A new Mexican ice cream shop in Columbus offers a different type of sweet treat
The owner of a new ice cream shop wanted to bring an option for Columbus residents to get traditional Mexican ice cream and other treats without needing to drive hours away.
Paleteria Los Reyes owner Oscar Morfin moved to Columbus when he was eight years old, and remembers it being difficult to find Mexican ice cream desserts in the area throughout his childhood.
The closest Mexican Ice Cream shop was in Atlanta, Morfin said, so his family made regular drives there to get treats.
“I’ve always thought, ‘Why isn’t there something like this here in Columbus?,’” he said.
Morfin grew up learning about the restaurant industry from his family who owns Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant in Midland. As an adult, he worked managing a restaurant in Auburn before pursuing a business opportunity in Columbus.
His family’s restaurant background prepared Morfin to run his own, he said, so Morfin worked with partners to open Paleteria Los Reyes in The Landings off Airport Thruway on Nov. 24.
Teaching customers about Mexican desserts
Since the shop opened, Morfin has enjoyed teaching customers about the different types of Mexican desserts and snacks they offer.
A lot of people have walked into the shop not knowing about the products sold, he said. Morfin and other staff will walk customers through the items and offer samples for people to try.
It has been fun to see people be open-minded about trying desserts from his family’s culture, he said.
“I think it’s even cooler after they try it,” Morfin said. “They’re like, ‘Wow, this is actually really good.’”
Paleteria Los Reyes customers can order ice cream, agua frescas, paletas and botanas.
Almost everything is made in the shop, Morfin said, meaning customers can ask for flavors that may not be on the menu.
“If they want a kiwi popsicle,” he said. “And we don’t have it. We can probably make it. Don’t be afraid to ask.”
Paletas are ice cream popsicles that can be made from either a water or cream base, Morfin said. Cream bases are like ice cream, he said, and water bases are more like natural fruit sherbet.
Agua frescas are similar to summertime lemonades, Morfin said, and made from natural ingredients. Botanas are Mexican street snacks ranging from street corn to nachos and more.
Mexican ice cream sold at the shop is different from what many Americans may be used to, Morfin said, and it is more similar to sherbet. Many of their flavors contain fruit.
“We have a mangonada,” he said. “And actually use mangos to make the sherbet.”
A growing trend
Also, some of the flavors are regional and may not be commonly found in other areas. Many of the items Paleteria Los Reyes sell come from his family’s hometown, Morfin said, but other regions are also represented.
“We tried our best to make it a reflection of where we’re from,” he said.
In recent years, demand for Mexican snacks and desserts have been growing across the United States. Another Mexican snack bar, Snacks Chabelita, recently opened in Columbus.
Morfin is happy to see the growing popularity of Mexican desserts, he said, and is excited to be part of that growth in Columbus.
“I think it’s awesome that we’re able to take the ideas from where all of our family originates, bring it here, and people actually like it,” Morfin said. “I think that’s amazing.”
This story was originally published December 26, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
