Shimazu Store

The quality of the shave ice is NORMAL. Its not bad. Its not good. Its just medium.
But the staff here is RUDE. I’m not the first person to notice this. A little smiling goes a long way, and the attitude of the young girls working there was not anywhere near friendly.
Parking is ABSENT.
Neighborhood is SKETCHY.
Prices are a little higher than similar sizes at other shave ice options.
Go ahead and try it to check it off your shave ice list… but there are far better options for a shave ice home-​base.

Saw this place get reviewed by Andrew Zimmrn and I knew I had to put it on my «must-​visit» list. It’s not on a popular road so I ubered it there and miraculously it was empty. I hit it right before the rush!
I ordered the large even though I knew the small would be more than enough but I figured, «go big or go home.» They pack the shaved ice in a paper cone and then in a plastic holder (costs extra but is absolutely crucial and necessary).
They have a bunch of syrup in bottles and you select the flavors and they pour in on the ice. I got Crème Brûlée (yum), Green Tea Royale (ehhh didn’t taste like much) and Root Beer (tastes just like how you would expect). I also had condensed milk poured on top and had to promptly take it outside before consuming (their rule). So happy I ordered the large as the BF and I split it and it was perfect! We could many finish it all but wow, what a great treat!
$ 5.00 for a large
$ 0.50 for condensed milk
$ 0.50 for a cone holder
= $ 6.00 for shaved iced heaven

Be sure to eat the shave ice outside of the car as I made the mistake of eating it in the car and making a whole lot of mess. It melts really fast on a hot sunny day like the day that I went. I would suggest bringing a towel if you’re going to have it in the car as you’re probably going to need it. One more thing, don’t eat the shave ice from here while driving as their concoction is pretty tall.
The small shave ice is actually big. I had the vanilla and lychee with azuki beans and that was good. A small regular shave ice here costs $ 4 and that’s why I gave it three stars. It’s basically ice with syrup. And that’s not exactly expensive to make. Well, we live Hawaii and it comes with a price.

My sister mentioned this place to me and it has been in the back of my mind for a while. So I finally decided to make the trek. I put it off for a long time because I’m not a fan of straight sugary things. I was fighting the internal battle of «it’s hot» versus the healthy «it has too much sugar»! Off I went and to my surprise, there was no line. Great! I didn’t have to feel rushed but besides, I already knew what I wanted. I just should have stayed to a kid’s size!
The ice was fine and powder-​like. I got a large piña colada, strawberry colada, and lilikoi. I think that covered a majority of fruit flavors. I watched the guy pour the flavors on and was wondering when he was going to stop. Since I walked, I sat outside on the store bench and went at it. It was delicious. When I got to the bottom, I threw it away because there was no way I was going to drink straight syrup.
I think the syrup was too much for me to handle. About an hour later I got a bad stomach ache :(Definitely a kid’s size next time.

Huge and cheap! Line is usually out the door but totally worth waiting for. I must say Parking SUCKs! If you’re lucky you can take the one stall right in front of the door but almost always it’s taken. Only two benches located outside the entrance so it’s more like a grab and go, or grab and eat it in the shade around the building! There are many flavored to chose from but my personal favorite is the lihing mui and melon

Loved the variety of flavors here! I tried crème brûlée, lilikoi and bubblegum. It was a pretty long wait as its a very popular little shop. Very limited parking.
Overall a tasty shave ice spot but not very convenient. There are so many choices on the island but if you’re in the area it’s worth checking out.
Tip: Kids size is smaller than a small but same price, just includes the .50 plastic cup. Not sure of the value…

CASH ONLY!
Delicious shave ice for a great price (although I still like Matsumoto’s a bit more), and there are SO many different flavors to choose from! I love that you can choose more than 1 flavor for your shave ice, but I wish they had smaller sizes since even the Small was way too much for 2 people to eat (I’m weak sauce, I know). My friends and I came late afternoon on a weekend, and there was only one person in line at the time. We tried:
–Mango, Strawberry Cream, Lilikoi ($ 3.50/Small + $ 0.75 Condensed Milk,
): My favorite flavor was the lilikoi, and I thought the mango and strawberry cream were too sweet/​fakey tasting. I loved the condensed milk, and I wished they gave you more and could inject it into the middle/​bottom since it was really only on the top layer.
They are really strict about you eating the shave ice outside the store since it drips everywhere, so make sure you head out there ASAP to avoid a lecture. It just sucks to have to eat outside if it’s raining, which happens a good amount in Hawaii. Parking is also super tough here since there is limited street parking, but there are some spots within a short walking distance.

Get here quick, because the line gets long! Especially on hot, sunny days! It’s bad parking too, so you’ll be lucky to get a spot by the store.
HOWEVER, the shave ice here is definitely worth it! The portions are huge, and not for a bad price, either. The ice is finely ground, and not like that hard-​to-​chew «crushed» ice. Oh no, this stuff will melt in your mouth! I do love the syrups, especially the strawberry and lilikoi flavors. You can even get a «snow cap» atop your shave ice! Which is big for me, since I’m a lover of that ish.
They do tend to skimp a bit on the syrups, which is why I give it 4 and not 5 stars. I don’t know about you, but the shave ice without the syrup is just, well… ice. Which is what the center of the my shave ice was. However, everything else about it is just lovely. I definitely recommend if you’re in the area! But keep your eyes out! It can be easy to miss!

There is absolutely NOTHING like a shaved ice from Shimazu Store on a hot and humid day. A melty bit of happiness!
The ice was really smooth and the flavors were really fresh. Our son just prefers one simple flavor (strawberry) while we (my husband and I) mixed up our three flavors (banana, blue bubble gum & strawberry crème). Very generous in their portions even in the small size!
There was no line when we ordered ours but if there was a line, it’s worth the wait!!!

Magical, cool, fluffy, soft, sweet and refreshing! Shimazu’s shaved ice are perfect on a hot and humid day but even more enticing on a cool and easy breezy day as well.
It’s all about the texture, and Shimazu does it right. Their soft and fluffy ice retains most of the flavor of the syrup. They have a wide array of flavors, and you can even snowcap it off with some sweetened condensed milk!
They have a keiki’s size which in my opinion will satisfy most adults… yes, their portions are generous so try go easy on the size if you aren’t sharing. It’s also wise to order with the plastic holder (paper cone will be within the plastic holder) to avoid getting messy.
Do not have high expectations logistically. Their shop is super small with just one bench to sit on in front of the store. There are metered parking stalls along school street, and depending on the time of day you go… you may find some (I went around 3pm and able to get parking).
Cash only… one keiki size was about $ 4.50

First time EVER trying shaved ice in my life! WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!
My sis-​in-​law brought me here to try out their shaved ice. Never was really into this dessert because I thought it just tasted like a snow cone. But it’s 100X times better and so delicious and refreshing! I ordered a small (which I actually couldn’t finish on my own considering how much ice is packed on!) with Lychee and Durian flavor along with vanilla ice cream and condensed milk drizzled on top. YES, THIS PLACE SERVES DURIAN! But, funny thing is I had to abide by their store rules if I wanted the durian flavor. I was not allowed to eat my dessert on their premises nor was I allowed to throw my trash away in their bin. Lol! But I guess this makes sense because supposedly the smell is so awful that no one can stand it! (I love the smell of Durian! They should make a Durian air freshener! LOL) Anyway, the shaved ice was so delicious. Writing this review makes me want some more now!
This place is a super small shop with hard-​to-​find street parking. We had to circle the block several times, but ended up running down to grab a few shaved ices while someone waited in the car. There are no tables or chairs for you to enjoy your dessert. We saw people standing around the shop while we were ordering. The owner is also super friendly and sweet! :)

I saw that Shimazu had been featured on a food show, so I wanted to try it out. Luckily, I went on an overcast day, so it wasn’t busy. I live nearby, so I usually see a really long line. I was disappointed that they didn’t have taro flavored shave ice. I saw that they had halo halo with ube flavored ice cream, which I hadn’t heard of before so I gave it a go. I liked that it wasn’t too sweet and the ube ice cream was
. Service was okay. I’d like to come back and try the shave ice.

After all these years Shimazu’s is still the same… Just like when they first had their small booth outside of Longs Mililani (by Safeway). The only thing is that the parking situation isn’t the greatest but I have to say it’s so worth it!
Their soft fluffy shave ice is always consistent but the flavors… Their flavors… The strawberry cream is like guri guri icecream while their melon bar cream is like melona! Their regular li hing and li hing pickled mango is exact! With a huge flavor list, it’s so hard to not come back and try them all. It’s such an amazing treat on a hot day especially with the humidity these past couple of days.
A small is big enough to share but if you’re really hungry, there’s always the Larry… A monster of shave ice! Also you might want to invest $ 0.50 for their shave ice cup holder. It always saves me from a toppled over shave ice because I’m clumsy. They don’t have mochi balls but they do have mochi squares like chi chi dango. Overall, you won’t regret it.

GO HERE FOR SHAVE ICE!!!
This place is tied for number one on my Oahu shave ice list. It’s amazing…
This relatively small, ‘quick-​serve’ establishment puts out some massively tasty treats… and they always have a line. But don’t worry, it moves pretty fast… if you know what you are doing. There is a system, here at Shimazu. Yes, check in and post pictures, but take a moment to read and follow the instructions. It makes the line faster for everyone when you order like a pro. If you don’t follow instructions, you end up being ‘that guy’. You know… like the guy in the TSA line with the unopened bottle of water and scissors in his backpack… you know who you are…
Some people have a hard time distinguishing premier shave ice from mediocre, but there are differences. At Shimazu, the ice is milled super small… snowflakes even. This gives it huge body, but the ice remains soft and fluffy. They also have a huge selection of homemade flavors. This is so awesome, because you never know what flavor you are gonna feel like. Sizes here are on steroids. A small is large, a large is huge, and an extra large, is well… a Larry. Yes… extra large is called a Larry. Awesome right!
Yes, I have eaten Larry and I loved every minute! If you are brave enough to order Larry, just know that it is the size of your head!
Keep in mind that coming here is best with two people. There is only street parking, so the person that lost the coin toss can wait in line (in the sun), while the driver circles to find a space (while enjoying car a/​c). There is no real place to sit here, but standing around with the rest of the shave ice eating peeps is a must anyway. It is just as fun eating it as it is watching other people trying to eat the Larry…
GO LARRY OR GO HOME!

This place definitely gives you a lot for your money. I knew it was only a matter of time before my body said, «get that shaved ice at shimazu»!
Well my honey and I ventured out to school street to calm our sweet tooth cravings. Parking was a headache since they do not have a lot. There was a long line that was formed outside the door when we arrived.
I waited patiently and prepared myself anticipating greatness. Finally we had one kid in front of us. I watched him walk away with a huge cone of shaved ice. I was planning on ordering a medium until they said the little boy had a small. Gosh talk about giving kids a huge sugar high lol.
I ordered a small crème brûlée with red velvet. Everyone please pay the extra quarter for the plastic cone. Had I known all the goodness would be dripping rapidly through the bottom of my paper cone I would’ve gotten one. Oh they do not want you to eat inside the small shop. Once you paid and received your ice just walk out.
I thought the two flavors married well together. It was refreshing yet filling. I’ll be back and this time I’m getting the plastic!!!:)

Wowee! The shave ice is huge here and so so fine! I’ve never seen so many flavors! When the employee asked my daughter what flavor, she simply replied red. I totally laughed but the lady was super nice and started patiently suggesting flavors. My daughter ended up getting vanilla crème, strawberry crème, and chocolate crème pie as her three flavors. The kids shave ice was reasonably priced at $ 4 and comes in a plastic holder.
I was totally skeptical about the chocolate flavor, but it was really good! The only downside of this great shave ice place is that it’s street parking only. The shave ice here is excellent!

Summer time means that it’s Shave Ice time! Also known as «Ice Shave» on the Big Island, this local dessert is perfect in this hot, sunny Hawaiian weather! Mainland people might call it «Snow Cone», but in no way does Shave Ice compare! It’s light, fluffy, and so refreshing! Don’t eat it too quickly, or else you will get a «brain freeze»!
My dad used to take my sisters and me to Shimazu Store for their finely shaved ice — what a treat! …and later in life, dad used to bring mom after she retired… For sentimental reasons, I prefer this shop over others.
There are exotic flavors such as Tiramisu, Bananas Foster, Fuji Apple, Irish Cream, White Russian, etc. You can get up to three differnt flavors for free. Rainbow, for example, is usually Red Strawberry, Blue Vanilla, and Yellow Banana. YUM!
Additional goodies available are: azuki beans, mochi balls, and ice cream. Just let them know before they start making your creation that you want these things added in first — at the bottom of the cup. They also want to know what size and how many orders before you tell them your flavor selection.
Warning: The «Larry» is HUGE! I even have a hard time finishing the «small». In other words, the portions are VERY generous!
Also available are other local snacks, t-​shirts, and Halohalo! Try it! Get the ube (sweet potato) ice cream! Winner!
There is metered street parking, or if you’re «quick», you can park in between the metered stalls on the street. Keep in mind that School Street is a one-​way street. Park only on the right side.
Don’t be discouraged by the line at the front of the store. It goes by quickly! They are very friendly and efficient! It’s really worth your time to go here! Highly recommended!

Good gracious…
Yes, it’s hard to find parking around here. Fortunately, there was no line at the times we visited. Street parking is your best bet. The service was not all that friendly. The lady who took our order was super serious (I guess this is serious stuff) and barely cracked a smile. Bummer. The gentleman who poured the syrups on our shaved ice was super sweet, which made our experience that much better.
Prices here are awesome and their portions are outrageous. We ordered their smallest size and when they handed it to us, it looked like an XL! Their ice is good but not as soft as Waiola Shave Ice. They are super generous with their shaved ice and really pour a lot of syrup on there. Every nook and cranny of this cool treat was covered in syrup. Their syrups are homemade and you can taste the difference. Super fresh and none of that high fructose corn syrup stuff here. Just fresh fruits, giving their syrups that natural fruit flavor.
No seating inside. Enjoy your shaved ice standing in front of the store or go back to your car. This is definitely one of my favorite shaved ice places.
I want more!

Oh man, I have been coming here for years… all the way back when it was just this old man pumping a shave ice machine with his foot! It wasn’t called Shimazu then; we just knew it as the shave ice place on School St.
So a kama’aina tip: Skip Matsumoto’s on the North Shore. It’s touristy, crowded, and overhyped. I mean, it’s good, but Shimazu is better. Portions are gigantic (the smallest size is more than enough), and you can get ice cream and toppings, if desired. For $ 0.50 more, you can get a flower cup/​bowl to hold your shave ice. I absolutely love getting the three-​flavor combination of guava, lilikoi, and strawberry. There is usually a line, but it goes relatively fast. They have other snacks (popcorn, fruit snacks, etc.), as well as t-​shirts you can purchase.
I was here recently on my family’s annual Oahu trip, and I fell and spilled my shave ice. The employees here gave us a new one free of charge. That was really nice, and I won’t forget it!
It is cash only, so make sure to stop by the ATM before heading over. There’s street parking, but it’s hard to come by.
Mahalo for all of the awesome shave ice over the years, Shimazu!

If you like fun and different flavors you must try this shave ice spot!
Ok… First of all I am going to say if you drive by and don’t see anyone inside DO NOT BE TURNED OFF! This happened when we came for the first time (on a Sunday afternoon) and we were like «is this really as popular as the ratings say? Is it even open??! Why is this area so weird?»
We were lead here after seeing it on bizarre foods and we knew we had to try the giant shave ice we saw on tv! So we kinda didn’t know where to order cuz really the place seemed so quiet but then a guy came out to help us. If you order a large, I can’t guarantee you’ll finish it yourself! There’s an AMAZING variety of flavors… My favorites of what we tried were red velvet and green tea. I can’t forget how amazing the red velvet tasted! You can add ice cream and condensed milk like other places but I don’t really recommend getting ice cream cuz it’s melted by the time you get to the bottom of the cup!
You aren’t allowed to eat inside and we understand why! There are limited seats outside but luckily we were first before the many customers that came after us so we got the bench outside.
The large is sooo big and HEAVY. I’d say it’s the size of a football. Lol. It’s absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to go back again! In fact I woke up this morning craving it hahaha