About 3.5 miles down the road from my Waialua apartment, a line forms every single day for Matsumoto Shave Ice. By the looks of them, all these people are tourists, but I still struggle to believe that many people come up to the North Shore every single day for shave ice.
Sure, some of them could be staying at Turtle Bay, and others may be driving through on day tours. Still, a line that wraps around the block always seems a bit absurd, especially when there are two other (spoiler alert: comparable) shave ice stores within a block.
When I visited the North Shore in March 2020 before I moved here, my boyfriend and I didn’t try Matsumoto. We had an existing favorite place to get shave ice in Waikiki, and we also found a new spot in Maui when we hopped over to that island.
However, when I moved here this month, I simply couldn’t help myself. I had to know how the shave ice at Matsumoto compared to others that I had. Here’s what I thought.
Was Matsumoto Shave Ice Good?
Yes and no. Matsumoto’s shave ice was not as good as other shave ice I’ve had. Was it bad? Absolutely not. If someone else waited in the line and handed me Matsumoto’s, I’d happily eat it. But for the life of me, I can’t understand why anyone is spending their time standing in that line for some average shave ice.
What Makes Shave Ice Stand Out?
In my incredibly non-expert opinion, here are the two criteria that I think make some shave ice stand out from the rest.
1. Ice
Not all shave ice is created equal, and the base is one of the best parts. Sometimes you get a choppier shave on the ice (more like a snow cone you’d get as a kid). This is fine, but it isn’t good. I would never in a million years eat this plain (no syrup).
On the contrary, I would eat the best kind of ice that you sometimes get lucky with. And that’s why I like to call it “snow.” Some shave ice spots have machines that grind the ice down so much that it resembles freshly fallen snow.
Now, personally, that’s what I want when it comes to shave ice. Even without syrup, that’s worth letting melt in your mouth.
2. Syrup
I’m not as picky about the syrup as I am the ice, but I’ve found that the spots that have the “snow” typically have high-quality, premium syrups. And this is a given, but if my shave ice isn’t SOAKED in syrup then I don’t want it.
Where to Go for Shave Ice on Oahu
Based on my criteria, I’m here for the “snow” and premium syrups. Matsumoto’s had neither, and you’ll wait in line for 20-30 minutes minimum. Not my style personally.
If you want great shave ice on Oahu, I recommend Waiola Shave Ice, which is located closer to Waikiki (shocking, I know).
If you’re on the North Shore right by Matsumoto’s, check out Aoki’s. It’s not snow, but I found it to be cheaper and comparable to Matsumoto Shave Ice. Plus, no line if you go at the right time! They tend to get busy randomly, but you’ll never see a regular line like you do for Matsumoto.
Check out other items on my Hawaii bucket list here.