Came here on a recommendation. Not only was the shaved ice delicious but the owner is super nice. Very family friendly. Will definitely be back the next time we're in the area.
First timer. I dont have a sweet tooth. Had shaved ice in socal and this place simply delicious melt. Had the halo halo and shaved ice cream with vanillla. Usually dont have any sweet food but these are just right. Not too sweet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tamara Kleiman
Had a great interaction with the man behind the counter. He was incredibly nice and shared his love for shaved ice with us.We got to try the pineapple, watermelon and something that tasted a lot like grapefruit.The texture was not at all what we expected, it was way better!Will definitely come back for some.mpew watermelon shaved ice, I may even try some new interesting flavors :)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Y.
Pau Hana is the only place that serves Hawaiian Shave Ice in the area, and I'm so glad they're here! Located in Japantown in San Jose, Pau Hana offers incredibly soft and fluffy shave ice due to its fine texture. SO much better than that hard, crunchy-type of shaved ice that other places have. They have a wide variety of flavors, toppings, and ice cream, so you can really customize it to your liking. They also offer specialties like halo halo, Dole whip, and even a mangonada!No seating inside, but they do have a couple of tables outside. The shave ice comes in a nice handheld container, so you can always walk around while enjoying your refreshing dessert!
Linh D.
My bf and I absolutely LOVE this place. I've been holding out on this review because we keep coming back to try new flavors haha.First off, the shaved ice itself is so incredibly soft and fluffy. I abhor shaved ice that is crushed and course, so this is perfection. Additionally, they have complementary li hing mui powder and tajin which you can choose to top off your shaved ice. My bf and I are obsessed with the li hing mui powder. It's a nice sweet and salty addition to the shaved ice.Our top flavor is hands down lychee! Passionfruit and melona are honorable mentions for me.We've also tried dragonfruit and li hing mui which I wouldn't mind getting again, but they aren't my top choices. Mango and POG were meh, and green apple was a definite no for us.I will say that I've noticed that maybe they've been gradually skimping on the syrup over the times that we've gone but go ahead and let them know so they can add more to it. We will still be coming back as usual to try out a couple of more flavors and would love to try their specialty shaved ice someday.
Vicky L.
The texture of the ice is pretty much on par to the shave ice in Hawaii. It's smooth and hella fine. They offer a wide array of flavaflavs such as strawberry, pineapple, lychee and root beer. And unique flavaflavs like dragonfruit, calamansi and melona! You can add ice cream and top it off with fresh mochi, boba and more! For the specialities, they have halo-halo, mangonada, dole whip, and horchata. Prices are reasonable $6 for a small and $7 for a regular. Specialities are $10. My coworkers and I came here after a convention on a Friday night and it wasn't busy at all. I ordered a small POG with fresh mochi. My coworkers ordered a horchata and a dole whip from the specials. The employees were quick in whipping up the goods. The small is enough for 2 people to share and the regular is enough for 3 to 4 people to share. The POG shave ice was 10/10 yumworthy. Passion fruit, orange and guava all shined through and once it was melted it turned into a nice drink. The fresh mochi on the other hand, wasn't that great. The texture wasn't consistent and it didn't taste fresh. I didn't want to finish them because I didn't like the texture. Anyways, I sampled the dole whip and the horchata and they were both good and flavorful.The shop is small and there's limited seating inside, however, they do have benches outside. The employees were nice and they even let my coworker use their restroom. Overall, good shave ice and good customer service. Street parking only and limited seating. I would definitely come back here if I'm in the area. Check out Pau Hana if you want some smoove shave ice!
Lawrence H.
MENU AND FOOD: Pua Hana offers Hawaiian shaved ice along with halo halo, dole whip and ice cream in San Jose's Japantown. SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE: Service is quick and efficient. They indoor decor is plain and simple. They have a two outdoor tables.PARKING: Located in Japantown, they have street parking.IMPRESSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: We've come here several times for their small shaved ice, enough for two to share. The syrups are good and flavorful. We also add haupia ice cream as the base, which offers an extra creamy and smooth texture. It definitely reminds me of what we've had in Hawaii, so we'll be back!
Alex S.
Even on a cold Fall day, Pau Hana was the perfect treat! The ice is smooth and light, just as you'd find in Hawaii. The flavors are delicious (our favorite was lychee) and the syrup goes throughout the ice without being excessive. The mochi is delicious and homemade, though we wish the pieces were a bit smaller so we could enjoy more bites with mochi and have a decreased fear they'd fall off the top. The portions are huge, and a small cup ends up being much bigger than expected! Toppings like condensed milk, mochi, boba, and red bean cost extra, but there is free li hing mui powder and tajin at the pickup window. The prices are decent and the staff is friendly. I'd definitely return to Pau Hana!
Heather I.
I am a pretty picky shave ice person. I do have fam in Hawaii...so maybe that's why? The ice has to be extra fine and full of flavor. Pau Hana does not disappoint! I ordered the lychee mango shave ice with ice cream and condensed milk. Always get the condensed milk! It makes the shave ice extra flavorful. The shop has a bunch of Hawaiian decor all around and there is some outdoor seating. This place ALWAYS has customers whenever I walk by. They have the nicest workers there too. I highly recommend Pau Hana Shave Ice!
Eric N.
Dare I say this is the best shaved ice around the area? Possibly even better than the famed ones in Hawaii?! You better believe it!We went simple, small Lychee and Mango with fresh mochi. Flavor was pretty much standard, but what stood out was the TEXTURE of the shaved ice. It was extremely soft to the touch of both your spoon and tongue!! Most shaved ice places have a feint spiky texture when eating, but not this one! It was like a cross between ice and snow texture.Only one bench inside, but there were a couple tables outside the shop to enjoy the dessert. Service was very attentive and friendly, and though it did take a while to get our order, you can tell it was made with love.Come check it out before the winter season hits!!
My friend introduced us to this Hawaiian shaved ice that closely resembles Hawaii's famous shaved ice stores and we came out feeling satisfied during a super hot day!We ordered their popular halo halo, which def hit the spot since halo halo is a special flavor. The ube ice cream always adds as a cherry on top and this one went well with the shaved ice. We also decided to try the dole whip, and it tasted a bit too artificial for me, but of course that's how shaved ice is made. It was def worth a try since I'm a big dole whip fan! We also got the passion fruit/coconut flavor which was my second favorite after the halo halo since you can never go wrong with a sweet and sour taste. This place is truly a hidden gem, and I finally know where to go whenever I'm missing the shaved ice vibes from Hawaii.
Eva C.
Came here in the afternoon. This place no has indoor seating, but they do have some picnic tables outside. There was no line at all and the employee was able to take our order immediately.Ordered a small shaved ice w/ P.O.G & Mango with Mochi Topping. The mochi topping costs extra but it was worth it. The shave ice and the syrup is honestly not that special but I do like the presentation of it.
Alisa B.
So good! The ice was surprisingly soft and not too crunchy like other Hawaiian shaved ice. I especially loved the flavors we chose! They didn't tasted overly sweet or artificial. No syrupy aftertaste. I definitely recommend the Tiger's Blood and P.O.G. flavors. Very refreshing!!GET THE MOCHI! This is apparently made fresh in-house and I enjoyed the texture. It added a contrasting chewiness to the shave iced. I wish they gave us more for $1 though. I think a downside for me was the mango ice cream. It wasn't particularly good and distracted from the shaved ice. Skip this. Maybe the coconut ice cream or the dole whip is better?
Crystal VDM
Good shaved ice..the base(standard/basic) is 5.99 regular size and 6.99 for large with two choices of flavor. Then the final price will add up if you want some toppings, etc. The place is small, and there are two picnic style tables outside which can accommodate 6 moderate size adults per table. Otherwise, there are also couple of tables in front of Nijiya.
Came here on a recommendation. Not only was the shaved ice delicious but the owner is super nice. Very family friendly. Will definitely be back the next time we're in the area.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Strawberry, Dole Whip Shave Ice, Regular Shaved Ice
First timer. I dont have a sweet tooth. Had shaved ice in socal and this place simply delicious melt. Had the halo halo and shaved ice cream with vanillla. Usually dont have any sweet food but these are just right. Not too sweet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a great interaction with the man behind the counter. He was incredibly nice and shared his love for shaved ice with us.We got to try the pineapple, watermelon and something that tasted a lot like grapefruit.The texture was not at all what we expected, it was way better!Will definitely come back for some.mpew watermelon shaved ice, I may even try some new interesting flavors :)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pau Hana is the only place that serves Hawaiian Shave Ice in the area, and I'm so glad they're here! Located in Japantown in San Jose, Pau Hana offers incredibly soft and fluffy shave ice due to its fine texture. SO much better than that hard, crunchy-type of shaved ice that other places have. They have a wide variety of flavors, toppings, and ice cream, so you can really customize it to your liking. They also offer specialties like halo halo, Dole whip, and even a mangonada!No seating inside, but they do have a couple of tables outside. The shave ice comes in a nice handheld container, so you can always walk around while enjoying your refreshing dessert!
My bf and I absolutely LOVE this place. I've been holding out on this review because we keep coming back to try new flavors haha.First off, the shaved ice itself is so incredibly soft and fluffy. I abhor shaved ice that is crushed and course, so this is perfection. Additionally, they have complementary li hing mui powder and tajin which you can choose to top off your shaved ice. My bf and I are obsessed with the li hing mui powder. It's a nice sweet and salty addition to the shaved ice.Our top flavor is hands down lychee! Passionfruit and melona are honorable mentions for me.We've also tried dragonfruit and li hing mui which I wouldn't mind getting again, but they aren't my top choices. Mango and POG were meh, and green apple was a definite no for us.I will say that I've noticed that maybe they've been gradually skimping on the syrup over the times that we've gone but go ahead and let them know so they can add more to it. We will still be coming back as usual to try out a couple of more flavors and would love to try their specialty shaved ice someday.
The texture of the ice is pretty much on par to the shave ice in Hawaii. It's smooth and hella fine. They offer a wide array of flavaflavs such as strawberry, pineapple, lychee and root beer. And unique flavaflavs like dragonfruit, calamansi and melona! You can add ice cream and top it off with fresh mochi, boba and more! For the specialities, they have halo-halo, mangonada, dole whip, and horchata. Prices are reasonable $6 for a small and $7 for a regular. Specialities are $10. My coworkers and I came here after a convention on a Friday night and it wasn't busy at all. I ordered a small POG with fresh mochi. My coworkers ordered a horchata and a dole whip from the specials. The employees were quick in whipping up the goods. The small is enough for 2 people to share and the regular is enough for 3 to 4 people to share. The POG shave ice was 10/10 yumworthy. Passion fruit, orange and guava all shined through and once it was melted it turned into a nice drink. The fresh mochi on the other hand, wasn't that great. The texture wasn't consistent and it didn't taste fresh. I didn't want to finish them because I didn't like the texture. Anyways, I sampled the dole whip and the horchata and they were both good and flavorful.The shop is small and there's limited seating inside, however, they do have benches outside. The employees were nice and they even let my coworker use their restroom. Overall, good shave ice and good customer service. Street parking only and limited seating. I would definitely come back here if I'm in the area. Check out Pau Hana if you want some smoove shave ice!
MENU AND FOOD: Pua Hana offers Hawaiian shaved ice along with halo halo, dole whip and ice cream in San Jose's Japantown. SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE: Service is quick and efficient. They indoor decor is plain and simple. They have a two outdoor tables.PARKING: Located in Japantown, they have street parking.IMPRESSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: We've come here several times for their small shaved ice, enough for two to share. The syrups are good and flavorful. We also add haupia ice cream as the base, which offers an extra creamy and smooth texture. It definitely reminds me of what we've had in Hawaii, so we'll be back!
Even on a cold Fall day, Pau Hana was the perfect treat! The ice is smooth and light, just as you'd find in Hawaii. The flavors are delicious (our favorite was lychee) and the syrup goes throughout the ice without being excessive. The mochi is delicious and homemade, though we wish the pieces were a bit smaller so we could enjoy more bites with mochi and have a decreased fear they'd fall off the top. The portions are huge, and a small cup ends up being much bigger than expected! Toppings like condensed milk, mochi, boba, and red bean cost extra, but there is free li hing mui powder and tajin at the pickup window. The prices are decent and the staff is friendly. I'd definitely return to Pau Hana!
I am a pretty picky shave ice person. I do have fam in Hawaii...so maybe that's why? The ice has to be extra fine and full of flavor. Pau Hana does not disappoint! I ordered the lychee mango shave ice with ice cream and condensed milk. Always get the condensed milk! It makes the shave ice extra flavorful. The shop has a bunch of Hawaiian decor all around and there is some outdoor seating. This place ALWAYS has customers whenever I walk by. They have the nicest workers there too. I highly recommend Pau Hana Shave Ice!
Dare I say this is the best shaved ice around the area? Possibly even better than the famed ones in Hawaii?! You better believe it!We went simple, small Lychee and Mango with fresh mochi. Flavor was pretty much standard, but what stood out was the TEXTURE of the shaved ice. It was extremely soft to the touch of both your spoon and tongue!! Most shaved ice places have a feint spiky texture when eating, but not this one! It was like a cross between ice and snow texture.Only one bench inside, but there were a couple tables outside the shop to enjoy the dessert. Service was very attentive and friendly, and though it did take a while to get our order, you can tell it was made with love.Come check it out before the winter season hits!!
Restaurantji Recommends
My friend introduced us to this Hawaiian shaved ice that closely resembles Hawaii's famous shaved ice stores and we came out feeling satisfied during a super hot day!We ordered their popular halo halo, which def hit the spot since halo halo is a special flavor. The ube ice cream always adds as a cherry on top and this one went well with the shaved ice. We also decided to try the dole whip, and it tasted a bit too artificial for me, but of course that's how shaved ice is made. It was def worth a try since I'm a big dole whip fan! We also got the passion fruit/coconut flavor which was my second favorite after the halo halo since you can never go wrong with a sweet and sour taste. This place is truly a hidden gem, and I finally know where to go whenever I'm missing the shaved ice vibes from Hawaii.
Came here in the afternoon. This place no has indoor seating, but they do have some picnic tables outside. There was no line at all and the employee was able to take our order immediately.Ordered a small shaved ice w/ P.O.G & Mango with Mochi Topping. The mochi topping costs extra but it was worth it. The shave ice and the syrup is honestly not that special but I do like the presentation of it.
So good! The ice was surprisingly soft and not too crunchy like other Hawaiian shaved ice. I especially loved the flavors we chose! They didn't tasted overly sweet or artificial. No syrupy aftertaste. I definitely recommend the Tiger's Blood and P.O.G. flavors. Very refreshing!!GET THE MOCHI! This is apparently made fresh in-house and I enjoyed the texture. It added a contrasting chewiness to the shave iced. I wish they gave us more for $1 though. I think a downside for me was the mango ice cream. It wasn't particularly good and distracted from the shaved ice. Skip this. Maybe the coconut ice cream or the dole whip is better?
Good shaved ice..the base(standard/basic) is 5.99 regular size and 6.99 for large with two choices of flavor. Then the final price will add up if you want some toppings, etc. The place is small, and there are two picnic style tables outside which can accommodate 6 moderate size adults per table. Otherwise, there are also couple of tables in front of Nijiya.
Pretty little place in Japan Town