Top pick1
Dave's Ice Cream At The Ilikai
Food Store
Specialty shop serving imaginative ice cream & sherbet flavors like kona coffee & lychee.
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Oahu has no shortage of ways to satisfy a sweet tooth, and I've pulled together the 99 dessert spots worth knowing across the island — from shave ice shacks on the North Shore to gelato and bingsu in Honolulu. This is a curated guide that leads with my personal verified picks, followed by the area's best-rated spots by reputation.
Topping the list is Dave's Ice Cream at The Ilikai, a specialty shop Nate personally recommends — known for imaginative flavors like kona coffee and lychee sherbet that feel distinctly Hawaiian. It carries the NateEatsHawaii badge on the page, which marks every spot Nate has personally been to and vouches for. Beyond that, you'll find highly regarded spots like Boba Bing in Ala Moana, home of the OnoWaffie and authentic Korean bingsu, and Aoki's Shave Ice on the North Shore, a beloved Haleiwa institution.
Whether you're chasing a scoop after a beach day or hunting down the island's best frozen treat, this list covers every neighborhood — Waikiki, Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Pearl City, and beyond. Look for the NateEatsHawaii badge to find the spots Nate has personally vetted.
The ranking
Top pick1Specialty shop serving imaginative ice cream & sherbet flavors like kona coffee & lychee.
2$Home of the OnoWaffie and authentic Korean bingsu. Waffles: $6 each, $20 for all 4. Bingsu: Strawberry, Mango, or Adzuki Bean ($11.95/$16.95) with Dave's Ice Cream. Open daily 11am–8pm (hours may vary). Inside Midtown Eats.
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14$Specialty shop serving imaginative ice cream & sherbet flavors like kona coffee & lychee.
15Specialty shop serving imaginative ice cream & sherbet flavors like kona coffee & lychee.
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20Gelatissimo Waikiki brings dessert to Waikiki. Family-friendly casual dining.
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22Ice cream shop featuring flavors imported from Hawaii such as Kona coffee & macadamia nut.
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25$Contemporary counter-serve stop for Taiwanese shaved ice in flavors such as papaya or matcha.
26$$Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.
27Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.
28Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.
29Dessert hub crafting gelato in traditional Italian & Hawaiian flavors, plus paninis & waffles.
30$See every spot on a live map
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FAQ
Dave's Ice Cream at The Ilikai is Nate's top personal recommendation, celebrated for its uniquely Hawaiian flavors like kona coffee and lychee sherbet. Beyond that, spots like Boba Bing and Aoki's Shave Ice are consistently well-regarded by visitors across the island.
Shave ice spots like Aoki's Shave Ice on the North Shore and Aloha Icelabs in Waikiki are popular, wallet-friendly options. Ice cream shops like Banan in Kaimuki and Waikiki are also known for fun, reasonably priced treats.
This is a curated guide combining Nate's personally verified picks — marked with the NateEatsHawaii badge — with the highest-rated dessert spots across Oahu's roughly 99 qualifying restaurants on the site. The list is reviewed regularly to reflect new openings and updated ratings.
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