What a great concept, and a lot of potential to be something super great. The first issue I have with this location is how beat up it looks. There is trash on the floor, it looks dirty, and the walls look beat up. There really is no effort in the indoor decor, or making it a warm, welcoming place to be. Second, it seems understaffed... And that the two workers there are making ice cream and also taking orders at the same time... And they definitely need help in making sure they're attending to everyone... Because you do wait a while until you can order or get your ice cream. Lastly, I went for a non-dairy item, the piña colada, and it was not good. The description says it has pineapples, coconut, and a coconut bass... But there were no fresh pineapples or fresh coconut. When she was making my ice cream I did not taste very good, it tasted very concentrated, and very artificial sweetener ish. I would recommend to not order the piña colada, because it is not fresh fruit. I wish the owner of this location would put a little more effort into this business, because it has the potential to be a great spot read more

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It can be a long wait to receive your order especially during the weekends but!!!! service here is exceptional. All the servers here are friendly, attentive, and try to be as quick as possible. Our favorites here are matcha + berry and Thai tea + matcha with condensed milk. We requested if we could have matcha + berry + Thai tea, and they were able to fulfill our request! The BEST combinations ever. All 3 of them go together so well and although sweet, each flavor could be tasted and SO creamy. read more

ICICLES - Thai tea + matcha + berry - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

I have walked pass this place so many times but I never tried it because I thought it was too gimmicky to my liking. But my friend wanted to try it yesterday so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the ube everywhere and the unlimited toppings made me feel really excited! Overall from taste and entertainment standpoint, I think they deserve 4 stars, the taste was good with good texture in the ice cream, the roasted marshmallow was really on point, it makes me want smores really badly. I would say watching them make the ice-cream justify the high cost as they have to put in more effort than just scooping ice-cream. But for $13, I think I would not want to come often. read more

ICICLES - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

$13.5 for a tiny cup that didn't even taste good. I ordered 1. The Basic - essentially vanilla ice cream 2. Strawberry & Mango - too sour, lacked sweetness, no strawberry or mango flavor 3. The raspberry - artificially intense red looking. read more

ICICLES - $13.5 for a tiny cup that didn't even taste good. Strawberry & Mango. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

I FINALLY had the chance to try rolled ice cream. I know I'm a little late, but it was sooo worth the wait!! S E R V I C E: It was pretty busy when my friend and I walked in. There were only two people making the ice cream and one cashier. The cashier was very helpful and gave me suggestions on what tasted good with what. The girls making the rolled ice cream looked like pros haha and it was very cool to watch. F O O D: I didn't think heaven could be rolled in ice cream! I chose Butterface which had cookie butter ice cream and graham crackers. I added cheese cake bites topped with whipped cream and caramel. The toppings didn't cost extra so I wished I put more! I will next time :). The ice cream was creamy and it doesn't seem like much when they start making it, but the portion size was pretty big and...I devoured it. O V E R A L L: I can't wait for the next time to get rolled ice cream! read more

ICICLES - Butterface topped with cheesecake bites, whipped cream, and caramel - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've had this chain before and the last time I did I thought it was OK. My niece wanted to try this so I decided to just order one because she couldn't eat a whole one I asked if they could split it into 2 cups. We got the Thai tea and Matcha tea and overall it was OK I didn't think the flavors are extremely strong for the Matcha. The Thai tea flavor was pretty strong and I think the Thai tea was a little bit overpowering for me given that I'm not a huge Thai tea. It's pretty much unlimited topping however my niece only wanted a few so we just got to try a couple of the fruity pebbles. All in all I think this place was OK a little bit on the pricier side. This is a very Cream-based ice cream and I believe they use heavy cream to mix all their flavors. read more

ICICLES - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I have been to this ICICLES many many many times and each time I am so happy to be here. read more

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I always wanted to try rolled ice cream and I'm glad I did. It was a cool experience and the ice cream was really good! They have so many different combinations and I would definitely go back to try others. This time we tried "Mai Thai" and it really does taste like Thai Tea. Price was $8.99 flat with unlimited toppings. You might think this is expensive but they allowed us to split the order into two cups wich effectively makes it 2 for $8.99. Great place to take your date and share. We left very satsified. The store has benches to sit on while you eat and we found it perfect without any issues. Service was good and the staff was friendly. Nothing really to complain about. I ROLL for ICE CREAM!......i guess that doesn't really sound as good as I Scream for Ice Cream :(. read more

ICICLES - The menu as of 05/19 in case anyone is interested - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here for dessert with the family for my son's bday celebration. There's public parking garages in the area and lots of street parking that's metered and sometimes hard to catch. I ordered the ube everywhere which was OK. I feel there could've been more ube flavor but there wasn't. Had condensed milk, mochi pieces and brownies as my toppings. I basically got the brownies just because I wanted brownies Husband got the Bravocado which I read used real avocado. I was jealous cause the taste on that was SOOOO GOOD! I think it's a bit overpriced. Basically $9 for an order. I guess it's worth it if you top it real good? ‍ Or you could be paying $9 for your server's arm workout . Inside was nice and clean. Workers seemed pretty efficient esp after the orders started lining up. They also have stickers near the register and a rewards program. there's also seating inside and outside. read more

ICICLES - Bravocado toasted coconut, condensed milk, banana, and whipped cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We had dinner nearby and had a sudden craving for ice cream, even though it was cold and rainy, lol. This was my first time having rolled ice cream, and it was pretty good! There are plenty of choices on the menu, and a ton of free toppings as well. I went with the "Wake Me Up", which is hazelnut coffee, and it was yummy! The cashier offered some toppings, but I wasn't sure what to get, so they suggested strawberries, which wound up being great. It's also super cool how they roll the ice cream right in front of you. For a second it felt like I was somewhere overseas watching this take place, lol. Definitely try this if you have a craving for ice cream in the area. read more

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I like the unique concept of Icicles and the choice of so many different varieties and flavors. I had never tried something like this before so I was looking forward to it. First thing I noticed is how much work and physical labor is needed by the staff to make each order of ice cream rolls. Kudos to them for their hard work. It was cool to see your order being made from scratch right in front of you. The unlimited toppings was good too but sometimes there is too much of a good thing as adding too many toppings masks the flavor of the ice cream. The ice cream itself I thought was only ok. The texture was not as creamy as I would like and it was a bit icy. Not sure if I would come back as I prefer the ice cream flavor and creamy texture of the nearby Coldstone Creamery. But this place is worth a try at least once! read more

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Icicles in San Mateo is a sweet spot that serves rolled up ice cream with customized toppings! SERVICE : There was one individual that went above and beyond. I decided to redeem my points for a free keychain. Although they ran out he continued to look for one for me and eventually found one. Later on I asked for a toasted marshmallow and they were out. The guy quickly ran to the store, fired up a marshmallow and gave me one right as I was about to leave Icicles. Definitely good service! EXPERIENCE : My first time at Icicles was definitely exciting. I have always wanted to try rolled up ice cream. Its fun to see them make your ice cream by crushing and rolling. ICE CREAM / TOPPINGS : They have many ice cream flavors to pick and choose of. It typically consist of a custard base with ingredients chopped and mixed in. Once the ice cream is completely you get to top it of with fruits, sauce, and sweets. WAIT TIME : Just waiting to order is typically very long, it could take from 10-20 minutes. On top of waiting to order you also have to wait for them to make your ice cream. I give Icicles in San Mateo a 3 out of 5 stars. Although the concept is really cool, I find the long wait and price for ice cream is not worth it. I think paying $9 for ice cream is overpriced. If you really want to come here then try it out. However, I would recommend this place if you have already tried rolled ice cream. I think they are all the same. read more

ICICLES - CEREAL KILLER FRUITY PEBBLES ($8.99) topped with condensed milk, mochi, fruity pebbles, and a toasted marshmallow - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

Expensive There were 3 of us and we all ordered different flavors but everything tasted the same and very bland. read more

Came here 3 times and they're either closed early or not open because the times on map are completely wrong. Need to fix your hours because ive wasted my time and gas to come all the way out here for nothing. read more

Over hyped in my view, but not that of my young granddaughters! They totally overruled me (but they're not Yelping)! The place was noisy, crowded and quite frankly, smelly. So stuffy and unpleasant that the adults in our group went outside to get some fresh air - literally! The drama of the chopping was fun for the kids, but beyond that it was very rich (in so many ways...) and not that great flavor wise. Given how quickly the girls dumped their ice cream in the trash, I think the drama was about the best part, not the ice cream. read more

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We got here at 9:33pm, after driving 30 MINUTES across town, the people inside said they closed early and would not take our order. He was also rude and shouted. Very rude. Very disappointed. D: read more

Drove 30 minutes to get ice cream and they decided they were gonna close early compared to the time they're supposed to close at.

They could add more ingredients... they barely put anything that you add for the amount of $$ they charge.

AMAZING service. Sophia served us today was quick, excellent and the food was phenomenal! Felt like a perfect catered experience Really enjoyed my time here with my son read more

ICICLES - Sophia - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

Been here a few times, came back for the first time in years the other day. Like everything else, prices have gone up. $12.50 is a bit pricey, but it's enough for 2-3 people to share. It's a very labor intensive process, which is undoubtedly part of the high cost. It's also part of the novelty. The ice cream itself is good. I'd give 4 stars, but am deducting one because I witnessed something gross during our last visit. While waiting for our order, we were watching this young worker dude preparing someone else's order. This guy was the only worker not wearing a mask. When he was preparing the roast marshmallow topping, he ]torched the marshmallow and when it caught fire, he would blow out the flame. WITH HIS MOUTH! When he torched the other side, he blew it out again! It's pretty gross, even in non-pandemic times, but especially gross right now. Thankfully, someone else prepared our order and they simply shook the marshmallow to extinguish the fire. read more

I came in here towards the end of a sore throat. The staff were really patient, friendly and helpful b/c I felt slow, sick and unsure. Just wish I was recommended or suggested that any toppings can be added to any of the fried ice cream/rolled ice cream b/c to those first timers let's be honest, it is tough choosing. read more

A Happy Wednesday treat for us! We wanted a little something to satisfy our sweet tooth. Thankfully there is this place in San Mateo that can do that. The person who worked there was nice enough to put on a little show for my kiddies which made the trip here more worth the while. Thanks for brightening our day with these yummy desserts! We will be back soon again. read more

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Over-hyped. Cash register service slow and impersonal. I asked about combining flavors (matcha berry and Thai tea) and she said they couldn't do that. However, the "tea's me" flavor is a combination of the two (without berries.) The line is really long (took over half an hour), it takes time for each order, and people who work there flirt with customers (it's quite amusing, and made me feel old because they're all high schoolers.) There are nice toppings (unlimited), but they can only fit so much in each cup of ice cream. Also, some employees had long side ponytails and that made me concerned/worried about hair in my food. Not worth $9! Rolled ice cream should not be that much! It's not that much in New York where I had it a lot last summer! Will find another rolled ice cream place when I want it. read more

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The line, the line, as in there's always one, out the door and snaked onto the sidewalk. Ok, now that I got that out of my system. Icicles isn't selling some new fangled dessert magic. It's ice cream with a presentation twist. Smashed out, cut up, rolled up, and stacked up. After you place your order, and another wait, your name is eventually called out to witness the creation process unfold before your eyes. For my first ever visit to this franchise, I went with the Wake Me Up(#10), a hazelnut coffee concoction. After your cup is filled with that sweet rolled goodness, you are brought to the end of the counter where you get to choose toppings of your choice. My first dip into their sugary pool left me with an impression that their ice cream product is above average(smooth, good milk/ice balance) but not what a connoisseur or highbrow would consider a primo product. The staff I interacted with were all eager with a smile, and although they work in a hectic environment, I got the vibe they were all juiced up to serve. I'm sure working around ice cream would give me a little extra pep in my step, if I were in their shoes. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of their menu(literally). read more

I love icicles, in fact it was my favorite place to go to 5 years ago when i would come monthly. The ice cream is really good and i love their variety of flavors and the unlimited toppings. Nothing against this current location as I thought the service and ice cream was fascinating, but my real gripe lies with the prices that Icicles as a business charges. I feel like they've really self-sabotaged their business by dramatically increasing prices every year. Back then they would charge $7, now they charge $12.50 for the same exact things. I used to be a high schooler then, and $7 for some ice cream and unlimited toppings was worth buying. Now having a full-time job, even I irk at the current prices today and it's sad to see the long lines from 5 years ago get reduced to nothing. They really had the winning formula with the prices back then as people of all ages could afford it, but I can see why the current prices today are turning away customers like myself and why the lines that went out the door are no longer around today. Sad to see but hope they turn it around because they really do something different when it comes to ice-cream read more

New concept ice cream place that uses a cold flat plate to freeze cream and your crushed add-ins and then scrapes them off into these little spirals and puts them in a cup. Great idea, but the process takes a long time which results in a pretty long line out the door. Really interesting options - pretty diverse menu - but the space is pretty rundown and I found the cream to be way too sweet. Nice that they give you an option to add anything on top but a bit like Pinkberry it's sort of like three berries and 14 drops of chocolate so your end result comes off feeling a bit sparse. Good idea, run down spot, uninterested staff and a long line make this hard to go back to over and over again. read more

ICICLES - This process takes a long time. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

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3.5/5 A bit pricy for ice cream but if you like a lot of toppings then it makes up for it. The best flavor (in my opinion) is the Strawberry Fantasy, which is also marked as one of the favorites on the menu. You order first and they call your name so they can hand-make the ice cream to your liking. Each flavor is $8.95 with unlimited toppings. The reason why I didn't give it a high rating is due to the prices and the long lines. From a logical standpoint, if you see a line out the door just go another time - they're gonna take a very long time before your order is called. The reason for this is due to the fact that they hand-make the ice creams which takes about 5 minutes a person. That being said, they're normally not busy on weekday's in the afternoon so that's an ideal time to go. Even though the ice cream is solid, I wouldn't wait in a super long line for it. But it's definitely worth a try when the line isn't crazy. read more

ICICLES - Strawberry fantasy - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

Expensive, but delicious. Stumbled upon this gem during a random Downtown San Mateo outing and I have to admit, I'm a fan. The frozen custard was super delicious and yummy. I ordered Number 5, which was the Oreo Blast. I wish they had a Taro option though, ha. Super simple menu. Unlimited toppings. Friendly staff. Quick and easy. I'd come again. read more

ICICLES - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

Gimmicky. Kids enjoyed watching their ice cream be made. $8.75 for a signature combo with as much toppings you want/or can fit into the bowl, that is scooped by your server. read more

ICICLES - Waiting for their #12 Rock n Roll: Almonds, Chocolate & Marshmallows - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

Pretty much same as their location in San Jose, although, this one is much closer to those of us who live in the SSF and onward so here's to being grateful for that because this location in located in downtown San Mateo and it makes it easier for us if the line here is much too long because San Mateo has a lot of back up options. My friend and I came here during their soft opening and everything was pretty much the same, except the workers seem much friendlier here just because I've actually heard them offer customers the chance to re-roll their ice cream if they weren't fond of the looks. Not sure if that's just because they were in soft opening mode and needed the practice or if that's an every day kind of thing, but still, nice to know they're down to do that in case your ice cream doesn't look pleasing enough for your Instagram. My friend and I both opted for the Cereal Killer except I got mine with fruity pebbles. The best part about their ice cream is probably the large menu of toppings and it's unlimited so you're able to go wild if you really wanted. They also got more cereal dispensers on the customers' side so you're able to add more afterward if you wanted to. Only downside to this place is that there is no seating inside. They have a bench outside, but otherwise you're just taking your ice cream to go. read more

ICICLES - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

Located in downtown San Mateo, this ice cream place is ideal for dessert after those filling lunches or dinners in the area. Just like the other Icicles locations, this place has one solid price for one flavor of ice cream with unlimited toppings. I must say that it is pretty pricey for ice cream -- $7.75 per cup (but if you check in and show them you get $1 off). Even with limitless toppings there's only so much stuff you can fit in the cup once the rolled ice cream is in. The Sunday night I went it was surprisingly crowded. It took me about 10 minutes of waiting in line to order and another 15 minutes or so before I got to see my ice cream made. Since it's still rather new to the area, I assume the lines will continue to stay long for a while, so if you decide to come here on a weekend or at night, make sure you give yourself some time to wait just in case if it's crowded. I know you pay for the aesthetics of the rolled ice cream, but I was rather disappointed with the way my ice cream turned out. I don't know if the worker was rolling to fast or something but the rolls came out really messy and you could see it on her face that she knew she made some ugly ice cream rolls. I mean it's not the worst part because in the end the ice cream melts and gets eaten so the look shouldn't matter that much but considering it's nearly $8 for one cup of ice cream I expect beautifully rolled, aesthetically pleasing ice cream in my cup. The quality of the ice cream is pretty good -- it's not the type of ice cream that melts super easily and it's more on the thick, creamier end. I ordered matcha/green tea and I thought they did a really good job making sure you could taste that green tea in your ice cream. It even had that green tea characteristic "pasty/creamy" texture. Also the servings are plenty to share with two or three people. Giving it 3 stars because although the ice cream and toppings were tasty, I don't think it's worth the price or the wait and the finished product, aka my rolled ice cream, wasn't that great. read more

ICICLES - My green tea ice cream with mochi, lychee jelly, and condensed milk. (Not rolled well ) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

This place is my favorite ice cream place in the bay. They always have a line but it's worth the wait. I used to think the rolled ice cream was just for looks and didn't taste different but it gives it such a good texture. Definitely worth getting over normal ice cream! I always stop by read more

I got the matcha/Thai tea flavor (#15) and it was really good. Although it was pretty expensive, the taste is totally worth it. I'm not one to go crazy over trendy foods, especially sweets/desserts, but Icicles actually lives up to the hype. I consider myself to be rather picky when it comes to ice cream, but the texture and flavor of the ice cream here is really unique. One thing to note though is that this location no longer gives you a free order for your birthday since business has been so slow. Instead, they now do buy one get one free which is still a good deal. read more

ICICLES - #15 - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

No matter how hard I try, I can't say no to ice cream. It's my kryptonite and lately the rolled variety has been drawing me in. This place opening is a blessing though. Now I don't have to drive all the way down to the South Bay for my Icicles fix. For those of you unfamiliar with rolled ice cream, you basically watch your order poured on a super cold metal pan and mixed with add-ins. The mixture is then spread out super thin to get to the right frozen consistency and scraped into rolled pieces of ice cream. Flavors range from Thai tea to Oreo to fruity flavors(non dairy). This place even had avocado! Yum. I picked the Rock n Roll, which is almond, chocolate and marshmallows mixed together. I added some graham crackers too. After your rolled ice cream is done, you can all the toppings you want! There are soooo many choices, and some you can put on yourself. They have dispensers that have toasted coconut and fruity pebbles cereal! If you ask for a marshmallow, they will torch it so it has that soft melted insides. Nice touch. Don't get discouraged about the line. They were pretty fast when I went during their soft opening. Their location is perfect to walk to after dinner or a movie. I'm looking forward to trying their taco Tuesdays! read more

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Downtown San Mateo is the home of so many wonderful eating establishments. But Icicles has my favorite ice cream in the neighborhood. If I'm in the area, it's difficult for me to resist the temptation. If I have time to wait in line, I'll walk up and place an order. (Of course, the lines are often a problem, especially in the evenings. If you walk by during the day and see no line, take this as a sign from the Ice Cream Dieties and get an order now!) I've tried several different flavors, but the Ferarii is my favorite, with it's nutella and almonds. The Mai Thai and Gotcha Matcha are pretty good, too. One time, I tried one of their non-dairy "fruit roll-ups." The consistency was very thick, since it was just 100% fruit. If you order one of those, be prepared for a different mouthfeel. Lastly, if you queue up towards closing time, don't worry about not getting served. One of the managers told me that their policy is to serve everyone who has been waiting in line, even after closing time. Just make sure you have pleasant people to talk to in line (or, at least, a full phone charge) to pass the time. read more

Pretty popular and long wait time...but I guess it is worth! They have great options including vegan! Went there on late night Saturday almost closing time at 11pm and there was still a line going outside and we just made it. Tastes great and plenty of toppings - love the choc waffle bits and strawberry/ bananas. One size and $8 a pop. read more

ICICLES - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

I took my goddaughter and her friends here for dessert for her 13th birthday party, after dinner/dessert option. They were able to accommodate all 18 of us easily. While there was no seating there (tables were removed), there was plenty of standing space. We greatly appreciated the option to order via their kiosk at the front door, especially since it made us so easier to make each person's selection while track the order by their name. Once the order was submitted, all staff there kindly divvied up the task of preparing each of us orders which allowed us to get our desserts quickly and rotate outside, out of the way. I'd definitely come here again. Yummy and great customer service. read more

Rolled frozen ice cream is always a unique and fun experience! I've been here a couple of times. Flavors are good and you get to choose unlimited toppings for your ice cream. It is on the pricier side (almost $10) but I guess you pay for the experience and the quality! :) read more

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First time having rolled ice cream and it was so good! I got the dairy free coconut kind here with Almonds Bananas in the cream and Nutella and white chocolate drizzle on the outside. Yum! Wait is a bit long but goes fast. Shout out to all the kids hustling inside, you guys rock! read more

ICICLES - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Used to really like this place but they've messed up. I could tolerate the ridiculous wait times even when they had a short line and a large crew working. I could tolerate the fact that at any given time, 20% of items on the menu were not available as they had run out of an ingredient. I could even tolerate the lack of smiles and engagement from the zombie-like kids who are forced to work here. But I refuse to pay $10.75 for ice-cream. Especially when Baskin Robbins is a block away! $10.75... plus another $1 for splitting it with my daughter plus another $1.25 tip for the zombies. $13 for an ice-cream? I can't tolerate this. Bye - your prices have become a joke. read more