Oahu

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Matsumoto’s

More Photos
Traveler707
Traveler707
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
4
Reviews
7
Photos
Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-4 of 4
Editor Pick

Matsumoto Shave Ice

Matsumoto Shave Ice

“I must have shave ice before leaving this island,” my husband announced. He had waited for over a year to get his hands on some of Hawaii’s most popular frozen treats. Last year, he stood in line for over 20 minutes at the Hana Taro Festival, only to find that the line did not move. So this year, he would fulfill his destiny of consuming shave ice on Oahu.

When asked, most locals will tell you that Matsumoto’s is the best place to go for shave ice. This small, weather-beaten store near the north shore of Oahu, in Haleiwa, does not provide tables and chairs to enjoy your treat. Only benches line either side of the front door.

The small parking lot to the left of the store filled up quickly, so we pulled over at the side of the road across the street. Make sure you take the pedestrian crosswalk or else you could find yourself trying to negotiate the busy traffic heading to and from the north shore.

We entered Matsumoto’s, where we bought a plastic shave ice holder. Typically, stores sell shave ice in a paper cone, which deteriorates and leaks during consumption. So the plastic holders allow you to enjoy the delicacy at your leisure. The catch? Each plastic holder costs an additional $0.25.

Matsumoto’s sells two sizes of shave ice. The small size sells for $1.50 while the large costs and additional $0.25. My husband ordered a large shave ice with half lilikoi (passion fruit) and half mango flavor. Resembling a packed snowball, this glowing yellow concoction refreshed us on a hot afternoon. With a straw dug deep to pick up the melted liquid and a spoon, we ate the shave ice within minutes. One of our friends added azuki (red) beans. Others around us added soft serve ice cream to the bottom of their shave ice.

When I asked our good friend, Yolanda, who hails from Oahu, why Matsumoto’s is so special, she answered that the store was once the only location along the road to and from the north shore where one could get shave ice. And you couldn’t drive all the way out to the north shore without stopping here. Matsumoto’s has history and epitomizes the Hawaiian local store experience.

After we piled back into the car, my husband turned to me and remarked, “I’m ready for another serving.” To his great fortune, Matsumoto’s would be the first of three chances to enjoy shave ice. Now, that’s the way to vacation in Oahu.

From journal A Haole Hanging in Oahu...With Locals

Editor Pick

Matsumoto’s

Matsumoto’s

On a hot, Hawaiian summer day, what could be better than a huge cone of ice, doused with fresh fruit juices and syrups, topped with vanilla ice cream and red azuki beans? To satisfy these cravings, look no further than the excellent Matsumoto's Shave Ice stand, a small, unimposing building on the Kamehameha Highway in downtown Hale'Iwa, on Oahu's North Shore.

Matsumoto's is well-known around the island for its excellent shave ice (snow cones). Locals are known to drive the hour from Honolulu just to enjoy a shave ice, then drive back. It's really that good. The lineup was long when I visited on a busy Monday afternoon in early February. The sun was hot and people were thirsty. Behind the counter, 5 or 6 Hawaiian females hurriedly hand-shave the ice into perfect spheres, pop them into cones, and liberally pour the flavor syrup (you get to choose three). Toppings are optional.

I ordered the delicious lilikoi (passion fruit), along with coconut cream and piña colada. While the latter two were mass-produced syrups, overly sweet but still tasty, the lilikoi was actual juice - not to sweet, and much less syrupy than the other flavors. It was simply delicious, and a bargain at only $1.50. I passed on the toppings, which looked good (although I've never tasted an azuki bean). A shave ice with everything costs around $2.50. Toppings are a bit of a misnomer, though, as they are added to the bottom of the cone, with the shave ice on top of them!

Try one of these and you'll instantly be hooked - it simply is the best quality snow cone you'll ever have, and it is a uniquely Hawaiian treat. The stand is within walking distance of beautiful Hale'iwa Beach Park, so buy a cone or two and head over for some relaxing on the sand. The store also sells beach mats, water, and souvenirs for those interested. Light snacks are also available.

To get to Matsumoto's, take the Kamehameha Highway from Honolulu north across the island. It's on your left hand side heading north from Honolulu, right in the center of beautiful Hale'iwa.

Visit Matsumoto's online at: www.matsumotoshaveice.com

From journal Oahu - The Heart of Hawaii

Editor Pick

Matsamoto's Grocery Store

  • April 16, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Katie Morgan from San Antonio, Texas
Matsamoto's Grocery Store

So what's the deal with shave ice? It isn't a snow cone, though from a distance you might think so. And yes, even the locals here drive to Matsamoto's on the North Shore for shave ice. I prefer mine over ice cream, but the bean option seems like a good choice too. Unlike "poi".

So it goes like this: say "yes" to the drive to Hale'iwa and Matsamoto's for shave ice and "no" to poi!!

Hale'iwa has several other options for shave ice. One store features special cream-style toppings. Another a good subsitute.

Shave ice is just what it says. Instead of the ice being finely crushed, it is shaved with a sharp blade. The sharper the better and Matsamoto's is the sharpest blade on the island. It's well worth the up-to-forty-minute wait on a hot summer's day when the line wraps its way down the street.

Winter Ice - when it is 80 and still technically winter elsewhere in the universe - is the best. No line. No wait.

Be sure to pick up the plastic container on the shelf on your way in. For the extra 25 cents, you can keep your shave ice from dripping. While the chicken's free-ranging in the parking lot, along with lazy cats napping in the sun, it's a great atmosphere, but the abundance of bees hanging at the trash cans to feast is not.

Bonus: Adam Sandler fans can gaze upon his photo on the wall from his days here filming 50 First Dates.

Matsamoto's Shave Ice - it don't get "mo bettah."

From journal Life in Paradise

Matsumoto’s

  • March 10, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Traveler707 from SONOMA, California
Shave ice (note that there's no "d" on the "shave") is a really wonderful delight. The ice is actually shaved off a big block right in front of you into a fine powder, so it's easy to eat. Then it's topped with any one of countless exotic tropical fruit flavors, and sometimes questionable ones like root beer and bubblegum. Children tend to be partial to rainbow shave ice, usually a combination of strawberry, orange, and vanilla (blue) or three other colorful flavors. This is definitely NOT a snow cone. This is much, much better and totally worth the journey.

You should try the shave ice on top of ice cream - really delicious. If you are adventurous, you can also get it with beans, which sounds strange, but they are sweet adzuki beans. At least one your group should get the beans so you can try them.

It's a good road trip. To head over there, you can go through the pineapple fields and, of course, see the famous North Shore beaches after you finish your shave ice. It has to be good, because Tom Hanks has gotten shave ice here!

From journal Oahu Mahalo Nui Loa

Sort by: Most Recent|Positive|Negative|Most Useful
1-4 of 4

Compare Oahu Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Oahu Travel Deals