How in the actual heck did I not write a review for this place? Vacas is the place to go. Vacas is for vegans! A vegan ice cream shop, and a damn good one at that. I have been here so often and yet I have done Yelp a dirty by not writing a review for this place. If you want vegan ice cream, or a followup to Chicago Diner, this is the best vegan option for ice cream I can think of. I can't think of a lot of options for this anyway, but this one takes the (ice cream) cake . In fact, writing this review reminds me how much I miss Vaca's - so if you'll excuse me, I'll probably be writing an update again since these photos are from an older visit. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Enjoyed some Dairy Free (Vegan) ice cream last night. We arrived around 8:30PM and there was a line around the corner. It went fairly quickly and got our ice cream around 9PM. There's a whole crowd, either in line or waiting for their orders to be called. It is a walk up window, so no seating. Ordered the Mango Sticky Rice Sundae and the Peanut Butter M&Not Handshake. Both were really good. I really like the mango sticky rice one. The mango ice cream was delicious - the perfect amount of sweetness and the texture was creamy for a vegan ice cream. No aftertaste. The rice was such a nice textural component. It wasn't spiced with anything that I know of, so it was nice that it balanced out the sweetness of the ice cream. There was a sauce on the top of the mango ice cream as well, but not sure if I tasted much of it. The peanut butter M&Not Handshake was also very good! I personally liked that it had a lot of peanut butter taste. I think the ice cream itself and some peanut butter was put on top. I just love a good sweet and salty moment. And the "M&M's" were a great crunchy texture. The only thing is I feel like I tasted an oat-y aftertaste which I wasn't really fond of. All in all, I love this for the vegans, but I do prefer a milk based ice cream. Would come back for the mango stick rice though. read more

We decided to try this spot and noticed they have a walk-up window (though someone might not come over until you approach it). We ordered the mango sticky rice sundae, and it was amazing! The flavors complemented each other perfectly, the sticky rice was super creamy, and the mango added just the right amount of sweetness. The service was a bit lacking and not the friendliest, but the sundae was good enough that I'll definitely be back to try their other flavors! read more

high expectations met at Vaca's! It's tucked away in a neighborhood spot, and there's almost always a line. Finally got to try it, and it couldn't have been more perfect! Delicious swirl ice cream with hard chocolate shell, and great seasonal fall flavors to choose from. Tasty, easy, great service, and an amazing treat to walk around with. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Candy Bar Vaca Grande Sundae (W) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The mango sticky rice was really good. Loved the texture and flavor--the combination of the sweet mango with the sticky rice was on point. The whole place also had a really good vibe, which made the experience even better. Definitely worth trying if you're there! Great service as well read more

Vaca's Creamery - Mango sticky Rice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So yummy! Great for a hot day, I don't feel as guilty about ice cream when it's vegan? Not sure if there's any calorie difference at all, but who cares! Haha If you're expecting it to taste EXACTLY like ice cream, it won't be but it's perfect for vegan ice cream Mine melted into that chocolatey soup, I did love the non-M&M's they have there read more

Vaca's Creamery - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved the caramel, nutty, and creamy ice cream! Fast service and such a cute neighborhood to enjoy a sweet treat while catching up or taking a stroll. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

LOVE all the gluten free options Vaca's offers! I haven't been able to enjoy brownie or cookie dough pieces in years. That being said, I'm not in love with the texture of the cookie dough, it reminds me a little of a protein bar, but all the other options make up for it. The ice cream itself is very good and you wouldn't immediately know it's vegan. This place is a bit pricey but worth it for the occasional gluten/vegan friendly sweet treat. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Cosmic cake sundae and cake batter with chocolate dip - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I feel this place blew up a while ago but is back in the trends because of the mango sticky rice soft serve and let me tell you it's WORTH IT. I've the rediscovered vaca's and it's so good. There will always be a line around the corner though no matter how hot it is outside. read more

Their mango sticky rice limited sundae is to DIE for. The texture of everything is perfection & the flavors are spot on with just the right amount of sweetness. It's a bit pricey but what isn't these days. Now I gotta come back & try their regular menu items! read more

Vaca's Creamery - Sticky mango rice sundae - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was skeptical. I love dairy, and typically don't enjoy non dairy ice cream. But, I'm gluten free, and Vaca's is extremely accommodating to the gluten free among us- nearly everything from shortbread to brownie bites that goes into their sundaes is gluten free- the only exception being the cones. The first time we went, I shared a strawberry shortcake sundae and a mango sticky rice sundae. I was hooked. Oatmilk makes a surprisingly creamy base and their flavors and toppings are really exciting. In future visits I've also enjoyed their snickers-inspired candy bar sundae. Be prepared for a fast moving but long line and maybe skip it if the day is super hot as it does melt a little quickly. It's counter service outside, so plan for no seating. read more

Stop by here on a hot Chicago day and got a peanut butter milkshake.. definitely a place to check out if you are in the area ! read more

Vaca's Creamery - Peanut butter milkshake - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I hate to say this but the mango sticky rice was not good. The mango soft serve had such a bad after taste and tasted so chemically. The pudding on the bottom was actually quite tasty however the mango melted right into it. The price is also just a bit too much for the portion size you actually get. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Mango sticky rice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ok this is tough. This was very very good however I feel a little ripped off. What's advertised is a huge swirl of ice cream however what I received was about half that. For $10 it's a very small portion. I was a bit disappointed when I got my order. Just feel like it's a bit of false advertising. read more

Vaca's Creamery - What's advertised - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute walk up window ive cream shop. There is no indoor seating so must eat outside. We got the kid's size and its a pretty good amount of ice cream. The ice cream was delicious. They got ice creams out pretty fast, almost no wait time read more

Vaca's Creamery - Candy Bar Sundae - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh man. Vaca's Creamery serves up creamy, delectable ice cream with the perfect texture and level of sweetness. The perfect spot to enjoy a scrumptious treat on a hot Chicago day. Not too packed and busy (which surprised me). Tried two of their sundaes: Molten Chocolate Cake Sundae and Mango Sticky Rice Sundae. Both delicious, although my personal favorite was the Molten Chocolate Cake Sundae (with the "Swirl" flavor). A perfect balance between the ice cream and the cake -- just the right amount of both, with a flavor profile so unique that it can't be replicated anywhere else. For the longest time, it was difficult for me to find a new favorite ice cream joint. Now I can confidently say that I've found it, and it's Vaca's Creamery. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Mango Sticky Rice Sundae - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped by after dinner to try. 2nd vegan ice cream spot to try and it didn't let me down. When we pulled up there was prob 6 people in front of us and unfortunately the only flavor ice cream left was vanilla but no one minded. I went with the vanilla shake with chocolate cake bites in it. Ice cream was smooth and cake was nice and light. Whipped cream was so fluffy. Outdoor only with no seating so good for a walk or sit in your car. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Vanilla Chocolate cake shake - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the apple cider doughnut sundae with vanilla softserve. The doughnut was thick warm and fluffy which complimented the soft serve really well. Super yummy. I def recommend taste testing the soft serve. I almost got the apple cider flavored soft serve but i sampled it and it was too sweet for me. Cashier was nice and patient. It got really loud inside so not great for coworking though they do have wifi. Outdoor seating in the front and back with outlet. A little pricey imo but it is vegan and the nice location makes sense. I love that it's vegan and would try again. I wish we could sample besides the soft serve. Im curious about their cookie dough and will try that read more

Tried the mango sticky rice, it's literally the best!! Sadly it's a seasonal flavor from what I heard. Can't wait to go back to try other ice creams! read more

Vaca's Creamery - Mango Sticky Rice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A fun little mental experiment I do when enjoying vegan food: "If they didn't tell me, would I know?" When it comes to Vaca's, I'd have noticed that the texture is slightly different than usual, but wouldn't have anything resembling an "aha!" moment. It did melt a little faster than I would expect, but that might be my nature of running hot as a furnace! I ordered a Candy Bar Sundae, with the seasonal, Apple Pie flavor. The Apple Pie soft-serve was flavorful, with noticeable and distinct sweet and savory apple pie flavors. The sundae additions of salted caramel sauce, a chocolate shell, and peanuts worked well together and gave it the essence of a candy bar. However, I cannot say the sundae blew me away, simply a solid product that I wouldn't be against recommending to a vegan friend, but also wouldn't shout from the rooftops. Then there is the matter of cost: if I had gotten only the soft-serve, it would run me $6.25. However, adding some peanuts and a little sauce bumps the price up to $10? This seems like a substantial jump in price for not a very substantial change in product. This location is window service only, without any indoor or outdoor benches. Even trash requires finding a nearby can or dumpster. The service was polite and friendly, though it took just a smidge longer than I would have expected for ice cream that comes out of a machine. Final verdict: While Vaca's is decidedly "good," as someone who isn't vegan, was a little less than impressed, and questions the value proposition, I don't think a return visit is in the cards. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was craving something sweet during our trip in Chicago. I found this yummy vegan and all gluten free creamery and certainly was not disappointed. The service was excellent the person who we ordered from gave us a few minutes to make up our mind. It was so hard! I wanted it all. I ordered a strawberry shortcake sundae with vanilla. It was scrumptious. The shortbread crumble made my gluten free heart so happy paired with the strawberry sauce and yummy vanilla cream. My husband got the candy bar sundae which he really loved as well. The ambiance is chill here you order at the window. Definitely recommend this spot! They have something for everyone and you wouldn't even be able to tell it was vegan or gluten free. It was stupendous! read more

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Moved back to Wicker Park and I'll have to plead the fifth on how much Vaca Creamery had to do with my choice. What can I say, a dairy and gluten free girl only has so many dessert choices in the world! You can bring any dairy enjoyer with you and they will w joy themselves just as much. Often you are grading these kinds of products on their own curve, but Vaca creamery stands tall amongst dairy filled competition, but without the bubble guts as a result! The lines are gonna be getting longer the same it's getting out, but know it's worth it. And if you're a real one you know winter is the time to go! No lines! Yes we love ice cream in the winter :) Staff have always been kind when we stop by. My ONLY complaint and it's not a real one is that they're randomly closed on Tuesday and Wednesday so beware! Had a few heartbreaks in the past when needing some Vaca on a weekday Thank you Vaca Creamery for giving us dairy and gluten free folk our dessert dignity back! Love ya mean it read more

Vaca's Creamery is such a great vegan ice creamery! The flavor leans into oat, but in a very tasty way, I tried their classic vanilla cone and it was absolutely delicious simple. The concept is great, though I think they could showcase it even more. Right now, the place is mostly for pickup, and the flavors are just listed in the window. I noticed they also offer coupons for current clients, which is a nice touch. With how good the ice cream is, it would be amazing if they made the experience a little more engaging. read more

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This unassuming creamery could easily be missed, if not for the line of customers waiting to place their orders. Once you reach the front, you place your order at the walk-up window. The staff are helpful and willing to answer any questions. I ordered the swirl cone, and it was interesting, to say the least. You can certainly tell it is vegan, which isn't a bad thing, but the flavors don't really taste like chocolate or vanilla. Their prices are also exorbitant for a walk-up window. Be ready to spend some moo-la for these non-dairy treats. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Swirl Cone - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Vegan, 100%. It's great, a little watery, even for vegan ice cream but overall good. I got the dipped vanilla soft serve with sprinkles. My child got a Cookie Monster sundae, it was not blue although it is not advertised to be. It took like 10 minutes to get my order and there was no one in front of me. But it was around 4pm on a Tuesday. There was a line after we left. This is a window store, there is no seating or inside to order. Definitely recommend if you want to try something new. It's good. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Chocolate dipped - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Can't even tell it's vegan. It also isn't full of sugar. Tried several different flavors and all were fantastic.

I got the mango sticky rice and it was sooo good! Flavor and service were 10/10, very kind staff. I highly recommend at least sampling the sweet corn flavor! It's very smooth and the soft flavor will surprise you (in a good way)! read more

Vaca's Creamery - Mango sticky rice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

-Cute neighborhood ice cream spot -Pros it's vegan ice cream but it did not taste anywhere near other vegan ice creams I've had. Maybe we order for their strengths (got the strawberry shortcake and a chocolate vanilla twist cone) -Expensive, service was slow, and no where to sit inside read more

Vaca's Creamery - Strawberry shortcake - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beyond thrilled to see a vegan creamery. I got the mango sticky rice and it was certainly the best one I've ever tasted. Cons: the location -- odd at best. Its a walk up window sandwiched between residential units. you will eat you sugar treat standing up on the sidewalk . Also, the prices are outrageous. pretty much everything is 8-10 and portions are about 4-6 oz. one mango and one mango sticky rice was $20. this would be an expensive outing for a family. Because of the pricing, this can only be a once in a while visit. read more

Dairy free milkshakes? Yes please! I got the cookies and cream milkshake. Not the best option if you don't want to eventually finish your shake with a spoon. But that's on me. The flavor of this was incredible! Would gladly return. This is a walk-up window, so keep that in mind if you decide you want ice cream when it's below freezing outside. read more

The taste is okay but for okay the prices shouldn't be ridiculous. And they most certainly are. I find it amusing that ownership also adds a "living wage" fee to everyone's order. So the owners can't pay their workers a living wage- they put that on the customers. Got it. Then the owner says they don't pay a living wage (fee). They have a "tipless business model" which raises prices or institutes charges to put much of the cost of wages onto the consumer. It sure seems like a euphemism to me. read more

We finally made it here to try their ice cream! We're in the area for the apple fest, we got the apple cider donut cake sundae! It's absolutely delicious, not too sweet!! And the cake pieces were a plus!! They have good selection to choose from!! Too many options, can't decide which one to try!! You can also just get the soft serve by itself! They are all vegan, don't need to worry about lactose intolerance!! Definitely go try their ice cream next time when you're in Lincoln square! read more

Vaca's Creamery - Menu - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is the best ice cream shop in Chicago, vegan or otherwise! You literally cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.

You definitely can't tell it's vegan, though this wasn't as good as I feel like it's hyped to be. The soft serve flavors were chocolate, vanilla, swirl, or sweet corn. Neither was that great - I decided to build my own sundae with a swirl base, peanut butter sauce, not m&ms, and cookie dough. The cookie dough was the best part but even in a large size it didn't come with many pieces. My mom's molten chocolate sundae was tastier with the warm cake at the bottom. Everything was really pricey too - for 2 sundaes and 1 kids cup, it came out to a little over $30. Glad I tried but would venture elsewhere for my next sweet treat. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Swirl with peanut butter butter sauce, cookie dough, and not m&ms - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I mean, for one, these sundaes are beautiful - the Sundaes here are so delicious and have such fun flavors. I got the Cookie Monster Sundae and knowing that they HOMEMADE all of the "Oreos" and cookie dough is incredible. there is so much care and attention that goes into this product! - although it is absolutely delicious I would say you can tell soemthing is off... not enough to guess it is vegan and gluten-free.... but by something being off I mean, you noticed that the ice cream is a little bit icier than normal ice cream or that the cookie dough is grainer than normal cookie dough. - my dining companion got the Affogato, which they slurp down in about three bites. I only told them it was vegan after they ate it and they had no idea! - I know I acknowledged how much attention and care goes into crafting all of these products but the prices are a little bit of a jump scare. it was like $30 for our three ice creams. however, after reading online that they only source fair grade chocolate, and verify all their ingredients and pay their workers a living wage ... I get it. there was only one worker in the window and she seemed pretty stressed out despite there not being that much of a line. maybe she's new though. there is no seating sadly read more

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This is a cute little ice cream shop serving up vegan soft serve from a takeout window in a residential neighborhood. This is a good option if you are looking for a vegan creamery but just keep in mind that the taste of the soft serve is a little different than traditional soft serve/ice cream. This is a take out window and there is no indoor or outdoor seating so most people were either eating in their cars, outside on the sidewalk, or taking the desserts back to their homes. read more

Vaca's Creamery - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is just what I was craving! Yummm! A little pricey, but well worth it for an occasional treat! read more

Ambiance - cannot physically go in, can only order and pickup through their window, need to wait outside so dress warm (in winter) Service - Kevin took our order and he was pretty funny, got my order within 10 min Food - cookies and cream milkshake was super yummy (cookies were super crunchy) read more

Vaca's Creamery - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So delicious! I visited two days in a row! I had the same order. Vanilla soft serve in a cone with chocolate dip and cake pieces. The cakes pieces are a must! The portions are hefty. I sampled the blueberry lavender on my second visit; amazing read more

Vaca's Creamery - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is amazingly good. No wonder there is usually a line! Now I love my regular ice cream, don't need any Vegas or non dairy stuff, but this you can't even tell, it's just as good! And the portions are huge. A kids cup is all I get cuz they load it with the biggest and best toppings, I mean full sized brownie bites and I usually get the chocolate shell! So good!!!!!!! read more