Highest-rated ice cream shops in Des Moines, according to Yelp
Ice cream is a treat all year round, although the frequency and volume consumed during the hotter months might eclipse the colder months. The range of flavors in ice cream shops has evolved since the olden days when flavors were mainly limited to vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
The best shops nowadays offer fresh combinations and ingredients you may never have imagined could be made into ice cream. Yes, you can find your classics, but also new concoctions like black sesame cookies and cream or honey lavender. Some shops boast flavors with even more unheard-of ingredients and combinations, like the savory herb tarragon or pineapple with pink peppercorns.
Ice cream creators have also expanded into rethinking frozen yogurt, soft serve, and vegan options. The dairy-free folks no longer have to order the only sorbet on the menu. There are non-dairy milk ice creams made from plant-based milks like oat or almond and other plant-based products like avocado or sunflower butter.
One of the best parts about getting a scoop at your local shop is picking out the toppings. Pour on the condensed milk or dulce de leche. Sprinkle bits of honeycomb or your childhood cereal. If you are an '80s kid, you might have had your fair share of popping candy rocks, which you can sometimes find as an offering to go with your latest ice cream craving.
Shops everywhere have made it their job to serve up the smoothest, creamiest, and most craveable ice cream ever. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated ice cream shops in Des Moines using data from Yelp. Rankings factor in how many reviewed the shop and how high they rated it. Keep reading to find your future go-to ice cream stop on the list.
#23. Culver's
- Rating: 3.0/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1820 22nd St West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Categories: Burgers, Fast Food, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Culver's
- Rating: 3.0/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1101 Jordan Creek Pkwy West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Categories: Burgers, Fast Food, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Cold Stone Creamery
- Rating: 3.0/5 (14 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 Jordan Creek Pkwy Ste 12516 West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Custom Cakes, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Dairy Queen Ltd Brazier
- Rating: 3.0/5 (13 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1319 Army Post Rd Des Moines, IA 50315
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Fast Food, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Dairy Queen Ltd Brazier
- Rating: 3.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2020 Grand Ave Ste 100 West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burgers, Fast Food
- Read more on Yelp
#18. LJ's Burgers & Ice Cream
- Rating: 3.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3702 2nd Ave Des Moines, IA 50313
- Categories: Burgers, Fast Food, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Insomnia Cookie
- Rating: 3.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 405 Court Ave Des Moines, IA 50309
- Categories: Bakeries, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Culver's
- Rating: 3.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5941 SE 14th St Des Moines, IA 50320
- Categories: Fast Food, Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Smokey Row Coffee
- Rating: 3.5/5 (226 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1910 Cottage Grove Ave Des Moines, IA 50314
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Kava DSM
- Rating: 4.0/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 300 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy Ste 140 Des Moines, IA 50309
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Gelato, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#13. 8 Degrees Ice Cream & Boba
- Rating: 4.0/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1315 31st St Ste A Des Moines, IA 50311
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
- Rating: 4.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4825 Ep True Pkwy West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Dairy Queen Ltd Brazier
- Rating: 4.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6842 University Ave Des Moines, IA 50324
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Fast Food, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Snookies Malt Shop
- Rating: 4.0/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1810 Beaver Ave Des Moines, IA 50310
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Paleteria La Michoacana
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1552 E Grand Ave Des Moines, IA 50316
- Categories: Mexican, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Classic Frozen Custard
- Rating: 4.5/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4000 SE 14th St Des Moines, IA 50320
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Black Cat Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 2511 Cottage Grove Ave Des Moines, IA 50311
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2105 Ingersoll Ave Des Moines, IA 50312
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Dairy Zone
- Rating: 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2219 E University Ave Des Moines, IA 50317
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Totally Rolled Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.5/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 5545 Mills Civic Pkwy Ste 103 West Des Moines, IA 50266
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Bauder Pharmacy
- Rating: 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3802 Ingersoll Ave Des Moines, IA 50312
- Categories: Drugstores, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Granny's Sweet Freeze Shoppe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3417 Hubbell Ave Des Moines, IA 50317
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Ice Cream El Michoacano
- Rating: 5.0/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 2922 Merle Hay Rd Des Moines, IA 50310
- Categories: Mexican, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
