15 Detroit Soft Serve Shops to Visit
Story by Erica Soroka
Alright, here’s the scoop! Summer has officially arrived in Michigan and the best way to keep cool is either floating in a pool, boating on a lake, or shoveling cold, creamy soft serve in your face. For what seem like the shortest months of the year, Michigan is blessed with blistering sunshine and packed weekends full of adventures in the city. But there’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of our favorite season than with soft serve!
Are the anticipatory flavors of vanilla and chocolate swirled together forcing you to salivate? Is the ever-awaited crunch of sprinkles starting to tickle your tongue? GOOD! Whether you like it in a cone, a cup, slapped onto a banana, or melting in a float, soft serve just hits home when the sun stays awake longer. Check out these 15 Metro Detroit soft serve shops that are the must-visit locations of the summer!
Cold Truth Soft Serve
Calling all lactose-intolerant humans and proud vegans—we’ve got an ice cream shop for you! Located on the popular blocks that house Wayne State University students sits Cold Truth Soft Serve. This walk-up window offers house-made vegan soft serve with gluten-free waffle cones—talk about the perfect combination. Changing out flavors every few weeks, Cold Truth keeps things interesting with rich and savory options such as banana pudding, horchata, sweeet CREEM, avocado-lime, lavender, and so much more. Take your vegan sweet treat to another level by topping it with dark chocolate or blue moon drizzle, graham biscoff cookie crumble, fruity pebbles, and homemade compotes.
To stay up to date on available flavors and featured shakes, follow Cold Truth on Instagram.
Location: 4240 Cass Ave Suite 100, Detroit
Phone Number: (313) 680-1199
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Huddle Soft Serve
If you’re in the market for a traditional soft serve flavor like chocolate, vanilla, or twist before a Tiger’s game, the walk-up window at Huddle can curb your cravings. Top your classic cone or cup with sprinkles, and chocolate chips, or take a walk on the adventurous side by trying one of the limited edition flavors available. What’s better than one soft serve location? Two soft serve locations! Huddle is also the proud owner of Two Birds, a neighborhood bar and seasonal custard shop in the west village. Quench your summertime thirst with craft cocktails, wines, and beers, while also cooling down with a large cone!
Location: 2 John R. St., Detroit / Two Birds Detroit: 8130 Kercheval Ave., Detroit
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Detroit Water Ice Factory
Ice, ice, baby! Think Italian ice, but Detroit style. At the Detroit Water Ice Factory, you can order a Motown Twist and experience soft serve like never before. Choose from a variety of water ice flavors—caramel apple, cinnamon nut crunch, pumpkin, yooper orange cream, swedish fish, and more—and then top it with vanilla, chocolate, or twist soft serve. Head back to your childhood days of begging for snow cones at the local fair, but this time around, you don’t have to choose between ice cream or shaved ice. Here, you can have both!
Location: 1014 Woodward Ave., Detroit
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The Yogurt Station
You’ve heard of waffle cones, but have you ever heard of bubble cones? The next time you visit the Yogurt Station in Pleasant Ridge, you will! Made with waffle batter, the bubble cone is crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, and comes in classic or chocolate. If that isn’t enough of a reason to come visit this sweet shop, they also feature over 40 different soft serve flavors accompanied by 40 different toppings! From classic flavors and unique tastes to cookie dough pieces and gummy bear toppings, the dessert options at the Yogurt Station will surely have you screaming for more ice cream.
Location: 23701 Woodward Ave, Pleasant Ridge
Phone Number: (248) 398-5800
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The Custard Co.
The Dearborn-based Custard Co. has quickly made a name for itself with specialty treats like The Sweet Bun—two glazed donuts stuffed with ice cream and topped with sprinkles. Don’t you worry, the exciting desserts don’t stop there! Check out the soft serve cones with funfetti explosions in the center, or dunk your favorite flavor in cotton candy sprinkles or your favorite childhood cereal. Yup, you heard that right, this Dearborn favorite has everything from Rice Krispies and Golden Grahams to Fruity Pebbles and Lucky Charms. As the neon sign at the counter says, treat yourself!
Location: 2801 Monroe St., Dearborn
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Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko
Step inside this bright green cafe and discover the most interesting soft serve flavor you’ll ever experience. Matcha is known for being high in antioxidants and is typically found in tea, but at Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko, they’ve created an authentic matcha soft serve. Order it as a stand alone flavor or twist it with classic vanilla. The unique flavors are endless—you can also order Ube-Taro or a seasonal taste that changes monthly. This Japanese-inspired cafe also offers some of the most interesting toppings. From macarons and gold leaf to mochi candies and matcha cookie sticks, you can truly feel like you’re back in the homeland of Japan with this menu.
Location: 5082 Rochester Rd., Troy
Phone Number: (248) 250-6886
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Stuart’s
Known for its sweet treats like sundaes, slushies, flurries and malts, Stuart’s has one of the largest soft serve varieties in the Novi area. With over 40 flavors to add to classic and vegan soft serve, frozen custard, or fat-free frozen yogurt, the possibilities are endless. Flavors range from cappuccino and french toast to mango and key lime, with additional toppings for that beloved crunch, drizzle, and flavor explosion. Whether you’re in town for a convention or are a local resident, heading over to Stuart’s after dinner (or before, we don’t judge) is always a good idea.
Location: 41390 W. 10 Mile Rd., Novi
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Golden Cone
Take a step back in time to the historic city of Royal Oak when you enter the Golden Cone. Conveniently located next to the train tracks and within walking distance to city blocks of shops, Golden Cone captures all the nostalgia of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Walls are lined with thin striped wallpaper, ice cream is delicately displayed through a long glass counter, and bright yellow umbrellas are gathered outside to shade you while you eat. The Golden Cone proudly serves novelty popsicles, malts, classic soft serve options, and over 30 flavors of Guernsey brand ice cream. Additionally, you’ll find vegan options such as pineapple dole whip soft serve, which is the local fan favorite.
Location: 207 W. 4th St., Royal Oak / 630 E. 12 Mile Rd., Madison Heights
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Eva’s Dairy Cafe
As a staple in the small town of Lake Orion for over 30 years, Eva’s Dairy Cafe is the highlight of summer. The moment the weather starts to get warm and the sun begins to shine, the anticipation of Eva’s opening up their walk-up window sets in. With a gorgeous view of the lake, Eva’s is the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset and an ice cold cone. Featuring homemade hard scoop ice cream, parfaits, smoothies, banana splits, soft serve, sorbets, and so much more, there is truly a dessert for everyone to enjoy. The next time you’re headed north on M24, be sure to stop at Eva’s Dairy Cafe for a sweet and delicious treat.
Location: 465 N. Park Blvd., Lake Orion
Phone Number: (248) 693-7034
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Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream
Since 1984 Ashby’s has been a popular ice cream shop across the country. Proudly serving over 70 high-quality ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, yogurt, and low-fat ice cream flavors, you’ll surely find a sweet treat that curbs your cravings. In the 38 years of business, Ashby’s has expanded to over 800 locations nation-wide, but is still widely known for their hand-dipped ice cream cones. The next time you’re in the area, be sure to order a cone and enjoy the hardened crunch of the chocolate or cherry outer layer.
Location: 20081 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods
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Doug’s Delight
This two-in-one shop first came on the scene in May of 2020 and is designed to curb your afternoon hunger and your sweet tooth! Matt & Mo’s, located inside Doug’s Delight, specializes in Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches, while the ice cream shop offers housemade weekly soft serve specials. Flavors range from banana and chocolate to orange creamsicle and blue moon, but the best way to make the most of your visit is ordering the two specialty flavors as a twist. Make your order a Dougie with your choice of mix-ins like chocolate chip cookies, cherries, Oreo crumbles, and more.
Location: 24110 John R. Road, Hazel Park
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Bob Jo’s Frozen Custard
This Downriver staple has been cooling down residents in the summer since 1947! Sugar and waffle cones are piled high with classic vanilla, chocolate, and twist soft serve, accompanied by the must-have toppings like rainbow sprinkles, coconut shavings, hot fudge, and more. Make sure you try the house specialty soft serve, toasted coconut (when it’s available), and other seasonal flavors—but eat them fast before they melt in the Michigan sun!
Be sure to keep in mind that this is a cash-only establishment.
Location: 4071 Quarry St., Southgate
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Erma’s Original Frozen Custard
Beginning as a roadside stand in 1942, Erma’s Original Frozen Custard received historical landmark status (in 2010) as the township’s oldest operating business. Whether you’re looking for classic vanilla or chocolate, or weekly rotating flavors, Erma’s offers some of the most deliciously crafted custard treats in town. Implementing some of Michigan’s most beloved delicacies, you’ll find Traverse City Cherry Chip, Cool Mint Fudgie, and Snickers Cheesecake flavors on the menu—keep your eye out for a new and exciting flavor!
Location: 6451 Auburn Rd. Shelby Township / 2080 14 Mile Rd., Warren
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The Custard Hut
Established in 1979, The Custard Hut is home of the waffle sandwich—soft serve squished between two homemade waffles with your choice of toppings in the middle. Donned with bright pink walls and neon signs, The Custard Hut offers customers rotating soft serve flavors each week, ranging from lemon and cherry to tiramisu and toasted coconut. Don’t forget to ask for premium toppings like whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, fruity pebbles, hot fudge brownies, and more! We’ll even keep your pup cool this summer with our vanilla pup cups and mini dog treat toppings.
Location: 3764 Monroe St., Dearborn
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Mister Dips
As you walk down Parker’s Alley in downtown Detroit, you’re greeted by a bright glow of a purple neon sign reading “Mister Dips”. Featuring griddle burgers, fries, and chicken sandwiches, the one thing Mister Dips believes in is it’s always time for dessert. On the menu you’ll find dipsy doozy “thick-aaazz shakes,” soda floats, and dairy dip soft serve in a variety of flavors. Indulge in dark cocoa, thin-mint, strawberry, vanilla, and more, while adding unique toppings such as peanut butter drip, fudge drizzle, nilla wafer, and cake batter.
Location: 19 East Grand River, Detroit
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