From waterfront scoops at sunset to house made gelato with refined flavors, Corpus Christi offers treats perfect for an unhurried afternoon or a relaxed after dinner stroll. Whether you prefer a classic cone, a dairy free option, or a charming spot with easy parking and friendly service, you will find a place that suits your taste and pace.
Let’s get to it.
Mamako Cafe
A warm taiyaki cradling a cool scoop. That contrast is the charm at Mamako Cafe, a petite dessert café bringing Japanese street-sweets to Corpus Christi’s Southside. Playful, tidy, and unabashedly cute without skimping on craft.
Taiyaki are fish-shaped waffles made to order, often filled with warm vanilla custard, then topped with a scoop. Go classic vanilla or lean into matcha and other less-sweet profiles. Cones and cups are here too, but warm-cold taiyaki is the standout. Portions are single-serve and pricing sits comfortably mid-range.
Prefer a sip? Bubble and milk teas offer boba, brown sugar, and the usual add-ons, plus non-dairy milks. Handy for dairy-avoiders and for groups where not everyone wants a cone.
The café is small with limited seating, so think quick sit-down or cheerful takeout. Plaza parking is easy, and weekends can mean a short line. A smart stop after errands on the Southside. Third-party delivery is available, and it is worth peeking at current hours before you go.
The Ice Cream Bar
Choice steals the show at The Ice Cream Bar. Soft-serve in vanilla, chocolate, or twist, rotating Perry’s scoops, and Dole Whip cover classic to vegan, dairy-free cravings. Reviews note rolled-ice-cream theatrics too, which only adds to the fun.
The customization runs deep. Sundaes, flurries, shakes, floats, and malts are made to order, with regular or large portions so you can keep it light or go all in. Toppings range from sprinkles and crushed nuts to fruit, chocolate sauces, and candy bar cone dips.
It is family friendly without feeling kiddie. The cozy, colorful room hums, kids enjoy watching the prep, and adults get perks of their own, including beer, wine, and breezy wine slushies. If you want something salty first, there are hot dogs, pretzels, and a little mac and cheese.
Value here comes from choice and pace. Stick to a classic twist in a cone, chase a seasonal Perry’s scoop, or build a coffee or peanut butter shake just the way you like it. In Flour Bluff, it hits the sweet spot for mixed groups and indecisive dessert lovers alike.
Lily’s Neveria
Dessert meets snack at Lily’s Neveria, and budgets breathe easy. This neighborhood nevería along the Norton Street corridor stacks generous portions high, then lets you tweak the finish until it is exactly right.
Start with a mangonada finished with chamoy and Tajín. Or try the banana-split and shaved-ice mashup, a cheerful study in sweet, cold, and crunchy. Elote cups, spicy corn cups, and Tostilokos can turn an ice cream stop into a light meal.
Most items are assembled to order, with fresh fruit layers and customizable toppings, so flavors land clean rather than cloying. Dairy-light picks show up in the fruit drinks and slushes, plus there is frozen yogurt if you want something gentler.
Inside is bright and family-friendly, though seating is limited and lines can swell late afternoon into evening. Portions are big for the price, so value is strong even on the specialty cups. Parking varies in the strip, takeout is smooth, and many listings show it closed on Tuesdays.
The Sweet Times
One stop for ice cream, frozen yogurt, bubble tea, and even hot dogs? The Sweet Times leans into that playful mix and makes it work, especially when you want something sweet and the kids want a snack.
On the Annaville side of Corpus Christi along the Leopard Street corridor, it is a simple, clean, counter-service spot with a few seats. It reads casual and family friendly, and dogs are welcome, so the vibe stays relaxed.
Expect classic scooped ice cream and froyo with the usual toppings, plus bubble tea made to order. Portions are fair, prices stay in the quick-service lane, and the variety makes group orders painless. Not a premium gelateria, and that is exactly the charm.
Order at the counter for in-person pickup, or tap a delivery app when the couch is winning the battle. Call ahead to check the day’s flavors or ask about dairy-free options, since specials rotate. Gift cards pop up online now and then, which makes treating grandkids or neighbors easy.
Rock And Rollin
A swirl becomes a scroll, and dessert turns into a little show at Rock And Rollin. The staff pour a fresh ice cream base onto a frost-cold slab, chop in your picks, then roll it into neat ribbons that stand tall in the cup.
That base is made daily and leans low sugar, so the finish tastes clean rather than cloying. Pair it with a warm egg waffle for texture, or keep it simple and let the crisp rolls do the talking.
Choices stay fun. Pick a combo like Strawberry Cheesecake, Monkey Business with banana, Nutella, and nilla wafer, or a bright blue Cookie Monster. Fresh fruit and cookie crumbs keep it playful without overwhelming the palate.
Beyond the rolls, find bubble milk tea, creative fruit teas, smoothies, and a few cake slices for easy celebrating. Delivery runs through Uber Eats and DoorDash. Prices hover around eight dollars, and the set combos make ordering painless. It is a Southside pick with a modern vibe, family friendly and very watchable.
Magnolia Grace Gelato y Mas !
Popcorn gelato sounds like a gimmick. At Magnolia Grace Gelato y Mas ! it turns into a tiny triumph, buttery with a salted caramel finish that feels both nostalgic and new.
That balance sums up the shop. House-made gelato anchors the menu, with a rotating roster that swings from tiramisu and Dutch chocolate to Jolly Rancher blue raspberry, tangerine, melon, plus a lovely Forest Berries Cream. Flavors change often, which rewards curiosity.
The vibe sits squarely in neighborhood-gem territory along S Padre Island Dr, cozy and family run, with patient staff offering tastes and real guidance. Non-dairy and sugar-conscious choices are available, and they are open to swaps if you need them.
Value is a quiet win here. Sizes range from kid cups to pints, and pricing stays gentle. Cones and cups are obvious, but the gelato sandwiches, creamshakes, and coffee drinks make it easy to please a mixed group. Pints to go and custom orders cover parties.
Late night dessert run on your mind? This spot stays open later than most, so an after-dinner scoop is simple. Go for creativity without pretense, friendly service, and a menu that keeps you curious without breaking the budget.
Ninja Mochi Donut Dessert
The star here wears a glaze, not a waffle cone. Ninja Mochi Donut Dessert pairs house-made mochi donuts with scooped ice cream, so dessert feels playful yet thoughtfully made, chewy inside and crisp at the edges.
Flavors range wide, from churro, chocolate, strawberry, matcha, taro, and Oreo to weekly specials like Fruity Pebbles or peach mango. The Mochi Monster, one donut plus one scoop, is the smart order. Prices stay friendly, about $4.50 for one scoop or $5.95 for two, cone extra.
Prefer something icier? Go for bingsu, even the Mango Cheese flavor. Anime décor and character donuts pull in younger crowds, while grownups appreciate easy parking and tidy seating. Korean corn dogs with Takis, Hot Cheetos, or potato crusts add a savory counterpoint. Ask about dairy-free drink swaps.
Best for families, adventurous palates, and anyone who likes a DIY topping station. If purist gelato is the goal, this may feel busy. For variety without sticker shock, and a playful twist on ice cream near Corpus Christi, it earns a yes.
Scoopy’s Veranda Ice Cream Shoppe
Salt air pairs beautifully with a scoop of Blue Bell. That simple pleasure is the whole mood at Scoopy’s Veranda, part of the waterfront Snoopy’s Pier scene overlooking the Laguna Madre. The wooden-dock patio brings a nostalgic, slightly romantic pier vibe that feels special without trying too hard.
Scoops lead the way, served in crisp house-made waffle cones or cups. Flavors rotate with Blue Bell’s lineup, so salted caramel brownie might share the case with coconut sticky rice, cookies and cream, or a bright strawberry. It is familiar ice cream, yes, yet the setting gives it a little sparkle.
Where Scoopy’s leans in is dessert theater. The Chocolate Barnacle stacks a cookie base, cookies and cream ice cream, chocolate mousse, whipped cream, a mini waffle-cone flourish, and a cherry. Classic banana splits and plated sundaes arrive ready for passing around the table.
Prices sit at a premium, which matches the portions and that front-row sunset seat. Seating is limited inside, better outside when the breeze is kind. Family-friendly, group-friendly, and especially good for a celebratory sweet, it suits anyone who values setting and playful presentation over artisan churns or gelato lab talk.
Scoopz Frozen Yogurt
Control is the charm at Scoopz Frozen Yogurt. You steer the levers, you call the shots, you pay by weight. Flavors rotate often, with crowd-pleasers like Cake Batter and White Chocolate Mousse alongside seasonal picks.
The topping bar reads like a candy shop and a fruit stand had a meeting. Fresh berries, pineapple, toasted nuts, cookie bits, candy crunch, syrups, a cloud of whipped topping if you want it. Go minimalist or build a full-on sundae.
Pricing is straightforward, yet big swirls and generous toppings add up. If you are wrangling a group, portion discipline helps, and the loyalty punch card takes a little sting out for frequent treat stops.
The vibe stays bright and easy, with indoor seating and some outdoor tables. It is a quick, self-serve detour with plenty of parking. Prefer not to DIY? Staff can assemble sundaes on request, and takeout is simple.
Choose Scoopz for variety, control, and family-friendly fun rather than chef-driven, house-churned gelato. Rotating flavors keep things fresh, and there are options to suit lighter cravings. Ask about dairy-free if that matters, then tailor sweetness and size to your mood.
Sweet Swirl Frozen Yogurt
Here, you run the show. Sweet Swirl hands you the cup and the power, then lines up 6 to 10 rotating frozen yogurt flavors so you can build exactly what you crave.
Flavors swing from chocolate and vanilla to cake batter, dulce de leche, pomegranate, and salted caramel corn. The toppings bar is a candy-store daydream with fresh fruit, nuts, cereals, cookie crumbles, hot fudge, and more. Seasonal swaps keep it interesting without getting fussy.
Pricing is by the ounce, which rewards restraint and lets budget hawks keep things sensible. Go light and it is an affordable treat. Go wild and, well, you knew what you were getting into.
Beyond the self-serve machines, they blend shakes and smoothies, craft froyo pies to take home, and will build an all-chocolate banana split with full toppings. Dairy-free sorbet and lighter options make it friendly for mixed dietary needs.
Inside, it is colorful and spotless, with oldies on the speakers and seating that suits kids and grandparents alike. Local and veteran-owned, it is an easy stop along South Padre Island Drive. Best for families and anyone who loves customizing without the gelato price tag, less ideal if you want dense, churned-to-order ice cream.
