La Plaza Paleteria

I went here with the promise of a one scoop sundae with the best hot fudge and freshly whipped…read morecream I will ever taste and boy, was that correct. The staff was very helpful even though we were a larger party and it was the BEST hot fudge and whipped cream I have ever eaten. Margie Poulos's wish was that nothing in the restaurant be changed so walking in was like going back in time 5 decades. We got to see the infamous booth where the Beatles sat for sweet treats, the mirror booth where The Bear filmed, and just enjoy a time when life seemed simpler. The ambiance was refreshing! I got a bag of treats to share--a rum ball, Turtles with fresh nuts, caramels, etc. I haven't eaten any yet, but I am sure they are going to be as wonderful as everything else we tasted today!

I bought two boxes of their delicious English toffee on 12/19/25, but the candy was terrible. Hard…read moreto bite into and so sticky I thought it would pull my fillings out. Completely unacceptable! I sent an email complaining, but didn't hear back. I went to the store and an employee took my info and said the owner would get back to me, but he didn't. So, bad customer service and occasionally awful chocolate.

Banana Split for 2

English Toffee Sundae

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Sundae

Firecakes Donuts

4.1(2k reviews)

6.8 mi•Near North Side

Delicious! Simple house made donuts, fresh espresso and hot chai were perfect. Firecakes offers…read moremultiple locations, with easy access throughout the city, open early and closing late, making it the perfect sweet treat all day long. The raspberry bold orange donut truly was fire, no premade compote here, fresh raspberry filling was a game changer. The cinnamon roll donut was decadent but totally worth it with all the walking you do as a tourist.

Firehouse Donuts is a classic, no-frills donuts done right atmosphere. It has that old-school…read moreneighborhood feel--simple, welcoming, and focused on goodness. The donuts are fresh, soft, and perfectly sweet. You really can't go wrong with anything here. We ordered the Carrot Cake and Boston Cream, which were delicious. Service was quick and friendly. It's an easy go-to spot when you're craving a solid, satisfying donut.

Happy Birthday!

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Affogado with vanilla bean ice cream

Java & Mug Cafe

4.5(267 reviews)

3.7 mi•North Park

Always so nice! Food and service is great and super friendly! Quiet place to study and work to, and…read morejust in general a nice place to go with friends or alone.

Went solely for their fruit and red bean shaved ice. The ice could've been finer (I had to chew on…read moresome larger shards of ice which wasn't pleasant), but otherwise we enjoyed it, and I was very happy to see that it had all the makings of an old school patbingsoo with both fruit and red bean, as well as mochi and ice cream, which is rare nowadays. It was pricey but enough for 2 people to share. Metered parking on a weekend evening was easy. My only complaint is that it had a strange, unpleasant smell inside (we were there in the evening during the weekend of April 25th). Also, when I came a few years ago, it had a really cozy, welcoming vibe packed with comfy couches. Now, it just looks like basic tables and plastic chairs, lacking comfort, character, and charm. I'm hoping to return to try the sweet potato latte and the other shaved ices, but I hope they do something about the smell and make the space feel more cozy and inviting.

Americano, latte, matcha croffle, black sesame croffle

Bingsoo/bingsu

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Black sesame snow bingsoo

Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop

3.8(403 reviews)

7.1 mi•Near North Side

•$$$

Obviously if I go somewhere that has a Ghirardelli, I'm making it a point to stop by during my…read moretrip. And so it was that we found ourselves inside this location of Ghirardelli during our Chicago trip. I wound up ordering what I always order, the World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae ("Vanilla ice cream and handmade hot fudge topped with whipped cream, diced almonds, a cherry, and a Milk Chocolate Caramel Square"). It was ready within minutes and of course it's terrific. All the components work so well together, and that hot fudge sauce remains one of my favorite things ever. (Do I wish they had included more of it? Yes, absolutely.) Don't ever change, Ghirardelli. You're great. (And please come to Canada some day!)

While visiting Chicago lately and wanting to warm up with a nice, warm beverage, my friend and I…read morecame across the Chicago Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop on Michigan Avenue, and we immediately went inside and upstairs to place an order for hot chocolate. And we certainly are glad we did...it was delicious!! While Ghirardelli Chocolate was founded in San Francisco in 1852, Chicago is fortunate to have a vibrant and welcoming shop where any visitors can indulge in the ultimate chocolate experience whether purchasing chocolate gifts or placing an order at their made in-house restaurant upstairs. They make decadent hot fudge sundaes with handmade hot fudge made fresh daily from Ghirardelli Chocolate along with a sample signature chocolate square. This particular store is open on Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 10 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 11 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 9 PM. I jumped at ordering a Classic Hot Cocoa, which offers a luxuriously deep chocolate flavor that comes through their beverage while topped with whipped cream and dusted with cocoa powder. It was served with a milk chocolate caramel Ghirardelli square. They also served shakes, coffee drinks, and more along with their huge chocolate Pick & Mix selection (where you choose your own flavors), chocolate gifts, chocolate bars, and chocolate gift bags. Go to their website (https://www.ghirardelli.com) and sign up for their e-mail newsletter to receive 15% off an order while also receiving e-mails with special offers. Another deal is that you can get free standard shipping on orders of $75 or more. I'm already dreaming of my next Ghirardelli made in-house beverage and chocolate square. Yum!!!

4.1 mi•North Center, Lakeview

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Hot Fudge Sundae and Hot Chocolate

Margie's Candies

4.1(653 reviews)

I had a super special date at Margie's with my 2 year old, and we had the best time ever. What I…read morelove about Margie's is that it's frozen in time. It's pretty small inside, there are only a few tables. A server comes to your table to place your order, which I feel like never happens at ice cream shops anymore! The menu is huge! There were multiple sections to banana splits, sundaes, and shakes. We decided to go with something simple. My son ordered 2 scoops of cookies n cream ice cream (with sprinkles of course) and I got moose tracks! The ice cream is the real deal. Our server was super sweet, and we were in and out of there in probably 30-45 minutes. We had the best time and will definitely be back this summer.

We heard that Margie's Candies had some seriously good sundaes, so obviously we had to check the…read moreplace out. (The fact that the joint's been around for over 100 years doesn't hurt either.) It's a small restaurant but we managed to snag a cozy table near the back. We'd already spent most of the day eating, so we decided to share the Atomic Fudge Sundae. It's a fairly enormous concoction. I found it interesting that the hot fudge was served on the side, but it's actually pretty smart because you get control how much (or how little) sauce you get. The ice cream is the highlight. It's creamy and rich, and it's got a really nice flavor, too. The hot fudge was less impressive, but that might be because I had already eaten a Ghirardelli sundae earlier in the day and their hot fudge just can't be beat. The service was super friendly and the atmosphere was kitschy and fun. It's a cool place.

4.0 mi•Wicker Park, West Town

Margie's Candies.Montrose Ave,Chicago, IL .Old School (Since1921) Ice Cream /Candy Shop Great Staff Great Friendly Service.Cool!

Mine

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Inside seating

Mindy's Bakery

3.9(2.7k reviews)

I've been a fan since their Hot Chocolate days…read more I normally visit during the week at mid-morning and there are usually a good selection of sweet and savory baked goods. My usual go-to items are the plain croissant, hot fudge babka, hot fudge rugelach, and hot fudge croissant. The mister and I recently had a car maintenance appointment on a Friday morning so we made an effort to have a savory breakfast at Mindy's. There is a small ledge inside and outside the store with a few benches so you could enjoy your coffee and food before heading out. We had the breakfast sandwich with pistachio mortadella, American cheese, crisp parmesan, and fried egg. It was easily one of the best. The bun was extremely fluffy and held up really well. I would really like to recreate that crispy parmesan with my own homemade breakfast sandwiches. The bialy with vodka sauce, basil pesto, and mozzarella is not to be missed either. Both sandwiches can be a bit messy but it is worthwhile! I am looking forward to our next visit!

Mindys is without a doubt the BEST bakery in Chicago especially for gluten free peeps!…read more Their gluten free bagels are actually life changing and taste like a real bagel I would eat here every single day if I could!

4.5 mi•Ukrainian Village, West Town

Banana Butterscotch Au Lait

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Twice Baked Almond Croissant

Black Dog Gelato

4.2(680 reviews)

If you're looking for some quality gelato, Black Dog should be your destination. This is my go-to…read moreshop for a cold, sweet treat. They usually have a line that can spill out the door, but it moves quickly. The staff are friendly and always willing to give you a sample of whichever flavor draws your attention. It's a small shop with a modest gelato cooler, but it doesn't need endless options when it nails each flavor they offer. Quality over quantity. Also, recommend getting a waffle cone as theirs are fantastic.

Honestly the best thing about this place is how nice their presentation is. Service was slow and…read morethe staff were rude. They were annoyed and short when explaining what some flavors were when I asked. There was a constant awkward and weird feeling while we were there. We got their Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel and Malted Vanilla Pretzel. The gelato is much prettier than it is tasty. The pretzel was the better of the two, but that doesn't say much. The texture was more like ice cream and it was not satisfying overall. Pricey considering the lack of quality and flavor.

Blueberry French Toast

Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel Seasonal Flavor @dangit.all

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Scooter's Frozen Custard

4.4(687 reviews)

3.9 mi•Lakeview

Excellent frozen custard! Be sure to try the flavor of the day (salted caramel coffee buzz was…read moredelicious!). Friendly service. Seating available inside and outdoors. Note the days/hours open.

One of the best places in Chicago for ice cream/frozen custard. Highly recommend any of their…read morefrozen custards, sundaes, concretes, or parfaits (Italian ice served on top of vanilla frozen custard; only available in the summertime). Every day they have vanilla, chocolate, and a 3rd rotating frozen custard flavor, as well as a rotating concrete (think McFlurry or Blizzard). Each day during the summer, they also have 1 Italian ice flavor available. Expect a line, especially in the evenings on hot days. You can order inside or outside from the window on the side of the building. Indoor seating is very limited and can get quite crowded. Their hours are a bit limited, they're closed on Tuesdays, and they shut down completely sometime in the late Fall until early Spring, so make sure to check their website for hours of operation. Street parking only!

4.2 mi•Wicker Park, West Town

Concrete

Small Concrete

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Mocha Snicker Madness and Trail Mix Concretes

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

4.6(757 reviews)

I love Jeni's. It always smells amazing in here. I'm not a huge ice cream fan, but if I'm gonna eat…read moreice cream, I'll go to Jeni's. It's always fun to check out their new unique flavors. Don't be afraid to ask for samples to help you decide out of all the delicious flavors! I went with two flavors because I couldn't pick between the two: queen charlotte sponge cake and frosted sugar cookie. I love cake batter/flavored ice cream, ice cream with cake chunks, and fruit ice cream, so both flavors were perfect for me. The frosted sugar cookie tasted like cream cheese frosting and the queen charlotte tasted like very sweet raspberry and had cake chunks. So delicious.

A good sweet treat after dinner! Lots of unique flavors. Ice cream is not super sweet which I love…read more The little waffle cone crisp is also a nice touch. The workers are always super friendly, and it's always a quick line. A Chicago dessert staple!

Lots of flavors to try

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Darkest Chocolate Ice Cream

26th Street Sugar Shack

4.3(252 reviews)

8.3 mi•Bridgeport

I think I have to give this place another chance. I got the red velvet funnel cake which came with…read morecream cheese icing and it was huge for $8. That's a great price compared to what you have to pay at a fair. The only problem was that the flavor seemed a little off. Or the texture. I'm not completely sure. I have to come back and try something else. They have a ton of options and at very reasonable prices. I'm gonna try and come back and maybe try a normal funnel cake next time I'm in the neighborhood.

I am so impressed with this neighborhood gem! The prices are very reasonable and more importantly,…read morethe treats are delicious! They have a large menu that offers a variety of treats, the service is quick, and the desserts are delicious. I got a mini funnel cake with a large scoop of ice cream (sans toppings and whip cream) for a little over $6. The funnel cake was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the puppy chow flavor tasted just as described. I do wish there was nearby seating to enjoy treats, but if just having a drive-by storefront keeps the prices low, I'm fine with enjoying my food in my car or at home.