Best waffle cone ever! Single scoop waffle cone runs $2.75. If you use a credit card there's an additional $.50 charge. Who cares, right? The freshly made cones are worth every penny! I will definitely be back. read more

Small and cute ice cream shop on the corner of the Imperial Beach Pier! Even on a windy and cold day, I still wanted Ice cream. The choices seemed very limited (minus one star), but that doesn't mean they aren't GOOD choices. You have your typical flavors like the one in Rite Aid. The prices here are not too bad, $1.49 for one scoop on a reg. cone. Yet, the ice cream here is more CREAMY and most def. full of flavor. I couldn't really enjoy mine because it was so windy, that my ice cream was constantly dripping off my cone! I had the pleasure of tasting the Butter Pecan, and Rocky Road. Two choices that didn't disappoint my man and I. They also served a variety of hot and cold drinks, from hot cocoa to your simple ice latte. They also serve Hawaiian Ice here! but I didn't get the luxury of getting that, I will next time! After, buying it...enjoyed my ice cream while fishing! WOOHOO! read more

I love supporting Local-Family-Owned businesses but I love it even more when their stuff tastes like heaven! The French couple who own Cow-A-Bunga really care about the quality of their offerings and it shows. They use top quality ingredients and the husband actually MAKES all the ice cream himself. And let me tell you it's top notch. (He won't tell you the ingredients, it's top secret) I've tried a lot of the offerings and some of the highlights (for me anyways) are the Apple Pie Ice Cream, Coffee-Milkshake (they have some cute name for it, but it's coffee blended with ice cream- your choice), and just their plain old coffee (for me, it's Americano). If I'm not mistaken I think they grind all their beans fresh before they make the coffee. And in their Mexican Mocha they use the highest quality mexican chocolate. Oh yeah, they have a "Mexican Chocolate" (I forget what they call it exactly) ice cream that's chocolate spiced with cinnamon. Soooo good. Plus, I get to practice my French whenever I go. It's win-win-win. And I'm gushing so I'll just stop now. read more

OMG. You gotta try their Abuelita Chocolate ice cream. there is simply no other ice cream as good as this. I only wish they had it every single time, but yes, they do sometimes run out. No fear: the dark chocolate is awesome too. My mom loves the cheesecake flavor, my daughter loves the mint chocolate chip, and my sister loves the peanut butter (well, OK, she loves all of them). Endless possibilities for every tastebud! Fabrice makes the most luscious flavors, and Nelly's apple cakes are to die for. She has yet to give me a recipe (and never will, I know) and try as I might, I cannot duplicate it at home. Never you mind - it's always a good reason for a trip to the IB pier and an "incidental" stop at Cow-A-Bunga for more treats. ("Oh look! We may as well stop for ice cream while we're here.") Yum! In the interest of full disclosure, years ago I worked with owners Fabrice and Nelly when we were all hotel people; Fabrice is actually a formally-trained chef, and Nelly is a server extraordinaire. As such, I am extremely biased in appreciating their work ethic and personalities. They are wonderful people who really care about their customers. Tres bien! Aren't we lucky they found this spot at the pier? Worth a trip from anywhere. read more

Coffee? Mmm, smells so good! But no, no, ... I came here for ice cream. Ugh, I can never make decisions. I wonder how many I can try before making the person behind the counter and/or the people behind me mad. Luckily, my boyfriend and I are still in the honeymoon period so he still laughs at me. (Although, I noticed he won't tell me what he's going to order). I DECIDED! "The House Special, Please." Espresso over ice cream (I opted for the mexican chocolate), with two chocolate covered espresso beans, whip cream. Completely hit both cravings and did not leave me full or feeling guilty! The BF decided on a banana blueberry ice cream. It was delicious! Fresh bananas and blueberries in homemade ice cream. This place is lovely. Thank you. (If you need a friend to walk the pier with you and your buyin' msg me!) :) read more

THIS IS NOT "REAL HAWAIIAN ICE". If you have been to Hawaii then you know what shaved ice is like. This is some BS snow cone pretending to be shaved ice. Shaved ice melts in your mouth. This stuff you can eat and is crunchy. If you want a REAL SHAVED ICE place try the place off of Convoy. That's the closest shop that comes close to Hawaiian shaved ice. I took 2 bits and was pissed.... read more

Cow-A-Bunga - False advertising - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

You have to try the espresso shot with a scoop of ice cream! My fav combo is with the Mexican coffee ice cream! They also add some whip cream and dark chocolate covered almonds to your cup! It's such a tasty lovely treat while walking the IB pier! I tried the iced Caramel macchiato drink.. The beans are freshly roasted and you can taste it! It's so fresh! That's how I love my espresso. I think I found my new coffee spot. Goodbye Starbucks?! Lol... read more

This is a awesome ice cream shop. It has more than just ice cream. They also have dip and dots, snow cones, coffee, and much more!! If your visiting Imperial Beach and looking to have some delicious desert!! Beware Ice cream from COW-A-BUNGA is addicting!!! read more

Cow-A-Bunga - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

See all

Delicious ice-cream. Just way over the top! I think they have an original recipe or something. Good price, cool staff, great view, and great area. Definitely recommend! read more

Cow-A-Bunga - View from Cow-A-Bunga! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

$2 scoop in a cup is well worth stopping in when you are in the area. Mexican Cafe Mocha Ice Cream had the perfect balance of cinnamon and coffee flavor. The French woman who helped us said they make all the flavors in house and was so pleasant. When you pick up a little scoop into your spoon, you see this creamy elasticity that extends for a few inches before it breaks into your mouth. It's is creamy and not overly sweet. The signs label it as the best Ice Cream in SD and it's right up there for the creaminess level similar to gelato. I will be back for sure when I'm strolling through IB. read more

went back several times and tried several different flavors, all of them are excellent! Black cherry, rum raisin, coffee mocha... I start to believe there is no flavor in this shop that doesn't taste great! Also got a t-shirt from them, cow standing on a mini-bus? perfect for a souvenir for Imperial Beach. read more

I have been coming to Cow-A-Bunga for years! The ice cream is so good and you can tell it is made fresh. The selection is endless and with the wonderful smell of fresh waffle cones floating through the air it is always hard to decide! I usually will get the Coffee ice cream or the mexican chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone of course! The waffle cones are out of this world, probably the best I have ever had anywhere! If I am in the mood for the going the coffee route, the house special is the way to go, it is an espresso shot over a scoop of ice cream. You get to choose the flavor!! I love this place come here for great ice cream at a great price!! read more

Cow-A-Bunga makes the best ice cream in San Diego County, and beyond. It is the perfect balance of sweet and creamy, without the plastic feel of Coldstone or Mootime. Even better than Neiderfranks. My all time favorite ice cream is Mexican Cafe Mocha, using the Abuelita cocoa that has cinnamon as an ingredient as well as chocolate. Mixed Berries is another delicious flavor using fresh berries from the Imperial Beach Farmer's Market. Also, the espresso is the best coffee in town. Located at the end of the Imperial Beach Pier, everything is made in the shop, so the ice cream and the waffle cones are always fresh and of the highest quality. Nelly and Fabrice Gaunin, the owners, make all the ice cream, and are very pleasant and knowlegeable. I highly recommend Cow-A-Bunga! read more

I can't really give a true qualified judgment of this place. So I'll just break don what I love about it. 1. The location: Its right next to the pier situated so that you can go for a walk or sit and watch the waves roll in. 2. The staff/owners: This couple is friendly and give great customer service (and they are French) 3. The product: hey have better tasting Ice Cream that C"oldstone" and better coffee than Starbucks and Coffee Bean. This place is definitely a must go if you either live of plan on visiting Imperial Beach. read more

Came here on a chilly day but ice cream is good during any weather! I forgot which flavor I got exactly but I just know that I did enjoy it! And my man and his little cousin liked it too! The ice cream was really creamy and yummy! If you are ever at Imperial Beach, you should def come by and get some ice cream! read more

I love this place. The owners are super friendly. They make their own ice cream and their waffle cones are to die for. They always have some kind of daily special but whenever we're in the area we go for their snowcone special with a scoop of ice cream . read more

Cow-A-Bunga - Snowcone with a scoop of ice cream on the bottom - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

I love Cow-A-Bunga!!! So much that I bought myself a Cow-A-Bunga hoodie to wear over here on the East Coast in an attempt to soothe my homesickness. I actually only ever have their coffee drinks. I'm vegan & they always have soymilk for lattes, so I was immediately sold when I first walked in! My daughter, however, is a huge fan of their ice cream and Italian cream sodas. The main reason we love it is the couple who owns it. A wonderfully sweet French couple who always remember us even when we've been away for months & months. It's also in a great spot at the Imperial Beach pier plaza. Rarely crowded (unless during Sandcastles) & not teeming with tourists like other beaches in SD. Such a great place to sit in the sun with your coffee or ice cream and dog & people watch. read more

Amber and Dave were awesome! Coffee with a shot of espresso on the beach in the morning. So many prepositions, such a good time.

Great ice cream! Their frozen yogurt on the other hand (which is only vanilla btw), tastes like nothing.. The reason I gave three instead of the four stars I would've gave is because when I bought the $3 cup of frozen yogurt I gave the guy $10 and received $4 instead of the $7 I should've got.Good thing my friend realized that, went back in the shop and told the guy and he gave me back the rest of the money.Just make sure when you go here you get the correct amount of money back. read more

Great homemade ice cream and waffle cones. I highly recommend this place. During the summer they also carry Dippin' Dots Ice Cream which is also very good and hard to find. read more

This place is my FAVORITE place in IB, they have the best ice cream I have ever had and I LOVE ICE CREAM! I always get peanut butter brownie and mint chocolate chip, waffle cones are always fresh and delish! Owners are very nice, from France, and connected to the French guy next door. I have also had the coffee (latte) which was very good, and so is the frapabunga! Yummm! read more

This place was recommended by a local. Best homemade ice cream I have EVER had, so glad I decided to stop in. I ordered the mint and chip and my mom ordered a snow cone. She wasn't a big fan of the snow cone, compared to one ones in Hawaii, the ice isn't crushed the same. Definitely hitting this place up again #dabomb.com read more

I love this beach. We visited while on vacation. I would go here rather than San Diego any day. Beautiful sand, friendly waves so the kids can swim, and the crowd was low key and diverse. And this ice cream store is right at the entrance to the pier. The French couple that own the store make all the ice cream themselves, and it is soooo good. I had Rocky Road. Yum. Next door, the French man running the sandwich store makes AMAZING food for really reasonable prices. We're talking REAL soup, salads and sandwiches. The store itself is not particularly inspiring in terms of its decor, so the experience is a bit disconcerting. What a gem! read more

This is a nice little Ice cream shop. their waffle cones are really good and I do enjoy the face that they make everything there. The store is really small so when it is a hot sunny day I dont go there because I usually get stuck in there trying to work my way to the door with my kids. I think there is maybe ten diffrent flavors of ice cream I usually get peanutbutter brownie and butter pecan in a waffle cone. read more

Great tasting ice-cream and friendly service. There are not a ton of ice-cream or frozen yogurt places to choose from in IB. If you don't want to spend $15 for a dessert at one of the surrounding restaurants, this is the best option for a cold treat. They seem to have all the flavors you'd want and include some not found elsewhere. Good stuff... especially the salted caramel ice-cream. read more

Spent the morning at the beach and needed some caffeine in my system ASAP. I've been this place a few times when venturing around, and finally decided to try it. Wow. Prices are low, drinks are great. It isnt much to look at but the service and quality of products is great. I got a large iced Mexican Mocha for $4.25 plus a Lemon Bite and Coconut Macaroon. $5.75 total. They have a decent sized menu of coffee, smoothies, as well as ice creams and sodas. The mini baked goods caught my eye because I wanted something sweet but not a huge serving. read more

Freshly ground coffee and homemade ice cream made this place cool dude. The cheesecake ice cream was thick and tasty. The lady behind the counter had a cool French accent with a touch of Californian. Stop by for a cool one! read more

See all

What can I say, the place is legit. They offer a variety of different tasty options here but their claim to fame is the ice cream. Let me tell you that the hype is real. Its good. Like real good. The coffee drinks are fantastic as well. I mean if the ice cream is good and they use it in the coffee then what do you expect? Lastly, these waffle cones are fresh. Like crazy fresh. A must if your in Imperial Beach. read more

Great service & great coffee first time here in SD, the guy gave me good spots to go to.

$2.50 for a scoop of homemade ice cream in a waffle cone? heck yah~!!! read more

Yahooo Real ice cream - go here before you go to FroYo all chemical ingredients place read more

A lot of places can say they have the best coffee in town, but this place really does. You pay premium prices here but really get your money's worth. I got a low fat latte and it was one of the best I've ever had. The quality of the coffee beans and roast is most excellent. The young lady that works there is friendly and efficient. She diserves the largest tip you can afford. They have outside seating and you're right at the Imperial Beach pier. I visit weekly and will always try to get a cup of Joe while I'm here. read more

Amazing! Must go! Coconut Ice cream tastes exactly like you are eating a coconut. Homemade waffle cone, best I have ever had. All tastes homemade! read more

Cow-A-Bunga - Coconut icecream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Imperial Beach, California

Best pumpkin spice latte I ever had. We were looking for a more substantial breakfast that muffins tho, so they referred us up the street to another place. This is the place for coffee and snacks tho. Lots of tables outside to take in local scenes while drinking your coffee. read more

This is a super groovy spot for ice-cream and the best coffee in south San Diego. We use this place as our staff headquarters for meetings and ice-cream treats on sunny afternoons. After a I good surf I fuel up with an Americano. Special flavors such as Pistachio, Clean Water Now!, and even ice-cream named after HBO's John from Cincinnati are all to be had. Grab a coffee and an ice cream and check out the surfers by the pier and hang out at the coolest pier plaza in California. Nellie and Fabrice, the owners, are French, and in the afternoons, their kids practice their instruments just outside the shop. Serge Dedina, Executive Director, WiLDCOAST, www.wildcoast.net read more

Best homemade ice cream and waffle cones! Favorite flavors are peanut butter brownie and chocolate chip, although they are all delicious! read more

4 adults, 3 kids and it only costs us $18.00. Not bad for quality ice cream!! The joint isn't much to get excited about, but the outside seating on & around the pier is perfect. The guys working are legit & personal. It's a great ice cream shop at the beach. Now for what matters...the ice cream. The ice cream is clearly homemade, rich, & creaky. Excellent variety of favors & concoctions. The waffle cones are large & perfectly flavored & firm. The specialty flavors are 90%; meaning that almost all are a home run. They offer samples of every flavor (on request), & I suggest you do this before you make your pick. I tried several before selecting & each was phenomenal. My order, however, was for a flavor I did not sample but assumed would be great based on my other tastings. Busted! (The peanut butter brownie sucked!...& I love PB.) The praline pecan, Mexican coffee, & cookies & cream are awesome!! Get a waffle cone of one of these & you are solid. Support the business, bless the workers & spoil yourself with excellent, quality & satisfying ice cream at this local shop! read more

I love this ice cream shop so much. Living in San Diego, imperial beach is a famous spot to go have a bbq with some friends or just relax listening to waves! With a cow-a-bunga ice cream in hand makes the beach experience 10X better! I recommend the sea salted caramel ice cream in a waffle cone!!! SO DELICIOUS!! Excellent service but it is a small little shop so it does get a little crammed with other beach goers. Love the ice cream & the workers. read more

Run by a French speaking guy. Awesome home made ice cream. Been going here for years. Try their house special, espresso topped with ice cream. Cow a bunga! read more

Kai is awesome, she helped us out this evening. The ice cream is delicious especially on the belgian waffle and I can appreciate her kind service and friendly conversation. We'll be visiting again. read more