Ice Shave and a Hot Dog
Brah, it was one scorcha of a day in Hilo Town today. Plus, I was off of work because it was Kamehameha day, so no air conditioned office. But I’m not complaining. I was able to enjoy one of the great pleasures in Hilo while getting some much needed sun! (I gotta be one of the whitest Filipinos)
So what would you do if you were driving down this road at high noon? I’m sure you know the answer! 
Mr. Itsu himself was there making ice shave for everybody. Bev and I ordered a Coconut Deluxe Bowl. Deluxe means that the ice shave comes with vanilla ice cream and azuki beans (made as a sweet red yummy paste). I’ll let the photos explain…
A nice scoop of vanilla ice cream is put on the bottom of the bowl/cup.
Next, the azuki bean paste is layered over.
Then shaved ice is put on top and formed into a nice big ball.
Pour some a generous amount of coconut syrup, and you get the bestest ice shave on the Island!
It was perfect and so refreshing. The shaved ice was really fluffy and the syrup was really tasty, and the azuki bean paste adds a nice tangy texture. Bev really liked the ice cream too.
Itsu’s is also famous for their $0.95 hot dogs, and now I know why. They are so good.
You can choose what to put on the hot dog. Get “da yellow sauce” (they’ll know what you mean) — it seems to be a combination of mayo, mustard, and maybe relish. The bun was served very soft and moist. The hot dog is the red kine (redondos?) — really juicy. It all just melts in da mouth and everything tasted so good together. Especially with an ice shave in the other hand. Highly recommended.
Other Posts on Itsu’s:
Itsu’s Fishing Supplies Inc
810 Piilani St Hilo
(808) 935-8082
June 13th, 2006 at 5:36 am
James-
That combo brings back memories of my hanabata days. I remember when Itsu’s was at there original location at the corner of Manono(where Freddie’s is now) . The place was even smaller and the lines were long, but we waited in line for a cool break. Shave Ice was a quarter and Hot Dog $.50, pure relief for under a dollar.
June 13th, 2006 at 6:12 am
Great post! Ah those hanabata days at Itsu’s! Such a great treat after swimming at Onekahakaha beach or summer fun at the YWCA. Not only is the ice shave good, but their gravy burgers, sweet popcorn, and kim chee hot dogs.
My brother always got coconut/li hing mui. I always got the rainbow–strawberry/grape/pineapple. My grandfather’s choice was always strawberry. Now my brother takes his kids there. And now his 6-year old son always orders li hing mui…
June 13th, 2006 at 6:36 am
whooowee brah! what else can you say about itsus brah…ONO! LI hing mui was always da one to get….coconut is ono too brah.
So who u tink get da bess ice shave in town brah? Itsus is ono brah, and I remembah pinkys had ono kine too.
June 13th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
James,
You’re making me jealous man!
June 14th, 2006 at 3:08 am
Reid is right. You’re making me jealous. *wahhh* (and homesick)
June 14th, 2006 at 6:57 am
I was visiting home this weekend from Utah and yes, Itsu’s was a required stop! Next time you gotta try it with the condensed milk - so ono!
June 16th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
now das a dilemma… wat to grind first?? da ono shave ice or da ono hotdog??!! hehehe ok i figurem out. make hawn style and grindem togetha coz gonna end up da same place eh? lol
yah james i jealous too coz i no can jus drive ova dea and get some!! :/
June 17th, 2006 at 2:37 am
Glad to see them featured. Nice people, charming little place, and outstanding shave ice. We come all the way from Memphis every summer for one of Mr. Itsu’s deluxe lilikoi shave ices w/li hing mui. I think his use of a superior quality syrup cannot be overstated as a major contributor to the great shave ice experience at Itsu’s. Good stuff! Thanks for featuring them.
Enjoy your site!
June 17th, 2006 at 8:33 am
hooo bruddah reggie….i day grind da dog about half way first brah, wash um down wit da ice shave…an den finish off wit some more hot dog brah….whoowee
June 30th, 2006 at 9:57 am
Lilikoi shave ice with condensed cream on top…. wooooooweeeeEEEE! YUM!
July 10th, 2006 at 1:55 am
Mmmm, is that a Redondo’s hot dog? I loooooove those in my bento boxes! And shave ice! How does Itsu’s compare to Wailoa’s on Oahu?
July 28th, 2006 at 8:35 am
Hello! I wish I had read your blog BEFORE we left for the Big Island last month. It would have been nice to have some of that shave ice. My husband, daughter and I went to visit some relatives for a few days before going to Oahu for a conference. However, we did get a chance to go to the market with my auntie and came across the Filipina lady selling spam musubis; we also got the lilikoi drink from the vendor near her. I enjoy reading your blog! Hope to visit the Big Island again soon and try some of the good stuff you recommend!
June 27th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Thanks for this site!
hifue.info
September 7th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Hi all!
Real nice! I found lots of intresting things here. I will bookmark!
G’night
October 10th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Do you know of any good shaved ice in Kailua Kona side?