Hidden gem in China town. Conveniently located near Smith Street park. Open in the afternoon to…read morenight time. Street parking. Unique ice cream flavors. The matcha and cookies is a good one! The shop has a cool vibe. Unique things to look at. You have to check out the blue School News binder on the counter. Whoever writes it is gonna be a somebody one day!

Stopped by Wing's Ice Cream Parlor for a quick sweet treat to cool off on a hot day. They offer…read moresome crazy unique ice cream flavors! As you can see in one of my photos on this review, they offered a flavor called "Cheezus" which was a cheese ice cream with real cheese-its in it haha! I thought it was pretty unique. Their ice cream is made in house so theyre able to get some pretty great flavors on their menu. The shop is small, but the staff is always helpful. Theyll allow you to sample some flavors if youre unsure of its crazy name! The triple scoop sampler comes on a perfect little serving plate. Easy for sharing. Since this ice cream shop is located in chinatown, parking isn't the greatest at times. There is no designated parking for this ice cream shop but you can hopefully find nearby street parking or go to a nearby parking garage. It's easiest if youre just on foot. All in all, definitely an ice cream parlor worth trying out!

Saw on Instagram that there was Pumpkin Custard only one day and decided I need it to go with my…read morepumpkin pie on Thanksgiving... so at a last minute decision I threw a cooler and some ice in my trunk and started out. I did have an upset moment because my gps said I would get to Asato's at 1:58 so mentally I decided "I guess I didn't need it". But... lucky for me, traffic was in my favor and there was no delays, no red lights, and a parking space right out front so I got out of the car at precisely 1:55! Whew, I checked in and ran inside, excited that I made it. Also, super happy they were not sold out. You know I also cannot just get 1 pint. I took home 2 Pumpkin Custard, a Strawberry and candied ginger (which i got for mom so she doesnt get mad that I restocked the freezer). I did a purse grab and go so fast I did not notice the duchess status until going back to the car! So woohoo! I will definitely be sure to post a photo of my homemade pumpkin pie with the homemade deliciousness of pumpkin custard sherbert later this week! Happy Thanksgiving!

The best local, evoke childhood, nostalgia experiences via scoops of frozen sherbet and sorbet…read more Multitude of local flavors is a true representation and definitely matches the names. The most creamiest one I've tasted was Kūlolo Haupia while being a passenger on a hot day. My son and I have so far enjoyed their classic: green river, pineapple, strawberry and seasonal flavors: Super Li Hing, Li Hing Float, Lemon Peel Cola Gummy. My hubby not so much because he prefers more cream in the mixture or ice cream. A personal preference for him. More for us. Hahahahaha! There are weekly rotations for their classic and seasonal flavors now available at Foodland Farms Ka Makana Ali'i and Pearl City. I usually select and buy various pint flavors from Foodland Farms Pearl City. Go early because supply will run low during lunch time or early afternoon pending on the seasonal flavors. Follow them via IG for more deets. My son decided to grab a random flavor from our home freezer, Super Li Hing. Without checking the freezer, I asked son, "Did you eat a few scoops or the whole pint?" He responded, "I ate the whole pint." He added, "It reminded him of eating shave ice." I will accept this as a gracious compliment. Infinite gratitude to all of the hardworking staff for creating, executing and producing one of a kind, edible, fun, pint size, local sensations for all to enjoy!

My first time at this Kapalama location. It wasn't too crowded but it was around 3pm. There were…read moreseats inside as well as outside. I've seen this place packed before with all tables filled and a line. Weekdays in the afternoon might be good timing! The vibe was your average "ice cream" ambiance. I loved the photos so you can see your options. IMO, the menu board lighting was a little weird, I thought when I was taking a photo it was my eyes, then thought it was the lighting from outside, but I think it's lit by bulbs? Idk. LOL. You can still read the menu but at first glance, you will question if it's your vision. LOL. My "mini" Mahalo-halo was perfect! It didn't make me feel that guilty at all. I mean, I'm all about dessert before a meal. In my experience, it is always a challenge to eat Halo halo because it's filled to the top. My strategy: take off the cover (if it's not overspilling: if it is, skip this step), eat some of the ice cream, and take a few sips! That should leave you enough room to mix everything, each scoop you should get a different bite. A long spoon would be best for the larger sizes! Magnolia did not disappoint. I'll be back!!

Ice cream is always good:) They have a good variety of unique flavors. I do recommend their Mais…read moreCon Yelo, which is like Halo-Halo, just with corn! You can customize your ice cream with toppings and sauces. There isn't much of a wait but it's usually two elder ladies working when I go but they are very quick with it! But it does get busy during lunch time and after school hours. There is ample seating indoor and outdoor and it does get pretty cold inside lol. Also, a whole lot of FREE parking. Dillingham is currently under construction but you are now able to make a left turn into the lot.

Great coffee and yummy treats! Parking is all street…read moreparking. You'll find this spot on the corner. It's a small spot with a grab and go set up with maybe 2-4 tables on the ice cream side. You can enjoyyyyyyy your special tray outside as well as there are a few spots you can station on. We got the black Kona coffee ($5.29) : good coffee and pipiping hot Coconut Pineapple muffin ($3.99) love the texture of the coconut and the flavor of the pineapple. Perfect balance of sweet. Caramel MacNut sticky Bun ($5.99) perfect sweet bite with my black coffee. I appreciate the flavor but the MacNut flavor was subtle since I think it was alittle over powered by the caramel. Still a good soft chewy bun. Wish I tried the ice cream since I've read good reviews on it but will have to make my way back since it was too early for ice cream. Service was fast and everyone was very kind even with the long lines :)

I scream for ice cream…read more Why is there always a line to get in? Maybe because the ice cream is that good. FYI, so are the shakes unless you get the nene. That one was really too sweet for me No kidding the line does get extremely long but it does move......rather slowly. And it doesn't matter what time of day, there still is a long line. Aside from getting ice cream in a cone, waffle cone (in house made) or cup; you can also get it as a shake or Sunday. They also offer a limited amount of pasties: cookies, muffins, and cake. Personally I like the brownies. They serve coffee, ice or hot. I wonder how an affogato with ube hapia ice cream tastes like? Comment below if you've that combination before. Or any combination, I just want to know if people read this :p If you like the coffee enough, you can get a bag to go. Overall five stars. Because it's ice cream (maybe with coffee) ;p M

One of the best boba spots on island! Limited parking spots in a garage connected to the cafe…read more Restroom and WiFi available. I see tons of people doing work here. Friendly service! Helpful staff. Patient and hardworking. Drinks made quickly but with care! The cafe is always well-kept. Cute interior. Lots of seating for the small space. Boba is always the perfect texture. I'd recommend 25% sweetness, especially for flavored drinks. I love their milk and fruit teas! My boyfriend likes their smoothies too.

Staff were nice. Drinks are good. I don't think that the…read moreeffort to find parking matches the want of the drink in my opinion. Place feels like a cafe you'd find in New York which is a cool vibe. Got the Uji Matcha Latte with mango. Wanted strawberry but they were out.

6-11-26 What do Yelp friends talk about when they get together? Yes, Food but also...desserts!…read more While I was hub's chauffeur today to drop him off to a doctor appointment followed by lunch my internal light bulb switched on when I passed Cedar street. When I met Yelp Elites Jackie and Donna last week, Jackie shared a place Donna took her to. I never knew the location of Cedar Street since I haven't been a townie in half a century. I looked up La Gelateria and we were a couple blocks away. Not sure if you're actually supposed to buy retail here but the head employee was so kind enough to stop what he was doing and went over the many flavors in the refrigerated display coolers. They have dairy free too. Hubs tried the man's favorite Mac nut and I chose Kona coffee. You can order on line. It looks like a production kitchen in the back with freezers upfront labeled with the contents. $2.50 per tiny cup. They have larger sizes too but we just had lunch. Creamy, delicious, hits the spot.

Quaint hidden shop located in town! I've passed by many times but had no idea what was located…read moreinside. I went in looking to buy a pint of two of sorbet for a friend's birthday but I went overboard and came out with NINE. I went in blindly after a friend suggested this place but I had no idea how many different flavors they had. It's cash only at the store but you can order online to pay with card and they'll get your order ready right away. They have a convenient online order system that is super easy to navigate so the pints added up quickly! My personal favorites are currently black sesame, strawberry lemonade (super tart, which I love) and Kona coffee. My friends loved earl grey, pistachio, and ume guava.

CASH ONLY. It was…read morean exceptionally awkward experience trying to Zelle the cashier. But 100% WORTH IT. Literally the best ice cream I've ever had. Lilikoi was the flavor I chose, and I definitely tasted the "whole food" ingredients. $11 a cup. Can you be sad (for your waistline) and excited at the same time? Bc I am.

Henry's is a hidden gem. I love that they use real fruit in their sorbets and ice creams--the…read morefreshness really comes through. Yes, the prices are on the higher side ($10 for sorbet and $11 for ice cream), but honestly, you'll pay about the same for a shaved ice at Island Vintage, and the quality here impressed me so much more. I ended up visiting three times on my trip and wished I had more days to try additional flavors. My favorite was the Lychee sorbet--absolutely incredible. I tried the POG on my second visit, which was good, but didn't hit the spot the same way, so I went back for Lychee again on my last day and was very happy. Henry's is definitely a must‑stop for my next trip.

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!

Island Vintage Shave Ice completely lived up to the hype and served one of the most memorable…read moredesserts I had in Hawaii. Located just outside the Royal Hawaiian Center, the shop almost always has a long line, but it moves surprisingly quickly thanks to the convenient self-order kiosks. Despite the steady stream of customers, the staff handled the crowd with impressive efficiency, and our order arrived sooner than expected. With its vibrant layers of color and fresh toppings, the shave ice created a breathtaking first impression. Better yet, it tasted every bit as incredible as it looked. **Hawaiian Rainbow: 5/5** The Hawaiian Rainbow was the perfect sweet treat on a blazing hot day. Layered with housemade coconut spirulina, strawberry, and mango syrups over incredibly soft shave ice, it offered a bright medley of tropical fruit flavors. The shave ice itself was exceptionally smooth and delicate, with a texture reminiscent of fluffy snow that dissolved almost instantly on the tongue. Hidden beneath it was a layer of rich, soft ice cream that provided the perfect creamy contrast to the refreshing flavors. The finishing touches were a generous drizzle of condensed milk and fresh strawberry chunks, whose subtle tang balanced the sweetness beautifully. Homemade mochi added a soft, pillowy chew, while the lychee popping boba contributed subtle floral notes evocative of rosewater. Every element complemented the next, making each spoonful just as enjoyable as the last. Island Vintage Shave Ice more than lives up to its well-earned reputation. From the stunning presentation to the handcrafted syrups, silky-smooth shave ice, and a texturally diverse assortment of toppings, every component came together to create a phenomenal dessert that's every bit as delicious as it is visually captivating. If you're visiting Waikiki, Island Vintage Shave Ice deserves a spot at the top of your must-try list.

4.5* Glad I…read moreremembered this spot. A great place for a break from the heat. The Hawaii Frost soft serve is refreshing. Similar to a smooth, creamy sherbet. For those not familiar, don't expect fresh fruit flavors. The strawberry tasted like strawberry soda mixed with vanilla ice cream. The honeydew tasted like a Melona bar. The large included a rolled cookie which was a nice surprise. The buttered popcorn was a bit chewy, not light, fluffy & crunchy. (-0.5*} The service was friendly & helpful. No 3% credit card fee. There are 2 parking spaces. Both were available when I arrived.

In our office, food is often discussed where we share information with each other. Samurai was…read morebrought up by my colleague who sits in front of me and was going to head over. Another colleague and I jumped at the opportunity to tag along on a Friday early afternoon. Located down Umi Street not too far from neighboring New City Nissan on N King Street, Samurai moved to their current location in 1995 serving Maui style sherbet, popcorn and other local snacks. They also expanded to Samurai Snacks Aiea for an impressive 20+ years before closing its doors in May 2023. We arrived shortly after lunch time where we pondered at the menu wondering what to get. It's not fancy here at Samurai - - the storefront is basic and nothing fancy with a few seats patrons can sit on if they decide to eat their treats on premise. Morale has been low at the office so I decided to get some convenient prepackaged 4oz assorted Samurai cups to cheer up the staff. My colleagues also picked up some bags of buttered popcorn with mochi crunch and furikake for an informal office party to welcome the much needed weekend. Because we were already there, we also got some soft serve cups to cool down before heading back to the office. My colleagues had the classic strawberry and blue vanilla swirl and I selected the mango. My colleagues enjoyed their selection but the mango didn't live up to my expectations. The color was vibrant and enticing but sadly the mango flavor did not come through. Each cup came with a sugar roll cookie that was delicious. After our cold treat we headed back to the office with our surprise for our colleagues where it was a big hit. There were many happy faces standing in line grabbing some popcorn and a 4-oz cup of Samurai. Overall, a much better experience with Samurai that's deserving of an update with higher marks. It has been noted in my books to stick to flavors I'm already aware of and avoid trying new ones for that possible disappointment that often happens to me.