Who takes 4 days to make ice? The Japanese owner of this kakigori spot in LaLaport does!

Would you believe me if I told you that there is a Japanese man who takes FOUR DAYS to make ice? FOUR DAYS?! This man is Machi, the owner of Sakanoue Cafe, who recently opened the first international branch of his famed Kakigori cafe.

Hailing from Bunkyo, Tokyo, Machi’s original cafe in Tokyo is a super popular spot for Kakigori lovers. In Japan, there are long queues whereby customers are willing to wait up to 4 hours to get a taste of this sweet delight.

In May 2024, the famous dessert shop finally opened its doors in Malaysia, after teasing the opening online since March. The shop is a hit in Tokyo, loved by both local and international customers. The Malaysian outlet is Machi’s second branch in his 12 years of experience.

According to their official Instagram @sakanouecafe_kul, Sakanoue Cafe was launched in Malaysia due to Machi’s personal love for our country. He also wanted to spread the joy one gets from this authentic and fluffy Japanese dessert, to Malaysians.

But what makes it different from the Kakigoris that are already available in Malaysia?

The Ice-Making Process

Machi’s ice-based dessert stands out due to the time and effort taken to make each bowl. The special ice is slowly frozen in a four-day process with controlled temperature to ensure that the ice does not become opaque.

This is similar to a Japanese ice called “junpyo” (literally translates to pure ice) where water is frozen for up to 48 hours. The result is a beautiful crystal clear block of ice that is beautiful to behold.

The lengthy freezing process is said to make the shaved ice fluffier than regular ice. According to Machi, the process would ultimately make the dessert tastier than your average shaved ice.

But that’s not the only thing that makes Sakanoue Cafe’s kakigori unique: they also only use high quality ingredients.

The Tokyo-originated cafe sources their ingredients directly from Japan to retain its authenticity and provide a one-of-a-kind experience to diners.

Most of the toppings that are used are either directly imported from Japan or are made with original Japanese recipes. These ingredients include Japanese Camembert Cheese, the Japanese honey, the Japanese Espuma Cream recipes, and even the Japanese earl grey sauce recipe.

What can you get here?

To put it simply, the desserts here are decadent and the best reprieve on a hot day. Here are the choices of Kakigori at this cafe:

1. Grape Cheese Honey (RM34): Has Japanese Camembert Cheese, yogurt cream, sweet grapes, granola, special Japanese honey, and a garnish of pepper.

2. Strawberry Shortcake (RM26): Has fresh strawberries, Japanese Espuma cream, and a sweet strawberry puree.

3. Mango Passion Custard (RM26): Has a custard cream brulee on top with mango sauce, passion fruit, special Japanese earl grey sauce and cookie crumbles.

4. Uji Matcha (RM28): A combination of matcha Espuma cream, matcha sauce, cookie crumbles, red bean paste, and lemon peels.

5. Cheese Berry Panda (RM30): Served on a flat plate, this Kakigori includes Japanese Camembert Cheese, whipped cream, berry sauce, cookie crumbles, yogurt, and tamarind.

6. Apple Earl Grey (Current Seasonal Menu) (RM26): This limited-time only dessert has apple sauce, cardamom-scented Japanese earl grey Espuma cream, tangy Granny Smith apples, cookie crumbles, and caramel sauce.

MFT’s Verdict

Is the 4-day slow-freezing process really worth it? YES it is!

We tried four of the items from the menu and we have our favourites.

Firstly, the Cheese Grape Honey Kakigori was the best thing we tried. This amazing dessert combines sweet and savoury flavours to create a dessert that just leaves you wanting more. The Camembert cheese complements the grapes and sweet honey; the pepper garnishing provides a kick that enhances the flavours.

Next, the Strawberry Shortcake Kakigori was also superb! The Espuma cream transported us to a world of sweet and unique flavours. Paired with the fluffy ice and strawberry puree, this Kakigori was our second favourite.

We also tried the Mango Passion Custard Kakigori and the seasonal menu Sakura Mochi, both of which had a delicious combination of toppings. Sakura Mochi is currently out of season and is replaced with their new Apple Earl Grey kakigori.

The seasonal menu changes every month, so do give them a try before they are removed from the menu.

Sakanoue Cafe differs from other Kakigori spots, as their extremely fluffy ice goes perfectly with their toppings without being overly sweet. It’s definitely worth a try.