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12 Essential Frosted Treat Destinations in Houston

by Wes Griffin Updated
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Ricca
| Ricca/Facebook
by Wes Griffin Updated

It's warming up and Houston's expansive array of culture and cuisine means even the traditional take on vanilla ice cream can be down right exotic and tantalizing in our city. From the shaved ice matcha drizzled with condensed milk at Nu Ice and Drinks to Hank's classic ice cream with a claim on Beyonce's favorite (see below) — we've prepared a list of the most essential places to visit when you're craving something chilled and sweet.

Here's our list of 12 of essential places in Houston to satisfy any frozen treat craving, presented in no particular order of preference.

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Smoosh Cookie Sandwiches

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Smoosh. [Photo: Facebook]

Made with a secret family cookie recipe and premium ice cream, SMOOSH, is one of Houston's latest food truck specializing in custom ice cream sandwiches. It's a moving target. so be sure to check out their twitter for locations: @SMOOSHcookies
Houston, TX
(832) 582-9864
(832) 582-9864

Tampico Refresqueria

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Tampico. [Photo: Facebook/Freddy G.]

This tiny stand in the Heights creates some of the most refreshing raspas and frozen mango drinks in town. It's cash only and it would be downright criminal to not order the elote or the frito pie when you visit.
4520 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009

La Michoacana Natural Ice Cream

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La Michoacana Natural Ice Cream. [Photo: Facebook/Bill Rodgers Jr.]

The paletas (authentic Mexican popsicles) are separated by "con agua" (fruit bars) and "con leche" (ice cream bars) and run a little under $2. Make sure you bring cash, since the establishment doesn't except cards.
8230 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055
(713) 827-8082
(713) 827-8082

Juice Box

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Juice Box. [Photo: Juice Box. [Photo: Yelp/Zoey ]

" This local favorite in the busy Don Huang Plaza offers so much more than durian ice cream, although it's worth the try for more adventurous tongues. Stay cool with one of their large bowls of shaved ice with fresh fruits drizzled with condensed milk and large scoops of ice cream on top.
9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste A-109, Houston, TX 77036
(713) 484-8085
(713) 484-8085

Nu Ice & Drinks

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Nu Ice and Drinks [Photo: Yelp/Kate G.]

Expect mountains of shaved ice with a creative and vast selection of mixings from this Asian-style ice cream joint. Go wild with toppings and the condensed milk drizzled around ice cream choices like matcha green tea, coconut and mango shaved ice. The perfect choice for days in Houston that hit the triple digits in temp.
5901 Westheimer Rd Ste B1, Houston, TX 77057
(832) 649-2266
(832) 649-2266

Yeti Sunshine

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Yeti Sunshine. [Photo: Yelp/Scott T.]

A snowball that can survive the Houston summers. Yeti Sunshine's snowballs are made from super-soft, finely shaved ice with unique, handmade syrups poured on top crafted from real fruits and herbs. Yeti's fruit flavors are made with juice, pure cane sugar, and filtered water, meaning this is so much more than your average baseball game snow cone. Follow Yeti's tracks on twitter: @yetisunshine
Houston, TX

Fat Cat Creamery

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Fat Cat Creamery. [Photo: Yelp/Taylor R.]

Fat Cat recently made it to Thrillist's national list for the 33 Best Ice Cream Shops in America, and that's not surprising given the quality of this ice cream shop. Fat Cat's small batch ice cream is made with local ingredients and they offer five unique, year-round standards and a few seasonal flavors.
1910 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 869-1080
(713) 869-1080

Also featured in:

Hank's Ice Cream

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Hank's Ice Cream. [Photo: Yelp/Edgar V.]

Hank’s produces ice cream the old-fashioned way by hand and using fresh ingredients. The Houston staple showcases eighteen flavors daily, with choices rotating from a list of nearly 100 flavors. And via their website, apparently Queen Bey, "always gets banana pudding," when she's in town.
9291 Main St, Houston, TX 77025
(713) 665-5103
(713) 665-5103

Also featured in:

Chocolate Wasted

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Chocolate Wasted. [Photo: Lulu Lopez Photography]

Long-time East End couple Susan Sahwani-Garcia and Julian Garcia Jr. opened the first brick-and-mortar version of their ice cream truck Chocolate Wasted this summer. Flavors like lemon creme and blueberry lavender have a vibrant kick from this neighborhood creamery.
724 Telephone Rd, Houston, TX 77023

Also featured in:

Mango Beach

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Mango Beach. [Photo: Yelp/Farran M.]

You could go for the healthy option and order the namesake Mango Beach with chunks of sweet mango with chili powder and lime, and you wouldn't be disappointed, but since this list is about "frozen" treats order the fan favorite the mangonada instead. It's blended smooth with frozen mango with chili powder on top.
2304 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 900-7500
(713) 900-7500

Cloud 10 Creamery

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Cloud 10 Creamery. [Photo: Facebook/Cloud 10 Creamery]

Cloud 10's nod from Bon Appetit in their July 2015 issue for their "wild," flavor toppings like bay leaves, pastries and even pickles are just a few of the creative ingredients from this inventive creamery. The ice cream changes seasonal, with a few favorites withstanding, such as lime and ceylon cinnamon, cafe sua da, and toasted rice are just a few of the treats to expect at Cloud 10.
5216 Morningside Dr, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 434-6129
(713) 434-6129

Also featured in:

Ricca

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Ricca. [Photo: Facebook/Ricca]

You gotta love any establishment with a tagline like, "We make really good ice cream sandwiches. And we love a good party." Ricca, which means "rich," in Italian is a gourmet ice-cream sandwich company on wheels, owned by Houston native Tallent Ricca. Each sandwich from this tiny stand is crafted using local, all natural and high quality ingredients. Look for Ricca's by following them on twitter: @RICCA_co
5307 Telephone Road, Houston, TX 77087
(713) 805-4365
(713) 805-4365

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Smoosh Cookie Sandwiches

Houston, TX

Smoosh. [Photo: Facebook]

Made with a secret family cookie recipe and premium ice cream, SMOOSH, is one of Houston's latest food truck specializing in custom ice cream sandwiches. It's a moving target. so be sure to check out their twitter for locations: @SMOOSHcookies
Houston, TX
(832) 582-9864
(832) 582-9864

Tampico Refresqueria

4520 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009

Tampico. [Photo: Facebook/Freddy G.]

This tiny stand in the Heights creates some of the most refreshing raspas and frozen mango drinks in town. It's cash only and it would be downright criminal to not order the elote or the frito pie when you visit.
4520 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009

La Michoacana Natural Ice Cream

8230 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055

La Michoacana Natural Ice Cream. [Photo: Facebook/Bill Rodgers Jr.]

The paletas (authentic Mexican popsicles) are separated by "con agua" (fruit bars) and "con leche" (ice cream bars) and run a little under $2. Make sure you bring cash, since the establishment doesn't except cards.
8230 Long Point Rd, Houston, TX 77055
(713) 827-8082
(713) 827-8082

Juice Box

9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste A-109, Houston, TX 77036

Juice Box. [Photo: Juice Box. [Photo: Yelp/Zoey ]

" This local favorite in the busy Don Huang Plaza offers so much more than durian ice cream, although it's worth the try for more adventurous tongues. Stay cool with one of their large bowls of shaved ice with fresh fruits drizzled with condensed milk and large scoops of ice cream on top.
9889 Bellaire Blvd Ste A-109, Houston, TX 77036
(713) 484-8085
(713) 484-8085

Nu Ice & Drinks

5901 Westheimer Rd Ste B1, Houston, TX 77057

Nu Ice and Drinks [Photo: Yelp/Kate G.]

Expect mountains of shaved ice with a creative and vast selection of mixings from this Asian-style ice cream joint. Go wild with toppings and the condensed milk drizzled around ice cream choices like matcha green tea, coconut and mango shaved ice. The perfect choice for days in Houston that hit the triple digits in temp.
5901 Westheimer Rd Ste B1, Houston, TX 77057
(832) 649-2266
(832) 649-2266

Yeti Sunshine

Houston, TX

Yeti Sunshine. [Photo: Yelp/Scott T.]

A snowball that can survive the Houston summers. Yeti Sunshine's snowballs are made from super-soft, finely shaved ice with unique, handmade syrups poured on top crafted from real fruits and herbs. Yeti's fruit flavors are made with juice, pure cane sugar, and filtered water, meaning this is so much more than your average baseball game snow cone. Follow Yeti's tracks on twitter: @yetisunshine
Houston, TX

Fat Cat Creamery

1910 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77002

Fat Cat Creamery. [Photo: Yelp/Taylor R.]

Fat Cat recently made it to Thrillist's national list for the 33 Best Ice Cream Shops in America, and that's not surprising given the quality of this ice cream shop. Fat Cat's small batch ice cream is made with local ingredients and they offer five unique, year-round standards and a few seasonal flavors.
1910 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 869-1080
(713) 869-1080

Hank's Ice Cream

9291 Main St, Houston, TX 77025

Hank's Ice Cream. [Photo: Yelp/Edgar V.]

Hank’s produces ice cream the old-fashioned way by hand and using fresh ingredients. The Houston staple showcases eighteen flavors daily, with choices rotating from a list of nearly 100 flavors. And via their website, apparently Queen Bey, "always gets banana pudding," when she's in town.
9291 Main St, Houston, TX 77025
(713) 665-5103
(713) 665-5103

Chocolate Wasted

724 Telephone Rd, Houston, TX 77023

Chocolate Wasted. [Photo: Lulu Lopez Photography]

Long-time East End couple Susan Sahwani-Garcia and Julian Garcia Jr. opened the first brick-and-mortar version of their ice cream truck Chocolate Wasted this summer. Flavors like lemon creme and blueberry lavender have a vibrant kick from this neighborhood creamery.
724 Telephone Rd, Houston, TX 77023

Mango Beach

2304 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77009

Mango Beach. [Photo: Yelp/Farran M.]

You could go for the healthy option and order the namesake Mango Beach with chunks of sweet mango with chili powder and lime, and you wouldn't be disappointed, but since this list is about "frozen" treats order the fan favorite the mangonada instead. It's blended smooth with frozen mango with chili powder on top.
2304 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 900-7500
(713) 900-7500

Cloud 10 Creamery

5216 Morningside Dr, Houston, TX 77005

Cloud 10 Creamery. [Photo: Facebook/Cloud 10 Creamery]

Cloud 10's nod from Bon Appetit in their July 2015 issue for their "wild," flavor toppings like bay leaves, pastries and even pickles are just a few of the creative ingredients from this inventive creamery. The ice cream changes seasonal, with a few favorites withstanding, such as lime and ceylon cinnamon, cafe sua da, and toasted rice are just a few of the treats to expect at Cloud 10.
5216 Morningside Dr, Houston, TX 77005
(713) 434-6129
(713) 434-6129

Ricca

5307 Telephone Road, Houston, TX 77087

Ricca. [Photo: Facebook/Ricca]

You gotta love any establishment with a tagline like, "We make really good ice cream sandwiches. And we love a good party." Ricca, which means "rich," in Italian is a gourmet ice-cream sandwich company on wheels, owned by Houston native Tallent Ricca. Each sandwich from this tiny stand is crafted using local, all natural and high quality ingredients. Look for Ricca's by following them on twitter: @RICCA_co
5307 Telephone Road, Houston, TX 77087
(713) 805-4365
(713) 805-4365

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