Best Ice Cream in Chicago (Parents Share the Scoop)

Brittany Kozielski:  Rainbow Cone has been in business for over 90 years, and fortunately for Chicagoland families, this south side staple now offers a couple more locations, plus traveling ice cream trucks! The namesake "Rainbow Cone" is a huge stack of chocolate, strawberry, palmer house (vanilla with cherries and walnuts), pistachio and orange sherbet, and you can also enjoy your typical cones, shakes, sundaes and banana splits. To see whether the Rainbow Cone truck will be serving icy treats near you, check their website.

Gina I.:  The 26th Street Sugar Shack serves up hand-scooped ice cream, cookie blizzards, parfaits and of course, their Famous Funnel Cake Sundae! Be sure to check out their website for money saving coupons.

Tip: stop by an ATM on the way. The 26th Street Sugar Shack is cash only!

Kelly R:  Jeni's originated in Columbus, Ohio, and is now sharing the love with Chicago. Artisan ice cream made with the highest quality, responsibly sourced, ingredients. It's the sort of ice cream that requires you to close your eyes when you savor that first bite.

Erin P.:  Wojo's has been a South Side tradition for over 25 years. Check out their extensive list of milkshakes!

Sarah Calamita:  The Dairy Queen at Southport and Grace is located in the cutest neighborhood, the Southport Corridor. Eat dinner on Southport and meander north for an ice cream treat! They have tables inside and outside. It's always busy and a lot of fun!

Scooters is a fabulous custard place which offers a wide variety of flavors in frozen custard made locally using milk from family farmers in Central Wisconsin. They offer custard, sundaes, shakes and malts. As a bonus, they also give free dog ice cream to your dog!

It's a great place to visit after pizza at Pizzeria Serio, another local kid-friendly restaurant in Chicago!

Kristy Pepping:  Are you looking for an old fashioned ice cream shop? Then try The Magical Plush Horse! They have homemade ice cream with a fun step back in time. Menus options include: ice cream, shakes, sodas, malts, sundaes, banana splits and more!

Kelly R:  It's all about the banana splits and sundaes at Margie's Candies! This institution has been around since 1921. Order enough for the family to share and know that you're in good company...Al Capone, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones have all eaten at Margie's!

Kelly R:  This popular spot offers delicious frozen custard and other sweets. I love that they partner with other local businesses to offer pastries, candy, and coffee, too.

Gina I.:  Located in Andersonville, George's Ice Cream & Sweets combines the classic ice cream shoppe style with fun and innovative flavors like espresso Oreo, raspberry truffle, black licorice, maplenut, and fat Elvis. They also have a nice selection of dairy free and no sugar added varieties. With plenty of seating both inside and out, you can pull up a chair, grab one of the many family-friendly board games they have on hand, and enjoy a delicious scoop.

Yoli B:  The Freeze is a vintage ice cream shop that looks like it was lifted from the 60's. The place is hopping in the summer and you will typically encounter a line, but once you have your cone you will quickly forget the heat. The ice cream menu offers milkshakes and sundaes, but soft serve is the star here!

Yoli B:  Homer's is a 80 year old Wilmette institution and makes some of the best gourmet ice cream in the country, according to Bon Appetit magazine. The shop has over 50 flavors of premium ice cream, yogurt, sherbert and sorbets. One of the great bonuses of the shop is that you can ship pints to a far away loved one-- now that will definitely make someone's day!

Kelly R:  A charming old fashioned soda fountain serving homemade ice cream and root beer, fresh baked pies and cakes, and locally roasted gourmet coffee drinks. It has everything you could hope for in the perfect ice cream shop: homey mom and pop vibe, friendly service, and even an ice cream trough challenge.

Gina I.:  If you want an authentic ice cream parlor experience, look no further than Petersen's! Their menu features classic flavors like vanilla bean, cinnamon, cookie dough, peppermint stick, and caramel ripple. With a century in business, they are an iconic part of the Oak Park neighborhood. Choose your favorite flavor and get it in their famous waffle cone...mmmm delicious!