Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Wanderlust Creamery

    4.5 (162 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Order Wanderlust Creamery Takeout or Delivery

    Wanderlust Creamery Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    More like Wanderlust Creamery

    Recommended Reviews - Wanderlust Creamery

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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!!

    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!

    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.

    Daniel C.

    I love coming here for all their unique flavors. The staff is very nice and accommodating letting you try the different ice creams.

    ube malted crunch
    Amanda Z.

    I visited Wanderlust on a Tuesday evening with a couple of my friends. Parking was easy since there is a lot right in front of the building. There were no other customers when we arrived. The employee was nice & let us sample a variety of different flavors. After a difficult decision, we all went with the ube malted crunch. Would visit again!

    Pandan tres leches with ube malted crunch,  Black sesame with vanilla
    Gladys F.

    What I love about Wanderlust is that their flavors are rich, especially the ube. Unfortunately their seasonal flavors run out quickly and I have yet to visit when they have them available. Service is great and you're more than welcome to try flavors before committing. No seats for enjoying the ice cream but there is a bench outside for the plaza.

    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!

    See all

    Photo of Ryan N.
    33
    102
    88

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    30 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zoe M.
    1
    22
    28

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 5

    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!

    You might also consider

    Heybings - Choco Oreo® Crunch Bingsoo

    Heybings

    4.6(480 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    A great spot for something refreshing. Overall their flavor selection was not super big, but they…read morehad and interesting seasonal flavor, grape jasmine! In addition to their bingsoo options they had mochi waffles and drinks. I wish for the bingsoo there was a size in between their regular and large. I got the large and it was a lot for one person. The jasmine portion was a jasmine jelly insert hidden inside. The ice cream on top actually tasted like lime and then they had fresh grapes and grape shave ice. I thought the ube mochi waffle was a nice item to have with it, it rounded out all the zesty refreshing notes, and gave me something warm and mellow in favor to balance it. It could have had a more ubi forward flavor though. They have seating inside I sat closer to the door because further in I was smelling a burning plastic smell. Maybe it's the machine shaving ice starting to ask for a break from how busy they are. Everyone was nice, they did have a mix up with my order and ended up taking a pretty long time to get me my bingsoo which was a bit of a bummer since my waffle started getting cold. I get when you are that busy stuff happens though.

    I really wish Heybings had more locations outside of Orange County! I used to be an Oakobing girl,…read morebut this might officially be my new favorite spot. The shaved ice here is unbelievably soft, infused with condensed milk, and absolutely delicious. We shared the Mango Paradise, which came with mango purée, fresh mango, and vanilla ice cream and it was so good. My husband usually avoids dessert for health reasons, but even he made an exception and happily shared both the shaved ice and the chewy ube mochi waffle with me. Yum! I was honestly still so full from lunch that I couldn't finish my corn latte, but it actually tasted super refreshing the next day after sitting in the fridge overnight. I'm definitely coming back to try more flavors. And I'm bringing my pup so she can get a Woofaccino too!

    Photos
    Heybings - Mango bingsu

    Mango bingsu

    Heybings - Ube Mochi Waffle

    Ube Mochi Waffle

    Heybings - Matcha romance

    See all

    Matcha romance

    El Moro Churrería - Pan de muerto milkshake

    El Moro Churrería

    4.4(337 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Churros like no other! I usually ask for no sugar since…read moretheir choux pastry dough is just right- specially when you get the churros with the español coco- perfect nice thick dipping hot cocoa with the right amount of bitterness and sweet. Truly the only way to eat churros- enjoying the simplicity of the light and airy crunch pastry and the rich bitter-sweet chocolate. We stopped by the location at the Mercado Market- the place was amazing and truly worth a visit. The stall was located across the market's bakery. You have a view of the people cooking the churros and preparing your order. Given that the stall in inside the market, it was vibrant and lively. I would pick up lunch at the market, grab churros and hot cocoa or coffee for dessert at El Moro and then shop at the market and bring home more goodies!

    What happened to this place? As a Mexico City native, I was over the moon when I heard that el…read moreMoro was coming to the OC and even got emotional the first time I visited when they first opened, brought me back to my childhood. The people were friendly and the Churros were delicious! Fast forward to today 5/5/26....haven visited for a while but what happened? All the friendly experts are gone. The people working there don't know what they are doing at all, the line was relatively short, about 4 people in front of me, but somehow it took longer than it did before. I placed my order with sugar only, no cinnamon, like I have since I was a child. The person at the window calls my name and hands me a bag, I check the churros they have cinnamon, I explained that I ordered with sugar only. She rolls her eyes and hands me another bag with plain/naked churros, no sugar. I again explain to her that I ordered churros with sugar but without cinnamon. She "dumps" the churros out of the bag into the sugar, breaking one of them, I asked her to replace the broken one, I again get attitude and flips me off when she thinks I'm not looking. This is not the service I am used to from Le Moro or Northgate. I do have to say that every other employee of the store was helpful and friendly, but employees at El Moro need additional training. I wonder if all the good ones were pulled to their new location in LA. I will have to find out, even if I have to drive you won't see me standing in line at this El Moro again. It's a shame that such a wonderful jewel brought from Mexico is not being managed to their reputation. Sad

    Photos
    El Moro Churrería - When Churros are fresh they are SO GOOD!

    When Churros are fresh they are SO GOOD!

    El Moro Churrería - Moritos packaging

    Moritos packaging

    El Moro Churrería - Menu

    See all

    Menu

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - Biscoff Cookie Butter. Gingerbread cake with biscoff cookie crumble and powdered sugar on top. Delicious!

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee

    4.4(5.2k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    I usually love coming to sidecar because of their delicious donuts but I was very disappointed…read morewith the service I received today. It was 10 min before closing & idk if the girls were just rushing to close down but one girl in particular had an attitude. There was a miscommunication / misunderstanding with the girl who took my coffee order (I had assumed the seasonal banana latte came with the foam as pictured & because she didn't ask if I wanted the foam, I didn't ask for it more-so bc she asked if I wanted the brittle on top). When they handed me my drink it was a plain banana latte with no foam or brittle. I was ignored when I tried calling for the barista until another girl followed up - however this girl had an attitude. She told me that I must not have ordered it since they ask at the register if I want foam with brittle. Explained they didn't ask. Instead she just said "sorry I'll let them know for next time". And walked away leaving me with my drink as is. Didn't offer any sort of resolution. I walked in and asked they could charge me extra for the foam. The same girl with the attitude remade my drink and handed it to me. No thank you, no sorry, nothing. First time experiencing this kind of service. Not sure if the girl is new but saw someone else share a similar experience couple days ago. Wish I would have asked for her name!

    Really good! I've been here many times but I realized I've never reviewed this place. Of all times…read moreI've been here, it's no question a 5 star. The donuts were really fresh and hot when we got them. My wife loves the butter and salt one and it's absolutely perfect! The saltiness balances out with the richness and sweetness. I also ordered the golden hour grey, which was the seasonal flavor, and it was really unique. It was citrusy and light. Sidecar is definitely in it's own league and its tough to find other donuts to really compete with them. The store was pretty small with very limited seating at this location so it's more of a grab and go type of location. It's not too far from the beach though. Service was really efficient. Even if there was a line, it goes by quite quickly. It's worth it anyways!

    Photos
    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - Cinnamon Roll. Cross section.

    Cinnamon Roll. Cross section.

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - White Chocolate Banana Bread. Moist banana bread cake with chocolate chips inside & white chocolate glaze. Toasted walnuts on top.

    White Chocolate Banana Bread. Moist banana bread cake with chocolate chips inside & white chocolate glaze. Toasted walnuts on top.

    Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee - The Apple Pan Pie. Filled with apple chunks in a spiced compote. Topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel.

    See all

    The Apple Pan Pie. Filled with apple chunks in a spiced compote. Topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel.

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - Ube Pandesal Toffee

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream

    4.6(493 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Stella is the best ice cream. I can't believe it made it to Costa Mesa! We didn't have this before…read morewhen we use to live here. I got the seasonal flavor- banana turon. Omgoodness. Who makes these flavors. The creators really know how to have these Filipino desserts come to ice cream life. It's incredible. You can taste the crunchiness and even the jackfruit. I absolutely love it. Who could ever come up with this stuff! Ube pandesal and mango sticky rice are my classic favorite! Service was great. It's always a plus when you can taste test! Casual ambiance.

    I've tried a lot of ice cream spots--it's one of my favorite desserts--and I can honestly say this…read moreis some of the worst ice cream you can get in Orange County. I've been here twice now and tried about five different flavors total, and every single one was gross. The Experience: * Bad Flavors: On my last visit, I actually had to ask the worker to swap my flavor because I was convinced I just got a "bad" one. The second flavor was somehow even worse. I didn't even finish it; I just threw it away because it was that nasty. * Texture & Taste: It tastes like watered-down diet ice cream. It lacks any of the richness or flavor you'd expect from a specialized shop, especially for how expensive it is. I wouldn't even go back if the ice cream were free. The Location Trap: This place is right on 17th Street next to Sidecar Doughnuts and Pop Pie Co., which is a great, convenient location. I think people only go here because it's a "cool-looking" spot to stop at while driving to the beach or grabbing a donut next door. If it weren't for the location, I don't see how they would stay in business. Final Verdict: Don't be fooled by the convenient location or the surrounding shops. The ice cream is truly disappointing and definitely not worth the price. I won't be coming back ever.

    Photos
    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - (D) Brown Butter Pecan - Pint

    (D) Brown Butter Pecan - Pint

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - Ube Pandesal Toffee over Baklava Cheesecake. 5/5

    Ube Pandesal Toffee over Baklava Cheesecake. 5/5

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream - Yummy goodness!

    See all

    Yummy goodness!

    Matcha Ren - Matcha Mont Blanc Soft Serve

    Matcha Ren

    3.3(271 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    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.

    Oh no! What happened to the consistency of the Hokkaido soft serve? This place used to be SO good…read more The Hokkaido soft serve was rich, creamy, BUTTERY and just downright divine. My husband and I would go to mitsuwa just to get it and would frequently bring our out of towners here just for the Hokkaido soft serve. However, when we went today, we could immediately tell from the appearance that it seemed different. And unfortunately, taste wise, its gone completely downhill. It is no longer thick and creamy. It's bland and very icy. Reminds me of the cheap, free ayce soft serve you get for free at some bbq jpints. So disappointing. Hopefully, it's just an off day for the machine or something. But if it's a permanent change, we will no longer come back.

    Photos
    Matcha Ren
    Matcha Ren - Matcha Mont blanc soft serve

    Matcha Mont blanc soft serve

    Matcha Ren - Matcha cream mochi

    See all

    Matcha cream mochi

    Milk & Cookies

    Milk & Cookies

    4.6(363 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $

    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!

    Photos
    Milk & Cookies - Inside

    Inside

    Milk & Cookies - Chocolate chip cookie and brown butter toffee ice cream

    Chocolate chip cookie and brown butter toffee ice cream

    Milk & Cookies - Cookies

    See all

    Cookies

    Wanderlust Creamery - icecream - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...