A San Diego ice cream shop, An’s Dry Cleaning, has achieved the top spot on USA Today’s list of the best independent ice cream shops in the United States for 2024. This unique shop offers a variety of made-from-scratch gelato flavors on a seasonal menu. Located in North Park at the corner of 30th Street and Adams Avenue, the shop is open seven days a week from noon to 11 p.m. An’s Dry Cleaning also has additional locations in Del Mar and Petco Park, with plans for a new location in Ocean Beach.
Despite its intriguing name, An’s Dry Cleaning is solely focused on serving delightful gelato. Having started in 2018, the shop previously secured the second spot on the USA Today list in 2023 and remains the only West Coast ice cream shop in the top 10 this year. To celebrate this achievement, An’s is offering $1 gelato on July 1 until supplies last.
Some of the unique gelato flavors currently featured on their menu include mango/passionfruit, strawberry/dark chocolate/cream, salted caramel/chocolate covered cones, and chocolate/orange, with seasonal variations. Other ice cream shops that made the USA Today list include Coneflower Creamery in Omaha, Nebraska; Owowcow Creamery in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; Leopold’s Ice Cream in Savannah, Georgia; Peewee’s Ice Cream in Medford, New Jersey; The Boardwalk Italian Ice & Creamery in Boynton Beach, Florida; Island Creamery in Maryland and Virginia; Andia’s Ice Cream in Cary and Raleigh, North Carolina; Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia; and Penn State Berkey Creamery in University Park, Pennsylvania.
USA Today compiled the list with input from experts and readers, focusing on ice cream spots that use high-quality, fresh ingredients and offer innovative takes on the classic frozen treat. The top spots were selected based on their commitment to quality and creativity in the ice cream industry.