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Soft serve from Matt and Mo’s
Michelle and Chris Gerard

15 Metro Detroit Soft Serve Spots for Sunny Days

Where to find swirly treats around town

by Brenna Houck and Courtney Burk Updated
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Soft serve from Matt and Mo’s
| Michelle and Chris Gerard
by Brenna Houck and Courtney Burk Updated
1 comment / new

Summer is on the horizon in metro Detroit. With longer days ahead now, restaurants, specialty shops, and sweet treat windows are doling out cones twisted high with soft serve ice cream. Here, Eater highlights 15 spots offering a variety of soft serve this season with pints of pistachio gelato, vegan Dole Whip, cups of soft serve for the dog, and soft swirls between warm waffle patties and fresh-baked cookies.

Did we miss a favorite soft serve spot? Give us your feedback at the tipline.

A number of metro Detroit restaurants have resumed dine-in service. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns: For updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the state of Michigan’s coronavirus tracker. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines. In March 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a report that provided statistically significant evidence that dining on-premises at restaurants and bars was followed by a rise in COVID-19 infections and deaths. People who are fully vaccinated should consult the CDC’s interim guidance on restaurant dining and other forms of social gatherings.

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Detroit Water Ice Factory

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This downtown shop is all about water ice — similar to Italian ice, though fans swear it’s creamier. The Motown Twist swirls soft serve ice cream atop Detroit Water Ice’s signature treat and is available in a Korean egg bubble waffle with additional toppings.

1014 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 888-9106
(313) 888-9106

Also featured in:

Huddle Soft Serve

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Huddle’s soft serve window is open for the season, just in time for walks to Capitol Park. Choose a flavor from chocolate, vanilla or twists with toppings of sprinkles, sea salt, chocolate chips, and cherry or chocolate dips!

2 John R St, Detroit, MI 48226

Also featured in:

Cold Truth

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The stand operates in the evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, with a rotating menu that features options like lavender, vegan blueberry, chocolate, and vegan sweet cream soft serve. Order it in a fresh vegan, gluten-free waffle cone or a cup topped with vegan dark chocolate or milk chocolate shell, wafer cookies, and other local food purveyors’ goods as toppings.

4240 Cass Ave suite 100, Detroit, MI 48207
(313) 680-1199
(313) 680-1199

Also featured in:

Bikes And Coffee

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Woodbridge’s bike shop-cafe combo is serving vegan Ice Cream Plant soft serve in flavors like soy-based vanilla and coconut milk-based peach. Order a cup or pour an espresso shot over the top for creamy affogato.

1521 Putnam St, Detroit, MI 48208
(313) 288-0201
(313) 288-0201

Also featured in:

Burk's Igloo

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The corner cone booth with a cartoon igloo and penguin sells short-order menu items ranging from coney and fries to an Avalanche ice cream dessert. The Avalanche, small or monster size, is served with soft-serve ice cream and chock-full of whatever kind of candy one desires.

10300 Conant St, Hamtramck, MI 48212
(313) 872-6830
(313) 872-6830

Custard Hut

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Custard Hut is known for waffle custard sandwiches. Swirls of frozen custard in flavors of cake batter and Nutella between warm buttery waffles with toppings like fresh sliced strawberries, sprinkles, and fruity pebbles. The whole thing is dusted in powdered sugar and wrapped in tin foil. There are plenty of good, old fashioned ice cream cones, too.

25947 W Warren St, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
(313) 278-5577
(313) 278-5577

Also featured in:

Doug's Delight

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This classic Hazel Park snack stand serves Matt and Mo’s Italian beef sandwiches alongside creamy chocolate and vanilla soft serve in cones, sundaes, Dougie’s, and cookie sandwiches. There’s even pup cup’s topped with milk bones available for dogs.

1108, 24110 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030
Michelle and Chris Gerard

Also featured in:

Jim's Frostie Treats

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Soft-serve and assorted fruit flavors of Dole Whip are served at this Royal Oak staple. Grab a cone of Superman to enjoy with the man of steel as he oversees operations from his phone booth out front.

1528 E Eleven Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 399-7919
(248) 399-7919

Golden Cone

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Downtown Royal Oak’s ice cream shop Golden Cone offers a variety of Guernsey ice cream flavors as well as chocolate and vanilla custard. The stand can also be counted on for a swirl of non-dairy Dole Whip soft serve.

207 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 607-9060
(248) 607-9060
Golden Cone Frozen Custard & Ice Cream (Facebook)

Also featured in:

Erma's Original Frozen Custard

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This metro Detroit ice cream stand is known for its frozen custard, but vegans love Erma’s for its selection of Dole Whip — dairy-free soft serve. As with all of its custard, Erma’s switches out the flavors of Dole soft serve weekly. Customers can count on options like pineapple, raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and orange from spring through fall. The stand’s 80th season officially begins April 1.

2080 E 14 Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48092
(586) 275-2447
(586) 275-2447
Facebook/Erma’s Frozen Custard

Also featured in:

Bee Queen Dairy & Ice Cream

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The Eastpointe dairy parlor kicks off the season on April 1 with a variety of soft serve and non-dairy options. For those seeking a creative twist — try the “flavor of the week”.

14700 E 9 Mile Rd, Eastpointe, MI 48021
(313) 707-5760
(313) 707-5760
Bee Queen Dairy and Ice Cream/Facebook

River Breeze Dairy Freeze

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The renovated gas station turned mom and pop ice cream parlor is perfect for a Belle Isle snack. In addition to selling soft serve on waffle cones in the shape of cartoon characters or in sundaes, River Breeze also sells hot dishes like nachos, foot-long hot dogs, fries, fish dinners, and a Southern favorite — fried okra.

10800 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214
(313) 331-8226
(313) 331-8226
River Breeze Dairy Freeze (courtesy photo)

Bob Jo's Frozen Custard

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This seasonal Downriver standby doles out frozen desserts of cool and creamy flavors like coconut custard and blueberry frozen yogurt from a walk-up window daily, starting at 12 p.m. Pints and quarts are also available.

4071 Quarry Rd, Wyandotte, MI 48192
(734) 282-6818
(734) 282-6818

Also featured in:

Custard Corner

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Order a cone of custard or Dole Whip walk-up-window-style or smooth out a few dollars and grab a favorite pint from the vending machine.

2972 W Jefferson Ave, Trenton, MI 48183
(734) 771-4396
(734) 771-4396
Custard Corner/Facebook

For the Love of Sugar

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Brush Park’s decadent cake shop For the Love of Sugar is selling pints of custard ice cream to-go out of its storefront. Find flavors here like Oreo cookies and cream, strawberry shortcake, and vegan vanilla bean.

100 Erskine St, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 788-7111
(313) 788-7111

Also featured in:

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Detroit Water Ice Factory

1014 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

This downtown shop is all about water ice — similar to Italian ice, though fans swear it’s creamier. The Motown Twist swirls soft serve ice cream atop Detroit Water Ice’s signature treat and is available in a Korean egg bubble waffle with additional toppings.

1014 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 888-9106
(313) 888-9106

Huddle Soft Serve

2 John R St, Detroit, MI 48226

Huddle’s soft serve window is open for the season, just in time for walks to Capitol Park. Choose a flavor from chocolate, vanilla or twists with toppings of sprinkles, sea salt, chocolate chips, and cherry or chocolate dips!

2 John R St, Detroit, MI 48226

Cold Truth

4240 Cass Ave suite 100, Detroit, MI 48207

The stand operates in the evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, with a rotating menu that features options like lavender, vegan blueberry, chocolate, and vegan sweet cream soft serve. Order it in a fresh vegan, gluten-free waffle cone or a cup topped with vegan dark chocolate or milk chocolate shell, wafer cookies, and other local food purveyors’ goods as toppings.

4240 Cass Ave suite 100, Detroit, MI 48207
(313) 680-1199
(313) 680-1199

Bikes And Coffee

1521 Putnam St, Detroit, MI 48208

Woodbridge’s bike shop-cafe combo is serving vegan Ice Cream Plant soft serve in flavors like soy-based vanilla and coconut milk-based peach. Order a cup or pour an espresso shot over the top for creamy affogato.

1521 Putnam St, Detroit, MI 48208
(313) 288-0201
(313) 288-0201

Burk's Igloo

10300 Conant St, Hamtramck, MI 48212

The corner cone booth with a cartoon igloo and penguin sells short-order menu items ranging from coney and fries to an Avalanche ice cream dessert. The Avalanche, small or monster size, is served with soft-serve ice cream and chock-full of whatever kind of candy one desires.

10300 Conant St, Hamtramck, MI 48212
(313) 872-6830
(313) 872-6830

Custard Hut

25947 W Warren St, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127

Custard Hut is known for waffle custard sandwiches. Swirls of frozen custard in flavors of cake batter and Nutella between warm buttery waffles with toppings like fresh sliced strawberries, sprinkles, and fruity pebbles. The whole thing is dusted in powdered sugar and wrapped in tin foil. There are plenty of good, old fashioned ice cream cones, too.

25947 W Warren St, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
(313) 278-5577
(313) 278-5577

Doug's Delight

1108, 24110 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030

This classic Hazel Park snack stand serves Matt and Mo’s Italian beef sandwiches alongside creamy chocolate and vanilla soft serve in cones, sundaes, Dougie’s, and cookie sandwiches. There’s even pup cup’s topped with milk bones available for dogs.

1108, 24110 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030
Michelle and Chris Gerard

Jim's Frostie Treats

1528 E Eleven Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Soft-serve and assorted fruit flavors of Dole Whip are served at this Royal Oak staple. Grab a cone of Superman to enjoy with the man of steel as he oversees operations from his phone booth out front.

1528 E Eleven Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 399-7919
(248) 399-7919

Golden Cone

207 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Downtown Royal Oak’s ice cream shop Golden Cone offers a variety of Guernsey ice cream flavors as well as chocolate and vanilla custard. The stand can also be counted on for a swirl of non-dairy Dole Whip soft serve.

207 W 4th St, Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 607-9060
(248) 607-9060
Golden Cone Frozen Custard & Ice Cream (Facebook)

Erma's Original Frozen Custard

2080 E 14 Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48092

This metro Detroit ice cream stand is known for its frozen custard, but vegans love Erma’s for its selection of Dole Whip — dairy-free soft serve. As with all of its custard, Erma’s switches out the flavors of Dole soft serve weekly. Customers can count on options like pineapple, raspberry, strawberry, lemon, and orange from spring through fall. The stand’s 80th season officially begins April 1.

2080 E 14 Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48092
(586) 275-2447
(586) 275-2447
Facebook/Erma’s Frozen Custard

Bee Queen Dairy & Ice Cream

14700 E 9 Mile Rd, Eastpointe, MI 48021

The Eastpointe dairy parlor kicks off the season on April 1 with a variety of soft serve and non-dairy options. For those seeking a creative twist — try the “flavor of the week”.

14700 E 9 Mile Rd, Eastpointe, MI 48021
(313) 707-5760
(313) 707-5760
Bee Queen Dairy and Ice Cream/Facebook

River Breeze Dairy Freeze

10800 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214

The renovated gas station turned mom and pop ice cream parlor is perfect for a Belle Isle snack. In addition to selling soft serve on waffle cones in the shape of cartoon characters or in sundaes, River Breeze also sells hot dishes like nachos, foot-long hot dogs, fries, fish dinners, and a Southern favorite — fried okra.

10800 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI 48214
(313) 331-8226
(313) 331-8226
River Breeze Dairy Freeze (courtesy photo)

Bob Jo's Frozen Custard

4071 Quarry Rd, Wyandotte, MI 48192

This seasonal Downriver standby doles out frozen desserts of cool and creamy flavors like coconut custard and blueberry frozen yogurt from a walk-up window daily, starting at 12 p.m. Pints and quarts are also available.

4071 Quarry Rd, Wyandotte, MI 48192
(734) 282-6818
(734) 282-6818

Custard Corner

2972 W Jefferson Ave, Trenton, MI 48183

Order a cone of custard or Dole Whip walk-up-window-style or smooth out a few dollars and grab a favorite pint from the vending machine.

2972 W Jefferson Ave, Trenton, MI 48183
(734) 771-4396
(734) 771-4396
Custard Corner/Facebook

For the Love of Sugar

100 Erskine St, Detroit, MI 48201

Brush Park’s decadent cake shop For the Love of Sugar is selling pints of custard ice cream to-go out of its storefront. Find flavors here like Oreo cookies and cream, strawberry shortcake, and vegan vanilla bean.

100 Erskine St, Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 788-7111
(313) 788-7111

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