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Guys this place is so adorbs!! This was one of my first saved dessert places in Chicago purely for the fact that I LOVE cute things. The cuter, the better!! Step aside clean modern aesthetics! I want my future house to have pastel furniture and pastel exteriors and cutesy tootsy everything. I had the mint chocolate stracciatella ice cream, and you have the option to make your scoop into an animal, ranging from koala, monkey, pig, and unicorn to capybara. I'm OBSESSED with capybaras, owing tribute to the song on tiktok "Capybaraaaaa! Capybara capybara capybara capybara. Capybaraaaaaa! Capybara capybara capybara." (You get it I'll stop now). The ice cream scoop was SO generous, and it was refreshing. The capybara design was so incredibly adorable, so aptly designed. We were one of the first customers at 1pm on a Saturday, so there was no wait time and the staff were very friendly! There is a bathroom in here, and they let you try flavors before buying!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The only thing I post on Instagram with any regularity is my cat. All those ice cream cones that look like various animals? Cute, no doubt, and same for the names of flavors. However, I eat for enjoyment of food, not likes on social media. After sampling the 'You Pecan Do It,' 'I got Ube,' and a "Miso Mon Cherie," The ube has mild ube flavors, and the Miso Mon Cherie was spectacularly chocolatey, seemingly having very dark chocolate. I opted for the pecan flavor, not because there was anything wrong with the others, simply that's where my mood was. I got the smallest size, with a cone on top, for 'ice cream hands' is only fun on TV. ' In a word, I found the ice cream underwhelming. The pecan pieces were too small to make a notable impact, and the ice cream itself lacked that creamy, luscious goodness that makes ice cream so great. Not that it was bad per se, but not very enjoyable. The same thing goes for the macaron. I asked to be surprised, and I think I was given a raspberry, but am unsure. What I can tell you is this once lacked the textures that makes macaron fantastic, without the necessary contrast of textures. In terms of value, I felt that ~$4 for the smaller size is reasonable. On that note, I want to point out that while their menu seems simple, it can bring some confusion. A single scoop can be done in the style of an animal without additional cost, but 'piggybacking' does cost extra? What is 'piggybacking' anyway? As I said, confusing. The vibe inside is clean and modern, however, I feel they have plenty of unused space that could be taken up by more tables (though, to be fair, it was not very busy that night). Final verdict: The product at Eli's Ark decidedly did not hit the spot. In a situation where I find myself preferring ice cream from the grocer's (store brand, to boot), a return visit is not in the cards.
Eli's ark is peak cuteness! This little gelato shop has lots of flavors to choose from. My favorites are "I got ube" and "mango tango". The ube flavor is probably my favorite ube desert in the city, they have to be using some high quality ube in their mix. The mango is also super fresh tasting. The service is always great with my gelato served up with a smile. The decor is simple yet inviting. A perfect spot for the family.
I love the cute animal gelato! You get to pick your size and then your animal. You have the option of a cup or cone and I like there are many different sizes to choose from. It's nice to have the option of a small size that actually is a small portion! Sometimes ice cream spots serve massive portions and I don't want that commitment if I'm already full from dinner. The price for the small portion was also really reasonable. They also let you sample their flavors and they have lots of unique options. The ones I tried were fruity and more subtle in flavor which was nice, so not too sweet. I ended up getting their mint chocolate ice cream in the form of a cute capybara! So cute and perfect small size in a cup.
I've had this place bookmarked for so long now and finally made my way over which I am questioning why it took me so long. This is hands down the cutest ice cream spot in town. I love that no matter which flavor you get, you can pick your little animal. It's so tempting to stack so many flavors but I limited myself to 1. I got the Ube gelato which I personally think is the best Ube icecream/gelato that I've ever had. The flavor was so prominent and it was so creamy. You can also get your ice cream in a cup if you don't want a cone. I'm already thinking about which animal to get next!
Cutest dessert spot ever! I got the pig-shaped soft serve with the Pretty in Pink flavor (yakult + strawberry + rose) -- so refreshing and unique. My friend's koala soft serve was just as adorable. They also offer 4 non-dairy flavors and are super accommodating about it, which I really appreciated. Fun vibe, great service, and desserts that are as delicious as they are Instagram-worthy.
If, like me, you have been craving animal shaped gelato your whole life, boy do I have the place for you. Eli's Ark. This place is so stinking cute. A variety of unique flavors and designs. Well priced, nothing crazy. I got the ube, and my friend (vegan) got the vegan chocolate. Lots of vegan choices! They were very nice and did such a perfect job making our animal gelatos. I will be sure to come back and bring friends!
My friend found Eli's Ark on Instagram so on my next visit we went looking for it. During a Thursday afternoon the shop was pretty calm, only a few other guests at the same time. The adorable shaping of the different animals from gelato and things like cookies, nuts, or marshmallows was a fun touch. I tried Dulce de Banana in the shape of a monkey. I liked the flavor of the gelato! We also picked out some macarons to try later. They had a lot of fun flavors, a mix of fruity options and other dessert options. The texture of the macarons was good and we liked some flavors more than others.
A cute space offering a variety of gelatos, all interesting riffs on classic Western flavors (e.g. a cookies 'n' cream that includes panna cotta, a lemon flavor that includes yuzu) or tropical/Asian-inspired gelatos (Vietnamese coffee, ube, mango with an optional sprinkling of Tajín, etc.). I can say the ube is subtle but definitely there. The animal faces are a super fun touch and I want to come back to try not just more flavors but more animal faces too . I also like that they offer a slightly smaller kiddie size that's still plenty generous, and they also allow samples, in case you're not sure what to pick. Note: there's not too much seating inside and unless they put up a large menu board for the flavors or print menus, I'd recommend browsing their flavors online before getting to the front to make your ordering go faster.
7 years ago
Such a cute place to come with family. I had the tres leches mango gelato in the shape of a koala. This cute spot has other flavors to fill your gelato needs with also macaroons and small cakes. Love love love! Also if you wanna sit and relax there are tables and chairs to just relax and enjoy the sweet treats with everyone. Tip: it is on a busy street so parking is a bit hard to find- try searching around the corners like we did unless you are lucky enough to find a paid spot! read more
5 years ago
Definitely could have kept walking. I was having dinner at The Pasta Bowl and saw this place across the street and yelped it, had great reviews and the pictures of the cones looked super adorable! That's all it is, adorable! $6.50 for one scoop of gelato that looked like a deformed monkey... When I got there they were pretty much out of all the flavors so I had to pick the only flavor that sounded the least bit appetizing. I won't go back. You're only paying for what it looks like rather than the actual quality of the food. I did get a cookies and cream macaroon and it was pretty decent. If I were to ever go back that's about all I'd purchase. read more
Five stars for adorable, and solid ice cream to boot. I'm not going to lie, I saw the piggy cones on Instagram and had to get one. The peach tea ice cream my unicorn was build on was really tasty and refreshing, and I like the idea of stacking up farm animals. I tried the black sesame charcoal, and it was really good too (and perfect for the Halloween themed werewolf design). A spacious and bright seating area makes for a fun stop with kids of all ages. read more
8 years ago
5 years ago
I found this location because of tic tok, the ice-cream looks very cute but its not a place to sit and socialize. Its a very tiny place in-front of a big street that doesn't offer parking & they charge by each serving scope . read more
5 years ago
Accidentally found this super cute place!! Oh my goodness it was awesome and creative. Their flavors are awesome as well!!! I will be taking everyone who visits me here!!! You guys are only a 3 min walk from my condo! read more
5 years ago
Cutest icecreams ever. The strawberry yogurt flavor was amazing! Also have a cute wall for photo ops. Tons of unique flavors. The frosé one is super strong. read more
7 years ago
Service was very quick! The girls at the counter let us try several flavors. I thought the flavors were unique and delicious! The cones were almost too cute to eat! Can't wait to try more flavors and maybe even a piggyback! :) read more
5 years ago
These adorable gelato animals do not disappoint! Counter staff is sweet and patient even when it's busy. A lovely outing for families or a dessert date. read more
Super cute spot with homemade all natural gelatos and sweet treats! I tried the thin mint Girl Scout cookie Gelato and the bourbon butter pecan. Both were flavorful but had a super fine grit to them which I assume comes from them being home made. They were both delicious but the texture took a few bites to get past. I also had the London, carrot cake entramé and it was SOOOO yummy. I really enjoyed the cake which was moist and had bits of carrot and nut for texture and also the frosting which wasn't too sweet and was firm enough to hold the cake layers together. It was super cute. Overall, adorable spot, sweet tasty treats that are made in house and pleasant service. read more
Very cute concept that's IG worthy and will get kids gushy and excited. The kids got chocolate and my husband and I shared the ube. Nothing special about the taste, in fact the ube didn't really taste like ube. They do not give out samples -- maybe it's their way to get you to come back to try the other flavors? . This is Wicker Park with lots of restaurant so beware, parking is difficult. If you're lucky to find parking it's metered parking. There is a 15-min standing zone at the end of the street and we were lucky to snag that parking. When we got in there was no line and 2 tables open. We went on a Friday night (about 7pm). Right after we ordered and sat down that's when the crowd started coming, so we got lucky on all accounts in regard to parking, ordering and seating. The staff are very nice. They misheard that one of my son wanted koala and actually took it back to remake it for him. read more
Very cute set up. Kids will absolutely love it. Went there on a Friday night. Was pretty empty to my surprise. But probably less of a crowd because it was 25 degrees outside. Ordered 2 cones where you get to "pick" your animal. Super funny as they turned the cones into a polar bear and penguin. Fyi cannot get an animal if you only get a small cup. This places gets 4 stars purely for concept and creativity, I actually thought the gelato was not good. We had the peanut butter, red velvet cheesecake and vanilla. All of which I've had much better in the city. read more
7 years ago
This was such an adorable ice cream place! The clerk was really nice and let us try as many flavors as we wanted. They were also really patient as we contemplated which animal to get! The premise of the parlor is adorable and unique. Definitely an Instagram-worthy restaurant! The ice cream is also really good and there are great flavors! read more
5 years ago
They were so nice there and made the cutest animals. The place was decorated so cute and will definitely be going back! read more
7 years ago
What a nice little gem in Wicker park! Plenty of space to chill with your friends or family. I liked that they let you sample the gelato before figuring which one to actually buy. The animal decoration is such fresh idea! My nieces and nephews loved it, ir brought extra excitement to their gelato! I also had the tiramisu and surprisingly one of the best ones I've ever had. I am little particular with my tiramisu. The texture and flavor were on point! I would highly recommend this place if you want a nice treat for the kids! read more
6 years ago
When the line is long you know the ice cream is good. Came here around 8pm and the line were a block down. I ordered the mango and Thai ice tea flavor, my friend had the taro and chocolate. Ice creams were delicious, unfortunately I dropped mine. . read more
7 years ago
I saw Eli's Ark and their creative animal gelato cones take over my Instagram. My initial reaction was... "WOW I NEED 1 OF THOSE!" I automatically assumed that the taste was going to be amazing to match the amazing looks. This was a classic overcharged Instagrammable experience of taking a photo in front of large words. They limit 3 samples per person of their gelato, which is understandable. However, gelato is a hard dessert to be perfect in. I had the banana and use (purple yam) gelato. If you know ube, it has a distinct and rather strong taste. The use gelato was [very] weak in my opinion. On the other hand, the banana gelato had a strong taste, but it was missing something. It was a strong, but rich taste. The flavors of both gelato "dissolved" away in a sense. It just didn't stand out in my opinion. Moving on, the desserts used to create the animals were average as well. For 2 scoops in a normal sugar cone, it spent $9 with a small tip ($7.50 base for the gelato). I hate to compare, but Jeni's Ice cream is cheaper and they make their waffle cones in house with a strong, more flavorful dessert (which is down the street). It is a great place for the feed though! 4/10 read more
7 years ago
This is the perfect place to bring your young ones when they're craving ice cream ( and have good behavior). I even felt like a kid again. Super cute, and very flavorful read more
This gelato was extremely good and adorable. The toasted marshmallow tasted exactly like if you were to roast a 'mallow over the fire. If you have kids take them here, and if you don't have kids still go here. When in Chicago, I recommend going here for some delicious gelato. read more
6 years ago
The cute gelato animals are amazing!!!! Sooo cute! Totally worth going for an instagram photo. The flavor of the gelato is lacking for a better word. The flavor is subtle. read more
6 years ago
Can't recommend enough! They're handling covid procedures well, monitoring how many customers are inside at a time as well as keeping everyone spread out. They have a great system down to get orders done quickly. We were asked about any allergies while in line which I thought was amazing! Very unique flavors to choose from.. and everything was as delicious as it was adorable. Will definitely be going back! read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
It's a little expensive, but it's so worth it. The ice cream is tastes amazing and your really paying for the experience of cute animal-shaped ice cream read more
6 years ago
3 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
Adorable and tasty ice cream creations. Due to Covid, only 10 persons allowed at a time inside. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
This ice cream shop is amazing for those who have dairy allergens or are lactose intolerant. Three options of vegan ice cream and multiple options for choice of animal. Adorable and Tasty! read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
Tried Eli's Ark for the first time today since I had a taste for a sweet treat. This place did not disappoint. It's an adorable spot that was clean, family friendly, and not to tough on the wallet. I don't have children yet but, I'm still a kid at heart. So I was thrilled that I could choose animal faces to decorate my gelato cone. I think it's a very cute and unique idea that people especially kids are sure to love. Anyway, I tried the Razmatazzy which is the vegan option with various berry flavors and the mango (can't remember the exact name). Both were absolutely delicious and seemed to pair well together. Very smooth and full of flavor. I got the unicorn and the bear animal faces and boy did it spark joy when I received my adorable cone. Service was good and I got a great car photo of my treat. I'll definitely be going back soon to try more flavors with other animal decor. Did I mention I love that you can eat the treats they make the animals with? That's an added bonus! read more
6 years ago
Great ice cream with a variety of flavors that are always rotating! Different than other ice cream shops in that they can make any ice cream into an "animal" with toppings. Great staff and cleanly environment. read more
7 years ago
Right when i walked into Eli's Ark, I could tell it was going to be a great "instagrammable experience". The aesthetic is definitely on point to get some cute photos. My friend and I were invited to try some of the flavors before we decided what we wanted. I think that being able to choose which animal you would like as toppings is a cute concept. There are a lot of unique flavors choices that I don't normally find other places. The staff was kind and asked if we had any nut allergies before putting the toppings on. It's always comforting to go to places that are accommodating to allergies. I thought the price was a bit steep, but giving all of the edible toppings I can understand why its more then your typical gelato. I would give the gelato itself a 3/5 itself, just because Ive had better before. All in all is was a fun experience! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
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Just hope you're lucky! We actually just had someone stay in the car, parked somewhere that wasn't a spot while we ran in really quick because there was no close street parking
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Eli's Ark - gelato - Updated July 2026
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