One measure of popularity in Oahu are the annual awards for “Best of” in the Honolulu Advertiser. Readers submit their favorites in various categories, including shave ice. Once upon a time, Ice Gardens in Aiea topped that list. 2006 is pretty recent, but I’m really beginning to wonder … what the heck are people thinking? – CF
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- Well know for its mochi balls and azuki.
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- Popular flavors, which can be mixed with mochi balls, azuke or ice cream.
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- The Advertiser’s Best of 2006
In the defense of Ice Gardens, most things are subjective and such impressions are formed to a great extent by the things you’re exposed to, grow up with, and to which you’ve become accustomed. That said, I understand how people like azuki, and, short of being allergic to dairy, ice cream is hard not to like. Ice Gardens has all that — azuki being particularly old school Japanese – and also mochi balls. The mochi balls, like boba, are a fun distraction from the usual, but they shouldn’t be there to cover up for bad shave ice.
Our impression is that the nice ladies at Ice Garden aren’t working hard enough on their shave ice. It’s slopped into a bowl, unpacked, with syrup splashed over it. Azuki, mochi balls and ice cream are similarly added to the mixture. Attention to detail seems lacking. We’re fans of lightly packed, finely shaved ice in cones, but here the ice is medium coarse, and not packed — just shaved and dumped into styrofoam bowls, which makes for less work. Syrup choices are limited, and what there is is sugary. The ants seem to like it, though.
Parking is available in the small shopping mall/professional building that also houses Koa Pancake House, next to McDonalds.
Rating: 2 Cones
Ice Gardens Aiea Shopping Center 99-080 Kauhale St
