**Crawfish Ice Cream: A Bold Treat from Houston’s Red Circle Ice Cream**
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In a vibrant corner of Houston, Red Circle Ice Cream is making waves with a daring flavour that tests the boundaries of traditional desserts. Every spring, the ice cream shop releases its highly sought-after crawfish ice cream, which has become a local sensation since its inception in 2019.

Nickey Ngo, the innovative owner of Red Circle Ice Cream, drew inspiration for this unconventional flavour during a family crawfish boil. “The juices are dripping down, and we’re just having a good time,” she recalls, remembering her sister’s playful challenge to turn the experience into an ice cream flavour. The following day, armed with creativity and determination, Ngo entered her test kitchen and brought the crawfish ice cream concept to life.
The unique twist in Ngo’s recipe lies in the careful preparation of the ice cream base using traditional Louisiana and Viet-Cajun seasoning, with a heavy emphasis on butter. “The secret sauce, of course, is butter. Lots and lots of butter,” she explains. This meticulous approach not only enhances the flavour but also creates a connection to the local culture where both Louisiana-style and Viet-Cajun-style crawfish are prevalent.
Red Circle Ice Cream serves its signature dish with an unexpected and playful flourish: a whole crawfish perched on top, which can be used as a spoon. Ngo deliberately avoids mixing crawfish pieces into the ice cream. “Let’s be honest, nobody wants to eat a frozen piece of seafood inside their ice cream,” she states candidly. Instead, she suggests her customers enjoy the flesh from the crawfish tail, creating a light-hearted dining experience that turns dessert into social interaction.
With the arrival of spring, which coincides with crawfish season, demand for this striking flavour surges. “We start selling it around spring break when the crawfish are getting bigger,” Ngo tells us. Unfortunately, keeping up with the enthusiastic demand proves challenging. “Right now, the demand is very high; our phones are ringing off the hook,” she notes. This year alone, the ice cream shop has sold out of the flavour multiple times, showcasing its popularity among locals and visitors alike.
Ngo remains dedicated to meeting the public’s appetite. “We are just going to try to play it by ear and run it as long as we hear people say, ‘hey, we need crawfish ice cream,’” she shares, displaying a commitment to customer satisfaction that underpins her business philosophy.
Beyond crawfish, Red Circle Ice Cream explores a range of unique flavours that reflect the diverse community surrounding the shop. Notable offerings include durian ice cream, horchata-Hot Cheetos ice cream, and pandan flavour combinations. “We try to encompass the community with the different flavours we create,” she explains, highlighting her goal to foster a sense of connection amongst her customers, many of whom may initially approach her shop as strangers.
While some have greeted the crawfish ice cream concept with scepticism, Ngo remains optimistic. She acknowledges the mixed reactions it has received but expresses gratitude for those willing to explore new culinary experiences. “We feel so blessed and so humbled by the community support,” she states. Encouraging open-mindedness, Ngo’s philosophy is not just about innovation but about celebrating the cultural tapestry that defines her community.
Every delicious scoop of crawfish ice cream tells a story—a bold blend of flavours that encourages dialogue and camaraderie among patrons at Red Circle Ice Cream. As spring unfolds and crawfish ice cream returns to the menu, the shop continues to draw in curious adventurers eager to sample this one-of-a-kind treat. Ultimately, Ngo’s vision reaches beyond simple indulgence; it is a celebration of flavours, culture, and the unique connections that arise within her community.
