New Johnson County dessert shop opens: Doughnuts, dirty soda, ice cream, more
Some shops sell doughnuts, while ice cream is the main event at others. More still specialize in syrup-filled dirty sodas.
But Sugar Llamas is unique in that it offers all three, as well as coffee, energy drinks, shakes and more.
The one-stop-dessert-shop hailing from Tulsa has just opened its first location in the Kansas City area. Sugar Llamas just opened its 8971 Metcalf Ave. location in Overland Park, and franchise owner Syed Haider hopes it’s the first of many.
“The goal is more expansion. More stores are coming in,” Haider said. “We have to find the right partners.”
When customers walk into Sugar Llamas, they’ll see a few chairs and one long counter with several stations against the wall. On the far left side of the bar, over a dozen different flavors of Ashby’s super creamy, high-butterfat ice cream. Flavors include Superman, moose tracks, Dubai chocolate and Play Dough (bright yellow vanilla ice cream with chunks of red and blue cookie dough).
A station to create coffee drinks, dirty sodas and more is in the middle. Lattes, iced chai, caramel macchiato, frappes, and more are offered.
On the far right is the mini doughnut station. There, an employee fires up a machine that tosses small rings of doughnut batter into a fryer. As they float through the hot oil, they catch on the end of a machine, which tosses them onto the table to cool. The employee then coats the bite-size pieces in syrups and other toppings.
Mini doughnut flavors include blueberry pancake, banana pudding, cinnamon roll, cotton candy, hazelnut, s’mores and more.
Haider said many customers enjoy watching the doughnuts, which are always fresh-to-order, moving down the line. One of the “non-negotiables” at his business is the customer experience.
“It’s like a burst of flavors in your mouth,” he said. “It’s the experience of the doughnuts being made in front of you.”
Sugar Llamas offers combinations like the Llama Smash (two scoops of ice cream smashed between a hot Bundt cake) and The Summit (two scoops of ice cream piled atop six mini doughnuts). The Llama Sundae features layered ice cream, hot fudge and “llama ears” (marshmallows).
Whatever folks are craving, Haider said there’s something for everyone.
“It’s not for one, it’s for all,” he said.
The Overland Park spot is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily for now. Its hours will increase after its grand opening the first week of May.
Sugar Llamas first opened in Tulsa in 2021 and now has close to 20 locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Connecticut. More are on the way.
Its Wichita spot opened in 2023.