When summer temperatures heat up, there are several tasty ways to cool down across The Irvine Ranch. From creamy artisanal ice cream to soft serve frozen yogurt and authentic gelato, plenty of tasty frozen treats tempt the palate this summer. Chill out with a scoop (or two) from this cool list featuring 7 must try ice cream, gelato, and frozen yogurt shops in Orange County.
Saffron & Rose at Campus Plaza is an ice cream shop that celebrates Persian flavors using organic, globally-sourced ingredients. Located across the street from UC Irvine, the family-owned and -operated ice cream company prides itself on small-batch ice cream made according to founder Ali Kashani-Rafye’s original recipe, which he created in Tehran more than 75 years ago. Saffron & Rose is a southern California favorite ice cream shop that was featured on television shows such as “Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown” and inside The New York Times because of its authentic Persian flavors.
Savor flavors such as aromatic white rose, sweet almond, and refreshing cucumber. Or indulge in frozen desserts like Faloodeh Persian ice cream, a chilled rosewater sorbet blended with rice noodles for an added layer of texture.
WHAT TO ORDER: First-time visitors should taste the popular saffron pistachio ice cream. The velvety frozen treat contains golden saffron, rosewater and toasted pistachio and is available in vegan and diet versions.
In 2011, brothers Edoardo and Luigi Tonolli founded Bacio di Latte, an artisanal gelato shop inspired by Milan’s ancient gelato-making traditions. After embarking on an Italian roadtrip, the duo sought out recipes for creamy Italian gelato puro. In 2019, Bacio di Latte opened at Fashion Island®. Another location opened at Irvine Spectrum Center® in 2024. It’s still one of the best places for gelato in Orange County.
At Bacio di Latte, it all starts with the ingredients. Milk, which is the main component in well-made gelato, is sourced from Sonoma County family farms. Bacio di Latte prides itself on finding the best raw ingredients like Belgium chocolate and Italian pistachios. Berries for its light sorbets come from Tamai Family Farms in Oxnard, California. A decadent 3 Cioccolati, or three chocolate, is made with 70% cacao.
WHAT TO ORDER: Stracciatella and Crema Torino featuring hazelnut gelato, chocolate hazelnut spread, topped with chopped and whole hazelnuts from Piedmont, Italy. For coffee connoisseurs, savor the Italian affogato, a scoop of gelato topped with a shot of hot espresso.
BACIO DI LATTE
Fashion Island
133 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660
Irvine Spectrum Center
508 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, CA 92618
Westcliff Plaza
1128 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92660
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream makes each batch by hand. Founder Alice Handel started serving her signature ice cream in 1945. Her original recipe included fresh fruit from her own backyard in Youngstown, Ohio. Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream became a neighborhood favorite, and it gradually expanded across the country. Now, there are three scoop shops in Irvine at The Market Place, Irvine Spectrum Center, and Alton Square.
The generous-sized scoops are served in your choice of either a classic cake cone or a sugar cone. For a real treat, order a hand-dipped waffle cone. The menu also includes shakes, banana splits, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, and hurricanes: Handel’s vanilla ice cream blended with a selection of mix-ins.
The freezer is stocked with Handel’s signature Blue Monster ice cream, a blue-hued vanilla ice cream studded with two types of cookies. Looking for non-dairy desserts? The shops also offer vegan sorbets, old fashion sherbet, and fruit ices.
WHAT TO ORDER: The 4 scoop sampler allows you to try a little bit of everything.
HANDEL’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
Alton Square
5365H Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92604
Irvine Spectrum Center
827 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, CA, 92618
The Market Place
13786 Jamboree Road, Irvine, CA 92602
In 1999, an anonymous founder partnered with two Sicilian gelato makers to create Gelato Paradiso in Newport Beach. Using traditional Sicilian recipes and imported Italian ingredients, Gelato Paradiso at Corona del Mar Plaza continues to serve authentic Italian gelato in Orange County.
The neighborhood gelateria serves over 30 handcrafted flavors each day. Gelato Paradiso remains committed to making authentic housemade slow-churned Italian gelato. That means sourcing premium pistachios from Bronte, importing hazelnuts from Piedmont, and using seasonal California produce.
Popular flavors include stracciatella with Italian chocolate chip and tiramisu, which layers mascarpone gelato with espresso-soaked ladyfingers and cocoa powder.
Gelato Paradiso’s sorbetto is a dairy- and egg-free Italian frozen dessert prepared with fresh fruit. Flavors include melone (cantaloupe) and tropical guava. Artisanal gelato cakes are also available with 36 hour advance notice.
WHAT TO ORDER: Seasonal flavor of the month. Try the new Almond Croissant Gelato, which blends rich almond notes with buttery croissant pieces, creamy white chocolate chips, and a silky almond paste.
SomiSomi at Irvine Spectrum Center is known for its viral Korean dessert, “Ah-Boong,” a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with soft serve ice cream. Inspired by the Japanese fish-shaped waffle confection known as a taiyaki, SomiSomi lines each “fish” with a filling such as red bean, black sesame, creamy vanilla custard, or Nutella. Then, it’s combined with pillowy soft serve. Guests can enjoy the taiyaki as a cone or ask for the ice cream served in a cup with the fish-shaped waffle on top.
Additional toppings include Fruity Pebbles, rainbow sprinkles, cookie crumbs, or Matcha powder. There are also Somi Sips, like strawberry milk and cold brew with soft serve added for creamy and caffeinated dessert. SomiSomi is also Kid Approved.
WHAT TO ORDER: Ah-Boong taiyaki served “upside down” with soft serve ice cream in a cup and the fish-shaped taiyaki on top.
Golden Spoon at Oak Creek Shopping Center is considered one of the fro yo forebears in Southern California. Since 1983, its classic yogurt shops have served small-batch, creamy frozen yogurt and sorbets in rotating flavors like peanut butter, old fashioned vanilla, classic coffee, and black cherry.
The neighborhood-friendly location is ideal for a post pool snack. Or, when the Jeffery Open Space Trail unveils this summer, bike over for a sweet treat. Each swirl can be customized with toppings such as fresh berries, rainbow sprinkles, crunchy roasted nuts, and an assortment of candies. Dairy-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free flavors are served, too.
GOLDEN SPOON FROZEN YOGURT
Oak Creek Shopping Center
5663 Alton Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92618
Cold Stone Creamery at Irvine Spectrum Center gets its name from the stores’ signature frozen granite stones, which are used to mix in toppings while simultaneously keeping the ice cream cold. By handling the ice cream on chilled stones, Cold Stone servers evenly distribute the customizable mix-ins.
Cold Stone Creamery’s ice cream is churned in-store. Flavors include sweet cream, cheesecake, French Vanilla, and cake batter. Guests can create their own concoctions by selecting sweet additions like chocolate chips, roasted nuts, and fresh fruit. Or they can take the guesswork out of the equation and select from Cold Stone’s signature creations. The salty and sweet Oreo Pretzel Perfection is served with chocolate covered pretzel ice cream, Oreo cookies, pretzels, and caramel. The shop also offers dairy-free options made with Silk almond milk.
WHAT TO ORDER: “Who You Callin’ Shortcake” sundae made with strawberry ice cream, yellow cake, graham cracker pie crust, strawberries, and whipped topping.
