Thai Iced Tea with condensed milk at Ruby's Sno-balls Jessica Chen

Food and Drink

The Best Snow Cones and Shaved Ice in Dallas

We mourn Aunt Stelle's Sno-Cones, but there are many other places to get your frozen fix this summer.

By Catherine Downes Published in D Magazine June 2018 Photography by D Magazine staff

Aunt Stelle’s Sno-Cones, which had been serving icy treats since May of 1962 on a leafy residential Oak Cliff street, closed earlier this year. No more Pink Ladies in primary-colored Solo cups. No more creative combos of chocolate and Tutti Frutti or Piña Colada and Pop Eye. Yes, we’re devastated. But thankfully there’s no shortage of syrupy sweets to be found around town. Beat the heat with these refreshing alternatives.

Sno Gourmet Shaved Ice
George Rubio serves powdery, NOLA-style sno-balls with natural flavors and creative toppings at this sit-down spot.

Ruby’s Sno-Balls
Creative flavors—made from coffee, tea, and seasonal fruits—include rhubarb, orange blossom lemonade, matcha, Vietnamese coffee, and cardamom coconut cream.

TC Shaved Ice
A rainbow of syrups awaits you at this East Dallas staple, with its bright, robin’s-egg blue exterior with baby pink trim. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a “knockout.”

Snowy Village Korean Dessert Cafe
Bingsu is a lightly sweetened milk ice that is as delicate as freshly fallen snow. Mounds come topped with mochi, sweetened red bean paste, or fresh mango and strawberries.

Snowbaby
Thinly shaved sheets of flavored ice are topped with fresh fruit, nuts, and/or sprinkles, and then drizzled with sweetened condensed milk.

Sno Tea
Options range from Sno Ice (shaved ice cream) and shaved ice to frozen Waffle Pops and crepes. Toppings include boba tapioca pearls and drizzles of flavored syrups, caramel, or honey.

View Gallery