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    Wahine Kai

    4.5 (667 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    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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    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 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

    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!

    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!

    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!

    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!

    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!

    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!

    Taro Shaved Ice w Vanilla ice cream yum!!

    This place is delicious! We bought two shaved ice, the pineapple kuda, and taro Korean shaved ice. Everything was amazing! 10/10 would go back you should definitely go!

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

    Summer is around the corner and if u want authentic Hawaiian shaved ice, look no further than Wahine Kai Shave Ice in Scripps Ranch. A family business, this is a favorite spot for cooling down. There are numerous eateries around like sushi, so right after a meal, come here for dessert. You might be overwhelmed a little with their menu, cause trust me, the menu is all over the shop. So take your time and decide what u want. But anything u choose, you're gonna love what u get! They have tons of flavors and u can add ice cream to it. Lots of toppings to choose from like mochi, Li Hing Mui powder, and fresh fruits. I haven't tried anything I haven't disliked. Come give it a try and bring the Island to u.

    12oz size with two flavors- honeydew/ guava, condensed milk and li hing powder
    Giena L.

    Craving shave ice, specifically hawaiian shave ice. This was a perfect summer afternoon treat. There are so many options, there is something for everyone. Definitely hit the spot.

    Coconut pineapple smoothie
    Daniel V.

    Wahine Kai Shave Ice is a tropical dream come true! I ordered the coconut/pineapple smoothie, and it was absolute paradise in a cup. The flavors were fresh, perfectly balanced, and incredibly refreshing -- like a Hawaiian vacation with every sip. The texture was smooth and creamy, not icy or watered down. Shoutout to the lovely worker who helped me with my drink selection this past Memorial Day. She was polite, helpful and professional. Great interior design which makes this spot nice for a quick sit while enjoying your beverages. Mahalo

    Wow!! This our to go!  Thanks Mike!

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    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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    Page 1 of 17

    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.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Cafe 86

    Cafe 86

    4.3
    (338 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $

    Amazing taste. Different options. Great service. Halo halo is the best. Ube truffles and milo…read morecupcake is awesome. Will come back.

    This place is complete and utterly UBE HEAVEN!! The place was small, but charming; the feel and…read moreaesthetic was welcoming. The staff also greeted us once we stepped inside. They don't have a lot of seating inside the cafe, but there are lots of tables and chairs outside at the plaza area. We were incredibly happy and super impressed with every single thing we got--from the drinks, to the desserts, to the famous halo-halo. Everything was delicious and perfectly balanced in flavor; none of them were overly sweet or bland. Here's everything we tried: ORIGINAL HALO-HALO: 9/10 This one was the more traditional version, having the brown sugar milk base with ube ice cream on top. It was really good, a little more on the sweet side. But I just loved and preferred the upside down version more. UPSIDE DOWN HALO-HALO: 10/10 This one had the ube base with vanilla ice cream on top. I loved this one so much more than the original. I really liked how the ube flavor stood out. I just think this one was more balanced compared to the original. UBE MATCH LATTE: 9.5/10 I love that the ube flavor was prominent enough here that you can really taste it with the matcha. None of the two overpowered the other--it was the perfect balance. It wasn't too sweet either. I also appreciate that they did not charge an additional fee for any of their milk substitutes. UBE BUTTER BAR: 9/10 This dessert tastes *so much* like the ube halaya we have and LOVE in the Philippines. Ultimate *chef's kiss*! UBE CRACK CHEESECAKE: 9.5/10 Creamy and luscious with a really good amount of ube flavor! Would gladly have another piece of this dessert, or five. UBE LECHE FLAN CUPCAKE: 7/10 I had high hopes for this one, but the leche flan on top was not as soft and bouncy as a leche flan should be. I found it a bit dry, like it was sitting out for way too long. The cupcake was okay--good ube flavor, but a bit dense and dry too. MILO CUPCAKE: 9.5/10 This one was really good--the cupcake was moist and fluffy with a great amount of chocolate flavor. I think the Milo was only in the icing, but I only got a slight hint of it there. Still very very tasty though! Overall, this was by far the best and most Filipino-tasting ube I've ever had here in the US--and we've had a lot of ube here. Will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Ready for something refreshing on a hot, summer day!
    Ready for something refreshing on a hot, summer day!
    Cafe 86
    Food court plaza where the cafe is located

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    Food court plaza where the cafe is located
    Shabu Spot

    Shabu Spot

    4.5
    (58 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$$

    Great service and decor. The restaurant is very clean and organized inside. Everything is labeled…read moreand I love that you have drink options that include milk tea, passion fruit tea, and lychee tea along with the jelly and toppings bar. It's nice to have Shabu closer up north without having to drive down to Mira Mesa. The meat options were good. They were fresh. I appreciated the smaller portions to allow you to try different cuts without waste. Everything is labeled at the food stations, and they prepare the hot foods in smaller amounts and refill as needed. I really hope this spot continues to thrive. It's so hard for small businesses right now.

    My partner and I visited Shani Spot on a Thursday evening around 6pm. We were immediately met at…read morethe door with a friendly greeting and sat at our table. The dining room was small and we noticed two other sets of guests at nearby tables. The server gave some recommendations, but we went with a two broths we were looking forward to trying, the tonkatsu and tom yum. The drink bar is self serve with sodas, water and a boba station, but the restaurant didn't serve beer or wine which would have been nice with the meal. The spice/sauce bar is nice, but quite a few of the containers weren't labeled. The custom sauces had pictures on how to create them, but I was a little confused as to which ingredients were which. I could have asked, but I ended up going with a sauce mixture I already knew well. All of the shabu vegetables looked good. I enjoyed this area the most. The seafood area was also well organized as well. I can see where other reviewers could potentially feel a little squished in this area, because there are only two ways in and out and the seating is a bit close to the end, but it didn't really affect me and that part isn't reflected in my own rating. The meats arrived at our table, and two of the three were tasty. The pork belly wasn't for me as it was far too fatty, but that's just my preference. I have to say that neither of the broths were very flavorful, and this is probably where my biggest disappointment was. The price for two dinners with no alcohol was $85 minus tip. Overall, I think Shabu Spot has solid potential and a truly kind staff, but in my opinion the dining experience wasn't what I had hoped for, and I would want to read better reviews before being comfortable returning.

    Photos
    Interior (Jan 2026)
    Interior (Jan 2026)
    Some of their selection
    Some of their selection
    Partial view of the dining area

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    Partial view of the dining area

    Wahine Kai - shavedice - Updated August 2026

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