Ice Garden — Restaurant in Oʻahu

3.5 stars

If you’re from Aiea, then you know this is the place to go on a hot day! It’s located on the second floor in Aiea Shopping Center. It’s not the soft Waiola type or the ice junk type at Matsumoto’s. I don’t know how to describe it but their shave ice tastes like the kind you get at the crack seed store in the old days.

I remember coming here years ago when I was in high school and it was run by two older ladies. I always wondered how did they do it since the place is always busy and when I say older, I mean older than your grandma! But they were so cute and sweet.

I haven’t been here in years but recently came back. I didn’t see the two ladies, it looks like they now have different owners. The menu and flavors are the same, except now they have milk tea and the prices are significantly higher.

They are Cash Only. They have a photo menu so you can order by number, but they don’t have prices listed.

We got two shave ice with ice cream and mochi balls, one with pudding and it was about $13.

What I like about this place are the toppings. They have condensed milk, Azuki beans and mochi balls but they have unique toppings like taro and pudding you don’t see at other places. The syrups are ok, but nostalgic for some of us. I do really like their homemade mochi balls. Worth checking out if you’re in the neighborhood...

The shave ice dishes are creatively overpriced and offer a plethora of custom toppings and flavors. As you can see in the pictures, the shaved ice is basically slopped into a bowl with toppings thrown on; leaving the dish with no texture or consistency like slop. Soon to be mush in the Hawaiian Heat. I've always enjoyed watching my shaved ice be made. The work and effort of shaping the perfect globe always gave me a better feeling about paying good money for frozen water with syrup on top. You won't find that here. No textured globe, just a bowl of mush for $16. I was shocked to hear the cost. Especially how fast these come flying out of the window. The profit margins here must be amazing. While the dish makes an excellent Instagram or Yelp photo, its taste and texture is unmoving. I will not be back. While there is parking, there is no seating available. There are some outside tables around the corner next to the escalator that goes down to Times grocery, but most are not shaded from...

I learned of this place from my Airport working friends and my cousin whom live in Aiea. The two sister whom have run this shop would be so happy when I would bring my Granny here for her Shave Ice! They were always so kind to her...every visit they would ask me to remind them of how old she was...when she turned 80, they wouldn’t let me pay them for her Shave Ice! Our last visit with my Granny was nine years ago, she was 93 years old! My Granny would always eat two Strawberry Shave ice, the first with Ice Cream, the second without ice cream...my children and I loved the double flan with Condensed Milk, Taro and Mochi Balls! Simple days would be Strawberry or Rootbeer w/ Ice Cream for all of us! It’s summer and here we come again! I live in Waianae, I would go to Kalihi to pick up my Granny & now Aunty to then go to the shop in Aiea! A full days journey so worth it!! Keep up the good work Nephew and wife who has come home to Hawaii to run the business! Love and miss...