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Q: Where in central Illinois do you expect to find scoops of cucumber, corn, queso, avocado, tamarind, and spicy mango ice cream? A: El Oasis in Urbana The only downside to my visit is that I could only try two samples of ice cream because as I solo traveler passing through I would have loved to try everything in the cases. Wowza! I've never seen some of these flavors in the form of ice cream before. Five stars for creativity and taste!
This is the perfect place for an afternoon treat. The paletas are to die for! They also have a unique array of ice cream and sorbet flavors; you'll definitely find more than traditional ice cream flavors here. They have a few other Mexican desserts as well such as flan, chamoyadas and aguas frescas! They also have some food dishes such a tortas but I haven't had any here. Such a charming cute and colorful shop and the service is always super friendly. This place is definitely a stand out in the area!!
I've tried the paletas here from Taste of Nevada (tried so many flavors in the past with mango, rice, and coconut). I've heard good things and have been wanting to check this place out! The chamoyada is delicious! You choose two to three flavors depending on the size. I got a small ($3.69) so I chose two flavors : guava and guanábana. They let you taste it if you want. These are water-based sorbets but they also have ones with milk (but these can't be in the chamoyada). It was absolutely delicious! It had spicy sauce and some mango on top with chili powder. The mix of flavors were great! They have a mixture of flavors like tamarind, coconut, and other tropical fruit. I will definitely try these again soon! It's nice to enjoy this on a sunny day!
I really like all the desserts and snacks that this place has to offer. They have different flavors of ice cream (dairy & non-dairy based), paletas, fresh fruit, & other Mexican desserts. My boyfriend & I split the mango chamoyada & it was so refreshing & tasty on a 75 degree day. On another note, this place is only getting 4 stars from me instead of 5 because the lady who served me was rude. But I'll overlook that, because there's no other place like this in CU & I need my chamoyada.
My friends and I always come here for ice cream/dessert! I always get the Strawberry Fresa popsicle or the Oreo ice cream. The strawberry popsicle has a lot of real strawberry pieces in it and it tastes really refreshing. The Oreo ice cream had a lot of pieces of Oreo in it and it tastes more like Oreos compared to other places where I taste more of the vanilla ice cream. The people working at the counter have always been super nice and pleasant so I always have a good experience.
I went with my two girls and had a great experience. The customer service was excellent. My daughter was carrying two take out containers and one of the ladies working there went and got her a carry out bag to put the containers in. I thought that was considerate of the woman. The chocolate milkshake was delicious and topped with kit kat and ferri roacha. My oldest had the spicy mango ice cream and my youngest had the chocolate covered banana. We have found our go to ice cream spot.
They have good ice cream but: 1. To be latinos, they have no manners. Latinos are characterized for their hospitality and charism. These people have no idea what is customer service. The guy was super upset because I wanted to try a third sample of different ice creams. He said no more than 2. I should have left. Instead, I ordered mamey. It was good ice cream. My husband ordered tamarind soda with a cup of ice. The lady was yelling at him and made him wait.
Bro, IT SO GOOOOD. If you're not feeling the traditional ice cream flavors and are looking for a switch up, come to El Oasis. Its water based ice cream are indescribably unique and not toxically sweet like the average American scoop. A hidden gem of CU discovered!
I have been wanting to go to El Oasis for the longest time. I finally got to go last night and I can't believe I waited this long! El Oasis is located in a tiny strip mall at the intersection of Cunningham and University. It is easily missed by most, but it is a true gem. When you walk in, it looks like a typical Mexican restaurant with bright colors and a huge menu on wall. As you turn to your right, you see a three long freezers of sugary goodness. El Oasis has a couple "regular" flavors such as Vanilla, Oreo, and Strawberry with chocolate swirl. They also have water-based ice cream which is more like a sorbet. They have many different flavors so you can enjoy some frozen treats if you are lactose intolerant. The flavors that are less common are Guanabana, Gansito, and Tequila, to name a few. I would recommend trying something that you have never had before because I assure you, you will not be disappointed. The servers are very helpful in choosing what type of combination you would like. The owner is so friendly and very jolly which made the experience even more enjoyable. El Oasis is a must stop place in Champaign-Urbana!
Restaurant review Yes this is unique dessert place that has so many interesting ice cream flavors including cheese and corn. I think that many of the 5 star reviews are the novelty of having so many unique flavors with milk and water based ice creams. I really wanted this to be a 5 star experience, however after trying the Chamoyada and the ice cream; I just do not have a palate for this unique dessert. I pride myself on trying everything. I may have made a big mistake by taking the larger size of the chamoyada. I don't know how many flavors you get to chose because the lady never indicated when selecting so I ended up with the most "popular" the spicy mango and I made an additional mistake of choosing normal mango. The spiciness and season was crazy in a bad way. Somehow the ice cream was both salty, spicy, and some mild subtle sweetness. For the first time I could not finish my dessert. Something about the spiciness and saltiness made it very difficult to consume. It looks good on picture and maybe a favorite for some people, but I think I will pass from now on. Pros: So many unique flavors, paletas with fresh fruit as well, friendly cashier Cons: the blend of saltiness and spiciness is too much to bear. My son who loves ice cream simply refused to eat any of the corn ice cream Hidden deals: None Health code rating: A http://champaign.il.gegov.com/champaign/estab.cfm?facilityID=1988
O M G this place deserves so much more attention than it's actually getting! I came here after a tiring canoe trip, and this was the perfect treat. I sort of had in mind that I wanted a paleta (Mexican for popsicle) coming here, but as soon as I saw what everyone else was coming here for, I knew I want to the chamoyada. Definitely go for the large size. You get to choose three of their water based Mexican ice cream (mango, spicy mango, lime, tamarind, or guava). The cup is coated with a chile sauce, with additional chile sauce and fresh squeezed lime juice between each layer. All of this gets topped off with diced mango. I chose spicy mango, tamarind, and guava for my cup. Guava is SOOOO good. I'm obsessed with this place and their chamoyada now. We came back four days later at lunch time. The second time we went, it was empty so we got a chance to chat with the owner. Really friendly guy. He mentioned not investing in advertising at all, but this place is really a gem and deserves word of mouth advertising.
My husband and I went in to grab lunch. We heard the tortas were good and had a Got-spot coupon to burn. We both ordered a milanesa torta; mine had sour cream and his had the aioli, which was a chipotle seasoned sauce. It was delicious- the bread was a lot lighter and airy than previous tortas we have had around town where the bread is more dense. We highly recommend trying the torta. The horchata was creamier that other places. SO good! We saw a sign on the register for ceviche on Sundays. We are totally coming back. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
My Mexican colleague asked if I had chamoyada before and said nope! What a great find in Champaign for Mexican dessert! Chamoyada is like shaved ice/sorbet topped with chili powder and chamoy sauce, which is a sour plum like flavor. Hawaiians, it's like Li Hing Mui. Japanese, it's like umeboshi. Taiwanese, it's like Suan Mei. I think you get the point! Chamoyada was really tasty. Next time, I will give their paletas a shot. read more
2 years ago
9 years ago
Q: Where in central Illinois do you expect to find scoops of cucumber, corn, queso, avocado, tamarind, and spicy mango ice cream? A: El Oasis in Urbana The only downside to my visit is that I could only try two samples of ice cream because as I solo traveler passing through I would have loved to try everything in the cases. Wowza! I've never seen some of these flavors in the form of ice cream before. Five stars for creativity and taste! read more
This is the perfect place for an afternoon treat. The paletas are to die for! They also have a unique array of ice cream and sorbet flavors; you'll definitely find more than traditional ice cream flavors here. They have a few other Mexican desserts as well such as flan, chamoyadas and aguas frescas! They also have some food dishes such a tortas but I haven't had any here. Such a charming cute and colorful shop and the service is always super friendly. This place is definitely a stand out in the area!! read more
11 years ago
I've tried the paletas here from Taste of Nevada (tried so many flavors in the past with mango, rice, and coconut). I've heard good things and have been wanting to check this place out! The chamoyada is delicious! You choose two to three flavors depending on the size. I got a small ($3.69) so I chose two flavors : guava and guanábana. They let you taste it if you want. These are water-based sorbets but they also have ones with milk (but these can't be in the chamoyada). It was absolutely delicious! It had spicy sauce and some mango on top with chili powder. The mix of flavors were great! They have a mixture of flavors like tamarind, coconut, and other tropical fruit. I will definitely try these again soon! It's nice to enjoy this on a sunny day! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
I really like all the desserts and snacks that this place has to offer. They have different flavors of ice cream (dairy & non-dairy based), paletas, fresh fruit, & other Mexican desserts. My boyfriend & I split the mango chamoyada & it was so refreshing & tasty on a 75 degree day. On another note, this place is only getting 4 stars from me instead of 5 because the lady who served me was rude. But I'll overlook that, because there's no other place like this in CU & I need my chamoyada. read more
My friends and I always come here for ice cream/dessert! I always get the Strawberry Fresa popsicle or the Oreo ice cream. The strawberry popsicle has a lot of real strawberry pieces in it and it tastes really refreshing. The Oreo ice cream had a lot of pieces of Oreo in it and it tastes more like Oreos compared to other places where I taste more of the vanilla ice cream. The people working at the counter have always been super nice and pleasant so I always have a good experience. read more
5 years ago
I went with my two girls and had a great experience. The customer service was excellent. My daughter was carrying two take out containers and one of the ladies working there went and got her a carry out bag to put the containers in. I thought that was considerate of the woman. The chocolate milkshake was delicious and topped with kit kat and ferri roacha. My oldest had the spicy mango ice cream and my youngest had the chocolate covered banana. We have found our go to ice cream spot. read more
They have good ice cream but: 1. To be latinos, they have no manners. Latinos are characterized for their hospitality and charism. These people have no idea what is customer service. The guy was super upset because I wanted to try a third sample of different ice creams. He said no more than 2. I should have left. Instead, I ordered mamey. It was good ice cream. My husband ordered tamarind soda with a cup of ice. The lady was yelling at him and made him wait. read more
9 years ago
Bro, IT SO GOOOOD. If you're not feeling the traditional ice cream flavors and are looking for a switch up, come to El Oasis. Its water based ice cream are indescribably unique and not toxically sweet like the average American scoop. A hidden gem of CU discovered! read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
12 years ago
I have been wanting to go to El Oasis for the longest time. I finally got to go last night and I can't believe I waited this long! El Oasis is located in a tiny strip mall at the intersection of Cunningham and University. It is easily missed by most, but it is a true gem. When you walk in, it looks like a typical Mexican restaurant with bright colors and a huge menu on wall. As you turn to your right, you see a three long freezers of sugary goodness. El Oasis has a couple "regular" flavors such as Vanilla, Oreo, and Strawberry with chocolate swirl. They also have water-based ice cream which is more like a sorbet. They have many different flavors so you can enjoy some frozen treats if you are lactose intolerant. The flavors that are less common are Guanabana, Gansito, and Tequila, to name a few. I would recommend trying something that you have never had before because I assure you, you will not be disappointed. The servers are very helpful in choosing what type of combination you would like. The owner is so friendly and very jolly which made the experience even more enjoyable. El Oasis is a must stop place in Champaign-Urbana! read more
5 years ago
Restaurant review Yes this is unique dessert place that has so many interesting ice cream flavors including cheese and corn. I think that many of the 5 star reviews are the novelty of having so many unique flavors with milk and water based ice creams. I really wanted this to be a 5 star experience, however after trying the Chamoyada and the ice cream; I just do not have a palate for this unique dessert. I pride myself on trying everything. I may have made a big mistake by taking the larger size of the chamoyada. I don't know how many flavors you get to chose because the lady never indicated when selecting so I ended up with the most "popular" the spicy mango and I made an additional mistake of choosing normal mango. The spiciness and season was crazy in a bad way. Somehow the ice cream was both salty, spicy, and some mild subtle sweetness. For the first time I could not finish my dessert. Something about the spiciness and saltiness made it very difficult to consume. It looks good on picture and maybe a favorite for some people, but I think I will pass from now on. Pros: So many unique flavors, paletas with fresh fruit as well, friendly cashier Cons: the blend of saltiness and spiciness is too much to bear. My son who loves ice cream simply refused to eat any of the corn ice cream Hidden deals: None Health code rating: A http://champaign.il.gegov.com/champaign/estab.cfm?facilityID=1988 read more
O M G this place deserves so much more attention than it's actually getting! I came here after a tiring canoe trip, and this was the perfect treat. I sort of had in mind that I wanted a paleta (Mexican for popsicle) coming here, but as soon as I saw what everyone else was coming here for, I knew I want to the chamoyada. Definitely go for the large size. You get to choose three of their water based Mexican ice cream (mango, spicy mango, lime, tamarind, or guava). The cup is coated with a chile sauce, with additional chile sauce and fresh squeezed lime juice between each layer. All of this gets topped off with diced mango. I chose spicy mango, tamarind, and guava for my cup. Guava is SOOOO good. I'm obsessed with this place and their chamoyada now. We came back four days later at lunch time. The second time we went, it was empty so we got a chance to chat with the owner. Really friendly guy. He mentioned not investing in advertising at all, but this place is really a gem and deserves word of mouth advertising. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Such a variety of delicious paletas. They also have snacks like tortas or elotes, Dori locos. For this visit I had a bionico. It was a huge serving! It took a little bit of time to make but that's okay! At least I know it's freshly made and boy was if fresh! The bananas, strawberries,apples,toasted coconut, and yoghurt we're harmoniously complementing each other in the bowl.its a light dessert and great pick me up. I couldn't finish it all so I threw it in the freezer and the next day threw some almond milk in it and blended it and made a shake out of the other half. I can't wait to try the other paletas and snacks they have to offer! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
4 years ago
8 years ago
El Oasis is a wonderful Mexican ice cream shop. They offer water and cream based options. As a vegan, I have wonderful choices such as papaya, guava, passion fruit, etc. It is always clean and the price is right. El Oasis also offers Mexican snacks and food choices such as tortas. Not to mention that all the servers are nice and polite. read more
9 years ago
11 years ago
I can't believe I haven't been here already. There are so many delicious treats. I started with all the tamales - chicken, pork, cheese (with bell peppers), sweet cream. Yes, I ate them all by myself & they were delicious. I also had the large esquites (like elote - corn with creamy aioli, lime, chili - but not on the cob). It was all quite filling. As if that wasn't enough, I got dessert. The coconut paletta (popsicle) had big chunks of coconut in it & the flavour was natural & refreshing coconut. So fantastic. Yea, I had more after that. I tried the ice cream in mamey flavour - a creamy fruit that tastes sort of like papaya. When I walked in, the place was bright & beautiful, very clean. The staff was friendly & recommended flavours to try since it was my first time. They were also somewhat impressed that I ate so many tamales. Some of the offerings reminded me of the taquerias I frequented as a kid. Everything I tried was delicious. I'll be back. read more
7 years ago
11 years ago
I could go on & on about this place. Where do I even begin? Well first off, this is hands down the best ice cream/paletas shop in town. With over 20+ flavors, all of them are homemade and fresh. They serve two different kinds of ice cream: water-based and milk-based in paleta or regular ice cream form. I love going back each time to discover new flavors. I could eat the watermelon (water-based) ice cream for days on days on daysssss. (Not even joking.) It's like a little tropical summer paradise in your mouth. Guava + mango are awesome flavors as well. Some flavors that I'd recommend: - Paletas: Oreo, Strawberry Yogurt, Kiwi - Ice cream: Watermelon(!), Guava, Mango Not to mention, but the owners are the best! They're SUPER friendly, consistent, and make you want to come back again & again. read more
6 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
Small shop with Mexican ice cream that is absolutely delicious. Servers were nice and polite. We had avocado and spicy mango helados. Both were amazing!!! read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
In a world filled with Dairy Queen's and grocery stores full of Ben & Jerry's and Häagen-Dazs, El Oasis provides ice cream flavors old and new that you are unlikely to find anywhere else in CU. Next to American staples like strawberries and cream, Oreo, and mocha, you'll see corn, avocado, and tequila. From what my Mexican girlfriend tells me, El Oasis offers an authentic Mexican ice cream experience. The various fruit and flavor combinations are unlike anything else. If you're not in the mood for ice cream, they also offer popsicles alongside many other dessert options. At the least, El Oasis is a must try for the adventurous or curious foodie. It is my new favorite ice cream place in CU. read more
12 years ago
12 years ago
This place is a hidden gem which is good in a way cuz I never had to stay in line! My favorite ice cream is their pine nuts and tequila! I tried the guava too and it was tasty. My friend got the chamoyada (spicy mango ice cream, with mango cubes and spicy sauce) and omg omg omg it was so good! He didnt even like spicy but he loved it! All of the ice cream I tried are just at the perfect sweetness level. They also have options for lactose intolerants!! Definitely recommended altho I wish they could move to a better location! read more
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More info about El Oasis
510 N Cunningham Ave
Urbana, IL 61802
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(217) 954-0215
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El Oasis - icecream - Updated August 2026
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