Scooper stars: 20 essential shops for frozen treats in Chicago
20 great places to enjoy an ice cream treat
Almost everyone likes ice cream. If that weren’t the case,
why would vegan ice cream exist? Whether it’s summer or
not, here are 20 spots for a top-notch sweet treat. From
plain old ice cream to custard and gelato, there are a plethora of rich and decadent options available. Recent additions to the list include ice cream bars from Dana Salls Cree’s Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Asian
soft serve shop Rakki Cafe, and Bronzeville creamery Shawn Michelle’s.
1. LICKITY SPLIT
Decadent, rich custard powers Lickity Split’s sundaes and concretes. The specialty is (surprise) banana splits that brighten everyone’s day. 6056 N. Broadway and 7000 N. Western Ave.
2. GEORGE’S ICE CREAM & SWEETS
Any time there are dairy-free options, there needs to be some recognition. The crazy sundaes at George’s are made with ice cream from Chocolate Shoppe in Madison, Wisconsin. 5306 N. Clark St.
3. PRETTY COOL ICE CREAM
Dana Salls Cree, the former pastry chef of The Publican, collaborated with Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits owner Michael Ciapciak to open this charming Logan Square shop in 2018. Guests are treated to a dose of nostalgia with an ice cream bar lineup and a familyfriendly space that features brightly-colored walls and stadium seating. Options range from custard and buttermilk bars to plant-based milk pops and “piesicles” covered in a graham cracker shell. 2353 N.
California Ave.
4. MARGIE’S CANDIES
Bust out those letterman jackets because Margie’s is straight out of the 1950s. Have a malt or Margie’s turtle sundae and pretend to be Richie Cunningham waiting for the Fonz. Oh, happy fays. There’s also a Ravenswood location near the Montrose CTA train station. 1960 N.
Western Ave.
5. THE FREEZE
Take a trip back in time at this vintage ice cream stand. The Freeze, formerly known as Tastee Freez, has been dishing out nostalgic delights since the ’50s. Order dipped soft serve cones, sundaes or milkshakes from the walk-up window and enjoy them on one of the picnic tables. Logan Square is an evolving neighborhood but as fans have shown, there’s still room for classics. 2815 W. Armitage
Ave.
6. CAFFE GELATO
They take gelato very seriously at this Wicker Park cafe, where the ingredients are imported straight from Italy. The ever-changing selection is made fresh daily but patrons can always get some hazelnut or pistachio to enjoy out on the sidewalk patio. 2034 W.
Division St.
7. BOMBOBAR
DineAmic Group’s dessert shop offers many ways to satiate that sweet tooth. The housemade gelato won’t disappoint and is available in flavors like s’mores, coffee caramel crisp, pistachio, and birthday cake. Add a waffle cone for a dollar more (because why not?) or go big with the bombolato sandwich — gelato and toppings served between a hot-pressed bombolone doughnut. There are also pup-friendly treats available. 832 W. Randolph St. and 1529 N. Wells St.
8. JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS
Jeni’s is now up to six locations in Chicago and has a horde of loyal followers who sprout long lines. They wait for creative flavors such as brambleberry crisp, goat cheese with red cherries, roasted strawberry buttermilk, wildberry lavender, and other seasonal offerings. For an added convenience, Jeni’s is also available at local grocers. 908 W. Randolph St., 3404 N. Southport Ave., 1505 N. Milwaukee Ave., 900 W. Armitage, 1419 N. Wells St., 3657 N. Clark St.
9. CONE GOURMET ICE CREAM
There’s an obsession in preserving childhood for adults, and Cone does this with Irish-influenced creations. Its “Banshee” sundae features ice cream covered in Lucky Charms. It’s magically delicious. 1051 W. Madison St. Chicago, IL 60607
10. LA MICHOACANA PREMIUM
For a seemingly endless array of options, Pilsen’s Mexican creamery can’t be beat. Ice creams run the gamut from cucumber to Mexican Twinkie while the colorful paletas selection is
even more eclectic, boasting dozens and dozens of flavors. It can be an overwhelming experience but don’t fret; just jump right in and then come back (again and again) to try a bit of everything. 1855 S. Blue
Island Ave.
11. SUGAR SHACK
Sugar Shack’s funnel cake sundae is the stuff of a dentist’s nightmare but the huge portion is worth it. Be prepared to eat outside and bring cash. 630 W. 26th St.
12. SCOOPS ICE CREAM
Waffles are ice cream’s best friend, and Scoops knows this. Its waffle cones and bowls are made in-house and come in a number of different flavors. And the candy selection for toppings is top-notch. 608 W.
31st St.
13. SHAWN MICHELLE’S
Taste a variety of homemade flavors at this new shop located in Bronzeville’s historic Rosenwald Courts Apartments. Owner Yahya Muhammad has been perfecting recipes since college and moved his business back to the South Side after previously scooping cones in Lakeview. The creative ice cream selections include Muhammad’s signature honey cinnamon graham cracker, Jamaican rum raisin and “Grandma’s Ole Fashioned Vanilla.” They can be enjoyed with fresh baked cobblers, too. 46 E 47th St. Chicago, IL 60653
14. KILWINS
Chocolates and fudges and ice creams, oh my! The Michiganbased chain has just about everything needed to indulge a sweets craving. Guests can watch employees make everything in-house before trying more than 40 flavors, which include Mackinac Island fudge, New Orleans praline pecan and Georgia peach. 5226 S. Harper Ave. and 310 S. Michigan Ave.
15. ORIGINAL RAINBOW CONE
Rainbow Cone fans will come find anyone who says a negative thing about their favorite iconic treat. For more than eight decades, the South Side institution has been stacking up chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with walnuts plus cherries), pistachio, and orange sherbet together. A second outpost can be found at Navy Pier. 9233 S Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60643 And rounding out the top 20: Scooter’s Frozen Custard, 1658 W. Belmont; Rakki Cafe, 1375 N. Milwaukee; Black Dog Gelato, 859 N. Damen and 1012 W. Lake; Legend Tasty House, 2242 S. Wentworth, and Lindy’s Chili & Gertie’s Ice Cream, 3685 S. Archer.