In San Diego, we take our ice cream very seriously. Maybe it's our warm weather or our laid-back lifestyle, but nobody does ice cream quite like we do! From San Ysidro to Oceanside, you'll discover delicious homemade ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, shave ice, decadent milkshakes and even Hula Pie! Add a trip to one of our favorite frozen treat spots to your San Diego bucket list. Better yet, visit several!
An's Dry Cleaning
3017 Adams Avenue, North Park
Voted #1 ice cream shop in America by USA Today in June 2024! Don't be fooled by the name or the clothes hangers in the window, this former dry-cleaning store turned gelato shop serves up some of the best ice cream in the country. Paying homage to its former life as the neighborhood dry cleaning store, this scoop shop names its unique flavors after freshly-washed fabrics you might've found waiting in line for pickup. We highly recommend this spot, but don't take our word for it; try it yourself! Other locations include An's Hatmakers (Del Mar) and An's Athletic Fields Services (Petco Park.)
An's Hatmakers
1555 Camino Del Mar
Sister shop to An's Dry Cleaning named in honor of the lavish hats, bonnets and caps seen at the Del Mar Racetrack.
The Baked Bear
Pacific Beach, Encinitas, Carmel Mountain
Is there anything better than custom-made ice cream sandwiches? At The Baked Bear, choose from freshly baked brownies or cookies (with rotating flavors) for your sandwich (or mix and match). Ask for it "hot-pressed" if you like your sandwich extra gooey. Don't forget to add toppings like sprinkles or chopped nuts for that extra touch.
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Bing Haus
4425 Convoy St. #216
1132 E Plaza Blvd., National City
Bing Haus specializes in Thai-style "rolled ice cream" creations and fun, soft-serve flavors like Charcoal Vanilla and Thai Tea. Stop by during holidays like Halloween and Christmas for special limited-time flavors. Now serving mochi donuts made fresh in-house daily.
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Boba Bar and Desserts
4619 Convoy St. F., Kearny Mesa
1132 E Plaza Blvd., National City
Your one-stop shop for sweet treats! Boba Bar offers ice cream, shaved snow, boba drinks and more. Make sure to try the ice cream puffle, an egg-shaped waffle filled with your choice of soft-serve ice cream.
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Bobboi Natural Gelato
8008 Girard Ave., La Jolla
Kettner Blvd., Little Italy
Little Italy Food Hall
736 Ventura Pl, Mission Beach
Bobboi Natural Gelato was voted #8 in Yelp's 100 Best-Reviewed Places to eat in the country for a reason! Hundreds of online reviews don’t lie; Bobboi has top-notch gelato made daily with fresh, organic and local ingredients.
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Duke's La Jolla
1216 Prospect St., La Jolla
Hidden within Duke's delicious menu is a prize in San Diego's dessert world: the Hula Pie, featuring macadamia nut ice cream, cookie crust and hot fudge. Stop by for a slice of this incredible Hawaiian dessert and enjoy a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla Cove.
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EscoGelato
122 S Kalmia St, Escondido
If you're craving something a little lighter and creamier, head to Escondido's beloved gelato shop for unique flavors like Strawberry Balsamic and Spicy Mango or indulge in more traditional flavors like Rocky Road and Chocolate Peanut Butter. Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong!
Gelato Paradiso
918 Orange Ave.
Treat your tastebuds to handmade artisanal gelato made with old-world traditions and recipes that have been passed down through the generations. Don't forget to ask about the flavor of the month.
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Hanna’s Creamery & Café
Westfield UTC
4485 La Jolla Village Dr. F-13
Get your sweet fix at Hanna’s Creamery & Café, a treat-filled wonderland snuggled in the heart of University Town Center. Enjoy the yummy goodness of homemade ice cream, try their irresistible, freshly-baked cookies or have some delicious Lavazza Coffee that will definitely perk up your day.
Handel's
Multiple Locations
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream has been serving scoops to happy customers since 1945. With locations across the county, Handel's is the perfect spot for a post-beach-day treat. Choose from sundaes, shakes, smoothies or a "Handel's Hurricane," a sort of "twist" on the Dairy Queen Blizzard or McDonald's McFlurry.
Holy Paleta
4230 Bonita Rd., Ste. B, Bonita
2040 India St., Little Italy
Petco Park
Inspired by the traditional treats of Michoacan, Mexico, Holy Paleta's handcrafted paletas (ice cream bars) are made with all-natural, premium ingredients with tons of tasty toppings for guests to create one-of-a-kind treats. Vegan flavors also available.
Iceskimo
4609 Convoy Ste B, Kearny Mesa
2010 Birch Rd. #102, Chula Vista
12925 El Camino Real #AA-1, Del Mar
Iceskimo specializes in Taiwanese shaved snow, a tasty hybrid between traditional American ice cream and Hawaiian shaved ice. Each snow is shaved fresh to order.
Mariposa Ice Cream
3450 Adams Ave., San Diego
With 20+ years under their belt, Mariposa knows how to make small-batch ice cream. The mom-and-pop shop in Normal Heights prides itself on inexpensive, old-fashioned ice cream served by the people who make it. Plus, if you're a Beatles fan you'll love the eclectic mix of paraphernalia and posters covering the walls from floor to ceiling!
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Mr. Frostie
1470 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach
858-274-9977
Mr. Frostie is San Diego's gem for incredible soft-serve bliss. Its variety of treat options and reasonable prices make the long summer lines worth the wait.
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Mutual Friend
3004 Juniper St., San Diego
Small-batch handcrafted ice cream with a unique variety of flavors. Can't decide on one flavor? Indulge in a flight of four generous scoops to share with family or friends.
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Pappalecco
1602 State St., Little Italy
4202 Adams Avenue, Kensington
Pappalecco is an Italian eatery that offers more than just delicious dining and great service. Rich with flavor, creamy and dense, Pappalecco's gelato definitely ranks as some of the best in San Diego.
Pepper Tree Frosty
270 S Santa Fe Ave., Vista
760-726-0732
With over 70 years in business, this soft-serve shop surely knows how to serve up smiles. Locals go for the hand-crafted, award-winning shakes and other frozen specialties like banana splits, dipped cones, frozen bananas and hot fudge sundaes. If you're still hungry, an extensive food menu will satisfy any savory craving.
Rockie’s Frozen Yogurt
3546 Ashford St.
858-268-0991
Tucked in the corner of a strip mall across the street from Kearny High School is a local treasure: Rockie’s Frozen Yogurt. With its reasonable prices and friendly atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Rockie’s has been a neighborhood favorite for many years.
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Salt & Straw
1670 India St., Little Italy
3705 Caminito Court, Ste. 0580, Carmel Valley
Westfield UTC Mall
This beloved Portland-based ice cream shop boasts inventive flavors such as Honey Lavender and Meyer Lemon Meringue Pie. An extensive vegan menu offers dairy-free customers a range of delicious flavors to choose from. Check back for new and rotating flavors. Plan to wait in line (it's worth the wait!).
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Snowpops San Diego
1005 E. Plaza Blvd. #101, National City
619-477-8327
This family-owned shop features snowballs made with fluffy shaved ice and delicious popsicles (with your choice of toppings). Yum!
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Photo By: Katie Sigeti
Somi Somi
4620 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa
9168 Mira Mesa Blvd.
4577 La Jolla Village Dr.
This one-of-a-kind soft-serve spot offers delectable ice cream creations in a fish-shaped waffle cone. The special dessert is popular in both Japan and Korea where it's known as "Taiyaki" and "Ah-Boong" respectively. Choose a unique flavor like ube, black sesame or matcha. Then pick from a variety of toppings like Fruity Pebbles, sprinkles, Oreo crumbs and more.
Stella Jean's
Multiple locations
With four San Diego locations and two more on the way, Stella Jeans is a must-try for San Diego ice cream enthusiasts. Mainstay flavors include S'mores, Brown Butter Pecan and Madagascar Vanilla. For those who want to try something a little different, we highly recommend the ever-popular Mango Sticky Rice and Strawberry Oat Crumble.
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Wahine Kai Shave Ice
10545 Scripps Poway Pkwy., Scripps Ranch
858-831-0903
Locals from Hawaii rave that Wahine Kai is the best and closest thing to authentic Hawaiian shave ice with creations such as The Sandy Jewel and the Kona Luau. You can order one of their suggested combos or create your own.
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The Yogurt Mill
935 Broadway, El Cajon
619-579-1566
The Yogurt Mill has been a local favorite for more than 40 years. Popular flavors include Coconut, Oreo & Cream and Red Velvet. Stop by between 10 a.m.–2 p.m. to avoid the crowd, or make new friends while waiting in the line that forms after 3 p.m. Flavors change daily.
Do you have a favorite place in San Diego to get a frozen treat? Tell us about it! Email the details (including what makes it special) to
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Adrienne Sigeti is the Editorial Assistant at San Diego Family. A self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur, she loves discovering new frozen treat spots to share with families across San Diego County.
Updated: June 2024
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