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Wahine Kai

4.5 (672 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
Updated a few days ago
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Wahine Kai Photos

Business Info

WAHINE KAI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Wahine Kai

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Reviews With Photos

Strawberry bingsu
Alice Y.

Ordered the strawberry bingsu and it is massive!! Great value for the price with how much they give and perfect for sharing. I appreciate that there was a lot of fresh fruit that came with the shave ice and it also includes condensed milk and mochi. I wouldn't say it's the same taste as Korean bingsu dessert spots since this is a Hawaiian shave ice store, but it was really refreshing on a hot summer day. There was only one gentleman working when I went with a friend and he was really kind. There was no wait and the store has a handful of tables available for seating.

Iced Kona Coffee
Jack M.

Oddly enough, I did not have shaved ice at this place, but an iced coffee, because I was dearly in need of one. They use Kona coffee, which is a little more costly, but it certainly fits the theme of this place. The Kona iced coffee was very good. It had good flavor, a medium strong, and certainly hit that afternoon spot. It could have used a little more ice given that it melted pretty quickly. The service was friendly. They offer inside seating and a variety of tea based beverages as well.

Sunset Beach - passion fruit, mango, guava shaved ice over coconut pineapple ice cream with condensed milk topping
Maria C.

Wahine Kai is a wonderful family owned dessert shop located in Scripps Ranch right off of the 15 freeway. I was amazed by all the different types of cold treats that they offer on their menu. They have everything from shaved ice, kakigori, bing su, smoothies, and teas. I ordered the Big Kahuna (large) , Sunset Beach Triple Crown ( 3 flavors) shaved ice, which is served over ice cream. The shaved ice was so fluffy and soft! Shaved ice with ice cream is a must, and also topped off with condensed milk for creamy deliciousness! The staff here were friendly and kind. It was fairly busy when we arrived on a warm summer Saturday evening. With only two workers it took a bit of time but it was worth the wait because they care about the quality and presentation. My family and I were all pleased with our orders. Everything came out perfectly and tasted great! I'm happy to have discovered this place via yelp. The only downside I would say is that theres limited seating inside. Perhaps that shopping center doesnt allow outdoor tables for additional seats. Interior wise the restaurant could also use some updating and their bathroom was out of service. But other than that, the desserts that they offer and the staff were excellent! I will be definitely be returning again

Mango kakigori and tigers blood shave ice
M C.

Softest ice in San Diego. A lot of flavor options. $15 mango kakigori does NOT come with ice cream, condensed milk AND mini mochi. You have to choose whether you want ice cream OR condensed milk OR mini mochi. For that price, you should get all 3 options on top. When we mentioned the sign to the worker, she said , "OH... sorry" Visit 3:30pm 7/3/26

Wahine Kai shave snow
Andrea R.

I'm unfamiliar with shave snow so I definitely didn't realize how big the portion size would be. It's massive! I mean an entire family can share it!!! The Thai tea flavor was delicious and milky as usual, not a big fan of mochi myself but they did seem fresh and perfectly soft. Such a fun beach interior. I was surprised it was empty as we popped in for dessert after dinner on a Friday night. They have SO many flavors, but definitely go hungry since the portions are so large. I could see this being a fun stop after sports games!

Nikki Y.

This place is hands down some of the best shave ice I've had since going to Hawaii! The mango and POG combo was pure perfection. It was so soft, flavorful, and hit the spot. I'm already planning to go back to try the halo halo next time! Service was amazing and there were seats available inside.

Mango Kakigori + strawberries
Nancy T.

Local mom & pop shop with many new added menus such as Korean Bingsu, Kakigori, & a few others since I've last visited. Service is quick, and my favorite part is the amount that you get for what you pay! The shaved ice is soooo fluffy. The atmosphere is simple & island vibes. Nothing extravagant. It was perfect for a hot day!

Mango tango shaved cayenne powder on outside.
Dave M.

This is Hawaiian SHAVED ice, not snow cone granular ice. Many flavors, boba and pop boba, soft mochi. Also ice cream and smoothies. Hawaiian feel inside; bamboo, murals. Vietnamese coffee and egg cream coffee.

Bird of Paradise
Annie T.

Wahine Kai is hands down the closest thing to authentic Hawaiian shaved ice you'll find in San Diego. From the moment you walk in, the laid-back island vibes hit--great Hawaiian music always playing and comfortable indoor seating that makes you want to slow down and enjoy every bite. They offer so many delicious flavor options, but our go-to will always be the Bird of Paradise--perfectly balanced, refreshing, and full of tropical flavor of pineapple, mango and coconut ice cream. The ice is soft and fluffy, just like in Hawaii, and every visit is consistently great. If you're craving a true taste of the islands, Wahine Kai is a must-try. Highly recommend!

Hula Girl
Adessa R.

We just moved to the San Diego area and wanted to find a shaved ice place that also has ice cream in it as well. This place is really cute and it was SO GOOD. I got the Hula Girl, which was peach and piña colada syrup with vanilla ice cream inside, and I'm still thinking about it two days later. It was worth the 30 minute drive to get it. The man who helped us, which I think might've been the owner, was very nice and it was really fun to watch him make the orders. Me and my family will definitely be back!

Kahuna and Big Kahuna

We got two shave ice, portions are huge. Good serving and flavors. Nice treat! We did the pick your own flavors and condensed milk topping on one.

Main counter/ordering area

Everything was great! Reminded me so much of being at Hawaii. Such great staff, very welcoming, and big portions for a great price!! Great decor as well definitely Hawaii/beach vibes!

Blue Hawiian over vanilla ice cream.  This is the SMALL!!  Perfect to share.

After a long hot day at the Safari Park, this shaved ice was perfect!!! Was hoping it had ice cream at the bottom & it does!!! So yummy!

Strawberry kakigori shave ice with mochi, condense milk, and coconut pineapple ice cream

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15 days ago

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Business owner information

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Michael H.

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1 month ago

They have good amount of yummy choices & Patbingso was good, my fav there. A bit far from our place, so haven't been there recently.

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2 months ago

Everything about this place is glorious. Everything on the menu looks delicious. I loved the vibes inside. I want to go here everyday

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Ask the Community - Wahine Kai

Is this business kanaka owned?

Yes

Is Wahine Kai offer shave ice training school now?

Yes

Is the taro milk tea with boba supposed to have white waxy bits in it?

The owner makes the taro milk tea with powdered taro and real taro. The white bits are the taro chunks. It gives the milk tea a thicker consistency because of the starch from the taro. Most places in SD make their taro milk tea out of powder.

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4.4(196 reviews)
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I have stopped by a few times and have had great experiences each time! You can order at the…read moreself-service kiosk and the drinks come out in a timely manner. My favorite drink from them so far is the banana matcha. The cream top is delicious and the matcha flavor is great! Service is always good as well. The aesthetic of the place is nice. Will stop by again if I'm in the area :)

Ok this place is legit delicious…read more The entrance is easy to locate in the plaza and you can order from the computer or a real human person, I know right. A real human, what? It's a cozy spot. The people who work there just seem happy and work well together. They're friendly and patient with me as I navigated their menu items. I could not decide what I wanted so I accidentally ordered 3 drinks: Roasted Oolong Milk Tea Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea 3Q Milk Tea The roasted oolong was for my sister so I don't know how it was but she wanted another one so that should tell you all you need to know. lol I love floral teas and Osmanthus oolong is my new favorite and it delivered. I opted for the agar aka crystal pearls and that was the right choice for the floral tea. I also accidentally drank the 3Q tea after and while not my favorite, I appreciated all the toppings and the tea was still good. The boba is super unique! It's got a nice, chewy kinda texture. I have never had boba like this before and I wish I had blacked out and gotten double boba.

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TP Tea - Tie Guan Ying w/ Oat milk + Boba

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4.6(180 reviews)
9.5 mi•Clairemont
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Heh...Taiwanese Professional Tea they say? Let's just say I definitely felt like a Taiwanese…read moreProfessional after drinking their tea. Inside the building, I was greeted by a plump, circular, brown figure with a smile on his face. He had a delightful yellow satchel on, a matching beret, and a yummy-yummy-in-my-tummy-looking milk tea in his left hand. The warm atmosphere made me feel like I was being hugged by the figure himself. When I laid my eyes on him, I didn't just want him, I wanted to BE him. A voluptuous tapioca pearl with a constant smile. I was determined to do whatever it took to become him. The first step was to acquire the same drink he had in his left hand, which I assumed to be a Jasmine Green Milk Tea with 70% sugar, less ice, and boba. One particularly sweet lady delivered me my drink by hand. One, two, three sips later--the Jasmine Green Milk Tea with 70% sugar, less ice, and boba didn't just hit my tastebuds, it hit my soul. I could tell that the tea, the architecture, even the workers were birthed by certified Taiwanese Professionals. EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING, was exceptionally creamy as one might say. I felt one step closer to being Mr. Tai Wan himself. (my self-proclaimed name for the voluptuous tapioca pearl). Later that day, I picked up a yellow bag and hat from the nearby Burlington. I looked in the mirror, with my Jasmine Green Milk Tea with 70% sugar, less ice, and boba in my left hand. I grinned at the thought that one day I will become a voluptuous tapioca pearl. I owe my life to Mr. Tai Wan and TPTEA. Thank you.......for everything...or should I say....xie xie. I WILL be coming back, for the tea AND Mr. Tai Wan.

My first visit here and it so happens to be TP Teas 1 year…read moreanniversary. Billy, who works here was so great! Made me feel like family! The selection of teas here look so inviting. I ordered the Tie Guan Yin tea that was customized to my specific tastes. Was very refreshing and tasted exceptionally authentic. The tea taste really shines here. I even shared one with my neighbor. I can't wait to try the other flavors on the menu. They have seating inside the store as well for you to sit awhile. A pleasure to have this place to visit for a nice drink.

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Tastea - Tiger Milk Tea

Tastea

3.8(361 reviews)
1.8 mi•Mira Mesa
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Stopped by Tastea for a quick grab & go bev before heading to the beach and tried their new line of…read moredrinks! Avocado Coconut Dream - blended avocado, coconut milk, and whole milk with mochi sago. Mango Coconut Dream - blended mango, jasmine green tea, and coconut milk with mochi sago. We got both medium sweet and it was perfect. The avocado was my favorite. It tasted just like the smoothies my mom used to make me! The mochi cubes and sago were delicious - chewy, bouncy, and so fun for anyone who loves texture. Service was quick, and it was the perfect, refreshing pick-me-up for a beach day!

My review is for the food only. I'll update my review if I ever find myself back here for a drink,…read morebut i usually get their food here. I've tried their fries, 'Karate' Chicken, and Calamari. I would say they give you a pretty decent amount, good enough to share a large with someone else. This recent visit, I ordered their 'Karate Chicken' which is just spicy popcorn chicken. I like it, not the best popcorn chicken I've had, but I like it. I'm not sure what the chicken marinade is, but if they use soy sauce in their marinade, I can definitely taste it. Too much of that for my liking, but not too much to the point where it doesn't taste good or to the point where i won't order it again. One other thing about the chicken, is I wish they would fry their basil. Instead it's just a fresh basil that gets dark and wilted from the hot chicken. I think it would really compliment the food better. Lastly, I do wish they can fill up their sauce containers. We were half way done eating our food and used up the 2 sauces it came with. PLEASE Tastea, you give us a decent amount of pieces, can we please have enough sauce to go with it? Other than my take on their food, I would say the workers are friendly. Inside are a handful of tables and it was clean and tidy when i went. However, I do notice every time i go, their trash is full LOL. There menu is huge too, I love that their menu includes how many calories there are in their drinks... Maybe that is why I don't order drinks haha. Well, on the bright side, I did see some sugar free options ;)

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Heytea - Supreme Brown Sugar Bobo milk , no cloud, light sugar

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7.7 mi•Carmel Valley

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3-4 stars. So I've had Hey Tea in the past two weeks. I know they are very busy, but a smile or…read moresome form of acknowledgement would be nice. Like, thanks for stopping by or you're welcome (: or pointing out where straws are? I ordered a Coconut Mango Boom and it saddens me to say they raised the price for this. I had already thought it was a little expensive for fruit and sago, but now it's quite expensive as it nears $8 ($7.49 + .99). In addition, the quality?? Where are you?? Twice. The drink hasn't been well blended because I'm getting ice chunks. It's not very nice when it's supposed to be a slush! The mango however was delicious and the jello too. I think, even though I added brown sugar boba, the quantity is less than what I've received before. Which is sad to me. On another day, I decided to order their $7.99, Iced Supreme Brown Sugar Bobo Milk Tea. The milk tea was non existent flavor wise. There was nothing supreme-- barely any brown sugar boba inside and around the cup. It was practically milk and ice. Overall, price has risen and from what I've experienced the quality has lowered. I know they are really really busy, but if they can't handle that then maybe turn off the online ordering for certain periods and only open for specific times? Not sure... I'm not a fan of the other boba spot so I guess I'll try something else on Heytea menu, hopefully it's better.

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Wahine Kai - shavedice - Updated October 2026

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