Shave ice is coming soon to Asatos Waikīkī.
Reservations are now open for the Waikīkī shop’s new “Flavor Lab” shave ice experience. The first day for this dessert omakase tasting experience ($58) is Wednesday, Jan. 14, with two seatings at 2 and 4 p.m. It’s only available at Asatos Waikīkī, which opened in late November.
The tasting menu will include small bites, local “crack seed,” Asatos Waikīkī’s housemade soda lab program, and shave ice, according to its website. Reservations can be made online; the experience is designed to take one hour.
The shop’s new shave ice dessert will only be available as part of this tasting experience (not a la carte, like the shop’s sherbet scoops), according to business owner Neale Asato.
“We’ll probably have three different kakigori you can choose from,” says Asato, who explains the elevated shave ice experience is inspired by Japanese-style kakigori, a traditional dessert known for its soft, snow-like texture.
The fluffy shave ice is made using a machine from Japan. Customers can look forward to a rotating selection of flavors, including li hing strawberry lemon crunch, “hot cocoa” and crème brulee.
Li hing strawberry lemon crunch is sure to be a local favorite. Fluffy layers of shave ice are combined with li hing float sauce, li hing strawberry powder, housemade cake, housemade whipped cream and crunch topping.
“It’s housemade whipped cream, but it’s not super sweet,” Asato says.
During our preview last month, “hot cocoa” featured a torched marshmallow topping with peppermint chocolate syrup, but the peppermint was a seasonal flavor.
The crème brulee shave ice consists of burnt caramel syrup, housemade custard and that signature, caramelized topping.
Sauces for the shave ice will be served on the side so customers can customize their desserts by adding more, according to Asato.
Customers can also look forward to trying craft sodas in flavors like rock salt plum. The sodas will feature the business’s housemade carbonated water.
CONTACT
Asatos Waikīkī
Inside Kings & Queens at Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa
2424 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu
asatos.com
Instagram: @asatoswaikiki
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
