Ray’s Candy Store
“Ray serves a variety of sweets and treats, my favorites being the fried oreos, beignets, fries, and milkshakes.”
“Did you know that Ray himself basically is the living history and proof of the spirit and charm of the East Village?”
“The beignets are as good as any you will find in New Orleans.This place is a must for late night snacks.”
Ray’s Candy Store
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Dogs Allowed: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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Classic, smooth frozen yogurt with the best sprinkles, hot fudge and hard chocolate toppings. Also, beignets and fried oreos, whoa.
Didn't try the icecream yet but the best fried Oreos I ever had!!! Been here a few times and the Oreos were just amazing, had me coming back for more! I usually hate fried Oreos at fairs, but these are seriously, the best.
Read so many reviews from other Yelper's about this place. I had to go and check it out. I had walked passed by it numerous times. The place is located right across the street from Tompkins Square Park on East 7th Street.
This place is a hole in the wall. Something like in the 1970's or 1980's. Place where you come to get your sugar fix after classes are over when you were back in JHS/HS. It's standing room only and no tables or chairs. Line up to get your milkshake, ice cream, etc… The menus are hung up on the wall. I usually go for the soft ice cream in a cup or cone- Chocolate and Vanilla and it is only $4 bucks.
Will be back for the egg cream and Oreo Milk Shake.
There is an ATM machine where you can get cash.
This place is perfect. You get ice cream truck style soft served for a super amazing price. Its a hidden nyc gem and I hope it never closes down.
never seen any candy being sold here, but this joint is pretty sweeeeeeeet.
Ray's is an old school East Village candy store/quick eats, and it shows. gritty inside. pretty cramped. signs, newspaper clippings, hand written notes/signs, etc all cramped into a narrow space where Ray works his magic–which has done for the past 40+ years at this location.
the space itself is narrow and disheveled . there's a service window if you don't feel like walking in. the inside is brightly lit (easy Instagram-able pics). there's an atm inside as Ray's is cash only. no credit/debit cards.
PRO TIP: Bring cash.
the go-to's here are the soft serve (Pistachio) and the cheese fries. the soft serve cones or cups are ridic. Ray swirls the cones high. this is not fancy ice cream, but i don't care. it tastes great and you can chill in the park on a warm day or night…and ice cream away. the cheese fries serving is INSANELY HUGE. the mountain of fries don't fit in the footlong plastic container that they come out in. the fries are drowned in liquid cheese. Ray rubberbands the container closed–though it's bursting at the seams.
the fried Oreos and chili dogs are tasty eats, too.
PRO TIP: lines can build at Ray's after the bars close up at night. hit'em up during the day and throughout the evening. barely any wait.
Ray is the heart and soul of his namesake business. He is all about customer service and always puts each customer first as he serves them. And he's a spry dude for 84+ years old! It's amazing he's worked for 40 plus years without much significant time off. Ray is a archive of stories about the East Village and Alphabet City. Take some time and chat with him–well worth it!
if you're one of those people talk about supporting local businesses but never do…make amends and support Ray's Candy Store today. 🙂
drops mic because these cheese fries are too hot to handle and that Pistachio cone is too cold to hold. YUM!
i out.
zzz.
Finally got a chance to try the pistachio soft serve and even mixed it with strawberry. This is a cute, little hole in the wall with lots of soft serve flavors, fried Oreos, funnel cake, etc. Definitely a great place to take kids and to treat your sweet tooth. The lady working was also very sweet!
I can't believe I've lived in this neighborhood for 23 yrs+ and even though I've passed by this place, I've never tried it until now. I am almost embarrassed and here's why. Throughout the years, I've always judged this place by the outside and it always looked so "shady" and dirty to me so to be honest, I never tried it and I never really knew what they really sold, but on certain days/nights, I would see so many people so I was still curious. Recently I've read all the yelp reviews and background about this place and wanted to give it a try. After today, I realized this place is a gem in the wall! I ordered 1/2 dozen of beignets and a cup of pistachio soft serve (total $9). This place is so generous. I ordered 1/2 dozen and got like a dozen instead. The lady working said Ray usually always gives more than people order anwyays. I wanted to meet Ray the owner personally after reading all these great reviews about his character but the lady in the front said he was sleeping in the back. Poor guy must be exhausted from working so hard. So back to the food! The beignets aka zeppoles (what I always known them to be at Italian street fairs in NYC), were so delish! They were so fresh right out the fryer. The outside was so crunchy and inside soft and chewy! It also wasn't overwhelming because they are smaller than the street fair ones I usually get. Had I known they sold these here all these years, I would have came here a long long time ago, even as a child probably. At first we were very skeptical about their soft serve and if it would be fresh, but omg, it was fresh! The texture and consistency was great (wasn't melting right away like some people described), the flavor was good and they give you a good amount. There were so many other things I wanted to try, but next time. Couldn't fit in my belly! The store seems cluttered and a little crazy, but don't mind all that and don't judge! It's always the food that counts!
Pistachio soft serve was heaven. If you like soft serve come here!!!!! Run here!!!!
4 dollars well spent. I'll be back.