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Bad Walters came highly recommended by two dear friends. I had never heard of it and was surprised that even at 8pm the line was out the door! I like how unique their flavors are and how they frequently rotate flavors, which makes me want to come back more. After sampling their Rainbow Road (ube, earl grey, marshmallows, and fruity pebbles), I was sold on a scoop of that and paired it with their Richie Rich (olive oil and chocolate). The Rainbow Road was unlike any other ice cream I have had - it was such a delightful treat and made me nostalgic of my fruity pebble cereal loving days. The Richie Rich lived up to its name and was so decadent. I could've done with a kids scoop because of how rich their flavors are - but it was well worth the indulgence. Can't wait to see what other creations they come up with.
Girl breakfast (hazelnut with freeze dried strawberries) and tinky winky (ube with honeycomb)! Came here the other night and it was so busy! I can't believe how they come out with new flavors every Wednesday- that's an enormous amount of creativity! There's gotta be a flavor you like here- their offerings are so unique- and range from being super decadent to lighter sorbets. Will be coming back!
My friends and I stopped by Bad Walter's Bootleg Ice Cream after dining nearby at Oken down the street on College. We stopped by around 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday evening and it was surprisingly busy inside. There were two people working behind the counter scooping ice cream so the line actually went surprisingly quick. It didn't look like anyone was getting samples of the flavors so everyone just went in blind and picked what flavor looked the best. I didn't like that the design of the menu on the wall because it had no descriptions of what any of the flavors were. For example, there's no chance anyone could guess what a "Hokey Pokey" or "MF Monster" tastes like if this is your first visit at Bad Walter's. My wife and I shared a kid's scoop of the MF Monster, a Biscoff cookie frozen custard with salty caramel and Oreo chunks. I really enjoyed the soft texture of the scoop and the quantity of chunks mixed into the ice cream. There wasn't a spoonful I had that lacked caramel, Biscoff, or Oreo chunks. The only criticism that folks in our group had about the MF Monster was that the salted caramel was borderline too salty. In general, many also felt like the ice cream here leaned towards being too sweet. If you have sweet tooth and love chunky ice creams, you will absolutely love Bad Walter's. If you appreciate desserts that are more sutble in their sweetness, you might want to pick up a coffee elsewhere to complement your dessert or venture elsewhere.
Great flavors for an unusually low price compared to other ice cream shops in CA. I got a single cone with two flavors - cookie dough and Dirt Cup (chocolate with Oreo pieces) - for $6! My friend got passion fruit with short bread and unfortunately I forget the other flavor she tried when we were there on Sunday 5/3/26. The employees were friendly and let us sample a few flavors. They even have a punch card where you get a free scoop after purchasing nine. No cash so credit/debit only. Would come back for sure as they change their flavors every week!
I've been a Bad Walter's devotee since it was Bad Walter's Bootleg Ice Cream being sold from Sydney's house during the pandemic. This place is truly in a class of its own and its positive attributes are many. Lactose free! Rotating, seasonal, inventive flavors! Strongly rooted in community! Good sense of humor! Knows how to properly execute a peanut butter swirl!!! My ice cream intake has increased by 100% since the brick and mortar opened, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Truly a phenomenal place for creamy, boozy ice cream that has a hint of alcohol. As one can tell by the name, they have very fun ice cream flavors at reasonable prices! They had a carrot cake flavor that I really liked and thought was amazing. There is a multi-use bathroom in the back with a few seats inside and small outdoor tables with foldable chairs.
My friend shared Bad Walter's back story about how they have grown from a pop-up to a local gem, so I'd been excited to try Bad Walter's for months. We decided to stop by after dinner one evening and were able to squeeze in about half an hour before they closed. Even at that late hour, the shop still had a line out the door! When I got to the front of the line, I sampled a couple of flavors. The coffee ice cream with ginger molasses cookie dough spoke to me, and it was some of the best ice cream I've had in a long time (and I eat ice cream at least once a week). The kid-sized scoop was generous, and I went all out and ordered it in a a sugar cone. On a side note, I especially love how their ice cream is lactose-free - no regrets later! :) I started a punch card because I intend to become a regular.
Peaches Christ, this is some damn good ice cream! I have been a huge fan of Bad Walter's for a good year, maybe even longer, and the owner Sydney is as sweet and wonderful as her ice cream. She is so utterly creative!
Great place for those who like unique ice cream flavors. I paid $6 for a (8/10) single in a cake cone that I got two flavors. One included a passion fruit shortcake and the other was a ube base with toffee, both were creamy and delicious. We were able to sample the flavors. They seem to have a rotating menu of 4 or 5 flavors but also basic vanilla and chocolate. Workers were friendly and they also have pints you can buy. The interior was clean and there's seating along the windows.
Kind employees and great ice cream :) This is a must stop shop if you are in the area. My only suggestion would be to make the pandan cookie sandwich with vanilla or coconut ice cream since it is quite sweet paired with caramel icecream (hazlenut I think)!
I love the ice cream here! It's lactose free so I don't feel bloated! The staff are really friendly and they have indoor and outdoor seating! The place is vibrant and full of colors! I recommend
Two and a half stars, rounding up. This place makes quite a blast for having the best ice cream ever, according to their signage. How could we resist? The Wife got a single scoop of a banana bread based flavor for six bucks. Her reaction wasn't great. It just tasted uniformly too sweet, with no banana bread flavor at all, unless she got a piece on her spoon with no ice cream with it. I didn't get anything since I like flavors with nuts, and they didn't have any that day. So overall, not impressed. (My error - I previously wrote this was a cookie flavor. I have updated the review.)
I visited this evening and was shocked to see an ice cream flavor name that used Jesus Christ in a disparaging and insulting manner. This was not simply a playful or creative name--it appeared to mock a central figure of the Christian faith for the sake of marketing and amusement. As a Christian, I found it offensive and disrespectful. What made it even more troubling is the apparent double standard. I have a hard time believing this business would have chosen a flavor name that mocked Muhammad, Moses, or another religious figure, or a prominent LGBTQ+ icon in a mocking manner. Most businesses understand that doing so would be viewed as insensitive and offensive. Yet somehow, mocking Jesus Christ was apparently considered acceptable. Respect and inclusion should apply to everyone, including Christians. If a business wants to present itself as welcoming and respectful of diverse beliefs and backgrounds, that respect should not stop when it comes to Christianity. There are countless creative ways to name a product without ridiculing what billions of people across the globe hold sacred. I hope the owners reconsider this decision. Businesses are free to make their own choices, and customers are free to decide whether those choices reflect the kind of establishment they wish to support. In my view, this decision showed poor judgment and a lack of respect for the Christian community. Too bad, it was great ice cream, but a poor experience. 6/4/25: Sydney, "Peaches Christ" is a deliberate pun on the name Jesus Christ. The origin behind a phrase does not justify its use, nor negate its impact. Parodying things others hold sacred is just in poor taste. True inclusion doesn't mean honoring one community by disrespecting another. Intent and impact matters. I hope you will seriously reconsider whether this marketing invention really exemplifies a spirit of good-will and inclusion to ALL people.
4 months ago
Bad Walter's was a random find one day out walking after dinner. The funny name and logo drew us in, then once we saw it was ice cream, AND dairy free, we were IN. We have been extremely loyal customers ever since. They rotate flavors, but through many months and many visits I don't think I've ever tried a bad one. The flavors are also very fun, not your typical cookies and cream, cookie dough, etc. Although they do have a plain version sometimes. The employees are very helpful and kind letting you sample the flavors. Our absolute favorite is tinky winky- ube flavored ice cream with honey comb pieces. They also sell points to the side- take advantage. You'll want more when you're done! The ambiance and vibe of bad Walter's is perfect. Bright colors, disco ball dripping, fun sayings on the cups, the whole 9 yards. The take home pint we got has Reddit "hate" comments and their responses, it's hilarious. This ice cream store is way more of a vibe than any marketing agent could dream of. Who would've thought I wish I could be a rep for an ice cream company? Oh and they also do a stamp card when you buy pints to get a free scoop. You bring in the containers so they can recycle them. It's a win win for both sides, loves it. Best ice cream ever!!! read more
6 days ago
Bad Walters came highly recommended by two dear friends. I had never heard of it and was surprised that even at 8pm the line was out the door! I like how unique their flavors are and how they frequently rotate flavors, which makes me want to come back more. After sampling their Rainbow Road (ube, earl grey, marshmallows, and fruity pebbles), I was sold on a scoop of that and paired it with their Richie Rich (olive oil and chocolate). The Rainbow Road was unlike any other ice cream I have had - it was such a delightful treat and made me nostalgic of my fruity pebble cereal loving days. The Richie Rich lived up to its name and was so decadent. I could've done with a kids scoop because of how rich their flavors are - but it was well worth the indulgence. Can't wait to see what other creations they come up with. read more
8 months ago
Girl breakfast (hazelnut with freeze dried strawberries) and tinky winky (ube with honeycomb)! Came here the other night and it was so busy! I can't believe how they come out with new flavors every Wednesday- that's an enormous amount of creativity! There's gotta be a flavor you like here- their offerings are so unique- and range from being super decadent to lighter sorbets. Will be coming back! read more
My friends and I stopped by Bad Walter's Bootleg Ice Cream after dining nearby at Oken down the street on College. We stopped by around 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday evening and it was surprisingly busy inside. There were two people working behind the counter scooping ice cream so the line actually went surprisingly quick. It didn't look like anyone was getting samples of the flavors so everyone just went in blind and picked what flavor looked the best. I didn't like that the design of the menu on the wall because it had no descriptions of what any of the flavors were. For example, there's no chance anyone could guess what a "Hokey Pokey" or "MF Monster" tastes like if this is your first visit at Bad Walter's. My wife and I shared a kid's scoop of the MF Monster, a Biscoff cookie frozen custard with salty caramel and Oreo chunks. I really enjoyed the soft texture of the scoop and the quantity of chunks mixed into the ice cream. There wasn't a spoonful I had that lacked caramel, Biscoff, or Oreo chunks. The only criticism that folks in our group had about the MF Monster was that the salted caramel was borderline too salty. In general, many also felt like the ice cream here leaned towards being too sweet. If you have sweet tooth and love chunky ice creams, you will absolutely love Bad Walter's. If you appreciate desserts that are more sutble in their sweetness, you might want to pick up a coffee elsewhere to complement your dessert or venture elsewhere. read more
2 months ago
Great flavors for an unusually low price compared to other ice cream shops in CA. I got a single cone with two flavors - cookie dough and Dirt Cup (chocolate with Oreo pieces) - for $6! My friend got passion fruit with short bread and unfortunately I forget the other flavor she tried when we were there on Sunday 5/3/26. The employees were friendly and let us sample a few flavors. They even have a punch card where you get a free scoop after purchasing nine. No cash so credit/debit only. Would come back for sure as they change their flavors every week! read more
5 months ago
I've been a Bad Walter's devotee since it was Bad Walter's Bootleg Ice Cream being sold from Sydney's house during the pandemic. This place is truly in a class of its own and its positive attributes are many. Lactose free! Rotating, seasonal, inventive flavors! Strongly rooted in community! Good sense of humor! Knows how to properly execute a peanut butter swirl!!! My ice cream intake has increased by 100% since the brick and mortar opened, and I wouldn't have it any other way. read more
Truly a phenomenal place for creamy, boozy ice cream that has a hint of alcohol. As one can tell by the name, they have very fun ice cream flavors at reasonable prices! They had a carrot cake flavor that I really liked and thought was amazing. There is a multi-use bathroom in the back with a few seats inside and small outdoor tables with foldable chairs. read more
My friend shared Bad Walter's back story about how they have grown from a pop-up to a local gem, so I'd been excited to try Bad Walter's for months. We decided to stop by after dinner one evening and were able to squeeze in about half an hour before they closed. Even at that late hour, the shop still had a line out the door! When I got to the front of the line, I sampled a couple of flavors. The coffee ice cream with ginger molasses cookie dough spoke to me, and it was some of the best ice cream I've had in a long time (and I eat ice cream at least once a week). The kid-sized scoop was generous, and I went all out and ordered it in a a sugar cone. On a side note, I especially love how their ice cream is lactose-free - no regrets later! :) I started a punch card because I intend to become a regular. read more
5 months ago
Peaches Christ, this is some damn good ice cream! I have been a huge fan of Bad Walter's for a good year, maybe even longer, and the owner Sydney is as sweet and wonderful as her ice cream. She is so utterly creative! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Great place for those who like unique ice cream flavors. I paid $6 for a (8/10) single in a cake cone that I got two flavors. One included a passion fruit shortcake and the other was a ube base with toffee, both were creamy and delicious. We were able to sample the flavors. They seem to have a rotating menu of 4 or 5 flavors but also basic vanilla and chocolate. Workers were friendly and they also have pints you can buy. The interior was clean and there's seating along the windows. read more
1 month ago
6 months ago
Kind employees and great ice cream :) This is a must stop shop if you are in the area. My only suggestion would be to make the pandan cookie sandwich with vanilla or coconut ice cream since it is quite sweet paired with caramel icecream (hazlenut I think)! read more
4 months ago
I love the ice cream here! It's lactose free so I don't feel bloated! The staff are really friendly and they have indoor and outdoor seating! The place is vibrant and full of colors! I recommend read more
Two and a half stars, rounding up. This place makes quite a blast for having the best ice cream ever, according to their signage. How could we resist? The Wife got a single scoop of a banana bread based flavor for six bucks. Her reaction wasn't great. It just tasted uniformly too sweet, with no banana bread flavor at all, unless she got a piece on her spoon with no ice cream with it. I didn't get anything since I like flavors with nuts, and they didn't have any that day. So overall, not impressed. (My error - I previously wrote this was a cookie flavor. I have updated the review.) read more
Business owner information
Sydney A.
Hey Bob! Sorry you weren't a fan of the ice cream. I do want to call…
5 months ago
I visited this evening and was shocked to see an ice cream flavor name that used Jesus Christ in a disparaging and insulting manner. This was not simply a playful or creative name--it appeared to mock a central figure of the Christian faith for the sake of marketing and amusement. As a Christian, I found it offensive and disrespectful. What made it even more troubling is the apparent double standard. I have a hard time believing this business would have chosen a flavor name that mocked Muhammad, Moses, or another religious figure, or a prominent LGBTQ+ icon in a mocking manner. Most businesses understand that doing so would be viewed as insensitive and offensive. Yet somehow, mocking Jesus Christ was apparently considered acceptable. Respect and inclusion should apply to everyone, including Christians. If a business wants to present itself as welcoming and respectful of diverse beliefs and backgrounds, that respect should not stop when it comes to Christianity. There are countless creative ways to name a product without ridiculing what billions of people across the globe hold sacred. I hope the owners reconsider this decision. Businesses are free to make their own choices, and customers are free to decide whether those choices reflect the kind of establishment they wish to support. In my view, this decision showed poor judgment and a lack of respect for the Christian community. Too bad, it was great ice cream, but a poor experience. 6/4/25: Sydney, "Peaches Christ" is a deliberate pun on the name Jesus Christ. The origin behind a phrase does not justify its use, nor negate its impact. Parodying things others hold sacred is just in poor taste. True inclusion doesn't mean honoring one community by disrespecting another. Intent and impact matters. I hope you will seriously reconsider whether this marketing invention really exemplifies a spirit of good-will and inclusion to ALL people. read more
Business owner information
Sydney A.
Hey Joseph!…
My employee and I have this joke goin' on... Whenever we say Badwalters, we say Bad like a sheep would say it: "BAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH-D WALTAH'S!" Bahahahahaha!!! Okay... I'm sorry. I just had to do it. It brings us so much laughter and joy, just like their scrumptious ice cream. I'm highly... HIGHLY addicted to this place. We all watched like a hawk as they constructed this place from scratch. And once it opened, it did NOT disappoint! I love the creative flavors and the funny and unique names of each flavor. I love the rotation and checking their IG each week to see what new flavors will be coming next. It's always a fun little adventure and they make it that way. The staff is always polite, friendly, and helpful. You can sample the flavors that interest you before you commit. They are cashless so you don't have to worry about carrying money (even for tips). Their single scoop is actually a double, and their double is actually a triple (the more ice cream, the merrier!). I love that they always have a non-dairy option for those who are lactose or Vegan. What I really love about Badwalters is that their ice cream is rich and creamy, but not overwhelmingly so. It's comparable to gelato. There's this fullness in the taste that I don't find from other ice cream shops. You can taste that homemade element deep within the crevices of each lovely layer. The sweetness really activates your tastebuds. As someone with severe allergies, I can appreciate that the flavors still emanate through with a clogged up nose (even though I probably shouldn't be eating dairy when I'm all clogged up). There's just something so special about this place. The owner is also super passionate about what she does and it shows. The Hokey Pokey flavor has been on heavy rotation for me during these past few weeks. It has quickly become a favorite of mine. Really excited to have Badwalters in the neighborhood to satisfy my ice cream and laughter cravings. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
Glad they let us sample flavors! I ended up getting grandma's boy and fa'sho dough on a sugar cone. Grandma's boy was very unique for having chocolate chip banana bread as one of the ingredients! Fa'sho dough was good but ended up having a little too much cookie dough for me, with the cookie dough pieces being humongous cubes. I think I would've enjoyed it more if the cookie dough chunks were smaller. Handful of tables inside and outside. Pretty small store. read more
3 months ago
Tonight, I had the Fa'Sho Dough, which is their version of Cookie Dough, and wow, was it sweet and delicious! I almost went back for another one. I've been trying Bad Walter's even before they had a brick-and-mortar place. Back in the day, you had to go to their pop-ups all over the city. I'm so glad they opened a physical location because they really have some of the best flavors in the whole San Francisco Bay Area. They're always experimenting and have new flavors every week or so. It's always a new flavor every time I come here, which is always exciting. Plus, they use real dairy but have no lactose for all my lactose-intolerant friends out there. Please check them out--you won't be disappointed by this Oakland gem! read more
4 months ago
6 months ago
Ordered: single scoop in a cup with sucker punch and MF monster Highlights: Offers samples! sucker punch is quite literally lemon bar in ice cream form. It indeed had a punch (fitting name) which caught me by surprise. MF monster was one of the more richer Biscoff flavors. I thought the two would be odd together but they were delish. Texture was perfect and portion was great. They even asked if I had a preference for which flavor I want on top which I always appreciate! Notes: parking was easy and there are two tables outside and a bunch of stools inside. They only have 6 flavors (but doubled/mirrored them). I tried 4/6 and they were all solid. Looking forward to coming back and trying new flavors! read more
4 months ago
Nice place and decent parking. The ice cream is my type. The mom and pop, not too creamy, with original flavors. Fun names with descriptions. I had to Wabbit Season (carrot caramel and carrot cake) and Hanky Panky (honey comb chunks). Both on the sweet side. And the carrot caramel did stick to my teeth. However, I definitely enjoyed both and even got another scoop of wabbit season. I had a taste of the mojito, which was quite refreshing and like a mojito. Service was fast and friendly. Though there was a line. There were a few servers, which was helpful. A family of 5 was in front of us wanting to try all the flavors before deciding. The ambiance is fun and quirky. Tables outside, but inside were just high, uncomfortable chairs. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I CANT STOP COMING and I seriously need to because it's wedding crunch time :') The problem is, I follow Bad Walter's on Instagram to see what their flavors of the week are, and every week Sydney drops some new bomb af flavor that I absolutely have to try. It's been taking a ton of self control to resist going in EVERY week. Bad Walter's is easily one of my top ice cream shops in the bay (alongside Garden Creamery in SF). Where it differs is that Bad Walters is eclectic mix-ins v.s. Garden Creamery is smooth, singular flavors. Bad Walter's is delightful and unexpected. The worst part is that when you fall in love with a flavor, you might not see it again for a few weeks. Currently still waiting for the return of Ma-nilla Dreams; I had bought a pint for a friend to try it and she ate it within two days. I am holding on to my last half pint right now until they restock. Another great addition is their hot chocolate. They serve it as a choco-gato (like an affogato but with hot chocolate instead of coffee). I prefer the hot chocolate on it's own; it reminds me of my study abroad days in paris because its decadent and warm and rich. Anyway - go check it out - you won't be disappointed. the bad reviews are literally just haters. Even my fiance, who specifically doesn't like ice cream as hes generaly not a dessert person, comes for a scoop when our favorite flavors are back in the shelf. read more
Delicious recipes for uniques flavors. I had the Wabbit Season which was carrot cake and cream cheese. Delicious! My daughter had the Slumber Party which had...everything! Chocolate ice cream, pretzels, Reese's pieces, and honestly I forget the rest! It was also delicious. Cute decor and friendly staff round out the experience. What's not to love? Definitely coming back! read more
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5800 College Ave
Oakland, CA 94618
Rockridge, North Oakland
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http://badwalters.com
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