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Fred's Water Ice

4.2 (53 reviews)
Open 1:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

Fred's Water Ice Photos

Business Info

FRED'S WATER ICE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Casual
Loud
Outdoor seating

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Reviews With Photos

Melty mango and passion fruit
Delvia W.

Finally had time to stop by this place. I was looking forward since Rita's isn't good any more. Parking: residential street. Hard to find parking. People double parking, so there isn't much parking around. Service: cashier was nice. Water ice: passion fruit and mango. Flavor good but water ice melted right before my eyes while I was walking to the car; my car wasn't even 20 feet from the counter!!! I could not enjoy it. I've never had water ice melt that fast!! When I tried to lick the part that didn't melt, it sank down into the juice, the juice rose up and spilled all over my shirt!! A sticky mess! Pretzel is microwaved with cheese wiz. Overall: disappointed. I won't be back.

a sign for a restaurant
Santeri P.

New to Philly and I heard about a thing called water ice and figured I had to try it. Fred's was near the Airbnb I was staying at and seemed like a good option. It was not hot outside on the day I stopped by and probably an off time since there was no line at all. I checked out the menu and picked the pistachio flavor in a medium size. It was only $2 and more than I needed. I loved the green color because that's my favorite color. Can't necessarily say it tasted like pistachios, but it was super sweet, gave me brain freeze, and turned my mouth and hands green. It's a decent summertime treat but nothing I could eat regularly due to the sweetness. I did like the really finely ground ice texture. I definitely want to try the gelati so I'll stop by sometime again.

Crystal L.

Look...this simply is the BEST water ice in Philly. My dad introduced me to this place about four years ago and I never miss an opportunity to stop by when I come to Philly. Yeah, it's not in the best of neighborhoods, but I've never worried about my safety when coming. I stay out the way when I'm deciding what to order and wait in line when I'm ready. I'm always sure to be extra respectful and i've never encountered any issues with the employees there. Truth be told, it could be a battle going on, and I'm going to Fred's! It's just that good! If you go no where else in Philly, you must stop here! Your taste buds will thank you!

Lenny Z.

I tasted Fred's Water Ice while attending the Dollar Stroll on Baltimore. While there were some deals to be had for a buck, this was not one of them. This was a case of capitalizing on an opportunity to make money, not just market their product. I regularly get a large cup of water ice for a buck in this neighborhood, and smaller ones sell for fifty cents. His cup, which cost a buck, was much closer in size to the smaller ones. On a whim, I tried it anyway thinking maybe it's a special water ice. And, besides, it's not like I am breaking the bank with a buck. The water ice was okay. I've had better, and in fact better from the places that give me twice as much for my money. When I stroll Dollar Days I expect to sample something for a buck that I can not usually get at that price. This was overpriced for t he sample size I got. It's not the worst water ice, but don't overpay for it.

Small Cherry/Lemon and a Medium Cherry/Mango

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10 months ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

I love absolutely love Fred's I will travel from any part of the City to purchase from Fred's

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2 years ago

Freddy is a true gentleman with great business sense. He is a man of God. His Water Ice is something to be enjoyed!

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Photo of Tahnda B.
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2 years ago

A must stop every time I'm in Philly! Cherry on the bottom, lemon on top is my FAVORITE water ice!

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

Love, love, love their products.

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

Best water ice I've had in my 40 years of eating water ice. They have every flavor you can think of.

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4 years ago

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

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Photo of Sara M.
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6 years ago

Amazing, family-run place. CHEAP with huge portions, excellent customer service, and quarter rides.

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4 years ago

Great place! Water ice and beef pepperoni pizza pretzels are to die for. Place stays open late and is very reasonably priced.

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Photo of Niecy T.
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8 years ago

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4 years ago

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14 years ago

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

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Photo of Amy B.
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5 years ago

Great water ice with lots of flavors and very reasonably priced. They also serve Phili pretzels and other treats too.

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6 years ago

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18 years ago

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18 years ago

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13 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

They have the best water ice in Philly! The prices are reasonable and good customer service

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Photo of Linda B.
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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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11 years ago

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

Definitely recommend coming here for a nice cold treat. Reasonably priced & everything tastes fresh!!

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8 years ago

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Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Fred's Water Ice

Review Highlights - Fred's Water Ice

there is another one in Darby right near the intersection of McDade Blvd.

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Undrgrnd Donuts - Caramel apple, french toast, dark forest & the homer.

Undrgrnd Donuts

4.1(41 reviews)
1.9 miSaunders Park, Powelton Village
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Such a letdown. I had been wanting to try Undrgrnd for at least a few months now and finally found…read morethem last week at the Manayunk StrEAT festival. Unfortunately, since we got to the event late (thanks for that, SEPTA) we also got to the truck late. The line was cut off right in front of us after we had waited for several minutes. Not giving up, I located their truck at today's Flight Market. Again, since I ate first, the line was quite long. Maybe this is just a thing at food truck festivals? It was the longest line of my day, though. When I [finally] reached the front, I paid my $4, waited some more, and alas, was handed a French Toast and a Captain Cranky. My first thought was that they were smaller than anticipated -- especially for that price tag. Still, I was excited, happily shot a photo, and bit into the French Toast. Aaaand all I could taste was grease. I understand they had just come out of the fryer, but... what? It did not taste like French Toast in the slightest bit, which was a bummer. Next up, the Captain Cranky had a strawberry glaze and captain crunch on it. I told my friend that the topping was the best part. This one was otherwise just as greasy. I realize they were likely overwhelmed by the number of people wanting their donuts, but I do wish this had been a better experience. If I ever stumble upon them in the city, I'll give them a second try, but I certainly won't go out of my way to wait in a crazy long line for them again.

The donuts are delicious. Though you can only choose from cake donuts, from what it looks like,…read moreevery donut comes freshly made on the spot. I cannot remember the name of one of my donuts now, but it was glazed in banana icing and covered in cocoa pebbles cereal. The banana icing was unique and very tasty. I also got their signature 'Homer' donut, which has vanilla and chocolate icing with bacon on top. It could have used a bit more bacon but overall it also was well done. Points off for rude service though. Their donuts aren't that unique; I wouldn't go back only to be rushed through by a gruff staff. By only selling one basic type of donut (and literally nothing else) I think they are doing themselves a disservice. Go if you want tasty glazed cake donuts, otherwise I think you can skip them.

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Undrgrnd Donuts - At Love Park, Philadelphia

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Undrgrnd Donuts - French toast donut

French toast donut

Undrgrnd Donuts - Strawberry Nova, the Homer, Captain Kranky, and a banana one with fruity pebbles

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Gul's Breakfast & Lunch Cart

Gul's Breakfast & Lunch Cart

4.2(9 reviews)
1.7 miUniversity City
$

Love this truck. It's everything a good breakfast and lunch truck should be. Plenty of options, low…read morein cost, and freshly-made food. The owner is so nice and obviously has many regular customers. He was asking a lady about how her pain level had been lately and started the next lady's order with a confirmation "egg and cheese on wheat?" I was happy to see this- regulars are a good sign. I ordered an egg and cheese, which comes on a long roll (though you can get it on toast or a bagel) and was so surprised when I watched him break eggs over the griddle and whisk them. Usually there are already-made eggs that are tossed on a piece of bread at these places--- not the case here. He made my eggs while taking care of two other customers' orders with no problems. A few minutes later, I walked away from the truck with a 16 oz coffee and a big breakfast sandwich for only $4. The sandwich is delicious, was made fresh-to-order, and served with a smile. I will definitely be back.

You can get a solid egg and cheese here, quickly and cheaply. Big smile from the man in the…read morecart...is that you Gul? He didn't understand me when I first asked for grilled chicken, and then when I saw they were out a grilled cheese. But eventually he got it and I didn't starve. If you end up working through lunch or have one of those awesome meetings scheduled right around when you eat and then at the meeting they don't give you food...Gul knows, and Gul cares. He stays open after the rest of the lunch trucks shut down.

Photos
Gul's Breakfast & Lunch Cart
Gul's Breakfast & Lunch Cart - Egg and cheese with hot sauce on a roll. Delicious! Large portion for $2.50

Egg and cheese with hot sauce on a roll. Delicious! Large portion for $2.50

Gul's Breakfast & Lunch Cart - Half of Scramble egg with cheese sandwich! (the other half I ate before take a picture :P)

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Half of Scramble egg with cheese sandwich! (the other half I ate before take a picture :P)

Indian Food Truck

Indian Food Truck

1.8(14 reviews)
1.7 miUniversity City
$

Okay... when I say "not spicy", "a little spicy", "medium spicy" or "spicy", it comes out exactly…read morethe same - very spicy... o.O Made my eyes water just to consider what the man there decides is "very spicy". Super slow, I'm not sure how he makes any money, but there's inevitably a line there at lunchtime just due to his speed... If you like spicy, this place is for you. For me, I'll stay away and hit up some of the Indian buffets near campus that are almost the price yet give me food I can eat.

I am not sure why this place gets a bad rap, because the food isn't bad at all. There are several…read morethings I like about this place: the food is prepared fresh, as fresh as it can get. I've seen the guy cut the vegetables and make the curry after I've placed the order. That is very impressive in my view because one could always just get curry which he had made at home and then frozen. The curries don't all taste the same, which is great. I've eaten multiple things here, and in my view, his saag is the best thing on the menu. Saag (green leafy vegetable, a cousin of spinach) is cooked well and served with your choice of chickpeas (my favorite), potatoes or paneer (cottage cheese). I see here on Yelp that someone was recently conned into getting tofu instead of paneer - I am not sure how that happened. I've always gotten paneer and never tofu. I would've returned the tofu to him rightaway, since I don't fancy that in my saag. There are three distinct levels of spiciness. I would recommend start with mild and make your way up if you've never eaten Indian food before, or if you have then start with medium and decide if it works for you. I notice that someone compared this to Sitar/Tandoor/New Delhi. Now look, there can be no comparison between this and a buffet. Any person remotely associated with the food business will tell you that the buffets at restaurants is where the worse food is kept. Often defrosted, made several hours if not days in advance and left out in the open. Having said that, this is a food truck and not a sit-down place. If you're looking for a nice sit-down meal with excellent Indian food, try Desi Village on Baltimore Avenue and 46th. That place is by far, the best Indian food place in West Philly. The roti for an additional $1 is really good, it's like a giant kulcha + naan combination. In sum, after Desi Village, this is my second favorite Indian food place. I like the Lovash food truck on Spruce as well, but that food is more "snacky" than this, and definitely more greasy. Oh and yes, the guy is grumpy. Not sure why, but thats his personality.

Photos
Indian Food Truck - Menu 2

Menu 2

Indian Food Truck - Menu

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Menu

Fred's Water Ice - icecream - Updated May 2026

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