Taking over the space once occupied by famed kakigori café Sébastian – which sadly closed in February 2023 – is Sabo Okuno Shibuya. This shop is run by Yasumasa Era, a kakigori specialist who also operates another well-known shaved ice shop called Saryou Okuman in Shinjuku.
The menu is mainly seasonal, with flavours like American cherry, peach and melon during the warmer months. On our recent July visit, Saboh Okushibu was offering a peculiar corn salad flavour. It was surprisingly refreshing and almost like a meal in itself as it contained feta cheese, marinated corn, tomatoes and a topping of cottage cheese.
The standard menu, however, lists classic flavours such as matcha and wasanbon (fine-grained Japanese sugar) milk. This allows you to add on toppings like seasonal fruit and bean paste.
While you can get the kakigori here to go, it’s best to enjoy the ice-cold treat in store. For the seats, numbered tickets are handed out at the door and online. Once you have a number, you’ll be notified of your time slot.