Awesome place. Long line went incredibly fast. Great service and excellent ice cream.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phillip Zamudio
Do not order online unless you want an unsat experience for ice cream. My online order kept being pushed back in time that I ended up making it to this spot and made it through the line to the main ordering window just to be told I wasn't allowed to order my pick up and had to go wait at the online order window. Mind you my order wasn't made yet and they could've just pulled my order and prepped it since I was already there at the main ordering window. Horrible service. Ice cream was ice cream so can't screw that up.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Ice Cream
Alex Hendricks
This is hands down the best ice cream around. I love this location in Santee. The staff is always so friendly and wonderful. Its no wonder it always packed!Parking: I wouldnt say plenty of parking. There is some but limited spaces.Kid-friendliness: Its outdoors.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banana Cream Pie
Jackie M.
Perfect icecream every single time :) no matter what flavor you get it's always amazing and very delicious!!! :D Cheap and affordable icecream with generous amounts of it!! :D
Terry Y
Best in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yesenia N.
This location is so classic feels like a movie scene. They offer a ton of selections for ice cream, shakes, sundaes, or to other floats. I love that they actually make their own ice cream daily and fresh. I ordered a root beer float I'm addicted to the root beer floats at Hansel's. This location is very classic and unique. They have only outdoor seating, no public restrooms, and a private parking lot. The staff here are all so outgoing and welcoming. Keep in mind when you order to wait for it at the window and not walk away. They do their best to bring your order out the window as fast as they are able to. Overall a pleasant experience I loved visiting this location. Highly recommend a visit especially if you're into outdoor dining and ordering.
Tom Sidley
Their ice cream is delicious. 14+ per cent of butter fat. Large amounts of ingredients in the ice cream. Expensive and worth the money.
I am very happy that Handel's is now in SoCal. My grandparents lived near the original Handel's in Youngstown, OH. This is some of my favorite ice cream and brings back childhood memories. I just wish that they offered my favorite flavor, chocolate pecan.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mint Chocolate Chip, Homemade Ice Cream
I've been to Handel's many times and never disappoints! Great service and great flavors. In case anyone is wonder, they cater too! I've had them at some events and always is a hit
Michael
The franchise owner of this Handel's is doing something that no other Handel's is doing. We go to Handel's all the time, but we recently visited the Santee location and we were surprised with what this owner is doing.Normally when a customer goes to Handel's they see the prices listed, and then pick the flavors they want from all available flavors. If we want a banana split, then we pick the flavors we want from all flavors listed. But at this location, if you don't take the flavors they offer, vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, then they charge you an extra $1 for the ice cream change.When I was told about this extra charge, I talked to the store manager to complain about it, but after talking to her I told her that I would just change my order from a banana split to a sundae, but the manager said that the same $1 charge applied to sundae's as well if I didn't take one of the basic ice creams offered, so I decided to leave.I talked to the owner through FB and he did clarify that this additional $1 policy only applies to banana splits, and so his manager was wrong when she said it also applied to sundaes. But his explanation for the extra charge is still ridiculous.He says it takes more time to make the banana split if you don't take the three basic choices because they have to walk to a different coolers to get the chosen flavors. So his explanation is that adding an extra 15 - 20 seconds of walking time means there should be an extra charge.He also said that flavors other than the three basics are more expensive. I understand that is probably true, but then why does every other Handel's let the customer pick the flavors they want without charging extra?! And since that's the case, why isn't every ice cream product they have listed more expensive if you pick flavors other than the three basics; why is the banana split being set apart for this charge.This is the ONLY Handel's franchise I've come across that does this, and It's all ridiculous.Customers expect everything to be the same from franchise to franchise. Pricing for each item may be different due to different costs at each location, but how things are done is always the same. We all expect that the price shown for banana splits will be the cost regardless of flavors, just like every franchise does it. That's consistency, and it's important across the different franchises.If this Santee location wants to charge more then they should list that the cost of the banana split only includes the three basic flavors and that there is an additional $1 charge if any other flavors are picked.
Service: 1
Wade Lindsay
I’m a banana ice cream fan but the banana pie ice cream is not very good but the bananas foster which they rarely have is very good. I hope they read this and stop making that banana pie and start making more of the banana foster.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Michael G.
The franchise owner of this Handel's is doing something that no other Handel's is doing. We go to Handel's all the time, but we recently visited the Santee location and we were surprised with what this owner is doing. Normally when a customer goes to Handel's they see the prices listed, and then pick the flavors they want from all available flavors. If we want a banana split, then we pick the flavors we want from all flavors listed. But at this location, if you don't take the flavors they offer, vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, then they charge you an extra $1 for the ice cream change. When I was told about this extra charge, I talked to the store manager to complain about it, but after talking to her I told her that I would just change my order from a banana split to a sundae, but the manager said that the same $1 charge applied to sundae's as well if I didn't take one of the basic ice creams offered, so I decided to leave. I talked to the owner through FB and he did clarify that this additional $1 policy only applies to banana splits, and so his manager was wrong when she said it also applied to sundaes. But his explanation for the extra charge is still ridiculous.He says it takes more time to make the banana split if you don't take the three basic choices because they have to walk to a different coolers to get the chosen flavors. So his explanation is that adding an extra 15 - 20 seconds of walking time means there should be an extra charge. He also said that flavors other than the three basics are more expensive. I understand that is probably true, but then why does every other Handel's let the customer pick the flavors they want without charging extra?! And since that's the case, why isn't every ice cream product they have listed more expensive if you pick flavors other than the three basics; why is the banana split being set apart for this charge.This is the ONLY Handel's franchise I've come across that does this, and It's all ridiculous. Customers expect everything to be the same from franchise to franchise. Pricing for each item may be different due to different costs at each location, but how things are done is always the same. We all expect that the price shown for banana splits will be the cost regardless of flavors, just like every franchise does it. That's consistency, and it's important across the different franchises. If this Santee location wants to charge more then they should list that the cost of the banana split only includes the three basic flavors and that there is an additional $1 charge if any other flavors are picked.
Renee L.
I am a fan of Handel's. This is my second visit & I have always enjoyed the ice cream I ordered. The first time I got the sampler w/four different ice creams. This time I got a single scoop in a dish of horchata. It wasn't too busy. They have benches outside you can sit on, but no tables. Everything is fresh & a great variety. My friend had already been there, so she suggested some great flavors.
Great ice cream and very nice employee that helped us. Perfect when it's warm out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Always a treat going here. Delicious, quality ice cream, friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, Waffle Cone
Awesome place. Long line went incredibly fast. Great service and excellent ice cream.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Do not order online unless you want an unsat experience for ice cream. My online order kept being pushed back in time that I ended up making it to this spot and made it through the line to the main ordering window just to be told I wasn't allowed to order my pick up and had to go wait at the online order window. Mind you my order wasn't made yet and they could've just pulled my order and prepped it since I was already there at the main ordering window. Horrible service. Ice cream was ice cream so can't screw that up.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Ice Cream
This is hands down the best ice cream around. I love this location in Santee. The staff is always so friendly and wonderful. Its no wonder it always packed!Parking: I wouldnt say plenty of parking. There is some but limited spaces.Kid-friendliness: Its outdoors.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banana Cream Pie
Perfect icecream every single time :) no matter what flavor you get it's always amazing and very delicious!!! :D Cheap and affordable icecream with generous amounts of it!! :D
Best in
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This location is so classic feels like a movie scene. They offer a ton of selections for ice cream, shakes, sundaes, or to other floats. I love that they actually make their own ice cream daily and fresh. I ordered a root beer float I'm addicted to the root beer floats at Hansel's. This location is very classic and unique. They have only outdoor seating, no public restrooms, and a private parking lot. The staff here are all so outgoing and welcoming. Keep in mind when you order to wait for it at the window and not walk away. They do their best to bring your order out the window as fast as they are able to. Overall a pleasant experience I loved visiting this location. Highly recommend a visit especially if you're into outdoor dining and ordering.
Their ice cream is delicious. 14+ per cent of butter fat. Large amounts of ingredients in the ice cream. Expensive and worth the money.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Homemade Ice Cream
I am very happy that Handel's is now in SoCal. My grandparents lived near the original Handel's in Youngstown, OH. This is some of my favorite ice cream and brings back childhood memories. I just wish that they offered my favorite flavor, chocolate pecan.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mint Chocolate Chip, Homemade Ice Cream
Restaurantji Recommends
I've been to Handel's many times and never disappoints! Great service and great flavors. In case anyone is wonder, they cater too! I've had them at some events and always is a hit
The franchise owner of this Handel's is doing something that no other Handel's is doing. We go to Handel's all the time, but we recently visited the Santee location and we were surprised with what this owner is doing.Normally when a customer goes to Handel's they see the prices listed, and then pick the flavors they want from all available flavors. If we want a banana split, then we pick the flavors we want from all flavors listed. But at this location, if you don't take the flavors they offer, vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, then they charge you an extra $1 for the ice cream change.When I was told about this extra charge, I talked to the store manager to complain about it, but after talking to her I told her that I would just change my order from a banana split to a sundae, but the manager said that the same $1 charge applied to sundae's as well if I didn't take one of the basic ice creams offered, so I decided to leave.I talked to the owner through FB and he did clarify that this additional $1 policy only applies to banana splits, and so his manager was wrong when she said it also applied to sundaes. But his explanation for the extra charge is still ridiculous.He says it takes more time to make the banana split if you don't take the three basic choices because they have to walk to a different coolers to get the chosen flavors. So his explanation is that adding an extra 15 - 20 seconds of walking time means there should be an extra charge.He also said that flavors other than the three basics are more expensive. I understand that is probably true, but then why does every other Handel's let the customer pick the flavors they want without charging extra?! And since that's the case, why isn't every ice cream product they have listed more expensive if you pick flavors other than the three basics; why is the banana split being set apart for this charge.This is the ONLY Handel's franchise I've come across that does this, and It's all ridiculous.Customers expect everything to be the same from franchise to franchise. Pricing for each item may be different due to different costs at each location, but how things are done is always the same. We all expect that the price shown for banana splits will be the cost regardless of flavors, just like every franchise does it. That's consistency, and it's important across the different franchises.If this Santee location wants to charge more then they should list that the cost of the banana split only includes the three basic flavors and that there is an additional $1 charge if any other flavors are picked.
Service: 1
I’m a banana ice cream fan but the banana pie ice cream is not very good but the bananas foster which they rarely have is very good. I hope they read this and stop making that banana pie and start making more of the banana foster.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
The franchise owner of this Handel's is doing something that no other Handel's is doing. We go to Handel's all the time, but we recently visited the Santee location and we were surprised with what this owner is doing. Normally when a customer goes to Handel's they see the prices listed, and then pick the flavors they want from all available flavors. If we want a banana split, then we pick the flavors we want from all flavors listed. But at this location, if you don't take the flavors they offer, vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, then they charge you an extra $1 for the ice cream change. When I was told about this extra charge, I talked to the store manager to complain about it, but after talking to her I told her that I would just change my order from a banana split to a sundae, but the manager said that the same $1 charge applied to sundae's as well if I didn't take one of the basic ice creams offered, so I decided to leave. I talked to the owner through FB and he did clarify that this additional $1 policy only applies to banana splits, and so his manager was wrong when she said it also applied to sundaes. But his explanation for the extra charge is still ridiculous.He says it takes more time to make the banana split if you don't take the three basic choices because they have to walk to a different coolers to get the chosen flavors. So his explanation is that adding an extra 15 - 20 seconds of walking time means there should be an extra charge. He also said that flavors other than the three basics are more expensive. I understand that is probably true, but then why does every other Handel's let the customer pick the flavors they want without charging extra?! And since that's the case, why isn't every ice cream product they have listed more expensive if you pick flavors other than the three basics; why is the banana split being set apart for this charge.This is the ONLY Handel's franchise I've come across that does this, and It's all ridiculous. Customers expect everything to be the same from franchise to franchise. Pricing for each item may be different due to different costs at each location, but how things are done is always the same. We all expect that the price shown for banana splits will be the cost regardless of flavors, just like every franchise does it. That's consistency, and it's important across the different franchises. If this Santee location wants to charge more then they should list that the cost of the banana split only includes the three basic flavors and that there is an additional $1 charge if any other flavors are picked.
I am a fan of Handel's. This is my second visit & I have always enjoyed the ice cream I ordered. The first time I got the sampler w/four different ice creams. This time I got a single scoop in a dish of horchata. It wasn't too busy. They have benches outside you can sit on, but no tables. Everything is fresh & a great variety. My friend had already been there, so she suggested some great flavors.