Ray's Candy Store
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A nostalgic sweet shop in New York since 1974, Ray's Candy store offers soft serve, fried bites, and even hot dogs. It's 24/7 and the perfect spot to hit your sweet tooth craving any time of day. We got their soft serve and it was so yummy.
Changed my order half way thru.... I don't regret it one bit. It's small af in here but by the looks of the traffic it's worth it!
This Alphabet City institution fills that greasy, late night, munchie craving when you want to relive your college days. Cheesy fries and onion rings in a grease-laden brown paper bag, deep fried candy bars and Oreos, soft serve and milkshakes, and the list goes on. Sure, the food is mediocre, and you might feel some oil and sugar-filled regret the morning after, but how I feel about Ray's is nothing but nostalgia and affection. This place is historic, and I hope Ray and his candy store stay in the East Village for a very long time.
Ray's Candy Store isn't just a food stop -- it's a New York institution with powdered sugar on its knuckles. Located at 113 Avenue A, Ray's is where you go when your cravings overpower your common sense. Fried Oreos, beignets buried in sugar, fries, milkshakes, egg creams, chili cheese hot dogs... basically everything your doctor warned you about but your soul desperately needs. All served from a perfectly ramshackle counter that feels like NYC before it got polished and overpriced. People don't just love Ray's -- they love Ray. Born in 1933, former Iranian Navy, lifelong grinder, and the definition of a real New Yorker. Through the gritty 70s, the Tompkins Square Riots, 9/11, the pandemic -- Ray kept the lights on. When times got rough, the neighborhood raised nearly $50K to make sure he could keep doing what he's always done: take care of people. No matter the hour, you'll find NYU kids, neighborhood legends with face tattoos, punk rock lifers, and confused but happy tourists from Germany and Japan all packed in together. Ray talks to everyone. Gives directions. Takes photos. Tells stories. The man's in his 90s and still outworks most people half his age. Ray's is for bad days, broken hearts, late nights, brutal hangovers, or loving someone who doesn't love you back. You walk in hungry -- you walk out better. I went classic: chili cheese hot dog (elite), fried Oreos (dangerously good), and finished it off with his famous egg cream -- no eggs, no cream, just chocolate syrup, milk, club soda, and NYC magic. Everybody should have a Ray's memory. Go in. Talk to Ray. Eat whatever feels right. And appreciate one of the most beloved humans this city has ever had.
Small, narrow shop, cluttered but warm. The owner is the beloved Mr. Ray. My niece had the fried oreos that she loved and my nephew ordered the "Obama Coffee". It fascinated me that I had been having Obama coffee all my life without knowing I was! Just a scoop of vanilla ice cream added to a cup of black coffee.
5 stars for this LES neighborhood staple. Best place to get a late-night snack. This colorful and quirky shop serves ice cream, frozen yogurt, hotdogs, fries, beignets, egg creams, and so much more - all reasonably priced. My go-to order is the chili cheese dog. There's a comforting feeling about this place.
I finally got to go after having this location saved in my Google maps for a few years! I enjoy making my own fried Oreos so I decided to their special of half fried Oreos & half fried beignets. They were so gooodd! Funny thing is I asked for zeppoles and i basically got a mini version of them I went on a Sat. night and luckily there was no line! I loved the decor and I liked how there was so much to look at and luckily it wasn't hard for me to choose from because I already had my heart set on fried goodies! Can't wait to come back and order more
Never gone wrong at rays. Must try every time you pass by th neighborhood. Best fried Oreos and soft serve I've ever had. They're accommodating too-- I got vanilla chocolate swirl with a dollar of strawberry on top. Superb indeed.
A New York institution everyone must visit. I've been wanting to visit Ray's candy store FOR YEARS & was happy I was in the neighborhood to stop by quickly & show support . Lucky enough I wanted to get my first egg cream & the man himself was there to make me one. This hidden gem of a store has almost everything you need to fulfill any craving. They have a vast menu, from pistachio ice cream to fish & fries. Will it be the best you've had? Maybe not but should we do our part to support a small business that has been here since 1974? YES. The interior has signs & decor literally covering the walls, if you look too quickly you might miss out on what feels like 100 options they have. The egg cream was really good, satisfied my sweet craving I had. My companion tried the pistachio ice cream & really enjoyed it. Had us in & out in less than 3 minutes. I even snagged myself a t shirt. I'm glad I got to visit a part of NYC history (that was almost lost during the pandemic).
Vibes in here are pretty insane. It's a tiny, old-school candy/ice cream shop with an eclectic menu ranging from fried Twix and root beer floats to chili cheese dogs and falafel. Mostly appreciate the fact that they have soft serve, which can be tough to find in this city
The two men in this storefront have the operations locked in. The root beer float was fantastic, as was the chocolate dipped soft serve cones. They can even mix flavors for you, we got vanilla and cookies and cream! One note, the prices for items are not the same on the wall as they are on the register. If something is listed a few times with different prices, assume it's the higher price.
Overall (A-) It's good but not great. Would maybe go by if in the neighborhood but not worth the special trip. The egg cream is pretty good and so is the ice cream. But nothing special. Yes unique but a reason why it hasn't been replicated by others. It's a novelty. Service is excellent. Gut instinct is that there are old folks hyping this up based on nostalgia.
Oh Ray, you have my whole heart. My husband and I have been to Ray's Candy Store multiple times in the summer when there's been a steady trickle of clientele, but recently we visited around 11:30AM on a random Tuesday when it was 25° outside. When we walked in, the shop appeared empty. We waited a few moments before Ray himself stood up from where he was (sleeping?) behind the counter and said, I'm up! I'm up! I know he stays there and maybe he was short staffed that day and wanted to rest up at the front of the shop. Anyway, he made us some delicious fried Oreos and fried twinkies. I didn't try the twinkies but the Oreos are absolutely sinful. They come out piping hot and are delicious. The place isn't much to look at. In fact, it's a pretty disorganized dump on the inside, but you can tell Ray has a system. He was absolutely as sweet as can be, and we were happy to wish him a belated 92nd birthday. We'll be back,
2 months ago
Not knowing his hours, I was bummed I didn't see Ray when I dropped by recently. I saw him interviewed by a local vlogger on YouTube and found out he works 12 hours a day from 4PM to 4AM every day. I believe he's 93 years old, is quite the renaissance man, and plans to celebrate his 100th birthday by hosting 100 naked women in his shop. He's been running this shop since 1974, and it looks like the type of timeworn, claustrophobic place I would've patronized in my youth. After all, Ray offers all the essential food staples - soft serve, Belgian fries, hot dogs, chicken fingers, deep-fried Oreos, sundaes, and traditional egg creams. What young punk wouldn't want to snack here. Open 24/7, it's just across the street from Tompkins Square Park where you can indulge on one of his treats on a bench. Since I had plans to patronize Please Don't Tell around the corner, I just ordered the $4 Vanilla Egg Cream, and the carbonated sweetness hit the spot (Photo). I'd sure like to see how he packs 100 women in here. DRINK - 4 stars...that was an authentic egg cream alright AMBIANCE - 4 stars...wouldn't change a thing SERVICE - 3.5 stars...industrious no-chat employee TOTAL - 4 stars...may Ray fulfill his bodacious fantasy RELATED - Thirsty and hungry in NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/bVvinyzdqi read more
A nostalgic sweet shop in New York since 1974, Ray's Candy store offers soft serve, fried bites, and even hot dogs. It's 24/7 and the perfect spot to hit your sweet tooth craving any time of day. We got their soft serve and it was so yummy. read more
This Alphabet City institution fills that greasy, late night, munchie craving when you want to relive your college days. Cheesy fries and onion rings in a grease-laden brown paper bag, deep fried candy bars and Oreos, soft serve and milkshakes, and the list goes on. Sure, the food is mediocre, and you might feel some oil and sugar-filled regret the morning after, but how I feel about Ray's is nothing but nostalgia and affection. This place is historic, and I hope Ray and his candy store stay in the East Village for a very long time. read more
Ray's Candy Store isn't just a food stop -- it's a New York institution with powdered sugar on its knuckles. Located at 113 Avenue A, Ray's is where you go when your cravings overpower your common sense. Fried Oreos, beignets buried in sugar, fries, milkshakes, egg creams, chili cheese hot dogs... basically everything your doctor warned you about but your soul desperately needs. All served from a perfectly ramshackle counter that feels like NYC before it got polished and overpriced. People don't just love Ray's -- they love Ray. Born in 1933, former Iranian Navy, lifelong grinder, and the definition of a real New Yorker. Through the gritty 70s, the Tompkins Square Riots, 9/11, the pandemic -- Ray kept the lights on. When times got rough, the neighborhood raised nearly $50K to make sure he could keep doing what he's always done: take care of people. No matter the hour, you'll find NYU kids, neighborhood legends with face tattoos, punk rock lifers, and confused but happy tourists from Germany and Japan all packed in together. Ray talks to everyone. Gives directions. Takes photos. Tells stories. The man's in his 90s and still outworks most people half his age. Ray's is for bad days, broken hearts, late nights, brutal hangovers, or loving someone who doesn't love you back. You walk in hungry -- you walk out better. I went classic: chili cheese hot dog (elite), fried Oreos (dangerously good), and finished it off with his famous egg cream -- no eggs, no cream, just chocolate syrup, milk, club soda, and NYC magic. Everybody should have a Ray's memory. Go in. Talk to Ray. Eat whatever feels right. And appreciate one of the most beloved humans this city has ever had. read more
Small, narrow shop, cluttered but warm. The owner is the beloved Mr. Ray. My niece had the fried oreos that she loved and my nephew ordered the "Obama Coffee". It fascinated me that I had been having Obama coffee all my life without knowing I was! Just a scoop of vanilla ice cream added to a cup of black coffee. read more
1 year ago
5 stars for this LES neighborhood staple. Best place to get a late-night snack. This colorful and quirky shop serves ice cream, frozen yogurt, hotdogs, fries, beignets, egg creams, and so much more - all reasonably priced. My go-to order is the chili cheese dog. There's a comforting feeling about this place. read more
1 year ago
I finally got to go after having this location saved in my Google maps for a few years! I enjoy making my own fried Oreos so I decided to their special of half fried Oreos & half fried beignets. They were so gooodd! Funny thing is I asked for zeppoles and i basically got a mini version of them I went on a Sat. night and luckily there was no line! I loved the decor and I liked how there was so much to look at and luckily it wasn't hard for me to choose from because I already had my heart set on fried goodies! Can't wait to come back and order more read more
6 months ago
Never gone wrong at rays. Must try every time you pass by th neighborhood. Best fried Oreos and soft serve I've ever had. They're accommodating too-- I got vanilla chocolate swirl with a dollar of strawberry on top. Superb indeed. read more
2 years ago
A New York institution everyone must visit. I've been wanting to visit Ray's candy store FOR YEARS & was happy I was in the neighborhood to stop by quickly & show support . Lucky enough I wanted to get my first egg cream & the man himself was there to make me one. This hidden gem of a store has almost everything you need to fulfill any craving. They have a vast menu, from pistachio ice cream to fish & fries. Will it be the best you've had? Maybe not but should we do our part to support a small business that has been here since 1974? YES. The interior has signs & decor literally covering the walls, if you look too quickly you might miss out on what feels like 100 options they have. The egg cream was really good, satisfied my sweet craving I had. My companion tried the pistachio ice cream & really enjoyed it. Had us in & out in less than 3 minutes. I even snagged myself a t shirt. I'm glad I got to visit a part of NYC history (that was almost lost during the pandemic). read more
Vibes in here are pretty insane. It's a tiny, old-school candy/ice cream shop with an eclectic menu ranging from fried Twix and root beer floats to chili cheese dogs and falafel. Mostly appreciate the fact that they have soft serve, which can be tough to find in this city read more
The two men in this storefront have the operations locked in. The root beer float was fantastic, as was the chocolate dipped soft serve cones. They can even mix flavors for you, we got vanilla and cookies and cream! One note, the prices for items are not the same on the wall as they are on the register. If something is listed a few times with different prices, assume it's the higher price. read more
Overall (A-) It's good but not great. Would maybe go by if in the neighborhood but not worth the special trip. The egg cream is pretty good and so is the ice cream. But nothing special. Yes unique but a reason why it hasn't been replicated by others. It's a novelty. Service is excellent. Gut instinct is that there are old folks hyping this up based on nostalgia. read more
Oh Ray, you have my whole heart. My husband and I have been to Ray's Candy Store multiple times in the summer when there's been a steady trickle of clientele, but recently we visited around 11:30AM on a random Tuesday when it was 25° outside. When we walked in, the shop appeared empty. We waited a few moments before Ray himself stood up from where he was (sleeping?) behind the counter and said, I'm up! I'm up! I know he stays there and maybe he was short staffed that day and wanted to rest up at the front of the shop. Anyway, he made us some delicious fried Oreos and fried twinkies. I didn't try the twinkies but the Oreos are absolutely sinful. They come out piping hot and are delicious. The place isn't much to look at. In fact, it's a pretty disorganized dump on the inside, but you can tell Ray has a system. He was absolutely as sweet as can be, and we were happy to wish him a belated 92nd birthday. We'll be back, read more
As a native New Yorker, Rays candy store in the east village has been a part of the urban landscape my entire life. It was awesome to see him smiling behind the counter and making my ice cream cone! He didn't even charge me for sprinkles. I'm so glad he's doing well and that a lot of folks still patronize this establishment, cause it's a landmark by now. read more
5 months ago
Pistachio! Loved it. Got the fried oreos too 12 for $7 is pretty good. I knew I was ordering out of gluttony so the cashier helped me ask for sugar on the side so my big backed behind could eat it for later Also there was not a lot of candy I really wanted a pack of gum read more
3 months ago
Ray is an East Village celebrity. Originally from Iran, Ray jumped overboard a Navy ship to swim away to a new life in the United States. He started the shop in the 70s and has been around ever since. Even when Ray recently sustained an assault, he went right back to work. This institution offers various soft serve, fries, fried Oreos, hotdogs, chili dogs, egg creams, onion rings. Any number of fried foods one might eat after a drunken soirée. Someone commented on his Instagram page, "no one has seen me drunker than this man." Most things are 7-10 dollars, though there are a few things that are more expensive, like 16 dollars or so. Pretty sure Ray is cash only. Ray still works the spot. He's about to turn 91. If you want to see him, get on with it. New York changes all the time. One day you might show up, and Ray will be gone. Don't miss your chance to experience this icon. read more
1 year ago
Went with friends at 1am on a Tuesday and had the best experience! Those fried oreos were to die for. The service was so friendly and even Ray was up that late! Can't wait to come back! read more
If you're looking for a late night place to satisfy for sweet tooth after a long night of drinking, this is the place to do get it. Rays candy store is opened until 4am (I think) and it has a wide selection of items to choose from. My friends and I came in the middle of the night and the workers were so nice even tho they had to deal with so many customers. The shop is really tiny and cute with so many pictures all around. The menu is practically hand written and there's a huge variety of items. Id skip the doughnuts and banana split but I really recommend the fried Oreos with vanilla ice cream with a small side of fudge! The perfect combo. read more
2 years ago
This spot reminds me of the good ol' days when ice cream was still creamy and the cone took a good 15 minutes to finish! We also got an egg cream which the lady was so excited to make. We'd been craving one all day and it hit the spot. This is a must visit, very nostalgic and delicious. I loved the old fashioned style of the place as well. read more
Ray's candy store! Ray is a local treasure, and he definitely always serves his favorite famous offerings with a smile, and sometimes sweet story. I definitely enjoy his beignets, tuxedo, cones, lime, Ricky's, in the summertime and egg creams in the summertime. It's not just his food that I look forward to... It's the suite service. Stella and ray really take care!! Fresh & delicious read more
Like the mid-range jump shot or writing your own paper instead of ChatGPT, soft serve ice cream has become a lost art in todays society. Growing up, the gold standard for me had always been the El Pollo Loco in Manhattan Beach. It was the perfect flavor, texture, and thickness (haha). However, they got rid of their soft serve machine many years back and I entered a deep depression. A cultural shift against soft serve ensued. Even other places I used to LOVE it from had since become watered down. They were half assed attempts at what we used to call soft served ice cream. I began to even think my love for soft serve was 90% nostalgia. Maybe I liked the fond memories spent in fast food lines with my Mom, Dad, and Brother as opposed to the combination of sugar, artificial flavors, and milk cream. I couldn't have been more wrong. Enter Ray's. RAY'S BROUGHT THE REAL BACK. I don't know what they do differently, but man when I took my first bite of Ray's soft serve it took me immediately back to that El Pollo Loco drive thru. The PERFECT soft serve. Last time my Mom came to visit, I told her about Ray's and it was one of our first stops as she shares my unrelenting passion for a good soft serve ice cream. The Matriarch felt the same as I did. THANK YOU RAY'S! read more
1 year ago
9 months ago
4 years ago
The only candy store with a Wikipedia page ? More history, than you can imagine in one small candy store. I accidentally came across this candy store with a dirty, graffiti filled, teal sign and had to give it a try. Don't they say appearances can be deceiving. This little shop has so much history (wiki page) and idiosyncrasies that will draw a curious person to give it a try. I'm glad I tried Ray's Candy Store. The deep fried Oreos were delicious. The service was amazing and if I lived close to Manhattan I would work through their unique menu. If you're nearby grab some dessert and take a walk across the street for a stroll in Tompkins Square Park. read more
2 years ago
Cute iconic place that you have to visit once in your life. You go for the experience and not so much the quality and taste. Had their fried bananas, beignets, fried Twix, fried Oreos, choc/vanille egg cream and Obama coffee ( black coffee with vanilla ice cream). Don't waste your time with the friend Bananas as they were 1/10. However oreos were - 10/10. read more
2 years ago
Got the egg cream and loved it. The lady working the counter was super friendly and inviting. I know this isn't really their fault but, be careful with their merch. I spent $35 on a t-shirt with a cool design. The only problem was the giant hole that lead from front to back. I'm traveling and don't have a chance to return the shirt. I'd double check your shirt inside the packaging if I was you. read more
A local favorite that I'm glad I finally got the chance to check out!! Their soft serve hit the spot on a hot humid day! It's creamy, sweet, and HUGE!! They stack and pack their cones, what's not to love! I definitely want to try their other treats!! read more
I was actually going to ignore this place and walk-on by, but the signs for beignets caught my eyes. Who doesn't love beignets? I am extremely picky about beignets, so I was a bit surprised by the place this place selling them. There's a lot going on in this store. It looks like a bodega but it's not. And I'm not really sure what one would consider this place, they sell desserts, food, and candy. There's cheap pictures of their desserts all over the walls, there's also pictures of celebrities who no one would think they would come to a place like this. They have an old fashion gold cash register, which I thought looked pretty cool. The beignets are made to order and took about six minutes. They were small, more like bite size, and they were decent. I have never seen beignets so small, but they weren't bad. I would come back to this place again, but not for the beignets- honestly walking in and looking around is a treat in itself. read more
Fried Oreos are crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside, with the warm and melted Oreo filling providing a satisfying contrast to the crispy coating. If you're a fan of fried and sweet treats, the fried Oreos at Ray's Candy Store is worth checking out. They're a delicious and indulgent snack that's perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. Cash only! read more
After living in East Village for 2 years, around the corner from Ray's, I never made it here until I was about to leave NYC. This was a big mistake. My friend suggested this place for a sweet treat after dinner one night. We ordered at the walk up window. The beignets are super cheap, and it cost just a few dollars for these. The staff were friendly and they were served quickly. We took them away and went to sit in Tompkins square park, sharing them among us. They easily satisfied the four of us. They were light and perfectly cooked. I honestly think they are way better than beignets in New Orleans. read more
6 months ago
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More info about Ray's Candy Store
113 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
East Village, Alphabet City
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(212) 505-7609
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Ask the Community - Ray's Candy Store
Could I coerce someone to drop by and ship me a box of the deep-fried oreos? What would you charge for such a service? I'm in Portland, OR.
Afraid those won’t travel well! You’ll have to come to the store and try them in-person!
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