Oh, ice cream…delicious, cold, good for hot summer days, even better for the soul. Who doesn’t love it? A classic flavor done right, like vanilla or chocolate, is always a winner. But sometimes, you just wanna switch things up. Add some charcoal. Try Ube. Put salt in all that’s sweet. That’s what these 7 spots are doing…and they’re doing it right! Here are our favorite unique ice cream shops in San Diego:
1. North Park Creamery
This shop serves organic ice cream…so it’s basically pure health! They have all the classics, but what we love about it is the variety of toppings. Go with an open mind and trust the process…just choose something that you’d never combine. It usually, magically works. Their curious soft serves include Churro & Lemon Custard Twist, and Coconut Ube & Dole Whip twist. Their toppings vary from Butterfingers to Gummy Bears and even a Health Bar.
2. Stella Jean’s
This small-batch ice cream shop serves only natural, home-made products. They make some really interesting choices when it comes to flavors which may not be for everyone…but if you feel adventurous, don’t miss this spot. Try the Yuzu-Poppyseed cake flavor, Guava Cream Cheese, S’Mores, Ube with Pandesal Toffee, Mango Sticky Rice…shall we go further? Pay them a visit (plenty of locations across SD) and check out some of their unique goodies.
3. Salt & Straw
Ok, now we’re getting into the really odd stuff, for the brave and curious. Also for those who want a main for their dessert. Pickled Cucumber Sorbet, anyone? Tomato Gelato with Olive Brittle? Or do you prefer something on the sweeter side…like Peach and Blue Cheese, or Honey Lavender? While they also serve classics such as Double Fold Vanilla or Chocolate Brownie, it’s almost impossible to not be intrigued by some of the most unusual ice cream flavors you’ll find in San Diego.
4. Pop Pops
With 3 locations across San Diego, Pop Pops features unique gourmet pops, made from scratch. Some of their most interesting flavors include Milky Rice Pudding (that’s some nostalgia), Guava Cheesecake, Pina Colada or Sweet Corn. They also have the viral Dubai Chocolate. Since they’re freshly made, they also run out of stock for their more famous choices…so in case you needed an excuse to have ice cream for breakfast, here it is.
5. Little Fox
This Oceanside ice cream shop features some unique, yet elegant flavors. So instead of the usual combination of 3 chocolate bars and cookies on top…it’s more like Earl Grey tea, Corn Cream with Honeycomb, Toasted brioche cream with Mascarpone and Parmesan bits, or Coconut Mango Cream with Curry and Lime Cashews. They scoop (pun intended) their ingredients from local markets – so you get happiness in each bite, while supporting local businesses!
6. Saffron & Rose
This family-owned and operated shops is crafting completely unique Persian ice cream…since 1974! This rich recipe has traveled all the way from Tehran, Iran, to our beloved California. Just recently, they opened a shop in Del Mar, serving delicious velvety flavors. Check out their White (or Pink) Rose Ice Cream, cool down with their Cucumber one, or go for Taro and Ube one. The one-of-a-kind Faloodeh Persian Ice Cream also features delicate rice noodles. Can’t really go wrong!
7. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
This wonderful shops builds ice cream completely from scratch, following their founder’s – Jeni – unique recipe, that’s been honored for over 20 years. Here, you’ll find flavors inspired by the team’s curiosities: art, history, pop-culture, and more. They’re also a Certified B Corp, which means the company meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Eat ice cream and do good? Perfect. Try their Middle West Whiskey & Pecans, the Boston Cream Pie, or the Powdered Jelly Donut. They currently have quite a unique flavor for sale, the Opaque. It has black cocoa, espresso fudge, and balsamic cherry.
Is your favorite on the list? Whether you’re looking for a classic with a twist or a flavor combo you’ve never dared to dream, these ice cream shops in San Diego deliver. You just gotta try them all before you decide who ‘takes the cake’!