Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bruster's Real Ice Cream

    4.6 (54 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Bruster's Real Ice Cream Takeout or Delivery

    Bruster's Real Ice Cream Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    More like Bruster's Real Ice Cream

    Recommended Reviews - Bruster's Real Ice Cream

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Street sign
    Rob C.

    Ice cream! First had Bruster's in it he East coast or somewhere like that. Now in Dana Point California. Good selection of ice cream flavors, shakes, malts. All good! I had the large malt. Order at the window and wait to be called.no real seating, just a couple of public benches at the front of the store.

    Menu
    Yen-tso K.

    Saw a line for this on Saturday night and decided to try it out. The portion is quite large compared to "artisan" ice cream shops. We taste tested a couple, including chocolate, pistachio, strawberry matcha, caramel, mint chocolate chip. Overall it was.. okay? For the same price I feel like i would prefer to pick up a pint from the grocery store. The one good thing about this place is the waffle cones come in a plastic holder that catches drips! A few outdoor benches for seating. It's a pretty lively spot since it's close to the restaurants and bars.

    Vanilla Cherry & Mint chocolate chip
    Ahlennah B.

    The people who work here are great. They were very patient, knowledgeable and helpful as we took forever choosing flavors. They encouraged us to get as many samples as we needed. The flavors themselves are just okay for me. Too sweet and not as interesting or varied as I would have wanted. They do rotate flavors every once in a while. If you're a fan of super sweet stuff or candy, this may be the place for you! Back in my childhood days of being obsessed with Heath bar, the Coffee Toffee would have really hit the spot. The mint chip was pretty alright. We also tried Campfire S'mores and Vanilla Cherry. The VC had big whole maraschino cherries in it and lots of them, so if that's your bag, it was a great flavor! This location could use some better outdoor seating options, maybe with an umbrella even. There's is no indoor seating. There are a few outdoor benches as well at a retaining wall. It is a busy corner, there is convenient parking nearby both on the street and in a lot down the block/alleyway.

    Menu
    Jason T.

    Awesome new ice cream spot in Dana Point. Much better than Handel's which I feel is too sweet. The servers are very friendly and will let you sample the flavors you wish. Definitely no sample nazis here. The number of flavors is impressive and you will definitely find what you are looking for. I ordered the banana split with caramel and hot fudge topping, no fruit topping. Ice cream flavors I added were coffee toffee, sea salt caramel and toffee and a decadent chocolate. Very tasty indeed. They also have a great rewards program where upon signing up you get $3 off your first order. Will be back soon!

    Michelle N.

    Such a cute and yummy spot for ice cream! After dinner we grabbed some ice cream from here, def was skeptical because we had dinner early so it wasn't super packed. But it was really good ice cream. They have so many flavors reasonably priced. I like how they have liners for their waffle cones. The guy who took our order was super nice, was patient when taking our order. I will be definitely coming back when in the area. The pistachio is really good, has actual nuts in there and the black cherry has actual cherries too!!

    Elizabeth H.

    This spot is so cute. It reminds me of an oldies movies type of ambiance. Always lively and friendly. And the ice cream is delicious. There is always a line of people. It's a wholesome fun place to get ice cream. Good vibes and good ice cream.

    Mint chocolate chip, my favorite!
    Bob S.

    First time here! I loved my ice cream very much because it was so delicious, the man at the counter was super kind, great service, and the ambiance was awesome.

    Elizabeth H.

    I left a review recently and forgot to post a picture. I went back to Bruster's and got another of their yummy ice cream and took a picture! I just love their Gingerbread Man flavor but will surely try more of their other enticing flavors. Scoops are big enough to share so it's guilt-free!

    Jonathan H.

    My wife and I have been to Bruster's in Dana Point three times and we loved the ice cream each time we've been there. They have a great selection of creative flavors and we've tried Cinnamon, Gingerbread Man, Graham Central Station, Pistachio and we plan to move onto other flavors on future visits. The scoops are large. The ice cream is high quality, fresh and creamy --- a little like Turkish ice cream. The people who have served us are super friendly. You order and pick up the ice cream from a window and they have benches on the sidewalk where you can enjoy it. A chilled place for an indulgent dessert --- but there is no indoors so on a chilly day it is a chilly place to experience ice cream.

    Non-dairy: Mango sorbet & chocolate raspberry truffle Dairy: Coffee chocolate chip
    Apple G.

    Service: Friendly, upbeat employees, generous with samples. They gave us a coupon that expires in 2026, but specific to this location Taste: I'm always grateful for non-dairy options and wished they had more. I like that their non-dairy ice cream isn't overly sweet like other places, but it's a little too watery/icy. We also got coffee chocolate chip (dairy) which was fine. Sadly the waffle cone was stale and had a weird taste. They have a rewards program you can sign up for and get $3 off your first purchase.

    Mary H.

    Great ice cream! Reminds me a lot of Handel's. Lots of flavor options but they actually let you sample here despite it just being an order window. I got a seasonal flavor "deep dish apple pie" and really enjoyed. I'd come back!

    Large cup of deliciousness and waffle cone $8

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elle C.
    91
    1006
    2295

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob S.
    9
    438
    1928

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 3
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Apple G.
    8
    83
    159

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    We love their ice cream and service! A variety of flavors to pick from, and always someone behind the counter who is smiling and kind!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lara W.
    37
    26
    30

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Doc P.
    6
    282
    776

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa L.
    137
    11
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erin P.
    39
    26
    8

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan Y.
    101
    5
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Amy H.
    3
    64
    7

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Next level ice cream experience, browner batter ice cream and shakes are so good. Definitely a splurge and fun treat.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Max S.
    0
    14
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Bruster's Real Ice Cream

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt 9,506 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Orange County Creamery - Taro and Oreo

    Orange County Creamery

    4.5(65 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    ORANGE COUNTY CREAMERY @ SAN CLEMENTE…read more This spot is located in downtown San Clemente. My boyfriend and I were just walking by after parking on the street nearby. Most of the street parking is free, some spots are two hours while others are only 20 minutes, so definitely pay attention to the signs. Parking can be a little difficult, but once you see someone leave, you can usually grab a spot pretty quickly. We honestly didn't have too much trouble finding parking, it just depends on timing and luck. There aren't really seats inside, but they do have one big table outside. Overall, downtown San Clemente is super walkable, and there are plenty of benches nearby where you can sit and enjoy your ice cream while walking around. My boyfriend and I tried a bunch of their flavors, and my personal favorite was the mint chocolate chip. The chocolate flakes inside were so delicious and had the perfect texture. My boyfriend got the chocolate coffee flavor, which he really liked too. We each got one scoop, and it came out to around $4-5 each. Overall, everything was delicious. It feels like a small hidden gem, and I would definitely come back. The ice cream was super good, and the service was great too.

    Came here with the family after dinner for a dessert treat and really enjoyed it! The ice cream was…read moresuper creamy and the service was good as well. I tried the pineapple coconut flavor and personally wasn't a big fan of that one, but the salted caramel lavender was absolutely delicious. It had a really nice floral lavender flavor that wasn't overpowering at all. The kids loved the peanut butter chip and the pistachio swirl too. Overall, a great spot for dessert and we'd definitely come back to try more flavors!

    Photos
    Orange County Creamery - Cherry swirl and kids chocolate

    Cherry swirl and kids chocolate

    Orange County Creamery
    Orange County Creamery - Seating area

    See all

    Seating area

    Coffee Importers

    Coffee Importers

    4.0(682 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Editing my review based on the owner saying that they made the guy leave. I hope that's true and…read morethat this kind of behavior is not tolerated in the future. I'll be back to Coffee Importers soon--it's a great place in DP for a morning coffee and pastry and hopefully the "regulars" don't ruin it for everyone else. Original review: I want to love this place and it bums me out to have to write this, but this is one of the least welcoming places in DP. Not because the staff is rude. But because they allow this clique of regulars to take over the outside patio and harass people who aren't in their group. I've watched it happen a few times now, but today was the worst. A woman with a little kid sat down at an unoccupied table and started having their food. A couple of minutes later an older gentleman walked up and began verbally accosting her, getting in her space and demanding that she leave because he's been coming here for 35 years and this is his table. He kept accosting her until she was crying and took her child and moved tables. A few people tried to comfort this poor woman and her little kid. This guy was 1000% in the wrong. But staff didn't do anything. Instead, they walked up to the guy, said hi to him (of course, in a first name basis) and were friendly as anything. But not a word to the woman crying and trying to distract her toddler. Gross. It's not just this one guy either. There are at least a dozen of these "regulars" and Coffee Importers doesn't appear to do anything to stop them from harassing people, and actually seems to be fostering this environment.

    OMG. I think I need an intervention. I actually love this place. Now let's get started on how this…read moreworks. It is tucked off to the side by the ocean Institute in Dana point. There is plenty of parking both in a lot, an extended lot and also the street. You can also take one of the many foot paths to the location as well. There are two ways to order. One sign says pastries and coffee and the other side towards the back or the Marina side says food and beverages. If you only want a coffee with a croissant or cinnamon roll or the delicious biscuits, then step into the pastries and coffee line. If you want breakfast sandwiches or any of the toasts plus coffee and other beverages, then go to the other line. It can get very busy, especially on the weekends after 9 AM. But bring your patience and be nice to everyone. Once you have ordered, step aside. Most likely your drinks will be called out first. It does take time to make freshly prepared food so either take a seat with your number and wait for it to be delivered or listen if it's going to be a to go order for your name It is dog friendly out on the patio. Please make sure to clean up after yourselves as the wind can blow any debris into the marina and we want to make sure everything is clean and safe for our underwater friends. Very cool nautical vibes. They decorate for the holidays. Reasonably priced. Support local. If you're gonna spend 6 to 7 dollars on a pastry or coffee, you should come here. Incredible vibes you could park at the other end of the marina and walk on over for a great scenic walk. My favorite is the iced harbor latte which is like a caramel vanilla latte similar to what I would describe as the golden eagle from Dutch Bros. The biscuits are incredible. I always get them. Stupid me drank the drink and ate the biscuits before I took a picture. Just trust me.

    Photos
    Coffee Importers - Santa margarita(left) & pom berry(right) smoothies

    Santa margarita(left) & pom berry(right) smoothies

    Coffee Importers - Italian Panini

    Italian Panini

    Coffee Importers - Lox & Bagel

    See all

    Lox & Bagel

    South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream - SO GOOD, SO CUTE

    South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream

    4.4(420 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    Best ice cream you could get in the area. But most first timers make a huge mistake. They order the…read moresoft serve instead of the bar! What makes South Swell great are the flavor combinations that they create for toppings. The actual ice cream is just vanilla or chocolate ice cream. You are coming for the toppings. If you get the bar, the toppings are more evenly distributed and presented the way they should be for the best flavor experience. My favorite is the Bomb Fire bar. They dip the ice cream bar in chocolate and coat it in graham cracker. Then top it with marshmallow that they literally toast with a flame. Then the ice cream cools the marshmallow so it doesn't drip but instead makes a perfectly delicious coating of toasted marshmallow. Service is always good and don't let a line deter you.

    I've been waiting to try this place!! The instagram is what got me! I will say though, it just…read moredidn't hit the spot for me. It's not that it was yummy, it just wasn't my thing and maybe it's what I ordered! I got the soft serve with peanutbutter, butterfinger, dipped in chocolate with coconut toppings and to me the soft serve just isn't the kind of soft serve I love. I LOVE chickfilas soft serve and this was just a different consistency and taste. I also am a huge topping person so I wanted more toppings and it just wasn't that way. However, my partner got the bar, and he loved it! So maybe I should have gone that way! Friendly staff, all was quick! Would come again to try one more time because I do want to like it!

    Photos
    South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream - The Castaway

    The Castaway

    South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream - Cup: chocolate with chocolate dip and Oreo. 10/10

    Cup: chocolate with chocolate dip and Oreo. 10/10

    South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream - Oreo and strawberry bar.

    See all

    Oreo and strawberry bar.

    Dolce Gelato - Single  regular cup w polka dots

    Dolce Gelato

    4.5(689 reviews)
    7.1 mi
    $

    Best gelato place in Orange County in my opinion…read more The highlight is their unique rotating flavors. I highly recommend choosing something from the rotating selection (bottom row) since it's where you'll find truly unique flavors. Where else would you have marzipan, almond, and pandan in gelato form?

    Gelato is really good! But customer service was very poor. Just left. It was one young man and two…read moreyoung women working. I understand teenagers/young adults will be the way they are, but they didn't even greet us, didn't ask if we need help with anything, and didn't try to gauge what we might want. Instead one of the girls was singing along and dancing to a Justin Bieber song playing, she was wearing an ice cream cone sweater, then when we were ready to order the service shifted to the young man. It was confusing to know who to talk to. Then another couple came in and the same girl singing to the song seemed to be very helpful by greeting them and providing guidance. It really rubbed me the wrong way because I saw a shift in customer service. Again, I understand that young adults are probably not taking their job seriously. It didn't feel good seeing other people experience different customer service . That happen twice when another couple came in while we sat inside to eat. Would come back for the gelato.

    Photos
    Dolce Gelato - Chocolate w Almonds Chocolate w Chocolate chips and Mango

    Chocolate w Almonds Chocolate w Chocolate chips and Mango

    Dolce Gelato - Rabbit relations, Basil, Winnie the Pooh

    Rabbit relations, Basil, Winnie the Pooh

    Dolce Gelato

    See all

    Bruster's Real Ice Cream - icecream - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...