My dad and I used to go to Dairy Queen for dinner at least once a month.
It was a great time to talk, to get away, and…of course…to eat ice cream for dinner!
I cherished those times.
And not just for the food – but the food was pretty good!
When I took my son to Dairy Queen more recently (my first time in a DQ in 20 years), however…
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It was clear that Dairy Queen had lost a step.
Things felt tired in a way they just didn’t used to.
Do you know what I mean?
And let’s face it – since 20 years ago, a ton of new ice cream shops have popped up or expanded, and DQ faces a ton of competition.
Here are seven which I think you can comfortably argue are better than DQ at this point, starting with one of my personal favorites:
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Where you’ll find them: There are about 1,000 Cold Stones around the country, in all 50 states (plus Puerto Rico).
Why the ice cream is great: The mix-ins make for absolute decadent combinations. Apple pie a la Cold Stone…Dough for it!…Banana caramel crunch…just so many great options. Now this is a place where your ice cream can easily be a full meal!
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Where you’ll find them: About 2,200 locations in 45 states – you’ll find Baskin-Robbins everywhere aside from a handful of states in the Northeast and in the northern Great Plains.
Why the ice cream is great: So many flavors to choose from. (Including plenty of non-dairy options for those who need or want them). Whatever you get – aside from the sherbert and fruit flavors – top it with their hot fudge. My personal favorite? Cookie Monster + Love Potion #31.
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Where you’ll find them: That’s right – Haagen-Dazs isn’t just the pints you buy at the grocery store. You can also get these same delicious flavors scooped fresh at roughly 200 Haagen-Dazs stores in 30 states.
Why the ice cream is great: My favorite thing about Haagen-Dazs is their sundaes. Take amazing Haagen-Dazs ice cream, top it with nuts and whipped cream and fudge and sauce and whatever else? Absolutely incredible. You won’t get the number of options that a Baskin-Robbins will offer…but each one is so well-executed that you won’t mind even a little.
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Where you’ll find them: 30 states + DC, with hundreds of shops serving up scoops every day!
Why the ice cream is great: I mean, it’s Ben & Jerry’s. The only thing better than a pint of Tonight Dough is a fresh double-scoop of it with toppings!
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Where you’ll find them: 14 states, plus DC – mostly in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
Why the ice cream is great: If Ben & Jerry’s and Cold Stone have the best “chunky” flavors – with lots of mix-ins, brownie pieces, all that stuff – then Jeni’s is the best pure ice cream base. Their brown butter almond brittle and gooey butter cake flavors are genuinely my favorite ice cream bases out there. If you don’t have a scoop shop near you, never fear – Jeni has a cookbook, and the (expensive) pints are available in most grocery stores.
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Where you’ll find them: 23 states, mostly on the East Coast, but with outposts in Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
Why the ice cream is great: Bruster’s isn’t the “best” at any one thing, but it’s just an all-around good set of ice cream flavors. If you’re looking for a great combo, get their chocolate raspberry truffle and the butter pecan together. (And if you’re looking for a full meal, get the hot fudge brownie.)
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Where you’ll find them: It’s not just chocolate! There are only a handful of Ghirardelli ice cream shops in the USA (I had the pleasure of visiting one in North Point the last time I was in San Francisco), but they are absolutely worth the pilgrimage. In addition to California, you’ll find them in New York City, Las Vegas, Disney Springs, Chicago, and Louisville.
Why the ice cream is great: It’s really the combination of ice cream and Ghirardelli chocolate, probably no surprise. Try one of their hot fudge sundaes – my vote is the gold rush caramel almond, but I won’t be mad if you go for the chocolate lover’s instead.
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I couldn’t leave without giving Dairy Queen its due – because, let’s face it, there’s a reason everyone compares everything else to it!
Where you’ll find them: DQ is in every state aside from Vermont, with over 4,200 locations nationwide.
Why the ice cream is great: You don’t need me to tell you – it’s all about the Blizzards! I had the pleasure of eating a salted caramel truffle Blizzard a few months ago, and it was excellent.
If you know, you know.
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So there you have it – seven ice cream shops that many would argue (and I’d be one of them) have comfortably outpaced Dairy Queen at this point.
Let’s face it, with so many great options for scooped ice cream, why settle for soft serve?
But really the big question is:
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What do YOU think?
Is DQ still #1 when you want a quick cold treat?
Or are there DQ competitors I’ve left out?
Let us know in the comments!
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