“We’re not your tūtū’s shave ice,” says Bill Tobin, owner of recently opened SinIceStir — pronounced “sinister” — Shave Ice. “We worked really hard to curate the (shave ice) flavors for you, so you don’t have to worry about what you’re picking.”
The biz is designed to be what Tobin calls “third wave shave ice.”
“A lot of products go through different waves,” he explains. “We think of the first wave of shave ice with Matsumoto’s and Waiola Shave Ice. The second wave would be Ululani’s and Island Vintage. But nobody’s going with a rotating menu — a curated menu of flavors.
“We have chefs who created (shave ice) flavors that go together, so people aren’t picking flavors they end up not liking,” Tobin adds. “They’re curated flavors and specifically have been made so when you get to the bottom, it’s going to be delicious.”
The shop soft-opened on Jan. 10 in Waikīkī and its grand opening is expected to be in a few weeks.
The shop is different in that it features four classic flavors that are available year-round, along with four rotating flavors that will change each month, according to Tobin.
“Chef Ronnie (Nasuti) from Tiki’s Grill & Bar was working together with us to create these flavors,” says Tobin.
SinIceStir is leasing the spot from The Twin Fin Hotel, according to Tobin, who explains the business’s name is inspired by the “dual personality” concept.
“(Originally) we wanted to do a bar that maybe had shave ice,” he says. “We created this dual personality — naughty and nice — and we thought, ‘This works for shave ice alone.’
“We’re a little bit mischievous, but not anything that’s evil,” he adds. “It’s just to have fun.”
All desserts start with fluffy layers of shave ice over a soft serve ice cream base. Vanilla is currently featured, but other soft serve flavors are in the works.
Of the shop’s permanent flavors, the Shark Bait ($10) has been the most popular. It’s SinIceStir’s version of the classic rainbow shave ice, and features blue vanilla, lilikoʻi and strawberry syrups with mochi balls, condensed milk drizzle and two gummy sharks on top.
All syrups are housemade, according to Tobin, who says that Adult Supervision ($10) — a seasonal flavor with Fruit Loop and lavender honey syrups, topped with Fruit Loops, condensed milk and mochi balls — is another popular order and his personal favorite.
“It’s made from actual Fruit Loops and the flavor comes through; it’s fantastic,” he says.
If you want something unique, go for the Blackout ($10), a combo of white chocolate seaweed and black sesame syrups topped with condensed milk, furikake and mochi balls. It’s sure to satisfy adventurous eaters who prefer savory flavors.
“We worked really hard on making the best-tasting flavors possible,” Tobin says.
The shop is currently open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
CONTACT
SinIceStir Shave Ice
2570 Kalākaua Ave., Honolulu
Instagram: @sinicestir
Open daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
