Nieves Cinco de Mayo
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I was so excited I didn't even get to take a picture of my ice cream! They take both cash and card, with a charge. I tried passionfruit as well as soursop, the passionfruit was a lot creamier than the soursop, which seemed more like a sorbet texture. I do enjoy the unique flavors and menu items here, next time I'll have to get a mangonada!
Located in the fruitvale public market building, this business sells ice cream, sorbets, and snow cones. You can find metered street parking nearby. I had intended to come here for the Diablito snow cone, but got the mango sorbet instead. A small cup comes with two scoops and was $3.00. They accept credit cards but will charge an additional fee. Pros: -friendly staff -handmade and 100% natural Cons: -n/a
My Mangonadas were delicioso! The mangoes were great-a balanced mixture of texture soft and firm Mangoes. The owner and staff are nice and they are good to their customers. I appreciate their professionalism. When I am back in town, I will visit again. Oh!, I love bubble gum ice cream and their ice cream is really good. Thanks Gris
This is the most underrated ice cream shop in the Bay Area. One sunny afternoon, after running Lake Merit with my boyfriend, he says, "I want to take you somewhere", and so we start driving and pull up to the public market in Fruitvale. Not quite a market, but this little hidden gem is situated inside. They have an assortment of amazing(but unhealthy) Mexican snacks and desserts. Yes mangonadas, elotes, Tostolocos, raspados, and so many other options. Well if I wasn't trying to make wise life decisions about my health and wallet I'd be here every day! Favorites? - Rosa ice cream(every time) - tostilocos Hands down my favorite freshly made ice cream, it's one of those places that I crave constantly as a foodie. They accept cash and card. Parking can be tough on weekends, but just drive down the street a little further! Worth it to come here.
At first I was a bit confused where they are located. It's inside the Fruitvale public market. On a Sunday afternoon the wait was about 10-15 minutes. The parking was a bit of a hassle since it's street parking but was able to find parking down the street. I ordered a small mangonada which by far has been the best I've tried. Also since it's mango season the fresh mango was perfect. I also decided to try the Tejuino it's a beverage but It wasn't what I was expecting.
On a very very hot day I had the good fortune to be close to these guys so I jumped upon the chance to have a cold treat. I got the mango, tamarind raspado (w Chile, lime and chamoy sauce) and it was out of the world refreshing. So perfectly balanced- sweet, tart, spicy. it's like a hole in my palate- heart has been filled (I know how it sounds. I will say it again. Probably only about this beauty). And a decent size for 4$! To top it off, the lady there was so nice!! Not even smiling or anything - she just could've been mean because of how indecisive I was since I wasn't familiar with the offerings there, (and I asked for more syrup in my already full cup because I was stupid and didn't realize that sweet stuff would be at the bottom :/) and I had barely anymore than 4$ in cash so I didn't leave a big tip. But she was nice though all of that. She took my broken Spanish, just enough cash and gave me the best treat of the day (weekend? Week ?). Tip: carry cash.
My friends and I wanted something refreshing and sweet while we hung out in Oakland, and Nieves Cinco de Mayo offered all that at an affordable price. If you want unique desserts made from fresh produce on a hot day, this is definitely the place to go. It's located INSIDE Fruitvale Market, so it's easy to miss when driving by. My friends really enjoyed all of their desserts (I got the mango sorbete), but Mangonada seems to be the most popular among the regulars. Weather's warming up--make sure to make this a stop on a hot day!
Fantastic fruit, sorbets, ice cream- everything is great. I believe I went here 2x in 2 days just because it was so fantastic. The first day, my fiancee had a mangonada and I had a sandiloca. The sandiloca was good, but had too much non-watermelon stuff as a ratio to the watermelon. The mangonada is delicious and they pack on the mango. The next day we went (ha), my fiancee had a sorbet and I had mint ice cream (yerba buena). The mint was so good and refreshing on a hot day, I loved it. The sorbet was excellent as well. Definitely love this place, and love supporting small businesses in fruitvale like this. Go here!!!
I've only had the bionico here, but it was really good so I'd go back. Also because it looked like they have some good ice cream flavors! Parking was a pain on a weekday afternoon and the place itself was a bit hard to find. There's a churro stand on the outside, go through the door next to it and it'll be on your left.
Growing up is hard and awkward enough, but you have no idea how much it sucks growing up as an Asian or Hispanic kid unless you lived it. Especially a first generation Asian, because your parents are straight up Fobs and they're your parents so you can't do anything about it. You get stuck eating weird Asian foods your parents got from China town or Wet-Min-Tuh (Westminster) when all the kids have Lunchables and chips like Pringles. They get PB&J sandwiches and I get Banh Mi with weird ingredients like that pork sausage gio and smears of chicken pate in it. My lunch bag was always a grocery bag that smelled like fish sauce, while everyone had cool Power Rangers or Mutant Ninja Turtles lunchboxes. When you ran outta glue at home, your parents wouldn't do the rational things a normal average white American parent would do like run to the nearest Staples or Office Depot, No, No! Don't be silly! All they did was go to the kitchen and get a bowl of rice and show you how smearing it on the paper and attaching it together was just as good as glue, if not better because it dried super fast and was free! When Broadway (if you remember, which I'm sure you guys do) had a sale, my mother would buy all sizes and tell us we'd grow into them. They'd stay in her closet for years, I was never allowed to wear them til some unforeseen special event came along and only then were they dragged out. All I wanted was normal Levi's and Adidas gear where they weren't spelled Adios or Leves. All i wanted was a tomadachi like my friends had and all I ever got were cheap knock offs from Chinatown that broke in like a week. I truly believe my interesting childhood is what made me who I am. I don't think I would have quite the same personality and experiences if I didn't, so I learn to appreciate such things. Somehow this place brings me back to my wildly entertaining childhood. The man reminds me of my mother, smiling, bright, and effervescent. Selling his knock off wears of ice cream, with interesting flavors just as Tara's, Ici's, or Humphry's. However, taste-wise, it is like an LA Gear knock off. Vaguely reminiscent, but just not the same. Sure there are interesting flavors like Cheese, Jackfruit, Corn, mango, tamarindo, Cinnamon, Garlic, and Rose Petal. But the just didn't measure up in taste, texture, consistency, and flavors. The consistency of the ice cream was slightly icy and chunky (might have been the cheese), while others were smooth and creamy. Some of the flavors felt overworked and not perfected, the cinnamon ice cream was like when you first use cinnamon, you think you want a lot because you like the smell of it, until you realize that its only good in combination with sugar. There was just too much cinnamon and tasted almost chalky. The coffee ice cream was creamy and smooth, but the flavor just felt monotonous and lackluster. The cheese was okay but kinda chunky and icy, I got it because the proprietor sounded really proud of it and I didn't want to hurt his feelings since he reminded me of my mom. The jackfruit was hard to decipher what it tasted like, but not like any jackfruit I've ever had. I really wanted to like it, the owner was so sweet and friendly I truly wanted to give them a good star rating. He reminded me of my mother, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. At least the ice cream was cheap at $1.25 a scoop, and $2 for a scoop in a cone. Maybe I'll come back and visit, I saw a Churro cart outside the Fruitvale Public Market that was frying up delicious smelling fruit stuffed churros!
Have you ever had a Mangonada? Yeah, me neither. I was finishing off my bowl of weekend menudo at Taco Grill when I looked up and saw a young girl carry a tray full of these colorful creations down the street. I didn't know what they were and was too far away to ask her. Besides, it's probably not the best idea to yell at someone in East Oakland unless you want to recreate a tense scene from a Spike Lee movie. I just ambled about the Fruitvale Public Market trying not to look too conspicuous when I found myself in a tiny food court with a swarm of houseflies hovering around all the colorful baked goods. Right in front of me was this stand with quite a prominent photo of a Mangonada. Ah, that's it. I asked the charming woman running the kiosk to explain what it was, and she basically pointed to all the ingredients she uses to concoct one - fresh mango, lime, orange juice, crushed ice, chili powder...chili powder? And a bottle of chamoy sauce (see photo). Sounded like an interesting combo of sweet and savory that I had to try. I ordered a medium for $3.50, a large is $5. It's a traditional Mexican treat, but it almost sounds like something invented by a more avant-garde chef at a trendy restaurant. It turned out to be like a Hawaiian shave ice but not as sickeningly sweet. The chili and chamoy gave it a surprising spicy kick that started to lose its appeal toward the end, but it's definitely worth a shot. I'm more likely to come back and try one or six of the 22 ice cream flavors listed on the overhead chalkboard, some of which sounded quite unusual but obviously not in Mexico - cactus fruit, mamey, rice, burnt milk, even curdled milk. There are also a dozen snow cone flavors (raspados) which appear to be more tropical in nature - hibiscus, tamarind, diablito. Wikipedia says 'diablito' is a frog but thankfully it really is a mix of chili and tropical fruit. 'Nieves', I found out, means ice cream, so at least I learned something that will help me fit into the Fruitvale 'hood. OK, maybe not. MANGONADA - 4 stars...a tantalizing shave ice treat AMBIANCE - 3 stars...just a colorful ice cream stand in a quickie food court SERVICE - 4 stars...a very friendly server TOTAL - 4 stars...a bit of Mexico to satisfy your sweet tooth, gringo
Several places sell Mangonadas (also known as Mangoniadas) but none compare to the ones at Nieves Cinco de Mayo. Served with shaved ice, real mango, mango, sorbet, chili powder (pico limon/tajin), chamoy, lime, and a straw covered in spicy tamarindo. You have the option to choose from med for $3, large for $5, and XL for $7. If you get a large, you will have left overs for later lol IT'S NOT LOCATED ACROSS FROM FRUITVALE BART. To give you readers a better idea of its location. It's Located across from Citibank. You need to cross E. 12th ST. It's inside the Fruitvale Public Market building. Right above the double door you'll see a sign that says "Mangonadas" so pay attention if your driving because it easy to miss and be careful not to hit any pedestrians in the process lol Good luck finding a parking spot. ps. The marker location on yelp is incorrect.
6 months ago
Love this spot in Oakland! Perfect for a hot day, their mangonada and agua mineral were incredibly refreshing and hit the spot. I will definitely be coming back to try more from their menu, as the community and service are just that special. read more
2 years ago
Absolutely delicious mangonada. Highly recommend for a quick stop in. You won't regret it! read more
I was so excited I didn't even get to take a picture of my ice cream! They take both cash and card, with a charge. I tried passionfruit as well as soursop, the passionfruit was a lot creamier than the soursop, which seemed more like a sorbet texture. I do enjoy the unique flavors and menu items here, next time I'll have to get a mangonada! read more
1 year ago
We went earlier and had the hard time to find it. For people who will be new to this place, it's gonna be inside the public market. I just got a mangonada and it so so sooo goood. The price are valid. Medium size is $10 for mangodona. I am excited to try more of the menu. read more
Located in the fruitvale public market building, this business sells ice cream, sorbets, and snow cones. You can find metered street parking nearby. I had intended to come here for the Diablito snow cone, but got the mango sorbet instead. A small cup comes with two scoops and was $3.00. They accept credit cards but will charge an additional fee. Pros: -friendly staff -handmade and 100% natural Cons: -n/a read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
Business owner information
Griselda A.
Hi Liliana! Thank you for your review. Sorry to hear you did not…
4 years ago
My Mangonadas were delicioso! The mangoes were great-a balanced mixture of texture soft and firm Mangoes. The owner and staff are nice and they are good to their customers. I appreciate their professionalism. When I am back in town, I will visit again. Oh!, I love bubble gum ice cream and their ice cream is really good. Thanks Gris read more
Business owner information
Griselda A.
Hi Trena! Just following up on our conversation from two weeks ago.…
This is the most underrated ice cream shop in the Bay Area. One sunny afternoon, after running Lake Merit with my boyfriend, he says, "I want to take you somewhere", and so we start driving and pull up to the public market in Fruitvale. Not quite a market, but this little hidden gem is situated inside. They have an assortment of amazing(but unhealthy) Mexican snacks and desserts. Yes mangonadas, elotes, Tostolocos, raspados, and so many other options. Well if I wasn't trying to make wise life decisions about my health and wallet I'd be here every day! Favorites? - Rosa ice cream(every time) - tostilocos Hands down my favorite freshly made ice cream, it's one of those places that I crave constantly as a foodie. They accept cash and card. Parking can be tough on weekends, but just drive down the street a little further! Worth it to come here. read more
At first I was a bit confused where they are located. It's inside the Fruitvale public market. On a Sunday afternoon the wait was about 10-15 minutes. The parking was a bit of a hassle since it's street parking but was able to find parking down the street. I ordered a small mangonada which by far has been the best I've tried. Also since it's mango season the fresh mango was perfect. I also decided to try the Tejuino it's a beverage but It wasn't what I was expecting. read more
6 years ago
On a very very hot day I had the good fortune to be close to these guys so I jumped upon the chance to have a cold treat. I got the mango, tamarind raspado (w Chile, lime and chamoy sauce) and it was out of the world refreshing. So perfectly balanced- sweet, tart, spicy. it's like a hole in my palate- heart has been filled (I know how it sounds. I will say it again. Probably only about this beauty). And a decent size for 4$! To top it off, the lady there was so nice!! Not even smiling or anything - she just could've been mean because of how indecisive I was since I wasn't familiar with the offerings there, (and I asked for more syrup in my already full cup because I was stupid and didn't realize that sweet stuff would be at the bottom :/) and I had barely anymore than 4$ in cash so I didn't leave a big tip. But she was nice though all of that. She took my broken Spanish, just enough cash and gave me the best treat of the day (weekend? Week ?). Tip: carry cash. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
My friends and I wanted something refreshing and sweet while we hung out in Oakland, and Nieves Cinco de Mayo offered all that at an affordable price. If you want unique desserts made from fresh produce on a hot day, this is definitely the place to go. It's located INSIDE Fruitvale Market, so it's easy to miss when driving by. My friends really enjoyed all of their desserts (I got the mango sorbete), but Mangonada seems to be the most popular among the regulars. Weather's warming up--make sure to make this a stop on a hot day! read more
Fantastic fruit, sorbets, ice cream- everything is great. I believe I went here 2x in 2 days just because it was so fantastic. The first day, my fiancee had a mangonada and I had a sandiloca. The sandiloca was good, but had too much non-watermelon stuff as a ratio to the watermelon. The mangonada is delicious and they pack on the mango. The next day we went (ha), my fiancee had a sorbet and I had mint ice cream (yerba buena). The mint was so good and refreshing on a hot day, I loved it. The sorbet was excellent as well. Definitely love this place, and love supporting small businesses in fruitvale like this. Go here!!! read more
5 years ago
I've only had the bionico here, but it was really good so I'd go back. Also because it looked like they have some good ice cream flavors! Parking was a pain on a weekday afternoon and the place itself was a bit hard to find. There's a churro stand on the outside, go through the door next to it and it'll be on your left. read more
16 years ago
Growing up is hard and awkward enough, but you have no idea how much it sucks growing up as an Asian or Hispanic kid unless you lived it. Especially a first generation Asian, because your parents are straight up Fobs and they're your parents so you can't do anything about it. You get stuck eating weird Asian foods your parents got from China town or Wet-Min-Tuh (Westminster) when all the kids have Lunchables and chips like Pringles. They get PB&J sandwiches and I get Banh Mi with weird ingredients like that pork sausage gio and smears of chicken pate in it. My lunch bag was always a grocery bag that smelled like fish sauce, while everyone had cool Power Rangers or Mutant Ninja Turtles lunchboxes. When you ran outta glue at home, your parents wouldn't do the rational things a normal average white American parent would do like run to the nearest Staples or Office Depot, No, No! Don't be silly! All they did was go to the kitchen and get a bowl of rice and show you how smearing it on the paper and attaching it together was just as good as glue, if not better because it dried super fast and was free! When Broadway (if you remember, which I'm sure you guys do) had a sale, my mother would buy all sizes and tell us we'd grow into them. They'd stay in her closet for years, I was never allowed to wear them til some unforeseen special event came along and only then were they dragged out. All I wanted was normal Levi's and Adidas gear where they weren't spelled Adios or Leves. All i wanted was a tomadachi like my friends had and all I ever got were cheap knock offs from Chinatown that broke in like a week. I truly believe my interesting childhood is what made me who I am. I don't think I would have quite the same personality and experiences if I didn't, so I learn to appreciate such things. Somehow this place brings me back to my wildly entertaining childhood. The man reminds me of my mother, smiling, bright, and effervescent. Selling his knock off wears of ice cream, with interesting flavors just as Tara's, Ici's, or Humphry's. However, taste-wise, it is like an LA Gear knock off. Vaguely reminiscent, but just not the same. Sure there are interesting flavors like Cheese, Jackfruit, Corn, mango, tamarindo, Cinnamon, Garlic, and Rose Petal. But the just didn't measure up in taste, texture, consistency, and flavors. The consistency of the ice cream was slightly icy and chunky (might have been the cheese), while others were smooth and creamy. Some of the flavors felt overworked and not perfected, the cinnamon ice cream was like when you first use cinnamon, you think you want a lot because you like the smell of it, until you realize that its only good in combination with sugar. There was just too much cinnamon and tasted almost chalky. The coffee ice cream was creamy and smooth, but the flavor just felt monotonous and lackluster. The cheese was okay but kinda chunky and icy, I got it because the proprietor sounded really proud of it and I didn't want to hurt his feelings since he reminded me of my mom. The jackfruit was hard to decipher what it tasted like, but not like any jackfruit I've ever had. I really wanted to like it, the owner was so sweet and friendly I truly wanted to give them a good star rating. He reminded me of my mother, and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. At least the ice cream was cheap at $1.25 a scoop, and $2 for a scoop in a cone. Maybe I'll come back and visit, I saw a Churro cart outside the Fruitvale Public Market that was frying up delicious smelling fruit stuffed churros! read more
Have you ever had a Mangonada? Yeah, me neither. I was finishing off my bowl of weekend menudo at Taco Grill when I looked up and saw a young girl carry a tray full of these colorful creations down the street. I didn't know what they were and was too far away to ask her. Besides, it's probably not the best idea to yell at someone in East Oakland unless you want to recreate a tense scene from a Spike Lee movie. I just ambled about the Fruitvale Public Market trying not to look too conspicuous when I found myself in a tiny food court with a swarm of houseflies hovering around all the colorful baked goods. Right in front of me was this stand with quite a prominent photo of a Mangonada. Ah, that's it. I asked the charming woman running the kiosk to explain what it was, and she basically pointed to all the ingredients she uses to concoct one - fresh mango, lime, orange juice, crushed ice, chili powder...chili powder? And a bottle of chamoy sauce (see photo). Sounded like an interesting combo of sweet and savory that I had to try. I ordered a medium for $3.50, a large is $5. It's a traditional Mexican treat, but it almost sounds like something invented by a more avant-garde chef at a trendy restaurant. It turned out to be like a Hawaiian shave ice but not as sickeningly sweet. The chili and chamoy gave it a surprising spicy kick that started to lose its appeal toward the end, but it's definitely worth a shot. I'm more likely to come back and try one or six of the 22 ice cream flavors listed on the overhead chalkboard, some of which sounded quite unusual but obviously not in Mexico - cactus fruit, mamey, rice, burnt milk, even curdled milk. There are also a dozen snow cone flavors (raspados) which appear to be more tropical in nature - hibiscus, tamarind, diablito. Wikipedia says 'diablito' is a frog but thankfully it really is a mix of chili and tropical fruit. 'Nieves', I found out, means ice cream, so at least I learned something that will help me fit into the Fruitvale 'hood. OK, maybe not. MANGONADA - 4 stars...a tantalizing shave ice treat AMBIANCE - 3 stars...just a colorful ice cream stand in a quickie food court SERVICE - 4 stars...a very friendly server TOTAL - 4 stars...a bit of Mexico to satisfy your sweet tooth, gringo read more
Several places sell Mangonadas (also known as Mangoniadas) but none compare to the ones at Nieves Cinco de Mayo. Served with shaved ice, real mango, mango, sorbet, chili powder (pico limon/tajin), chamoy, lime, and a straw covered in spicy tamarindo. You have the option to choose from med for $3, large for $5, and XL for $7. If you get a large, you will have left overs for later lol IT'S NOT LOCATED ACROSS FROM FRUITVALE BART. To give you readers a better idea of its location. It's Located across from Citibank. You need to cross E. 12th ST. It's inside the Fruitvale Public Market building. Right above the double door you'll see a sign that says "Mangonadas" so pay attention if your driving because it easy to miss and be careful not to hit any pedestrians in the process lol Good luck finding a parking spot. ps. The marker location on yelp is incorrect. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
Review #214 - 2018 This review is based solely on their mangonada. I've had this place bookmarked for who knows how long; but I kept pushing it off because I am rarely in the area and whenever I do drive by, parking is a disaster. Since I was able to find a parking spot out front, I thought I'd just shoot two birds with one stone. I got my churros and walked over to grab a mangonada. Luckily, the line wasn't too long so I didn't have to wait more than two minutes. At first I thought it was kind of pricey, but after tasting it, I didn't mind paying $7.50 for a medium. The mango ice cream was so yummy. You can definitely taste the real mango juice, not artificially flavored like some places. The mango chunks were fresh, sweet and plentiful. I had a piece of mango in every bite even up to the last bite. Such a nice treat for this warm summer weather. I'll definitely be back to try their other ice cream flavors as well. I was kind of disappointed that I didn't ask to try their (seasonal) durian flavor since I was in a hurry. read more
3 years ago
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6 years ago
Came here last week and decided on the mangonada. Which was super delish!! My son had the raspado de fresa also hella good tasted like they put real fruit in it. My daughter had the tostilocos and she kilt those!! Everything was good!! read more
7 years ago
The midday sun beaming down on us & thousands of other San Francisco Carnaval goers had us searching for the nearest cold refreshment. We fell in line with the half dozen or so people at the Nieves Cinco de Mayo cart. We shared a scoop of Elote ice cream in a waffle cone which tasted like fresh corn shucked off a cob, & a small Magonada which had a combination of soft, ripe mangos & firmer, less ripe chunks. Sweet & slightly savory, both cold treats were freakin delightful. read more
6 years ago
Its my first time here. And I will be a regular customer ..the daughter and mother work there as well.as their father . The daughter told me its a family business. So I left a tip after my big order happily. They were so respectful and the mangonanda and a Sandi loca its called . Was sooo good. There working so hard even during a pandemic so please stop by and try something you won't regret it. Prices are so decent as well. Thank you for your service ..keep up the great work. read more
Nieves Cinco de Mayo offers a great cultural experience through food and desserts - I love this spot! My favorite spot for Mangonadas! Afforable and comes in different sizes. This place does accept card as well! Line gets backed up cause this place is poppin but the staff tends to work quick. There's a small patio outside where you can eat and enjoy! I also got a Tostiloco with my brother and a friend and 1 is definitely enough for 2-3 people. Being a first timer eating Tostiloco, I was intrigued by the texture and flavors of each ingredient combined! Nieves Cinco de Mayo is perfect for a sunny day! Can't wait to come back! If parking in the neighborhood gets complicated, AC transit is one way to do it, or park at BART and walk over (BART is free on the weekends). read more
At $1.25 a scoop or $2.25 for two scoops, Nieves is a true bargain. The sweet, smiling owner/ice cream maker just seems like such a happy person. Maybe it's a side effect of making your own ice cream. There were 20 flavors of ice cream, sorbet, raspados and milkshakes. I wish I had more time to sample but I didn't put in much money in the meter, so I had to make up my mind quickly. Ice cream flavors of the day: * Limon crème: made with lemons, very nice, almost like a sorbet but a little creamier, not sour/tart because of all the sugar * Cinnamon: quite sweet but intensely cinnamon, reminded me of horchata but with much more cinnamon, creamier than the limon crème. * Curled milk: way too sweet for me, imagine milk + tons of sugar * Rice (listed but unavailable) - he said it was similar to horchata * Garlic * Vanilla * Hawthorn * Coffee * Avocado * Cheese (Mexican cheese) * Corn * Chocolate * Coconut * Spearmint * Guava * Peach * Eggnog * Strawberry * Pecan * Rose petals The scoops are huge! You can get your ice cream in a cup or cone. I liked the flavors (they tasted fresh and natural) but I'd like them better if they weren't so sweet. The texture is icier than your typical American ice cream. I'm not sure if this is common for Mexican ice cream? I noticed that with both my scoops, part of the ice cream was icier/harder. At least it was firm and dense; I can't stand soft, runny or fluffy ice cream. read more
There's a heat wave coming this weekend, and I am calling dibs on this deliciously authentic shop!!! Caveman and I saw a discreet but irresistible write-up of this place in SF Magazine, and were compelled to venture forth on Cinco de Chaos to sample the artisan, hand-churned ice cream. I had one flavor specifically in mind: elote - and not just because Nacho Libre is in our Netflix Queue. This Chinkana gal has relatives in Lancaster, PA - none of whom were cast in "Witness"; but still, they grow corn and make quilts. But I digress. El-OOOOO-te is corn. Sweet corn - preferably grilled, slathered in crema, sprinkled with chili and then spritzed with lime. I had already decided to recreate this street treat with ice cream: one scoop of elote; one of lime, served "diabolito" style... sprinkled with a sugar/chili/salt mix, and then baptized with the juice of a fresh lime. Shockingly, there was no 45-minute wait, as I'd come to associate with East Bay Frozen Dessert Temples, so I found myself stammering and biting my lip nervously as the proprietor smiled benevolently and handed out samples, unsolicited. There were other flavors that I'd not anticipated, other styles... and I was paralyzed by indecision. The shop owner simply radiates generosity and good humor (no pun intended). He grins and hands out tastes on little metal spoons (yeah, recycling!) with no sense of expectation whatsoever. It's like his warm brown eyes say, "I know that you are a mere mortal and cannot wrap your head around the brilliance of my craft... but check this out, because it's pretty damn tasty!" And it is. Other reasons to fall in love with Nieves Cinco de Mayo: * It's right across from the Fruitvale BART station, so even loyal patrons of Ici can take public transportation, marvel at the deliciousness that be purchased for a mere $1.25 a scoop... then jump back on BART and hightail it back to your comfort zone. * Free parking in the garage (30 minutes or less) and on the weekends * Totally bike-able distance; consider it a "refueling" station. * What wait? * Me gusta mucho practicar hablando en espanol aqui, en esta tiendita. * An authentic, neighborhood artisan who loves his craft and won't tempt you to take an adult gig on CL in order to afford making a habit out of snacking here. * Each scoop only has 5 calories!!! * Okay; that's totally a lie. Well, I prefer to think of it as "magical thinking" - and that's what I choose to believe. Don't judge me! read more
6 years ago
9 years ago
While visiting Oakland we wanted a cold treat and found this place. Food: 1 Mangonada of strawberry 7/10. The sorbet was a bit too frozen for me and had alot of ice like shaved ice or raspado which wasnt what i expected. 2 Shaved ice of strawberry and pineapple 8/10. 3 bionico which is like a mexican portrait 5/10. Had too much of cantaloupe which was a bit dissapointing. One this which was kinda gross was thay they left their fridge doors open and the cream icecream had a fly chillin inside. THATS A BIG NO NO! Overall i dont think i would come back or recommend sadly. read more
12 years ago
This shop goes to prove that you can find good food in any setting. Fruitvale public market is a little collection of eating stalls in the east bay town of Fruitvale. This shop sells artisanal hand made ice cream with 100% natural ingredients. One scoop is only $1.50 On a scorching day, I had a scoop of guava, a tropical fruit. The ice cream was creamy and smooth though I could have done with just a little more fruit flavour There were also ice desserts which looked interesting and worth a further visit to experience read more
Never in my life have I wished that there were more red lights... more excuses to keep taking my hands off the steering wheel so that I could continue digging in to the deliciousness that is a mangonada from Nieves Cinco de Mayo. Slightly tart, crunch mango chunks + shaved ice + chamoy sauce for rich color + a creamy scoop of ice cream + spicy chili powder that stings your lips = icy, spicy cup of heaven. Thank you, Yelp, for including this place on your list of must-try Frozen Treats a couple of months ago. I bookmarked it back then, and when I found myself in the Fruitvale neighborhood this past Saturday, I walked into the Fruitvale Public Market and found myself in front of the infamous stall. The woman working there gave me a warm smile as I snapped multiple photos for this very Yelp review. When I finished, she asked me what I would like, and I pointed to the small sized cup for a mangonada. Yes, I realized what a mistake that was only as I turned left where International meets 1st Ave/Lake Merritt Blvd. with just watered down chamoy sauce sloshing around at the bottom of my cup. :( read more
5 years ago
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More info about Nieves Cinco de Mayo
3340 E 12th St
Ste 2
Oakland, CA 94601
Fruitvale, East Oakland
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(510) 533-6296
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