When it comes to cooling off in Atlanta’s summer heat, it’s time to think beyond the ice cream cone.

There’s nothing wrong with a great scoop, but sometimes the weather calls for something lighter, icier and a little more unexpected. Luckily, Atlanta is home to a wider world of frozen desserts, from Indonesian shaved ice to Mexican popsicles.

Here are some treats worth seeking out in Atlanta this summer. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can try to hit all of these spots in one day — they’re all found along Buford Highway.

Es Campur at Gula Indonesian Dessert Cafe

Gula means “sugar” in Indonesian, and there’s no shortage of sweetness at this Indonesian dessert cafe.

For a frozen treat, look under the “es” (ice) category. Each dessert arrives in a beautiful glass dish piled high with shaved ice and a multitude of toppings that seem like they shouldn’t work together — but somehow do.

There are many options to choose from, but AJC dessert columnist Lia Picard writes that she was drawn to the es campur, a colorful combination of sliced avocado, coconut, cubes of bright green grass jelly, jackfruit and condensed milk. A healthy pour of rose syrup imparts a lovely floral flavor as well as a soft pink hue.

5177-A Buford Highway NE, Doraville. 470-359-4899

Shaved ice at Meet Fresh

You’ll find Meet Fresh, a national chain, in the H Mart shopping center in Doraville. The minimalist cafe specializes in Taiwanese desserts like milk tea tofu pudding and purple rice soup. On a hot day, however, the black sugar boba milk shaved ice is a treat, both visually and for the taste buds. Powdery-soft, fluffy ice is piled mountain-high and topped with a heaping pile of black sugar boba, red beans and springy caramel pudding (akin to flan). A scoop of vanilla ice cream sits on top. It’s like boba milk tea in shaved ice form, making it refreshing yet sweet.

6035 Peachtree Blvd., Atlanta. 678-691-9986, meetfresh.us

Halo halo at Kamayan ATL

There are many reasons to visit Kamayan ATL, the colorfulFilipino restaurant that recently moved into a larger space next door to its original location. When the heat is sweltering, its halo halo rises to the top of the list. Served in a parfait glass, the eye-catching dessert features layers of shaved ice, condensed milk and a variety of jellies, including coconut and palm, along with tapioca and mung beans. Additional accouterments adorning the stack include a scoop of ube ice cream, a piece of flan and gummy candies.

5150 Buford Highway NE, Doraville. 678-938-3584, kamayanatl.com

🧊 Read more: Get the full list of five frozen treats to try in Atlanta.

In Atlanta, unfettered by the traditional divisions of ethnic enclaves, immigrants have become integral parts of our communities, sharing their heritage and history with us across our neighborhoods and suburbs.

So, global dining bastion that Buford Highway is, it’s far from the only avenue for delicious food with a toehold still in the motherland. A fantastic, beloved immigrant-owned spot could be even closer and more convenient than you think.

📍 Bene Korean BBQ

The scene at Bene Korean BBQ is set with contemporary design, a moody color palette and modern ventilation that leaves just enough of the aroma of grilled meat in the air to get mouths watering.

In this grand-scale concept by Lisa Kim, the Miss Gogi founder, luxury makes it onto the menu as well, with premium cuts not always found at other KBBQs like tomahawk steaks, as well as delicious upgrades like an exceptionally airy version of a classic Korean seafood pancake.

More importantly, Kim’s north star remains scratch-made food, “using traditional methods and quality ingredients,” including kimchi that’s made from a family recipe, she said.

555 Main St. NE, Atlanta. 770-800-7323, benekoreansteak.com

📍 Chai Box Cafe

While chai drinks — including hot lattes and iced versions of signature blends — are the headliners, they make up just a few of many unique options at the Chai Box Café. Ceremonial-grade matcha, a rotation of more than 15 loose-leaf blends and South Asian-roasted coffee are also on the menu. Seasonal drinks with house-made syrups might include iced coconut water topped with lychee malai (cream).

To accompany the beverages, the Chai Box Cafe developed a pastry program that owner Monica Sunny excitedly calls a true East-meets-West collaboration. Saag paneer danishes and crumbly pistachio sable cookies with edible flowers and cream are particularly pretty treats in an equally aesthetic setting.

1963 Howell Mill Rd. NW, Atlanta. 844-242-4269, thechaibox.com/pages/chai-cafe

📍 Marrakech Express

Many of chef-owner Amal Alaoui’s dishes come directly from family recipes using time-honored techniques. She prides herself on the accurate replication of these flavors, going so far as importing spices directly from Morocco to ensure that there are no colorants or commercial additives. Because the dishes are true to her experiences with home cooking in Marrakech, there is no curry or soy in them, either.

“We can make our own preserved lemons, make our own spiced olives and our own chermoula all here in Atlanta, too,” she said.

2450 Atlanta Rd SE Ste. 400, Smyrna. 770-405-8298, marrakechexpressrestaurant.com

🍽️ Read more: August’s exploration of immigrant cuisine visits a Chinese bakery, a Korean BBQ grill and a Grant Park Filipino restaurant.

Chicken Caesar burgers make for an excellent weeknight meal. The burgers come together quickly and, because the dressing is so flavorful, it does most of the heavy lifting — no need to pull out a long list of ingredients.

💡 Bottled Caesar salad dressing touches each component of the chicken burgers

The best way to build flavor in chicken Caesar burgers is to add salad dressing in as many places as possible. Work a little bit into the burger patties, use it to dress the lettuce and spread it on the buns in lieu of mayonnaise or ketchup. Not only does it supply tangy, sweet and umami-filled notes across the dish, it also provides richness in the otherwise lean meat.

💡 Lean on Parmesan cheese for even more umami in chicken Caesar burgers

Store-bought ingredients like Caesar dressing are excellent shortcuts, but sometimes they can taste a little bit flat. It’s often necessary to amplify at least one of its ingredients to make the dish taste its best. In this case, we’re boosting its umami notes with Parmesan cheese. For maximum flavor, I recommend using Parmigiano-Reggiano and finely grating it yourself, but if budget doesn’t allow, you can use a domestic Parmesan.

💡 Broiling is the best way to cook tender chicken burger patties

While it is certainly possible to sear or grill chicken burgers, I prefer to cook these under the broiler. Broiling is hands-free, so you have time to assemble the salad topping, and, because the patties are cooked on a sheet pan, the patties are given some support before they firm up.

🍔 Get the full recipe for these 30-minute chicken Caesar burgers