For a sweet and happy ending to any meal in Orange County, stop by one of these ten dessert places and grab a quick, delicious snack. Treat your sweet tooth.
A mom and pop ice cream shop founded in 1936 in Ohio, Stricklands is a friendly and welcoming stop for sweet seekers of all ages. With a wide variety of homemade ice cream flavors, you’ll have a chance to try innovative flavors, like Thai ice tea and avocado, that you won’t find anywhere else. Order a scoop in a waffle cone to enhance your ice cream experience.
Stricklands, 4523 Campus Dr, Irvine, CA, USA +1 949 387 9955
At two locations in Irvine, HoneyMee pairs its milk ice cream with 100% pure and natural honey, HoneyMee’s fresh milk is sourced from a family owned, certified kosher dairy factory and its honey is from a local farm, making HoneyMee’s specialty the perfect feel good dessert. The small and upbeat interior makes this a lively place to hang out during the day or after dinner.
HoneyMee, 17595 Harvard Ave, Unit E, Irvine, CA, USA and 5414 Walnut Ave, Unit C, Irvine, CA, USA +1 949 387 9955
Sidecar Doughnuts gives hungry sweet cravers a feast for the eyes and the stomach with a creatively decorated, varied selection of doughnuts. With ever changing flavors, the shop rolls out unexpected hits like persimmon cake and guava in addition to classics such as salty caramel and chocolate. Come early to ensure your desired flavors are still in stock, these babies go fast.
Sidecar Doughnuts, 270 E 17th St #18, Costa Mesa, CA, USA +1 949 873 5424
This trendy new ice cream parlor ditches traditional cones for its signature Puffle cone, made from an egg waffle that originated on the streets of Hong Kong. When paired with unique flavors like Earl Grey lavender tea, s’mores, and rose, the impeccable blend of fluffy texture and icy fresh ice cream truly hits the spot. Although the lines can be long here, this treat is well worth the wait.
Cauldron Ice Cream, 1421 W MacArthur Blvd, Suite F, Santa Ana, CA, USA +1 657 245 3442
Founded in Berkeley, CREAM’s newly opened location in the Irvine Spectrum brings the famed rich and creamy ice cream sandwich to Southern California. Choose your desired ice cream and freshly baked cookies to create your own unique dessert combination, or order them separately. Select your cookie base from red velvet, white chocolate macadamia nut, butter sugar, and more, and stuff it with your choice of ice cream for a personalized dessert.
CREAM, 640 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA, USA +1 949 341 0636
What makes AFTERS different from the other ice cream locations on this list is its milky buns, which gently protect the rich ice cream center. Engineered from a basic doughnut, the milky buns are the new and innovative way to eat your ice cream. ‘Ice cream is cheaper than therapy’ is the quote found on the walls, and AFTERS proves it. Tired of regular ice cream sandwiches? Check out AFTERS for an ice cream doughnut sandwich.
Beard Papa’s offers a wide variety of dessert items to satisfy your cravings, from drinks and cold desserts to pastries and mochi. Order its famed cream puff, complete with a rich creamy center, or go for the huge portion of shaved ice, ideal for sharing with friends and family on a hot day.
Beard Papa’s, 14310 Culver Drive, Irvine, CA, USA +1 949 559 1116
Located in the heart of Orange County, Spatel Desserts offers a wide variety of ice cream, Italian ice, and custard. Try a Gelati Combo for a sampling. Get the Jolly Rancher (blue raspberry, sour apple, cherry, and vanilla custard) or Tropicana (passion fruit, mango, pineapple, and vanilla custard) to fulfill your fruity desire. The rustic interior creates a relaxing ambiance for enjoying the cold treats.
Spatel Desserts, 3910 E Chapman Ave, Orange, CA, USA +1 714 538 5749
One of the only Japanese French bakeries in the area, Cream Pan has both savory and sweet treats to fill your tummy up. In addition to pastries, Cream Pan has sandwiches and Japanese rice dishes, making this a great location for a casual lunch or dinner. The specialty Pans (bread stuffed with yummy fillings such as melon or curry beef) will cater to your sweet and salty desires. Be sure to order the prize winning croissants and Pan to add a sweet ending to your meal.
Cream Pan, 602 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA, USA +1 714 665 8239
Trendy café, Milk & Honey has handcrafted drinks, healthy snacks, and shaved ice to meet all your food cravings. Get some freshly made sandwiches to enhance your afternoon tea experience. Get the Green Tea Deluxe Shaved Ice or Chai Deluxe to get a mix of both tea and dessert. With its rustic and natural design, this is the perfect location to de-stress from your everyday life and treat yourself to a healthy snack or dessert.
Milk & Honey, 2981 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA, USA +1 714 708 0092
