6 BEST OMAHA ICE CREAM SHOPS TO COOL DOWN AT
Nebraska summers are no joke, with temperatures often hitting triple digits. What’s the best way to cool down? Stay inside? Pay for a pool membership?
Nah. Just get out and explore Omaha’s local ice cream scene.
Omaha has some incredible ice cream shops, each with its own unique personality and flair. Here are 6 of the best Omaha ice cream destinations that are sure to cool you down this summer.
Coneflower Creamery
Locations: Downtown (Millwork Commons); Blackstone
Flavors to Try: Blackstone Butterbrickle; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough; Vanilla Bean
Coneflower Creamery’s “farm to cone” approach doesn’t just make for a great tagline. While classic flavors like Vanilla and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough will almost always be available, most of the menu adapts depending on the season and what ingredients are at peak freshness. “We let the seasons write the menu,” co-owner Brian Langehn said on the Restaurant Hoppen podcast.
There are no cutting corners here, and that’s why, regardless of season or time of day, you’ll almost always see a line spilling out Coneflower’s door at either of Coneflower’s locations. The base ice cream is so smooth and creamy that it’s almost velvety in texture. It’ll melt quickly on a hot summer day, but that’s a good sign: ice creams that are slow to melt often have stabilizers that add fat and slow the melting process. That’s not the case at Coneflower, where quality and care are the top ingredients.
Graley's Creamery & Confections
Location: Papillion
Flavors to Try: Ooey Gooey Butter Cake; Maple Bacon; Cookies & Cream
Stepping inside Graley’s Creamery & Confections transports you more than 100 years into the past. Designed like an 1800s soda fountain, complete with old timey music, wooden counters, and padded barstools, the ambience alone makes Graley’s a fun visit.
But it’s the ice cream that’s truly worth coming for. With nearly 20 percent butterfat content, the ice cream is a heavy product with a smooth texture and velvety mouthfeel. The flavors, which change frequently, range from classic vanilla and chocolate to Maple Bacon, Cafe Oreo, and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. Can’t decide which one you want? Order an ice cream flight, which gives you eight mini scoops and a range of the full menu.
Centi
Location: Downtown
Flavors to Try: Bourbon Vanilla; Chocolate Absolute; Taro
Offering a slightly different spin is Centi, which serves up silky gelato as opposed to traditional ice cream. But what really sets Centi apart is its unique flavors. A former savory chef, owner Erick Landa subtly introduces notes of fruits, coffee, and produce from around the globe into his flavors without taking away from what makes ice cream great.
After starting as a delivery service, Centi recently opened its own shop in the Old Market, allowing Erick to offer more flavors. His offerings change daily, so check the menu chalkboard, load up a dish or homemade waffle cone, and savor away.
Dairy Chef
Location: Elkhorn
Flavors to Try: BFF Storm; Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich; M&M Storm
There are two reasons you shouldn’t let the massive lines at Dairy Chef scare you away. A) With two walk-up windows, the lines move quickly. B) This ice cream is worth waiting for.
Dairy Chef’s soft serve is run through a machine that incorporates more air and doesn’t allow the ice cream to harden as much as its scooped brethren, creating a smooth, silky texture. You have a choice of two flavors: sweet, perfume-y vanilla or rich chocolate, and regardless of what size you order, you’re going to get enough ice cream to last you a week. Ordering a large will get you a product the size of your head.
While Dairy Chef’s ice cream can be enjoyed in a shake, cone, dish, or ice cream sandwich, the Storms are the way to go. This shop mixes in so much candy and other ingredients that you’ll assuredly get some in every bite.
eCreamery
Location: Dundee
Flavors to Try: Snickerdoodle; Butter Brickle; Mint Cookie Crunch; S’mores
eCreamery might be best known for its ability to ship pints all over the country, a process which has earned the company national recognition. But you don’t have to be gifted a pint of this creamy goodness to enjoy it; you can also stop into eCreamery’s shop in Dundee and select from its variety of delicious, creative flavors. eCreamery’s base has less air than most ice creams, giving it a thick, velvet-y mouthfeel.
An Omaha staple since 2007, this shop provides a number of unique twists on classic flavors. Rather than offer the traditional brownie chunk and chocolate chip cookie dough; eCreamery amps up the flavor with Cupcake Cookie Dough and Sea Salt Caramel Brownie. Plus, you can get any flavor scooped into a homemade waffle cone or between fresh, chewy cookies.
Ted & Wally's
Flavors to Try: Chocolate; Vanilla Bean; Mr. Breakfast
A staple of the Omaha community for generations, all it takes is a few licks to understand why Ted & Wally’s is so beloved. The high butterfat content gives the ice cream a rich, creamy consistency and a defined personality. It’s so creamy that it almost leaves a sweet film on your lips.
But what really sets Ted & Wally’s apart is its creativity. With new specials hitting the menu every day, over 3,000 ice creams have graced Ted & Wally’s menu, including Apple Pie Moonshine, Movie Theater Floor, and Salted White Chocolate Pretzel Cheesecake. Whether you visit the Old Market or Benson location, you’ll have more than 20 unique flavors to choose from, and one (or many) are sure to please your palate.