The Best Ice Cream Shops and Pints in Austin

Merry Monarch – It still stands true that Merry Monarch’s Oreo Miso Ice Cream with chunks of oreo and dark chocolate hazelnut truffles is my favorite ice cream flavor in town. I wish their truck was open earlier as I don’t often find myself on Burnet after 5 p.m., but if you do, this is worth the stop. The owner, Greg, has worked in fine dining restaurants like Uchi, and in LA. He is extremely scientific and serious about his small-batch ice cream, using the best eggs and dairy. He creates sweet and savory flavors that you might not have ever thought of, and each one makes you close your eyes and hum, “Mmm.” It’s decadent and thrilling and the most “chef-y” flavors on my list here. Other flavors have included: Black Tea Banoffee, black tea ice cream swirled with toffee oat cookie crumble and banana compote; Red Bean Chestnut with brown sugar and red bean paste cookie dough; PSL Roasted Spined Kuri Squash ice cream with coffee- infused Valrhona caramelia ganache; and Persian Honeycomb with roasted almond, cardamom, ricotta, and vanilla ice cream with swirls of saffron, rose and ground pistachio honeycomb candy.

IV’s Ice Cream – IV’s Ice Cream offers regular drops and outstanding creative flavors. The chunky mix-ins remind me of Ben & Jerry’s, but with a much better ice cream base and high-quality ingredients like Van Leuween. My favorite flavors: Gold Digger with vanilla bean ice cream, honeycomb chunks, swirls of salted caramel, and gold flakes; Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which was without a mix-in and very smooth and creamy; and Break Up Tub, the MOST stuffed cookie dough pint I’ve ever had in my life. You might even wonder where the ice cream is at one point because she is so generous with the dough! I also LOVED the surprise chocolate fudge riding the side of the carton walls. She has seasonal flavors like Shamrock (mint oreo), and other fun variations like Samoas and Ferrero Rocher. You can place orders for a Zilker/Bouldin Creek area pick-up. She also does weddings, birthdays, and corporate events so be sure to support her!

Bésame – Parked at Meanwhile Brewing with a new location in Tarrytown, Bésame is a family-owned and colorful ice cream truck with limited edition pint drops that regularly sell out. It blows my mind that so many other people besides me will line up for an ice cream flavor that has already sold out in advance online. I only thought musicians like Taylor Swift could make that happen. They offer tiny scoop sizes for kids, as well as regular cups. Two regular flavors I order are the Over the Rainbow with vanilla ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, chunks of Sheena’s signature snickerdoodle cookies, and the Paint it Black with malt ice cream, crushed oreo, and brownie chunks. They also have gluten free flavors like Life Gave Me Lemons with lemon ice cream, lemon curd, and candied ginger. Bésame is always doing fun collaborations as a part of the community.

Gati – As a regular Thai Fresh eater, it wasn’t until a few years after I started working with them that I even tried the ice cream! Chef/owner Jam first started selling ice cream after buying too many mangoes for Thai Fresh and deciding to make a coconut milk based mango-lime ice cream as a dessert at the restaurant so she wouldn’t waste the fruit. Customers kept asking for the ice cream so Jam continued to make new flavors, eventually opening Gati as a standalone dessert and ice cream shop. I have always been a fan of the salted caramel brownie (heated up) and my friend ordered the bright yellow Golden Milk and Chocolate after our lunch. I dropped my spoon after my first bite of that creamy coconut-based silky vegan ice cream. Have no fear, it does not taste coconutty or icey like other vegan brands. You can get the ice cream at both Thai Fresh and Gati, and some of the other signature flavors are Cookie Monster, Thai Basil, Pandan, and Lavender Caramel. I can’t stay away from here when I’m craving ice cream and love that it’s not heavy or milky. 

Fresa’s – Most people come to Fresa’s for the tacos and chicken, but I come for the made-from-scratch ice cream. They sell half-pints, and flavors change seasonally with two flavors on the menu at a time, like Banana Cream Pie and Brown Butter Fudge Brownie. Look out for the Rice Krispie Treat or Cookies and Cream! 

OMG Squee – I had heard so much about OmgSquee before I finally went and they were also on Queer Eye, which I know was a big deal! This Asian-owned ice cream and doughnut shop is known for their Taiyaki cones. This Mochi-Belgian waffle cone, shaped like a fish, is both cute and tasty. They change their two flavors every single month, and I’ve only had the fall Pumpkin and Black Sesame fall concoction topped with Oreo Dust with Red Bean Paste filling the cone. The bakery is 100% gluten free, including their Mochi Donuts in rotating variations like Ube Oreo and Matcha Blueberry, plus Macarons and Boba Tea. 

Amy’s Ice Creams – Amy’s Ice Creams is Austin’s most classic ice cream that has been around for more than 40 years. My order here is the signature Mexican Vanilla with Oreos and M&Ms crushed in, but they rotate through more than 350 flavors like Belgian Chocolate, Zilker Mint Chip, Chocoberry, and Bourbon Pecan. They have locations all over the place, and the South Congress walk-up shop is probably the most famous.  

Asahi Imports – This amazing Japanese grocery store on Burnet actually serves a great matcha soft serve. Yes, they have a location south, but only the north one has the soft serve. It’s creamy and cold, with just the right amount of natural bitterness to make this frozen concoction a sweet treat.

Baked Bear – Baked Bear is where I’m taking little kids or what I’d recommend if you are in dire need of ice cream sandwiches. While it’s a chain from out of town, the ice cream flavors are really good, but REALLY sweet. They have a blue Cookie Monster ice cream that kids go crazy for — I would never — a yummy Mint Chip, Blackberry Crumble, Toasted S’mores, and a Caramel Pretzel Fudge that I am down to clown with and top on my cookie. The solid cookies make it a memorable ice cream sandwich, but beware, it might knock you out. You can always just order a scoop of ice cream and top it with one cookie, but that does rid you of the childlike experience of a full sandwich. Cookies range from Chocolate Chip to Cookies & Cream, Funfetti, Gooey Butter Cake, Snickerdoodle, etc.