Like most cities, I’m sure, Edmonton has its fair share of ice cream shops. However, out of all of the places you can get a scoop in the city, three reign supreme: Made by Marcus, Yelo’d, and Kind Ice Cream. Together, these shops have amassed over 86,900 followers on Instagram. And that’s not all. These shops consistently draw long lines and are certainly worth the wait! But, if all of these shops offer up such delicious scoops, how could you possibly choose? Well, if you don’t intend on doing an ice cream crawl (which I would highly recommend!), read on to find out what each shop does best!
Made by Marcus – 10426 82 Ave NW
Tucked away in an alley on Whyte Ave., Made by Marcus scoops some of the most adventurously flavoured and creamy ice cream that I have ever come across. Flavours range from elevated versions of the classic strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate, to those which feature local ingredients, such as goodies from Duchess Bakeshop. As well, every month, the team at MBM comes up with three wildly creative feature flavours, one of which is vegan. If you’re looking for creamy, decadent, and fun ice cream served on a fresh waffle cone (or in a cute paper cup, if you’re into that), look no further than Made by Marcus!
Stephanie’s Favorite: Sea Salt & Goat Milk Caramel
Yelo’d – 10152A 82 Ave NW
Also located on Whyte Ave., Yelo’d serves up the most beautiful swirls of Filipino fusion soft serve through their walk-up windows. Not only are these cones absolutely gorgeous, but they’re creamy and incredibly delicious as well! Not into soft serve on a cone? Yelo’d also serves up a variety of baked goods–cookies, Filipino baked goods, and cakes–as well as a variety of sundaes and shakes. If you’re looking to step outside your vanilla comfort zone, or want a quality soft serve, head over to Yelo’d! You won’t regret it.
Stephanie’s Favorite: Ube Soft Serve
Kind Ice Cream – 9551 76 Ave NW
Located in Ritchie (and soon to be Highlands), Kind Ice Cream is a women-led, small batch scoop shop. Serving up classic flavours with a twist, Kind does nostalgic flavours incredibly well. This isn’t the mint chip ice cream you got from the store down the street as a kid; it’s better. What I think Kind does better than any other shop on this list is their vegan/plant based flavours, particularly their sorbet. As someone who has a soft spot for dairy ice cream, Kind has been the only vegan scoop I have enjoyed even more than the dairy one I ordered alongside it. So, if you’re looking for an outstanding vegan scoop or refreshing sorbet, or just want a classic flavour done well, give Kind Ice Cream a chance!
Stephanie’s Favourite: Frose Sorbet (a summertime exclusive!)
And there you have it! My take on Edmonton’s best ice cream shops. I encourage you to get out and grab a scoop while the weather is still sunny and warm. Although, all three of these shops serve ice cream good enough to be eaten 365 days a year, even in the dead of Edmonton’s winter!