Treat yourself with some sippable ice cream at one of these great Houston-area eateries.
Cheeseburgers with crinkle-cut fries. Chicken fingers in red-checkered baskets. A hot dog with the works. Some things are just meant to be eaten with an ice-cold milkshake. And while Houston has some amazing ice cream shops, some of the best milkshakes are in our local mom-and-pop diners.
Parents, nannies, and babysitters looking to treat their little ones — or themselves — to a sippable treat in Houston should start with these 10 hot (er… cold!) spots.
Katz’s Deli & Bar
Address: 616 Westheimer St., Houston, TX 77006
Hours: Open 24/7
Phone: 713-521-3838
Open 24 hours, seven days a week, Katz’s was made for 3 a.m. pregnancy cravings. The food menu is extensive — there are more than 20 different options available for sides alone — and in true New York Deli style, the portion sizes are massive.
But the star of the show is the cheesecake milkshake. This so-decadent-it’s-almost-sinful shake is made by blending an entire piece of cheesecake in with ice cream. Opt for plain vanilla for a classic cheesecake flavor, or mix it up by choosing chocolate or strawberry ice cream. Whatever you pick, prepare to share. The shake is big enough for two.
Amy’s
Address: 3816 Farnham St., Houston, TX 77098
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – midnight | Friday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Phone: 713-526-2697
The handcrafted, artisan ice cream at Amy’s is some of the best you’ll find in Houston, so naturally the milkshakes are out of this world. There are more than 300 flavors in Amy’s repertoire, with roughly a dozen or so available at any given time. Pick any one to turn into a “basic” milkshake, or mix and match flavors and toppings to create something custom.
Paralyzed by all the possibilities? Ask the staff for a recommendation. They’ll be happy to share their wisdom on the best combinations to try for the perfect milkshake. Every time.
Little Bigs
Address: 4621 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Thursday, 11 a.m – 11 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight
Phone: 713-521-2447
Little Bigs is known for its adults-only milkshakes — especially the Dude. With ice cream, chocolate, and coffee, this White Russian milkshake is a grown-up’s dream. But Little Bigs has treats for the kiddos, too. While this spot has classic milkshake flavors like chocolate and vanilla, the one to get is the butterscotch. It’s made with real housemade butterscotch that would melt in your mouth if, you know, milkshakes didn’t already do that.
The shakes at Little Bigs are on the smaller side — which is probably for the best. They’re packed with so much rich, creamy goodness that any more would probably make you want to roll out of the place.
Good Dog Houston
Address: 903 Studewood St., Houston, TX 77008
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 832-800-3647
Like the signature gourmet hot dogs and wholesome sides, the milkshakes at Good Dog are anything but ordinary. Forget chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. Here you choose from Cajeta and Cold Brew, Chocolate Rocky Road, or Berry Mascarpone. The flavors might be original, but the ice cream is familiar. Good Dog uses Fat Cat Creamery’s Sweet Cream ice cream in all the shakes. The treats are hand-spun in a vintage, mint-green Hamilton Beach mixer, poured into classic malt glasses, and topped with thick whipped cream. The result is almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
The Counter
Address: 4601 Washington Ave., Houston, TX 77007
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 713-966-6123
At the Counter, burgers are custom and so are the shakes. Choose from more than a dozen ingredients to build your perfect mix. Chocolate with peanut butter and salted pretzels? Yes, please. Strawberry, coffee, and marshmallow? Sure! Why not?
If you can’t decide, don’t worry. The menu offers a few ready-made options to pick from, too, like the Birthday Cake shake with confetti cake mix and rainbow sprinkles. Grownups can also opt for a “spiked” shake, like the Creamsicle. Made with Cointreau, orange, and honey, it’s an extra tasty adult treat.
Avalon Diner
Address: 2417 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77098
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 713-527-8900
Walking into Avalon Diner is a little like walking back in time. Even the television looks like it was bought back in the ‘90s. Large, decorative bottle caps adorn the wall with Coca-Cola memorabilia, and neon “grill” signs hang in the windows. It’s the quintessential greasy spoon, down to the faded booths, blue-plate specials, and, of course, the milkshakes.
Rumor has it Avalon uses only Blue Bell ice cream. And in true Texas fashion, these shakes are huge. Order one, and you’ll get a frosty tumbler holding enough blended milk and ice cream to fill two malt glasses.
Fat Cat Creamery
Address: 1901 N. Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77008
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight
Hours: 713-869-1080
This Heights-area ice cream shop has a reputation for using local ingredients and sustainable packaging, but the quality is what brings the crowds each weekend. The ice cream and milkshakes are made using milk from Mill-King Market & Creamery, a family-run organic dairy farm just outside of Waco, Texas — where the cows are grass-fed, and the milk is creamy and hormone-free.
The shop has a few standard flavors and rotates in some fun seasonal ones each week. But while Whiskey Butter Pecan and Waterloo Strawberry Buttermilk are definitely worth trying, the Cat’s Meow Mexican Vanilla is Fat Cat’s best flavor for shakes. It’s rich and simple — no fuss, just flavor.
The Burger Joint
Address: 2703 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – midnight | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 a.m.
Phone: 281-974-2889
A favorite among those in the Montrose area and along the Washington Corridor, the Burger Joint is a great go-to spot for contemporary American food done well. And nothing goes quite as well with a kimchi burger or chili queso dog than a cold and creamy beverage to wash it all down. Choose from a standard selection of shake flavors like vanilla, peanut butter, or salted caramel, or create your own by mixing multiple flavors together. If you’re stuck, however, you can’t go wrong with ordering the cookies and cream. Sweet and smooth with real bits of crunchy cookie, it’s great on its own or paired with the Burger Joint’s bacon-parm fries.
You can also order from the Burger Joint on three delivery apps: GrubHub, Door Dash, or Favor.
The Chocolate Bar
Address: 2521 University Blvd., Houston, TX 77005
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m. – midnight | Sunday, noon – 10 p.m.
Phone: 713-520-8888
Of course a place called “The Chocolate Bar” would have amazing milkshakes. And true to its name, this place is a chocolate lover’s dream. With roughly 20 different kinds of ice cream — most of which involve chocolate in one way or another — there are myriad combinations you can try to get the perfect shake.
If sipping ice cream while also simultaneously drinking coffee is your happy place, the Chocolate Bar even has caffeinated ice creams that put your run-of-the-mill frappucinos to shame.
Grub Burger Bar
Address: 799 Town and Country Blvd., Ste. 200, Houston, TX 77024
Hours: Monday – Friday & Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 713-827-7157
If you’re looking for something a little closer to Houston’s West Side, the Grub Burger Bar in the CityCentre shopping area is a great bet. Not only does it have sensible salads in addition to tasty burgers, but its shakes are hand-spun fun. The Kitchen Sink, for example, is a surprisingly delicious shake, considering its ingredients list includes — no joke — coffee grounds and potato chips.
The Red Velvet shake, however, is perhaps the tastiest pick on the menu. The shake is so chock-full of chocolate-and-cream-cheese goodness that it even comes with part of a red velvet cupcake on top. But don’t worry. No one will judge you if you order two.
