Highest-rated ice cream shops in Honolulu by diners
Ice cream is a treat that can be enjoyed all year round, although the volume produced during the hotter months signals otherwise. The majority of ice cream and other frozen desserts in the U.S. are made between March and August, with July being the busiest month of all, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Many Americans have memories of their pastel green mint chocolate chip scoop dripping down their waffle cone at the height of summer or cooling down with their sprinkle-covered chocolate and vanilla soft-serve twist. Ice cream tends to scream nostalgia, but the range of available flavors has evolved since the days when the dessert was mainly limited to vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
Of course, that doesn't mean those aren't still top-tier choices. According to a May 2024 survey of 2,200 American adults by the International Dairy Foods Association and Morning Consult, the top 10 ice cream flavors today are still the three classics (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, in that order) followed by butter pecan, cookie dough, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, chocolate chip, rocky road, and peanut butter or peanut butter cup.
Nowadays, many ice cream shops offer fresh combinations and ingredients you may never have imagined could be made into ice cream, concoctions like black sesame cookies and cream or honey lavender. Some ice cream shops boast flavors with even more unheard-of ingredients and combinations, like the savory tarragon olive oil or pineapple with pink peppercorns.
Ice cream creators have also expanded into rethinking frozen yogurt, soft serve, and vegan options. Dairy-free folks no longer have to order the only sorbet on the menu. There are nondairy milk ice creams made from plant-based milks like oat or almond and other plant-based products like avocado or sunflower butter.
And then there are the toppings, one of the best parts about getting a scoop at your local shop. Pour on the condensed milk or dulce de leche. Sprinkle bits of honeycomb or your favorite childhood cereal.
Ice cream shops everywhere have made it their job to serve up the smoothest, creamiest, and most crave-able options. To find out who's doing the best job of it, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated ice cream shops in Honolulu using data from Yelp. Data is as of June 14, 2024.
Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 10 reviews were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than five locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Read on to determine where you'll get your next cup or cone from!
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific ice cream shops listed or the items they serve.
#29. Yoajung
- Rating: 4.2/5 (74 reviews)
- Address: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste 1075 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Kokoro Cafe
- Rating: 4.3/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2233 Kalakaua Ave. Floor 2 Royal Hawaiian Center Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: desserts, ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Sweet As Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.3/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Shimazu Store
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1024 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 330 North School St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, desserts, shaved ice
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Kansai Yamato
- Rating: 4.3/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1035 University Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: desserts, donuts, ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Waiola Shave Ice
- Rating: 4.3/5 (3108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2135 Waiola St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, desserts, shaved ice
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Samurai
- Rating: 4.3/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 738 Umi St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, popcorn shops, candy stores
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Via Gelato
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1034 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1142 12th Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, gelato
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Banán - Waikiki Beach Shack
- Rating: 4.4/5 (600 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2301 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: vegan, ice cream & frozen yogurt, acai bowls
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Monsarrat Shave Ice
- Rating: 4.4/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3046 Monsarrat Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: shaved ice, ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery
- Rating: 4.4/5 (825 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3632 Waialae Ave. Ste 102 Franklin Variety Building Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: bakeries, donuts, ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Double Three
- Rating: 4.4/5 (395 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1284 Kalani St. D-105A Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, desserts, waffles
- Read more on Yelp
#17. KITH Treats
- Rating: 4.5/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2301 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Black Sheep Cream
- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 458 Keawe St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Island Vintage Shave Ice
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1829 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2201 Kalakaua Ave. Kiosk B-1 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: shaved ice, ice cream & frozen yogurt, food stands
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Kawaii Ice Wave
- Rating: 4.6/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 377 Keahole St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: shaved ice, ice cream & frozen yogurt, shaved snow
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Dave's Ice Cream At The Ilikai
- Rating: 4.6/5 (208 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1777 Ala Moana Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#12. La Gelateria Italian Style Frozen Desserts
- Rating: 4.7/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 819 Cedar St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, gelato, desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice
- Rating: 4.7/5 (322 reviews)
- Address: 909 Kapahulu Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: shaved ice, ice cream & frozen yogurt, desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Ice Cream Rolls Hawaii
- Rating: 4.7/5 (123 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 208 Kapuni St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, food stands
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Niu Soft Serve
- Rating: 4.7/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2320 South King St. Unit B-4 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: desserts, ice cream & frozen yogurt, vegan
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Uncle Clay's House Of Pure Aloha
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1940 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 820 West Hind Drive Ste 116 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: desserts, ice cream & frozen yogurt, shaved ice
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Dave's Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.8/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 334 Seaside Ave. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Nana's Green Tea
- Rating: 4.8/5 (185 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2250 Kalākaua Ave. Ste 5 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: coffee & tea, desserts, ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#5. IL Gelato Hawaii
- Rating: 4.8/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 501 Sumner St. Ste 501 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt, gelato, wholesale stores
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Asato Family Shop
- Rating: 4.8/5 (192 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1306 Pali Hwy Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#3. ao gelato
- Rating: 4.8/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 2250 Kalākaua Ave. Lower Level 100-17 Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: gelato, ice cream & frozen yogurt, desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#2. MOSA
- Rating: 5.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2238 Lau'ula St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Catzzy
- Rating: 5.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 403 Kaiolu St. Honolulu, Hawaii
- Categories: shaved ice, shaved snow, ice cream & frozen yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Chia-Yi Hou, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 237 metros.
