50 Best Ice Cream Shops in San Diego

“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 :)“

“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.“

“Service was quite fast, the staff was very welcoming and friendly, the food came out very quickly

Great pleas to hang out with friends for a little treat, I'll be sure to come back and try other things on the menu

The service was quite quick, the team was very welcoming and friendly, the food came out very quickly

Great to go out with friends for a little treat, I'll be back to try other things on the menu“

“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.“

“The Salt and Straw at One Paseo in Del Mar was a stop we made on a “girls weekend” in San Diego. We’d like to thank Shahin who greeted us with warmth, enthusiasm and proudly served us samples until we made our final choices. He appeared sincere and listened intently to our own ice cream stories (what better place to share favorite flavors than an ice cream shop!) Shahin gets our award for BEST SERVICE EVER!“

“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!“

“We stop by this dessert place for the first time. The line moves quickly during a late dinner time. They offer to sample in a small metal spoon. We got a Harvest Moon (a seasonal item during Fall 2024), which is a 3-scoop in a waffle bowl. My partner likes it very much. I think it's a bit too sweet for my taste. On top of that the waffle is quite salty. I think it overpowers the ice cream. I'd recommend them to adjust the saltiness of the waffle. I will come by to check out other flavors. There's a small freezer along the line that have ice cream pints for sale. They're a few benches available inside & outside the store.“

“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!“

“Perfect for a hot day! We tried the sundae with Mexican chocolate ice cream, almonds and churros. It was so so so good! It’s a decent size, big enough to share. We also got a pint to go with the guava sorbet and tamarind sorbet. Both sorbet flavors were so refreshing. I’d like to visit again and try the lemon sorbet!“

“The best ice cream with super unique flavors. Highly recommend!“

“Lo que pruebes esta delicioso! 🤤🤤“

“This place was really amazing. The weight staff was all great. They helped me out with a small issue. I had with my diabetes by providing me with some orange juice because my blood sugar had gotten low. I truly appreciate him doing that for me. Thank you so much and I will come back again next time I’m in San Diego.“

“tenders are great ❤️ milkshake too“

“The family and I wanted a sweet treat at night and decided on coming here for some of their soft serve ice cream. Wound up getting their upside down cup with cookies-n-cream flavored ice cream, Nutella filling and dusted with Oreo cookie. Wife had the upside down cup with chocolate ice cream, Nutella filling and Biscoff toppings. Not one flavor, topping or cone we had was lacking flavorful or deliciousness. Can’t wait to come back and try more. If you do plan on giving this place a try, plan for a crowd. It can get crowded fast and it doesn’t matter what day of the week it is either.“

“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.“

“Overall it was amazing in my opinion. Fast service, really nice and cool workers, the churros I got were warm and the ice cream was amazing

Kid-friendliness: There’s nothing bad about the food. The place is very clean and tidy and neat. Nothing too hot, etc.“

“Deliciosas nos encantan !“

“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!“

“Ordered the Ube mochi donut and the coffee black tea. The drink was amazing, perfect amount of sweetness and balance of coffee/tea flavor. The $4 donut was mediocre. Service was a bit slow as there was only one worker. Parking lot limited with tight/cramped spots.“

“Delicious ice cream with great flavors.“

“This was my first time having rolled ice cream. It was really flavorful. I got the strawberry with cheesecake bites.“

“As a Matcha lover, I'm always on the hunt for my next great Matcha latte, and Matcha Cafe Maiko in Mira Mesa did not disappoint. My husband and I decided to stop by after a prenatal appointment, and I'm so glad we did.

I've been to this location before and tried other Matcha drinks and treats, but this time I was in the mood for a Matcha latte, which I ordered unsweetened. It was absolutely perfect--rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced without being overly bitter. I also couldn't resist the ube basque cheesecake, and wow, it was moist, flavorful, and delicious.

I'm already looking forward to coming back to try the strawberry Matcha! My only wish is that this location was closer to our home because I'd be here all the time if it were.“

“Best vegan/dairy free ice cream!! It is delicious, creamy and the cones are amazing too. They let you sample and are always so nice. Noticed that they also have some seats outside which is nice. Parking can be a nightmare sometimes but worth it for this ice cream!“

“THE BEST THING I ATE IN SAN DIEGO!
I'd leave more stars if I could. Incredible service, incredible paletas. We got the Dulce De Leche Cheesecake and the Tiramisu. Both were fabulous, but I'm still dreaming about that cheesecake paleta. We will be back again and again and again.“

“juicy burgers and great shakes“

“The best ice cream in San Diego hands down“

“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.“

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

“This place has the best ice cream in the area 100%. Home made. Fresh. The flavors are bursting in your mouth and each flavor has its own unique taste. Over 40 different flavors to choose from. The gentleman at the front window was very nice and courteous. He explained the flavors to us because there were so many to choose from. I was able to try 8-9 flavors before settling on 8 I really liked. I went with the 4 scoop sampler x 2 and got all 8 choices. Mainly stuck with chocolate because it’s my favorite. I highly recommend checking this place out. Also, prices were very good. Can’t beat it.“

“I ordered delivery for my dad’s birthday and they went above and beyond with making it a really special gift. Thanks so much, he loved it and I really appreciate the consideration. This location is the best ice cream shop in the world <3“

“Their homemade ice cream“

“Four paws up! Love me their Thanksgiving dinner.“

“Great spot for the perfect evening treat 🍦“

“Best coffee in San Diego!!!! ☕️✨“

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

“We have been coming here for years and it never disappoints! The best texture gelato ever! It’s thick and rich and dense just like I love my gelato. I hate when it’s over whipped and super airy. This is so smooth and creamy. The flavors are fabulous! The texture really brings out the flavors of the ingredients. Keep making this great stuff!“

“Premium Boba Tea: A San Diego Must-Visit

Premium Boba Tea in San Diego offers an elevated boba experience that’s hard to beat. The drinks are crafted with perfectly chewy pearls and inventive flavors, from classic milk teas to refreshing fruit slushes. The menu features unique creations like the Galaxy Milk Tea with glittery swirls and the Matcha Eclipse, making it a go-to spot for both boba lovers and newcomers. The modern, welcoming atmosphere pairs perfectly with attentive service, ensuring every visit feels special. If you’re in San Diego and craving something more than just your average bubble tea, this place is a must-try.“

“ótimo atendimento e os lanches são ma“

“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.“

“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!“

“The ice cream was too runny, which caused it to melt quickly. Regardless, it had a great flavor. The environment is fantastic, despite being located in the heart of Gaslamp, renowned for being one of the best night spots in San Diego.

Parking: Ghirardelli is on a very popular street, so it's typically closed to traffic. Parking can be tough to find in the Gasslamp area.

Kid-friendliness: Absolutely.

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“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.“

“All their acai bowls are listed as vegan, and they have vegan vanilla ice cream. Most of the smoothies come with yogurt by default, but you can ask to get them either "fruit-only" or with the vegan ice cream. I got the piña colada smoothie with the vegan ice cream, and it was creamy and delicious! They have vegan (pea) protein powder available as well. Very friendly and enthusiastic staff!“

“This is a very cool soft serve yogurt spot and then some. Then some because they also offer acai bowls, refreshers, smoothies, pastries, and coffee.

I had the fro-yo, a combination of vanilla beans and peanut butter topped with thinly sliced almonds and crushed peanuts. At .79 cents an ounce, it came out to $6 ans some change. I did not completely fill my container.

Both the vanilla and peanut butter fro-yo were very tasty. The peanut was smoother than the vanilla for some reason. The combination of flavors were great.

The offer a great variety of toppings for the your frozen yogurt. I can see how the kids and teens would love this place, and some adults as well.

They place offers a good amount of seating, game boards, and music. The service was very friendly and informative.“

“Let's just say this.... I'm addicted. So yummy ?. I always get a medium chocolate cone, and I literally can't stop. The ice cream cone is 3x the size of McDonald's or Chic Fil a . The taste is much creamier and tastee. The place is always busy no matter what time I go. It's absolutely a local favorite. You can dine in, sit outside, or go. They have food also, but I always get ice cream. I'm ? sure the food is as good, based on the constant flow of happy customers.“

“We stopped in to get a thank you gift and found the perfect one thanks to a fantastic employee, Denice. Denice was as sweet as the chocolate, recommending a myriad of flavors. Their personable salesmanship and experience was greatly appreciated!“

“Whatever the owners of this golden spoon location are doing- Keep it up.

Cleaning and maintaining the machines has a lot to do with the flavor and consistency of frozen yogurt. This location always delivers perfectly smooth, never icy or watery froyo.

Also, the folks who work here seem to genuinely be in a good mood.

Special shout out to Kris. Thanks for the great service!“

“Very good! The selection is so amazing you can find all kind of pops here

I went a little basic and got the fruit yogurt, no regrets it was very good!

The service was great, they helped me with recommendation and were nice:)“