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Shimazu Shave Ice

4.4 (448 reviews)
InexpensiveShaved Ice, Desserts
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Shimazu Shave Ice Photos

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Recommended Reviews - Shimazu Shave Ice

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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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

Lilikoi, lychee, and pineapple flavor with ice cream add on with linghing powder

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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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Situated right off the parking lot before entering the Ala Moana food court. We skipped it at first…read morethen decided to try it after everyone was done eating inside. On the way back to the car we saw it again and decided to try the Strawberry Bingsu. Our party shared the bowl and loved it so much we decided to also try the Mango Bingsu. It was the perfect amount of fruits and sweetness to cool us down in the muggy afternoon weather. Good service. Clean dining area. Cute decor. Wish we had more time to try other desserts but we will definitely visit again when we're back in town!

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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.

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Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this!
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Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this!  It's one of their popular items.

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Island Latte (macadamia with a hint of coconut) - love this! It's one of their popular items.

Shimazu Shave Ice - shavedice - Updated July 2026

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