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    El Tropico

    4.4 (62 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Zoila G.

    I probably come here wayyyyy too often but one taste of their elote and you'll be coming back weekly also! The service is always great and welcoming. Carlos knows my order and I'm pretty sure Señora Tropico does too! I've had the ice cream and brought family/friends here, they loved it! I grab an elote and the cucumber pineapple agua frescas each time. Everything else looks delicious too but I can't quit the corn. Lol Give it a try!

    Cindy G.

    This corn in a cup is The ice cream was also delicious. Their legit home made lemonade was officially to die for This place reminds me of the best from Ciudad Juarez

    Only in a mexican ice cream parlor can you buy hair and skin care products along w fashion accesories
    Sean T.

    Yup yup! Creamy, homemade, and so good. The lady and I shared the Tres Marias with the owners recommendations. It is hard to find icecream this good. They sell more than just ice cream so enjoy! We will defintely be back here.

    Coconut and nut agua fresca and mango+mango chamoy shaved ice! So good!
    Gisselle L.

    This is my favorite paleteria in town! I always look forward to the warmer months because it's the best time to stock my freezer up on reasonably priced and delicious paletas. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and the owners put so much attention to detail. This shop truly stands out. I've tried a lot of their paletas and have liked every single one. Their yogurt ones are surprisingly delicious! I recently tried their mango and mango/chamoy shaved ice. It's the softest ice I've ever had and it tastes just like fresh mango! It also stays frozen for a surprisingly long time- my sister got a large cup of it and it was still in tact almost an hour and a half later. Try everything! Their elote cups are the right amount of spicy and come fully loaded. The chilindrinas are also awesomely packed with goodness! They remind me of the summer months I spent in Michoacán when I was younger. The aguas frescas are also the best! My favorite is the coconut and nut flavored one! I always get it when I go. They recently moved to a newer and larger location and I'm so happy for them. The new space has more room for the long lines we've encountered during previous visits and plenty of seating room. I definitely recommend this shop if you're missing the treats from Mexico. They get everything just right and I never fail to get hit with nostalgia with every visit.

    Gansito ice cream! If you've ever had a Gansito, this ice cream is better!!
    Julieta B.

    First time here and I seriously love it! Showed up close to closing and the service was excellent. So many different things to choose from and all of them looked delicious. Reminds me of my childhood! I earnestly suggest the Gansito ice cream. How they made my favorite Mexican treat into an even tastier ice cream is beyond me, but I don't think I could ever have another ice cream again.

    Monica G.

    This is one of my favorite spots in San Antonio! The elote en vaso is the best I have ever had- both in Mexico and here in the United States. They use white corn, and it is always hot and fresh. The shaved ice-tamarindo and mango chamoy are my next favorite. I am not a huge fan of their ice cream, but that is mostly because I am not a fan of the flavors (gansito, nuez, etc.) It is a family shop run by a husband, wife, and their son, and it does get packed- be patient- they will get to you and treat you with the same respect as the person they are busy serving. The bathroom is the only downfall of this place- it could use a makeover- but something that I can easily overlook.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Nachos are stale as fuck like wtf why pay that much for stale ass food couldn't even eat it with to much cheese where it's all soggy

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    8 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Love it here !!! Great ice cream, fruit cups and my favorite changes! Very cheap too! I will be going more often

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    10 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Every snack has been great! Good shaved ice variety. Love the outdoor seating. The restroom was very dirty and unacceptable.

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Always incredibly welcoming, so many options for everyone in the family. Rational prices. Elote with everything is an all time favorite

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    8 years ago

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    Kilwins Ice Cream - Chocolate - Fudge

    Kilwins Ice Cream - Chocolate - Fudge

    4.5(146 reviews)
    4.8 miDowntown
    $$

    Cold, clean, and delicious! That fresh waffle cone smell will drag you in!…read more I have to add - customer service was on point! It's a must stop when you are visiting the riverwalk. Not to mention it is Fiesta parade night.. i think it was the owner? He was so nice to his employees and their families that sat in front of the store to watch the parade. That was a win-win to me!!

    There are two entrances to Kilwins; the more popular one is along Alamo Plaza and the other is on…read moreLosoya Street. This shop sells fudge, truffles, candied apples, and - what I came for - ice cream! They had a lot of ice cream flavors to choose from, a least a couple dozen. The smiling young woman working behind the ice cream counter offered to give tastes, but I had already figured out which flavors I wanted. I chose two scoops in a cup, one of Cappucino Chip and the other Turtle Cheesecake. They have several tables to sit at, some along a hallway and more in a back room. I took a seat and was in awe of the huge scoops given. The Cappuccino Chip had a mild flavor (I prefer it stronger) but a fair number of tiny chocolate chips. The Turtle Cheesecake had an excellent cheesecake flavor with swirls of caramel, praline pecans, and caramel-filled mini turtles. I'm usually not fond of nuts in my ice cream but I actually enjoyed the pralines. In my humble opinion, there were too few turtles. But I still loved it. If you're in the mood for a cold, creamy treat while visiting the Alamo, you'll find this to be the perfect place to visit.

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    Kilwins Ice Cream - Chocolate - Fudge
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    Sea-Salt Marsh-Mallow

    Lick Honest Ice Creams - Storefront

    Lick Honest Ice Creams

    4.6(71 reviews)
    5.1 miDowntown
    $$

    My vote for best ice cream in San Antonio? Lick Honest Ice Cream!…read more This location is inconspicuously tucked away in the Hemisfair District, in a tiny, cute building on a corner. There is no seating inside but a couple of tables sit outside. I think I counted 16 unique flavors when I visited. The cordial woman doing the scooping kindly offered tastes but my ice cream radar had already zeroed in on my choices. I chose chocolate orange and caramel salt lick. In a cup. I took a seat outside and was in heaven. Both scoops were so creamy and had bold flavor. The caramel salt lick perfectly describes it - salty caramel flavor. Have you ever had those chocolate oranges that seem to appear on store shelves around Christmas time? That's exactly how the chocolate orange ice cream tastes. But better. They have a couple of locations around San Antonio and I urge you to find one; you'll love their ice cream.

    This place was a godsend as it was located right in the middle of the Dia De Los Muertos festival…read moregrounds & all the food stalls were busy with too many people to grab a bite without burning an hour in line. Not only that, but the food operators were not small businesses but operated by the organization or company running the festival. Nothing unique about them or their offerings imho. I found this cute little creamery on Yelp while I was stuck in a crowd of people trying to navigate down the plaza. It wasn't awfully busy & I was able to pop in to sample a few flavors & walk out with a 3 scoop cup in under 5 mins. I'm trying to remember what the flavor I chose was specifically, but I want to say it was goat cheese & honey? It was fantastic whatever it was & it hit the spot on a particularly warm evening. The staff were very friendly & working hard on probably one of the busiest nights of the year. The ice cream was great & consistency between homemade ice cream & frozen custard. A little sticky but still with that yummy grainy texture of homemade & you can tell they are using good ingredients too.

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    Flavors

    El Tropico - shavedice - Updated May 2026

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