I used to come here when I was in college some years ago--and I still think about their Mt. Fuji shaved ice. I have a full punch card for a free ice that I never got to use, and I tell people it's one of the desserts I'll be thinking of in my lifetime, one I would like to have again before I die. It is lovely to come online and see old photos of their desserts, I am glad other people enjoyed it. read more

Ice Cave - Ice cave punch card - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is the only place in Philadelphia that serves actual Taiwanese shaved ice. I am surprised there aren't more places :( The differences between Taiwanese shaved ice and American shaved ice/bingsu/Kakigōri is the fluffy texture. In fact, its real name is actually "snow ice". The ice is not grainy - very soft and fluffy. The flavor of the snow ice is already incorporated into the "ice cube" that is being shaved. You choose optional toppings to add and finish with some condensed milk on top. I was super excited to come try shaved iced but not going to lie, I was a bit put off by the interior of the shop. The disorganized layout took away from the overall experience. I understand it's supposed to be a local mom and pop shop. However, there could be more thought put into making the place feel more welcome. The shaved ice was served in a paper cup that was too small, making it very messy to eat the overflowing shaved ice. We got the taro shaved ice with passion fruit jelly. It tasted very authentic and delicious. I highly recommend to come try the shaved ice! I think if the shop were to reorganize or renovate the interior, it would have more potential to attract more customers. read more

Ice Cave - Taro Shaved Water Ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Small little place on Baltimore Ave that I really enjoyed and like coming back to! Ambiance/Service: Walking into this place, it has a cute, small hole-in-the-wall vibes. You can see some of their storage further back into the store, and there are a few small tables and some window seating as well. You order at the counter, and they have very friendly staff. Food: Great! They have a lot of options for a small store. There are plenty of shaved ice options to choose from, both with and without dairy, popsicles, and bubble tea. I have tried their bubble tea and two of the shaved ice options. The bubble tea was decent, but I think the shaved ice is where this place shines a lot more. The shaved ice has this lightness to it but with stronger flavors than I have found in other shaved ice places, which I really appreciate. The texture is smooth and fluffy. Several of their specials also have some add-ons mixed into the bowl, which can add additional delicious flavors and textures to the shaved ice experience. Overall, I highly recommend visiting here for their shaved ice! read more

Ice Cave - Shaved ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Came here and got the mango paradise shaved ice and the peach tea with rainbow jelly. We got the ice special that is intended to be shared. It was mango and pineapple shaved ice with fresh mango cubes and panna cotta. It was a great combo of flavors. The peach tea was also good. It is a small shop mom and pop shop and I saw a baby napping on mama's back as she was prepping orders. We were able to find street parking out front. Service is great and they have a loyalty card for frequent visitors. read more

Ice Cave - Mango shaved ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Visited ice cave for the first time on National Ice Cream day '22. Although shaved ice is not quite ice cream, it satisfied my craving then some. I ordered the mango paradise, which is a shareable size menu special. In addition to the mango shaved ice, it comes with chunks of mango pieces, panna cotta and homemade mango syrup. So refreshing! Also caught a glimpse of the Thai tea shaved ice being whipped up and it'll be the next thing I order. Can't believe it took me over a year to visit, but it surely won't be my last! read more

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Places like Ice Cave are one of my favorite things about living in West Philadelphia. Even though today was only my third visit (the first was at the previous location across the street), it's already one of my top 5 favorite places in the neighborhood. I'll confess I'm no shaved ice connoisseur, but the popularity of this item on Ice Cave's menu convinces me that I'm a lucky newbie to this frozen dessert since I'm experiencing it here. The mango pineapple shaved ice (which I got on my last visit) is insanely good. It comes with delicious mango bubbles and jelly, and the ice itself, which is a magical cloud of finely hewn deliciousness, tastes so uncannily of mango that I legit consider it to fulfill one of those servings of fruit that you're supposed to get every day (but that I personally never do, but which I now will when I visit Ice Cave). I would order the aforementioned shaved ice every chance I could, except it gets some pretty stiff competition from the boba teas offered here. Not only are they tasty, as most bubble tea is, but what's really special is you can customize them to get them just the way you like. Last year I got the peach black bubble tea, and specified that I wanted it "less sweet." The one problem I've ever had with bubble tea is that I find it TOO sweet, but this was perfect. So today, I figured I'd see just how much customization I could get away with- "taro boba tea with less sugar, less bubbles, less ice!" I declared. The super friendly owner just laughed and said ,"ok, taro boba tea, less on all three!" I forgot how sweet taro already is so next time I I might say "no sugar." Why not? Ice Cave is where dreams of sweets come true, and I do have a lot of dreams of sweets to fulfill! read more

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I ALMOST TRIED EVERYTHING ON THE MENU & ALL IS DELICIOUSSSSSS!!! honestly it is hard to find Taiwanese Shaved Ice around this area. For the ones that are not as familiar.. Taiwanese shaved ice is soft and fluffy. Okay, I lied I never tried out their smoothies but trust me on this one. THEY ARE GOOOOOOOOD. Personal Top Fav: Watermelon Strawberry Matcha read more

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a delicious experience! The staff was very friendly, the place was very comfortable, I loved it!

Ordered: Thai & Milk Shaved Ice, Mochi Matcha Popsicle Local mom and pop shop that provides amazing customer service and delicious sweet treats. I enjoyed both the shaved ice and homemade popsicle! They have a variety of unique flavors that are not only aesthetic, but also delicious and refreshing. Highly recommend! You won't be disappointed! read more

Ice Cave - Thai & Milk Shaved Ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Hidden gem of Philly! Taiwanese style shaved ice, bubble tea, and various drinks are offered here. We got the mango paradise, which is a limited shareable edition of shaved ice. Based on pana cotta, and topped with chunks of mango, and then topped with mango flavored shaved ice (super delicate & fluffy, watch out in case it falls over before you dig in :P) Would love to try more flavors from this place! read more

Ice Cave - "Mango Paradise" shaved ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Absolutely awesome. This was such a hidden find in West Philly that I know I'll come back to. I ordered the mango shaved ice, blueberry green tea, and winter melon tea with lychee jelly. Perfectly sweetened, this was a delicious summer treat. I felt full and satisfied after my time here. Service was great, and I just knew it was going to be delicious because there were so many people that came in. Will be back soon! read more

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I was pleasantly surprised in tasting shaved ice. I tried it at this spot and another place downtown; this spot is superior. The shaved ice was surprisingly creamy and light. The flavored jelly cubes were a nice addition. The perfect summer treat! read more

Ice Cave - Taro Shaved ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I LOVE this place for authentic Taiwanese shaved ice and dessert. Bold and flavorful shaved ice that melts in your mouth, rich and smooth. The owners are very flexible and friendly, taking the time to know you and answer any questions you have (and believe me, I always have a ton!) - bless their patient hearts. They also have homemade refreshing popsicles, although selection is more limited during the wintertime. Summer is the best for these refreshing, colorful, and fruit filled treats (just check out the photos). Only sad thing is they close rather early at night, a little hard to get to in west philly, and very small space for a group more than 4. But I'll definitely be back! read more

Went to Ice Cave after lunch one Sunday afternoon and got the matcha Taiwanese shaved ice. It was big enough to share with two other friends :) it was a tasty treat that hit the spot. Great fluffy texture but still very creamy and milky which satisfied my sweet tooth. It included mochi pieces and peanut and chocolate flavored candies. When I ordered I didn't realize there would be toppings and I didn't have the option to choose, but I still enjoyed the toppings that I got. They don't do sit down so make sure to plan ahead since it's getting colder. Luckily there are some nearby parks if you're looking for a place to sit. Really enjoyed Ice Cave! If I were to make a modification, it would be nice to have the option to pick toppings or for it to at least be clear on the menu! read more

Ice Cave - Matcha flavored shaved ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I've been here three times The shaved ice is great in the summer heat The owner is nice and friendly My only qualm with this place is the seating. The place is kind of tiny and literally seats 6 people. They have a window AC unit that isn't quite powerful enough to cool the place, and it was broken on one occasion. Flirted with heat stroke for their shaved ice. The pops look so pretty I will probably grab one to eat while walking around Clark Park in the future. Definitely not eating inside read more

Ice Cave - Mango shaved ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Skip the other local dessert shops, Ice Cave is the cheapest and tastiest shaved ice place around UCity! Located around ~46th and Baltimore, it is a bit of a walk from campus but definitely worth it. The place is a small hole in the wall, I didn't even notice it was there the first time I walked by, but the desserts are delicious and a great size for what you pay. They have a selection of bubble teas, Asian-inspired ice pops, something called "wheel cakes" which is on my to-try list, but most importantly, their shaved ice is top-notch. My favorite is the Mt. Fuji- matcha ice with a sizable portion of mochi and toffee bits (they complement the ice cream surprisingly well!), and topped with condensed milk. Their board has a list of other specialties, but the Mt. Fuji is always a good choice. Service is fast and so friendly, and the quality of the dessert and prices rival the top Chinatown places. Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you, this place is definitely worth a visit! read more

Ice Cave - Mt. Fuji - matcha shaved ice with mochi and toffee bits topped with condensed milk - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honestly had higher expectations upon reading the reviews. I came here around the end of summer last year and got the mango and pineapple shaved ice to share with my bf. We were visiting from NY. I think the place was still trying to adjust to covid precautions and they didn't let us use the bathroom. Not a deal breaker but the customer service could have been better since we were the only customers when we stopped by. The shaved iced itself was very refreshing but I did not find anything too special and it was on the smaller portion side. I might come back to try other shaved ice flavors if I'm in Philly again. read more

Absolutely love this great find! I googled ice cream places in Philly and happened to stumble across this place. It was a little hard to find the location but once I drove back around I found it and I'm happy I did. It is such a unique little place. The shaved ice cream is so hard to describe and their use of fresh fruits enriched the flavor! read more

Ice Cave - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It's a small place in a spot you could very well overlook but once you find it, this like place could very well become the best big thing! The owners are very friendly and a adorable pair. You have your choices of popsicles, bubble teas, wheel called, and shaved ice. We got the shaved ice and this shaved ice is not what I expected at all. I'm used to the snowball or Korean shaved ice that is more of pieces of shaved ice but this...it was almost a creamy texture like ice cream. What kind of sorcery is this!?! Very delicious. They also have vegan friendly options read more

Ice Cave - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Place has great tasting shaved ice with the perfect consistency. Been here multiple times and it has not disappointed. The menu items rotate depending on the season which let's you know that the fruits they're using are real and not powdered. Definitely a hidden gem of desserts in philly. read more

This is a sweet spot. We had the shaved ice cream but they offer so much more. Popsicles, sweets, sweet specialty drinks and great service with smiles. We ordered the kid size chai tea shaved ice cream with cocunut jelly and mango shaved ice cream with green apple boba. Both were great but the chai tea seemed to be the tasty winner. The kid size was just perfect for us and we were able to get one free topping. After we finished the goodness of the shaved ice cream my kid went back for bubble tea (made with milk). She ordered the green tea strawberry with coconut jelly. It was good. This was the perfect stop after a hot bike ride and it was perfect sitting outside on the little ice cream parlor tables on buzzing Baltimore Ave. Great place! read more

Ice Cave - Sweet little store front with tables for avenue gazing while eating ice cream. - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The shaved ice is so fully and creamy and gooooood! I can't think of another place in the city where you can find this. It's really good. There is a bit of a funky smell in the place but hey it's summer and humid. WORTH IT! read more

Ice Cave - Matcha Shaved Water Ice - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I did not fully know what to expect when I thought of "shaved ice". I was thinking along the lines of old fashioned water ice where they use to shave down a large brick of ice right in front of you and then squeeze the flavor of your choosing on top lol. I am so happy I stopped in as this had been on my Yelp summer list of places to visit. Family owned with GREAT customer service. The price is right and the serving size is good. The shaved ice was more like shaved ice cream!! Some way they do it that makes it looked shaved instead if creamy. However as soon as it hits your mouth it immediately turns to cream. It's soo cool! I will definitely give this spot a try again. If you're in University City (West Philly) you should definitely stop by too. Absolutely delicious. They also have non-dairy alternatives! 5 Stars from me :) ***** read more

This place is a gem. Got the matcha shaved ice, incredibly fluffy, great matcha flavor. Will be back for more - they have a great selection of boba, popsicles and more. read more

Ice Cave - Matcha shaved ice with mochi and toffee - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is definitely a hidden gem in West Philly--a very small place that is easy to overlook but is so worth checking out! Yeah, seating is limited but definitely still a great place to get dessert and hang out. You can get a variety of desserts from here such as shaved ice, popsicles, bubble tea, or wheel cake (egg batter filled with custard). The owners are SO nice and they will give you recommendations if you're not sure what to order. My friend and I got shaved ice (which comes in three sizes--kid, regular, or large). We got the Mt. Fuji (matcha flavored) and Tropical Heaven (pineapple flavored). I would 10/10 recommend both! Also there are vegan options if you want to get something non-dairy. Not only were the shaved ice really good, but the prices were very reasonable! I'm really glad I found this place and will definitely be back to try another shaved ice or popsicle. read more

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My boyfriend and I enjoyed this place very much. It's hands down the best shaved ice I've ever had. It's delicious. Ive been craving it ever since. I had to drag my boyfriend here because I really wanted it and after he tried it he apologized for giving me such a hard time for wanting to go out around 9pm to get it. He liked it that much! Definitely try it out :) you won't be disappointed. read more

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Eat it if you love your sweets. I need to slowdown on these before the sugar blow me up like a balloon. lol oh well. Good sweets and better than none. read more

I adore Ice Cave!! I will happily trek out to West Philly just to eat the soft, pillowy shaved ice here and it's quickly become one of my absolute favorite spots that I also make sure to recommend to visitors who will be in the West Philly area. Let me just first gush about the owner - he is the sweetest person alive! He is always so accommodating with my requests and gives great suggestions. He recognizes me when I bring someone new in and it's always great to chat him up. There's a great variety of shaved ice combos and flavors here and they're all fantastic. I've had the green tea, the thai ice tea, and the mango, and the toppings that go with them are all great, from fruits to mochi bites to different syrups. I've also had an ice pop during the Baltimore Ave Dollar Stroll (the birthday cake flavor, if I'm remembering correctly) and it was really refreshing and just as good as the shaved ice! I really love that there's a Taiwanese shaved ice joint here in Philly - to my knowledge I don't really know of another place that does the ice just like Ice Cave does, and so you'll definitely want to stop by! There's inside and outside seating, but the space is relatively small. You can always take it to go though and eat it in Clark Park right across the street. Make sure to also grab a punch card, you'll be making return trips here in no time. read more

Ice Cave - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

stopped in here because I was craving shaved ice ever since having some in NYC. i am used to a denser style of shaved ice, and the shaved ice here was pretty much like eating snow. we got the mango king and the fresh mango was delicious. I was not a huge fan of the shaved ice itself though, mostly because of the texture (the flavoring was also a little artificial tasting) but this was more so because of personal preference. read more

Ice Cave - mango king - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We had heard about this spot from a friend who reviewed it on Yelp, and from friends who used to go to church in the area. So when we were there for a meeting, we decided to check it out before heading home, and it didn't disappoint! It's not a large place, with just a few tables to sit at, but the staff is very friendly and helpful. My wife and I each ordered shaved ice, and both of them were very tasty and refreshing. We had just eaten some rather spicy banh mis, so it was nice to temper the heat with this. The ice had really nice texture and didn't melt too quickly, and the add-ons made a nice addition. I would come back to try some of their other options, including their specials. Great experience overall! read more

Winter Update: We will be hibernating in the ice cave and eating warm wheel cakes all winter (hot custard delicately hugged inside a waffle). The chocolate one is like a cup of hot chocolate cooked into a gooey delicious waffle. Gotta get it! read more

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Had a great visit to Ice Cave this afternoon! Perfect for hot weather. Menu was outside and then we popped inside to order and pay and he brought our treats to us outside! So delicious. Very interesting texture (in a good way). Loved the fresh fruit they use!! And mine was non-dairy which made my tummy happy! read more

Ice Cave - Pineapple & mango shaved ice with mango poppers & rainbow jellies - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The owner is so friendly and kind. I often forget about this place when I am in town, but the treats and bubble tea are delicious. The teas are all real brewed tea and it doesn't taste like there are any artificial powders. I recently tried the brown sugar milk, which was also delicious. Everything is the perfect amount of sweetness. Highly recommend! read more

Ice Cave - Cream foam is great! - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cute neighborhood store front in West Philly. Super friendly owners. Great authentic Taiwanese shaved ice, slowly making my way through the list. read more

Ice Cave - Tropical Bomb - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

FYI: They serve more than just shaved ice here! From what I remember, they also have popsicles and different flavors of ice cream! PROS: Ok so I know I usually put a "what I got" section but I honestly can't remember. It had matcha flavored shaved ice with toffee and mochi bits and condensed milk I wanna say. Either way, it was bomb. Like freakin amazing. About as close to actual Taiwanese shaved ice as you're going to get in Philadelphia. First of all, that machine looked imported straight from Asia. Second of all, the texture was beyond fluffy but it was still structured and didn't feel like straight ice chunks. It was more like ice fluffs, if that makes any sense. The matcha flavor was strong and the combo of toppings worked well with its flavor since they were all on the sweeter end. Super authentic (according to the husband, who's Taiwanese) and super delicious. CONS: Nothing major to complain about on my end. The only thing would probably be aesthetics wise, it's not the cleanest and the biggest but it gives off a cute hole in the wall place vibe (which is what it is). read more

This place is on point for eclectic and original ice pop, filled with anything from matcha powder to fruit to yogurt. They also have an excellent bubble tea, made with real tea leaves as other people noted. Also, for a hot day the shaved ice is amazing. It's almost like being home in Taiwan. Highly recommend this place and the owner talked about opening up a new branch, hopefully near me! read more

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Environment: Low-key, hole in the wall type shop (awesome about it), West Philly local business, super friendly environment, can't beat it! Service: This is easily where all the 5 stars come from. The owner is just an amazing amazing person. These two are a dream combo in the W.Philly area serving up some of the most authentic Taiwanese shaved ice. I kid you not, I WAS SKEPTICAL to think that there were better places than Chinatown. These two moved here about 7 years ago (if I remember from the conversation correctly), and they delivered absolute EXCELLENCE in a cup. From the value of the combos, to the quantity given, it was a no-brainer after munching right into it. Incredibly kind, you are not JUST another customer, but you are one of their valued customers and he loves to know more about YOU. Food: Our friends got the triple mango and Mt. Fuji. Incredible selection, triple mango is extremely sweet. If you are a mango person, it is NOT overwhelmingly sweet but still just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. The Mt. Fuji: This requires it's own section. I am NOT a chocolate fan (but I wouldn't see why they wouldn't let you swap it out). HOWEVER, I am a matcha fanatic. This definitely did justice to all matcha shaved ice from perfect texture, to light sweetness, and ideal ratio of shaved ice and condensed milk, this was TREMENDOUSLY PHENOMENAL. Please please please consider this if you are a matcha or green-tea fan. Popsicle also have real fruit in it. Comparable to real-pop shop! (I might get in trouble for making a bold statement like that~) Price: A little over $6 for the combos; we got a $1 off for the day, and they usually have some type of discount going on once in a while (e.g. 10% off on Halloween when you wear costumes, etc.) read more

Ice Cave - Mt. Fuji, easily one of the best flavors on the menu if you're into matcha madness - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Only tried the popsicles thus far, but they really are fantastic. Fresh, cute, unique, made with love. There's standards like strawberry smoothie, to more interesting like matcha-mochi or coffee-oreo. I've had the matcha and kiwi yogurt and both were refreshing and tasty bite-- smooth texture to the core and no sign of freezer burn or funky freezer taste (which I detest at frozen treat spots). They're not overly sweet, either, but still enjoyable to those with a sweet tooth such as myself. The duo in charge are sweet, as well. Highly recommend this place. read more

Ice Cave - Matcha mochi - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I loovvvee this place! And maybe I'm a little biased because I'm Taiwanese and I love Taiwanese culture but I do also think their dessert/ drinks are really good. I've had their shaved ice which is the traditional ribbon style, and unlike other places in Philly it has a nice snowy texture vs icy or gooey textures. My favorite is the milk flavor and I actually prefer to have simple toppings on it such as condensed milk and mochi because the flavor of the ice is so enjoyable. I just had their wheel cake today for the first time and I can not believe I've never tried it before this! The outside layer is somewhat crisp and chewy with a nice custard filled inside. I had the green tea custard filling inside and it was super yummy. Not too sweet with lots of green tea flavor. I also enjoy their teas, which I've had a couple of. A big fan of their oolongs. Another thing I really enjoy about Ice Cave is the variety of flavors they have of teas, popsicles, cakes and shaved ice. Something for every sweet craving of mine. I also think everything is reasonably priced. Something that really makes this establishment stand out though is Po and Jessica's hospitality and welcoming attitude. Every time I go there I have enjoyed (and now expect to enjoy) a genuine conversation that is not just small talk. In our conversations I feel a genuine desire for them to want to know me and share with me. They also remember the things I say too! Which actually shows that they listen. I love hearing their stories about their experience and travels. Def a must see in the West Philly area! read more

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Was only able to try an ice pop today because I was too full. Got the mango raspberry. Delicious fresh fruit taste, not too sweet and good size. Can't wait to try a wheel cake next time! read more

Ice Cave - Desserts Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania