In the world of frozen treats, Long Beach serves up some ice cold competition: From the much-loved Long Beach Creamery—which expanded from its cottage business inside the kitchen of Dina Amadril in 2014 to its first brick-and-mortar in Bixby Knolls, followed by a second in 2018 in DTLB—to spots like La Michoacana, which already has multiple locations that all differ like their older sisters found throughout the states of Mexico.
And while one would have figured that a more traditional spot such as these would be more viable in the naming of the state’s best ice cream shop by (the loved’n’hated aggregator that is) Yelp!. But even more in line with Long Beach’s pride toward its own, none other than ode-to-NOLA Fluffy’s Sno-Cone took the top spot in California and, even more impressive, #5 in the entirety of the United States.
“This is a first for our great city of Long Beach—and I am honored and humbled by the recognition,” said co-owner and New Orleans native Kevyn Lee. “Thank you to my customers who have seen the hard we have put it and to my amazing team, I could not have done this without you,” also noting a customer appreciation day will be coming up soon.
The recognition is well-deserved: Lee is an aggressively positive self-promoter, where his plays on cultural and social events—Pride sno-balls for Les Gays to egg nog-flavored sno-balls during the holidays to carrying Hubig’s famed pies from NOLA—have earned him both love and respect in Long Beach.
He also single-handedly introduced Long Beach to proper shaved ice—different than Mexican raspados and not quite Italian ice—where the texture is much like fresh snow (and I can say that as a Big Bear native). And Lee makes his own 12.5-pound blocks on site, where employees learn how to shave it into what we call a Fluffy’s sno-ball. It’s almost strangely creamy in a sense—and has been a staple in Louisiana since the 1930s.
And yes, he does have a dill pickle flavor and yes, for vinegar’n’salt lovers, it is a wonder. Also, a fun fact noted by Yelp!: The name “Fluffy” is a nod to Lee and husband/co-owner Darren Lee Wellington’s poodles, Lord Kensington and Duke Harrington.
“Their hair is light and fluffy—just like the sno-ball,” Lee said.
Commence a collective, “Awwww.”
Fluffy’s Sno-Balls is located at 1208 Long Beach Blvd.
