50 Best Ice Cream Shops in San Diego

“I was nervous about the flavors, mostly because I didn’t know what they were! But was able to taste test and decided on the Quattroberry and stracciatella. Delicious! Great price- $6.50 for two big scoops! Definitely wanted to go back. Try the dragon fruit/lemon one- super tart and so good!“

“The perfect treat on a hot day. And now that we know the deliver , I’m getting gelato at work.“

“I live in Arizona and walking my found this place. To sum it up I’m addicted to this ice cream. Every time we go to San Diego I have this ice cream 2 to 3 times a day.“

“Fantastic, velvety smooth creative flavors and made from scratch! They also switch out their flavors every 2 weeks or so! Fun concept, wonderful staff. Highly recommend. Putting San Diego on the food map :)“

“This is by far one of the best ice cream shops I’ve been to! The ice cream is phenomenal and is all made in house. The owner Dave was so kind and helpful! I will absolutely be back to this stop next time I’m in town! P.s. don’t sleep on the mushroom ice cream. It is BEYOND good!“

“I was nervous about the flavors, mostly because I didn’t know what they were! But was able to taste test and decided on the Quattroberry and stracciatella. Delicious! Great price- $6.50 for two big scoops! Definitely wanted to go back. Try the dragon fruit/lemon one- super tart and so good!“

“Best Ice creams , sply double fold vanila and honey lavender“

“If you’re visiting Belmont Park near Mission Beach, you absolutely have to stop by IceChurro. This place is easily one of the best dessert spots in the entire area.
First of all, the ice cream itself is incredible. The texture is perfectly creamy and smooth, and the flavors taste rich and fresh. But what really sets IceChurro apart are the toppings and combinations. They don’t just give you basic toppings—you get a huge selection of high-quality options that make every dessert feel like a custom masterpiece. From crunchy toppings to sweet sauces and specialty extras, everything tastes way better than what you’d expect from a typical ice cream stand.
Another thing that makes this place special is the presentation. The desserts look amazing when they come out—almost too good to eat (almost!). Whether you’re getting ice cream, churro creations, or one of their loaded desserts, you can tell they actually care about making it look as good as it tastes.
The location is perfect too. IceChurro sits right inside Belmont Park, and it’s literally just steps away from the sand at Mission Beach. That means you can grab an amazing dessert and then walk straight out to the beach to enjoy it with an ocean view. There’s something really special about sitting near the waves with an incredible ice cream treat after a day of walking the boardwalk, riding the roller coaster, or hanging out in the park.
The atmosphere around Belmont Park adds to the experience as well. You’ve got the beach energy, the boardwalk, the rides, and the ocean breeze—so grabbing something sweet from IceChurro just feels like the perfect way to finish off the day.
Overall, IceChurro is easily a five-star experience. The ice cream is outstanding, the toppings are next-level, the desserts look amazing, and the location near the beach makes it even better. If you’re anywhere near Belmont Park or Mission Beach in San Diego, do yourself a favor and stop here. You won’t regret it. 🍦🌊🌴“

“The ice cream here was amazing. Got the vanilla with Oreo and it was the best I have ever had. Kids got waffle cones with mint chocolate chip and straight chocolate and they loved it as well. Gentleman that waited on us was friendly. Would highly recommend“

“The split scoop is such a good deal! First time I came here, I got the hojicha and boricha - such a good combo. Obsessed.

Came back a week later to get the boricha again, but this time it tasted a little sweeter and icier. Maybe it was just off that day, but I'll def still be back!“

“This place is the cats meow. Don’t sleep on this convoy gem.“

“Absolutely delicious ice cream. They always have such interesting flavors that you can't really find anywhere else. I got the Huckleberry oat crumble ice cream and my girlfriend got the goat cheese berry habanero ice cream in. Both were so so good. Definitely a place to come to if you will even remotely like ice cream cuz you will find something interesting that you will have never tasted anywhere else.“

“The best ice cream in San Diego hands down“

“Pop Pops Paleta in San Diego offers spectacular, artisanal popsicles with exceptional customization options and excellent service. Customers highly recommend signature flavors like the Guava Cheesecake and Intense Strawberry, all made daily from scratch. It is a highly rated and vibrant dessert destination. Hands down, some of the best popsicles I have ever had! I stopped by Pop Pops Paleta in the heart of Little Italy after dinner, and it completely exceeded my expectations. The shop itself is incredibly vibrant, colorful, and has a great casual atmosphere that is perfect for a sweet treat while exploring San Diego. The staff was fast, friendly, and more than happy to give great menu suggestions. Whether you are a local or just visiting California, you definitely need to add this to your itinerary. Pop Pops Paleta is a solid 10/10, and I cannot wait to come back and try out all the other flavors!“

“Delicious malts and delicious food! Homemade French fries and home made ranch dressing“

“I live in Arizona and walking my found this place. To sum it up I’m addicted to this ice cream. Every time we go to San Diego I have this ice cream 2 to 3 times a day.“

“I live in Arizona and walking my found this place. To sum it up I’m addicted to this ice cream. Every time we go to San Diego I have this ice cream 2 to 3 times a day.“

“Their homemade ice cream“

“Very good and authentic Mexican food owned and operated by a great family! Viva Cristo Rey!“

“Thank you Woofpac for dropping off some Advent calendars at our veterinary hospital! These are honestly the first treats that every single one of my dogs loved! I will be stopping by Irvine Spectrum soon to get them more goodies 🐶❤️“

“Black Tie Tiramisu
Really complex flavor your with the the mucus wall and the lady fingers in the actual ice cream. It had a lot going on but quite a lovely ice cream.

Salted Peanut Butter With Chocolate Flecks
I knew I wanted to try this flavor the moment I read it because I'm a major peanut butter and chocolate chip kinda person and this one was delicious! Proper peanut butter flavor coming through really well and that right amount of chocolate chips. Definitely would recommend if you love PB!“

“Ok, I am from NY and love pizza. I am not a NYC pizza snob though and welcome all iterations of 'za! I have to say that this pizza is probably the best I have ever had of its type. They are "Roman" slices, meaning focaccia crust. Variety of slice options are insane with creative combinations that are not only imaginative, but insanely delicious. Slices are cooked upon ordering for supreme freshness. I especially like the Lussuria - prosciutto, black pepper, mashed potato, mozzarella and olive oil. (I NEVER thought I would like mashed potato on a slice, but it's insanely good.) The help here is amazing as well. Caesar was working the oven and he gave great suggestions and explained the product well. Very inviting and definitely steered me in the right direction. Need gluten free? They got it! Will make a GF slice for you right on the spot. I challenge anyone to have just one slice. I had to go back for 2 more. Enjoy!“

“Best Gelato we've had in a while! Small little spot but everything was fresh with unique flavor choices but so freaking good! My youngest loved their dragon lemon flavor, tastes like a strawberry lemonade. Our oldest had the salted caramel. My husband and I shared the large cup with three flavors. The mapletella, pistachio and the third was like a chocolate hazelnut. All three were delicious together! Everyone enjoyed their treats, would highly recommend!“

“A wonderful dual purpose candy shop and gelato shop. On the candy side, an excellent collection of Italian candies with an employee handing out samples. I bought a multi pack so I could try their flavor lineup. On the gelato side, another excellent collection of classic flavors and modern updates. I also bought a 3 flavor sorbetto cup. There are tables and chairs so you can sit and have your ice cream and browse the chocolates.“

“Many ice cream flavors, all delish!“

“The main thing to call out about this salt and straw (although I'm almost scared to) is that parking is plentiful and the line is much shorter compared to the one in little Italy! Other than that, try their take on cookie dough—it's great“

“ABSOULEYLY RECOMMEND SO GOOD. the worker was really nice and let us in like 10 minutes before opening. the strawberry and Dubai chocolate tend to be on the sweeter side but overall with the price of around $7 it is totally worth it bc the worker packed it up all the way to the full line for us. also it is really good with the corn flakes on the bottom and they do not limit themselves on the toppings. absolutely recommend the mango ice cream however and would come back again“

“It’s nice to have soft serve in the hood!!“

“This your local Ma & Pop shop. Personal Fav: Acai/Blue Spirulina Bowl (Acai Roots Brand 💜) They have quite a few bases to choose from so that's nice.

Every bowl, no matter who is working, is made with love. Employees are super sweet, very engaging and always greet you with a smile when you walk in.

Froyo/Sorbet/Gelato favors, yes they have multiple options, are super good and changing often. However, Pineapple Dole is always on tap which is another personal fav of mine, so that's rad.

If you want an OG froyo/acai bowl... This is your spot.“

“We found Cabetos a few years ago at a farmers market. Ever since then if we ever see them somewhere- it’s a must have treat. We recently had a grand opening event for our new business and had them cater. They were awesome to work with. Weston, who was at our event was so fun and EVERYONE loved the ice cream. I highly recommend to find them at a farmers market near you or book them for your next event. I now need to go to their new store! So fun!“

“Great spot for the perfect evening treat 🍦“

“Best sandwiches ever!! Service was excellent, staff is so friendly. Prices are great I never miss a chance to eat at we be ob. Great location!!! Do yourself a favor and try this place, it does not disappoint!!!“

“I live in Arizona and walking my found this place. To sum it up I’m addicted to this ice cream. Every time we go to San Diego I have this ice cream 2 to 3 times a day.“

“In love with this shaved ice! more than you can eat for a great price.“

“This place has been wonderful. The flavors are always rotating but I'm always sticking to an original - vanilla with gummy worms and popping boba. Best times to visit are summer, fall, winter, and spring. ALL YEAR!
I am treated with the same exceptional service every visit, specifically by Kris, the manager. Go only if you see the GREEN Miata in the parking lot, that car is an indication that the legend himself is on shift.

Highly recommend for solo stops and families!“

“One of the most popular places for dessert in San Diego. My sister loves this place for its high quality gelato and tasty flavors. Came here after lunch and waited about 20 minutes in line. We had an introduction of all the flavors and were able to sample everything. I opted for the leather and velour flavors, which were rich and tasty. I got a cone as well, which was a nice contrast to the creaminess of the gelato. Street parking was really difficult to find so we had to park far and walk.“

“We strolled over after Fish Guts and enjoyed a cooling treat after a hot day. The mango shaved ice, avocado pistachio ice and coffee almond fudge all had great flavors. We got cookies to take home also (so good). I will definitely try the shaved ice next time around.“

“Love the cheerful, friendly welcome and the first timer helpfulness! Delicious sandwiches prepared to order, personal preferences are catered to. Always something new to try, creative variations.“

“Nice gelato place! Lots of amazing flavors to choose from, and the gelato is great. Stuff is friendly and helpful. There is sitting both inside and outside. Wish there would be more parking. Even though there are plenty of paid and free parking spaces, it is sometimes challenging to find a spot.“

“Came for a visit with my best friend since we were both craving for a sweet treat. It was our first time and it didn't disappoint. We were looking to try somewhere new and came across this location. Service is fast and convenient for a pick up & go. The portion was generous and the vanilla ice cream stood out. It's simple, classic, and well made. It was a perfect treat after a slightly heavy meal.

There's also a diner inside that looked great but we didn't get a chance to try it. We'll definitely come back and stop by to try the menu items out. Overall, a solid spot for a quick high-quality ice cream stop. Definitely would recommend this place for friends, family, and groups!“

“One of the most unique ice cream shops in a city filled with great ice cream spots. This one has its own style. Mexican style paleta ice cream with a range of customization options that will satisfy any and all age of kids (including the picky adults). Tuxedo style let's you try two types of chocolate dip. Must try if visiting and have a couple of hours before flying out.. right in downtown close to the waterfront park.“

“Just received these as a gift ! Beautiful packaging! Great taste!“

“bomb.com !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!“

“Visiting San Diego & stopped here for ice cream. The decor and atmosphere is pretty, clean and laid out well for indoor seating. The ice cream was delicious. The real treat and total surprise was my customer service person, Jen! Upon learning that I was visiting the city, she proceeded to grab a blank piece of paper and write recommendations for things to see, places to eat, beaches to visit including the best ways to get there and helpful hints! I left with a paper that was full on both sides and organized but most importantly, I left with a renewed hope for the kindness in people that still remains. Thank you Jen, for making my belly and my heart FULL! ❤“

“Stopped here on a whim (treat for the kids after flu shots nearby) and was pleasantly surprised that they had Superman ice cream!

I haven’t had it in years and it was very nostalgic. That was the best flavor at K Mart growing up lol.

Nice little spot, very clean, seems family owned.

Parking: Shopping center parking with 2 dedicated spots

Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly. Kid sized bowls.“

“Been coming here for 25 years! Best frozen yogurt!!“

“We had Criscito Pizza as our late-night snack at our wedding, and they were absolutely amazing to work with! From start to finish, the team was incredibly professional and made the entire process seamless. They brought their wood-fired pizza oven along with all of the tables and supplies needed, making setup completely stress-free for us.

The team was so kind and friendly to both us and our guests, and they were making fresh pizzas in what felt like minutes, it was incredible to watch! Our guests could not stop talking about how delicious the pizza was all night long. We are so happy we chose Criscito Pizza to be a part of our wedding day and would highly recommend them! I'll be daydreaming about this pizza!“

“Excelente repostería! Riquísimas donas ☕️🍩🍩🍩“

“Crumbl Cookies never disappoints! The cookies are always fresh, soft, and packed with flavor. I love that the menu changes every week, so there’s always something new to try. The staff is friendly, the store is clean, and the presentation is top-notch. Whether you’re treating yourself or bringing a box to share with family and friends, Crumbl is always a hit. If you love warm, gourmet cookies, this place is definitely worth a visit. Five stars!“

“Absolutely amazing place! The chocolate is delicious, high quality, and always fresh. They have a great selection of treats, and everything I’ve tried has been fantastic. The staff is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and helpful, which makes the experience even better. You can tell they really care about their customers and the products they sell. I highly recommend stopping by if you’re looking for great chocolate and excellent service. I’ll definitely be coming back!“