Eli’s Ark

Adorably cute!! Very difficult to select a flavor, everything looked so good. Ended up picking a single scoop of Mount Caramel as a koala. Delicious! Not overly sweet which is perfect for me. Friendly staff and fast service. I regret not discovering this place sooner. Highly recommend to satisfy a sweet tooth!

Such a cute shop! We visited on a Sunday and it was very busy. We waited for quite some time and it was worth the wait. Between all of us we ordered the mango, rocky road and strawberry. Each one was delicious! They had gluten free cones. They make cute animal faces on the gelato and they list out which ones are vegan and gluten free. A bit pricey but worth the experience.

As this is a busy place, you might have to wait a bit before you get your hands on these cuties! But they taste amazing & look so adorable that it is worth the wait :) It’s also so nice seeing everyone enjoying their gelatos and taking photos too. If you are in the Wicker Park area and want to try different desserts, make sure to pay a visit to Eli’s Ark ☺️! Mounds of joy (featured in panda) reminded me of Almond Joy and Mounds but wasn’t too sweet like the actual candy.

Cutest ice cream cones ever! Took my nieces here over the weekend, and they loved the cute animal decorations! And they had so many unique choices of animals to choose from: unicorn, pig, bear, koala, monkey, etc. All of the decorations were so innovative and pretty! They also had a lot of creative and varied ice cream flavors. Definitely go check out this fun place!

A cute space offering a variety of gelatos, all interesting riffs on classic Western flavors (e.g. a cookies 'n' cream that includes panna cotta, a lemon flavor that includes yuzu) or tropical/Asian-inspired gelatos (Vietnamese coffee, ube, mango with an optional sprinkling of Tajín, etc.). The ube is subtle but definitely there. The animal faces are a super fun touch and I want to come back to try not just more flavors but more animal faces too 😂. I also like that they offer a slightly smaller kiddie size that's still plenty generous, and they also allow samples, in case you're not sure what to pick. Note: there's not too much seating inside and unless they put up a large menu board for the flavors or print menus, I'd recommend browsing their flavors online before getting to the front to make your ordering go faster.

Such a yummy ice cream spot. Also they are able to make cute shape animals with your ice cream. Love that the ice cream isn’t overly sweet.

Thank you to Eli’s Ark for helping me to create an everlasting memory with my babies. They loved it. I am not a huge fan of ice cream but I am definitely a huge fan of this place.

Ive been waiting to try Elis Ark and I finally got the opportunity to with my family and it did not disappoint! It was some of the best ice cream I’ve had in Chicago, it tasted fresh and delicious and was quick to melt. The store itself was clean and had a flower wall that was great for pictures. I tried the tiramisu flavor and I couldn’t get enough-the absolute best tiramisu ice cream I’ve ever had! My husband had the cake batter and really enjoyed it as well! Everyone in my family gave it two thumbs up! I didnt even mention how cute the animal shapes are, they made the kids (and adults) so excited! The staff was pretty efficient given the amount of detail every scoop needs, but definitely expect a long line and wait time-but its definitely worth it!

Stopped by on a lazy Sunday after dinner at Kama. Really cute concept and execution, you choose number of scoops and then toppings which are animal themed. Pretty unique idea! Unfortunately the gelato was not very good, I ordered a vegan coconut flavor with the MONKI that tasted like Play Doh and my friend ordered the blue vanilla with the UNICORN which tasted like wet paper, but without the satisfying smack Went to Jenni's and then got some real ice cream. Fun photo opportunity, but that's about it. Maybe just don't come on a Sunday?

This place is cute as heck! The gelato was good, but not great so if you're here for the flavors you may be slightly underwhelmed. It's a wonderful spot to go to with friends and I saw a number of families with small children. We snagged the child's size and were really happy with our choices.

What a fun way to eat yummy gelato! You choose how many scoops, then the gelato flavors, the animals, and finally the cone type. The gelato itself is not too sweet, just the perfect amount of yumminess. The animal ears and noses add crunchy notes to the smooth gelato. There are only 6 small tables and a window-facing counter. But it is still a fun place to hang out and enjoy the animal decorated gelato. I wanted to come again the next day to try more animal and gelato flavor combinations.

Looking for a spot to take your kids? Looking for a spot that is sure to put a smile on your face? Looking for a spot that is Instagram worthy? Well, this is that spot if you answered yes to any of those questions. Ordered: Ube Unicorn Chocolate Ice Cream in a cup Strawberry Koala Vietnamese Coffee in a cake cone Great flavors to choose from. Staff are friendly and try their best to serve although I definitely think that they can use extra help as there was a line and only two staff working. They offer a few cute characters to choose from. It will definitely be a kids pleaser &Instagram worthy photo for the adults! I definitely would come back if I am in the area. This yelper approves. Tips: *Street parking only *Indoor seating only *They do offer samples *Prices are very reasonable *Credit card accepted

Staff is super friendly and patient. The Ice cream is so cute! It wasn't too busy when I went. But I did notice it's off a Main Street which is hard to find parking. I had the dog shaped one with cookies and cream ice cream. I thought it was really good. I would definitely recommend, especially if you're a tourist visiting Chicago.

Such a cute and fun place to grab dessert on a summer day! We were able to try the mango tango, Cookie Monster, vanilla sky, and one flavor ! They all were so good and fresh!

Usually when it's animal shaped cones I think of it more as a cute gimmick than a really good ice cream shop. That is not the case here. The gelato here is not only delicious, they have a lot of unique flavors of all varieties. If I had more stomach space I would have had at least 2 more flavors. The dragonfruit yuzu I got was like a refreshing fruit lemonade on a cone. My friend got I think a white peach lychee? Some other flavors I would have tried were the black sesame and mango. There was a longish line when we got there but it moved pretty quick. The store doesn't have a ton of seating but it does have several 2-4 people tables. Otherwise it's located in a nice downtown area which is great for walking around and eating gelato on a warm day.

I finally had the chance to try it since I wasn't able to during my last visit to Chicago. I stopped by after having a late lunch. The flavors here can be underwhelming, but they do offer a few traditional fruit options. I was disappointed that they didn't have black sesame. I ended up ordering the horchata and Vanilla Sky, both of which have a milky flavor. The Vanilla Sky is less sweet compared to the horchata, likely because of the butterfly pea flower. It's a fun place, just alittle pricey.

Lovely neighborhood gelato shop. Really fun for kids to choose an animal along with their scoop flavor. Work on refining those young taste palates early! I tried the miso chocolate cherry and it was delicious! Super smooth. My daughter got the vanilla butterfly pea (blue color) which was also good! Service was excellent and overall a very comfortable environment. Price-value A++!! We will be back! Highly recommended! ***dont forget it's closed on Mondays

I'm impressed. I went at the end of the night, was quite a line, so it's popular, you'd think the staff would be tired, but they had great welcoming attitudes and they put so much effort into each cone. The animals are adorable, and the ice cream flavors are unique and yummy.

Decided to check this place out after seeing it on social media. The ice cream is shaped into adorable animals, and the staff were helpful in recommending flavors. It's a cute and quick spot to visit if you're in Chicago.

The ice cream is delicious. Excellent customer service. The animal creations are crafty and adorable. The place is busy. Adults love this place too.

THIS PLACE IS SO CUTE AND TASTY. Just go!!!!! You can get one, two, or three animal-shaped ice cream scoops on a cone or cup. Flavors are unique, classic, or a mix. There is something for everyone here! This place is sure to put a smile on your face. Really cute instagrammable desserts, that taste amazing. I went during Lollapalooza weekend, and the line moved quickly! The staff was so nice and friendly too, and you get free samples of flavors. Best ice cream spot in Chicago!

Eli's Ark has THE cutest gelato's I've ever seen! I found Eli's Ark through Yelp and had to go. The ladies working were sweet and let us sample as many flavors as we wanted. I liked all of the flavors that I sampled and it was a tough decision. The gelato is creamy and tastes like it's made with high quality ingredients. I decided to get the mint chip flavor and I had mine made into a koala. The mint chip has thin mints mixed into it and tastes amazing. I also liked the coffee flavor and the plain chocolate. Each of us ordered a different flavor and a different animal. The different animals are all so cute! You can get a bear, dog, monkey, panda, unicorn, koala, and a pig. Not only does Eli's Ark have the cutest gelatos, but they also have amazing tasting gelato. This place is a must visit!

Who knew gelato could be this ADORABLE? I went to Eli's for an after-dinner treat and my scoops magically transformed into adorable animals! From the welcoming smiles of the staff to the variety of gelato flavors, this place will not disappoint... And let's talk about the birthday cake macaroon--so good it's criminal. Be sure to take a pic in front of the greenery wall- so cute! ... I swear my piggy scoop winked at me #besties.

Cute neighborhood ice cream shop! This was on our Chicago bucket list and it did not disappoint. The flavors were unique, though perhaps could have been a little stronger. The animal scoops were adorable and fun for the kids! With gluten free and dairy free options, there's something for everyone. I had a scoop of the "Mounds" flavor with the puppy dog face! Friendly staff, clean shop. Sweet place. :)

Super cute ice cream and the flavors were delicious!!! They make them daily!!! So worth the trip

Came in for a late night snack and there was no line no wait. Very cute yet simple and spacious setting. The staff serving tonight was super friendly and generous. They offered samples to us to help us decide what flavors we wanted. I chose the koala with a Ube ice cream flavor base. I enjoyed the ice cream because their ube is amazing but the ears of the ice cream weren't anything special. Honestly thought I was eating ritz crackers lol but it wasn't bad. I also indulged and got myself two macrons, one pistachio and one passion fruit. The passion fruit is tangy and the pistachio isn't heavily sweet. Nice flavor and the size of the macrons for $2.50/ piece isn't bad.

The perfect pit stop on a hot day! The mango & strawberry flavors were very refreshing! Some of the best ice cream/gelato I have had! The animals are just adorable! The kids & adults in the store were smiling about the animals creations! The staff was also very kind & joyful! I can't get enough of this place! MUST GO FOR A SWEET TREAT!

I saw this place pop up on TikTok when researching new places to try while visiting Chicago. Of course the adorable gelato animals drew me in. They have a lot of flavor options and once you choose those then you choose your animals. The gelato looks amazing, almost too cute to eat! The taste however was nothing special in my opinion and honestly I've had better store bought gelato. I took my photos ate what I could and tossed out the rest.

Gelato that's too cute to eat! Eli's gelatos are delicious! We went down the fruity route and it's the perfect amount of sweet, light, and tangy! You can choose what animal you want your scoop to be and whether you want it in a cup or stacked! It's on the pricey side, but if you don't want a cute instagrammable gelato then you can always get just the scoop! Would love to come back when they're back open for the season!

super cute place!!! (*'(OO)'*) i've seen this spot become a lot of different shops, but i hope eli's ark is here to stay, such a unique and fun take on gelato so many interesting new flavors & of course the animals are so cute! my little cousins where so happy + me too!! so much enjoy from a little sweet treat wonderful service too & space to be inside!

Eli's Ark is somewhere I'd bring all my friends and family to when they visit the city. Upon walking in, it had a laidback feel and seemed very clean. The space is a good size and they could probably have more seating, but there still seemed to be enough for everyone when I visited. The staff was kind and I didn't feel rushed. When I asked for suggestions, the gentleman behind the counter volunteered to give me samples of his top 3 picks, which I appreciated not having to ask for. He also asked about any allergies, which was very thoughtful. I decided to go with the ube flavor, which was light and delicious (although I've never had ube before so I can't compare it to other ube gelato). I honestly was expecting the gelato to be subpar since they're known for the animal characters, and sometimes quality is lost for touristy gimmicks, but it was the creamiest gelato I've had in the city. The little animal is just the cutest addition, and it makes this place the perfect spot to bring guests or for locals to get a sweet pick-me-up.

We really liked what we got - Ube bear in a cone. Really cute and also yummy. It was definitely a big and dense scoop that two people could share. The service was fast at 13:30 on Sunday. No complaints and would recommend if you like cute ice cream haha.

This place and concept are too cute! We stopped here for dessert during our trip to Chicago. Once in line, the staff are extremely helpful and work efficiently in an assembly line to get what you want. They also offer samples, so you can make sure you're satisfied with the flavor you order. We ordered a monkey in a banana flavor, a pig in a fruity pebbles flavor, and a panda in a cookies and cream flavor. The ice cream was so delicious and creamy, and it was just too stinkin' cute! I almost didn't want to eat it, but it sure was tasty.

Cute and yummy! I'd say the ice cream wasn't too sweet! Very interesting flavors too!!!!

I came here recently and it was awesome! The animal design options are so cute, the ice cream is great (big variety), and the workers were very nice! Overall, I'd definitely come here again!

Eli's Ark is adorable and instagram worthy, but it's also great gelato!! We ordered the Cookie Monster/Panda and Rocky Way/Bear, and the gelato was perfectly creamy and they did NOT skimp on the mix-ins. Also not terribly overpriced for a novelty treat, so I definitely plan to return with family visiting, etc. I loved the cookie monster gelato, and appreciated that they elevated it beyond just Oreos. Also, the line moved efficiently on a hot Saturday afternoon in June. Worth the hype!!

Friendly staff. Delicious ice cream. Cute animal deco. Clean environment. Will come back!

Love their cute concept with animal on ice cream! We came close to closing on a Friday evening and there weren't many flavors left. We got the viet coffee and cookies and cream flavor. Both were creamy and delicious.

I've been eyeing this spot for a LONG time, thank you Instagram. I love pigs. Pigs are my favorite animal. Obviously, I had no other choice but to get a pig. But I also love unicorns, and that was an option too, so clearly I had to get both. Two scoops: raspberry lychee (unicorn) and chocolate cherry (pig). The staff recommended that the chocolate be the bottom flavor because it was creamier. The flavors were good, but not necessarily my favorite ice cream on earth, they also melted quickly, so you need to eat your treats immediately, even while you wait for your friends to get their orders. The animals were def for the cutesy factor but their sugary decorations were not necessarily worth eating again (marshmallows and some other tough sugary items). To me, it felt like it was just for the pictures and aesthetic. Overall, I liked it.

Exactly what you want it to be. Great gelato, efficient and quick service, cute and clean storefront. Looking for something before we leave Chicago after a weekend adventure, and stumbled upon this place. Decided to try it with a long line at 3:00pm on a Sunday we figured it must be pretty good. Gelato is good and the cute animals they put on top definitely heightens the experience. Lots of flavors to choose from, all unique from each other. Several animals you can get on your ice cream. Reasonably priced for the area and a good amount of gelato in each scoop. We got Rocky Way, Kookie Monster and Dulce Gabanana. All were great and worth the (short) line.

On our summer trip and this place was such an awesome treat. Cutely presented cones that are instagrammable. Service is great too. Go try it.

This is the cutest gelato shop ever! My boyfriend and I were visiting Chicago and I saw this place on Tiktok so of course we had to try it. The staff was super friendly- they gave us pairing recommendations and lots of samples since we are so indecisive and so many good flavors to pick from. Our scoops were so delicious and sooo creamy!

SO CUTE AND DELISH. Love the location and the customer service was also so great. I love seeing Asian flavors represented :)

It was a little busy when I went but the ice cream selection was so so good! The decorations on the ice cream and the store was an added bonus and service was fast and the workers were lovely. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

The fun animal-shaped designs on their scoops add an adorable touch to the delicious treats. From panda cones to bunnies, it's a delightful experience for both kids and adults. A fun spot for a scoop of happiness!

So I liked that the flavor selections are super unique here! A lot that peaked our interest however they aren't offering samples and it's pricey so you're taking a gamble... which is a shame. I got salted caramel and my husband got banana, great texture and good portions. We both enjoyed our flavors but would try something else next time. The animal details are cute, especially for kids, but the extra components (waffle ears, cookie pieces) were stale. Overall, not a contender for Jeni's with tha flavors we tried but we may try others in the future.

Service was super friendly! The employees were so patient and accommodating of me and my friends- we are so indecisive when it comes to choosing flavors, but they let us try samples until we found one we enjoyed. I ended up loving the mango flavor, but had to sample a few others before I found the one I really liked. That being said, I would definitely come back in the future to get one of the animal-shaped cones.

Wow, this is one of those reviews that I feel must have gotten swallowed up by Yelp--have I really not reviewed Eli's Ark? I've visited here only a couple of times, because it's not in my neighborhood. Wicker Park/Bucktown is not a great place to drive and/or park. Luckily, if you want to visit, the CTA Blue Line (I think that's it) is around the corner. It's an adorable concept. I think it's super clever that they make the ice cream into animals and it's just fun; it brings a smile to my face. They have unique flavors too, like ube flavored gelato, and I had a banana one that was amazing. Banana flavor that comes from anything but an actual banana is generally the worst thing in the world, but this must have real banana in it because it is delicious. They don't have a lot of flavors--maybe a dozen or so--but they're interesting. And it's very good. There isn't a lot of seating in here, so you're likely to take it to go. It's also not cheap, so be prepared to spend more than you probably expected for an ice cream cone. But if you can swing it, it's worth the experience.

Life is sweeter once you've experienced the joy of Eli's Ark. The decorations are honestly the most well done animal impressions we've ever seen- whoever took the time to pick them out did a fantastic job and we got a lot of joy just oohing over the ice cream before we tucked in. The ice cream itself was solid- we went for the sorbets because ube was OUT OF STOCK but we enjoyed our choices. All the ice cream flavors are on the sweeter side so pick carefully. Our unicorn was raspberry, the piggy was greens and avocado, and the koala was mango tajin. My partner liked raspberry most and I enjoyed the avocado one because it was least sweet. Mango was a solid mango sherbet as well although the tajin flavor could be stronger. We think Eli's Ark, while not the world's best ice cream, was a delicious and fun experience and outshone a good number of ice cream shops in the area- their flavors were well-done and definitely much more tasty than Oberweis.

Cutest place for ice cream! The decor inside was so fun. Service was great also. Ice cream flavors were very light which I liked. They also have some fun and unique flavors you won't see anywhere else!

Cuteness level - out of this world! (They don't have bathrooms) The staff was friendly and they had interesting flavors! You pick the amount of ice cream you want, the flavors you want and then then type of animals you. It seems like an easy task but trust me they are all so cute! Some of the animals are GF*

It is not often that a place clearly designed for IG-marketing delivers on the food as well... but Eli's Ark came through (for the most part)! On the downside, you don't get to sample the flavors so you really have to shoot your shot and hope for the best. I didn't love every flavor we got, but I was obsessed with the Pretty in Pink (roasted strawberry) - it was sooo tasty. Prob one of the best strawberry ice creams I have had. I also got the I Got Ube flavor, which compared to Garden Creamery in SF who does a Ube Pandan that I am obsessed with, it was just okay. Still edible and fine! My friend got the vegan flavor (I think Razzmatazz) and said it was also just okay. Be warned, the lines are long - because it does take a while for them to make a face for each scoop. Be patient, don't be a dick about it, and if you don't have the time, go somewhere else. Anyway, definitely worth the visit if you have time because the scoops really are adorable. I would want to come back to check out the other flavors to see how they hold up!

Cute place that is fun for kids and adults alike! They have several unique flavors and they allow you to taste before committing. I went with a scoop of the I Got Ube which was very delicious. It was sweet but not overly and the graham cracker bits made it taste almost cheesecake-esque. Great spot for a sweet treat!

Eli's Ark has been on my radar for at least a year but it's a little bit of a trek coming from the South Loop. Finally had a good reason to come here the other day, and it was totally worth the trip! It's a cute little shop with friendly staff and adorable scoops. I had my delicious ube ice cream turned into a unicorn and it was the cutest damn thing! My bf's 10-year-old kept saying "I wanna eat it but it's too cute!" (but she ate it, of course). Honestly, if you have little one in your life, this place is great to swing by for a special occasion scoop! Tip: there's not a lot of seats available inside so prepare to stand or take it to go.

Very cute gelato? Yes. Instagrammable? Yes. Pricy? Yea, but not unwarranted. Tasty? Meh. The gelato was alright. I got the c'mon cinnamon and while the gelato itself was okay, the churro pieces were stale. I wish we were allowed samples but they don't give out samples. The staff member who was working was quick to get all of the cone made. Overall it was a pleasant visit to get some cute animal shaped gelato cones

Cute little ice cream shop in Wicker Park that serves gelato and macarons. They turn their ice cream scoops into little animals like unicorns, pigs, pandas, koalas to name a few. Their gelato are always super creamy and the perfect amount of sweetness. I recommend the ube and mango flavors!

Omg these ice cream animals are too cute to eat!! I came here excited for a cute ice cream animal but they are even cuter in person. The "ice cream" is actually gelato here and they are so many flavors to choose from. The one downside is that they don't offer free samples so you kind of have to take your best guess. I got the ube flavor and it was very good! It was super creamy and had chunks of graham cracker (I think) mixed in. I got mine in the shape of a panda and it was so cute with cookies and chocolates to decorate it. And I even liked how the cone itself had a stronger almond flavor than typical. My bf also got a scoop, he got the toasted marshmallow and liked it. His was in the shape of a bear; again so cute! I felt like the price was pretty reasonable too! It was about $5 for a single scoop in a cone, and each scoop was pretty decently sized. I'll definitely come back again - I can't resist how cute and tasty these gelato animals are!!