Halo halo translates as “mix mix,” and that’s the way Halo Halo Shaved Ice approaches its treats. The most basic treats come with multiple ingredients, and the fanciest ones are downright loaded with sweets.
All treats at Halo Halo Shaved Ice start with a combination of shaved ice, ice cream, condensed milk and evaporated milk, which is consistent with how the treats are made in the Philippines. Onto this base, any combination of jello, caramel, butterscotch, berries, melon, and sweetened beans are added. Don’t be put off by those sweetened beans — while unconventional in our country, they’re quite good.
In addition to the Filipino-style treats, the place also offers Hawaiian-style shaved ice. A hybrid between Filipino-style and New Orleans-style, Hawaiian Shaved ice combines several flavors and perhaps a few toppings. The toppings are more familiar, though, and there usually aren’t nearly as many.
For more substantial fare, hamburgers, fried chicken, and the like can be ordered. The food items tend to be fairly standard fare like you’d find throughout the region, and everything is decent. No one’s writing home about the food, but that’s largely because they’re holding a spoon to get some more of the shaved ice.
After you’ve gone to the standard ice cream stands around town, discover a different take on ice cream at Halo Halo Shaved Ice. The Filipino-style ice cream/shaved ice sundaes are a deliciously international take on a beloved treat.
A few of our favorite menu items at Halo Halo Shaved Ice include:
Shaved Ice Parfait
All of the goodies — shaved ice, ice cream, condensed milk, and evaporated milk — in a single-serving size. Sliced nuts and a type of caramel op off the parfait, and even more goodies are in the bottom. All of this comes in a plastic cup that’s easy to carry around.
Shaved Ice Sundae
Get the motherload with a Shaved Ice Sundae. The treat comes in a flared bowl that’s extra wide to accommodate all of the toppings. Jello, sweetened nuts, bananas, melons, and more sit atop the ice cream base, and a few scoops of shaved ice create a peak at the center. Sweetened condensed and evaporated milks are poured all over this, in case it wasn’t yet yummy enough. The whole thing has plenty to share.
Hawaiian Ice
A bit simpler, the Hawaiian Ice allows you to mix and match three flavors of shaved ice. Perfect for creating something tropical, this is a less adventurous but still great way to enjoy a treat.
Fried Chicken
Go for the Fried Chicken if you need something more filling (and don’t want an entire sundae to yourself). The chicken isn’t amazing, but it’s filling and done well.
Insider Tips:
While there are similarities, Filipino and Hawaiian shaved ice is different from standard American ice cream. One of the biggest differences is the basic cone — don’t ask for one, because everything here comes in a dish.