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    Shimazu Shave Ice

    4.4 (451 reviews)
    InexpensiveShaved Ice, Desserts
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM

    Shimazu Shave Ice Photos

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    Ben L.

    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!

    large shave ice
    Angela H.

    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!

    Menu October 2025
    Mel T.

    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!

    Small bowl. Not kidding.
    Karlo G.

    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.

    Johnny H.

    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.

    Two "small" bowls of shave ice!
    Annie W.

    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!

    Selena Y.

    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!

    debi k.

    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!

    Kevin K.

    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!

    Small tropical shaved ice
    Mark H.

    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.

    Kids sized
    Tommy T.

    Worth the visit! Not too far from main area in Waikiki. Prices were reasonable and the these were all the kids sized shaved ice. Service was great and there is a great poke and island food spot next door!

    Exterior
    Eric M.

    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.

    Small shave ice with ube cream, guava, and li hing mango syrups, haupia sauce topping, and mochi balls inside
    Lizzy Z.

    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.

    Small sized Rainbow shaved ice w/ ice cream at the bottom and condensed milk at the top lol

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    10 days ago

    There were 6 people in front of us and we waited 45 minutes. The shave ice was good but the wait was crazy

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    Shimazu Shave Ice Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shimazu Shave Ice

    Do they accept credit cards?

    Yes

    You guys take credit cards for the payments?

    No, cash only

    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.

    What are their hours?

    Currently their hours are 10-7 every day

    Sugar free flavors?

    Yes. A handful of sugar fee syrups

    View All 7 Questions

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    If you're looking for a refreshing dessert that's not too sweet or heavy, you need to get yourself…read morea Korean Bingsu (shave ice) at Jejubing! The restaurant is located near the Ala Moana Food Court so you can get yourself a savory meal then head here right after. They have a nice selection of Korean Bingsu and Drinks but the Bingsu is what keeps everyone coming back. Don't let it's simple look fool you. The ice is super fine and creamy. You'll receive a small cup of Condensed Milk to drizzle throughout as you devour it. Make sure you don't drizzle it all at once. Popular flavors are Strawberry, Mango, Oreo and Injeolmi (roasted soybean powder) but I must say, the Mixed Berries is gonna be on my top choices from now on! I've tried watermelon too in times past and that's also a refreshing choice. The Bingsu includes slivered almonds and some whipped cream. They have a small size that could be good for 1-2 people but we got a large and it fed 4 of us ladies. Make sure you stop here before you leave Ala Moana and treat yourself!

    Dessert is always delicious, it reminds me of the ones I had when I went back to Korea…read more My only issue is their service, or more of the lack of service. Once they switched to their self ordering system, there is no one at the front anymore. Its not much of an issue to the younger generation, but its very easy for an older person to have issues using it.

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    Mango sans the almonds
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    Island Vintage Shave Ice

    Island Vintage Shave Ice

    4.5
    (2.2k reviews)
    0.9 mi
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    The line is usually long. Ordering is through a kiosk so be sure you are not waiting on the pick up…read moreline. Heavenly Lilikoi - the syrups taste natural and and flavorful. The ice was really fine and melted instantly in the mouth. You can customize flavors and toppings. Perfect for a summer day!

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    4.4
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    0.9 mi

    I really enjoyed this shave ice. I actually didn't think I was a big fan of shave ice, but it had…read morealso been a long time since I'd had true shave ice. The inner shop is fairly small, so the line was outside the door. There aren't a lot of spots for seating, which is a bummer. The service was okay, but really just the bare minimum. I have to say the two standouts for me about this shave ice are as follows: the texture of the ice is fantastic - so smooth. It does also mean that it melts quickly, but it's really pleasant to eat. The other standout is the Mac nut ice cream. It's delicious, the bites of macadamia nut give a little crunch, and it all-around is very balanced with the flavors of the shave ice. I got the Sunset Beach, which is passion orange guava and mango. With the ice cream, I personally don't feel like the condensed milk is necessary, but I could totally be wrong.

    Absolutely awful customer service from Kalei. We arrived about four minutes before their posted…read moreclosing time of 10:30 PM, and they were literally still taking another customer's order as we walked up. My husband asked if we could order as well and that we drove here straight from the airport with a 20 minute detour and was immediately told, "No, this is the last order." He walked out, realized it wasn't even 10:30 yet, and went back in to ask why they were refusing to serve us when we arrived before closing. Instead of simply explaining or apologizing, the employee, Kalei, responded with an unbelievable attitude and said something along the lines of, "People don't realize we have SCHOOL in the morning, but it's okay, I'll take your order then if you want shave ice that bad." WOAH?!?! Seriously? If you close at 10:30, then either serve customers who arrive before 10:30 or change your posted closing time. There was absolutely no reason for the sarcasm or nasty attitude. My husband told her he didn't appreciate the attitude and proceeded to order a strawberry shave ice. She then turned off the TV/screen and told him, "No more ordering for you." At that point it honestly felt like she was going out of her way to be disrespectful just because he questioned why we were being turned away before closing. When he asked for her name, she very boldly told him it was Kalei, advised him of their Google listing, and basically invited us to leave a review and contact her boss, as if she was completely confident nobody would care about how she treats customers. We weren't asking anyone to stay open late. We didn't walk in after closing. We arrived BEFORE closing while another customer was actively being served. The entire interaction could have been handled with basic courtesy, but instead we got sarcasm, hostility, and an employee seemingly trying to embarrass a customer for simply asking to order during posted business hours. One of the rudest and most unnecessarily hostile customer service interactions we've had. Completely unacceptable.

    Photos
    Always a crowd pleaser! Best shave ice ever!
    Always a crowd pleaser! Best shave ice ever!
    Mango, lychee, coconut
    Mango, lychee, coconut
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    Island Vintage Coffee

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    4.2
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    I figured the Ala Moana location would be least crowded so I arrived a few mins before opening…read more There was two people already waiting. Five stars alone for the Haupia Premium Matcha. The haupia cream top wasn't too thick and mixed well into matcha. It's a light coconut flavor and you're still able to taste the matcha. The original açaí bowl $16 - well worth the money. The açaí wasn't too sweet and a good ratio to fruits and granola.

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    Haupia matcha latte
    Haupia matcha latte
    Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this!
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    Shimazu Shave Ice - shavedice - Updated August 2026

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