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The absolute best and our favorite! So glad they still have this location behind rainbow drive in! I Alexis get the tubes float, vanilla cream and strawberry with ice cream sand my don always gets a variety. Seating is easy and the plastic holder is a must! Parking is sometimes hard but you just have to wait a bit for someone to go out which is often since eating here is fast
We were passing this place after leaving the zoo so decided to stop by because we were dying of thirst. When we went in, there was a group of 3 people in line...today was our lucky day! I'm so used to waiting in their long line when they were on School Street. Anyway, they all ordered the "Small Size" and were planning to do the same. When I saw how big it was, I changed my mind and ordered 4 "Kid Size". Even that size was too big for me...I couldn't finish it so my husband ate his and the rest of mine. They have sooooooooooo many flavors to choose from. I know you can choose 3 flavors but my husband and I only like strawberry and banana. Before I go there again, I'll browse through their flavors first so we can try different flavors. Since I purchased an annual pass for the zoo, I'll be dropping by more often. As for parking, they have about 10 stalls but it's really small and tight so next time, we'll just park next door in Rainbow Drive-In's parking lot.
We come to Shimazu Shave Ice every time we visit Oahu. We come at least 3-5 times during our trips. We appreciate the consistency of how each shave ice is made, syrup ratio (no missed areas) and price. The small size is huge. We end up sharing it too. We are so thankful for this local favorite. Support local businesses. Mahalo for providing a quality sweet treat.
One of my staple places to get shave ice. Shimazu is located along Kapahulu and Ho'olulu Street, right behind Rainbow Drive-In. There are limited parking spots available in front of the store, though I don't usually have an issue finding parking in this area. The interior of the store is clean and bright, and you order food on the left-hand side of the shop. I really appreciated the staff who helped us, as he was very helpful, bright, and friendly! We got the large shave ice with green milk tea, ube creme, and blue milk, which was basically the size of my head (or bigger)! It was definitely way more than enough for two people, and it paired really well with condensed milk and red beans. The price is pretty reasonable for what you get, which I appreciated. I definitely recommend coming here if you're ever craving a cold sweet treat!
Stopped in on a Friday at around 4, after my sister said this was their new go-to shave ice spot.. It's a small shop with no seating inside but there are some ledges outside where you can sit and enjoy your shave ice. I had a small and it was HUGE! I should have just gotten a keiki size, which still would have been more than enough (especially since it was right before dinnertime). I ordered the ube cream, creme brulee, and another flavor that I can't remember (you can choose three flavors for a small). I really liked the ube cream. It had lots of ube flavor. I enjoyed the creme brulee as well. The texture of the ice was very fine and didn't have those little chunks like other places have. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in Hawaii to try some other flavors. I just noticed they have a green milk tea, which i don't know how I missed because I definitely would have ordered that flavor!
This is now my favorite shave ice spot. Shimazu serves up excellent shave ice with an INSANE amount of flavor options. There's about 70 syrup flavors to choose from and selecting on the spot can easily cause some indecisiveness. Now I understand why the ordering process is broken down into steps. Note: if you pick durian, you have to eat it outside of the establishment. This is not a drill. It is clearly written on a counter sign. I stopped by for some shave ice and was easily impressed at the combination of flavors. The small size actually looks like a medium bowl. The ordering process is procedural and for a good reason. First step was picking the bowl size. Second step was picking any add-ons such as ice cream, azuki beans, etc. Third step is extra toppings. Final step is picking the flavors. I ordered the small shave ice with ice cream, condensed milk topping, and tropical syrup combo. The tropical combo is lilikoi passion, guava, and mango. The consistency of the ice was very fine and the syrup pours were generous. Pricing was reasonable especially for the serving size. Overall, I had a great experience and would highly recommend this spot.
It's located right next door to Rainbow Drive in - get ready for massive shaved ice portions and ALOHA brain freeze. I had the guava, piña colada, blueberry with condensed milk and beans - so good!
After my disasterous meal at the eatery next door, I made up for it with a stop at Shimazu Shave Ice and it definitely lifted my spirits! I love Shimazu! I ordered my usual lilikoi/passionfruit, strawberry, and sour lemon and was so happy to see that the size hasn't changed since my last visit several years ago. The small is still huge and the addition of vanilla ice cream is only $1 more. The whole delicious bowl cost under $8.50 and the young man who put it together for me couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming. This place is amazing and has definitely become one of my must-visits when I come to Oahu. My friend and I were wondering how large the "large" would be if our "smalls" were the size of a baby's head and then we saw one that someone else ordered. OMG, it's gigantic! A family of 4 was sharing it and I think it was enough for them all to be satisfied. As I mentioned, the young man making the shave ice for me was really friendly and that's worth a whole lot. Shimazu would be 5 stars even without such great service, but the young man certainly put it over the top!
Whoa, the size of this shave ice! The kid's size itself feels large and was plenty for two adults to share. There's also a huge variety of flavors to choose from, and I especially enjoyed the lilikoi passion and haupia. The staff was super friendly and funny - our server compared the different shave ice sizes to his head and it was hilarious, but at the same time gave us some good context on what to expect. I'm glad we did the kid's size in the end, though the server did mention he's seen people finish the large (and even the off-menu extra large size) on their own. Order at your own hunger level!
Had to make a stop at one of our favorite shaved ice shops located in the Hawaiian Kitchen ! Great size - excellent syrups and best of all great service! Limited parking but if you wait a spot will open up quickly! Will put a smile on your face!
Decent shaved ice sharing the same space as a poke spot. I liked the texture of the ice and the flavor choices. It is just a little too sweet for me, but I can see why everyone likes it. Be prepared for a huge bowl though - even the small size is ginormous.
My wife and I walked over to Shimazu Shave Ice after our heavy meal at Rainbow Drive-In and it did not disappoint! The ice is shaved paper thin, almost snow-like, and the flavors are bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced (not too sweet, not too watery). We got the tropical combo to share with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it was phenomenal. The sizing threw us off a bit because we got the small and it was massive and more than enough for two people. Service is friendly and efficient and you can tell the owner cares about what they're serving. Prices are reasonable for the portion size and adding the ice cream base is totally worth it. Only minor downside is parking, which is a bit tight and limited but that's a small price to pay to experience shimazu. The shop is tucked away in a shared area so it's easy to miss but if you pay attention to the signs, you'll be fine. Would highly recommend!
Best shaved ice on the island! I always come here whenever I am visiting, highly recommend! I always get the tropical shaved ice (guava, mango, and lillikoi passion). Their small size is massive! Parking is just a little tight.
27 days ago
The wife couldn't leave HI without having some shave ice. This small shop is next to a Rainbow Drive In and shares space with another restaurant. Luckily she had read other reviews of this place that said most people would do just fine with the kid size and they weren't wrong. The kid size is actually very big. The man that was running the shop on the day we went was not the friendliest, but I can't deny that the shave ice was very good. I have had shave ice a few times here in the states and never understood what the big deal was. It was always just like flavored slurpee ice or something. But the shave ice at Shimaze was very soft and fluffy. Now I get it. I liked it so much I even bought a shirt. read more
The absolute best and our favorite! So glad they still have this location behind rainbow drive in! I Alexis get the tubes float, vanilla cream and strawberry with ice cream sand my don always gets a variety. Seating is easy and the plastic holder is a must! Parking is sometimes hard but you just have to wait a bit for someone to go out which is often since eating here is fast read more
We were passing this place after leaving the zoo so decided to stop by because we were dying of thirst. When we went in, there was a group of 3 people in line...today was our lucky day! I'm so used to waiting in their long line when they were on School Street. Anyway, they all ordered the "Small Size" and were planning to do the same. When I saw how big it was, I changed my mind and ordered 4 "Kid Size". Even that size was too big for me...I couldn't finish it so my husband ate his and the rest of mine. They have sooooooooooo many flavors to choose from. I know you can choose 3 flavors but my husband and I only like strawberry and banana. Before I go there again, I'll browse through their flavors first so we can try different flavors. Since I purchased an annual pass for the zoo, I'll be dropping by more often. As for parking, they have about 10 stalls but it's really small and tight so next time, we'll just park next door in Rainbow Drive-In's parking lot. read more
24 days ago
We come to Shimazu Shave Ice every time we visit Oahu. We come at least 3-5 times during our trips. We appreciate the consistency of how each shave ice is made, syrup ratio (no missed areas) and price. The small size is huge. We end up sharing it too. We are so thankful for this local favorite. Support local businesses. Mahalo for providing a quality sweet treat. read more
One of my staple places to get shave ice. Shimazu is located along Kapahulu and Ho'olulu Street, right behind Rainbow Drive-In. There are limited parking spots available in front of the store, though I don't usually have an issue finding parking in this area. The interior of the store is clean and bright, and you order food on the left-hand side of the shop. I really appreciated the staff who helped us, as he was very helpful, bright, and friendly! We got the large shave ice with green milk tea, ube creme, and blue milk, which was basically the size of my head (or bigger)! It was definitely way more than enough for two people, and it paired really well with condensed milk and red beans. The price is pretty reasonable for what you get, which I appreciated. I definitely recommend coming here if you're ever craving a cold sweet treat! read more
Stopped in on a Friday at around 4, after my sister said this was their new go-to shave ice spot.. It's a small shop with no seating inside but there are some ledges outside where you can sit and enjoy your shave ice. I had a small and it was HUGE! I should have just gotten a keiki size, which still would have been more than enough (especially since it was right before dinnertime). I ordered the ube cream, creme brulee, and another flavor that I can't remember (you can choose three flavors for a small). I really liked the ube cream. It had lots of ube flavor. I enjoyed the creme brulee as well. The texture of the ice was very fine and didn't have those little chunks like other places have. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in Hawaii to try some other flavors. I just noticed they have a green milk tea, which i don't know how I missed because I definitely would have ordered that flavor! read more
This is now my favorite shave ice spot. Shimazu serves up excellent shave ice with an INSANE amount of flavor options. There's about 70 syrup flavors to choose from and selecting on the spot can easily cause some indecisiveness. Now I understand why the ordering process is broken down into steps. Note: if you pick durian, you have to eat it outside of the establishment. This is not a drill. It is clearly written on a counter sign. I stopped by for some shave ice and was easily impressed at the combination of flavors. The small size actually looks like a medium bowl. The ordering process is procedural and for a good reason. First step was picking the bowl size. Second step was picking any add-ons such as ice cream, azuki beans, etc. Third step is extra toppings. Final step is picking the flavors. I ordered the small shave ice with ice cream, condensed milk topping, and tropical syrup combo. The tropical combo is lilikoi passion, guava, and mango. The consistency of the ice was very fine and the syrup pours were generous. Pricing was reasonable especially for the serving size. Overall, I had a great experience and would highly recommend this spot. read more
After my disasterous meal at the eatery next door, I made up for it with a stop at Shimazu Shave Ice and it definitely lifted my spirits! I love Shimazu! I ordered my usual lilikoi/passionfruit, strawberry, and sour lemon and was so happy to see that the size hasn't changed since my last visit several years ago. The small is still huge and the addition of vanilla ice cream is only $1 more. The whole delicious bowl cost under $8.50 and the young man who put it together for me couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming. This place is amazing and has definitely become one of my must-visits when I come to Oahu. My friend and I were wondering how large the "large" would be if our "smalls" were the size of a baby's head and then we saw one that someone else ordered. OMG, it's gigantic! A family of 4 was sharing it and I think it was enough for them all to be satisfied. As I mentioned, the young man making the shave ice for me was really friendly and that's worth a whole lot. Shimazu would be 5 stars even without such great service, but the young man certainly put it over the top! read more
Whoa, the size of this shave ice! The kid's size itself feels large and was plenty for two adults to share. There's also a huge variety of flavors to choose from, and I especially enjoyed the lilikoi passion and haupia. The staff was super friendly and funny - our server compared the different shave ice sizes to his head and it was hilarious, but at the same time gave us some good context on what to expect. I'm glad we did the kid's size in the end, though the server did mention he's seen people finish the large (and even the off-menu extra large size) on their own. Order at your own hunger level! read more
Had to make a stop at one of our favorite shaved ice shops located in the Hawaiian Kitchen ! Great size - excellent syrups and best of all great service! Limited parking but if you wait a spot will open up quickly! Will put a smile on your face! read more
Decent shaved ice sharing the same space as a poke spot. I liked the texture of the ice and the flavor choices. It is just a little too sweet for me, but I can see why everyone likes it. Be prepared for a huge bowl though - even the small size is ginormous. read more
My wife and I walked over to Shimazu Shave Ice after our heavy meal at Rainbow Drive-In and it did not disappoint! The ice is shaved paper thin, almost snow-like, and the flavors are bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced (not too sweet, not too watery). We got the tropical combo to share with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it was phenomenal. The sizing threw us off a bit because we got the small and it was massive and more than enough for two people. Service is friendly and efficient and you can tell the owner cares about what they're serving. Prices are reasonable for the portion size and adding the ice cream base is totally worth it. Only minor downside is parking, which is a bit tight and limited but that's a small price to pay to experience shimazu. The shop is tucked away in a shared area so it's easy to miss but if you pay attention to the signs, you'll be fine. Would highly recommend! read more
Best shaved ice on the island! I always come here whenever I am visiting, highly recommend! I always get the tropical shaved ice (guava, mango, and lillikoi passion). Their small size is massive! Parking is just a little tight. read more
Shimazu Shimazu Shimazu! Absolute best shave ice on Oahu, believe me, I've tried them. This place is hands down the clear favorite, for me anyway. Stopped in today for my 3rd and final visit on this trip before heading to the airport to fly home. The ice here is shaved about as thin as you could possibly shave a block of ice. Today I went with tropical flavor, a large, which is truly huge. The flavors were divine, the shave - epic and the overall experience, once again, a true delight. I cannot rave enough about this shave ice business, they truly are the best on the island. read more
Shimazus is another one of my favorites! I'm bummed they've moved out of the old iconic Liliha location, but :") The ice is super fine and soft, the portions are generous (two people could share either the keiki size or small size for sure), and I don't think I've ever had a bad syrup flavor here. Sometimes you go to a shave ice spot and most flavors are great, but some are just so-so - I don't think I've ever had a shimazus syrup that was just so-so. Some of my favorite flavors of theirs are ube cream, matcha cream, guava, lilikoi, and li hing mango. They have a nice strong flavor but no artificial taste and not crazy sweet. i really like their haupia sauce topping too - it's like a different version of the classic condensed milk. The mochi balls are the perfect chewy texture, too. There's free parking in front of the store, but not too many stalls. read more
1 year ago
Came here for the 1st time. I normally go to the original location on School Street, but I recently found out they closed down. I bought a small sized Rainbow flavored shaved ice with ice cream at the bottom and condensed milk at the top. This is my absolute favorite. It's basic, but the best. The serving size is huge. The kids size is the same size as other business small size and the small that I order is like a large size. Staff is fast. There's a few tables to sit at. The parking lot is limited. read more
Amazing! First: the sizes are ginormous. Kid size is plenty for an adult. Second: the flavors are homemade and so damn good. They're uncommon flavors and I want, no, NEED to come back here to try them all. They have a set of milk-based creamy flavors that my family loved. My combo was an absolute delight - sweet coffee (spelled covfefe, lmao), choco peanut butter, and French vanilla. Third: being able to see the shave ice being shaven and made is so, so cool. Fourth: the service is fantastic, exactly what you'd expect when the owner himself is behind the counter, making the shave ice for you. Fifth: there's a hot food restaurant in here too, in case you want some hot food too. Sixth: the place is clean and comfortable. We got lucky and were able to get seats for our party of 8. Seven to ten are all extra stars for the unique flavors. Did I say I need to come back to try them all? read more
Shimazu in Kaimuki next door to Rainbow Drive In offers delicous shave ice. They make it easy to order by selecting your size, toppings and flavorings. On this first visit, I ordered a keiki size which is their smallest offering as after watching others in front of me order larger sizes I was like no way I can eat all that. I added vanilla ice cream at the bottom and choose flavors banana, pineapple and coconut. Super delicious, well flavored and was totally content with my choice. The vanilla ice cream at the bottom was also delicious offering a creamy texture when you got to the bottom! Service was great and there was ample seating to enjoy your shave ice. Definitely recommend if you are craving shave ice. read more
1 month ago
@fortunefoodfinds: "What an ICE surprise! A keiki size Rainbow Creme Shave Ice (strawberry creme, vanilla creme, banana creme) with vanilla ice cream + mochi balls added on the bottom n' sweet condensed milk on top from SHIMAZU SHAVE ICE located inside Hawaii's Favorite Kitchens. After all these years of visiting their old store in Liliha I never knew they had this location!" Staff: friendly Interior: shared space with HanaPa'a 2, around 5-6 separate tables including seating Exterior: right behind Rainbow Drive-In Wait time: 5 mins Parking: street or front lot Overall comments: large portions that's why kids size is all we need! Offer many flavors to choose from. Classic shave ice with that old school feel. We used to go to their Liliha location that was the closest to us for not only their shave ice but halo halo. After they relocated to Kapolei we weren't sure when we'd make a trip out to the west side. Then the other week we walked into Hawaii's Favorite Kitchens n' realized they had another location! read more
A one-man business with his ice blocks, syrups, machine, and side merch. This place is very generous with its portions. There are about 3-4 tables if you want to sit down to eat after your purchase. Parking: They have their parking lot, and there are about 6-7 spots available. However, it's hard to find the parking entrance because there's a diner next door that also has a parking lot. I would probably circle the block twice to enter. There's also an option for side street parking, but it's very limited. Shaved Ice (Medium): Yes their medium size looks large. It's pretty funny because they have a printed picture of how big each size looks like. Mochi balls are boiled plain rice balls, there are no extra flavors/ syrups drizzled inside or outside. Ube (purple): Strong Ube flavor, tastes milky. Lychee (pink): light compared to the passionfruit. Passionfruit (yellow/orange): strong tropical fruity flavor. I would recommend ordering this if you want to order a common but uncommon fruity flavor. read more
Portions are huge, large selection of flavors. Texture isn't bad. I just prefer shaved ice that tastes less artificial and more like sugar and fruit. Lots of dyes and pre-made mixes here. Standard shaved ice, nothing fancy. read more
5 months ago
The shave ice is perfectly shaved..kid size order is perfect for 2 people...lots of flavors to choose from and lots of add on's...really reasonably priced too...service is good and pretty quick... the atmosphere very friendly, nice and cool inside to eat read more
3 months ago
I'm so glad, this was recommended by the hotel employee at the Hilton in Waikiki Beach. We were not disappointed! I know that I will definitely be back here when I come and visit again. They had a lot of flavors to choose from. I couldn't even make a decision lol! I totally recommend this place for a great flavorful shaved ice if you're in Hawaii! read more
Conveniently located next to the rainbow drive inn and with its own parking lot, is shimazu shaved ice! You honestly can't go wrong with Hawaiian shaved ice. It's shaved so fine, with the billion of flavors. Okay maybe not a billion but there's plenty to choose from. I didn't realize how big the shaved ice was for a small, and that's probably the only thing I regret. I couldn't finish it all. But it was so delicious especially on a hot day. The one man worker, was so patient and kind. He got to work so fast and did his magic. They accept credit card payment. There's a few tables you can sit and enjoy your shaved ice as well. read more
This is the first time coming to this Shimazu Shave Ice location. We are used to going to Shimazu Store on School Street. This location is inside of Hawaii's Favorite Kitchen. They offer inside seating and A/C. A very tiny parking lot. But street parking available? He's a one-man show, so be patient with the service because the place is popular. My wife and I shared a small shave ice. It was huge! Tropical: Lilikoi-Passionfruit, Guava, & Mango. Added icecream. So soft, and pillowy. read more
1 year ago
Huge portions, lots of flavor choices, and reasonable prices. Probably my favorite shave ice place ever. I love Shimazu and come every time I'm in the area! read more
Service was good- the two guys there were definitely not in the mood, but still nice enough for where we were. This place shares a spot with another local joint- tucked on the left side. The place has tables and chairs to eat and the line isn't usually long here. The shaved ice itself is solid. It's got more of the artificially flavored syrups, but the portions here are HUGE. The ice is super fine and they don't skimp on the syrup! The Keiki size is good enough for an adult and the small is good for two! This is a perfect way to end a meal! read more
One person makes the shaved ice and one person does the cashier + syrups. The syrups don't taste good here and the ice is mid. Ample seating though. Frozen mochi smh so they gave it to me on the side for my shaved ice since it took a lil bit to thaw. read more
The adventure of finding shaved ice brought us here. Plenty of flavors to choose from, but we opted for simplicity. THE FOOD. - Vanilla Shaved Ice | Ordered the small size and got the biggest small size I've ever seen! The vanilla flavor was sweetly creamy; an excellent option to try out if the other flavors seem too exotic. - Passion Shaved Ice | Citrusy with notes of cantaloupe. The perfect tropical flavor. THE VIBE. It's a small shop located left of the entrance (it shares space with another eatery). Tables are available inside, but I do feel shaved ice is best consumed out under the sun. THE PARKING AFFAIR. There's a small parking lot in front of the shop, but we just parked at the Rainbow Drive-In, ate lunch, and then walked over for shaved ice after. COMING BACK? Yes, I'd come back to try out other flavors. read more
9 months ago
2 months ago
This Shimazu location had its own parking lot, inside dining with tables and served up huge portions of its shaved ice. This was our third and final shave ice stop. We watched the entire prep process that started with pulling out a block of ice, the shaving and forming into that gravity defying mound that dwarfed the paper bowl and pouring of the syrup. As we ate the ice held its shape as we scooped out each mouthful. Not as messy as thought or we were just hungry and extra careful? Straws were provided to suck up the melted ice. Again great powdery soft ice but our flavor selections could've been better as the lychee, haupia and peaches and cream flavors were too subtle and similar. read more
I like that this spot is close to the beach if people need to cool off, and they had their own little parking lot if people were just driving in for ice and leaving. We grabbed a large shaved ice with guava, pineapple, and mango syrup. The ice was huge! We shared it amongst 6 of us, so we did finish it. They gave a generous amount of syrup, so I wasn't left with a pile of ice at the end. I also liked that the syrups were very strong in flavor and didn't taste diluted. Definitely a great spot with good prices! read more
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More info about Shimazu Shave Ice
3111 Castle St
Honolulu, HI 96815
Kaimuki
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(808) 782-2369
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Ask the Community - Shimazu Shave Ice
Do they accept credit cards now? It would be a hit with customers if this store adapts to modern payment methods, especially if you go in as a family and the total crosses $20 for 4 small-size shaved ices. (Think of the add-ons and other sizes)
Last time I was there in November 2021, I think it was still cash only.
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