All Our Favorite Shave Ices in Honolulu

Photo: Annabelle Ink

Aoki’s Shave Ice

My favorite thing to do in Hale‘iwa is to skip the never-ending line at Matsumoto’s and walk just across the street to Aoki’s, where you can have a heaping cone in front of you in minutes. I typically go for a liliko‘i, vanilla and lychee combo with mochi balls and vanilla ice cream; Aoki’s is a lot more generous than other shave ice places are, so my cone is always piled high with toppings. The location is also a plus—you can sit on one of the little painted picnic tables and enjoy your shave ice in the shade. —Annabelle Ink, HONOLULU intern

Wednesday to Monday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., 66-082 Kamehameha Hwy, Hale‘iwa, (808) 637-6782, @aokishaveice

Photo: Melissa Chang

Baldwin’s Sweet Shop

Wednesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 98-040 Kamehameha Hwy, ‘Aiea, (808) 488-0505, @baldwinssweetshop

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Chillest Shave Ice

I rejoiced when Chillest finally opened in Kaimukī, so I no longer need to wait for its Saturday Fishcake pop-ups. The attention to detail makes it top tier: gently patting the fluffy ice into shape, then poking holes to let the syrups seep into the snow-like mound. You can order up to three flavors, with prices determined by what you choose ($6–$8, plus extra for toppings). My favorite combo is strawberry milk and hojicha, mixing tangy, creamy and toasty. Get the free snow cap (condensed milk drizzle) to complete the masterpiece. —Andrea Lee, HONOLULU digital editor

I’m always excited to see what new flavors pop up on the menu board at Kaimukī’s newest shave ice shop. Last time, I went with mandarin orange and Japanese grape topped with condensed milk—and let me tell you, it was pure summertime joy. But my all-time favorite combo? Hojicha next to strawberry cream. The deep, earthy notes of roasted green tea hint at brown sugar, while the sweet cream lets the fresh strawberry flavor shine. The bowls come piled high in true Japanese kakigori style, finished with mochi or a drizzle of condensed milk. Either way, you can’t go wrong. —Maria Burke, Frolic

I love Chillest for its fine and fluffy ice and bright and clear flavors. The flavors I get depend on my mood that day: sometimes strawberry milk and matcha, sometimes mango and liliko‘i. But always with mochi. I’m so excited I can now get their shave ice seven days a week at their new spot. —Martha Cheng, Frolic

Aaron Wong whips up sky-high mountains of ice and layers them with top-tier flavors, many of which are made right on site. The strawberry milk is a classic flavor from when the shop was called Ailana Shave Ice, but I love his roasty hojicha, tart Calpico and the Japanese candy inspired grape and orange syrups. —Thomas Obungen, HONOLULU special projects editor

Daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 3408 Wai‘alae Ave. #102, Kaimukī, @chillestshaveice

SEE ALSO: Chillest Shave Ice Opens in a Permanent New Home in Kaimukī

Photo: Mari Taketa

Coffee or Tea?

This was my introduction to shareable shave ice—the kind you eat at a café table, not standing on a sidewalk sticking your spoons into a cone you’re trying not to topple. When I found it, you could get bowls heaped with pudding and chunks of taro. Now, pudding’s an add-on, and taro is gone, and my favorite is this, the caffeine-rich No. 2 with tea jelly, coffee jelly, coffee ice cream, whipped cream from a can and condensed milk drizzle. It’s a grownup’s shave ice, enough to wire two of you for the rest of the day. —Mari Taketa, Frolic editor

Multiple locations, @coffeeorteahawaii

Photo: Thomas Obungen

En Hakkore

If a shave ice could be everything it wanted, it would be this: En Hakkore’s finely shaved condensed milk ice, dolled up with assorted mochi, jewel-like fruits, sweet red beans drizzled with more condensed milk, crushed nuts and roasted injeolmi powder. The first time I ordered it, my jaw fell open—it’s big enough for three. Then a fresh shot of espresso arrived in a dainty cup and saucer. I didn’t order this, I said. It’s for the bingsu, En Hakkore said. You pour it over the top. Of course. —MT

Daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1670 Makaloa St., Ala Moana, @enhakkorecafe

SEE ALSO: Honolulu’s Most Over-the-Top, Caffeinated Korean Shaved Ice Is Back

Jejubing Dessert Café

I’m not sure if it technically counts as shaved ice, but my favorite is the strawberry bingsu from Jejubing at Ala Moana Center. Strawberries are my son’s favorite, so it makes me happy to see him enjoy this treat. The fluffy shaved ice, sweet condensed milk and thinly sliced strawberries always bring a smile to his face. —Eric Baranda, Frolic

Daily 12 to 8:30 p.m., 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Ala Moana Center, (808) 468-7620, @jejubingdessertcafe

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Kaimana Shave Ice

Whenever I pass through Old Hale‘iwa Town and the shop is open, I’m stopping at Kaimana Shave Ice for local fruit-flavored syrups and ice creams. I’ve written about Jake Nowicki’s shop a few times, and his naturally sweet shave ice bowls are always a top rec from me. —TO

Monday to Saturday 12 to 4:30 p.m., 66-519 Kamehameha Hwy, Hale‘iwa, @kaimanashaveice

Meet Fresh

Among my friends, Meet Fresh is our go-to dessert spot. This Taiwanese dessert chain has an extensive menu of sweets and drinks—and unlike most shave ice joints that close before sunset, it’s open late. My go-to is the Mangoberry, a bed of fine, fluffy shaved ice topped with mango and strawberries, each coated in its own syrupy goodness, and finished with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s fruity, refreshing, sweet. The bowl is big enough to share, though that doesn’t stop us from battling it out with our spoons. We know the drill: eat fast before it melts into dessert soup. —Cody Kawamoto, creative director, Hawai‘i Home & Remodeling

Monday to Thursday 12 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. #1320, Ala Moana Center, @meetfresh_honolulu

Photo: Thomas Obungen

Monsarrat Shave Ice

The elusive shave ice window next to Pioneer Saloon on Monsarrat Avenue is worth chancing ‘em. The menu is super Japanesey with simple flavors, including coconut cream, matcha, mango, yuzu, strawberry and mixed berry. The key is to add a scoop of Meadow Gold ice cream and shiratama mochi balls for the ideal sweet treat. —TO

Daily 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (except on rainy days), 3046 Monsarrat Ave., Diamond Head, (808) 732-4001, @monsarratshaveice

Photo: Courtesy of Magic Mountain Shave Ice

Mountain Magic Shave Ice

If you needed another reason—besides catching the most stunning sunsets—to hele to the West Side, Mountain Magic is it. Tucked between Waianae and Mākaha Beach, this tiny shave ice spot has a loyal following. Always a must for me is the taro cream: sweet, creamy, packed with unmistakable taro flavor and dressed in a dreamy shade of purple. The ice is unreal—fluffy, fine, melt-in-your-mouth perfect. Feeling bold? Get the lemon peel “gravy” for a zippy, tangy twist. —MB

Multiple locations, @mountainmagicshaveice

Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i’s Favorite Kitchens

Shimazu Shave Ice

I still miss the old Shimazu location—a no-frills, old-school spot that served up the lightest, fluffiest shave ice I’ve ever had. They recently moved to a new location in Kapolei. What made Shimazu special was the perfect combo of a shave ice machine with a precision blade, and a syrup selection that was wild and fun. I always went for Green River and butter popcorn, sometimes red velvet or crème brûlée. Then there was The Larry—a gigantic serving that still stands as the biggest shave ice I’ve ever attempted. According to the former owner, it was named after a regular customer who would down two large shave ices in one sitting. Eventually, they combined them into one mega size and named it in his honor. —CK

I grew up on Shimazu shave ice in its original spot on School Street, so of course I have to love them forever and ever. They have expanded their syrup flavors over the years, which I love, but for whatever reason, I always gravitate back to the most classic strawberry with ice cream for the most nostalgic feeling. —MChang

Multiple locations, Kapolei @shimazustoreliliha, Kapahulu @shimazu_shave_ice

SEE ALSO: Good-bye, Kelvin Shimazu

Photo: Melissa Chang

Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

I love that Ululani’s has expanded from Maui over to O‘ahu! The ice is super fine, and I love the handcrafted fruit flavors, like lychee, mango, liliko‘i and guava—in fact, that is probably the combination I order most often. The flavors are really strong too, so you don’t have to guess at what you’re eating. —MChang

Read the rest of the series:

All Our Favorite Pizzas in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Burgers in Honolulu
All Our Favorite Matcha Drinks in Honolulu