Welcome to Pau Hana Shave Ice
At Pau Hana Shave Ice, located in the vibrant Japantown of San Jose, we celebrate the art of Hawaiian-style shave ice. Founded by Sam, a passionate owner dedicated to crafting delightful frozen treats, our offerings are renowned for their incredibly soft texture and rich flavors. Guests can choose from an eclectic array of toppings, like ice cream, fresh mochi, and unique syrups, ensuring every visit is a new experience. With a warm ambiance and attentive service, Pau Hana invites you to escape the everyday and savor a taste of paradise, whether it's a hot day or a chilly winter evening. Come indulge with us!
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248 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112 Hotline:
Welcome to Pau Hana Shave Ice, an exquisite gem nestled in the heart of J-Town in San Jose, CA. Located at 248 Jackson St, this delightful little shop brings the flavors of Hawaii to the Bay Area, serving up some of the best shaved ice you'll find anywhere. If you're a fan of refreshing treats that transport your taste buds to tropical shores, look no further!
Pau Hana Shave Ice specializes in creating an authentic Hawaiian experience with their incredibly fine and fluffy shaved ice. The ice is so soft it melts in your mouth, allowing you to savor the vibrant flavors without the crunch. Their menu boasts a variety of enticing flavors including Watermelon, Passion Fruit, Cherry, and the unique Halo Halo, along with specialties like Horchata.
To elevate your shaved ice experience, choose from delightful toppings such as Fruit Jelly and Gummy Bears, or indulge in a scoop of their rich Vanilla Ice Cream or creamy Ube Ice Cream. Customers rave about the mochi — so soft and chewy that it complements the texture of the shaved ice perfectly!
The atmosphere at Pau Hana is just as inviting as the menu. Owners like Sam aim to make everyone feel like family, sharing in genuine conversations while crafting your perfect treat. Patrons have found the staff, with their friendly demeanor and dedication to service, refreshing in today’s fast-paced world. As one satisfied customer noted, “Sam treated us like old family friends.”
Whether you're seeking a sweet escape on a hot day or a cozy treat to indulge in with friends and family, Pau Hana Shave Ice offers just the right ambiance. With a cozy indoor setup and outdoor seating perfect for indulging in your shaved ice against the sun's glow, you’ll feel the warmth of both the environment and the welcoming staff.
- Must-Try Flavors: Watermelon, Passion Fruit, Halo Halo
- Toppings: Fruit Jelly, Gummy Bears, Vanilla Ice Cream, Ube Ice Cream
- Specials: Horchata flavor
For anyone in San Jose, Pau Hana Shave Ice is a can't-miss destination. With its dedication to crafting unforgettable flavors and creating a warm, friendly atmosphere, it's no wonder why it's become a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. Come in, enjoy a scoop or two, and immerse yourself in the island vibes that Pau Hana so genuinely offers.
The sno cones are amazing such good flavor and the mahi powder is so good on top plus they have great service and ambiance is amazing overall 10 out of 10 on this place!!!!
This was the perfect way to end our day. We stumbled upon this place by chance since we were already in the area. Despite the chilly weather, my small family and I decided to come in because I'm a huge fan of shaved ice. This place is absolutely fantastic! It's even better than the shaved ice I had in Hawaii. The owner, Sam, was incredibly friendly and made our shaved ice with genuine care. We sat inside and had a delightful conversation with him about shaved ice and the progress of his business. Sam was so kind and generous that he even offered my son some chocolate treats while we were chatting. He treated us like an old family friend. You don't get that much these days . This experience was truly pleasant, and I'm already planning to visit again whenever we're in the area. Please give this place a try and support a small business. Sam is incredibly dedicated to his craft; he gets to do what he loves the most!
The shaved ice here is sooo good on a hot day. When I went there was a decent amount of wait but the workers are so nice and work efficiently. The inside is very small as it is in Japantown in San Jose. There is seating outside tho. The halo halo shaved ice was my favorite with all the different toppings which really catered to my taste texture wise. The ice cream on the shaved ice was also so great and helped fully enhance the dessert.
~ SOFTEST ICE ~ MUST TRY. Their shaved ice is soo soft and "not too sweet". I really like their mango flavor. The service is super nice and makes you feel like family. There are some outdoor seating in front of the store and around the area.
We each ordered a special and honestly could have easily shared one! Tried the halo halo and dole whip. Lots of flavors to try another time. The person who took the order was chill. There's a small waiting area and a couple picnic tables outside which were both full. Nice for a casual stop by when you're in the mood for sweets.
I am no expert on things Hawaiian, but the shaved ice (or rather, shave ice) at Pau Hana is the best I've ever had. I was reminded of this when I was back in San Jose visiting family & went to J-Town to pick up a few foodstuffs that I could take home to Colorado with me, and Pau Hana happened to be open. I couldn't resist going in, even though it is winter and arguably not shaved ice weather. What I love most - the ice is shaved so finely that it just melts in your mouth, so you can enjoy whatever flavors you got without crunching on ice. I also love the availability of Asian flavors I don't get to see much in Colorado. Oh and the variety of toppings! But truth be told, I find I get decision fatigue so I usually go with one of their specials, halo halo being my favorite. This time around they were out of ube ice cream (oh, no!) but I learned that they now have pandan ice cream so I tried that - just as yummy! While Pau Hana is not an OG J-Town institution that I remember from my childhood they are a great fit for the neighborhood character. I'll be sure to visit no matter the weather when I am in town.
Pau Hana is definitely one of the best in the Bay for Hawaiian shave ice! Other than Ululani's in Livermore, Pau Hana is great and local for those living in the South Bay. They have so many flavors that it's honestly hard to decide what to get since you want to try them all. I got 3 different kinds and split them amongst my family. Our overall favorite was their take on halo halo but nonetheless, all of them were great. I really like the texture of the ice and their mochi is extremely soft and chewy so I highly recommend as a topping
Small lychee/ passionfruit! Wow it's so good, better than Ululani's- not too sweet, and isn't overly saturated with the syrup. Will come back if we're in the area!
Craving some shave ice just like your get in Hawaii? Look no further. The line out to door told us we had arrived to the right place. The line moved quickly and from order to ice in hand was barely a wait at all. I made my own (coconut ice cream bottom, calamansi and mango with mocha and condensed cream on top. DELISH! There's tables and a bench outside so you can finished it before it melts.
The closest thing to having shaved ice in Hawaii! The ice is so soft & the flavors are perfect & not too sweet. The staff is very friendly, I believe the owner is the one who took our order & we forgot to add gummy bears to my daughters ice cream order & he gladly added it on for us -- so we really appreciated that. We ordered a large shaved ice with condensed milk on top, a regular shaved iced with condensed milk & a scoop of ube ice cream on the side for a little less than $20. We loved it & it was the perfect sweet treat on a hot day. We'll definitely be back!