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The Best Unique Ice Cream Spots in the South Bay
When it comes to cooling off in the South Bay, we are absolutely spoiled for choice. While you can always find a solid scoop of vanilla down the street, our local ice cream scene is home to some genuinely unique, boundary-pushing spots.
From New Zealand-style soft serve to artisanal sibling-owned shops, these are three must-try ice cream spots in the South Bay that do things a little differently.
1. Creamy Boys Ice Cream (Hermosa Beach)
The Vibe: Sunny, laid-back Kiwi beach shack.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a staple of New Zealand summer, this is your ticket. Started by two childhood friends from New Zealand, Creamy Boys brings "real fruit ice cream" to the shores of Hermosa Beach.
Why it stands out: Instead of scooping pre-made flavors, they take a base of premium vanilla ice cream (they have an incredibly creamy vegan oat-milk base too!) and blend it on the spot with frozen fruit or their signature Hokey Pokey—a house-made honeycomb toffee.
What to get: The Hokey Pokey. It yields a perfectly aerated, velvety soft serve with crunchy, caramelized pockets of golden toffee in every bite.
2. Kansha Creamery (Torrance)
The Vibe: Minimalist, warm, and community-focused.
Located in North Torrance, this beloved sibling-owned shop is the definition of "sweet with a purpose". Kansha means gratitude in Japanese, and the owners show theirs by donating a portion of every single scoop sold to various charities.
Why it stands out: Kansha focuses on natural, organic, and locally sourced ingredients to create delicate, highly refined flavor profiles. Their ice cream is never overly sugary, allowing the pure, clean flavors of the ingredients to actually shine.
What to get: Their flavor rotation changes frequently, but if you see Honey Lavender (made with local organic honey) or their matcha-heavy parfaits, do not hesitate.
3. Manhattan Beach Creamery (Manhattan Beach)
The Vibe: Nostalgic, high-energy beachside candy land.
Just steps away from the Manhattan Beach Pier, this spot is a local institution. Stepping inside feels like walking into a vintage sweets shop, complete with bright colors, displays of classic candies, and a freezer packed with premium treats.
Why it stands out: Aside from their 28 daily churning flavors, they are the proud birthplace of the Cream'wich. They combined fresh, artisanal cookies from their family bakery with their premium ice cream back in 2012, and it quickly became a legendary South Bay staple.
What to get: You can't leave without a Cream'wich. The classic chocolate chip cookie paired with vanilla bean ice cream is simple perfection, but they also offer a rotating selection of seasonal cookie-and-scoop pairings.