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    Wahine Kai

    4.5 (670 reviews)
    Open • 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks 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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    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.

    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

    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.

    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

    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.

    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!

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

    Heytea

    4.0(194 reviews)
    7.7 mi•Carmel Valley

    First time at this location! The staff were friendly. There's no sitting place inside but there are…read moresome outside. They made the order very fast. I got the King Guava Jasmine - my favorite drink of all time. It's light, refreshing, strong jasmine flavor with lime zest. The kale boost is also my favorite as well. 10/10

    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 September 2026

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