Ululani’s Shave Ice, originally from Maui, makes the best shave ice in the world. Now, after a multi-year wait, Ululanis has finally opened their first store in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Bay Area Telegraph has been eagerly awaiting the new opening, and we visited Ululani’s new store in Livermore, California, within about a month of its opening.
The new Ululani’s location in the Bay Area is located in a fairly new development across from the Livermore outlets. The nice thing about the location is that parking is way easier than at the outlets themselves.
Ululani’s in Livermore looks exactly like Maui’s Ululani’s locations from the outside. It reminds me most of the Ululani’s location in Waikapu.
Inside, everything will look very familiar to Ululani’s fans as well! There is the same ice shavers, the same iconic menus, the same flavors, and more.
You’ll see staff members shaping shave ice using chopsticks and pouring Ululani’s homemade syrups from a cooler, just like in Hawaii.
Another feature of Ululani’s that’s also made the jump to the mainland are the lines! During our visit, the line for Ululani’s extended outside the building and took about 30 minutes.
This Maui-based small business prides itself on never sacrificing quality for speed, so you’ll just have to wait if you want the world’s best shave ice.
Speaking of that, let’s get to the only thing that matters: how the ice tastes. Is the shave ice in Livermore truly as good as the ice you get on the beach in Kaanapali?
Thankfully, the answer is yes. Resoundingly, yes.
On our visit, we tried the kids’ rainbow flavors as well as the Hawaiian staple No Ka Oi that combines flavors like coconut and passionfruit. The shave ice is absolutely delicious, with the same snow consistency as you’ll find on Maui.
The syrups are also top-notch, and just as in the islands, they use fresh produce and local ingredients wherever possible.
Especially with the terrible wildfires that struck Maui last year, it’s wonderful to be able to support a Maui-based small business right here in the Bay Area. Ululani’s is family-owned, and I had the privilege of sitting down with one of the owners a few years ago.
At the time, he hinted about the idea of opening a Bay Area store. It’s thrilling to see it finally come to fruition.
Whether you’re a big Ululani’s fan who misses shave ice when you’re not in Maui, or you’ve never tried it and just want to start with the best, Ululani’s in Livermore is absolutely worth the visit.
If you go there, tell them that the Bay Area Telegraph sent you.
