This Portland-born ice creamery has made its way down the West Coast, with O.C. outposts in Anaheim and Newport Beach. Salt & Straw’s premier scoops tell the stories of artisans, farmers and meaningful food movements using out-of-the-box ingredients folded into award-winning ice cream. Try the limited-time cheesecake with salted yuzu curd or the indulgent candied pear and blue cheese ice cream.
SAFFRON AND ROSE PERSIAN ICE CREAM
With roots dating back to 1974, Saffron and Rose, founded by Ali Kashani-Rafye, continues to be a family-owned and -operated business. Serving deliciously fragrant Persian ice cream, the beloved Irvine ice cream shop draws O.C. locals who can’t get enough of the bestselling saffron pistachio flavor layered with rosewater, toasted pistachios and golden saffron.
SOUTH SWELL HAND-DIPPED ICE CREAM
If you, too, reminisce about chocolate-dipped ice cream, South Swell in San Clemente and Laguna Beach offers nostalgia on a stick. Choose from vanilla or chocolate ice cream bars, swirly soft serve or even a frozen banana to dunk in a rich coat of gourmet chocolate and top with even more deliciousness. For a true throwback, order The Parent Trap, a Hallie and Annie-worthy treat of chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream dressed in crushed Oreos and a healthy drizzle of peanut butter.
The playful exterior of Stella Jean’s ice cream shop.
Photo by Israel Palacio
In Costa Mesa, you’ll find two locations of Stella Jean’s, where small-batch ice cream is crafted by hand using locally sourced ingredients. Order seasonal ice cream flavors, like date cake shake, or familiar favorites, such as gluten-free brown butter pecan, to pile high in cups or homemade waffle cones. Word on the street is that the mango sticky rice flavor alone is worth the trip.
Top off the perfect day on Balboa Island with a trip to Summerland Creamery. This family-owned ice cream shop uses top-notch ingredients, including organic butter, eggs and Straus Family Creamery dairy, to create flavors like coconut pineapple, mint chip and lemon zest. If ice cream’s not your thing, check out the decadent pastry offerings, from cocoa-dusted tiramisu to chocolate eclairs.
This futuristic creamery in Santa Ana uses the transformative power of liquid nitrogen to create ice cream right in front of your eyes. Watch as the sugar, milk and fun flavor pairings, like double chocolate s’mores or nostalgic milk and cereal, come together in seconds. Continuing the magic, the ice cream is shaped into a rose and served in an OG puffle, an interpretation of the Hong Kong-style egg waffle.
A Santa Barbara icon, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams is serving its legendary scoops at River Street Marketplace in San Juan Capistrano. Known for carefully crafted ice creams made with locally sourced organic milk and peak-season fruit, McConnell’s delivers nostalgic flavors with a modern twist. From signature favorites, like Eureka Lemon and Marionberry, and limited-time wonders to dairy-free delicacies and strategic brand collaborations, this 77-year-old creamery proves that staying timeless means knowing how to evolve—one scoop at a time.
For over 70 years, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams has put creativity to the test at its scoop shops and in its take-home pints.
Photo Courtesy of Brand
Founded by Alice Handel in Youngstown, Ohio, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has since become a beloved staple, and lucky for O.C. locals, nine shops are strewn across the region. Dive into 48 rotating monthly flavors, including decadent creations like bananas foster, chocolate-covered strawberry, peanut butter and jelly, taro and tiger stripes. The dairy-free and vegan crowd can also partake with vibrant sorbets and rich, nut milk-based options.
Purveyors of ice cream you can trust, this family-run establishment in Yorba Linda sources dairy from the growth hormone-free cows of San Jacinto Valley and works with premium and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. The final product is a selection of favorite “true blue” ice creams and rotating flavors that change with the seasons. If you can’t decide on just one scoop, try six with the scoop flight served in an egg carton.
Indulge in a variety of signature and seasonal flavors at Blue Scoop Creamery in Yorba Linda.
Photo Courtesy of Brand
CONFETTI ITALIAN ICE AND CUSTARD
Revisit the childhood experience of a trip to the ice cream shop at Confetti Italian Ice and Custard in Costa Mesa. With myriad classic treats and dairy-free, gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan options, there’s something sweet for every taste and need. Spoon into rich ice cream scoops, refreshing Italian ice and soft serves, or opt for the shop’s specialty parfait: creamy custard served atop Italian ice.
