A summer guide to San Diego's 21 best gourmet ice cream shops

July is National Ice Cream Month, so there are still a few day left in the month to support your local ice cream scoop shops. For this ice cream roundup, we picked our favorite locally owned shops that serve artisan, premium ice creams.

There are no soft serve, frozen yogurt or gelato shops in this story. We know An’s Dry Cleaning gelato shop in North Park was named the No. 2 ice cream shop in America by USA Today readers this week (story link below). But we’ll save gelaterias and other frozen treat shops for future tasty rounds.

Here’s the rundown on ice cream shops:

Sea Salt Caramel at Antójate Ice Cream in National City.

Antójate Ice Cream – National City

Antójate, the Spanish word for “crave,” opened five years ago in the strip mall near the Carnival market at Eighth Street and Palm Avenue in National City. Under new ownership for the past year, the small shop serves a mix of house-made American, Mexican and Asian-style ice creams and sorbets. House favorites are the bright-yellow elote, which is made with puréed sweet corn, and the ube, a plum-colored variety made with the purple yams popular in Filipino cuisine. Try the sea salt caramel, which has gooey caramel, sliced almonds and a delightful mix of sweet and salt in every bite. A scoop is $3.23. 1716 E Eighth St., National City. (909) 815-1358, instagram.com/antojate.icecream

The Baked Bear custom ice cream sandwich.

Baked Bear, multiple locations

Founded in Pacific Beach in 2013 by San Diego pals Rob Robbins and Shane Stanger, this gourmet ice cream sandwich chain has more than two dozen stores in 10 states. Diners can choose from more than a dozen house-churned ice cream flavors (including vegan options) made with all-natural ingredients. The ice cream is served in cones, cups and pans, or sandwiched between either fresh-baked cookies or brownies, then rolled in sprinkles or other toppings. The house signature ice cream is Bear Batter, a bright blue cake batter variety with chunks of brownies and sprinkles mixed in. My favorites flavors are Mud Pie and Toasted S’mores. An ice cream sandwich is $8. 4516 Mission Blvd, Suite C, Pacific Beach; 587 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite B, Encinitas; 11640 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 120, Carmel Mountain Ranch. thebakedbear.com

The four-flavor flight from Cali Cream Homemade Ice Cream.

Cali Cream Homemade Ice Cream, Gaslamp & Encinitas

Launched in 2018 in the Gaslamp Quarter, this family-run gourmet ice cream business offers more than 70 flavors created by its co-founders Ken Schulenburg and Juliana Ortiz. Flavors change regularly and can sell out quickly because they’re made in small batches to ensure freshness. Be prepared for long lines in the afternoons and evenings. Vegan and dairy-free options are available, along with frozen yogurt and smoothies. Top-selling flavors include the neon-blue Cookie Monster, Almond Joy and Lavender Honeycomb. I especially like the peanut butter salted fudge. One scoop is $5.75 and a “double-flavor” is $7.75. 425 Market St., Gaslamp Quarter. 90 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. calicreamicecream.com

The six-flavor flight from Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream.

Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream, North Park & Midway

Hammond’s boasts 300 ice cream flavors, though you’ll only find 32 rotating flavors at its two locations. All the flavors are made with ice cream from Tropical Dreams Hawaiian Ice Cream dairy on the big island of Hawaii. Can’t decide what to choose? Consider a flight, with choice of scoops served up in tiny waffle cone “flights,” ranging in size from two scoops to the full 32. Hawaiian-inspired favorites include the macadamia nut, pineapple coconut cream, Kona coffee Kahlua and lychee cream, but don’t miss the not-so-basic Tahitian vanilla. One scoop is $6.25. 3740 Sports Arena Blvd., Suite 6, San Diego; 3077 University Ave., San Diego. hammondsgourmet.com

Three-gallon tubs of fresh-made ice cream at Handel's Homemade Ice Cream in Carlsbad.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, multiple locations

Handel’s arrived in San Diego County in 2017. Today there are 10 stores from Otay to Oceanside and from Pacific Beach to Santee. Handel’s was started in 1945, when Alice Handel started selling her homemade ice cream at her husband’s gas station in Youngstown, Ohio. Today there are more than 100 corporate and franchise shops in 11 states. Each shop carries 45 flavors. The small-batch ice creams are known for the generosity of mixed-in ingredients and portion servings are large. Top-sellers include the Graham Central Station (graham cracker-flavored ice cream with graham ripple and chocolate covered honeycomb crunch), butter pecan, Tahitian vanilla bean and Chocoholic Chunk. One scoop (which is more like 2-1/2 scoops) is $5.50. For locations, visit handelsicecream.com

Holy Paleta's Marias con Cajete ice cream.

Holy Paleta, Bonita & Little Italy

Founded in 2018 by Bonita resident Angelica Gonzalez, this frozen dessert shop is named for its wildly imaginative paletas (the Spanish word for popsicles). A year or so ago, she began selling a limited selection of house-churned premium ice creams by the scoop. Like the paletas, the ice creams are all-natural and they celebrate traditional Mexican ingredients. Options include the Gansito (named for the strawberry-filled lunchbox snack cakes), fresas con crema (strawberries and cream), Mexican mocha (chocolate with cinnamon) and Asian varieties like Matcha & Cookies and Cookies & Taro. But my favorite is the Marias con Cajete (vanilla ice cream with ribbons of caramel and crumbled Marias biscuit cookies from Mexico). A scoop is $5.39. 4230 Bonita Road, Suite B, Bonita; 2040 India St., Little Italy; also at Petco Park. holypaleta.com

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, Carlsbad & North Park

Jeni Britton founded her Ohio-based ice cream chain in 2002 and today there are more than 65 shops nationwide. The first of two local shops opened last year in La Costa. Jeni’s is known for its unusual and cleverly named flavors made with fair-trade and all-natural ingredients. As a result, samples are generously offered, so expect a line in the afternoons and evenings. Some of Jeni’s stranger flavors are Everything Bagel and Powdered Jelly Doughnut. But the best-sellers are Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Brambleberry Crisp, Darkest Chocolate, Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Flecks and Salty Caramel. 7740 El Camino Real, Carlsbad; 2871 University Ave., North Park. jenis.com

Jojo’s Artisan Creamery, Encinitas

This artisinal, family-owned shop opened in 2017 in the Lumberyard shopping center. The shop makes super-premium ice creams with organic cream from Straus Family Creamery, gourmet ingredients and no artificial colors or additives. Current flavors include Nibby Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup, Cayenne Sea Salt Caramel and Honey Lavender. The shop also makes gluten-free waffle cones, four topping sauces and secret-recipe chocolate cookies (a free mini cookie comes with each ice cream order). 937 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite 106, Encinitas. (760) 487-5937. jojoscreamery.com

Kula Ice Cream sells non-dairy and gluten-free ice cream.

Kula Ice Cream, Sorrento Mesa

Founded in 2019 by Libby Lefanowicz, Kula is San Diego County’s first dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan creamery brand. Kula products are available at supermarkets and by special order, but there’s also a scoop shop where customers can buy custom ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches and more. Top-selling flavors are Lava Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Unicorn Poop, Peanut Butter Chip and Sunflower Rum Raspberry. Scoops are $7. 9883 Pacific Heights Blvd., Suite F., San Diego. kulaicecream.com

Mariposa Ice Cream shop in Normal Heights.

Mariposa Ice Cream, Normal Heights

In 2016, Mariposa lost its “ice cream man,” 74-year-old Dick Van Ransom, but the beloved made-from-scratch scoop shop carries in the hands of his widow, Anna. The shop is known for its large variety of flavors and homemade hot fudge. This month’s specialty flavors are peanut butter fudge and rocky road. A scoop is $4.50. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. 3450 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. (619) 284-5197. mariposaicecream.com

Maple Pecan Blondie is one of Mr. Trustee Creamery's new limited-edition fall flavors.

Mr. Trustee Creamery, Mission Hills

Trust Restaurant Group opened this walk-up ice cream window next to its Cardellino restaurant during the early months of the pandemic. It sells small-batch ice cream and soft-serve created by Trust’s executive pastry chef Jeremy Harville. The shop serves Americana flavors with a twist, like chocolate-covered strawberry and salted cookie dough. Closed Mondays. Scoops are $6 in a cup or $7 in a cone. 4033 Goldfinch St., Mission Hills. instagram.com/cardellinosd

Servers wait for customers at Moo Time Creamery in Coronado.

Moo Time Creamery, Coronado

A Coronado institution since 1998, Moo Time makes more than 50 flavors of super-premium ice cream served in fresh-baked waffle cones. Customers can also make their own flavor with a vanilla base and mix-ins of fruit, nuts, cookies, candies and fudge and there’s a long menu of sundae options. Flavor of the month for July is Orange Dreamsicle, a vanilla ice cream/orange sherbet swirl. A scoop is $5.50. 1025 Orange Ave., Coronado. mootimecreamerysd.com

Mutual Friend Ice Cream's flavor Dark Horse Coffee.

Mutual Friend Ice Cream, South Park

Founded in 2018 by the owners of San Diego-based Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, this small-batch, craft ice cream company sells just under a dozen richly flavored varieties. Naturally there’s a Dark Horse Coffee flavor, and a cold brew sorbet. But flavors change regularly. This week’s specialty flavors are Erl’s Ube Cookies Lilikoi sorbet (passion fruit) and Peanut Butter with Triple Chocolate Cookie. But I recommend the Haole Pie, with macadamia nut ice cream and chunks of Oreos. A scoop is $4.75. 3004 Juniper St., San Diego. mutualfriendicecream.com

Coffee almond fudge ice cream at Niederfrank's ice cream shop in National City.

Niederfrank’s Ice Cream, National City

Next door to National City’s new Market on 8th food hall is one of the city’s oldest food businesses. Established by Elmer Niederfrank in 1948, Niederfrank’s Ice Cream has been run since 1995 by Patti Finnegan and Mary Ellen Faught, and still churns out all of its own all-natural ice cream. The retro scoop shop still has the look and feel of the 1950s, but since the pandemic, the interior of the store has been closed and all orders are processed at a counter by the door. The shop’s two top-selling flavors are macadamia nut and pistachio. But my go-to flavor is the decadent coffee almond fudge, which is extra creamy and a nice mix of salty and sweet. A scoop is $5.25. Neiderfrank’s also has a large selection of its best-selling ice creams in half-gallon containers for $16.50. Niederfrank’s Ice Cream, 726 A Ave., National City. niederfranksicecreams.com

Mazapán ice cream at Oasis Ice Cream Parlor in Imperial Beach.

Oasis Ice Cream Parlor, Imperial Beach

Founded in 1978 by the late Juan Andrade, this cash-only shop is still run by his family with the same devotion to churning out made-from-scratch Mexican-style ice creams and fruit sorbets. Popular flavors include mazápan (made with Mexico’s De la Rosa peanut marzipan candy), Gansito (made with the Mexican strawberry and chocolate snack cakes), queso (cheese), corn, rice, watermelon, lime and tamarindo. The shop also sells paletas (fruit popsicles). A scoop is $3.80. 1832 Coronado Ave., Imperial Beach. oasisicecreamsd.wixsite.com

Pineapple coconut cream ice cream at Sadie's Hand Crafted Ice Cream in Bonita.

Sadie’s Hand-Crafted Mexican Ice Cream, Bonita

San Diego restaurateur Emilio Tomez opened this shop in April 2022, serving small-batch, Mexican-inspired flavors. It’s named after his 11-year-old daughter Sadie, whose profile is on the shop’s logo. Sadie’s is generous with tasting samples and offers oversize portions. The shop’s top sellers are Chocolate Abuelita (Mexican-style chocolate with cinnamon) and Beso de Ángel Spanish for “angel’s kiss,” which is cherry ice cream with Maraschino cherries and marshmallows). Rompope is inspired by an eggnog-style Mexican liqueur. I recommend the fluffy and flavorful Pineapple Coconut Cream. A hefty single scoop, big enough to fill a disposable coffee cup, is $6.75. 3001 Bonita Road, Suite 200, Chula Vista. instagram.com/sadieshandcrafted

James Coffee & Compartes Love Nuts ice cream at Salt & Straw in Little Italy.

Salt & Straw, multiple locations

The Oregon-born super-premium ice cream chain opened its first San Diego store in 2017. Salt & Straw is known for its ultra-creamy, high-butterfat content, its small-batch freshness and its all-natural ingredients. But most of all, it’s known for its wildly original and savory flavors, like this month’s Arbequina Olive Oil or the Pear & Blue Cheese. Each shop collaborates with local chefs, beer and ingredient-makers and serves 12 regular flavors and five seasonal varieties that change monthly. July is “Berry Berry” month. 1670 India St., Little Italy; One Paseo, 3704 Caminito Court, Suite 0580, Del Mar; Westfield UTC (near Crate & Barrel), 4575 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego. saltandstraw.com/sd-locations/

The vibrant purple Ube + Pandesal Toffee is the best seller at Stella Jean's Ice Cream in PB.

Stella Jean’s, multiple locations

From the creators of Pop Pie Co. (after all, what goes better with pie than the makings for a la mode?), these mini scoop shops feature super premium traditional and international flavors. Top sellers include s’mores, mango sticky rice, brown butter pecan and Ube+Pandelsal Toffee, but seasonal varieties include Thai Tea Cookie Monster, Mango Enchilada and Guava Cream Cheese. The original Stella’s shop is at 4404 Park Blvd., Suite B, in University Heights, but there are also locations in Pacific Beach, Point Loma and Kensington, with two more opening soon in South Park and Carlsbad. A scoop is $5.25. stellajeans.com

Sunny Scoops

Opened by the Heimler family of San Diego about 18 months ago, this colorful shop in south Rancho Bernardo exclusively serves ice cream from The Chocolate Shoppe, a nationally acclaimed Wisconsin dairy. The shop carries 24 rotating flavors daily and also serves ice cream waffle tacos, sundaes, floats, affogatos, boba teas, snakes and more. Top-selling flavors are the rich, dark Zanzibar Chocolate, delicious salted caramel and surprisingly good Fat Elvis (banana ice cream with peanut butter and chocolate). 12120 Alta Carmel Ct., Ste A, San Diego. sunnyscoopsicecream.com

Ella Wynn, 17, scoops ice cream in her family's shop called Wynston's Ice Cream Co.

Wynston’s Ice Cream Co., San Marcos & Del Mar

Chris and Sarah Wynn’s 3-year-old scoop shop business got a massive boost last year when its For the Wynn Chocolate ice cream was ranked one of the four best chocolate ice creams in America by the North American Ice Cream Association. Earlier this year, Wynston’s Old Reliable Vanilla was also a winner, earning second place (along with 11 others) in the association’s 2023 awards. Wynston’s has a limited menu with seven “always” flavors, two dairy-free options and a rotating list of “sometimes” flavors that change monthly. This month’s “sometimes” scoops include Smashed Snickers, Strawberry Shortcake, Pistachio Honey and Paul Bunyan Latté. A scoop is $4. 250 N. City Drive, Suite 7, San Marcos; 1202 Camino Del Mar, Suite A, Del Mar. wynstons.com

An ice cream flight at The Craft Creamery in Point Loma. The shop’s top-selling flavor is Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chip, front right.

(Pam Kragen/The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Craft Creamery is a tasting room for local, national ice cream brands

Launched in 2021 by San Diego aerospace engineer Alex Bock and purchased last December by San Diego’s Moniker Group, Craft Creamery borrows the craft beer taproom concept to sell up to 50 varieties of ice cream from creameries throughout the United States.

The list of ice cream brands rotates regularly, with options that include Food & Wine Magazine’s No. 1 ice cream spot Molly Moon in Seattle, Chicago’s 124-year-old Petersen’s Ice Cream and Idaho’s Reed’s Dairy. Five brands are offered each week, with four to five flavors each. Shipments arrive on Tuesdays, and as supplies are sold out, they’re removed from the electronic menu board, so the best time to come is midweek for the most choices. Craft Creamery is all about the ice cream — meaning there are no toppings, sauces or sundaes.

On a recent visit, the featured ice creams were from Ohio’s Graeter’s Ice Cream, founded in 1870; Fosselman’s of Alhambra; Wisconsin’s Chocolate Shoppe; Tillamook Dairy in Oregon; and Double Rainbow in San Francisco; and Mutual Friend in San Diego. With up to 25 flavors to choose from, a four-scoop flight for $12 is a good option.

Craft Creamery’s all-time top-selling scoop is Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chip, a dense, richly flavored purple ice cream studded with chunks of dark chocolate. Another big seller is Chocolate Shoppe’s Fat Elvis, a banana ice cream with peanut butter and chocolate.

1302 Rosecrans St., Point Loma. craftcreamerysd.com.

Ice cream selections from The Craft Creamery in Point Loma.

[email protected]

Source link

Looking for something?

2022 Oscars Nominee Swag Bag

Highland Titles

Bahlsen Biscuits

Byroe

Whipped Drinks

Opopop