High Hopes Ice Cream

We've tried a lot of ice cream places, both locally and out of town, and this has to be in the top 3, at least. Friendly window service, good prices (especially for the amazing quality), and rich, creamy ice cream in a variety of unique and decadent flavors. We were offered samples and every one was delicious. We had double scoops, but should have stuck with singles because the portions were very generous. Purchased brown butter cookie dough swirl, cake smash, and blueberry lemon cheesecake on waffle cones, which were also delicious with a nice crisp texture. In my opinion, much better than that "other place" and would absolutely get my vote for best in KC!

Run! Do not walk to High Hopes Ice Cream. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Just. GO! Hands down the best ice cream in town and it’s not even close. Walk up window. Eat outside. I don’t even care. I’m here for the mystical alchemy they create with milk and cream. They also have vegan stuff. Never tried it. The ice cream flavors are so creative and fun. Great staff and ownership. They support the KC Current! As a STM, I appreciate that. This place is amazing!!

Jesus. Mary. Joseph. Blown. Away. High Hopes doesn't just serve ice cream--they serve magic in a cone. I sampled several flavors (because how could I not?), and finally landed on a trio: S'mores, Cookie Dough, and Local Breakfast. Each one was delicious in its own right, but the S'mores? Game changer. It was like someone roasted a marshmallow over a real campfire, swirled it into rich chocolate, and folded in graham cracker dreams. The subtle smokiness in the scoop? Unreal. It tasted like summer nights and nostalgia. Cookie Dough was classic and packed with chunks (none of that skimpy dough nonsense), and Local Breakfast was a wild, wonderful ride--think maple, buttery vibes, and a cozy, early-morning sweetness. High Hopes, you absolutely nailed it. Thank you for existing in this city. I'm already planning my next trip back.

Ended up here after reading other reviews and it did not disappoint. Some of the very best ice cream I’ve ever had. They made a turtle sundae for my husband as a special request and he loved it! Reasonably priced to the quality. Outstanding!

Best ice cream in KC. The name of this place makes me tear up. He put his Heart and Soul into it, everything he has, and it turned out great. Chunky rich flavors like you don’t have anywhere else. Take a chance and go here. And explore the neighborhood, while you eat your ice cream…no seating.

We enjoyed the Brown butter cookie dough, but the Blueberry lemon cheesecake is amazing. We would drive across Missouri to have it again!

the best ice cream in KC! (maybe even in the world!) Ridiculously creamy. Flavors are on point. Unlimited samples. Generous portions. Many amazing flavors to choose from. Every we tried flavor was so perfect created. Like Betty Rae’s but somehow even better (never thought the day would come that I’d say this). A must go!!! No inside seating, so be prepare to take it to go or enjoy outside on the picnic tables! Update: pretty much every person I’ve introduced to high hopes ice cream is just as amazed as how incredible it is.

Amazing ice cream!! It’s the best I have had in all of KC and the metro. The flavors are so rich and decadent. The cinnamon honey in a waffle cone is mind blowing. We drive way out of our way to come here. Local Breakfast is another delicious flavor. But all of the flavors I’ve sampled are incredible. The chocolate has the most authentic and rich chocolate flavor.

High Hopes curates the perfect summer vibe!! You are greeted by a cheery window where you place your order. There are tons of ice cream flavor options, and each one is so unique and complex -- prepare to be overwhelmed by tasty options! Their portions are generous! Highly recommend trying a Saturn Sammie (an ice cream sandwich with your choice of ice cream flavor stuffed into warmed brioche from Blackhole Bakery across the street). There is no inside seating, but luckily, they have plenty of adorable picnic tables out on the sidewalk where you can enjoy your ice cream treat. During the summer time, they even have chalk to draw with! Like I said -- perfect summer vibe. The ice cream is so tasty I would even take it to-go and eat in my car during the winter months! I love supporting this woman-owned business! Typically there's a good amount of street parking along this section of Troost, so I rarely have to walk far.

Of the ice cream places so far I've tried in Kansas Vity, this is probably one of my favorites so far. They have a decent variety of ice cream flavors and several pretty interesting ones. When I came in the evening, there was a line out the door, so I'd say I waited about 15 minutes before I could order. I wish it was a little less busy, and there's also no real seating - you basically order at the window and they give you your ice cream. There's a couple of seats/tables outside on the sidewalk though. For parking, I just did street parking and walked to the window. Price wise, pretty fair price for a single scoop in my opinion. I got the french silk pie, and everything in its description was definitely present in the actual scoop. Reason why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because for the price and ambiance, I can't say that I'd go out of my way to go back. For a similar price, I could get a solid pint or more of ice cream from a store - I don't think the flavors offered were different enough for me to specifically want it. If I was walking around in the area, I'd probably stop by if I was wanting ice cream - if I was at home and had to drive, I might as well go to a store.

Divine! Window service only. Friendly and helpful! Had a White Chocolate Mocha Latte.. made with ice cream!!! The bomb! To go pint of French silk pie ice cream!!! Iykyk.. bc French silk pie is so good and so was this!

If you haven't gone here yet this is a must try!! Oh my goodness every flavor is amazing! High hopes is truly an amazing addition to the KC locals. The chocolate fudge is my personal favorite and I sometimes add their coffee ice cream to make a milk shake. All of their flavors are well thought of and cater a large demographic of people who maybe want something simple or want to go out of their comfort zone for a scoop. I recently Tried their hot cocoa at a pop up and was amazed and how fancy and flavorful they made it. How creative of them to offer a warm option during the cold season.

High Hopes is an ice cream shop with all kinds of wildly delicious flavors. I chose to do a single cup with 2 flavors, which was still huge. In total we had the strawberry cake, French silk pie, honey lavender pistachio and the butter bourbon pecan. All so tasty! You order at the service window, so no inside shop to sit in, but they do have tables outside. Final review: 5/5, the perfect stop for your after dinner dessert or that late time summer treat.

Loved their great, unique selection. The line moves quickly and there a couple picnic tables that turn over quickly. The mango chamoy was good, liked the bourbon butter pecan and always can double down on cookies and cream. Go for the waffle bowl - it's buttery and you can smell it being cooked down the block!

Such a cute little ice cream shop with unique flavors! Came here during one of the coldest weeks in KC with no indoor seating available. It was crazy to be ordering ice cream in the streets in such cold weather at night, but no regrets! I was only in KC for a few days and I'm so glad I was able to stop by High Hopes. I got the Toasted Rice and Black Sesame scoops and they were just as good as they sound. Very strong black sesame flavor! The toasted rice was a little more subtle but still very delicious. While we were there, we had a sample of the Everyone Loves Ramen flavor and while it was very unique, we went with the safer options instead. For all the lactose-intolerant peeps like me out there, fear not if you forgot your lactaid at home! You'll still be able to enjoy delicious ice cream consequence-free because High Hopes offers free lactaid if you ask for it!

Artisan ice cream is few and far to come by for some reason in Kansas City however, High Hopes is a serendipitous place to snag a scoop. When I realized one of my favorite KC area foodies, Lisa Nguyen, was saddling up for a ramen themed collab with this uber local ice cream shop I immediately marked my calendar for Sunday! This is a walk up ice cream window that is conveniently located on Troost Avenue on a newly developed strip of restaurants, small bakeries, barber shops and apartments. It's pretty easy to miss but, once you find you will not be disappointed because the flavors are absolutely bonkers! (In a good way) There are so many unique flavors on the chalkboard menu that is was hard to just stick with the pop up Everyone Loves Ramen flavor but, this was a great call. The nutty flavor of the black sesame ice cream was complex and not too sweet, and something I have never seen at an ice cream parlor. The topping was also spectacular, with sweet crunchy pieces of ramen turned into a brittle. Also, the texture of the ice cream was impeccable, it had a nice pull to it, a great melting point and really was so smooth in the mouth. What a great reason to eat some ice cream in the winter!

I had high hopes for the flavor I chose but it didn't deliver. I expected a salty and sweet combination but there wasn't any bacon in my scoop. It was just sweet ice cream with pancake bits. The waffle bowl was definitely on the verge of being burnt. It lacked that fresh, sweet flavor. The flavors on the menu sound amazing but my experience wasn't spectacular.

DELICIOUS. High Hopes was recently highly recommended to me and it most definitely lived up to the hype. This is the perfect dessert spot for adventurous ice cream lovers. I went with the Summer Skool Snack, which includes raspberry and grahams, blended beautifully. I'm so excited to go back and try even more of their unique flavors.

Decided to try somewhere different for ice cream tonight and I am so glad we did! High hopes has the cutest little shop on Troost and they have a great collection of flavors to choose from. We had great service and they let me sample a few of the flavors and I was impressed but the creamy rich flavors they had to offer. I ultimately decided on the chocolate scoop in a waffle cone and it was very delicious! The chocolate was smooth and rich in flavor. The texture of the ice cream was also well crafted (i am very picky when it comes to ice cream and I don't like the kind that basically breaks into small pieces and isn't smooth lol). I can't wait to go back and try more flavors!

Amazing ice scream! The service was quick and friendly. Fun signs, but plain exterior.

Was on the Plaza with my ice cream-obsessed boyfriend and since this isn't far and could be on the way home, we decided to stop by. First thing people need to know is it's a walk-up window. It was sleeting the day we went so that was a disappointing discovery but we rallied by eating in the car - no cones or sandwiches that day! First impressions were an EXTREMELY fun and creative menu. A mushroom-flavored ice cream? Who knew!? Very friendly staff. Not only did they offer a sample of the mushroom ice cream (which was very interesting and while not my vibe, was certainly much tastier than I expected), they also let us taste the 24 Carrot Cake, which had a nice funk from the goat cheese. As far as our orders, I got the kid's scoop size strawberry soda pop. Terrific flavor and I really enjoyed the pop rocks throughout the ice cream. I didn't realize they stayed "ready" in an ice cream so it was a delightfully loud experience. My boyfriend got a double scoop of the black sesame and the campfire s'mores. Both were very tasty. The campfire s'mores definitely tasted like some part of it had literally been smoked. So fun and my boyfriend loves funky ice cream flavors so this is definitely going to land in our rotation (I'm getting pretty sick of Betty Rae's and Fairway Creamery, tbh - still delicious but we get to one of them at least once a week to feed my bf's addiction). As far as the location, I agree that I don't know if I'd be dying to go at night and eat on the sidewalk, but it is near a lot of the buzzy restaurants (Wah Gwan, Baba's Pantry, Blackhole Bakery) so I could definitely see this as a good post-meal stop over. Such a great discovery!

Finally came and tried High Hopes because of the hype and it was so worth it! The flavors were well-balanced and the consistency was great, and I loved the unique flavor combinations they offer. Is it the best ice cream in KC? Is it better than Betty Rae's? Probably not, at least in my opinion. What High Hopes has going for it is its character. It's the kind of walk-up ice cream place that makes flavors like "Adult Lunchable" and offers free lactaid upon request. It pushes the envelope, which means that sometimes the flavors don't exactly work or hit the way you hope they will. It's also located on Troost, which is significantly less convenient than down the street from River Market. But High Hopes is right on Betty Rae's tail when it comes to creamy perfection and a whole menu of compelling flavors, and I'm glad it's here to shake up the KC ice cream scene.

It has become one of my favorite ice cream places for sure! Many unique flavors. Pretty creamy. The banana with hazelnut was awesome! I wish the matcha flavor was stronger in the matcha tiramisu.

Finally got a chance to stop by high hopes. First, if it's cold out, prepare yourself for the walk up window! They have all kinds of fun flavors, and they will let you have tastes before ordering. I ended up getting the 24 carrot magic - goat cheese carrot cake ice cream. It was incredible! The cone was not my favorite, but in a cup, it would be perfection! Will definitely be back!

Little window ice cream shop across the street from Blackhole Bakery, with a ton of flavors and options! They, of course, have ice cream, but they also do shakes, floats, coffee etc. The texture kind of felt like custard and was pretty creamy and richer, but the flavors were flavor bombs-so good. They do give samples! They have your more typical and popular flavors like bourbon pecan, but they have interesting flavors they rotate sometimes! The combo I got: black sesame and toasted crispy rice was . Since we don't come this way as often as we'd like, we got a pint of each . How much I liked it.

Honestly, the best ice cream I've ever had. The flavors, the textures, the awesome friendly folks behind the counter. All amazing. Plus, you get to support a local business! Doooooo it!

This was a hidden gem to me! I was hosting some out of town friends and wanted to grab dessert with them after BBQ and I searched up some recommendations and stumbled upon high hopes. I heard that the owners have worked previously in the service industry and at Betty raes beforehand creating flavor recipes and started this venture. There is outdoor patio like seating but none indoors. The menu and window are next door and you line up on the sidewalk. The staff member was very helpful and considerate even though they were very busy. I love the feel of this place and the ice cream flavors were all amazing . It gets me excited to think what might be made in the future.

Okay, there are honestly several reasons to stan High Hopes Ice Cream! I'll start with the obvious, the ice cream is purely delightful. I've tried a few different flavors, and I have not been let down once! Whatever you like, they've got you covered. And the best part , in my opinion..... the cones are made in house. Yes, you read that correctly, house cones that are full of flavor and spice. So, why am I a total stan? -There's an ice cream shop with quality selections located near my home on Troost. -High Hopes is a local woman-owned business. -They offer small samples of the ice cream. (Try it before you buy it) -They have lactaid tablets available so you can have an enjoyable experience if you're sensitive to dairy. (It just makes sense, and it's smart!) -They have a basket with free stickers, nice touch. -The ice cream is top tier, the service is great, and they absolutely do not miss! If you're planning to go on a weekend night, be prepared to stand in line, business will be booming!

Such a cute ice cream shop that has a walk up window and outdoor seating. Perfect for summer night or nice day. Really enjoy the mix of creative and classic flavors. Always something new to try when stopping by.

Came here after work on a Friday. The service was fast they were very nice. The ice cream was amazing the house made waffle cone was definitely the way to go. I highly recommend!

The ice cream is so smooth and refreshing. Workers were friendly and prompt even with a long line. Window pickup and you can grab, sit, walk or eat right outside. Also, get the waffle cone! You won't regret it.

I admire the hutzpah of opening a walk-up window ice cream shop on Troost. That takes both fortitude and grace. But also to serve a brioche ice cream sandwich this side of Disney World? God bless this genius. The Saturn Sammie made with brioche from Blackhole Bakery is truly out of this world. Pick any flavor of ice cream and any sauce and you'll be in heaven. The cold brew float is also a winner. Some of the flavor options are unique. Usually one or two on the menu are for the truly adventurous (malted mushroom, anyone?). Perhaps that's you! If so, I salute you. Strawberry Soda Pop is about as bold as I go, with its Pop Rocks flair. Although, I think I'm ready to get back over there to try Local Breakfast, (maple bacon pancake) or the currently available French Silk Pie. Whatever I decide on, I know it'll be great because greatness is all they do here.

Wow! I don't know why this place isn't talked about more, it's so good! Went here around 8pm and there was a small line ahead of me. High Hopes Ice Cream has multiple unique flavors, with many different ways to enjoy it. I chose the Cinnamon and Honey on a waffle cone. The ice cream was just the right amount of sweet and had some of the best flavor I've ever had with ice cream. The waffle cone was also delicious and I enjoyed this thoroughly until I was down to the last bite. I'm already mentally planning my next trip here, and looking forward to trying the Saturn Sammie next! If you're wanting to try a new ice cream place, here it is.

Definitely lives up to the name! Not only do they have delicious and unique flavors, but toppings and sauces as well. And you can get salt/smoked salt added for free?? I'm in heaven! We got the vanilla and coquito (coconut) with honey and smoked salt, and a toasted rice and bourbon pecan on a waffle cone. So delicious and creamy, almost has a soft serve mouth feel, with the creaminess of a custard. The flavors shine through and linger on the buds. Will definitely be going back again and again!

I was able to try High Hopes at a pop up event and I was not disappointed. I tried a scoop of the vanilla bourbon ice cream. It was so good. The flavors were balanced, texture creamy, and I wish I had more room in my belly because I wanted more. They also had a corn bread ice cream served with pickled jalapeños, a cinnamon and honey ice cream, and waffle cones. I can't wait to go back so that I can try all (or as many as humanly possible) the flavors!

Cool little hole in the wall type ice cream shop with some delicious and unique flavors to try. I tried a double scoop with the after skool snack and 24 carrot magic. The 24 carrot is a must try for sure. My husband had the french silk pie scoop which he loved, so many chunky pieces mixed in.

Lowkey, KC needs more good ice cream spots so I'm really glad to see High Hopes come around to sling some tasty scoops! This spot is unique in that it's a walk-up window which makes total sense since it was born in the pandemic, but also that's sort of the nature of ice cream anyhow so I like that aspect of it. I felt like the staff had a great energy as well. I thought the ice cream was pretty tasty as well. The only one I tried was the Strawberry Birthday Cake in a waffle cone, but it was rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Now the aspect of it that I don't really like, and is actually enough of a negative to keep me from coming back anytime soon is the fact that there is almost no seating anywhere and it's on a busy (read: loud) street. Once we had our ice cream, we found ourselves sort of stalling out with nowhere to sit, and conversation drowned out by cars whizzing by. I think for quality ice cream, this is a really cool spot and I'm certainly pulling for them. With two little kids to wrangle at all moments, it's probably not going to be a spot we frequent, but hopefully their concept takes off enough to open up to another location in time because I like what they're about.

Great ice cream with unique flavors. I don't k ow the secret to their chocolate syrup but it is divine! Be warned, outside seating or standing only. Support local today!

LOVE LOVE LOVE. I go here probably 2-3 files a month. The staff is so nice, the ice cream is amazing! Brown butter cookie dough is my favorite one for sure.

Delicious! Quick service at a walk up window with samples. I would recommend the strawberry birthday cake - tasty cake pieces are mixed in and fresh bright flavor. Only downside is there is no seating as it's just along the sidewalk. Fun sidewalk chalk for the kids when we went though!

Can't praise this ice company enough. The service was quick and helpful with suggestions. A great sidewalk location with picnic tables to enjoy your selections. Bourbon Butter Pecan waffle cone is large enough for two. Can't remember the name of the vegan ice cream, Almond Joy comes to mind, but you would never know it was vegan. Very sweet and got 3 servings out of a pint. You won't regret the drive

Brought more friends last night and more friends were impressed! How could they not be? The Innovative flavors are perfectly balanced. The texture is beyond creamy and smooth. And one of my favorite things ever is being able to get a freshly cooked waffle bowl for a dollar. If nothing else, that should have you going to High Hopes out of appreciation for their fair prices, along with the best ice cream you may ever have.

How this place isn't #1 is just crazy! Simple as that. I've traveled this country sometimes just for ice cream. And this place can rival any top ice cream shop in any city. My guy Matt is hilarious and explains all the unique flavors they have. We tried almost every flavor. They're all the best but if I had to pick my top 3 I would say Banana Haze, Mother Earth (usually cake in ice cream is always over cooked or hard, this was perfect), and I'd say the Toasted Rice or the Bourbon pecan were tied. But nothing was bad, like at all. Skip the basic toppings and try some of their smoked salt, you won't regret. I could go on and on but all you need to really know is this place is a must, MUST try if you're anywhere near Kansas City.

Came here on a Saturday afternoon, there was no line. They have a few outdoor tables. You can try the flavors, I tried the lavender and strawberry birthday cake. I ended up getting the strawberry birthday cake. It was good but there were some parts that were icy.

Have you had a Saturn Sammie yet from @highhopeskc ? Warm brioche bun from @blackholebakery and ice cream! I know sounds like a lot, but is just the best ice cream sandwich. Not too sweet and you get to pick you flavor of sauce and ice cream. YUM! Let's talk ice cream flavors - the mint is real mint. They had 2 options for dairy free - both great. Really like the the piña colada made from coconut milk And then a savoy option with mango chamoy. We ate these one before I even though to take a picture.

After having literally the worst ice cream experience at Betty Rae's, which is supposedly the best in KC, I didn't have high hopes for High Hopes (see what I did there?). Now THIS is the best ice cream in KC. High Hopes blows Betty Rae's out of the water. They aren't even in the same league. Everything from taste to waffle cone to service to price was superior. The man behind the window was friendly, happy to give me samples and talk about the flavors, and didn't rush me. He even followed up after I was done eating. * BANANA HAZE Real banana flavor and not the artificial, fake laffy taffy stuff. There's also swirls of chocolate hazelnut and small pieces of pecan praline shortbread. If you like banana flavor, get this. * BOURBON BUTTER PECAN The candied pecans were so good and it's what made me want to get this flavor in the end. They paired well with the ice cream. Also for those of you who can't have dairy, they have free lactaid pills out front for you! Now you have no excuse not to try it ;) This is going to be a must-stop spot for me whenever I am in town. Not only is the ice cream fantastic but they also partner with my favorite bakery in town, Blackhole. It's a win-win!

There really should be a lot more walk-up window ice cream parlors like High Hopes in this city. We stopped by for a treat after a birthday lunch for my wife. Since she ordered the Fresh Mint Crisp, it was up to me to order the Strawberry Birthday Cake. We both ordered a $3.75 scoop in a cup, although they have waffle cones for $1 more. We both loved our selections! Hers was topped with rice crispies and mine was made with shortcake beer from City Barrel Brewery. Delicious. With Black Hole Bakery just across the street, 5500 block of Troost just may be my new "guiltiest pleasure" block in the metro.

VERY good homemade ice cream! Super unique flavors. I love the texture of the Joy of Almond ice cream. The waffle cones are homemade and very tasty. My kiddos had the campfire n smores and chocolate ice cream and everyone was happy. The service was great. Highly recommend that you stop in!!!

Came here after hearing great things and happened to be close by. The ice cream is good, but not the "best ever/best in KC" like it was hyped. I prefer the ice cream place located downtown. The cold brew tasted like dish soap. The service... meh. The guy was ok. The red haired girl was snotty and rude. The setting... we loved the picnic tables and the addition of sidewalk chalk was fun. Will I return? Nope. Would I recommend? No. Not worth the $$

Decadent ice cream enhanced by the fresh waffle cones. A perfect place to spend a hot summer evening devouring the wide array of sweet or salty flavors and racing to finish before it all melts down your cone. We could not get over how creamy & rich the ice cream was at High Hopes. Honestly just so damn good. You are missing out if you haven't gone yet. Sprint here!!!!

I'm not a big sweets or ice cream person, but my wife definitely is... we've been meaning to try High Hopes for awhile and finally did so. It's 100% worth a visit. Located at 55th & Troost (near UMKC and Rockhill), they have a great location. They're also conveniently located across the street from my favorite bakery (Black Hole) and they even have a collaboration ice cream/brioche bun combo. They have about 10-15 flavors available at any given time. They also have a sorbet for those who are lactose intolerant (I'm not sure if it's vegan). If you're lactose intolerant and daring, they do have a bowl of complimentary Lactaid if you want to chance it. For the very reasonable price of $3.75 you get a ginormous scoop (a waffle cone is an additional charge). A double scoop will only set you back $6.50. Trust me when I say that one scoop will be enough for most people. I got a scoop of the raspberry lemon sorbet. My wife had the bourbon butter pecan. Both flavors were excellent. My dog apparently thought so too as he took a giant lick while we were driving home (haha)... but yeah, I'm totally into this new locally owned business and will absolutely be back!

This is some of the best ice cream I've ever had. So many flavors that are so delicious and fun toppings. Plus I loved the window art. Will definitely be back for more soon. Ps the lactaid pills by the order window is a great touch!

This is our favorite place to get a scoop of ice cream! The flavors are great - lots of gluten free and vegan options as well. The staff and owners are very nice and involved in the community!

Incredibly delicious ice cream! It was so good! I had the blue berry lemon cheesecake, my son had Banana and my husband had the s'mores. We all loved our ice cream. So many unique flavors on a homemade cone. Walk up window to order and high top tables in the front. They even allowed some samples to fry before ordering.

Fun ice cream shop. Walk up window with a few picnic tables outside. Loved the variety of flavors.

Best of the best. I fashion myself and ice cream connoisseur and High Hopes checks all the boxes. Flavors, Creatvity, Consistency. Flavors are brilliant. Combinations are thoughtful and well balanced. They consistently deliver, even on flavors I'd shy away from. Thanks for the heart you put into your collaboration. I sure taste it every time I but a scoop, or, two or three. Pictures coming soon. I eat it so fast I keep forgetting to get pics.

This is AMAZING! I chose the adult lunch able on a fresh-made waffle cone. I love the goat cheese flavor - plus the apricot pieces hidden inside this creamy delicious ice cream!!!