One day Kens was closed so I went to Baskin Robbins, big mistake! That butter pecan wasn't even close to Kens.

Never let this place die!!! The ice cream is thick and the serving size is very generous even for a kid's portion. You can't beat their prices. The quality of their ice cream is also pretty good. It leans sweet, but from the flavors I've tasted, their strength is the dense creaminess. I really liked the lemon custard but horchata was a group favorite. There's a lot of different flavors so they'll cover the standard mainstream favorites like birthday cake, chocolate, vanilla, etc. The staff was so kind and friendly. They were very happy to talk to us and help us try out the flavors and tell us about their business. The store feels very personal and you can literally see their history on the wall as they've posted photos and awards they've received since their establishment in 1980. There's a very lived-in vibe and there's a few discounts and business cards for other stores that they've partnered with on the bar counter. It's great to see the community that they've made. It's funny that we could smell fish when we entered the store, but we realized it might be because there's a fish store nearby too. read more

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This was my first visit and I was immediately impressed when the young man at the counter looked up and greeted me when I walked in. I appreciated that he acknowledged a new customer even though he was busy serving an elderly man that was already there at the counter. I walked over to the ice cream freezers to look at the different flavors and within a minute another young man approached and said he was ready to help me whenever I was ready to order - he did not make me feel rushed and simply let me know he was there to help me once I knew what I wanted. I asked if I could try two of the flavors I was curious about and he said yes and served me the samples right away. I ended up ordering a waffle cone with one scoop of pecan praline, and one scoop of poundcake. It was delicious! I also took home two slices of cake they had displayed on the counter. One was poundcake and the other was a banana bread type of cake. They also had cake slices in a refrigerated section. I wish the cake slices had labels to identify the flavors. I am giving them five stars because not only did I enjoy my purchases but the young men behind the counter (who appeared to be teenagers) were very friendly and provided excellent customer service. They were also very patient with the elderly man that was there when I walked in, and they remained friendly throughout their interaction with him, even though he was slow with ordering and paying. There was no sighing or looks of impatience, or tapping their fingers on the counter - nor did they try to rush him - as I have often seen from employees at fast food restaurants or the clerks at stores. They had the type of friendly, helpful attitude that business owners typically have when you enter their place of business and I was very impressed with their friendly, welcoming customer service skills. What a refreshing experience all the way around. read more

Ken's ice cream parlor is a small business located in Carson, and it fits the ideal local business people tend to think of. It's quaint with a bit of seating (good for waiting around), is full of framed photos on the side that give it a homey touch, and a variety of flavors to choose from. They have your classics, but also have ones that are apparently made in house and differ from the generic Neapolitan flavors. The service here was great! The server seemed like he actually enjoys working here, which is always a delight to see. He was friendly and patient when we wanted to try different flavors. The servings were soooo generous... I got the pecan pralines, but next time I'm aiming for the lemon custard. Prices pretty much match what you see at other ice cream shops. I believe it was $6 for a single scoop with a cone, but I don't remember the exact costs for other sizes. Overall this is a great spot to go if you're looking for some yummy ice cream, solid service, and to support local businesses. read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Pecan praline - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

I love ice cream my favorite is peach ice cream which is available until the end of summer. I will definitely return sooner than later. Customer service is always great very friendly and helpful staff. read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Peach Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

My kids wanted a sweet treat so I decided to look for a place in our area and I found Ken's Ice cream parlor. The shop is located in a shopping center with plenty of parking available. We were greeted as we entered and helped right away. My kids were so excited when they saw the different ice cream flavors. After tasting a few, my youngest decided on the cotton candy flavor and my oldest on the cookies and cream. I got the cherry vanilla and we got a scoop of vanilla to go. The portions are so generous here and the prices are fair! Since we were on our way back home and the location was going to close in the next half an hour, we decided to eat our scoops heading back home but the place itself is a good size for an ice cream shop, it definitely has a cozy feel like ice cream shops I remember as a kid. I will definitely be coming back! read more

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Great customer service and absolutely delicious ice cream! I tried the mint chip and it was amazing--definitely one of the best I've had. The person behind the counter was incredibly kind and went out of his way to speak Spanish with my mother, which we truly appreciated. That level of care meant a lot to us. Muchas gracias! I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Variety of ice cream selections. We've been going here since our kids were young. Gem of Carson. 10-24-2024 read more

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You can't go wrong with this place. I got the 4 scoop bowl to go and it was super awesome! Truly a fine establishment. A single scoop is a double scoop. Genoricty, quality, and outstanding customer service. I left with a bag full of goodness.. Check it out! read more

Ken's is the absolute best! I LOVE this place. Generous portions of delicious Carnation Ice Cream and lots of sherbets. The service is always prompt and friendly. I never miss an opportunity to stop by when I am in Carson. They have been around for many years and they have always been on the top of my family's list. This family business is gold. read more

Had the banana split. It was a spiritual experience. That thing was awesome and for $9 it could feed two large and hungry people. Great staff. I felt like family when I was here. Felt like going back in time. Highly recommend Ken's if you love great ice cream and want to enjoy the classics at very reasonable prices. read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Banana Split - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

This is a great local neighborhood spot serving ice cream. It looks like they serve thrifty ice cream. They have generous portions for the price. I enjoyed their unique flavors such as sweet potato pie. The photos of the celebrities were cool. read more

Visited Ken's Ice Cream Parlor on Mother's Day where there was a concert at Dignity Health where we were attending! My friend really needed to use the bathroom and couldn't wait so we stumbled upon Ken's. We passed by several closed stores which left us disappointed but thankfully Ken's was open! They let us use the bathroom as long as we were customers. While my friend went to the bathroom I sampled some flavors and decided to go with their cherry ice-cream. We just got a kids scoop to share but the scoop was huge and very well worth it. It was pretty hot that day as well so the ice-cream was a nice treat to cool us down. The staff here are super friendly and helpful! There's so many amazing flavors that I wish I sampled more. The horchata one was screaming to me. Definitely recommend visiting especially if you happen to be at a concert across the street lol read more

Yummy ice-cream. Gal that greeted us was super friendly and a delight to deal with. I was on the fence on which flavor to choose and she offered a sample taste to help me decide. The servings were perfect!! My mom and I sat in the parlor and reviewed all of the photos displayed. read more

Black owned business!!! Let's support our people! I love coming here & ordering the large vanilla shake. It tastes very homemade & made with love. This is my favorite ice cream shop & I will continue to return here. Don't forget to give them your number so you can earn points. I have no complaints at all. The ambiance is very chill, the employees are friendly and they all work together well. read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Jumbo vanilla shake - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

Black owned! This is a lovely ice cream parlor that's run by a wonderful family. Every time I've gone, the service has been excellent and the staff makes me feel at home. They have a good number of flavors to choose from. I really like the Maui Waui sherbet (kind of tastes like those big stick popsicles), the rainbow sherbet, and the blueberry cheesecake ice cream. I think a single adult scoop costs $5.50 and a kids scoop costs $4. They also have a variety of other deserts such as cookies and slices of cake. For some reason, this page says they're closed on Sundays but they're actually open on Sunday. read more

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There ice cream is delicious and the service is great. I been going to them since the 80s.

Sooo glad I decided to grab some ice cream after work. It was definitely a good shock and surprise to see that they still carry bubblegum ice cream along with many other great flavors. I will definitely be coming back soon. read more

This is your friendly local neighborhood ice cream store that's implanted in the community. It certainly feels that way when you walk in. There's the wall of fame with everyone notable who has visited. You feel the history when you step inside. But besides that they have a lot of good flavors here. You get a little bit of everything here. Great prices too. The staff was really neighborly too. A much needed ice cream break read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Birthday Cake - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

Ken's Ice Cream is a deeply grounded, family-owned business located in the City of Carson for more than 30 years. If you take a look at their photo wall, you'll see the many celebrities over the years who have come in for great ice cream and great service. They are across the street from CSUDH and Dignity Health Sports Park in a shopping plaza. Parking spots are hit or miss because of other businesses in the plaza but most times you shouldn't have a problem finding. Ken's serves Thrifty brand ice cream and are known for consistently scooping generous portions of your favorite flavor. They also specialize in shakes and banana splits. My personal favorite is the old school blue bubblegum ice cream which is hard to find these days. I highly recommend that you try Ken's Ice Cream and am confident you'll keep them as one of your repeat go-to's. read more

My favorite ice cream spot to go to, horchata ice cream and the seasonal sweet potato are my go to along with the rum raisin flavor !

Stropped by here on date night with my wife. A hidden gem for sure. The plaza it's in is unassuming - but I'm glad to see a small local business like this. Inside there is lots of memorabilia which is really cool to look at. They have lots of flavors available and the staff was super helpful and let us try different flavors until we found the right ones. We will definitely be back to try some more flavors. Also, the music selection is read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Root beer float with lemon custard - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

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Cute small business and was craving ice cream so I decided to try it. I had great interaction and experience with the employee. He was extremely helpful and kind. I got a sampler 4 scoop and my boyfriend had an ice cream sundae. Would definitely go back . read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Ice cream sundae - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

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Big portions at a great price small business with good customer service and good ice cream

I was in town for a funeral and decided to get ice cream on my way back to my hotel. I found this gem with a down home flare. The customer service was awesome and they had Thrifty brand ice cream! There were several awards and letters of recognition to the owners posted on the wall. You could tell that, not only was this business a Carson staple, but Ken and his family are awesome people. So because of their dedication to the community throughout the test of time, I gave it 5 s! read more

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Superb mom & pop ice cream shop. Great customer service, many flavors, really personable (ambiance) unlike the chain competitors. I highly recommend checking them out for your next ice cream run. read more

Came for a delicious banana split, Ken's did not disappoint. Might be the best banana split in the south bay. It was huge and the ice cream was excellent. My wife and kids polished it off no problem. The service was great and friendly. Very hospitable definitely will be going back, I really love when the atmosphere is welcoming. If you haven't tried it I would definitely recommend it. read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Banana split with chocolate, vanilla, and birthday cake (kids choice) which was surprisingly good too! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

Cool little ice cream shop reminded me of growing up in the 80's. Good quality ice cream and pleasant staff. I had seen this place many times but didn't realize it was actually open. I heard about it from another community member and decided to give it a shot. Really surprised to hear they have been in business 40 years! Looked like they had homemade cookies but I was talking on my phone and didn't verify. I'll have to ask on my next trip. Looks like this place will now be on my rotation! They had several flavors to choose from. I definitely feel they are a better value than Baskin Robins that is diagonally across the street way better customer service. I absolutely recommend them and nope to see them in business for many more years! read more

We live in Carson and always come to Ken's when we want ice cream! We love their ice cream and my daughter always says "so tasty and so good " great service and a staple to the community read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Rainbow sherbet - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

Great neighborhood Ice Cream place with delicious homemade style ice cream! Unique flavors with the usual bowls and shakes etc! Great service. I have been going for years, even though its a 20 minute drive, but worth it! All time favorite! read more

My daughter and I were in the area and stumbled upon this ice cream shop on our way to the freeway. When we walked in, we were greeted by an older gentleman and 2 young kids working behind the counter. This was a perfect stop to cool off in this summer heat. Would most definitely stop by if I'm in the area. read more

Ken's has been a staple in Carson since I was a little girl. It is appreciated that they are always personable here. It's almost like going to a coffee house daily and bumping into the locals. Despite having the soccer stadium across the street, I'm sure business has gotten much busier they treat everyone like family. The ice cream is old-fashioned and just what you need to keep it simple and to the point read more

[Review #657] 2021 Yelp 100 Challenge (80/100) OTM Club 09/19/21 - 09/25/21 I would not have known about this hidden gem if it weren't for this week's OTM Club curated freebie: OTM BANANA SPLIT at Ken's Ice Cream Parlor. This black-owned mom & pop ice cream shop, located in a strip mall on the north side of Carson, has been around for 40+ years, serving Thrifty Ice Cream. I grew up on this drugstore brand ice cream that's a mix of affordability & nostalgia, with a reputation for classic &/or fun flavors & yummyness. Thrifty has been around more than double that (of Ken's), in which case you can probably date the customer's age based on the price they paid for a cone of Thrifty's ice cream. LOL Hehehe... ¯\(°_o)/¯ I digress. The parlor is small, offering limited counter seating. Upon entry, there are shouts of warm greeting with a friendly smile. =) To the right, a large floor fan sits under a wall of the shop's many recognitions/awards, including President Obama, State of CA Senate, Carson Chamber of Commerce. To the left, a wall of the famous that enjoyed a cone, including Huell Howser, CSI crew, etc. Instead of the neapolitan classic flavors of chocolate, strawberry, & vanilla, the staff generously allowed me to create a customized 3-flavor banana split, so my OTM Banana Split (Lemon Custard, Cotton Candy, Black Cherry, banana, strawberry & fudge topping, nuts, whipped cream, maraschino cherries) was quite unique, & oh-so-ginormous! :-O I was asked if I wanted 2 so my 5 YO son could have his own... luckily I didn't because Ken's banana split is a meal in itself. The cup was overflowing that a separate lid from the ice cream canister was needed/used to catch the dripping. We barely finished between the 2 of us & my son ate more than 1/2! I especially loved the lemon custard, creamy & rich with a light lemon aftertaste. It's pretty obvious that my son choose cotton candy & tastes just so... the scoop seemed larger than the other 2 flavors because it felt never-ending. o_O We compromised & choose black cherry, which was loaded with cherries. Prices are still affordable, & service is excellent -- service with a huge smile! I especially liked that they asked if we had any nut allergies before including them. Not many places are so thoughtful & attentive to address this, but we don't have any food allergies. Still social distancing, wearing masks, with hand sanitizer by the register. This banana split was the perfect Friday afternoon treat to kick-off the weekend after a long week! It truly was a special mommy & son date because a friendly black customer hit us up in the parking lot; we reminisced about the pleasures of Thrifty ice cream & he generously gave M a Spider-Man ball! Not only that, he even sang/serenaded the Spider-Man theme song! =D You can't see the logo, but my son is also wearing a Spider-Man t-shirt. He was so kind, & said my son was a good boy & deserved this ball. M was overjoyed for the ball; he shouted a loud " thank you" to this kind stranger. I didn't think about it at that moment, but en route home, my son mentioned: "Now that I have a ball you don't have to replace the one I lost last week at the park." Serendipity at its best... we enjoyed delish ice cream & received the most perfect gift! =) I've been so busy working that I didn't have time to replace the lost ball. What a great way to start off the weekend!! Definitely a fan of Ken's Ice Cream Parlor! I told my son that we should bring his sister to experience this yummyness, to which he yelled "no" because he didn't want to share our secret. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I informed him "sharing is caring" & prodded him of a stranger's generosity, to which he reluctantly replied "ok." Yeesh! ;-) Recommended: Lemon custard (my fav!), cotton candy (my son's fav), & black cherry. read more

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Love Ken's Ice Cream Parlor! Fresh ice cream, affordable prices, and very welcoming. New Favorite Ice Cream shop

Had the banana split! Biggest banana split I've ever had! Delicious!!!! The two young adults working there were very personable! Gotta love family owned businesses! read more

Finally found a place with good banana splits! Nom nom nom This is my go to ice cream spot in Carson!! Love it

They always keep my favorite ice cream stocked and I can hardly find cherry vanilla anywhere! They just introduced a reward program which is amazing because after so many purchases, you get something free. This place is a nice treat for myself and my daughter after she gets out of school. Cheers! read more

GREAT ice cream place! We went for Mother's Day and the service was amazing. The banana splits are HUGE and so good! 10/10 would recommend!!! The ice cream shop was so cute and had a great environment. Definitely go here for all your ice cream needs. read more

Ken's Ice Cream Parlor - Banana Split - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Carson, California

Ken's is amazing. I've been coming here since I was a kid and will continue to. Their ice cream is delicious and they have all the classics. read more

My wife and I had a wonderful experience after lunch we went to Ken's Ice parlor. We met Isabel she served us graciously. We will make it a ritual to go get ice cream after an event. It was delightful. read more