It can get pretty hot in the summer months here in Sacramento. Thankfully, places like the Woodland Sno Shack provide ice-cold treats to get you cooled down. Besides that, freshly made mini donuts covered with sugary glaze, rich chocolate, or creamy caramel are also available on the menu.
Food -
Basically, there's just two things to get on the menu: sno cones or mini donuts. Though the menu isn't vast, the items that they offer are done really, really well!
Let's talk about the sno cones first. These aren't your Taiwanese delicate shaved ice treats. These sno cones are of the type that I remember enjoying after a little league game back when I was a kid. The ice is chunky and there are many flavored syrups to select from to flavor it. The nostalgia factor is HUGE with this treat. Though sno cones aren't as refined as some modern ice desserts, these treats are no less enjoyed. In fact, I find myself craving these every so often! If you want to really go for a Woodland-style sno cone, try the mangonada flavor. That one kicks things up a notch or two!
The mini donuts are made right there on the spot. The menu has many forms in which they can come. I really love the regular glaze with a scoop of Gunther's ice-cream on the side. The hot donut with a bite of ice-cream is absolute perfection. The mixture of hot and cold at the same time is a great sensation and one that does need to be experienced.
Service/Atmosphere -
The service is fun and friendly. And how can it not be? It's a food truck parked in a parking lot next to a busy street. The vibe at the Sno Shack is down to earth and feels like home. There's nothing pretentious at all.
Because everything is made to order, you'll have to wait a few minutes before your item or items are ready. It's not a long wait, but I imagine if the business gets very busy the wait time could increase more than you'd like.
Price -
The price of sno cones have definitely risen since I was a little boy, but I wouldn't call these prices outrageous. A small 12 oz. is $3, a medium 16 oz. is $4, and a large 24 oz. is $5. So I'd say that isn't too bad. The donuts run a bit higher, especially if you'd like them topped with deliciousness. A standard dozen is only $4 though.
Special Tips and Recommendations -
Because they use Gunther's ice-cream, I suggest adding it in whenever you can. Gunther's is one of the best ice-cream vendors in the Sacramento area. Their stuff is excellent. If you're getting a sno cone, try it with the cream on top ($.50) and ice-cream on the bottom ($1.50) to really make your order go overdrive!
Bottom Line -
These are the places that the locals know about, that you wish you knew about! If you're looking for a dessert (be it hot or cold), you've gotta check out the Woodland Sno Shack off of Main Street! It's a favorite of folks in Woodland and I'm sure it'll be one of your's too!
Letter Grade
A
This sign tells exactly what you need to know!
Up close and personal with the mini donuts.
Look at that big scoop of Gunther's ice-cream.
On location in the parking lot.
