Art by Alan López for Remezcla
Summer in Chicago don’t always come with the same kind of scorching heat that tends to define ice cream weather in other cities across the United States. But Chicago’s more temperate climate just means you can more easily enjoy your frozen treats outside while you soak up the sun. Luckily, we’ve got the intel on the good frozen treat spots. Here are six Chicago gems where you can get tequila ice cream, a bajillion varieties of paletas, chamoyadas, and other delicious frozen treats.
At the super welcoming and chill La Tres Campanitas, many a customer has satisfied his or her sweet tooth. With its about 40 varieties of paletas – including tamarindo, arroz con leche, and rompope –you can basically have a new flavor every day from now until summer ends on September 21.
Las Tres Campanitas
1044 W. 18th St.
Chicago, Illinois 60608
Seven years ago, Fruityland Ice Cream made its debut on April 30, aka the day when Mexico celebrates El día de los niños. And though at first glance, Fruityland may seem like a paradise for children (see company’s cartoon bear logo), it’s really dream come true for everyone. Along with delicious mangonadas, milk shakes, and sundaes, Fruityland has a tequila (!!!) and rum with raisins ice cream. On the paleta side, there’s arroz con leche, bubble gum, and piña colada flavors.
Fruityland Ice Cream
4610 Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60625
The avocado paleta is Razapachos Neveria best-selling product, but everything on the menu is a winner. Razpachos has about 50 different flavors, including oreo cookie, chamoy, gazpacho moreliano, arroz con leche, and mango paletas. An employee at Razpachos assures us that they have the kinds of paletas that no one else has, including queso filled with guava and queso filled with cajeta. Follow Razpachos’ Instagram account, where it shares occasional deals.
Razpachos Neveria
5611 S. Pulaski Road
Chicago, Illinois 60629
Between maltiadas, raspados, 32 kinds of ice cream, ~60 types of paletas, and diablitos, there’s plenty of ways to cool down at Paleteria El Sabor, a six-year-old Chicago shop. Some of the crowd favorites are galleta, limón, arroz con leche, and coco paletas. But you can’t really go wrong.
Paleteria El Sabor
1639 W. 18th St.
Chicago, Illinois 60608
This brick-and-mortar shop offers all your favorite paletas and more. In its rainbow-printed wrappers, Paleteria Arco Iris offers a large variety of paletas, including chocolate, piña colada, nance, and mango.
Paleteria Arco Iris
2950 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60618
Chelita’s is so good that even the imminent cold weather shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the homemade treats. Located in Portage Park, the shop is fairly new and sells about 30 types of paletas (guava, pistachio, tamarindo, etc). But as the name of the store suggests, the ice cream is really where it’s at. Try La Patada Voladora (chocolate and salted caramel), the mango and chamoy, the pine nut, or really anything.
Chelita’s Homemade Ice Cream
4442-A N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60630
