Ice Forest

Safe travels my friend, they have been the downtown solution for summer day shave ice. Custards and Mochi balls will still be available in Ice Garden @ Aiea
If they pop up in the Los Angeles area, you guys got a good thing coming! Enjoy!

I should have written this a LOT sooner. I just found out this place is closing on May 27 2016. Hurry… they have the best shave ice anywhere hands down. If you like the place in Aiea then you go here, it’s better. Plus it is super convenient for those in downtown on hot workday. You will be missed!

Unilocal recommended ice treat, we were close so worth a try.
— Ice forest is a store within another convenience store, but you can’t miss the signs.
+ Service was efficient, and there were big picture signs of the specials out front & next to counter.
+ Portions were huge and we definitely shared between 4 people.
— Ice water in tiny pixie cups.
+ Flan on top was bomb, silky and sweet
— Mochi was chewy and strawberry pops was a little flat
— Condensed milk was very rich
— seating limited to 4 stools, but it was fine
Gave the place a fair «3», and would need to try other offering before I can give a proper recommendation.

This place has the best shaved ice. I wish I could have come here everyday. The owner was also very nice and can tailor to how you like your shaved ice. I didn’t want mine too sweet so it was just to my liking. Loved it and would come again.

Shave ice, tea, boba, Italian soda, coffee, what more could you want? The owners are so adorable and friendly, and you can totally customize your order. The menu is enormous, so I’ve been getting something different every time!

Omg! How delicious! Best shave ice I’ve ever had let alone with a flan custard on top the coffee one was absolutely amazing this is a do not miss shave ice

Another ordinary afternoon i remember seeing a group of student-​looking crowd swarmed in and came out with one bowl on each in a good great amount of shaved ice and so i thought i would give it a try. Without particular prejudice, it was strawberry fan that was on the poster and so it has condensed milk, strawberry syrup, custard, some jelly pearls, and mochi balls on the side and i thought it was pretty impressive since there was not many stores that has the custard that was soft and smooth. The bowl turned out to be nice combination although it is not scourge mid summer season and shave ice is still not a thing less popular especially when people still walk around in shorts and slippers. I am fascinated and indeed impressed.

Is it possible to have 2 favorite shave ice places? If so, then this is my other all-​time favorite shave ice shop! Waiolas will still be a favorite because of its convenience and all the nostalgia (aka shave ice served in a cone) but Ice Forest is so different for a number of reasons:
1. Large portions: there is only one size of shave ice served at Ice Forest and that is HUGE. Imagine the size of a Styrofoam saimin cup, and that’s pretty much the size of all the Ice Forest creations. Definitely shareable if you have a friend to split with! You’ll notice the prices are a bit more than a regular cone or cup, and this is one of the reasons why it costs over $ 5 for a lot of the specialty options.
2. Stamp card: unlike almost any other shave ice place, Ice Forest has a loyalty stamp card program! After you collect 12 stamps (1 per shave ice/​drink purchase) you can get a free shave ice, up to $ 6.50 value!
3. Syrup refill policy: if you are eating your shave ice somewhere near the store and notice that there is some naked snow in your cup, you can go back to the counter and ask them to add more syrup, no questions asked or fees collected!
4. Taro: one of my coworkers told me I had to try the taro, and I finally got around to doing so today. Imagine the filling from those limited edition taro pies at McDonalds, and that’s what the taro topping at Ice Forest tastes like. Its soft and sweet with little chunks of taro dispersed throughout. And it goes really well on top of shave ice! I suggest getting the #10 combo ($ 6.50) that includes mochi balls, taro, and custard. Get this with the milk flavor ice… you will not be disappointed!
5. Custard: their custard is silky and smooth and creamy and everything custard should be. If I’m feeling really indulgent I’ll get one of the combos with 2 custards on top, otherwise I’d suggest getting #11 ($ 5.50) that includes mochi balls and custard. Adding condensed milk to this combo is not a bad idea too… just saying!
Since I usually catch a shuttle from my office to downtown, I’ve never had to worry about parking. But if you are driving, then parking is typical downtown — street parking or a public/​municipal lot.
TL;DR — large portions, stamp card, and amazing taro and custard toppings!

Best jasmine milk tea I’ve ever put in my mouth! The custard was delicious and the service was outstanding.

Every once in a while I’ll get a craving to go here, subsequently go, and then wonder why I don’t frequent the place more often. If you like custard on your shave ice, Ice Forest could be the be all and end all. The ice has a nice, light, and soft texture, and the syrups are pretty good. The owner even offers to add more syrup for free if you feel your shave ice isn’t sufficiently drenched in liquid sugar. I haven’t tried any other flavors other than strawberry, lychee, and guava, but really haven’t felt a need to venture away from these.

If you’re in the downtown area, this little store just satisfys my sweet tooth craving. Especially if condensed milk and flan pudding is involved. One of my favorite desert is custard pudding (flan) and oh maaaan, their custard pudding is so ono !!! Its melt in your mouth kine good and it just goes perfectly with your shave ice. So I highly recommend you add flan to whatever you get. The mochi too is super good and perfectly cooked!
I usually get the milk snow ice with custard and condensed milk because I’m pretty basic lol. But I used to get the regular shave ice syrup and they’re very generous with the syrup. If you see any white spots they’d be more than welcome to put more syrup and they’re very reassuring of it!

A year after discovering Ice Forest, this is still my favorite place to get shave ice.
It’s a small establishment, customer service is great, and the quality of what you’re getting is always worth the price you pay!
I rarely stray from my favorite flavors to get here: lychee, guava, and honeydew. If I ever taste other flavors, it’s probably because I’m sharing with somebody.
My favorite thing about Ice Forest is their promise to add more syrup if there isn’t enough or to add more ice if you have too much syrup! I took advantage of this today — it was clean and white at the very core (like snow!!!) so we asked for more syrup… Thanks mister :)
Menu has also expanded! They offer freshly brewed teas and coffee. Maybe I’ll try something like that alongside my shave ice next time.

Lunch time rolled around at work one day, and I was excited to eat the chicken salad wrap I had prepared the night before. Sadly, I took a couple bites and it tasted like an awful, salty mess. To counter the saltiness lingering in my mouth and compensate for my lunch fail, I thought I’d give Ice Forest a try.
I wasn’t sure what to order, so I asked the worker for suggestion. He suggested (I think) the #11, which comes with up to 2 choices of shave ice flavor (I chose vanilla and coconut), Mochi balls, and custard, but I added condensed milk as well. The worker was very nice and I received my shave ice pretty quickly. I loved it! The shave ice was soft, and there was enough syrup. Personally, having both the custard and condensed milk was a little too sweet for me, so I think I will opt for one or the other next time. They had other items on their menu as well (coffee drinks, cream soda, etc.), so I may have to try those next time.
My only complaint is that I wish there were other sizes. My shave ice was huge!
Overall, this place is great! Perfect for the hot weather we’ve had lately! I’ll definitely be back again.

Not many places can surprise you pleasantly from the way it looks on the outside. I have walked past this building so many times and never noticed that the inside hold such wonders of frozen sweets.
If you are hot and walking around downtown you should come into this store and cool off. They have lots of add on to your shaved ice. I would recommend getting the mochi balls and the custard. I would have never expected custard on my shaved ice, but this will really make the hot weather a little more tollerable.

SHAVE ICE. Why did I take so long to come here? I walk by regularly on the way to pick up lunch. I see the delicious pictures in the window, but the outside of the store is a bit deceiving.
Well finally, my coworkers & I decided to make a trip and get our afternoon shave ice fix. But things got busy in the office and we ended up getting done at around 4pm (closing time). We called to check if they were still open and the owner graciously told us that he would stay open for us if we hurried. AWESOME SERVICE. He must have heard the shave ice desperation in our voices.
This stuff is all kinds of craziness in a huge syrofoam cup (which really is meant for holding at least two servings of soup.) I got the COFFEE MONSTER — coffee shave ice, vanilla ice cream, coffee jelly, condensed milk, mochi balls and coffee custard. It was amazing. The ice itself is done right — shaved not crushed (because if you have from Hawaii, you know that this can be done wrong). And the menu — multiple flavors, toppings, and specials; shave ice, smoothies, and snow ice. There is something for everyone to love.
The added bonus of staying open so we could treat ourselves to a break from our crazy work day — extra points! Great service and great shave ice. A must visit!

This Taiwanese shaved ice place is conveniently located nearby Chinatown. The shop is a hole in the wall tucked in the back end of a tiny Asian candy store. I have never been deterred from its clustered décor, narrow walkway, cramped atmosphere, or the frustrations of finding parking nearby. It’s all a rite of passage for the ultimate prize on a super humid day in Honolulu.
My favorite shaved ice is the Taro Lover ($ 5). Forget the idea of sharing, this stuff is so good and refreshing that Santi and I always ordered our own. The large cup is aesthetically filled to the brim with shaved ice, fresh taro cubes, thick creamy taro dressing, and soft mochi balls. The taro flavors are consistently soft with variance of flavors between the textures and a whopping scoop of shaved ice covered in smooth taro cream. The mochi balls are really outstanding too, easy to chewy, flavorful, and the freshness is noticeable.
The lines were not too long in each of my visits, but it does take some time to make decisions on their extensive menu and combinations of flavors. Service is forward and efficient. This is one of my favorite dessert spots in Honolulu. I am such a creature of habit when I come here, but I plan to try their Custard and Azuki flavors on the next visit.

Unilocal 100 Review Challenge 2015: ²⁷⁄₁₀₀
Thanks to my awesome coworkers, I’ve finally experienced AMAZING, CUSTOMIZED «shave ice» if you can even call it that!
The first time I came, I ordered one of their set items. But this time, I got experimental and ordered a customized Shave Ice.
As many Unilocalers have stated, Ice Forest is hidden in the back of a downtown corner, convenience shop. This hidden gem consist of a simple ordering counter that has picture menus plastered along the walls.
Unfortunately, on my second visit, it was closing time and they had run out of Mochi Balls (awww!) so it was VERY kind of the owner to take my order-​they were literally closing up shop! I ordered a Lychee flavored Shave Ice with all 3 types of «Jelly Pops» (my favorite!) and topped with condensed milk.
The shave ice is a bit pricey, ranging from $ 5-​$ 10 easily but it’s totally worth it! They are very generous with their portions, the customer service is amazing, it’s delicious and it’s LOCAL!

When I’m feeling down and need me some happy… I head on over to Ice Forest… I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, their COFFEE JELLY especially with the cold pressed iced coffee… sooooo good. The coffee granitas are a 2 thumbs up too…
Any of their shave ice combos are awesome as well… Coffee Monster and #11 Custard with mochi balls are my faves

Aaaaaah, my 1^st review of 2015. A couple of my friends had mentioned about this place in downtown called Ice Forest, I finally found this place a few months ago, but when I walked into the place on a late Sunday afternoon, I just missed them, as they just had closed.
This afternoon I was working out at the 24 Hour Fitness, and after finishing my workout, I decided to make my way back to Ice Forest to see if they were open…
SCORE! They were still open this afternoon, so I decided to walk in and try their custard!
When I walked into the shop, a nice gentleman greets me & asks me what I wanted to order. I told him it was my 1^st time here, so give me a minute to decide… The gentleman was very helpful, as he suggested #11 (which was very popular) — what is a #11 you say?
The number #11 consisted of — shaved ice, mochi balls, & custard… all of this for ($ 5.76). The clerk also asked me if I wanted some condense milk on top too… but I declined, as I thought it would be too sweet for me.
What can I say about my afternoon treat? I totally LOVED the custard!!! I would come back here to eat the custard again… in fact, I loved the custard so much, I think I would come back here just to try the «Custard Lovers» shave ice next time. The custard was all so creamy & smooth! Yes, it was on the very sweet side… even sweeter than the vanilla syrup used on my shave ice.
If I loved the custard so much, then why the «3» for this place?
Well, aside from the custard… the mochi balls had no taste to it, but it was the perfect item to offset the very sweetness of this shave ice concoction. As for the shave ice… well, shave ice is shave ice. The shave ice was cut fine & smooth, but basically I had to minus a point from them because as I was eating my shaved ice… as I got down ½ way into the cup, there was no syrup on the bottom… only plain ice! (see pic)
Since I had already left the shop, there was no way I was going to go back and ask for more syrup.
May I suggest to the shop owners that when you charge that much for a shave ice, please don’t skimp on the syrup! You could have easily filled ½ the cup with shave ice, poured some syrup… then continued filling the rest of the cup with shaved ice, then pouring more syrup… so the syrup would be evenly distribute within the cup. If it weren’t for that… i would have given them a solid «4».
There is no parking here… so you will have to do the metered street parking, or park at a municipal parking lot. It was Sunday today… so parking was free on the street, and I easily found parking right in front of the shop area.
Overall, not bad… I really loved the custard! But if I was just going for straight shave ice… I think I’d rather go Waiola, Aoki’s, or Matsumoto’s.

I would’ve never known this place existed if not for Unilocal friends. I met Pam and her other half there on Saturday. It’s a little shop on the corner of Alakea and Merchant. You can either street park or find parking near the downtown post office and walk over.
Very friendly service. I ordered something simple just to try them out. Soft finely shaved ice and their syrup was good. I got the strawberry and Li hing flavors. I added lychee balls and they added a mochi ball on there for me. I would order that again and add more mochi balls next time. I wish they’d have li hing powder though. Maybe I’ll suggest that next time.

This place is a hidden gem! Its tucked in the corner of the convenience store on Alakea and Merchant Street. I passed by this store numerous times, and never once noticed Ice Forest.
The worker was very nice and helpful. Being my first time here I was just overwhelmed with all the choices. I just had to make it easier on myself and ask what is the most popular item on the menu. He told me to try #11.
The Grub.
[[ Number 11 — $ 5.50 ]]
This shave ice comes with mochi balls and custard. I decided to get the banana AND lychee flavor with condensed milk :3 NOMZ.
It was so good specially on such a hot day. I definitely have to say the mochi balls, condensed milk and custard taste amazing.
Overall: I wish I found this place sooner. This is a great treat to get on a hot day. I kind of wish they offered smaller sizes. I personally felt like it was too much shave ice just for me to eat. This would be great for sharing with someone ;)

I first learned of Ice Forest: Shave Ice Wonderland when I read Rhea Cherie’s review in May 2014. I thought, «Hmmm…sounds good! I want to go!»
When Sara S. got Review of the Day (ROTD) last month, I thought, «Wow — sounds great — I’d better go!»
When I saw Wes. J.‘s check in, that was the final straw… I thought, «I’m going there now»… and yes… I went and it was all that! So many people had reviewed Ice Forest: Emi, Nadia, Nat, Brian, Renee, Ben, Eric Robert, and Jacob — who also had ROTD for this place! Must be good, right?
I often drive mauka on Alakea Street, so I saw the sign in the window in the past, but didn’t see the door. Finally, I had time before a meeting in Downtown, so I parked for FREE, and as a reward for being early to the meeting, I treated myself to shave ice!
Walking to the corner of Alakea and Merchant, I was confused because there is a convenience store called Alakea Produce Market. Outside, there are cut flowers for sale as well as fresh fruits and veggies. There is a small sign that indicates that the shave ice machine is inside the store.
When you enter, the cashier for the convenience store is on your immediate right. To the left is a counter with 3 stools for your dining pleasure. Walk straight back to the smiling couple. They are so helpful and welcoming that ordering is a breeze. The menu is quite extensive with many variations, flavors, and selections. I chose one of the suggested popular items: Custard Fantasy. YUM! It was too hot for me inside the store, so I took my bowl outside for a walk. We ended up at a bus stop, watching the traffic go by and not letting the exhaust fumes and wind bother us because we were so happy together. Unfortunately, my bowl soon became empty and my tummy wanted more…
Somehow, I ended up back again at Ice Forest. The young gentleman laughed as he recognized me, saying, «We usually get repeat customers after a few hours — not within the hour!» Hahaha! I told him that I knew he was closing soon, and since he was so nice to give me a Loyalty Card, I wanted to make use of it! I laughed, too, and ordered the «Coffee Monster», thinking, «I will not fall asleep in this meeting!!» And yes, the Coffee Monster did the trick and helped me stay alert through all of the committee reports and announcements!
My goal is to go early to my monthly meeting and have 2 shave ice each time: one as my breakfast and the 2^nd as my lunch. Us Night Shift people have strange ways, but it makes sense, right?

FYI. this the same place as Ice Forest: Shave Ice Wonderland. The spelling is different.
I can’t believe that I haven’t been to Ice Forest until today. I live less than 5 minutes away and have driven by this place over a thousand times (literally). I always knew that it was a mom and pop corner shop — selling snacks, drinks, flowers, etc. But I had no idea that tucked inside was shaved ice heaven.
We got a rainbow shaved ice (no extras) for our girls to share– they’re shaved ice purists. My wife and I got the #11 (shaved ice with mochi balls and custard).
The ice is fine, the mochi balls are soft and the custard is silky smooth and creamy. Everything, together, was delicious. And the customer service was exceptional — the man behind the counter (I’m guessing this was the owner) was patient, friendly and helpful. I’ve included a photo of his sign expressing his service motto.
This experience has lead to a re-​structuring of my favorite shaved ice list:
1. Ice Forest
+ great value ($ 3 basic bowl), variety, great texture, NO lines
— limited parking and seating (except on the weekends)
2. Waiola (Ward Warehouse location)
+ exceptional texture, parking, seating, reasonable price, shaded
— limited variety, can be crowded
3. Shimazu
+ excellent value for size ratio, exceptional variety.
— limited parking, limited seating, ZERO shade, cash only

Ice forest, where have you been all my life?! How did I JUST discover you? You may not be my first love, but you will most likely be my last.
PROS:
+Deliciously awesome shave ice, the best I’ve ever had
+Excellent customer service
+Reasonable prices
+Large selection
+Coffee drinks available
CONS:
–Minimal parking available (street)
LOCATION: On the corner of sweet and refreshing, I mean, on the corner of Alakea Street and Merchant Street. Find street parking where you can, stalls are metered. Ice Forest is located in a convenience store but you won’t miss the gray building with the posters and pictures of shave ice on the door.
SHAVE ICE: Very fine and flavorful, many flavors to choose from. You can order from their menu or customize your own cup/​bowl.
TOPPINGS/​EXTRAS: Did someone say «mochi balls?!» They have a lot of those here and the mochi balls are huge! I was pleasantly surprised when I got my shave ice because they do not skimp on mochi at all! The custard… oh my! Well I prefer calling it «flan» but whatever you call it, just know that it’s amazing and it’s a pretty large portion too! They also offer coffee flan for you coffee lovers and yes, of course they have ice cream available for your shave ice!
CUSTOMER SERVICE: The very best! Ice Forest has excellent customer service. They aim for satisfaction so if your shave ice is too sweet, tell them and they’ll add more ice or if it’s not sweet enough, they’ll be glad to add more syrup for you.
PRICE: Very reasonable. Their prices are a little lower than other shave ice shops in town and you get a pretty large serving.
My only regret is not knowing about Ice Forest sooner but hey, summer is practically here so the timing couldn’t have been better. I will definitely become an Ice Forest regular. If you haven’t been here, you’re missing out!