A mound of finely shaved ice doused in fruit syrup, served in a paper cup. A summer-only North Side tradition from a single cart that has run since 1934.
Gus Kalaris's family has scraped and sold ice balls from a cart at Allegheny Commons on the North Side since 1934, making it one of Pittsburgh's oldest continuously-run food stands. The ice is shaved fine and soaked in homemade fruit syrups, served cheap from a window. The cart is summer-only and cash-only; in 2025 the city gave it a ceremonial street sign honouring the tradition.
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