When Japanese shaved ice café Sakanoue first opened its pop-up at Isetan Scotts in 2023, Singaporeans flocked over in the hordes and created snaking queues that lasted hours. So crazy was the demand for its kakigori that it was often sold out by early afternoon. It returned a year later for another pop-up which was met with the same sort of fanfare, so we were just a wee bit blindsided when they chose to open their first permanent branch outside of Japan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia instead of our sunny island.
But our time has finally come. Sakanoue has returned to our shores again, and this time, it's here to stay. This viral kakigori café joins forces with Drips Bakery Café to set up shop in its Tiong Bahru outlet, so café-hoppers can enjoy tarts, brunch fare and other bakes, as well as Japanese shaved ice, all in a single visit.
What sort of kakigori is worth waiting hours in line for? According to Sakanoue, the secret lies in its star ingredient: premium Kuramoto Ice from Kanazawa, which is said to melt less quickly and helps uphold the snowy texture of the kakigori and integrity of flavours. This, paired with a dollop of cream – and seasonal topping combinations like blue cheese with miso, pistachio with wine-soaked raspberries, and pear marinated in olive oil with dill sauce and pink pepper – make for winning combinations that keep patrons coming back for more.
Some of the kakigori flavours even come with cute animal-themed designs, where cats and pandas make the most common appearances.
Unconvinced? Even Japanese locals queue over an hour to savour Sakanoue’s icy desserts at its original Tokyo store, even in winter – that should tell you everything you need to know.
The aforementioned funky flavours are not on Sakanoue’s Singapore menu at the moment, but there are currently six confirmed variants: classic strawberry shortcake ($17.50); the adorable berry cute panda ($18); pistachio chocolate ($18.80); lemon mascarpone ($17.50); blazing fire cheese ($19.80); and the Singapore-exclusive signature blackforest kakigori ($19.80), inspired by Drips Bakery Café’s blackforest cake ($12.80 per slice).
As someone who previously tried kakigori in Japan itself and wasn't too impressed – to the point of avoiding it altogether after that – I must say that Sakanoue's version is a total game-changer. They weren't lying about their premium ice. Every mouthful was just pure soft, snow-like melt-in-your-mouth goodness and there were no sharp icy bits that one would typically have to brace themselves for with kakigori or other similar ice-based desserts like ice kacang. The unanimous favourite at our table was the strawberry one, topped with a generous dollop of strawberry puree, espuma cream, and real strawberry chunks.
We also love how the ingredients in each bowl of kakigori here are layered like a parfait, such that the ice is evenly alternated with syrup. This ensures that you get a good distribution of flavour in every spoonful, and won't have to reach a chunk of tasteless plain ice after you've inadvertently eaten up all the good bits at the start. Portions are sizeable, so it's best to share a bowl of this icy treat in a group of two or three, depending on how much dessert you can take in one sitting.
As part of this launch, Drips is also launching two new pastries inspired by Japanese flavours: a black sesame mochi danish ($5.50), and a savoury okonomiyaki danish ($5).
During its previous pop-ups in Singapore, Sakanoue’s kakigori was sold for $13 each, which is quite on par with Japan’s pricing. The prices at this permanent space evidently come with a slight mark-up, but this time you get to sit down and finish your shaved ice in a comfortable air-conditioned environment at your own pace – as opposed to having to get a to-go order by default and trying your best to gobble it all up before it melts in the heat.
Sakanoue is now open within Drips Bakery Café at 82 Tiong Poh Road as of April 4, 2025. In the meantime, check out Sakanoue’s Instagram page to stay updated on the latest news. And if you're a fan of Japanese cafés and such, check out our list of the best places to get your matcha fix in Singapore as well as Singapore's best Japanese bakeries.
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