Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream

I teach a class where one of the warmup questions is, “What’s your favorite ice cream?” and more than a few students kept shouting “Handel’s!” like it was some kind of secret password. Curiosity finally won, and I had to investigate. One recommendation was the “Not Your Average Dough,” and holy cow, they weren’t lying. This scoop was like an ice cream block party with chocolate chips, cookie dough, cookie dough flavored ice cream, and some kind of graham cracker situation that my taste buds still haven’t fully explained to me. Every bite felt like it needed its own fireworks display. Because I’m a creature of habit, I got a second scoop of butter pecan. Normally that flavor never lets me down, but compared to the dough flavor it was like bringing a kazoo to a rock concert. Still good, just overshadowed. Portions were generous, prices were fair, and honestly, you get a mountain of ice cream for what you pay. Safe to say the students were right, and I’ll be back to keep “researching” more flavors in the name of education.

The ice cream here is so good. Ordered vanilla, black cherry, coffee chocolate chip, black raspberry chunk, strawberry, and mango. We were not disappointed. My daughter is very particular about her mango ice cream, or rather sorbet, and this is a top two spot so far. Good mango is hard to come by and this is top tier. Customer service was great as well. Guys were patient with us not being familiar with the menu. No inside seating but plenty of benches outside to sit on. Serving sizes were big. Excellent ice cream. Definitely recommend. We've been two nights in a row if that is any indication of how good the ice cream is.

The amount of flavors they have here are insane. I love that the milkshake can be made with any flavor of your choosing too. I got the 4 scoop mix and I liked the flavors that I got. I'd recommend Salted Caramel Truffle because that salt hits different. S'mores was also tasty, and I would watch out with how thick the milkshakes are. Pretty tasty, if ur in the area, give it a try because it's worth the price.

The best ube ice cream I ever had, hands down! If you love ube, this is the place to get it! No wonder there's always a long line here everytime I pass by. My friend's love their bubblegum ice cream here too. So many flavors to choose from - fruits, chocolate etc. You can buy by the scoop or you can also get them in pints. Plus, the young people who work here are very nice and polite. They know how to give a good customer service. 👍

That’s was absolutely yummy. I had a hot fudge sundae. So delicious and the nuts just hit the spot. Very clean area. We did go right when it opened and thankfully no line.😆Ice Cream is delicious at any time of the day. One of the best sundaes I’ve had in a very long time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5-Star Experience! I grew up on Blue Bell ice cream and always thought nothing could beat it—wrong! Handel’s Ice Cream has completely changed the game for me. The staff was beyond friendly—seriously, they let you sample every flavor if you want, and they do it with a smile! My absolute favorite was the Blueberry Cobbler—it tasted like summer in a scoop. The line was long (which says a lot), but it moved quickly and was absolutely worth the wait. Honestly, it was a little bittersweet realizing how rare such great customer service and quality are these days. Handel’s delivered a five-star experience all around. I just wish I could’ve packed a pint to bring back home to New Orleans. I guess that means I’ll be heading back to Carlsbad soon! 🍦💙

I was recommended to come here for ice cream. They said there are often lines, but it's worth it. There was no line at all, and the ice cream was delicious, the service was very polite, and the portions! The portions are really big, not just a tiny scoop.

Super delicious ice cream, but be careful. If you want the chocolate cone, the small size gives you 3! Scoops at least. But sooo goood 😅

I have some Ice Cream here on my Birthday - and every other time I am in the neighbor hood! Too many Flavors is a good thing ... but I can't choose just one. I get a "Flight of Four" and try 4 different flavors at once. (That is the best value / per scoop , also.) Service is exceptional! All Ice Cream must be eaten out side on benches - I haven't found an Ice Cream Shop in San Diego County where there was indoor seating - but I'm positive there are a few! So the Ambiance is the same everywhere I've been. This shop has the LUXURY of a place to sit after you buy your food - unlike the Handel's Ice Cream in Oceanside where you can eat it in traffic - once you leave the window: you are not their problem anymore. One of my favorite North County Shops! I will return!

Been to Handel's many times, personally they are a little sweet for my taste, but they have good flavor selection that usually draws a considerable line. I still think for service and speed they are solid, the ice cream is good too, just my preference on sweetness. In my opinion the portions are pretty big, so I usually have a tough time finishing a small. The line moves fairly quickly and the staff is very kind. There are benches outside, but it has usually been easier to get this ice cream when on the go. There's a lot of people and seating is somewhat limited.

Stopped by here for the first time the other day and was glad they offered samples because they had so many flavors to choose from. Was also glad that they were friendly and patient while I tried a few flavors because I'm a bit picky. Ended up trying about four flavors. The cake batter flavor was good! Some of the flavors that I tried that didn't quite hit for me were the pistachio, grand central station, and buckeye. I found the textures of all the flavors a bit too creamy. It felt like they were all a little melted, but they weren't. Would have preferred a slightly harder ice cream, but the flavors were solid. Street parking is available nearby as well as a few parking spots but it's hit or miss depending on the day. I'd come back for a nice post meal treat! Next time I want to try their coffee chocolate chip!

There is never a doubt the ice cream is going to be fantastic at Handel's. This visit was no exception. I tried the black cherry and it was a nice surprise. Usually I get something with chocolate. You can't go wrong which ever you choose! They are always willing to give a sample to try something new. Very nice service.

I wish you can taste from a photo because this was so delicious. Don't get me wrong, It's a long line for ice cream but it was yummy! Lots of people just sitting around and talking and having ice cream so overall was great and would be back for sure next time we're in town.

"Better jump down a manhole, light yourself a candle The pump don't work 'cause the vandals took the handle" (Bob Dylan) My cousin is a native of the area and knows Carlsbad inside and out. So, when our conversation turned to ice cream and she became evangelical about Handel's, well we sure knew where we'd be heading when the urge for a cone hit us. Handel's Ice Cream has over 50 locations across the country and has expanded far beyond its 1945 Ohio roots to states like Pennsylvania, Florida, Indiana, and California. I didn't see any stores east of Pennsylvania on their website, so there's none in my neck of the woods, and truthfully, I'd never heard of them before. Every store makes every batch of ice cream by hand and on premises, so that's pretty impressive. They have 120+ flavors of ice cream on their website, plus sorbets, sherberts, ices, and vegan choices, so they can pretty much satisfy any taste profile you're looking for. There wasn't much of a line when we arrived, but after we got our cones and sat down at one of their benches and tables, the place quickly beame jam-packed. We ordered two cones- Coconut caramel delight and Vanilla caramel brownie. And the ice cream was very good -smooth, no ice granules, full of flavors, big scoops, and not too sweet. The only odd thing we encountered was the rapid melting of the ice cream! By the time we had barely started, the ice cream was dripping down the sides of our cones, and by the time we were done, our hands were a mess, and we sure could have used some Wet Naps or Wash 'N Dries. It wasn't a hot evening at all, so the inexplicable rapid melting and resulting mayhem sure affected our experience.

We were craving a snack after dinner & my cousin brought us to this spot that she goes to. I didn't expect their ice cream to be so big! They are beyond generous with their scoops. They also have a variety of flavors to choose from. I just went with my go to which is chocolate chip cookie dough. It was so good & definitely satisfied that craving :)

The Best! Team members are just the sweetest! The ice cream is so delicious and I love the patio and cute set up outside!

This spot is awesome! With so many delicious flavors to choose from right in the Main Street of Carlsbad, this is a great stop for a sweet treat! The line may get long at times but service is quick to keep it moving. I love the way you can see inside and how there are plenty of benches outside. Great place:)

Great ice cream! Lots of flavors! Usually a long line outside but moves fairly quick. They have some seatings in front of the store. Server was nice and gave out samples to try different flavors. I got the graham central station which was delicious. Has graham cracker texture and cinnamony taste. The mint Oreo tasted exactly what it sounds like.

I had monkey business. It's banana ice cream with chunks of brownie and nuts in it. My fiancé had the classic rocky road. Chocolate ice cream with nuts and marshmallow She had hers in a peanut cone I had mine in a peanut bowl. Both items 10/10 Service was fast and friendly Great portion size for the price. They have some benches outside that you can sit and enjoy your ice cream. No where inside to sit. And they don't have lids for at least the bowl that I had. Would have been nice to drive home without having to worry about it spilling since I didn't finish it.

Walked up to grab a scoop and after a fantastic walkthrough description of several flavors we decided to split a sampler. We chose the blueberry cobbler, strawberry, taro and monkey business. I was a little disappointed the monkey business didn't taste more like banana, but over all they all were delicious. The top two were definitely the strawberry, because it tasted so much like real strawberries and not artificial, and the taro, because the flavor doesn't taste like anything I've ever tasted before. If you are in the area, stop by for a sweet treat and friendly service with a smile!

Handel's is a classic creamy ice cream with so many wonderful flavor options and by far my favorite ice cream shop. It's worth the long line wait and I've never been disappointed with the quality or taste. My favorite flavors are the mint chocolate chip and coffee chocolate chip. It can be hit or miss on the size of the portion depending on who scoops. Sometimes you get a heaping cup you can't even finish and other times you question how that serving is worth $5.75

The ice cream is delicious! My daughter got the mint chocolate chip. My niece got the vanilla and Oreo. I got the monkey in a sugar cone. They had a huge line but it fast. The staff was friendly. They have outdoor seating. It's a very casual atmosphere.

The ice cream was wonderful and the staff was very friendly. There was no line for us, but it can build fast. Definitely worth the wait .

So many flavors. Generous with the size of your sample flavors. AND uber sized ice cream scoops. Love the various flavors of ice cream, and there's definitely a flavor for everyone. I tried their frosted animal crackers flavor.

Tried their bana cream pie and salted caramel. Soooo delicious! Friendly staff too! Benches available to sit and enjoy.

Don't let the long line deter you. It's worth it and the line moves pretty quickly because of the staff efficiency. There's a wide range of ice cream flavors. It's creamy and not too sweet. Literally melt in your mouth goodness.

Just after dining up the street at 264 Fresco we were dying for some tasty Ice Cream and all these people walked by us with Waffle Cones with big scoops of Ice Cream on top. There was a line, but not too bad. They all told us to Check Out Handel's Homemade Ice Cream on State Street. Happy We Did, a Small was like a Large for what they scooped into those Cones! Talk about an Extensive Menu of Ice Cream Choices!! We like the Ice Cream so much we stopped at a Handel's in the Temecula area for 2 More Great Tasting Chocolate Dipped Waffle Cones to Cool us off

The lines are always long at Handel's, but it goes pretty quick. I like the Carlsbad location since they have plenty of outdoor seating. Their servings are generous, small is about $6 and you get 2.5 scoops. What I don't like is that you can't mix flavors until you get a medium--which is way too much ice cream for 1 person. Charge 50 cents or a dollar per additional flavor and offer your guests the opportunity to mix it up. Two and a half scoops of the same flavor gets boring fast. I had the Spouse in the House (malted ice cream with peanut butter ripple, chocolate chips and pretzel bits. I really enjoyed it, but it would save time if you had the description on the menu or something for the funkier named blends.

Is there a 5+ rating. I mean, this place has the best ice cream anywhere. Period. First, you walk up and they offer to let you taste several choices. And it's not a little taste, it's a full bite. When I went, it was a little slow and the lady working was kind and offered me several. Then you order. Wow. Just the taste, texture, everything, it's out of this world. I had the chocolate peanut butter brownie. It's excellent. I had it on the cone dipped in chocolate with nuts. Put this ice cream and cone together and you have something special. It's amazing. Make sure you build in at least one stop here if you are vacationing in Carlsbad. Or even if you are just in the area. So, so good.

The homemade ice cream here is absolutely irresistible. It's well-known for its long lines -- a sign of how good it is -- and the flavor truly stands out from other places. The texture is creamy, rich, and full of flavor. I had the dark chocolate with chunks, and it was excellent. The young teen at the counter was friendly and welcoming. Since it's an outdoor setup, there isn't much to say about the ambiance, but the ice cream alone makes it worth the visit.

Always great services, my bestie and I, hands down almost every time we go to any Handel's, always a line but never long wait time so you know it's GOODDDD only a few select location that offers samples, this location is one of them. San Clemente doesn't allow samples if you're heading up so an FYI. Fast services, crew is friendly and ya'll this place has 7 windows so don't be fool of that long line, they go down very fast. No need for fast passes here LOL! Got the ice cream flight aka the sampler, it was like $8 and perfect way to end any girls dinner. Horchata ice cream ( bleh for me, 2/10) Spouse like a house ( 5/10) Banana Cream pie (7.5/10) ( i forgot the last one but it was good)

This is a fascinating place. Had never heard of it but a good friend turned us on to it so had to try it - liked it so much the first night had to come back the next night for more. We were blown away at the long line - over 30 each night, but surprised and happy how quickly the lines moved. The servings were huge and delicious!! The second night we turned another couple on to this place after dinner and they loved the ice cream. We all recommend this place to anyone who visits Carlsbad and when we come back will definitely stop buy more another serving.

One of the best ice cream places I've been to!! It was so tasty and delicious on a hot day. The line gets pretty long but it's worth the wait. The service was really quick and the ambiance is a grab and go booth setting. I got the frosted cookie and my aunt got the smores!! I think the s'mores flavor was really good! Both were so delicious, and I would go back!

Best ice cream ever. perfect to eat on the beach. I got rocky road with a chocolate peanut cone and it was too good. good service too (:

Usually there's an insanely long line but we walked right up at 8 PM and ordered our ice cream. This place is so cute, and has the best ice cream around. There's a little outdoor seating area or you can walk around downtown Carlsbad. Definitely recommend any of the seasonal flavors, we come here about once a month to try to hit them all!

I can't explain how good the sundae is here. I dream about it! The kids at the window are always so nice and the service is great. They have only picnic tables outside to sit, but it's a cool street.

Handels -your ice cream is my ode to joy... and creamy cure to a bad work day. To me, the chocolate peanut butter brownie is the trifecta. Though it is "once on the lips, forever on the hips", it's worth the caloric risk.

I LOVE ICE CREAM! the service is friendly and the line goes by quickly! And of course the ice cream is delicious!

These days, whenever I visit an old favorite that I haven't been to since before COVID, I'm horrified by the prices. Everything has gotten so expensive! Except at Handel's, where the ice cream remains an excellent bargain. They have so many flavors, and all of them are good! I haven't been often enough to develop favorites, but tonight's Oreo cheesecake was filled with so many chunks of both and was wonderfully delicious. And the "small"? Three scoops! Who could possibly eat a large? And it's only five dollars. The best part though is that they pack the ice cream down into the cone. How many times have I eaten an ice cream only to find myself holding a dry empty cone? I usually try to pack the ice cream in with my tongue as I'm eating to avoid that, but it's messy and inconvenient. At Handel's though, your cone is full. Plus, they have treats for your dog. They sell Frosty Paws (commercial frozen dog treats), but you can also just ask for a doggy cone: it's a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream in a little cake cone: just about as much junk food as I want my dog to eat, and free at that. The lines can get long, but this place is absolutely worth the wait.

Walked by on a November weeknight with no line and at the suggestion of coworkers, stopped by Handel's. It was a great experience from start to the gooey spoon finish. The attendants were all friendly and helped me pick a flavor with a few samples. I settled on the Blueberry cheesecake crumble ice cream. I love ice cream and agree with other reviews on prior portions being very generous - suggest a buddy when visiting so you can split the delish that is Handles! Very smooth and tasty. Worth the trip and cute village location.

This place is AWESOME! They have more options than your brain can handle, everything we tried was delicious and the servings are huge. The young woman that helped us was so friendly and she was helpful and offered samples of anything I wanted to try. Seriously, this place is the perfect after dinner treat. It has no indoor seating but some picnic tables outside if you want to sit. Otherwise, it's the perfect walk and talk treat.

I've eaten way too much ice cream from here, and it's mostly been their ice cream sandwiches. They have it in mint, vanilla, and chocolate with a large oreo cookie to cover it. Perfect and worth it every time. Also a fan of their cookie dough and cookies and cream scoops. My dog loves their frosty paws too so there's something for everyone

First time trying this location. Even though the line is really long, the team on staff today worked together and had people in and out of there pretty quickly. They have tables outside but they fill up quickly. There is additional seating down the way. Kids enjoyed their ice creams so no complaints here. If you are in this area, give this place a go .

It is what it says it is... I have not been to one of these in maybe 5 or 6 years because my last choices here were sugar bombs in a 2-cup bowl. Truth-be-told I prefer an espresso ice cream versus coffee ice cream since they have bolder coffee flavor with less milky creaminess. However, this is a very above average rendition regardless. COFFEE CHOCOLATE CHIP ice cream (in a cup): -- it is not cheap at about $7.00 but everything is coin now so "it is what it is" -- nice color LIGHT brown -- lots of pieces of semi-sweet (dark) chocolate chunks -- color kind of similar to Haagen- Dazs rendition -- really nice milky coffee and cream taste without being too milky or creamy -- not overly creamy and not overly icy, somewhere in the middle -- sweetness is very reasonable at LIGHT up to medium at most (I hate overly sweet ice cream, and this is just fine w/me) -- portion size is medium-plus RATING = A Staff are friendly and quick.

I love Handel's! I've been to many different locations and love how they always offer very large proportions. This is my first time getting this flavor. It had peanut butter inside which I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. I love how this Handel's also had outdoor seating so I sat outside and talked to my friends while eating ice cream. Loved the experience and would definitely do it again!

We've been here before and will cone again. It gets very busy on hot summer days! Plenty of flavors to choose from and friendly service. I don't get ice cream often, and when I do, I want it to be good. My Rocky Road was loaded and tasty. Fast service on this late afternoon, spring visit.

The employee was pleasant and gave us a sample we requested. Even though they ran out of carrot cake ice cream (new flavor), he offered to give us another sample we'd like to try. He scooped our ice cream well - nothing fell over! Hah! As always, the flavors we chose were bombtastic!

Tons of options, friendly staff, surprisingly quick service (even with long lines), and DELICIOUS ice cream. There's not much more to say!

This ice-cream place is must have. It gets pretty busy. Line moves fast. They have variety of options. They have street sitting areas. I had mango and chocolate

Great ice cream flavors. Some of our favorite flavors include the Buckeye , Raspberry cobbler or crumble and the Keylime . We also like the cookies flavors . We really appreciate them having free pup cups as well as dogs specific ice cream if you're trying to avoid dairy with your dog. Service is friendly. They allow you to sample flavors before purchasing.

Stopped by after lunch on a Tuesday. Super friendly! This was our first time and we asked for a recommendation -- she let us know the portions are generous! She also said if we'd like to try different flavors, the 4 flavor sampler is about the same size as the medium. We got: Graham Central Station: so special and my fav! It's got chocolate covered graham crackers Birthday cake: colorful and celebratory Peach: lovely and peachy Long .. dough: cookies n cream with some cookie dough Soooo goood!!!

Not so sweet ice cream but truly creamy and refreshing even on a cold day. Expect lines, but online order is available for quick pick-up. Place is outdoor beside a street, but eating ice cream will not be of a big deal! Highly recommended!

Line went quick. Ice cream always tastes great and the cones are fresh. We like getting the 4 pack sampler with cones. It's the perfect amount of ice cream to try.

Ice cream quality and taste wasn't the best. Tried a bunch of flavors. Had the brownie dough. Big portion and lots of pieces which I normally like but this one was too heavy and overall quality and taste intensity wise not so great for me

Such a cute little ice cream shop! Located in Carlsbad Village this little gem has some of the best ice cream. The prices are reasonable. And they even offer baby scoops! Cutest little scoop of ice cream on the cutest little cone. I didn't get the gals name that helped us but she was super friendly and patient with us. If you're ever in Carlsbad in the village be sure to stop by

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is perfect to eat on a really hot day. This is my first time placing my online order from the Door Dash App at this Carlsbad, CA location. My first order was from their other Oceanside, CA location. I ordered the 4 Sampler Pack because this sampler pack is very versatile and I like to experience eating different kinds of ice cream flavors. I placed my online order on the Door Dash App on Thursday, July 13, 2023. This order was delivered to me on time by Thomas at 7 p. m. I posted this review yesterday, but it was removed by mistake on Yelp. My order is as follows: the one 4 Sampler Pack. I received a whole list of really delicious flavors that I could choose from on their Handle's Homemade Ice Cream Menu. My selections were the 1.Strawberry Cheesecake Chunk 2. Orange Dream Cream 3. Black Cherry 4. Vanilla ice cream with Oreo Cookie pieces. I loved eating every one of these really yummy specialty ice cream flavors. I could not choose just one as my favorite. The (first flavor) is The Strawberry Cheese Cake Chunk flavor has real strawberries in them and I can taste this delicious cheesecake with the graham cracker crust. The (second flavor) was the Orange Dream Cream. This Orange Dream Cream Ice Cream reminded me eating a Orange Creamsickle Bar. This Orange flavor really shined through and the Vanilla Creme flavor was a great combination and worked really well together. The (third flavor) was the Black Cherry Ice Cream. There is a generous amount of Black Cherries infused in this ice cream and the Black Cherry flavored ice cream was also really yummy. The (fourth flavor) was the Vanilla Ice Cream with the Oreo Cookies pieces. The Vanilla Ice Cream has vanilla bean in it and the Oreo Cookies Pieces were really delicious mixed with this vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed eating every bite of this ice cream. My subtotal was $8.55. The delivery fee was originally $6.99 but there was FREE DELIVERY it is due to the reason I am an active Door Dash Pass Member. The expanded range fee is $1.49. The service fee is $1.28. The estimated tax was zero. The dasher tip for Thomas that was added before checkout was $2.50. I added the dasher tip after checkout it was $2.00. This dasher total tip was $4.50. I was being very generous to Thomas my dasher delivery driver. Because I usually give these Dasher delivery drivers a $5.00 to a $5.50 tip for every order I have placed on the Door Dash App or their website. I heard some of their customers they don't give no tips to these Dasher delivery drivers. My total bill was $15.82. This bill was charged to my NFCU Visa Credit Card Account.

Always a long line. But moves pretty quickly, staff are usually very friendly. Flavors are always great. Wouldn't recommend the blondie but everything else has been good! Cute, small place, lots of ordering windows. A few outside seats but usually unavailable otherwise nice to walk around the village