Best ice cream shops in 50 major cities
Though the origins of ice cream trace back centuries to frozen confections enjoyed by European aristocrats, it was in America that it truly found its home. By the late 19th century, ice cream parlors had become social hubs in the U.S., connecting families and communities over sweet treats. As the craze grew, ice cream vendors were struggling to keep up with all the dishes, and soon the ice cream cone was born. Debuting at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904, the invention was essentially an edible dish that changed the frozen dessert forever.
Today, nothing makes people quite as happy as a trip to the ice cream shop. Thankfully, there are endless options offering scoops to tantalize palates. 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 certainly elements that keep customers coming back to one ice cream shop over another. A sense of newness is one big draw. 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 attract customers from all over the country.
Where standout ice cream shops really shine is in their ability to push the envelope to create amazing new flavors and limited-edition offerings that have customers eager not to 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 also result in craveable combinations highlighting local specialties. Other shops dabble with exotic flavors—savory ice cream, anyone?
To find the best ice cream spots in 50 major cities around the country, Stacker compiled a list using data from Yelp as of September 2025. To be considered, a shop needed at least 500 votes. If fewer than three ice cream places in the city had at least 500 votes, the minimum threshold was lowered to 250, and then further to 50.
Grab a spoon and dig in to find your next ice cream destination!
Phoenix, Arizona: Topo
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (348 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 301 N Gilbert Rd Gilbert, AZ 85234
- Read more on Yelp
Los Angeles, California: Yo-Way Eatery
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (1,171 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 17901 S Vermont Ste D Gardena, CA 90248
- Read more on Yelp
Sacramento, California: Gunther's Quality Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (3,835 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 2801 Franklin Blvd Sacramento, CA 95818
- Read more on Yelp
San Diego, California: Classics Malt Shop
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (1,575 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 3625 Midway Dr Ste B San Diego, CA 92110
- Read more on Yelp
San Francisco, California: Miyako Old Fashioned Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (518 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 1470 Fillmore St San Francisco, CA 94118
- Read more on Yelp
Denver, Colorado: GQue Barbeque
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,168 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 5160 W 120th Ave Unit K Westminster, CO 80020
- Read more on Yelp
New Haven, Connecticut: Bill's Carousel Ice Cream
- Rating: 3.7 / 5 (69 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 1185 Whalley Ave New Haven, CT 06515
- Read more on Yelp
Washington, D.C.: 1789 Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (828 reviews)
- Categories: Bars
- Address: 1226 36th St NW Washington, DC 20007
- Read more on Yelp
Miami, Florida: Yonutz Gourmet Donuts and Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (589 reviews)
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Address: 121 NW 136th Ave Sunrise, FL 33325
- Read more on Yelp
Orlando, Florida: The Greenery Creamery
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (545 reviews)
- Categories: Vegan
- Address: 420 E Church St Unit 112 Orlando, FL 32801
- Read more on Yelp
Tampa, Florida: Kooky Coconut
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (500 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 760 Gulf Blvd Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
- Read more on Yelp
Atlanta, Georgia: The Frosty Caboose
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (267 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 5435 Peachtree Rd Chamblee, GA 30341
- Read more on Yelp
Honolulu, Hawaii: Niu Soft Serve
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (283 reviews)
- Categories: Vegan
- Address: 2320 S King St Unit B-4 Honolulu, HI 96826
- Read more on Yelp
Boise, Idaho: Big Jud's Meridian
- Rating: 3.8 / 5 (135 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 3030 E Overland Rd Ste 100 Meridian, ID 83642
- Read more on Yelp
Chicago, Illinois: Massa Cafe Italiano
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (409 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 7434 W North Ave Elmwood Park, IL 60707
- Read more on Yelp
Indianapolis, Indiana: Chris' Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (332 reviews)
- Categories: Tacos
- Address: 1484 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46240
- Read more on Yelp
Louisville, Kentucky: Barrel of Fun Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (82 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 9421 Smyrna Pkwy Louisville, KY 40229
- Read more on Yelp
New Orleans, Louisiana: Stop Jockin Snoballs
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (51 reviews)
- Categories: Shaved Ice
- Address: 3600 St Bernard Ave New Orleans, LA 70122
- Read more on Yelp
Boston, Massachusetts: Taiyaki NYC - Boston
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (740 reviews)
- Categories: Japanese
- Address: 119 Seaport Blvd Ste B Boston, MA 02210
- Read more on Yelp
Baltimore, Maryland: Cajou Creamery
- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (62 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 411 N Howard St Baltimore, MD 21201
- Read more on Yelp
Portland, Maine: Super Secret Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (52 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 2213 Main St Bethlehem, NH 03574
- Read more on Yelp
Detroit, Michigan: Big Dip Burgers
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (66 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 725 E Walled Lake Dr Walled Lake, MI 48390
- Read more on Yelp
Minneapolis, Minnesota: 2 Scoops Ice Cream Eatery
- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (84 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 921 Selby Ave Saint Paul, MN 55104
- Read more on Yelp
Kansas City, Missouri: Sweet Thang & Cafe
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (102 reviews)
- Categories: Desserts
- Address: 1088 W Santa Fe St Olathe, KS 66061
- Read more on Yelp
St. Louis, Missouri: The Fountain On Locust
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,431 reviews)
- Categories: Cocktail Bars
- Address: 3037 Locust St St. Louis, MO 63103
- Read more on Yelp
Omaha, Nebraska: Doozies
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (65 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 4105 S 11th Council Bluffs, IA 51501
- Read more on Yelp
Charlotte, North Carolina: Tony's Ice Cream Company
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (360 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 604 E Franklin Blvd Gastonia, NC 28054
- Read more on Yelp
Raleigh, North Carolina: Coco Ni
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (66 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 459 Mt Cross Rd Ste C Danville, VA 24540
- Read more on Yelp
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Pop Fizz
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (151 reviews)
- Categories: Food Trucks
- Address: 1701 4th St SW Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Read more on Yelp
Las Vegas, Nevada: Somisomi
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (737 reviews)
- Categories: Korean
- Address: 4284 Spring Mountain Rd #D104 Las Vegas, NV 89102
- Read more on Yelp
Buffalo, New York: Italian Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (59 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 5458 Victoria Ave Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3L2 Canada
- Read more on Yelp
New York City, New York: Anita Gelato
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (567 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 1561 Second Ave New York, NY 10028
- Read more on Yelp
Cincinnati, Ohio: Midwest Best Bbq & Creamery
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (326 reviews)
- Categories: Comfort Food
- Address: 669 Justice Ct Loveland, OH 45140
- Read more on Yelp
Cleveland, Ohio: Paleteria La Fresa Mexican Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (57 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 447 Darrow Rd Akron, OH 44305
- Read more on Yelp
Columbus, Ohio: Laguna Mexican Street Food & Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (84 reviews)
- Categories: Shaved Ice
- Address: 1980 Hard Rd Columbus, OH 43235
- Read more on Yelp
Portland, Oregon: Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (704 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 22 SE 28th Ave Portland, OR 97214
- Read more on Yelp
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Cheese Dawgs
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (148 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 212 Mill St Bristol, PA 19007
- Read more on Yelp
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Treat - Ice Cream and Liege Waffles
- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (121 reviews)
- Categories: Waffles
- Address: 735 Copeland St 1A Pittsburgh, PA 15232
- Read more on Yelp
Providence, Rhode Island: Helado Taiyaki
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (105 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 102 Dean St Providence, RI 02903
- Read more on Yelp
Charleston, South Carolina: Coach's Canteen
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (56 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 710 Hopewell Dr Charleston, SC 29492
- Read more on Yelp
Memphis, Tennessee: Tacker's Shake Shack
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (237 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 409 Military Rd Marion, AR 72364
- Read more on Yelp
Nashville, Tennessee: KOKOS Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (145 reviews)
- Categories: Vegan
- Address: 3 City Ave Ste 700 Nashville, TN 37209
- Read more on Yelp
Austin, Texas: Omg Squee
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (405 reviews)
- Categories: Gluten-Free
- Address: 4607 Bolm Rd Ste A Austin, TX 78702
- Read more on Yelp
Dallas, Texas: Bigdash Ice Cream & Pastries
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (667 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 888 S Greenville Ave Ste 140 Richardson, TX 75081
- Read more on Yelp
Houston, Texas: Chill...The Milkshake Bar
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (394 reviews)
- Categories: Waffles
- Address: 6402 Louetta Rd Spring, TX 77379
- Read more on Yelp
San Antonio, Texas: Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (276 reviews)
- Categories: Japanese
- Address: 7115 Blanco Rd Ste 112 San Antonio, TX 78216
- Read more on Yelp
Salt Lake City, Utah: Monkeywrench
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (313 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 53 E Gallivan Ave Salt Lake City, UT 84111
- Read more on Yelp
Richmond, Virginia: The Treat Shop RVA
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (181 reviews)
- Categories: Burgers
- Address: 6114 Jahnke Rd Richmond, VA 23225
- Read more on Yelp
Seattle, Washington: MOTO Pizza - West Seattle
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (269 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 4526 42nd Ave SW Seattle, WA 98116
- Read more on Yelp
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kopp's Frozen Custard
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (897 reviews)
- Categories: Burgers
- Address: 7631 W Layton Ave Greenfield, WI 53220
- Read more on Yelp
Note: This content was created with the assistance of AI tools and has been thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by Stacker's editorial team to ensure accuracy, reliability, and alignment with our editorial standards.
This story features data reporting by Rob Powell and was adapted from a Stacker article originally written by Jill Jaracz.
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