When the summer heat hits the concrete, there is only one true royal family in New York. The Lemon Ice King of Corona has been delighting taste buds since 1944, and this Queens staple is an absolute must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Founded by Nicola Benfaremo out of a humble garage, the shop is a massive slice of local history. It was later inherited by his son Peter “Pete” Benfaremo, who partnered with his dad to expand to a storefront in 1964, perfectly timed to catch the crowds from the New York World’s Fair.
Today, this glassed-in corner shop remains a legendary neighborhood institution. It even gained international fame thanks to its appearance in the opening credits of the hit sitcom The King of Queens.
A true neighborhood institution
You don’t get to wear the crown just by making regular desserts. The ices here are famous for their creamy, semi-solid texture, which is incredibly achieved with zero dairy ingredients through small-batch churning.
While the classic recipe is wonderfully simple—just sugar, water, and real flavoring—the results are spectacular.
They offer more than three dozen flavors, squeezing real cases of lemons and oranges to get that authentic taste. Every fruit flavor features real fruit pieces, from blueberry to watermelon.
The fan favorite is obviously lemon, but the peanut butter ice, studded with real peanuts, is a massive crowd-pleaser.
They even offer sugar-free varieties in lemon, chocolate, and orange!
“We don’t scoop, we shovel!”
If you visit, you need to know the golden rule. The shop has strict, unbreakable guidelines that maintain its untarnished integrity.
They do not mix or exchange ices.
Don’t even think about asking for two different flavors in the same cup. As the iconic hand-painted sign declares, and as the staff will gently but firmly remind you, mixing ruins the flavors.
They also don’t use regular ice cream scoops. Instead, they use a metal paddle to shovel and knead the ice, creating a perfect “hood” of sweet goodness. It’s practically a culinary art form.
Candy apples and Spaghetti Park
While summer is their peak season, they do a brisk year-round business. If you visit during the colder winter months, you can grab one of their famous candy apples to satisfy your cravings.
For the ultimate experience, take your dainty paper cup across the street to William E. Moore Park, affectionately known by locals as Spaghetti Park.
You can sit on a bench, watch a lively game on the authentic bocce court, and savor a solo-flavored ice under the paper lanterns. It is an essential, memory-making New York experience that you simply cannot miss.
- 📍 The Lemon Ice King of Corona, 52-02 108th St, Corona, Queens
- 💵 Ranging from $1 for the smallest cup up to multi-gallon vats for shipping!