This shop has closed due to relocation.

Introducing Taiwanese Shaved Ice Penguin Cafe

Hello there! This is Igaguri, a writer for [SaruKuma].

Today I’m excited to introduce you to a charming spot located in Sadowara, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City:
[Taiwanese Shaved Ice Penguin Cafe].

I’d been curious about this place ever since fellow writer Saa-mama featured it!

https://sarukuma.info/gourmet/post-4902/

I worried it might be tricky to find since it’s tucked into a residential neighborhood,
but the signboard is visible right from the road, so I arrived without any trouble!

It’s also right next to Joan, the bakery Gussan recently introduced, so visiting both in one trip is highly recommended (^^)/
https://sarukuma.info/gourmet/post-56079/

There’s even a swing outside for the kids!

Inside, the seating has been reduced compared to before, likely to allow for more spacing between guests.

The self-service water is refreshing lemon water, but plain water is also available.

This time, I booked a sunroom seat online the day before.
The sunroom does have air conditioning, but it’s a bit warmer than the main dining area — perfect for enjoying shaved ice!

Even two years after opening, the cafe is fully booked day after day.
Thankfully, online reservations are available up until the day before through their website, which is super convenient!

Plenty of guests show up without reservations and try to wait, but parking is limited — so you can’t wait on-site and will need to leave and come back. Keep that in mind!

Here’s the menu.

Regular: 770 yen
Premium: 990 yen
Kids: 550 yen

The Premium is 1.5 times the size of the Regular and comes in two layers,
so you can enjoy two flavors in one bowl!

The Kids size is reserved for elementary schoolers and younger,
as well as guests aged 65 and over.

Junior high school students and older are required to order at least one item.

The seasonal flavors are Dekopon (a Kumamoto specialty citrus) and lychee!
They’re available in Regular size only at 880 yen, and you can also order them for takeout.

The Setouchi lemon cream croissant taiyaki looks wonderfully refreshing too!

Drinks and cotton candy are also on the menu.
For dine-in, the croissant taiyaki comes as a great-value drink set.

The savory “Penguin-yaki” with egg, bacon, cabbage, and spicy mustard mayo also caught my eye!

Whoa — so many sold-out items!
This stock board was photographed on a Sunday at 4 PM.

Recommended Menu Items at Taiwanese Shaved Ice Penguin Cafe

This time, I went with the Kids Chocolate flavor,

the Regular Milk Tea,

and the limited-time Lychee!

Unlike regular Japanese kakigori, Taiwanese shaved ice has flavor infused right into the ice itself — so every bite, all the way to the center, was bursting with lychee!

It was absolutely delicious, and what made it even better was watching how much fun my child had. Be sure to make a reservation and treat yourself to this Taiwanese shaved ice experience this summer in Kumamoto!

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