The Best Ice Cream and Frozen Custard in the Southwest Suburbs

Good ice cream is a year-round sport around here, but summer is when it becomes a weekly ritual: after the ballgame, after the splash pad, or just because it hit eighty and somebody in the car said the word. The southwest suburbs are loaded with options, from national custard stands to parlors that have been scooping for generations. Here is the honest local map, including the two spots my family actually keeps going back to.

Where is the best ice cream in the southwest suburbs?

It depends on what you are after. For frozen custard, Andy's in Mokena is our family's go-to. For a classic old-school parlor, The Plush Horse in Palos Park has been the area institution since 1937 (and there is a separate, similarly named parlor over in Tinley Park). For a quick walk-up cone, Ranch Frostie in New Lenox and the Creamery in Manhattan do the job. And if you are out late, the Original Rainbow Cone keeps the latest hours of the bunch. None of these are hard to find; the trick is knowing which fits the moment.

Our two family favorites

I will start with the two we actually drive to, because everything else on this list is reputation, and these two are firsthand. One thing up front so nobody feels misled: both are chains. But neither is a Cold Stone or a Baskin-Robbins. They are the better kind of chain, which is exactly why they earn the drive.

Andy's Frozen Custard (Mokena) is the one my wife and I both love. It is frozen custard, not ice cream, which matters (more on that below), and it is the treat we end up going out of our way for. If you have not made it a regular stop yet, the new-ish Mokena location is dangerously convenient.

The Creamery (Manhattan) is our reliable quick-trip spot. When you do not want to make an event out of it and just want a good cone close to home, it delivers. If you are in or around Manhattan, it is an easy yes.

What is the difference between frozen custard and ice cream?

Since two of the best spots out here are custard, it is worth knowing what you are actually ordering. Frozen custard is made like ice cream but with added egg yolks and churned with less air, which makes it denser, richer, and silkier than standard ice cream. That is why a small custard feels more indulgent than a small scoop, and why custard fans tend to be loyal. Ice cream is lighter and comes in far more flavors and formats (scoops, sundaes, cones, shakes). Neither is better; they are different treats for different moods. Andy's is your custard stop; the parlors below are your ice cream stops.

The classics and parlors worth the drive

The Plush Horse (Palos Park) has been the area's institution since 1937, an old-fashioned parlor with a huge homemade flavor list and the kind of sit-and-stay setting people remember from childhood. One thing to know so you land at the right place: there is a separate, similarly named Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe in Tinley Park (a different company, open since 2012) with the same old-school feel. Both are worth a stop; just know they are not the same business. Either way, if you want nostalgic over a drive-through cone, this style of parlor is the one people name first.

Ranch Frostie (New Lenox) is the classic seasonal walk-up: soft serve, twists, and dipped cones from a little stand, the kind of no-frills summer spot regulars are fiercely loyal to. I have not made it there yet, but enough people describe it the way I would describe Highland Queen over in Countryside, that perfect old-school cone stand, that it is near the top of my own to-try list this summer.

Raffy's Candy Store (Frankfort and New Lenox) pairs a candy shop with ice cream, which makes it a kid-magnet and a fun stop when half the group wants a cone and the other half wants a bag of something. Two locations put it within reach of both towns.

The Original Rainbow Cone (Tinley Park area) brings the famous Chicago five-flavor stacked cone out to the suburbs. It is more of a bucket-list stop than a weekly one, but here is the practical reason to keep it in your back pocket: it holds the latest hours of anything on this list, so when a late craving hits and the walk-up stands have long closed, this is the one still scooping.

A good scoop is part of a town's appeal

It sounds small, but where you grab a cone on a warm night is exactly the kind of everyday thing that makes a place feel like home, and it is fair to weigh when you are deciding where to land.

Palos Park is home to the original Plush Horse, a parlor scooping since 1937. That kind of genuine, generations-deep institution is exactly the sort of everyday landmark that quietly earns a town a place on people's short lists of where to consider moving.

In New Lenox, Ranch Frostie and Raffy's put an old-school stand and a candy counter within a few minutes of each other, the kind of small-town texture that adds up when you are weighing moving to New Lenox, IL.

And in Frankfort, Raffy's candy-and-ice-cream shop is the sort of Main Street fixture that is part of the town's whole charm, a good reason it stays on so many people's short lists of reasons to consider moving to Frankfort, IL.

For the rest of the map: Mokena has Andy's (our family pick), Manhattan has the Creamery for a quick cone close to home, and Tinley Park has its own separate Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe plus the Original Rainbow Cone when you need something open late.

The Bottom Line

You are not short on options out here. For rich frozen custard, Andy's is our family's favorite; for a classic parlor, The Plush Horse in Palos Park is the area's institution (going since 1937, with a separate, similarly named shop in Tinley Park); for a fast cone close to home, Ranch Frostie or the Creamery get it done; and for a late-night craving, the Original Rainbow Cone stays open latest. Pick the one that fits the moment, check hours before you drive (a lot of the walk-up stands are seasonal), and enjoy the best cheap thrill summer has to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best ice cream in the southwest suburbs?

It depends on the craving. For frozen custard, Andy's in Mokena leads. For a classic parlor, The Plush Horse in Palos Park (open since 1937) is the longtime area favorite; a separate, similarly named Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe operates in Tinley Park. For a quick walk-up cone, Ranch Frostie in New Lenox and the Creamery in Manhattan are easy local stops.

What is the difference between frozen custard and ice cream?

Frozen custard is made with egg yolks and churned with less air, so it is denser and richer than ice cream. Ice cream is lighter and comes in more flavors and formats. Andy's serves custard; parlors like the Plush Horse serve ice cream.

Are there old-fashioned ice cream parlors near the southwest suburbs?

Yes. The Plush Horse in Palos Park, open since 1937, is the area's best-known classic parlor, with homemade flavors and a sit-down setting; a separately owned Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe in Tinley Park shares the name and the feel. Ranch Frostie in New Lenox is a beloved old-school walk-up stand.

Where can I get frozen custard in the southwest suburbs?

Andy's Frozen Custard in Mokena is the standout custard stop in the area.

Which ice cream spot near me stays open the latest?

The Original Rainbow Cone keeps the latest hours of the local spots, so it is your best bet for a late-night craving. Most walk-up stands close earlier and are seasonal, so always check hours before heading out.

Are the ice cream shops open year-round?

The custard and parlor spots generally stay open year-round, while smaller walk-up stands are often seasonal, so it is worth checking hours before you drive out in the off-season.

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Brian Wittman | Blue Jean Broker
Real Estate | Mortgage | Life Insurance | Financial Literacy
Based in Manhattan, IL | Serving the Chicago Suburbs

Brian Wittman is a licensed real estate broker (Real Broker LLC), mortgage loan originator (NMLS #2646598, NEXA Mortgage, LLC, Equal Housing Lender), and life insurance producer (Levinson & Associates). For full disclosures, visit https://bluejeanbroker.com/disclosures.