Snocone News

Dallas' Oak Cliff neighborhood nets truly authentic snocone stand

Summer is snocone time.

Photo courtesy of iStock

Oak Cliff gets an authentic New Orleans-style snowball stand with NOLA Snoballs, opening at 345 W. Jefferson Blvd., in the former, short-lived Carnival Barkers Ice Cream space.

Owner is Maureen Ehrlicher, a New Orleans native who's been doing pop-ups for the last year, as well as a temporary stand at a prominent spot at Texas Discovery Gardens.

"I was lucky to know the director of Texas Discovery Gardens because our daughters went to school together," Ehrlicher says. "We were talking one night and I said that I really wanted to start the stand, and he suggested we do it at the Gardens during the State Fair of Texas."

So she debuted the stand in 2016. "I set up in the lobby, and then on busy days and weekends, we'd go out on the front porch," she says.

It went well, and she's gone back for spring break and holidays; she's also done a couple private events as well as Bishop Arts' Bastille Day celebration.

Her signature is a chocolate snocone that's so creamy, it's like ice cream.

"New Orleans-style snocones are known for being creamy," she says. "With regular snocones, you combine ice with concentrate and simple syrup, but with the New Orleans style, you add evaporated milk into the syrup. We do the big seller from New Orleans, which is chocolate made with Hershey's chocolate syrup. You don't see it often around here."

Opening day is July 1, from 1-9 pm; regular hours will be 2-9 pm Tuesday-Sunday, and closed on Mondays.

Maureen and her husband David are true O.C. locals, having lived in the Winnetka Heights neighborhood for more than 25 years. Maureen is also known for her cakes, and as her neighbors testify, she's an avid collector with "the coolest and most impressive Pez collection in Oak Cliff and possibly the entire state," some of which will be on display at the shop.

Her storefront is actually half a space, which she is sharing with Electric Eye, a tattoo shop.

"Their entrance is in the back and my entrance is on Jefferson Boulevard," she says. "It's changing so much now, I'm glad to be a part of it."

ice-cream desserts

Ramen News

Dallas' acclaimed Ten Ramen to open in Cru Wine spot in West Village

Ten Ramen

A highly acclaimed ramen spot is coming to Dallas' West Village: Ten Ramen, one of Dallas' most celebrated ramen spots, will open a location in the former Cru Food & Wine Bar space at 3699 McKinney Ave. #107.

According to a release, Ten Ramen will open in spring 2026.

In related news, the concept was acquired by Vandelay Companies (Hudson House, Jack & Harry's, East Hamption Sandwich Co., El Molino), led by CEO Hunter Pond, who counts himself a big Ten Ramen fan.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of who is arguably one of Texas’ most respected chefs — founder and creator Teiichi Sakurai — and what Ten Ramen embodies,” says Pond.

Vandelay also owns Tei An, the award-winning authentic Japanese restaurant and Ten Ramen sibling which Sakurai opened at One Arts Plaza in 2008.

Ten Ramen debuted in March 2015 at the Sylvan | Thirty mixed-use project in West Dallas — a pioneering concept at the time, and one that quickly earned a devoted following with its tiny 10-seat setup and uncompromisingly authentic flavors.

Back then, it was a ground-breaking concept for Dallas and is still one of the most beloved ramen spots in the city. Diners flocked to wait in long lines for its menu of Mazemen, Shoyu, Tonkotsu, and Lobster Ramen — recipes that will remain intact, Pond says.

“We haven’t touched the recipes, they’re perfect just as they are,” he says. “After many months under our ownership already, it remains clear that the magic is in the food, the service, and the experience. Our goal with this new location is simple: bring what we feel is the best ramen in Dallas to more people, in a space that feels both fresh and familiar.”

Ooooooh, so Vandelay has owned it for many months. Well well well.

“When the opportunity came to bring this incredible concept into our family of restaurants, I jumped at it," Pond says.

He's the one shepherding it into the West Village — a location he says will give more diners the chance to experience the concept.

The location has an impressive track record: Cru Wine Bar closed in August 2025 after an unparalleled 23 years at that address.

The new 1,480-square-foot space will be a fresh take on the Ten Ramen experience, with a full-service bar that seats 7, and an intimate dining room seating 28 — versus the impromptu stand-up situation at Sylvan Thirty.

Their goal is to make a space that feels approachable and lively while staying true to the dishes that made Ten Ramen a local favorite.

openings