Slush in Atlanta: Where to Find the Best Frozen Drinks & International Flavors

When people in Atlanta say “slush” or “slushie,” they might mean anything from a classic frozen convenience-store drink to a handcrafted, globally inspired frozen beverage. In a city as hot and humid as Atlanta, slush-style drinks are more than a treat—they’re part of how locals cool down almost year-round.

This guide focuses on slush in Atlanta’s international cuisine scene: where to find it, the different cultural twists you’ll see, and how to navigate your options around the city.

What “Slush” Means in Atlanta

In Atlanta, slush usually refers to a semi-frozen, flavored drink made with:

• Crushed or shaved ice (or a frozen machine mix)
• Fruit juices, syrups, teas, or sodas
• Sometimes milk, condensed milk, or yogurt
• Optional toppings like boba, jelly, or fruit

You’ll see slush drinks in several international contexts:

• Asian tea shops (bubble tea and fruit slushes)
• Latin American dessert spots (similar to raspados or frozen aguas frescas)
• Caribbean and tropical cafés (frozen fruit and coconut-based drinks)
• Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cafés (lemon-mint or fruit ice drinks)

Atlanta’s restaurant scene blends all of this, especially in dense dining areas like Buford Highway, Doraville, Duluth, Midtown, and Downtown.

Popular Types of International Slush Drinks in Atlanta

1. Asian-Style Fruit Slush & Bubble Tea Slush

Across metro Atlanta, especially along Buford Highway, you’ll find tea shops offering:

• Fruit slush (mango, lychee, passionfruit, strawberry, peach)
• Milk tea slush (frozen versions of milk teas like taro, Thai tea, or jasmine)
• Matcha or coffee slush
• Add-ons like tapioca pearls, popping boba, jelly, and pudding

These shops are often categorized as Asian, Taiwanese, or Chinese cafés, but many now fall under broader international dessert or tea house listings.

Typical flavor options you’ll see:

• Tropical: mango, pineapple, passionfruit, coconut
• Classic: strawberry, peach, lemon, grape
• Tea & coffee-based: Thai tea, matcha, espresso slush

These drinks are especially common in:

• Doraville / Chamblee / Buford Highway corridor
• Duluth / Johns Creek (large Korean and pan-Asian communities)
• Midtown and Downtown near Georgia Tech and Georgia State, where there’s demand from students and office workers

2. Latin American–Style Frozen Drinks

You’ll also find slush-like drinks at Mexican, Central American, and South American establishments, sometimes labeled differently:

• Raspados / raspas – shaved ice with fruit syrups or natural fruit purées
• Frozen aguas frescas – fruit waters like horchata, tamarind, or jamaica served partially frozen or blended with ice
• Mangonadas – mango slush with chili powder, chamoy, and sometimes tamarind candy

These are common in:

• Southwest Atlanta and South Fulton
• Plaza areas and mercados in Norcross, Chamblee, and Doraville
• Neighborhoods with strong Mexican and Central American dining options

If you’re scanning a menu in a taquería or Latin ice cream shop, check sections labeled:

• “Raspados”
• “Aguas frescas”
• “Especialidades” or “Postres” (specialties or desserts)

Even when “slush” isn’t in the name, the texture and experience are often very similar.

3. Caribbean & Tropical Frozen Drinks

Atlanta’s Caribbean restaurants and juice bars sometimes offer icy drinks that land squarely in the “slush” category, such as:

• Frozen fruit blends with mango, guava, passionfruit, or soursop
• Coconut-based slush drinks
• Non-alcoholic versions of popular tropical cocktails (like frozen piña-colada–style blends)

You’ll most often see these in:

• West End / Westside
• Decatur and Stone Mountain areas
• Parts of South DeKalb and Clayton County

Check menus for:

• “Frozen juice”
• “Tropical blends”
• “Virgin frozen drinks”

While some spots focus on juices and smoothies, many blend extra ice to make the drink more of a slush.

4. Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Slush-Style Drinks

You’re less likely to see the word “slush” at Mediterranean or Middle Eastern cafés, but similar refreshing drinks are common:

• Frozen lemonade with mint
• Iced and blended fruit juices
• Sometimes rose or orange blossom–scented frozen drinks

Look for:

• “Frozen mint lemonade”
• “Lemon-mint cooler”
• “Blended juice”

These are more common in:

• Decatur
• Midtown
• North Decatur / North Druid Hills
• Areas with a strong Mediterranean dining presence

Where to Find Slush-Style Drinks Around Atlanta

Here’s a high-level look at where in Atlanta you’re most likely to find international slush drinks and what each area tends to offer.

Quick Area Guide

When searching food directories or maps, useful terms include:

• “bubble tea”
• “boba”
• “raspados” or “Mexican ice cream”
• “international dessert”
• “tropical juice bar”

Ordering Slush Drinks in Atlanta: What to Expect

Common Customizations

At many Atlanta tea shops and cafés, you can customize your slush:

• Sweetness level: often 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%
• Ice level: more ice for a thicker slush, less ice for a smoother drink
• Toppings: boba, jelly, fresh fruit, cheese foam, whipped cream
• Base liquid: water, tea, milk, or non-dairy alternatives

🍹 Tip: In Atlanta’s summer heat, asking for regular or extra ice usually helps your slush hold its texture longer, especially if you’re walking or driving a distance.

Size and Price Ranges

Across the city, you’ll typically see:

• Medium (16–20 oz) – a standard single serving
• Large (24–32 oz) – more common at tea chains and dessert shops

Prices vary with neighborhood and type of shop, but in general frozen drinks from international cafés are often priced similarly to specialty coffees or smoothies.

Slush at Atlanta Restaurants vs. Convenience & Fast Food

It helps to distinguish between restaurant-style international slush drinks and everyday convenience-store versions:

• International restaurants & cafés

  • More focus on unique flavors (lychee, taro, tamarind, soursop, matcha)
  • Often use tea, real fruit, or house-made syrups
  • More customization for sweetness and add-ons
  • Typically found in areas known for ethnic dining

• Gas stations / chains / movie theaters

  • Usually classic flavors (cola, blue raspberry, cherry)
  • More uniform taste and texture
  • Less connection to any particular cuisine

If you’re specifically interested in “international cuisine”–style slush, focus on ethnic corridors like Buford Highway, ethnic markets, or international dessert cafés rather than general fast food.

How Slush Fits Into Atlanta’s Food Culture

In Atlanta, slush drinks are often:

• A dessert alternative after hot, spicy meals (common after Korean BBQ, hotpot, or spicy tacos)
• A grab-and-go treat for students and office workers in Midtown, Downtown, and near universities
• Part of a social stop at tea houses and dessert cafés where people linger and work or study

Because the city has:

• Long stretches of warm to hot weather, and
• A large number of immigrant-owned restaurants and cafés,

slush-style drinks show up year-round, not just in summer.

Practical Tips for Enjoying Slush in Atlanta

• Plan for traffic and heat: If you’re driving across town, expect your drink to melt; consider less ice and less sweetness so the flavor holds up as it dilutes.
• Ask about dairy and allergens: Many slushes are fruit-only, but some contain milk, cream, or condensed milk. Staff in most Atlanta cafés are used to questions about dairy and nuts.
• Try area-specific specialties:
  • On Buford Highway, look for taro, matcha, and brown sugar boba slush.
  • In Latin dessert shops, try a mangonada-style frozen drink.
  • Near Mediterranean cafés, look for frozen mint lemonade.
• Check hours before you go: Some smaller international cafés open late or close midafternoon, especially in strip centers around Doraville, Duluth, and Norcross.

Using Atlanta Resources to Find Slush Options

While there’s no single slush-only directory, you can use common tools and local knowledge:

• Neighborhood food districts:

  • Buford Highway (Atlanta–Doraville–Chamblee stretch)
  • Midtown / Tech Square
  • Downtown near Georgia State
  • Duluth’s Pleasant Hill Road corridor

• International grocery stores and food courts:
  Large Asian or Latin American supermarkets around Atlanta often have in-store cafés or nearby dessert shops that feature slush drinks.

• Events and festivals:
  At Atlanta-area cultural festivals, night markets, and food fairs, vendors frequently sell slush-style frozen drinks tied to their cuisine, from Thai fruit slushes to Mexican-style raspados.

If you’re in Atlanta and looking for “slush” within the international cuisine category, your best strategy is to explore Asian tea shops, Latin dessert spots, Caribbean cafés, and Mediterranean restaurants in the city’s major food corridors. You’ll find a wide variety of slush-style drinks that reflect the city’s diversity—and help you stay cool in the Georgia heat.