Its 4 pm in a red zone heat wave in May. Six kids in catholic school uniforms slink out of a sedan double parked on the crosswalk, and it's just rinse repeat like that as long as we're there. We're wondering what Lazberry is. The cashier says oh it's like a mixed berry you guys wanna try it? It's very good, so I get this in a gelati with vanilla soft serve. We're sitting on the ground, no tables out, but maybe it's too early in the season? Enjoying gelatis on the ground in the shade of their awning regardless. We are googling the etymology of thurl, because I think it's just a steezier way of saying thorough, which might be true if you're in Missouri but maybe not here? I'm listening to the children surrounding us. The kid who cant be more than 10 who casually walked up to his friend for the cleanest handshake I've ever seen is now walking very casually out of a door that looks like its for employees only. He comes back out with a cold water bottle and a saturated blue ring around his mouth. He's talking to a small crowd of children, all of whom are licking something frozen and staring at him like he's sliced bread. He says, "Yeah i pretty much know everyone here, like Jimmy and his son. Also Laz is right there, the cashier, short for Lazarus. That's how lazberry got its name." read more

See all

My quest to sample all of the classic water ice shops in the city continues. Jimmy's is open later and was near the laundromat, so I headed over. I went with a classic lemon water ice. It was good and not too sweet. My niece was recurred to see cotton candy water ice and got that. Husband got a gelati with chocolate soft serve and vanilla water ice. That was good, too. There are soft pretzels and frozen bananas too. The fluorescent light and chain link fence by the walk-up window inspire an odd nostalgia in me. I don't think this place has changed much over the years. Inexpensive spot for a cool treat on a hot day. read more

Owned by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Somerville, Jimmy Carter, and Jimmy Kneecricket. The kids working here are really nice. Their infamous chocolate flavour does nothing for me, but it's interesting and worth a try. The lemon is good, whereas the cherry is good but disappointingly has no chunks of cherry in it. The water ice here is super cold (lol, I sound stupid, but some ice is less cold than others, or something, sort of). It has a lush consistency. It's the cheapest of all the famous and underrated water ice shops in South Philly. They all taste slightly different, and this one seems to be the sweetest in terms of sugar content. Water Ice is like the Roast Pork Sandwich and the infamous Cheesesteak. Only unlike the Cheesesteak (and much like the Pork), it's absolutely delicious. I have no idea why, of these 3 claims to food fame, it's the bland, boring one (Cheesesteak) that became internationally famous. Forget it. Come here and get yourself a water ice or a Gelati, and you'll see what I mean. Water Ice has been exported around the country now by Rita's, which is from Philly, but it's still not as famous as it should be. In South Philly you have an assortment of tiny little family-owned water ice shops, which over time will go out of business if we are unlucky. I believe Italiano's already has, or will be soon. Gelati mixes layers of frozen custard with water ice. It sounds like it might not work but it absolutely does. It's wonderful. Rita's does a version using soft serve and it works really well, but since you can get that at Rita's, skip that option, and do the Pop's original, the unique specialty for South Philly Water Ice shops... the Gelati using hand-dipped hard ice cream. Vanilla, specifically. read more

Jimmy's Water Ice - Water ice water ice water ice water mighty good ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wow! Jimmy's lemon water ice is actually tart and complex of flavor, like freshly prepared homemade lemonade. And it's much thicker and denser that all the others I've tried. read more

Jimmy's Water Ice - Gimme Jimmys! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Typical South Philly wooder ice place meaning it's a no frills, no nonsense, cash only, easy to miss spot located on the corner of a tight knit residential neighborhood. The offerings are simple, with classic flavors such as cherry, chocolate, lemon etc and a few signature flavors such as their mint chocolate chip. You get a lot for a little, and a medium is the smallest way to squeeze in two flavors. On our most recent visit we tasted: - their signature mint chocolate chip, which is more of a creamy ice -pineapple, which has some rind in it! My personal fave! Yum! Super refreshing! -watermelon, which was understated, but good. -Cotton candy-definitely leaving this one to the littles. Ewwww -Strawberry Lemonade-awesome! Perfect balance of tart and sweet! This place is easy to hit up if you're shopping down on Del Ave (Target, Marshall's, etc or heading to the movie theater. It's the closest water ice place to the river) Easy 30 min loading spots right out front. read more

I love it here! Water ice is homemade and really delicious. Perfect place to stop on a summer night. Definitely try the strawberry lemonade flavor read more

After church this Sunday my family and I decided to swing by here for a summer treat. It was simple! Nice and delicious water ice. No credit cards so have cash! They had small sizes (very very small) but for great prices. Super cheap, great flavors, and... FREE JIMMIES! We got a small and a medium pictured below. Would recommend for anyone looking for a fun, cheap, summer treat! read more

Jimmy's Water Ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Found this little place on our way back to Texas and so glad we did mango and cherry are delicious. Will make it a point to stop next time I'm in town. read more

Jimmy's Water Ice - two cups of ice cream and a spoon - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The lemon ice was ok. Not worth a detour. One star because no one was wearing a mask. No sanitizer. Spoons sitting in an open container. Just not cool to be in any kind of service industry and not protect you're customers. read more

You come to South Philly and you feel like you need to get a cheese steak, right? WRONG! You need a pizza pretzel. The most life changing invention that was born (who knows where) and raised in South Philly small mom and pop shops. This involves a delicious pretzel with marinara and melted cheese on top. It changes lives. If you want the best one then you MUST come here! This small water ice/ ice cream shop is the best in the neighborhood! They are known for their chocolate water ice which has small chunks of chocolate inside of it. For me, it's all about their pizza pretzels! The prices are extremely reasonable and they have everything from water ice, soft serve ice cream, pretzels (plain, cheese or pizza) and even gelato! They offer frozen candy bars and have jimmies for ice cream. If you live close by or will be close, you should definitely make a stop! read more

Best water ice in South Philly!!! Mom and pop owned local business, and their italian water ice is just mind blowing!

Classic south philly water ice shop and service. Lighting is very old school. They have soft serve and milkshakes too!

Omg I'm addicted the the Cookies and cream water ice and hard vanilla gelatis!!! This is a gem way better then pops and Johns!!! Has the best ice cream and water ice in south philly ... Oh and also try the pizza pretzels mmmm mmmm good .. Thank me later read more

Jimmy's Water Ice - The gelati vanilla hard ice cream with cookies and cream water ice - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Grown up patronizing this place and it has the greatest water ice in Philly, hands down! Every flavor is seriously amazing and this will be your new favorite spot :) read more

Jimmy's Water Ice - Best handmade water ice in Philly! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

This little wooder ice shack is a throw back to days gone by (including the pricing.) Good riddance gelato. Buh bye Ben & Jerry's. You've been replaced! For under $5 you can get two frozen treats --like mango, chocolate or pineapple water ice, plus a soft serve cone or a regular scoop. Plus, at Jimmy's, jimmies are always free! Perfect stop after John's roast pork, or a stressful experience at ikea. Or any other time you want icy treats (or fried eats). read more

the water ice over at jimmies is awesome it screams south Philly nothing like a creamy vanilla fudge going down the hatch best water ice on the planet read more

A Hidden Gem of a place with the BEST water ice ever. Better than Johns... better than any of the chains... VERY helpful. Best part was they are NUT FREE and actually know what is in the ice because they make it there. This is a MUST go back to place. I am very critical on my Ice Cream, Water Ice and Gelato places and this one makes the grade. read more