Convenience Big Store: 10 Houston-area refresquerias for over-the-top frozen treats

10 local refresquerias where you can find an over-the-top frozen Mexican treat.

What's in a Crazy Watermelon?

Called Sandia Loca in Spanish, the name says it all. It's a watermelon half stuffed to the skies with a lot of stuff that doesn't seem to go together but make sense in a weird way.

The Crazy Watermelon is a staple at most refresqueria stands you can visit throughout the Pasadena and Houston area. There's also also La Peñita Refresqueria in Dickinson and Refresqueria in Texas City. If you're looking for an over-the-top frozen treat, here's our guide to 10 Houston-area refresquerias to beat the summer heat.

Some of the more elaborate concoctions look like something Mexican artist Frida Kahlo would wear on her head, which is part of the charm.

The real beauty of refresquerias for me is the fact that most are small and family owned, and not branded.

When I was researching different places to highlight, at least half of those I reached out to had very little to zero social media presence. There was a name, an address, and a phone number.

Like Refresqeria in Texas City, which is located at 2504 25th Avenue N., I had to call first to see if they existed, and they do. They're just low key and thriving in their community.

If you like challenging your culinary senses, take a trip to any refresqueria near you.

yorozco@houstonchronicle.com

Yvette Orozco, Suburban reporter producer

yvette.orozco@houstonchronicle.com

Need to know

Tanger Houston will celebrate the start of school with a Back-to-School Bash on Aug. 19 at noon.

The event will feature face painting, a live DJ, photo events, lawn games and a performance by the Santa Fe High School Marching Band.

Shout out

Shout out to Hunter Moddon, a 4-star athlete at Clear Lake and Clear Springs offensive lineman Blake Ivy, as both were selected as one of the Chronicle's top 50 high school football recruits in Houston for the 2024 class.

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