If you’re seeking soft serve, D’Lites promises a low-carb, low sugar, and gluten-free option that doesn’t skimp on flavor or spike your sugar levels. While chocolate and vanilla flavors are on standby daily, the shop updates its menu weekly, with options to look forward to, like Turtle Cheesecake, churro, and piña colada.

With its second and newest location in Houston’s Stomping Grounds, Fat Cat Creamery is scooping some of the creamiest and most scoops in the city. Staple flavors like the Cat’s Meow Mexican vanilla and the coffee and cream — made with beans from Houston’s own Amaya roasters — will have you double-backing for more. But don’t be afraid to venture out. Its rotation of creative flavors and different vehicles to try them — on cones, in shakes, or in ice cream sandwiches — are a big part of what keeps the Fat experience exciting.

Since opening in Houston in 2017, this Austin-based gelateria has been serving up more than a dozen flavors daily. While guests can count on delicious mainstays like Madagascar vanilla and its crema Dolce Neve — a custard with lemon zest, lovers of the frozen treat can also look forward to a rotation of flavors and seasonal scoops, like its mascarpone and figs, tiramisu, and whiskey and pecan ice cream, and its strawberry sorbet.

Switch up the standard cone and opt for a bubble waffle, with an assortment of ice cream flavors, like Thai tea, pistachio almond, and birthday cake, with a made-to-order waffle with your choice of filling, and toppings. Looking for another way to cool off? This dessert shop also features an assortment of mocktails, milk and fruit teas, and slushies.

It’s true. Josh Deleon’s pints are hard to come by. Intrigued ice cream lovers and fans must have quick fingers when pre-ordering Underground’s limited stash on Hotplate, and they must also be available during pick-up or walk-up dates. But don’t be salty if you miss an ice cream drop. Try again. The rotation of weekly flavors, most of which will never be made again, are made with a pleasant combination of top ingredients and junk food. Deleon’s caramel cookie concoctions, sorbets, and cobbler edition flavors are truly worth it, so keep an eye on the website and Instagram for updates.

The only gelateria of its kind in the U.S., Rocambolesc is a must-stop spot to impress out-of-towners. A product of the famous Roca brothers — the Spanish restaurateurs behind the three Michelin-star El Cella de Can Roca, this gelateria offers soft serve flavors like milk chocolate, hazelnut, and baked apple with the option to decorate them with vibrant Willy Wonka-like toppings. Cover your ice cream with sparkly colored stars, pop rocks, fruity jams, candy floss, and shimmering “violet clouds,” or keep it simple with a subtle nose-shaped popsicle.

Chef Steve Marques approaches his ice cream as he would any dish, meaning not only do his scoops contain top ingredients, but they often lean into savory and sweet flavors that’ll be hard to get elsewhere. His award-winning brisket, pho, and cacio e pepe flavors are must-tries; the Bastani and miso caramel, crowd favorites; and the vanilla, a standout despite it being a run-of-the-mill flavor in the ice cream world.

Scoops of gelato and sorbet are transformed into stunning floral creations at this European export in the River Oaks District. In even better news, the gelato at Amorino tastes as good as it looks.

This Montrose sweet shop now offers its frozen treats in more than 40 flavors. Head to its flagship for newer flavors like strawberry basil sorbet, and curry coconut sorbet, or score some pints in Whole Foods markets throughout the Houston region, Central Market, and the Grove.

This “quintessentially” Austin ice cream company comes to Houston with a host of flavors like Mexican vanilla, Belgian chocolate, and Oreo, with mix-ins, like Fruity Pebbles cereal, fruits, Ginger Snaps, and a variety of chocolate candies. Don’t miss out on their specialty flavors like the horchata-flavored Abuela’s Snack, mixed with cinnamon sugar Buñuelo chips, or the roasted peach.

Booza’s first U.S. location here in Houston will make you rethink your definition of ice cream with its handmade, super stretchy Mediterranean version, which comes in compelling flavors like the traditional ashta, Turkish coffee, rosewater, and rainbow.

An Instagram wonderland in Asiatown, Aqua S is known for its blue-hued, salty-sweet sea salt soft serve. There’s also a rotating flavor on offer that changes frequently, and each cone can be crowned with a halo of cotton candy or a shower of Pop Rocks for the perfect shot for the ‘gram.

Hank’s produces ice cream the old-fashioned way by hand and using fresh ingredients. The Houston staple showcases eighteen flavors daily, with choices rotating from a list of nearly 100 flavors. The banana pudding, an alleged favorite of Houston phenom Beyonce, is a crowd-pleaser.

With three Texas locations, including Pearland and Houston, Red Circle gets wild with its frozen treats. The ice cream company offers more than 100 rotating flavors like Elmo Crunch, Donkey Kong, durian, Thai tea, and its limited-time-only crawfish flavor — plus, an assortment of heart-shaped churros and Hong Kong-style egg waffles that serve as sugary complements.

Cool down after strolling the Kemah boardwalk at this mom-and-pop ice cream shop, which has loads of creamy, rich, and rotating flavors, plus toppings and delicious desserts like brownies and cookies. Finding it hard to choose just one flavor? Try the skateboard flight, which comes with an assortment of 12 flavors on, you guessed it — a mini skateboard.

This Clear Lake-born ice cream shop slings a rotating menu of scoops that will keep you looking for the next flavor.

This spring alone, the shop debuted a lemon key lime pie ice cream and its limited-time-only Birthday Cake cake bar — a dangerously delicious house-made vanilla cookie cake stuffed with Birthday Cake ice cream and a layer of house-made buttercream frosting. Can’t make it to the Webster or Spring Branch location? Find pints at League City’s Cupcake Cachet or in Houston, at Spindletap Brewery & Coffee Co. and Craft Beer Cellar.

If spending a weekend in Galveston, Mikey’s promises some of the best ice cream on the island. Opt for a decorated sundae or some scoops of your favorite flavor in a cake, sugar, or waffle cone. Go for a sippable version with one of their hand-spun shakes, or bite into your dessert with the “home-cut” panini-pressed donut that’s stuffed with your choice of ice cream. Sharing? Opt for the $12 ultimate naughty nacho — a mound of four scoops of ice cream, with your choice of four toppings, waffle chips for scooping, whipped cream, and nuts.