Highest-rated ice cream shops in San Diego by diners
Highest-rated ice cream shops in San Diego by diners
Nothing makes people quite as happy as a trip to the ice cream shop. Thankfully, there are endless options offering enough goods to tantalize anyone's palate. Across the U.S., nearly 17,800 ice cream shops serve up tasty treats to satisfy Americans' cravings.
While most of us would agree that there's no such thing as bad ice cream, there are still elements that keep customers coming back to one ice cream shop over another. A sense of newness and surprise are two big draws. Shop owners aim to please by using quality ingredients to experiment with new mashups—consider the rising trend of ice cream combined with pie. Some put unique spins on global treats, like Japanese mochi and Italian gelato. Others create giant Instagram-ready concoctions that become the highlight of social media.
Consumers have learned that smaller scoop shops may be more adaptive to real-time reactions, which means embracing new concepts, such as delicious dairy-free options. They can also ditch chemicals and give plant-based food coloring a try to see how it resonates with their customers.
But where artisanal shops really shine is in their ability to push the envelope to create amazing new flavors and limited-edition offerings that have customers eager to not miss out on what's next.
Seasonal ice creams feature fresh ingredients and flavors that evoke a particular time of year. Partnerships with local businesses can result in crave-able combinations highlighting local specialties. Many local shops also dabble with exotic flavors—savory ice cream, anyone?
To find out who's scooping up the best options, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated ice cream shops in the San Diego area using data from Yelp. Data is as of June 24, 2025.
Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews and within a 10-kilometer radius of San Diego were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 10 locations nationally, based on our Yelp data, were not included.
#27. Somisomi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1539 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4620 Convoy St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Korean
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Mutual Friend Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.5/5 (227 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3004 Juniper St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Nado Gelato by Bottega Italiana
- Rating: 4.5/5 (695 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1017 C Ave. Coronado, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Gelato, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Sweet Treats Ice Cream & Dessert Trucks
- Rating: 4.5/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8535 Arjons Drive Ste V San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Food Trucks, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Plaza Donuts
- Rating: 4.6/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1548 Highland Ave. National City, California
- Categories: Donuts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Mariposa Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.6/5 (988 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3450 Adams Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Mr Frostie
- Rating: 4.6/5 (803 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1470 Garnet Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#20. C's Ice Cream & Deli
- Rating: 4.6/5 (266 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9969 Mira Mesa Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Delis, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Stella Jean's Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4195 Voltaire St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#18. North Park Creamery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3077 University Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Snow Pops San Diego
- Rating: 4.7/5 (105 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1005 East Plaza Blvd. Ste 101 National City, California
- Categories: Desserts, Shaved Ice, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#16. An's Dry Cleaning
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1701 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3017 Adams Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Gelato, Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The Craft Creamery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (380 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1302 Rosecrans St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Cali Cream Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7/5 (655 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 425 Market St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Stella Jean's Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7/5 (997 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4404 Park Blvd. Ste B San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Stella Jean's Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4073 Adams Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Pop Pops Fabulous Paleta
- Rating: 4.7/5 (300 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1740 India St. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Maya's Cookies
- Rating: 4.7/5 (301 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4760 Mission Gorge Place Ste G San Diego, California
- Categories: Desserts, Bakeries, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Friends of Friends
- Rating: 4.7/5 (184 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 127 East 8th St. National City, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Sunday Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7/5 (346 reviews)
- Address: 4647 Convoy St. Ste 103 San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Bobboi Natural Gelato
- Rating: 4.8/5 (197 reviews)
- Address: 2175 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, California
- Categories: Gelato, Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Classics Malt Shop
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1540 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3625 Midway Drive Ste B San Diego, California
- Categories: American, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#5. CABETOS Pops
- Rating: 4.8/5 (130 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3331 Adams Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Bobboi Natural Gelato
- Rating: 4.8/5 (2581 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8008 Girard Ave. La Jolla, California
- Categories: Gelato, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Pacific Beach Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.9/5 (245 reviews)
- Address: 1010 Grand Ave. San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Milkissimo Gelato
- Rating: 4.9/5 (572 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1640 Camino Del Rio North San Diego, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Gelato, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Woofpak Bakery
- Rating: 4.9/5 (119 reviews)
- Address: 4545 La Jolla Village Drive Ste E4 San Diego, California
- Categories: Pet Stores, Bakeries, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
