Our editorial team's picks for "11" shaved ice: this time, we're taking a look at a hot newcomer. Yukiusagi (3-18-2 Komazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) in Sakurashinmachi, Tokyo, is already a hot topic, attracting long lines just two months after opening. Originally served as a dessert at soba restaurants, shaved ice became available at specialty shops this summer. First, the ice is exceptionally well-crafted. Nikko's Shogetsu Komuro uses filtered spring water, which is slowly frozen in the winter and stored in an icehouse. The company's stable supply from this discerning brewery is thanks to its renowned shaved ice production method, recognized as "conveying the quality of natural ice." To avoid a "chilling" headache, gradually warm the ice the day before. Controlling the ice temperature while taking the day's temperature into account is a craftsman's skill and experience. The ice is not shaved uniformly; each section is shaped differently by varying the blade's position and shaving technique. Although it's saturated with syrup, it doesn't crumble and melts softly the moment you put it in your mouth. Achieving that blissful melt-in-your-mouth texture requires professional skill!
Now, let's try some of the popular flavors. The "Melty Summer Pumpkin Caramel" (all 850 yen each) features layers of milk and pumpkin cream stacked like a mille-feuille, with a thick caramel sauce on top. While you might expect it to have a rich taste, the sugar content is low, making it light and refreshing. The flavor permeates all the way to the bottom, so you can enjoy it until the last bite.
The "Zunda Cream Cheese," made with layers of cream cheese, milk, and zunda bean paste, maintains the texture of the beans, while being not too sweet and surprisingly refreshing. You can also enjoy a different flavor by adding the salt provided separately. Don't miss out on other popular menu items such as "Strawberry Fromage," "Mango Puree Coco," and "Chilled Shiratama Zenzai," which also feature layered flavors in a mille-feuille style.
Yukiusagi CEO Ozawa Satoshi commented with a smile, "We're having fun experimenting with new flavors. Enjoy shaved ice on the terrace in summer and in the cafe in autumn and winter." Yukiusagi's shaved ice is in season all year round! It looks like they'll continue to offer seasonal menu items.
Opening hours are from 11:00 to 17:00. Closed on Mondays.
