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.聽聽

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鈥攃onsider 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鈥�savory ice cream, anyone?

To find the best ice cream spots in 50 major cities around the country, 爆料TV compiled a list using data from Yelp聽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!

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Yelp

1 / 50

Phoenix, Arizona: Topo

- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (348 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 301 N Gilbert Rd Gilbert, AZ 85234
-

Yelp

2 / 50

Los Angeles, California: Yo-Way Eatery

- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (1,171 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 17901 S Vermont Ste D Gardena, CA 90248
-

Yelp

3 / 50

Sacramento, California: Gunther's Quality Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (3,835 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 2801 Franklin Blvd Sacramento, CA 95818
-

Yelp

4 / 50

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
-

Yelp

5 / 50

San Francisco, California: Miyako Old Fashioned Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (518 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 1470 Fillmore St San Francisco, CA 94118
-

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Yelp

6 / 50

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
-

Yelp

7 / 50

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
-

Yelp

8 / 50

Washington, D.C.: 1789 Restaurant & Bar

- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (828 reviews)
- Categories: Bars
- Address: 1226 36th St NW Washington, DC 20007
-

Yelp

9 / 50

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
-

Yelp

10 / 50

Orlando, Florida: The Greenery Creamery

- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (545 reviews)
- Categories: Vegan
- Address: 420 E Church St Unit 112 Orlando, FL 32801
-

Yelp

11 / 50

Tampa, Florida: Kooky Coconut

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (500 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 760 Gulf Blvd Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
-

Yelp

12 / 50

Atlanta, Georgia: The Frosty Caboose

- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (267 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 5435 Peachtree Rd Chamblee, GA 30341
-

Yelp

13 / 50

Honolulu, Hawaii: Niu Soft Serve

- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (283 reviews)
- Categories: Vegan
- Address: 2320 S King St Unit B-4 Honolulu, HI 96826
-

Yelp

14 / 50

Boise, Idaho: Big Jud's Meridian

- Rating: 3.8 / 5 (135 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 3030 E Overland Rd Ste 100 Meridian, ID 83642
-

Yelp

15 / 50

Chicago, Illinois: Massa Cafe Italiano

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (409 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 7434 W North Ave Elmwood Park, IL 60707
-

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Yelp

16 / 50

Indianapolis, Indiana: Chris' Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (332 reviews)
- Categories: Tacos
- Address: 1484 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46240
-

Yelp

17 / 50

Louisville, Kentucky: Barrel of Fun Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (82 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 9421 Smyrna Pkwy Louisville, KY 40229
-

Yelp

18 / 50

New Orleans, Louisiana: Stop Jockin Snoballs

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (51 reviews)
- Categories: Shaved Ice
- Address: 3600 St Bernard Ave New Orleans, LA 70122
-

Yelp

19 / 50

Boston, Massachusetts: Taiyaki NYC - Boston

- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (740 reviews)
- Categories: Japanese
- Address: 119 Seaport Blvd Ste B Boston, MA 02210
-

Yelp

20 / 50

Baltimore, Maryland: Cajou Creamery

- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (62 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 411 N Howard St Baltimore, MD 21201
-

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Yelp

21 / 50

Portland, Maine: Super Secret Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (52 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 2213 Main St Bethlehem, NH 03574
-

Yelp

22 / 50

Detroit, Michigan: Big Dip Burgers

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (66 reviews)
- Categories: Hot Dogs
- Address: 725 E Walled Lake Dr Walled Lake, MI 48390
-

Yelp

23 / 50

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
-

Yelp

24 / 50

Kansas City, Missouri: Sweet Thang & Cafe

- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (102 reviews)
- Categories: Desserts
- Address: 1088 W Santa Fe St Olathe, KS 66061
-

Yelp

25 / 50

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
-

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Yelp

26 / 50

Omaha, Nebraska: Doozies

- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (65 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 4105 S 11th Council Bluffs, IA 51501
-

Yelp

27 / 50

Charlotte, North Carolina: Tony's Ice Cream Company

- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (360 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 604 E Franklin Blvd Gastonia, NC 28054
-

Yelp

28 / 50

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
-

Yelp

29 / 50

Albuquerque, New Mexico: Pop Fizz

- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (151 reviews)
- Categories: Food Trucks
- Address: 1701 4th St SW Albuquerque, NM 87102
-

Yelp

30 / 50

Las Vegas, Nevada: Somisomi

- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (737 reviews)
- Categories: Korean
- Address: 4284 Spring Mountain Rd #D104 Las Vegas, NV 89102
-

Yelp

31 / 50

Buffalo, New York: Italian Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (59 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 5458 Victoria Ave Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3L2 Canada
-

Yelp

32 / 50

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
-

Yelp

33 / 50

Cincinnati, Ohio: Midwest Best Bbq & Creamery

- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (326 reviews)
- Categories: Comfort Food
- Address: 669 Justice Ct Loveland, OH 45140
-

Yelp

34 / 50

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
-

Yelp

35 / 50

Columbus, Ohio: Laguna Mexican Street Food & Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (84 reviews)
- Categories: Shaved Ice
- Address: 1980 Hard Rd Columbus, OH 43235
-

Yelp

36 / 50

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
-

Yelp

37 / 50

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Cheese Dawgs

- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (148 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 212 Mill St Bristol, PA 19007
-

Yelp

38 / 50

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Treat - Ice Cream and Liege Waffles

- Rating: 4.9 / 5 (121 reviews)
- Categories: Waffles
- Address: 735 Copeland St 1A Pittsburgh, PA 15232
-

Yelp

39 / 50

Providence, Rhode Island: Helado Taiyaki

- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (105 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 102 Dean St Providence, RI 02903
-

Yelp

40 / 50

Charleston, South Carolina: Coach's Canteen

- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (56 reviews)
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Address: 710 Hopewell Dr Charleston, SC 29492
-

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Yelp

41 / 50

Memphis, Tennessee: Tacker's Shake Shack

- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (237 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 409 Military Rd Marion, AR 72364
-

Yelp

42 / 50

Nashville, Tennessee: KOKOS Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (145 reviews)
- Categories: Vegan
- Address: 3 City Ave Ste 700 Nashville, TN 37209
-

Yelp

43 / 50

Austin, Texas: Omg Squee

- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (405 reviews)
- Categories: Gluten-Free
- Address: 4607 Bolm Rd Ste A Austin, TX 78702
-

Yelp

44 / 50

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
-

Yelp

45 / 50

Houston, Texas: Chill...The Milkshake Bar

- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (394 reviews)
- Categories: Waffles
- Address: 6402 Louetta Rd Spring, TX 77379
-

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Yelp

46 / 50

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
-

Yelp

47 / 50

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
-

Yelp

48 / 50

Richmond, Virginia: The Treat Shop RVA

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (181 reviews)
- Categories: Burgers
- Address: 6114 Jahnke Rd Richmond, VA 23225
-

Yelp

49 / 50

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
-

Yelp

50 / 50

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 爆料TV'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 爆料TV article originally written by Jill Jaracz.

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