Summer arrived in Hong Kong silently – everybody is baking in the sun and feeling the heat. We could see people wearing shorts and sleeveless tops whenever they go out, hoping to feel cooler under such horrendous heat. Apart from wearing shorts, there are also other ways to make you feel cool for the summer. Enjoying shaved ice is surely one of the best of them – it is one of the sweetest delights you could ever have.

In Hong Kong, we could see the surge in number of shaved ice shops due to its rise in popularity. You could see shaved ice shops all lining up in Causeway Bay – there are lots of choices for those craving for something cool and sweet. There is a wide range of shaved ice, and we are here to introduce some of the best in town.

Japanese – Shari Shari Kakigori House

Shari Shari Kakigori House is one of the most famous shaved ice restaurants in Hong Kong. It is popular for its vast variety of flavours. Apart from the 10 all-time favourites on the menu, the shop introduces special flavours for a limited period. One of the most popular choices is Matcha Cream Special, which goes well with the cream on top. Shari Shari’s is also known for having something crunchy in its shaved ice. In the Matcha Cream Special, you can find tiny bits of digestive biscuits. Although each serving is slightly pricey, costing around HK$90 to HK$100, its delicate taste is surely worth it.

Location: Shari Shari, G/F, 13 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Contact details: 25291223

Korean – Nun Dessert Café

Located in Mong Kok, Nun Dessert Café is another popular choice of shaved ice in town. It is great place to reminisce your trip to South Korea as there are always hits playing, and you could see posters of artists occasionally. The most iconic dish here is the Honeydew Melon Sherbet, which has a rich milky flavour that matches the freshness of the honeydew melon. Coupled with the melon ice cream on top, the freshness of the melon will mesmerise you. Apart from shaved ice, you could also try out other desserts there, including smoothies and toasts. These desserts will surprise you!

Location: Nun Dessert Café,G/F, 119 Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui

Contact details: 57912141

Taiwanese – Meet Fresh

Since 2019, Meet Fresh has become one of the most popular shaved ice shops in Hong Kong. You could see flocks of people lining up outside its flagship store in Causeway Bay, waiting to try out their famous item, Red Bean Shaved Ice. The shaved ice here is claimed to be one of the most Instagrammable shaved ice in town. It has a tall, milk-flavoured shaved ice as the base, with different Taiwanese toppings like pearls and puddings. As the portion of the shaved ice is quite large, you can share it with a few friends – it will make you feel full after eating it! You can also visit the store for its Taiwanese treats, which taste as good as the shaved ice!

Location: Meet Fresh, Shop 1, G/F, V Point, 18 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Contact details: 25661318

Thai – After You Dessert Cafe

Before its arrival to Hong Kong, After You Dessert Cafe was a must-try restaurant in Thailand. Due to its vast popularity, After You made its debut in Hong Kong. This is also the first overseas branch of the restaurant. It is famous for its creative Thai-style shaved ice. One of the must-try items is Mango Sticky Rice Karigori. What is special about this is the glutinous rice, making the shaved ice unique from all its counterparts. Thai Tea Shaved Tea is another signature dish – the flavour of Thai milk tea is rich, and it goes well with grass jelly and cream. If you wish to eat Thai desserts, After You is an excellent choice.

Location: After You Dessert Café, G/F, Jing Long Commercial Building, 52 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Contact details: 21170665

Hong Kong – Auntie Sweet Dessert 

It’s hard to miss Auntie Sweet Dessert (Yiu Wa Street) when talking about Hong Kong shaved ice! As the branch of the prominent local sweet soup shop, Auntie Sweet Dessert, this restaurant mainly serves sweet soup. However, what makes this restaurant famous is its shaved ice. Shaved ice at Auntie Sweet has loads of special local flavours that cannot be found elsewhere. Mr. Hong Kong is one of them. It has a rich flavour of peanut butter and some small pieces of toast, resembling the sought-after French toast with peanut butter. Like Shari Shari, it has some seasonal special shaved ice that will amaze you. Make sure to check out their special when you pay a visit!

Location: Auntie Sweet Dessert,G/F, 11 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Contact details: 51184324