bar stools. Your senses, specifically smell, will be entertained too because it was a mix of sewage/perfume lol Thank goodness they kept their door open and had outdoor seating available. We chose the Strawberry Pistachio ($17.98) and shared between 2 people. When the shave ice is ready, they give you a graphic card that details the layers so it's not a surprise. This one had a base of cherry jelly, pistachio syrup, pistachio paste, strawberry cream with candied strawberries, cookie crumble and finished with a dollop of strawberry cream and candied strawberry. In reality, ours didn't have any candied strawberry bits but more of a strawberry syrup. Fortunately, the roasted nutty flavor from the pistachio syrup was prominent and perfectly highlighted. The cookie crumbs were a pleasant crunch too. The only item we weren't impressed with was the cherry jelly as it tasted out of place or an afterthought. Overall, it's a wonderful sweet treat and would like to give Golden Crunch or Matcha a try! It does feel a bit pricy at almost $20 with tax, but it looks like they will be adding food & drinks to their menu soon. Excited to see what they will offer!
Nice employees, but overall not a great experience. Agreeing with a lot of other comments, definitely not worth the cost. It really wasn't substantial enough and the sauce didn't even go all the way through. It was mostly plain ice inside. We got the golden crunch and the matcha and both had issues. The matcha was for sure missing something that was shown in the card they give you that shows what's supposed to be in it. They also gave us the wrong order so we had to wait until they remade what we actually ordered. We also couldn't eat inside because the whole place smelled like a strong bathroom cleanser. I'd only go again if the prices were lowered.
Perfect treat for the hot days to come this summer! the interior was cool, the bar seating was vibey, but the long line right down the middle was not a vibe and took away from the cool interior. The store definitely did not have enough seating. Objectively speaking, I thought the shaved ice itself was really good! I liked that toppings were hidden inside and that there were cool layers to unveil. I hit the strawberry pistachio and it was really yummy! Now if we consider the portion size and the value, I'd say this was not worth your $20. Cool to try once but I'll likely not want to pay $20 for shaved ice again.
Loved the taste of the shaved ice! The texture was incredibly soft--almost cloud-like--and it melted right in my mouth. The flavors were rich and balanced, not overly sweet, which I appreciated. We were hoping to try the strawberry pistachio flavor, but it was unfortunately sold out during our visit. Definitely planning to return to try it next time! The ambiance was nice overall, but one downside was the strong restroom-like odor inside the shop. It made the environment feel unappetizing and a bit unsanitary, especially for a dessert spot. Because of that, we chose to enjoy our shaved ice outside instead. Still, the dessert itself lived up to the hype we saw on social media--it really was delicious!
I finally visited Kiyoraka after seeing the Yelp reviews and decided to try the Tiramisu flavor. It turned out to be a good choice. The ice itself was very fine and fluffy. The Tiramisu flavor delivered a good balance of coffee and marscapone, reminiscent of the dessert but in a lighter, iced form. It wasn't overly sweet, either. I also really liked the crunchy cookie bits inside - they added a nice textural contrast. Overall, I enjoyed it as a well-executed dessert more than syrup flavored shave ice.
An overall okay shaved ice spot. I really liked how fine and smooth the ice was, but I wish there were more syrups or toppings -- some parts of the dessert ended up tasting pretty plain. I tried the Strawberry Pistache (their most popular flavor) and the Golden Crunch. I thought I'd prefer the Golden Crunch, but surprisingly liked the Strawberry Pistache more -- the flavors were better distributed throughout. The presentation is definitely pretty, but for the price, I'd rather go to Sul & Beans. They're more generous with fruit and the flavor is consistent in every bite. This place was nice to try once for the experience, but it wouldn't be my go-to dessert spot. Service was pretty much non-existent. There's a self-serve kiosk, and the only interaction we had with the staff was when they handed us our order. We went when it wasn't busy, and during that time, the employees were just on their phones in full view of customers. One odd thing we noticed was an item on the kiosk labeled "Our Commitment" priced at $999 -- a bit strange, but funny. The shop interior is cool and has a unique vibe.
I visited with friends an hour before closing. They only have 5 things on the menu and 3 were sold out. We ordered the 2 remaining items (coffee and chocolate kakigori) and it leaves much to be desired. It's not flavorful. Both kakigoris tasted like ice with a hint of something. The sold out flavors seem more appealing but I don't think it's worth a second shot. read more
4 months ago
This place looked so cool and I wanted to check it out. I ordered the matcha shaved ice and they torched the cream on the top like crème brûlée. It was decent in terms of taste. read more
The shave ice was tasty. We enjoyed the delicate test of the matcha. It wasn't too overpowering. Interesting flavor combination. It was not our first choice. They ran out of all but 2 flavors by 8:30! The service was ok. But the pricing was high for a small bowl. By the time we paid tip and tax it was $20! Definitely nice to try but a bit pricey. read more
1 year ago
Cool interior (reminded me of a galaxy with the black walls and twinkling lights inside), but the dessert was so extremely overpriced. This small bit of shaved ice was $16-17, and while it was good, it was nothing spectacular that warrants the price. read more
The strawberry matcha was sold out! We got the "golden crunch" which was mango with mango jam. The cream with this dessert left an after taste and I wish it had more fresh mango and less mango jam. So I likely won't order the same flavor if I were to go back. The inside was decorated well with a semi underwater and semi celestial vibe with the twinkle star lights. However the inside is pretty small and I will say the cleaning supply smell the other reviews brought up was pretty accurate and I agree it was unpleasant. When we went it was 40% off of the normal price of $14.98. Which is actually a pretty great deal for a dessert outing and for a dessert of that size, basically the price of an expensive cup of coffee or boba almost. Service was good for this type of establishment. We were there for a while and our server didn't try to rush us out. I will say it's not my favorite shaved ice spot or even in top ten but I would go back if they have that special again to try other items in case I like those more like the tiramisu (which is a flavor I haven't had with shaved ice before). The parking was easy and readily available as well. All in all we had a good weekday experience with a couple of minor things that could be improved so I would give it another shot. read more
1 year ago
I saw this place hyped on IG and decided to give it a shot. I have mixed feelings. The quality of shaved ice was great. They do use premium imported ice from Japan, but honestly I don't know if that makes a big difference. BUT the flavor was great. The quality of ingredients is what makes this place worth it. They don't mix flavors which I think is a downside. But they had a slow night and the owner allowed me to mix the pistachio with mascarpone cream. This was so good. With the brulee top... Chefs miss. The pistachio cream is such a good deep nutty flavor without missing the crunch factor bc they add cookie bits. Portion size was okay when looking at it but bc the ice is fluffy and light, I was still wanting more after finishing it. One strange thing that could have been from an off night-- the whole store smelled like a restroom. Like a dirty, but just cleaned restroom. It's quite off putting so most customers sat outside. Hopefully it was a one time issue. read more
11 months ago
Very strange ambiance for a shaved ice spot especially if you're going during the day. All black with harsh lights and blue light accents. We went with the golden crush (mango) that had a cream, mango purée, caramel, and cookie pieces. Personally felt they didn't mesh much. The cookie pieces and caramel were off. Best thing was the mango purée. Ice wasn't especially fluffy or special like everyone has made it sound. It's just ice? And the flavor comes from the sauces and toppings? Plus the middle was pretty hollow. At the $17 price point there are many better places to get dessert in Irvine. Would much rather get bingsu from Sul & Bean or Somi Somi. read more
1 year ago
4.5/5 I would have given a full 5 stars but I think it's priced too high. The flavor is great. Sweet but not too sweet. This is one of the very best things I've had in a long time. read more
9 months ago
This is a great spot for some refreshing Japanese shaved ice, especially on a warm day. It is on the pricier side but the portions are quite large and easily shareable between two people. We tried the Mango Crunch, and it was good. The mango purée on top was flavorful and fresh, and the cookie added a nice, unexpected crunch that elevated the texture. Overall, a satisfying treat read more
7 months ago
The mango crunch was a light and refreshing treat. The ice itself was a lot less flavorful than I thought it would be, but the mango jam that covered it carried the flavor. Definitely something you want to share with someone, but has a steep price of $17 for shaved ice. It was also supposed to have cookie bits for the "crunch" part of the name and jelly which was very scarce in the layers. read more
1 year ago
Really tasty Strawberry Pistachio kakigori, with strawberry cream, pistachio syrup, and cookie crunch. Really refreshing for warm summer nights, and unique flavor options available. One star down because this cost $18 which is too pricy for a shave ice in our opinion, even if the ice is imported from Japan. read more
11 months ago
Worth trying! Found this place randomly walking around the neighborhood. It looks good and tastes different but price is little bit higher that expected read more
8 months ago
Honestly this is my favorite dessert I have had in a long time. It's so hard to find dessert that isn't just tasting of sugar and that's it, but this was so fresh, so creamy, such a nice mix of flavors ! Service was nice. It is definitely pricey but for a nice treat so worth it. Want to come back and try the strawberry one since they were out when we came! read more
10 months ago
10 months ago
new shaved ice place unlocked. i know others said this place is pricey n not worth the price with how "small" the shaved ice is. i do agree its quite pricey but i think the size is just right and it has a lot of layers to it which i love. it's refreshing and ill def try other flavors. read more
8 months ago
Sooo good! Amazing ambiance, decorations, seats, etc. Def feels like a spot that would be in Vegas or Los Angeles or Chicago or New York. Also the items are SO good. Highly recommend. It's a bit pricy but when I went they had a buy one get one half, so def get the offer for 2 items. Servings a bit small. Perfect spot for quick desert. Close at 10pm every day except Sunday (7pm). read more
7 months ago
Cool, minimal vibe with a calm ambiance. The shaved ice is tasty and the flavors are unique, though the price is a little high for what you get. Still, one is great to share with someone for a fun and interesting snack experience. read more
Kiyoraka is one of the few hidden gems that specialize in Japanese shaved ice (Kakigori). Unlike American or Korean shaved ice, which consist of ice flakes, Kakigori is thinly shaved ice strips, which I prefer in texture compared to other types of shaved ice. This spot is definitely on the higher end, with desserts coming out to ~$20 after taxes. We ordered the matcha crème brûlée, which consists of several layers of matcha shaved ice, cream and syrup, torched milk and egg custard, and tea milk custard. Personally, I was a bit disappointed with how the matcha was just drizzled over plain shaved ice, which made the flavor a bit uneven especially as you worked your way down. I would also expect a bit of a wait, since they make each dessert fresh to order and only have two or three ice machines for the entire shop. Nevertheless, I'll definitely be back to try the mango flavor, and to cool off with these unique, hard-to-find desserts in the SoCal summer heat! read more
7 months ago
This shaved ice was amazing! I had the pistachio strawberry . It was delicious. The pistachio flavoring was light and went an inch or so deep and added a rich nutty-sweet taste. The ice was super fluffy and light--no crunch and no big plain-ice areas. There is some sweet crunch in the center. Thick cream and sweet jammy strawberries on top. Definitely a great gourmet shaved ice! Best Japanese shaved Ice I've had--and on par with Korean shaved ice cream. Size is good to share, but was easy for me to eat alone. I wanted another when I was done, but one was satisfying enough. I'm going back again and would recommend!!! read more
9 months ago
Amazing Shaved Ice! With a Modern Japanese Vibe. Beautiful esthetics and chillax setup. Beautifully made and awesome shaved ice twists! Delicious and Yummy! Excellent service over the beautiful LED lit shaved ice "bar"! Will be back! read more
1 month ago
10 months ago
Wow this shaved ice is probably the best I've had in the US. The layers of different texture and flavors just all went well. Yes, its a little pricey but we'll worth it with their high quality ingredients. Also got to remember its at UCI so I'm sure rent is steep. Definitely going back to try other flavors read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
My friends and I got the mango shaved ice. The taste is really good. Not too sweet and super fresh. Apparently, they make their own mango sauce and biscuit! The wall is super pretty. I like the shooting star lights. The employees there are friendly and welcoming. A perfect hangout place in summer! read more
9 months ago
8 months ago
I'm resurrecting from the dead to tell everyone that the shaved ice is delicious but the restroom-like ODOR is not.. We ordered and ate outside bc it was ruining our appetite. I have yet to go to Japan, but this is what I'd imagine kakigori there to taste like. Minus one star bc we went on a weekday (nonpeak hours) and only two flavors were available. read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
Please try the mango crunch without the caramel inside. Then let me know how you like it - as for what you're paying it shouldn't have the fake chemical taste that everyone alludes to. Ambiance is a bit fancy, but interesting place to check out. read more
11 months ago
ordered the golden crush (mango) flavor which i really enjoyed. i liked all the different textured mixed in. however, the texture of the ice could have been more fine to be more reminiscent of kakigori - this was still a but hard and not as "melt in your mouth" as i expected. $16 was the cheaper end of options and it was a good portion to share between 2 people. i'd go back to try the upcoming fig flavor but other than that, i don't think i'd return. i'm glad we went to try it since we've been seeing this place on instagram not food related, but we opted to sit outside bc the inside smelled weird (consistent with some other comments i read). it's like the smell of cleaning supplies either from the bathroom or from where they prep the food and it's quite unpleasant. read more
11 months ago
The way they shave their ice makes it super soft and enjoyable. It melts in your mouth, there is a lot going on though but makes sense since it's pricey. The store itself is like I'm walking into space. The space was moody with twinkly lights and cool shell-like bar stools. read more
11 months ago
11 months ago
5 months ago
11 months ago
I was amazed at the ambiance from the parking lot. Falling stars and cute bar stools. It is a definite must try shaved ice spot in Irvine. Mia took such care in helping us order and preparing our dish. Overall a great experience. A+ Kitoraka we will be back. read more
1 year ago
So overpriced that I would call it a scam. $33 after tax and tip for what's in the picture. Snow ice should be made with cream base, this one is water based. If you want to call it Japanese shaved ice and make it with water based ice then at least top it with some nice toppings--while they were mostly just syrups filled with food colorings and sugar if not corn syrup. read more
11 months ago
Tried this spot out today. Place is nice and clean. Decorated very cool. Ordered the macha which was a little too sweet with overpowering powder flavor. The Coco was too bland and lacking flavor and taste. Both items were on the expensive side($33 for 2 items) especially for the size. They were very small. I can't say I can recommend this place. Disappointed read more
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Kiyoraka - shavedice - Updated May 2026
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