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Wanderlust Creamery

4.4 (170 reviews)
Open 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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Tasting Trio
Tay N.

We saw the new flavors for June and wanted to try them all! Here's our review of each one: Oaxacan Dark Chocolate: - Good but literally just tasted like chocolate. You definitely got the hints of cinnamon which was nice but that was about it Taiwanese treasure bowl: - This was in my boyfriend's top 3, I was meh about it. The boba adds a nice textural component but to me this just tasted like pretty basic taro ice cream. I think if you really like taro ice cream this will be super yummy but it was just okay for me. Mascarpone blueberry elderflower: - This was probs my 3rd favorite. Ice cream was very creamy with a slight tartness from the mascarpone. Jam was nice, this reminds me kind of like the Jeni's bramble berry crisp (without the crisp). It was a pretty basically cream base with fruit component, but I like stuff like that. It probs would've benefitted from some sort of shortbread or cake component. Aloe Vera Yu Ua: - Very creamy and tart, very much reminiscent of Vietnamese yogurt which I love. Super yummy but just a bit underwhelming. Yummy but not something I'd go out of my way for. Lilikoi Li Hing Pineapple: - Both me and my boyfriend's top favorite! Super light and refreshing and the mix of the citrus and fruity flavors was so good I wanted to actually bring a pint of this home. Texture was more of a sorbet consistency, bonus points for it being vegan. I still think about this one. Palo Santo Mint Chip: - My second favorite! Super creamy nice minty base with chunks of chocolate instead of basic chocolate chips so the crunch and texture was sooooo good. Unfortunately I got ZERO notes of the "infused with palo Santo wood" it just tasted like a basic mint and chip but done WELL. We both said this was probably the best mint and chip ice cream we've ever had. We also wanted to get a pint of this one to bring home.

Arya R.

Usually I do like wanderlust but I recently went and ordered the Ube Malted Crunch. However, my ice cream literally had zero of the malted crunch pieces Not a single one! If I wanted plain Ube ice cream, I would have ordered that. Was super bummed.

Bryan G.

Very unique flavors here, I was pretty bummed out that they did not have the Japanese Neapolitan, I really wanted to try that one. Me and my wife came here after a day of shopping at the South Coast plaza. We ended up sharing the tasting trio and the best scoop was the "Kinder" which tasted like the Ferrero Rocher chocolate. We also got a mascarpone blueberry and this new seasonal cookie dough flavor that I cannot spell or pronounce the actual name of it lol I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area again to try their other flavors.

Black Sesame Cookies & Cream 1 scoop
Tina L.

Kind in providing you tasting spoons. I liked the Black Sesame Cookies and Cream - with pieces of nuts/cookies. Thus place is a must for outstanding unique Asian inspired ice cream flavors. Great for a late night sweet treat.

Angie K.

Made A Afternoon Visit To Wanderlust Creamery, Costa Mesa Location!! Ice Cream Shop With Homemade Ingredients & Variety Of Flavors!! Casual Ambiance & Friendly Staff!! Love The Rotating Monthly Flavors, Signatures & Seasonal!! Tried Few Samples Before Deciding!! Ordered The Sakura Crunch & Cloudberry Meringue Combo!! Delicious & Creamy Ice Cream!! Service Was Helpful & Efficient!! Will Return To Try Other Wanderlust Flavors!! ThankU

Pandan tres leches
Kim P.

Pandan tres leches is out of this world lol! What a clever flavor and harmonious combination. The pandan flavor is light and yummy!! There's condensed milk swirled in, and bits of what appears to be pandan spongecake? So glad I did not share my scoop lol. Nice that you're able to sample flavors before committing as well, since a scoop ain't cheap.

cookie w.

New ice cream shop in the famous Japanese BBQ plaza. Good dessert after the BBQ meal. This place offers very different flavors than traditional ice cream shops. We got the trio to get a good variety of flavors. Would recommend if you are looking to have different Asian influence flavor ice cream.

Black sesame cookies n' creme scoop!
Cassie T.

Everything about Wanderlust Creamery in Costa Mesa is wonderful! Parking here is easy to find (for free), the decor for the holidays is cute and festive with the brand's colors, and the design is perfectly in conjunction with the friendly, vibrant vibe Wanderlust Creamery always has. The flavor combinations are exemplary of international ingredients and nostagic, beloved dishes--most notably Southeast Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, South Asia, North Africa, and Australia, and countries like Mexico, Korea, Japan, Italy, and Vietnam. I appreciate that Wanderlust Creamery has seasonal flavors that pay tribute to AAPI Heritage Month, Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Filipino Heritage Month, etc. The only sliiiiight downside would have to be the location as it's not near a mall or an area where a lot of people hang out. It's also small in dimensions, so you can imagine that there would be a long line or tons of people waiting outside if not enough visitors fit inside. Still, service at the Costa Mesa location is so so sweet, plus the ice cream is delicious!

Seasonal Flavors
Jan P.

Wanderlust Creamery in Costa Mesa is such a treat for anyone who loves adventurous ice cream flavors! I've always admired their globally inspired menu, and it's nice to see so many Asian-influenced options represented. I went straight for the Mango Sticky Rice flavor since that dessert is one of my all-time favorites. I was genuinely excited (it's the first time I've ever seen it in ice cream form!), but the flavor ended up being a bit faint. I was hoping for more punch from the mango and coconut rice. Still, I love the creativity and how thoughtfully they approach each flavor. The Costa Mesa location has a clean, modern vibe and the staff were super friendly and patient while I sampled. There's plenty to explore on their menu, so I'll definitely be back to try a few more of their unique offerings.

Sakura Crunch, Mango Sticky Rice, Ube Malted Crunch, Inis  Mòr, Kinder with my free Ube cone
Marilou P.

Never fail to get a tasty scoop at Wanderlust and this time we went for the tasting trios. Loved the usual hits...Mango Sticky Rice and Ube Malted Crunch and tried some new flavors...Sakura Crunch, Kinder and Inis Mòr. Loved the delicate Sakura Crunch cherry blossom flavor with matcha and strawberry kit hats! Kinder tasted just like a Kinder Bueno with its hazelnut flavor and the Inis Mòr had an Irish whiskey-spiked caramel in the brown butter ice cream. The staff here was very friendly and accommodating with my many tasters. The shop is clean and spacious with a bit of indoor seating and lots of places to hang out outside. Appreciate this solid business very much!!

Black Sesame Cookies & Cream
Audrey L.

The service was very friendly and very quick. Endless tasting options without complaint. The ambiance was bare, almost non-existent. And the single scoop was imo not worth the stunning $7.50 price tag. I could buy a tub of ice cream for the same cost. Wow! Probably won't be back unless someone else is going to foot the bill. Warning: the parking is very challenging at peak hours.

Phuc T.

Craving ice cream for dessert post dinner, so we checked out Wanderlust Creamery for some Asian inspired flavors! I have been to the Irvine location, but this is my first time here! Love the color combination of the baby blue counters against the pastel pink wall! We ordered a double split scoop and a triple split scoop to try out different flavors! We got the Ube Malted, Black Sesame HK Toast and Pandan Tres Leche in one cup! Everything was so good, but my fav from the trip was the Pandan Tres Leches! Super creamy and strong with the pandan flavor! For the duo, we got the Japanese Neapolitan and the Sticky Rice Mango! They both were really good, especially the Hojicha flavor from the Japanese Neapolitan! Staff were so friendly and she let us try different flavors before picking! It was a slow night, but the service was amazing! I want to come back to try other flavors!

Sakura crunch
Han N.

Came here on a late afternoon and it was empty. Plenty of parking available since we came before a dinner rush for the neighboring restaurants. Used to go to LA for this but so glad other locations are available more close by in the OC, this being the closest to me! Went specifically to try the seasonal Sakura crunch since I missed out last year and I absolutely love it! Sampled all the seasonal flavors and they were all good but had to get what I came for. We sat there and enjoyed our ice cream. Shoutout to the employee that helped us out last night and offered to hold on to our pint in the freezer to keep it from melting while we sat there for a bit. Super thoughtful and we really appreciate it!

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24 days ago

Their ice creams are so delicious. Flavors are so good and not too sweet. I wish they will open a shop in San Francisco!

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Ask the Community - Wanderlust Creamery

Do they serve sugar-free desserts? If so, which ones would you highly recommend?

No. Signature flavors on their website do not include anything sugar-free. (Texture would be off with sugar substitutes.)

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Yum yum yum!!! I visited once and now it's been 3 times since discovered last month. Northgate has…read moreso much to offer. The Churreria specifically has delicious churros, hot cocoa, and dipping sauces. I like to get the churro bites and 2-3 sauces to enjoy. There's a seasonal sauce right now guava which is delicious! I'm a chocoholic and always have to get a chocolate and caramel sauce. The line gets very long, as it should, since it is so popular. Once your order is in, you'll have time to wander the bakery and gifts sections to kill time. Personally, I like to watch the staff make the churros. It's fun to see how the magic happens with the machines and twirling. Northgate is great for everyone! It's huge, plenty of seating and even family friendly. Often folks go to the tv/dj area with multigenerational families to enjoy whatever big sporting event is on. Come for the Churros, stay for the liveliness of the Mercado.

The service here is a 3 stars for me but the churros are good. The guy working the counter was kind…read moreof rude. No hello or anything. Just awkward silence. I got the combo, which consists of 4 churros, a hot chocolate and dipping sauce. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to choose the type of hot chocolate but he didn't ask. He also didn't ask what type of dipping sauce I wanted. There weren't any customers either, so it's not like they were busy. The churros were made fresh and tasted great except there were some pieces that tasted gummy/still raw. It's crispy and the sugar isn't too sweet. The hot chocolate was pretty good but very sweet. It is also scorching hot. I burnt my mouth twice trying to drink it. The sauce - I wasn't handed or asked what type of sauce I wanted. I had to ask for the sauce, which I was redirected to the ordering counter where there was a stack. Would have been nice if they had just given it to me or asked what I wanted. There's no labels or signs at all and I blindly chose what I assumed to be the cajeta- caramel but it didn't taste like caramel. At first I thought it was expired due to the sour taste, but after tasting it again a few times, it tasted like apple sauce? I'm not sure what it was but it was interesting with the churros.

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When Churros are fresh they are SO GOOD!
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Hands down one of the best donut shops around! I stopped by on the 4th of July and tried their…read moresummer specials--the Passion Fruit Pavlova donut and the S'mores Iced Mocha--and both were absolutely delicious. The staff is always warm and friendly, the donuts are incredibly fresh, soft, and full of flavor, and the coffee never disappoints. They also typically carry a Vegan and gluten friendly donut option. Whenever I'm in the OC, I have to stop by for a donut... or two... or three. Definitely a place that's worth the visit every time!

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Stella Jean’s Ice Cream

Stella Jean’s Ice Cream

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amazing ice cream and service each and every time I come. the flavors are all so unique and tasty…read more I always have trouble deciding what I want because they're all so good!! small interior and minimal exterior seating. more of a place to grab and eat in your car.

My son has been raving about Stella Jean's ice cream for awhile now and I finally got a chance to…read morego try it myself and it did not disappoint! I'm Filipino and was tickled to hear about the flavors...Ube Pandesal Toffee, Banana Turon Crunch & Mango Sticky Rice. We tried the Ube Pandesal Toffee and I'm quite amazed how they were able to capture that unique flavor. I grew up with making an "ice cream" sandwich by putting ice cream in a pandesal and tasting this just unleashed a core memory of being young and making an ice cream sandwich that way. We will definitely be back to try the other flavors! When we arrived there was a few people in line and when the line grew a bit, I think it was a manager that stopped what he was doing to jump in and help with customers which I thought was very considerate of him to do. Lastly, the location was charming and tucked away in the corner of the plaza. It had a few tables outside and in the adjacent Pop Pie shop to sit for a few minutes to enjoy the ice cream! It's nice to support a small businesses that cater to the community! Good luck to the Stella Jean family...wishing you success! I'll be back for my Turon & sticky rice!

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Matcha Ren

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I finally got the chance to checked out this matcha soft serve spot that's tucked inside Mitsuwa's…read morefood court. Since I wanted more of a chill experience, I came on a weekday around 4pm. I highly recommend if you're not into crowds. There was only one person ahead of me and ordering was super easy through the kiosk. I went with the matcha and the hokkaido milk swirl on a cone. First bite, I tried the milk side on its own, and I loved how light it was. Not overly sweet. Then I tried the matcha by itself. It tasted earthy and had that matcha flavor. When I combined the swirl together , the matcha definitely took the spotlight. It kind of overpowered the milk swirl but I didn't mind it because I'm a matcha lover. It still balanced out nicely. Just more on the earthy matcha side. Oh, and let's not forget about the waffle cone. It was perfectly crunchy and tasted so good with my soft served. Also, shoutout to the employee who handed me my order. He was super friendly, welcoming, and all smiles which always makes the experience better.

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Salt & Staw will always hit, and it did it once again for me. Came here on a Wednesday night after…read moredinner and it was the perfect sweet treat. I got their seasonal strawberry pretzel salad and cinnamon snickerdoodle. This was my first time getting both of these flavors and let me tell you, they are definitely must tries. The strawberry pretzel salad tasted like strawberry cheesecake, which was right up my alley. And if you love cinnamon, you have to get the cinnamon snickerdoodle. It is the perfect amount of sweet and tastes just like a snickerdoodle cookie. I also appreciate the good amount of mix ins for both flavors.

First, great tasting ice cream!! But you expect and want that and this delivers! Creamy,…read moreinteresting flavors as well as more traditional ones. But customer service is a real plus. The lines can be long but the wait is worth it. The workers take their time and make sure each customer is taken care of. There are many options and they are willing to let you try as many samples as you want. They have real metal spoons the samples come on- this means more work for the staff. But that is part of a customer oriented store. It is also pet friendly! So come when you want to be treated right, take your time and enjoy unique flavors for something out of the ordinary or enjoy a flavor you're more familiar with. Either way you won't be disappointed.

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4.5
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Friends and I weren't craving donuts while in Newport, so we decided on Milk & Cookies to satisfy…read moreour sweet treat cravings. You could tell the cashier was ready to go home, but I found her endearing. She was very helpful and provided descriptions of some of the cookies they had displayed. My friend got the cowboy cookie and I got the M&M cookie. We both opted out of enjoying our cookies with milk, which I guess defeats the purpose.. but the cookies were warm and tasty. They were a great size for a decent price.

I've been coming to this spot since 2020 during the COVID days, and the cookies remain great. They…read moreoffer a wide variety of flavors, and the best part is that the cookies are always served warm. The Order: * My Go-To: I highly recommend the chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. * Variety: They have every flavor of milk, ice cream, and cookies you could want. Timing & Atmosphere: * Avoid Weekends: I would not recommend coming here on a weekend. The store is tiny, and because it's right next to all the bars, the area gets crowded with a lot of drunk people. If that isn't your scene, stick to a weekday visit. * Rewards: It is quite expensive, but it's a nice treat. Plus, you can sign up with your phone number to get discounts for future visits. The Parking Situation: * Virtually Non-Existent: There is no parking lot, so you are stuck looking for small spots along the side of the road. * Accessibility: There is no designated handicap parking, so keep that in mind if you aren't prepared to walk a bit from a side street. Final Verdict: It's a perfect weekday spot for a warm dessert, just be prepared for the peninsula parking struggle!

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Wanderlust Creamery - icecream - Updated July 2026

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