La Michoacana Express is home to a variety of (mostly) cold Mexican sweets. Run by a local family, they make their own ice cream, drinks, and ice cream bars. The ice cream treats have water-based options for anyone who is lactose intolerant or just wants something a little less rich. They gladly offer free samples of the ice cream if you’re unsure what to choose.
Inside, La Michoacana Express is characterized by vibrant pink. Pink walls, pink booths, pink displays, and pink treats are their signature. Going along with this, I made sure to order a strawberry drink. I also enjoyed a cup of Grandma’s chocolate ice cream, spicy mango gomichamoy, a mangonada ice cream bar, and a fruit yogurt ice cream bar.
Since I was thirsty, I started with the refreshing strawberry drink ($4.40 for a medium). Made with fresh strawberries, I appreciated the natural flavor and extra texture provided by the seeds and pulp. The milk provided some extra sweetness, and the ice kept the drink cool, making for a refreshing drink on a hot day. With only medium and large options sold, make sure you’re thirsty or be prepared to share.
Getting to what La Michoacana Express is known for, I ate one scoop of Grandma’s chocolate ice cream ($3.60). With the chocolate pieces finely ground up, this treat was quite smooth. Apparently, Grandma liked milk chocolate, so pick up a scoop of this if you agree with Grandma and enjoy your chocolate milder. Keep in mind “one scoop” means “one scoop”, so don’t go in expecting a heaping mound of ice cream.
For something different, I tried the mango gomichamoy ($4.43). These mango candies came in a small plastic cup and can be bought in a larger bag if you’d like. They were dense, chewy, just a bit spicy, and had a slight lime undertone. Thanks to their intense flavor, I felt satisfied snacking on two or three at a time, making these a long-lasting treat. In fact, a small cup lasted me more than a week which is unusual for any snack I buy just for myself.
To make sure I experienced a good variety, I got both water and milk-based ice cream bars. I went with mangonada ($2.43) for the water-based bar. Made with actual mango, I was treated to small chunks of it as I went along. The Tajín (chile-lime salt) and chamoy (fermented fruit, salt, sugar, and chiles) made up the rest of a traditional mangonada mix. Although usually served in a cup, this frozen variety was even more refreshing on a hot day (and stored well, too). I recommend this treat if you enjoy mango and don’t mind a little spicy with your sweet.
As for the milk-based bar, I went with fruit yogurt ($2.54). I enjoyed the artful presentation of the strawberry, kiwi fruit, and mango suspended in the yogurt. La Michoacana’s yogurt froze relatively soft, so I didn’t need to wait long before taking a bite (though the fruit proved tougher). Since this bar relied on fruit for most of the sweetness, the yogurt had a light vanilla taste that wasn’t too strong for me. In fact, the yogurt had such a nice, subtle taste that I wouldn’t mind just a plain yogurt bar in the future if they offer one.
Nestled right next to Harbor Freight on Cunningham Avenue along the way to Interstate 74, it’s easy to drive by La Michoacana Express on a busy day without stopping by. Hopefully this review convinced you to take the time and go inside the next time you are on your way into or out of town. They make so many different ice cream and frozen bar flavors I haven’t tried anywhere else that I know I’ll find something I want to try when next I visit.
La Michoacana Express
1508 N Cunningham Ave
Urbana
T–Sa 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Su 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.