Eat This Now: Miami Ice

Miami Ice // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Just like the balance of getting a sunkissed glow but avoiding a burn, finding the balance between wellness and “little treats” is heightened in the summer.

They’re not mutually exclusive in a well-adjusted worldview. But I’d argue that shaved ice on a hot day, with a loved one, maybe enjoyed on a walk, is healthy for the soul.

Miami Ice, in its retro blue and pink glory, sits on a corner on West 39th Street. Shaded outdoor seating beckons you to rest and cool off, while the colorful art of flamingos piques your curiosity inside. Glass blocks and pink interior walls continue the Miami motif. 

The small shop is a family-run, longstanding part of the neighborhood, serving shaved ice and frozen custard in many formats. It’s a particularly hoppin’ spot for dates and family outings.

Tropic Wonder shaved ice ($6.60 for medium) is a featured flavor, pictured here. Sectioned pours of coconut, strawberry, and peach syrups top shaved ice and soft serve custard. The result is an icy Chiefs-kingdom-approved crimson and gold concoction that sends the senses south to paradise.

With over 35 flavors to choose from, combine, and even include mix-ins like Nerds or marshmallows, part of the fun is creating your flavor. On my next visit, I’m going to try either cola with cherry or margarita with watermelon combinations. We’ll see where the mood takes me.

Some opt to swirl the dish into creamy shaved ice, while others eat from the top down. I prefer the latter method, with the strong flavors of the syrups taking priority until reaching the smooth custard that cuts the sweetness for a practically new, gentler treat. “A dessert for your dessert” as the menu states.

The soft-serve custard is a base for many other dessert options here, but nostalgia points me toward the shaved ice. Those jewel-colored syrup bottles evoke summers at the fair, visits after a lake day, and most obviously, one summer in high school spent working in a shaved ice “sno shack” parked in a McDonald’s parking lot. 

Other than being a teenage girl alone in a parked trailer and making just a couple dollars an hour, it was a good job. Easy, and plenty of time for QWERTY texting. However, cranking that ice is no joke. Despite its throwback looks, Miami Ice is well-adapted for 2024 and has an automatic ice block shaver. 

Wherever you fall on the wellness to “little treat” spectrum at the moment, everyone can enjoy a little treat here. There are sugar-free syrups, straight-up snocones for a dairy-free option, and even protein-packed smoothies. 

Now, if only one could find a perfect balance of spending extra time with the out-of-school kiddos in their life and the extra lawn care and home projects that summer brings… Happy May! 

Miami Ice is at 1624 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111.