Frozen custard might be the language of the land in Wisconsin, but there’s no denying the sweet satisfaction of soft-serve ice cream in the heat of summer. Whether you’re looking for vanilla, chocolate or that illustrious twist (and more!), here are a few places in and around Milwaukee to satisfy your soft-serve cravings.
1. Lee’s Dairy Treat
14040 W. GREENFIELD AVE., BROOKFIELD
Ice cream is served out of an octagon at Lee’s, no sparring necessary. In addition to ice cream, the eight-sided building also turns out burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and more alongside a myriad of sides. The family-owned shop has an old-school feel, complete with hand-painted menu art and its founding year of 1971 caught in time. Did we mention that the ice cream cone-shaped garbage cans are almost six feet tall?
2. Tastee Twist
2378 N. TEUTONIA AVE.
The Teutonia Avenue ice cream spot draws in customers with a soft-serve cone on the rooftop sign – a beacon to those looking for something cool in on a hot day. After a temporary pause in operations in 2024, the local establishment is back to serving Milwaukee with ice cream and a collection of hot dogs, chicken wings and more. If you make a visit on Sundays, you’ll unlock their lemon ice cream as a once-a-week menu feature.
3. Everly’s Ice Cream
3108 6 MILE RD, CALEDONIA
If you’re still mourning the loss of the Choco Taco, look no further than Everly’s, which puts its soft serve inside a waffle cone taco. It can also be paired with waffle cone nachos, or simply on the cone (with a dipped option) for those looking to stay traditional. The menu at Evelyn’s is supplemented with more sweet treats and drinks, including an assortment of premium ice cream cakes.
4. Dogs and Cream
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
If you’re driving through Racine or Elkhorn, you might spot a hot dog wearing a chef’s hat and cravat. Despite the ensemble, our anthropomorphic friend stays in the logo and out of the kitchen at Dogs and Cream, which serves just that – hot dogs and ice cream (along with hamburgers and an assortment of sides). In addition to soft serve, sweet treats at Dogs and Cream include shakes, floats and sundaes to beat the heat during summer.
5. Mochinut
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
The chain restaurant has three offerings of soft serve, all named with a touch of whimsy. Joy is traditional soft serve on a waffle cone, while Bliss tops it with brown sugar and/or boba. Finally, Delight serves the ice cream with the restaurant’s namesake: a mochi donut. All three varieties come in four flavors: original, honey butter, strawberry lemon and melon. Beyond the ice cream machine, Mochinut also serves those same mochi donuts (and donut holes) and assorted corn dogs out of three area locations in Glendale, Greenfield and Bayview.
6. Fred’s Frozen Custard
4726 W. VLIET ST.
Open Wednesday-Saturday, Fred’s offers a variety of savory American food on its menu, topping it off with soft-serve custard and other frozen treats. The eatery began serving the Washington Heights neighborhood in 1957 as a Tastee-Freez before changing its name ten years later, making Fred’s as old and timeless as the Super Bowl.
7. MooSa’s
2272 N. LINCOLN MEMORIAL DR.
The food stand off of Bradford Beach may be the perfect pit stop for walks along Milwaukee’s lakefront, serving all that would be expected at a Wisconsin eatery. From burgers to brats to fried fish and everything in-between, the Dairyland stand’s cuisine closes with soft-serve custard. Take in the breeze of Lake Michigan with the swirled delight, a double whammy against the heat of summer.
8. La Gelati
5663 S. 27TH ST.
The Michigan-based franchise opened its first Wisconsin location in 2024, dishing out a dessert menu full of sweet treats. In addition to an ice cream lineup, La Gelati offers mini pancakes, waffles and crepes, along with an assortment of international items. If you’re not in the mood for soft serve, check out the Turkish baklawa, ashta or Dubai desserts.
