Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Zonkey Paletas

    4.7 (28 reviews)
    Closed 1:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Zonkey Paletas Takeout or Delivery

    Zonkey Paletas Photos

    ZONKEY PALETAS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Zonkey Paletas

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cookies & Cream and Vanilla paletas ($6 each)
    Alex S.

    Zonkey Paletas has tasty paletas with unlimited toppings for $6! Under the same ownership and in a shared space with Lucha Libre Taco Shop, this dessert spot in North Park is tasty and a good deal! They have dairy, non-dairy, and alcoholic pops. You can get dips and drizzles such as dark/white chocolate and nutella. They have toppings like sprinkles, mochi, De La Rosa mazapan dust, Oreos, almonds, etc. There is also indoor and patio seating shared with Lucha Libre. The paletas stay frozen for a while, not falling off the stick and making a mess like many other ice cream bars. I'd definitely recommend Zonkey Paletas for a yummy dessert with a variety of flavor options.

    Toppings
    Daniela A.

    My friend told me about this place and I finally had a chance to stop in and try it! The paleta flavors are diverse enough for most if not all kinds of people. We ordered a cookies and cream paleta dipped in chocolate with sweetened condensed milk and Oreo crumble on top and matcha paleta plain. Oh my goodness these were so delicious! It was perfect and just the right balance of sweet and chocolaty! My friend also enjoyed her plain matcha paleta and we the both of us finished our whole paleta! The inside was so cute with a nacho libre decor it was so inviting and the sever was extremely helpful and patient with us when we were ordering!

    Menu
    Dorian C.

    Great Paletas but price ($7-8) can be pretty steep for what it is. Welcome to North Park! Its a small shop within Luche Libre Tacos on the right side of the entrance. Could be hard to miss if you're waiting in a line during those long busy nights. Skip on right to the side for the Paletas. We had the Matcha with unlimited topping choice. I'd recommend you go crazy with it but 2-3 options is best if you want to taste the ice cream. We went to overboard and had to scrape off our excess toppings lol Parking? Forget about it. Hard to find during prime time but possible!

    dipped in nutella with sprinkles
    Jenny T.

    I came here with a friend on a Saturday evening. It wasn't busy, so we were able to order right away. I got the peanut butter sesame paleta dipped in nutella with rainbow sprinkles. It was absolutely delicious, and I cannot wait until I can come back for more. The paleta itself was flavorful, and the nutella dip was perfect for me. You can choose to do a half dip or a drizzle with nutella or their other options.

    Our creation
    Ginger P.

    I thought everything about this place felt like such an afterthought. The paleta selection left a lot to be desired. The selection of toppings was dismal. We got the cheesecake paleta, dipped it in Nutella, and topped with Oreo & strawberry crumbs. The strawberry crumbs tasted stale and it was not good. Could barely detect the cheesecake flavor in the popsicle. The coating of Nutella saved it, but I could have just had a spoonful of Nutella for the same satisfaction. For $7 you can get something better within a few blocks.

    Vic C.

    Newly opened, Zonkey Paletas is located inside Lucha Libre (the space used to house a wrestling ring). Because we enjoyed Zonkey Paletas from a previous Yelp event, my husband and I decided to stop by and check them out on a Friday afternoon. We stopped by a little after 3 pm and were greeted by a friendly employee. We made small talk since we had told them that we discovered them at a Yelp event the night before. We ended up purchasing: Ube, $5.50 prior to tax ($5.93 after tax)- We ended up picking a topping of pistachio crumbles (which the employee was so kind to let us have it for free, but normally it cost $0.75 per topping). The ube popsicle was creamy, which reminded me of ice cream. The flavor was very good. We enjoyed our ube paleta inside and sat at one of the booths on the Luche Libre side. At the Yelp even that we went to, we did get a chance to try the following flavors: Butter cup (my most favorite flavor that has peanut, sesame and cacoa. If you like black sesame, you will love this), Dolemite (pineapple, lychee and elderflower. A nice combination that works well together), Mango (with an option to add chamoy. Surprisingly this was my least favorite flavor) and Cocodrillo (with pistachio, koji- miso, mint and Pedro Ximenez. This "boozy" paleta was also a great flavor. If you like pistachio, you will like this). The next time we visit San Diego, I will definitely make sure to make a stop here again because I really love their palatas. Please note that there is some outdoor (partially covered) seating and only street parking (limited 2 hours, some free, some require that you pay) available in the area.

    rose m.

    This a catering review! I discovered Zonkey at the 2023 Scoop Ice Cream Festival. I loved the cute size of the mini paletas and their fun name and Zonkey logo. I reached out to them about 5 months before my private event and corresponded via email with Mariya, who was a pleasure to work with. There were different package options and flavors, even vegan. I was also able to rent a cute cart to keep the paletas frozen for delivery and pick up! And I was given the option to add a customized sticker. My guests enjoyed the paletas, especially the kids. I highly recommend Zonkey to cater your private event. I will definitely consider them again in the future! Thank you Mariya and the Zonkey team for making my graduation party so memorable.

    The Grasshopper
    Jack M.

    I like a good paleta, even better when they have a little booze in them, like the "The Grasshopper Boozy" with Pedro Ximenez, Pistachio, Koji-Miso, and Mint dipped in Dark Chocolate and Sprinkled with Almonds. It was a tasty combination of flavors, a little to sweet for my palate, so I would probably go for a different flavor next time. I did like that they offer a variety of dipping sauces and toppings. They offer standard solid paletas with no alcohol, filled paletas, and the boozey paletas as well. In addition to the paletas they have agua frescas and differed flavored coolers with a spice chamoy rim. They have strawberry, grapefruit, and pineapple. They are adjacent to Lucha Libre Taco Shop in North Park. There's an opening between both places.

    Freezer case of paletas
    Les L.

    We had some amazing paletas from Zonkey. They sell both regular and the boozy kind, but we only tried the traditional fruit varieties. The strawberry bar was a blast of fresh berry flavor and the mango was equally good. Sadly, the Julius (orange, passionfruit, vanilla) was so muted and lacking in flavor that it makes me think you should stick with single-flavor paletas here.

    Zonkey paletas at the Salk Institute for an ice cream social event celebrating our grad students & Postdoc
    B. Bea R.

    Zonkey was great to work with! They were quick to respond to our catering inquiry, schedule a thorough "taste test" so we could narrow down our flavors. Customized the sign with our logo that also displayed images of the paletas to help us figure out which flavors were which. Delivered our order on time and were prompt on the pickup of the carts. Friendly & helpful staff. Our staff LOVED the mini paletas. Perfect size for them to try multiple flavors.

    Shirley O.

    You can easily miss it because it's not noticeable. I was looking for a cold and sweet treat and a Yelp search led me here. Their paleta selection is about right. Some places have a greater selection which can be overwhelming. I chose the coconut paleta and topped it off with Nutella drizzle, coconut flakes, almond slices and sprinkles. The paleta was so creamy and not too sweet. There are a lot of ice cream shops on University Avenue and having a Mexican popsicle is a different treat. There is only limited outdoor seating and service was quick and friendly. It's a small shop connected to Luche Libre Tacos.

    Lil ube, aguas coolers with corona and nachos
    Gabriella N.

    SO DELICIOUS!! Wondering around in north park and walked in here for the first time, got the Lil Ube paleta and aguas coolers with corona.

    Arleen A.

    I screamed inside when I saw pistachio on their menu. Wow! It was delicious, smooth, and not overly sweet. It has a velvety texture that makes you want to eat more. I also tried the lychee and black sesame flavors, which were delicious!

    Cute storefront!

    See all

    Photo of Jose C.
    49
    31
    22

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Les L.
    1304
    1595
    7208

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B. Bea R.
    61
    73
    259

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henrry B.

    Henrry B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara Z.
    351
    7
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amanda T.
    223
    59
    52

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henrry B.

    Henrry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great paletas and aguas frescas! Recommend for a fun twist on paletas (some have liquor).

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Henrry B.

    Henrry B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Zonkey Paletas

    You might also consider

    Extraordinary Desserts - Road trip with the girls. Gorgeous stuff here.

    Extraordinary Desserts

    4.0(9.2k reviews)
    2.9 miLittle Italy
    $$$

    Still my go to place when I'm craving something sweet and special. Their cakes may be pricey, but…read morein my opinion, for the amount of work, effort, and quality of ingredients, I think they continue to be fair. For example, some other specialty bakeries/shops are charging similar prices for cakes and cheesecakes that are much simpler. In comparison, Extraordinary Dessert cakes take 3-4 days to make, have 6-8 alternating layers, and are typically adorned with edible gold and/or flowers. The key is to find which items you like and which are okay to pass on next time. What we ried this time: -Match Misu Cake (7/10): ricotta cake layers soaked in matcha and layered with marscapone whipped cream. This one was pretty good and ranks in my middle to high range. I only wish there was more matcha flavor (maybe if you dine in and get the sauce, this would help) or the matcha was paired with another flavor ... either go fruity (maybe a raspberry sauce, strawberry pieces, white peach pieces, or like a peach oolong cream layer) or go chocolately/coffee (maybe had some crushed up chocolate covered espresso beans). My go to's: -Ivoire Royale (10/10) - my ultimate favorite still. If you like light desserts, white chocolate, berries, and moist vanilla cake, thus one is for you. Classy and unpretentious -Shangrila (10/10) - my other favorite and will make you feel like a princess with all the pink chocolate curls. A little bit adventurous and innocently elegant. Ones to skip: -Au Chocolate / La Bete Noire / Dame Chocolate - get the Viking instead. That's my favorite of all their chocolate cakes -Lemon ricotta - get the Passionfruit Ricotta instead -Torta misu - the matcha misu is better. The tortilla misuse made me want a regular piece of tirmaisu than a cake version -Coconut cream - not bad, not amazing though

    We normally come here weekly after dinner with family for dessert, but after this last experience…read morewe will not be returning. Also just so everyone is aware they're also liars just to mention & stupid.. she tells us her name is Karen thinking we don't know the owners name lol .. She was at the register at 7:20pm and was extremely rude and dismissive after we placed our order, especially regarding a child's dietary restrictions and health concerns. We politely asked if it would be possible to purchase a small cup of fruit , even just a couple strawberries cut up, because one child in our group cannot have sweets due to very strict dietary restrictions . Instead of simply saying they were unable to accommodate the request or offering another option, we were told to "go somewhere else," despite already spending the amount we did . The complete lack of professionalism and basic customer service was honestly shocking. It's disappointing to be treated that way at a place we have supported so consistently. This place has been going downhill , management for this place needs to step up .

    Photos
    Extraordinary Desserts - Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup

    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup

    Extraordinary Desserts - One of our 'go to' desert places in San Diego.

    One of our 'go to' desert places in San Diego.

    Extraordinary Desserts - Chocolate lemon bon bon

    See all

    Chocolate lemon bon bon

    Salt & Straw - Coffee and nuts ice cream Split with Snickerdoodle.

    Salt & Straw

    4.6(2.2k reviews)
    2.9 miLittle Italy
    $$

    You have to try this ice cream ! At first you see the like and you don't know why ? But after you…read morehad it you understand why ! They have authentic flavors ! And a freshly made waffle cone . It smells amazing in here ! They let you taste the ice creams which I loved being our first time . The staff recommended every ice cream and I don't blame them all of it looks good and the samples I tried were all so good I couldn't pick ! Save space for this treat You won't regret it . Be patient the line does get long but they are pretty quick.

    I've been a patron of this institution for many years, knowing well that every dollar I spent on…read moretheir delicious ice cream would be returned in generous scoops atop freshly made waffle cones. Much to my chagrin, my latest visit has now become my last. Excitedly, I brought my four-legged son to enjoy his first pup cup, but the service and portion sizes were fit for a hobbit at best. One would think that, in such dark times, one could still find even a glimpse of hope in an ice cream cone. I was proven wrong, and my outlook on the current state of affairs only dimmed further. I ate my ice cream in two bites. Twenty dollars for two cones, four bites total. I didn't even bother feeding my son the pup cup. He deserves better. The world deserves better. Bigger portions. Bigger smiles. Makes perfect sense, in my humble opinion. I suppose your employees do not agree.

    Photos
    Salt & Straw - Cinnamon snickerdoodle

    Cinnamon snickerdoodle

    Salt & Straw - Cinnamon Snickerdoodle

    Cinnamon Snickerdoodle

    Salt & Straw - Pink Rosé & Watermelon Sorbet (v) Watermelon & rosé sorbet, rosé-raspberry jam

    See all

    Pink Rosé & Watermelon Sorbet (v) Watermelon & rosé sorbet, rosé-raspberry jam

    Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop

    Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop

    4.0(1.4k reviews)
    3.1 miGaslamp
    $$

    Late-night dessert always hit different, and Ghirardelli Ice cream was the one that had a sista…read moremoaning with pleasure. Customer service from Manny was amazing and welcoming from the moment we walked in. We also really appreciated that military discount was honored here. We ordered the Mini Golden Treat, which came with a warm brownie on top with whipped cream, fudge, ice cream, and a cherry. Honestly, it was the perfect size for two people to share without feeling heavy after midnight. What stood out the most was the kindness we received even as hey were closing, and our transaction was complete and paid in full. Manny still offered us cups of ice water and extra napkins without hesitation. That small gesture really added to the experience and made us feel welcomed instead of rushed out. He got a well deserved tip for that California love he gave us. I'd definitely return here whenever I'm back in San Diego. Extra deets: Manny shared the history of the failed gold rush of the owner, and how he utilized the entire chocolate plan of a drinking bar conversation and made millions. The original location is San Francisco, and he says it's like an entire block. I look forward to visiting that one day.

    We decided to get a sweet treat after our adventure at the Museum of Illusions & it was very…read morenostalgic. The service was great, the workers are very nice & quick to take your order. Once you find a table, they bring it right to you! The inside is also very bright & spacious w/ a good amount of seating. Banana Split - 8/10 (your average banana split, but ghirardelli knows how to do it right. the bananas are very fresh & the strawberry puree was delicious. i also like how the the ice cream does not melt too fast & they give you lots of whipped cream. the star of the show is 100% the chocolate; the fudge was very rich & addicting! definitely pricey for a banana split, but you are paying for the experience)

    Photos
    Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop - Indoor dining area

    Indoor dining area

    Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop
    Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop - Lands End salted caramel brownie sundae

    See all

    Lands End salted caramel brownie sundae

    Cali Cream - Pumpkin Caramel Pecan Praline with Butter Pecan in a waffle cone

    Cali Cream

    4.7(746 reviews)
    3.1 miGaslamp
    $$

    I stopped here while i was waiting for an event to start that i was attending. It was in waking…read moredistance for me, which is good because parking is only street parking or to find a paid lot. The flavor selection was pretty vast and they were generous with letting you try samples. They made sure to ask me if i had been there before, so they could explain things to me. He let me know they make their own ice cream. I sampled several flavors all of which were good. I was torn between the chocolate pecan and the bourbon butter pecan as they were both good. Thinking back maybe i should have gotten a combo of both, but i went with the bourbon pecan in a cup. The portion size was pretty good, and actually i couldn't finish the whole thing, even though i got a small. It was very creamy and has a good flavor, even though i didn't really taste the bourbon much, but there were plenty of whole pecans.. They also sell other baked goods that look really amazing. I will definitely need to come back to try more ice cream and maybe the carrot cake.

    I came to Cali Cream since it was down the street from dinner and we were craving a sweet icy…read moretreat. I've always walked by here, but never went in. There wasn't much of a line on a Saturday night. We didn't sample, we just picked Pistachio and Banana Pudding. I liked that the banana pudding had bits of vanilla cookie mixed within. The pistachio left much to be desired as the flavor had an artificial flavor to it. Maybe it was just me but my bf also remarked that he was disappointed with the flavor as well. We did get a nice serving of each flavor and regretted not trying some other flavors before finalizing our choice. Ambiance is a typical ice cream shop with a few seats outside to enjoy your treat. Service was friendly and pricing was pretty good.

    Photos
    Cali Cream - Ube matcha

    Ube matcha

    Cali Cream - Photo prop

    Photo prop

    Cali Cream - Bourbon Butter Pecan single scoop in a cone

    See all

    Bourbon Butter Pecan single scoop in a cone

    Extraordinary Desserts - Dame Chocolate

    Extraordinary Desserts

    3.8(3.9k reviews)
    2.1 miBanker's Hill
    $$

    This is a rare 5 star review from me! A local restaurant that is far enough away from the tourist…read moreareas or downtown that you want to go for a nice sit down without a long wait or huge menu. The most impressive thing is the works of art that are deserts in the showcase. Knowing that the draw is the sweets I was pleasantly surprised that they have food, beer and wine to set up a nice full meal. Our order was so complete that we had to take home th desert that we camefor in togo boxes. if you are a soup or tomato love I highly suggest getting there cup of tomatoes soup and salad. my eyes popped out of my head when they brought me salad that seemed big enough for two people. With a side of smoked salmon I couldn't fit everything in. My partner had a sandwich that was bigger than the size of her head and a crazy nice strawberry spritzer. The cheesecake smob that I am I took home something that I took a a chance on because I am trying not to be a creature of habits. A lemon strudel cheesecake out of the refrigerator the next day is probably better freshly made. When I go back I will defiantly make space for everything. This is a hidden gem that I hope stays local and a tour bus dosen't stop at the front door.

    The desserts at both locations are indeed extraordinary. Every dessert is lush and decadent and…read moredefinitely a treat. This location is much smaller than the other and just as popular so it can feel hectic when busy. Highly recommend the Le Bette Noir, Black Velvet and The Viking cakes. You can't go wrong with anything you try here!

    Photos
    Extraordinary Desserts - La Bete Noir, Dame Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate Fudge Cookie

    La Bete Noir, Dame Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate Fudge Cookie

    Extraordinary Desserts - Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookie

    Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookie

    Extraordinary Desserts - Counter

    See all

    Counter

    Milk & Cookies - Neon sign inside the suite

    Milk & Cookies

    4.1(67 reviews)
    3.1 miEast Village
    Outdoor seating
    Kid friendly

    I had such a wonderful experience at Milk & Cookies thanks to Amaliya. She was truly a breath of…read morefresh air from the moment I walked in. Her welcoming energy, beautiful smile, and superb customer service completely stood out. In a world where genuine kindness can sometimes feel rare, Amaliya reminded me how much a simple, warm interaction can brighten someone's day. People like her give me hope that this world can become a better place. Thank you for the great experience!

    We were so excited to come back to Milk & Cookies that we made a special 50 minute walk detour to…read morevisit. Unfortunately, this time around, a man followed us into the store. When my kids started looking at ice cream flavors, the man asked me if I could pay for a cookie and some ice cream for him. When I turned him down, he then asked me if I could buy him some milk and a cookie. After I turned him down for a second time, he then asked my wife. Finally, he asked my son. At this point, a second person behind the counter asked the man to leave. I'm ok with people asking for a handout, but it is totally not cool to repeatedly ask inside an ice cream shop and asking a minor after his parents already said no. That interaction really put a damper on things, but we eventually ordered a few scoops and a few cookies. Thought the cookies were spot on again (warm from the oven). The ice cream temperature wasn't quite right - a bit on the melted/soft side. Not quite what we were hoping for this time around.

    Photos
    Milk & Cookies
    Milk & Cookies - Cookies & Cream (Jumbo)

    Cookies & Cream (Jumbo)

    Milk & Cookies

    See all

    Caffe Italia - Avocado Toast with Fried Egg! Yum!

    Caffe Italia

    4.1(1k reviews)
    2.9 miLittle Italy
    $
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    First time having an affogato..... DELICIOUS!! Felt like I was visiting a little caffè in Italy…read more Service was great. They were very helpful and didn't rush us. The vibe inside was great. Nice & peaceful. #DiningWithTheAndersons #LittleItalySD #Italia #Affogato #Caffè

    After a stroll from the Wednesday farmer's market in Little Italy, I had a craving for Italian as…read morethe establishments nearby caught my interest. I've worked in Little Italy in the past but have never tried Caffe Italia. I got their Italian sandwich, with the default bread being focaccia. Inside there were prosciutto, salami, ham, provolone, tomato, and house made balsamic vinaigrette. It had a good balance of deli meats, and the focaccia bread was thick to hold it all together. I thought it was tasty as well as their coffee, however my coffee wasn't filled up all the way. It is strong and their roast is bold! I liked it a lot, although a lunch meal can get costly so it would just be from time to time if I were to revisit. Not only that, but they also have a small selection of gelatos which look pretty authentic like Spumoni! Other desserts I saw were mousse, tiramisu, cannoli, cheesecake, carrot cake, and rugelach. The cafe is small and the service may take a bit if you are waiting for the food, but overall, I enjoyed my coffee and sandwich.

    Photos
    Caffe Italia - New addition to our menu. Avocado Toast.

    New addition to our menu. Avocado Toast.

    Caffe Italia - Capuccino

    Capuccino

    Caffe Italia - Located a little past this sign on India (7/19/18)

    See all

    Located a little past this sign on India (7/19/18)

    Zonkey Paletas - icecream - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...