50 Best Ice Cream Shops in Chicago

“Very impressed with the taste of the ice-cream and pound cake. It is not too sweet but just enough.“

“First and foremost The Service Was Amazing Considering We Came In 30 mins To Closing 🤪 The 2 ladies were so sweet!!!! Gelato was delicious Highly recommended!!! Definitely found our new spot!!!!“

“Cute and delicious! Koalas, unicorns, piggies and pandas for the win!“

“Amazing in every way. Come for the banana pudding, stay for the cheesecake, or sweet potato pie, or mango, or..... Absolutely worth the trip.“

“They give a lot of samples to try every flavor, they also give you water for free even when you dont ask for it, and they akso give complimentary brownies that taste amazing, the ice cream is elite, it tastes amazing, they are also fast, I 100%recommend this, must try“

“so yummy! great atmosphere“

“Runaway Cow is the best so delicious 🤤🤤 try the fluffernutter it's my favorite so yummy“

“The most amazing ice cream treat I’ve ever eaten. Highly recommended“

“My sister lived in Italy for a while, and we took her to Black Dog Gelato. After tasting three of the creative gelatos, she said that Black Dog has gelato as good as the best in Italy.

I haven't been to Italy very much, but there is little doubt that Black Dog may have the best gelato in Chicago. I can't say for sure because I haven't been to all the gelato stores in the Windy City, but they'd have to be five stars to compete.

When I first visited Black Dog, I tasted the pistachio gelato with pistachio bits on top and in the gelato itself. I like to test a gelatoria by tasting the pistacho, and Black Dog had me right off the bat. Since then, I've never been disappointed by their rotating roster of flavors.

The store even has a dairy-free Wednesday, and the gelato that day often tastes as good as the regular gelato.

The staff of primarily young women are welcoming and patient as you decide. They have characters that you don't find in customer service anymore: they seem to really like helping people! And they fulfill any tasting request.

Black Dog is located on a corner on Damen Avenue in Ukranian Village. It's an unassuming store that has a neighborhood feel about it.

The gelato shop appears not to have caught the eyes of the gentrification crowd. That's to the benefit of those who love it because we don't have to wait in long lines. That's their loss.

Black Dog may be a bit of a trip from the Northside, but it's tough to beat.“

“Ice cream delicious in Chinatown Chicago.“

“Best gelato in town! Original Italian recipes and only high quality ingredients. Family owned, and they’re lovely.“

“Excellent place for healthier sweets!“

“Great Custard, hot dogs, & Service!“

“Delicious. Had the salty peanut butter with chocolate.“

“Delicious Italian ice I liked all the flavors. Prices are excellent“

“outstanding ice cream and service!“

“Great neighborhood place for an easy family outing.“

“First time there today, but I'll be back again soon. The coffee milkshake was so good, as was their cheezy bread! Can't wait to try more!“

“Lovely place. Good staff. Yummy food“

“The Concrete: Peach Cobbler was amazing!!!“

“The ice cream here was absolutely delicious! I tried four flavors—vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, and strawberry—and loved them all. A huge thank you to Diana, who prepared my order. She is a true artist! The presentation looked incredible, and I just had to take pictures Highly recommend!
July 8, 2026“

“First time there today, but I'll be back again soon. The coffee milkshake was so good, as was their cheezy bread! Can't wait to try more!“

“So delicious!!!! I drive so far to come to this place!“

“Margie's Candies has been scooping ice cream in Bucktown since the early 1900s, and walking in feels like stepping into a soda fountain that time genuinely forgot, red vinyl booths, vintage candy cases, and a counter where staff still mix everything by hand the old-fashioned way. The Beatles supposedly stopped here once, and the photos on the wall lean into that history without making the whole place feel like a museum instead of a working ice cream parlor.
We got the Atomic Sundae, which comes out in a shell-shaped dish big enough for two people to share comfortably, several scoops piled high with hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry on top. It's the kind of dessert that's a little ridiculous in size and exactly what you want from a place like this. We also tried a malted milkshake, thick enough that the straw practically stood up on its own, classic and not overly sweet. Someone in our group got a banana split, and the bananas were fresh and properly ripe, not the slightly sad version you sometimes get elsewhere. The hot fudge itself deserves a mention, dark and rich rather than sugary, clearly made in-house rather than poured from a jar.
It's a cash-friendly, old-school kind of spot, lines can build on a warm weekend, but it moves steadily and the nostalgia of the whole experience makes the wait part of the fun.“

“Amazing vegan sandwiches, ice cream and service! 10/10“

“Thank you for amazing tasty ice cream!“

“If you got a sweet tooth i recommend hitting up Sugar Rae's...Every dessert is uniquely prepared and crafted from scratch...“

“Excellent service! Nato let me sample every flavor before serving me a berry, strawberry, and banana cream trifecta 🔥 definitely coming back!“

“After a busy day, we wanted something to cool off, so we stopped by here since it was the only option available at this location.

We each got two scoops in different flavors, and between us we were able to try different flavors. The variety was nice, and some flavors stood out more than others. You can choose between single, double, or triple scoops, and pick either a cone or a cup. They also have mini donuts in a variety of flavors!

The flavors were creamy, fresh, and well-balanced, with something for everyone from classic chocolate and vanilla to fruity options like strawberry, orange sherbet, and Superman.

The ice cream was good, though not all flavors were equally memorable. Portions were generous, though not all flavors were equally memorable. It’s a fun spot for sharing and sampling, especially if you like having options.“

“Great neighborhood spot for delicious freshly made Italian Ice! Lots of interesting flavors and yummy ice cream too!“

“Funnel sundaes and fried Oreos are a must“

“Anyone that gave Amorino or is thinking about giving Amorino less than 5 stars, has no idea what quality gelato is. The flavors and quality are superb! Better than any other place that exists. Especially the places that over charge for ice cream that tastes like chemicals. The staff are extremely welcoming, kind and helpful! The place is warm and inviting. I drive from the northwest suburbs just for Amorino! Please open another location near woodfield mall! Or better yet, near Oakbrook!“

“Best ice cream ever! Staff is amazing!“

“Got the summer special and was not disappointed- I wish I remembered the exact flavors but it was so creamy and perfect on a summer like evening. Staff was nice, wait time was short. Honestly can’t wait to go back and try more flavors- they looked so good!“

“Such a delicious treat in any kind of weather.“

“Such a lovely spot! 😊 When we arrived, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, which made the experience even more relaxing. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they prepared our order super fast ⏱️👏. We were pleasantly surprised by the portion sizes - definitely great value for the price! 🍦💰 And the ice cream? Absolutely amazing, rich in flavor and just perfect! 😋 I truly enjoyed every bite and can’t wait to visit again, this time bringing my family along. Highly recommend this place! 💖“

“We walked by this place a few times and the line was always out the door.

Well, we came back in the evening and there was no line! They have innovative flavors, like brown butter almond brittle. They provide samples, so no need to guess.

This place is definitely worth a visit.“

“Amazing place best customer service and everything is delicious 😋“

“Solid little ice cream place!

Have some fudges and what not too. But seems to be more about the ice cream.

Flavors were solid, got a chocolate and coffee and it was good but nothing that blew me away.

Wafers are a fun texture addition!“

“The ice cream was so delicious and it smells good in the shop“

“Finally got to come and visit Betty's ice cream. We were not disappointed. Very affordable. Just for 1 classic banana split, 3 banana split cups, 1 classic vanilla cone just a little over 35 bucks. Not to mention the chocolate covered bananas and milkshake shakes, spot on 👌.“

“The prices can be a bit too much in this economy for sweets but also with the way the world is set, theres only a few things that bring joy to a person and why not a delicious treat for yourself. The Dubai sandwich cookie is definitely keeping me way too active this week🤤🫶🏼“

“We walked past this spot on our way to the book store. My son spotted it right away and insisted we stop. I got a chocolate chip cookie and it was amazing. I was surprised by how soft and tasty the cookie was.

Overall, a great spot to get a tasty cookie treat.“

“Good but not great gelato. All the staff were awesome. The creaminess was good but I found the flavors a little underwhelming.
You could be waiting awhile if groups ahead of you sample multiple flavors (our experience on a crowded weekday night).“

“Ohhh sweet summer flavors and memories are found at Xurro! They have a great menu of many ways to get your sugar fix from sundaes to smoothies and seasonal flavors too. You can even get a variety of flavors in your ice cream base, vanilla or strawberry or Superman! It being my first time I decided on a classic sundae with churros and I was pleasantly surprised. The churros are crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and have the perfect dusting of sugar. It was gone before I made it home! A little on the higher side for price but it’s fair for all that you get.“

“The sweet sixteen is a must have!!!!!“

“Great Food. Great Service. The owner was so nice and gave someone a free meal just cause they needed it. Everyone was very generous! We came to visit from AR!“

“Literally our favorite ice cream place! They have shaved ice that is softer and better than any place I’ve ever been to. They also have a wide ice cream selection and great sundaes. The staff is also so so so nice and patient with my excitable kids. Definitely worth the trip down 103rd!“

“I really do love Crumbl and I recommend it. I know that the prices are high for cookies but it’s worth it. I first tried Crumbl cookies when they were trending and I never stopped after because they are the perfect sweet treat. I do recommend eating one at a time because they are really filling and have a lot of calories.This location is my go to and always satisfies me. I have never experienced any problems ordering or receiving my orders from this location. Would recommend“

“Such a delicious treat in any kind of weather.“