La Palapa

Truly, the best mangonadas in Indy! I believe they are family owned. The staff is always so friendly and inviting.

Another awesome visit! I had been before but wanted to go again to check it out. I'm glad I did, the staff is so friendly and the space is very clean. They have an awesome variety, I was going to get a mangolada, but then I decided to switch it up and get some ice cream, I ended up getting a scoop of tequila flavor and it was surprisingly tasty! Check this place out, many tasty options!

We were exploring the south side of Indiananapolis and decided we needed a sweet treat. Did a quick Google search and found La Palapa. It is a large, bright indoor space with plenty of tables to sit and enjoy your frozen treats. Menu has many specialty items but we opted for scoops of the homemade ice cream. Manny (whose mom owns the shop) offered us samples and answered any questions. We decided on guava, tequila, queso, horchata and mango. They were absolutely amazing!!! Portions were large and prices were extremely reasonable. We will be back!

Service was great, the gentleman helping me really helped explain what some of the flavors would be like. I enjoyed it, the flavors were a little on the hot side but I'll know next time to get a bit less of the Tajin sauce. The mango ice cream really went well with the kick of the sauce, just needed a little less for my tastes. I appreciate knowing that can be customized each time.

Mangonada was great!! Service was very quick not too busy clean spot to go also Was really excited about the durros too

After chatting to the La Palapa team on social media, setting up a Yelp event together, and seeing their great reviews pour in, I was so excited to finally try the food. It's located in a strip center that doesn't face the road, so instead of looking for their storefront, look for their big sign in the grass on Hanna Avenue. There's plenty of parking for all of the businesses in that area. I walked in and was welcomed by Jose, their social media manager and front-of-house man. He was so friendly and walked me through the menu. I ordered the torta de jamon (sandwich with ham, cheese, avocado, tomatoes, a creamy sauce, and optional chilis). It was lunchtime, but I couldn't not get a mangonada after reading so many reviews about them. The mangonada was sooooo good. I was determined to eat the sandwich first, but I couldn't help it once I tried the mangonada. The mango ice cream was so smooth and paired so well with the chili powder and sauce. You might hear 'chili powder' and think it's spicy, but it's not at all. The sweetness blends with it for the perfect flavor. The sandwich was also delicious and I loved the creamy avocado. I'd order both again! I noticed that most of the customers were speaking Spanish, so this is a good opportunity to brush up on some vocab if you're feeling adventurous. They speak English too, so no worries if you don't. There is both outdoor and indoor seating, and the prices are super reasonable. Thanks, La Palapa!

I had a bit of trouble finding the restaurant at first. I couldn't see addresses while driving so I drove past at first. Look for El Ranchito Supermarket and pull into their parking lot off of Hanna if you're having trouble. Look directly to the right and you'll see La Palapa Ice Cream Shop on the end of the strip center. The restaurant is good size with three 4-top tables and three 2-tops with a spacious dining area. You order at the counter straight ahead as you enter. The staff are very friendly and glad to answers questions about the menu. You'll find the menu above the order counter. So many selections sounded fabulous but I went with the Mangonada which was fabulous. The ice cream was so smooth and the fruit was perfect size bites. The tajin (chili powder) and chili sauce (chamoy) gave it a nice spice touch. The spicy tamarind straw is a perfect touch. Thank you La Palapa for the free Mangonada for the Yelp Event and Niki for organizing this event. They serve sandwiches as well as ice cream. I selected the Turkey Sandwich on wheat bread topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and heavy mayo, for me. Next time I'll pass on the mayo but it didn't stop me from devouring the sandwich. The sandwiches come with a small bag of chips and a canned or bottle drink (Diet Coke for me). All the vegetables were fresh and perfectly ripe and the turkey had a good flavor. BTW, Tamales are available on weekends only and just $2.25 each. I sat for awhile after eating my sandwich and the staff never stops cutting fruit, serving customers and someone else cleaning consistently. They work hard but seem to enjoy their job as occasionally I'd hear some laughter from the group of ladies. The service was excellent, professional, fast and easily in and out for a lunch hour. If I lived in the area I'd be here often. The ice cream is so creamy, many flavors to select from, all types of fruits, smoothes and of course the sandwiches are a nice touch. Stop in! You want be disappointed.

Worth the hype and anticipation, ya'll!! I had such a blast finally visiting this southside spot over the weekend with my friend and fellow elite, Jo B. I had tried to visit over the winter months and found that they were temporarily closed for the season. I continued to keep it top of mind with every visit to the southside and voila, the 95 degree temps called for a mangonada. La Palapa boasts a really fun and festive interior with tropical vibes and ample seating. You'll also find a few spots out on their front patio. The menu includes both savory and sweet options like elote and corn in a cup along with hot Cheetos, mangonadas, fresas con crema, locally made paletas and more. I ended up going with the strawberry ice slushy with sweetened condensed milk added in and two medium mangonadas to take home. I loved that they offered four different sizes of mangonada making it easier to choose your adventure or opt for a second treat while there ;) Note that they have both queso ice cream and coconut ice cream - perfect for hot days! The staff was super friendly and helpful in answering our questions. Can't wait to return and order the freshly sliced fruit topped with Tajin. Enjoy!

This is a diamond in the rough. A great find. It is located right next to the grocery store and has its own free private parking spots in the small strip mall that it is located. The shop is very clean and tidy. Tables are socially distanced. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. The shop is decorated in a tropical theme. I loved this place. They have a huge selection of ice cream, drinks and tasty fruit creations, all at a reasonable price. There are two freezers full of ice cream flavors. The staff there was very friendly and helpful. They took their time to assist me with going through the menu and making a selection. I decided to go with the Fresas Al La Palapa and the brownie ice cream. I made a good choice, if I say so myself. The fruit was so fresh, I swear they have a strawberry patch in the back. The ice cream on top was tasty and could have been a decent stand alone treat. The brownie was amazing. It was warm and the ice cream was cold. A perfect combination. And top it off they put sprinkles on it. This ice cream shop is amazing. Very friendly staff, delicious ice cream, fresh fruit and a wide array of tasty treats. I love this place. You deserve to spoil yourself, so there is no better place to do that at than here.

We had such a great experience at La Palapa! The employees were all so nice and helpful.. The food was delicious. The desserts and drinks were amazing! One of the employees (owner?! not sure) brought me a birthday dessert, which was sweet and so fun. I can't wait to come back - so many things I still NEED to try!

Amigo, oh amigo!!! I threw my whole self for a loop today when I decided to motor down to the south side to #getlostindiana at La Palapa! YES!! My eyes, tastebuds, texture detectors, and skills for putting excellent flavor combinations together were so totally #lost!!! But what an interesting and educational experience; a mini EDventure! If you've not been to La Palapa, put on your cuisine courage pants and stop in for a taste of what you see here. To my surprise (and after I learned what the white chewy stuff was in my taco), the very strange flavor combinations and textures worked!! #Getlostindiana Yelp Indy Yelp

Wow! What a great little find! Stopped by and had the mangonada. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but it was a treat! Fresh mango, and spices with the mango sherbet. Unique and very tasty! The place was very clean and bright. The people were friendly. The rest of the menus looked like great snack foods and very reasonable. I'll definitely stop by again when I'm on the south side of town.

We were in the area for lunch and we had been here for the mangonadas before but never the food. I heard they had tamales here and my mom is a fiend for those so I suggested we go. I decided I wanted a torta to eat and got my choice of chips and then I wanted a mangonada despite the cold weather. The torta was delicious and filling! They gave me an option of spice and I just decided regular jalapeños would do. The mangonada cooled down any spice I felt which was minimal. They weren't very busy so we sat down and the food didn't take much time at all. The staff are friendly and checked on us to make sure we enjoyed what we got.

We went today with a family of ten. Some of us ate and some of us had ice cream. Everything was so delicious and the service is always so friendly. This is our fourth time here since we discovered it. I crave the pistachio ice cream. Go visit and you will not be disappointed!!!

I cannot recommend La Palapa more, on the outside, it looks like a very small store in a strip mall, but inside it is colorful and energetic. The staff are so nice and helpful with bringing some samples of ice cream I was unfamiliar with before making a decision. I ultimately tried their guava, and it was so tropical, rich and creamy.

This place was suggested by Yelp and as soon as I saw the mangonada I knew I had to come visit. Mangonada- fresh mango, real mango icecream, chamoy and tajin make this a refreshing dessert for any time. I got the smallest size but it was still a generous portion so extra points there. The mango icecream doesn't taste artificial but like a ton of mangos were used to make it. Esquite- this combo is always fire, and La Palapa is no let down. If you can handle a little extra kick, I highly recommend adding the jalapeños. And go for the big bag. The environment- I didn't play on any of the classic arcade game machines, but I thought that was a really neat touch. There was inside seating and outside seating which I appreciated, because there's nothing better than enjoying a mangonada outside on a lovely day. Customer service- our cashier was very friendly and explained the differences between different offerings with patience. Our orders were completed fast as well.

Great dessert spot! I cannot wait to come back again. I ordered the mangonada last time and it was delicious. The mangos were fresh, sweet, and tangy. Perfect for a hot summers day. It was topped with mango shirbet, chamoy, and tajin. It was absolutely beautiful as it was delicious. I also ordered the fruit cocktail. You can actually choose your own fruits, I chose melon, jicama and mangos. They also topped it with tajin, chamoy, and lime. I would totally come back here to try the elote, frozen fruit bars or have another magonada. Cant wait to come back

Food - This place is jam packed with flavouful food and ice cream . Mexican restaurant with appetizers , limited food menu and long ice cream and dessert menu . You won't return disappointed from this place . Unique ice cream flavors like queso, horchata, tequila, mamey, guava. Vibe- love the decor , very traditional hut type decor inside and the staff is very nice and friendly . Parking - strip mall free parking . Tip- if you like mangoes , they their mangonada. Enjoy eating !!

I had a craving and I am so happy to have this store within 10 minutes of me! If you are coming for the first time the GPS is a tiny bit off. Look for the huge Ranchito building and turn into the lot. Looking at Ranchito, La Palpa is directly on the right. First store in the strip mall.Everyone is really helpful and service is quick! They have lots of options, but I keep going back to the same thing; mangonadas!

I had no idea they were here. I will be back. I had the Mangonada. Lots of chunks of fresh mango with mango sorbet. Tajin sprinkled on top for spice. So good and refreshing. I would eat that every day. I also had a ham and cheese torta. That was amazing. Perfect for lunch and a snack later. They have very interesting I've cream flavors. Lots to choose from. And they have tamales on Saturday and Sundays. Will be getting some of those this weekend.

This place is awesome! When it's hot outside, having a mangonada or fresa is exactly what the doctor ordered. Super fresh, quick prep, and taste amazing. Lots of inside and outside seating and parking was a breeze. Definitely coming back.

If you're looking for the comfort of dessert or an ice cream with a twist La Palapa is your place! They have a wide variety of flavors, and combinations! Tradition Spanish desserts and good ole banana splits! And if you don't have a sweet tooth just come enjoy a tamale or two!!

La Palapa is a breath of fresh air that transports you into a mini paradise! A beautiful and quaint little spot, with bright beachy colors, straw umbrellas, and delicious treats; a clean and inviting little piece of heaven. Located on the Southside of Indy - la Palapa is located in a strip plaza, behind the UHAUL, alongside lots of little mom and pop shops, a very flea market vibe. Perfect set up outside, in the summer, with the tiki style umbrellas. They have ice cream, fresh fruit selection to BYO smoothies and natural juices, the ever popular Diablitos/Raspados dripping in chamoy, elotes, and so many more crazy cool combinations to try. They also have a small selection of pressed sandwiches and tortas which is awesome! I love when they have small bites in addition to their lengthy treat list. I had the coconut ice cream on a waffle come, and an elote, since it is a must. The elote had the right amount of seasoning, and cooked until perfection, (some places overboil their corn). The coconut ice cream was super creamy, not overbearingly sweet, and overall much better than others I've tried before. Wish it was much more accessible location to myself but I definitely would frequent again. Great little spot to try something new.

Overall a very unique and authentic place. I stopped in to get dinner with my family. The interior exceeded my expectations and was very nice. They have several free to play arcade machines to use while you wait for your food to be prepared. I ordered the ham sandwich but somehow got the turkey one. I am not picky so I ate it and thought it was pretty good. The jalapeños were excellent not the pickled circular kind that I don't really like but longer flat pieces and not picketed. They really elevates the sandwich. What works better in a sandwich than avocados they made up for the not getting the ham. Turkey well it's pretty bland I really didn't taste it with the jalapeño being the main item that added flavor. I like the idea of wheat bread but I thought the sandwich bread was not as good as it could be. But I usually get really good bread at a bakery. The big let down for me was the Diet Coke. It was hot out and I was pretty thirsty so I unfortunately had one that's sell by date was a good 6 months ago. Hey these things happen and unless you know diet drinks degrade over time you wouldn't know to purge them. My son loved the hot dog and he devoured the corn. I wanted to try some of the corn but he ate it so quick I didn't get a chance. My daughter always likes turkey sandwiches so she did get one too. She liked it and they did customize it as she doesn't like spicy food. The item my wife decided on must have been lost in our not knowing Spanish too well. She got the doeilocos. Well I got home and looked up the items and confirmed when she said there are peanuts in here that indeed one of the ingredients was peanuts. It wasn't like the walking taco she was expecting. It was unique and worth trying. I will be going back as I have to get the hot dog and tamales as they don't have tamales during the week.

Treat yourself with mangonada, you deserve it. Between the flavors of sweet mango sorbet, spicy/savory/salty tajin, and the fresh and juicy mango pieces, you'll experience the best of all flavor worlds. An Indiana "must try" for sure

Brand new ice cream spot on the south side! La Palapa has only been open about a month and a half. I stopped by today with my 2 girls. Perfect 85 degree day for ice cream! We definitely recommend La Palapa. The girls each had single cup ice cream cups. One had cheesecake and one had bubble gum. I had their Verde smoothie that included orange, apple, pineapple, cucumber and greens. Delicious! And our total bill was less than $9. We live up on the north side, but we'll definitely be back our next time in the area. Great tropical atmosphere, clean, good service and great prices.

I stopped in this south side ice cream shop and immediately noticed how bright and clean the placed looked. They also have outdoor seating in front of the shop during the warmer months. Inside, there are several small tables that 2 or 4 folks can sit and enjoy their selections. Over the display cases of ice cream are menu boards that show lots of colorful ice cream concoctions as well as smoothies. However, I opted for a simple scoop of Queso ice cream in a bowl (I know, not a very bold choice.) The staff were friendly and quickly put my order together. The ice cream had really good flavor. It's hard for me to describe what queso tastes like, but it is sweet and tasty. The only negative I had was instead of a creamy smooth texture like I've had at other Mexican Ice Cream shops, this reminded me of the texture of cookie dough. It did melt (mostly) as it warmed, but there were small bits of curd, like in a cottage cheese. Those were few in number, but they weren't what I expected. I asked the ladies who worked there and they said it was from the added ingredients. Since one was translating for the other, I decided that was the only answer I would get, right or wrong. I'm not sure if it was that particular flavor or if all the ice cream takes on that texture. Whatever the case, the flavor was good. I think that ordering one of the more complex options would minimize any textural differences. Review #2349

We didn't just decide to get just the item available but a mix between the different items. The ham sandwich is almost like a Cuban sandwich and was good. Now the tamarin slushy was a little sweet for me but the coconut would have been the way to go. The mango ice cream was fantastic and my daughter really enjoy the red sauce and sprinkles on it but I would have just ate all the mango ice cream.

For years, I fantasized about having another mangonada, because the one I enjoyed at a festival in South Beach was so deliciously mind-blowing. My dream has come true! Run, don't walk, to try this mango and tamarind ice cream deliciousness!

My husband and I were pleasantly greeted as soon as we walked in. We both got mangonadas as well as elote to share. It was all amazing. The best elote we have had! We will definitely be back to try more from the menu.

After grabbing some tacos at Carniceria El Ranchito, we stopped by La Palapa for some ice cream. To my surprise, there was much more than ice cream there as La Palapa also has various Mexican desserts like mangonadas and raspados and snack foods like elotes and tortas. I've never been to a Mexican ice cream shop before so I didn't really know what 80% of the menu were. However, the guy working the counter was incredibly helpful and explained what various items were. Their ice cream flavors are also cool as they had tequila(!) and queso, but also some traditional flavors like mango and lime. We ended up getting a scoop of mango and tequila ice cream each and a pina loca. The mango was solid and my fiance's tequila ice cream was mild and not too strong at all. The pina loca was insane; I've never seen anything like that before. It came with fresh pineapple, mango, strawberries, tamarind straw, chili powder, and mango candy. It was beautiful and tasted great too. Can't wait to try the other desserts next time!

I went here for the first time to try their goodies. I'm Hispanic and grew up in LA where we have lots of great Mexcian food. Im always looking for authentic mexican food and treats. This place so far what ive tried was great. I tried the bionico and it was great all fruits were fresh just the perfect amount of sweetnes. I also tried the esquite which is a mexcian corn in a cup with all the toppings you would get from an "elote". It was pretty good but next time I will order it with a little less mayo it had a little too much for my taste. I will definitely go here again and try more stuff.

The mangonadas are amazing! I also got some of their coffee ice cream which was super tasty. Their food looks great too I'm excited to go back. I would highly recommend la Palapa!

Raspado mango. Very delicious. Tamales on weekends. Red and green so good. Quaint restaurant, very clean and cute

Best ice cream in Indy. Great staff. Great, festive atmosphere. Absolutely love this place!!

No tienen NADA de variedad de paletas, aguas frescas, y está demasiado caro. No se compara con otros lugares que he visitado. Muy amable la gente y limpio pero no lo recomendaría.

A little hard to find as it is in a strip of store fronts that face East and not toward Hanna Ave but so worth the hunt! The menu includes ice cream, smoothies, natural juices, shakes, mangonadas, raspados (shaved ice), Pina Loca, Bionicos (looks delicious and what I want to try on the next visit) and more. They also have hot dogs, tortas and Dorilocos. I had the strawberry banana smoothie and hubby had a bowl of the chocolate ice cream that included chunks of chocolate. They were both amazing! Prices are low and service is great! I highly recommend giving this local gem on the near south side a try.

Favorite ice cream shop. Reminds me of ice cream shops in Mexico. Tequila ice cream so good

This is our go to for ice cream in the summer, they will mix anything together for you and everything tastes amazing. Friendly and extremely helpful staff

Cross the threshold of La Palapa ("straw beach umbrella") and you'll be transported from mid-America into the refreshing treats of coastal Mexíco. For starters, we shared some elote ... perfectly cooked sweet street corn on a stick coated in crema, cotija, and sprinkled with chili powder. Their signature mango smoothie, la mangonada (sp?), with chili power starts sweet and finishes with enough heat to make it interesting, but not overwhelming. We ordered several other items off the overhead menu and were thoroughly impressed. It's a bit off the beaten path compared to our typical ice cream stop at Culver's or DQ, but for our families (4 adults, 4 kids) it was a safe, sweet, cross-cultural experience. Give it a try!

I love this place. If I could go everyday just for fruit yogurt I would! But that would get a bit pricey lol. I also get tamales on weekends. They sell out quick! But that's understandable. They are so good. Definitely give them a try.

I love dessert! Their hot brownie with ice cream is a must! Very satisfied :) def recommend it

This is my forever go to spot for ice cream! The Mangonata was AMAZING! The Elote was so yummy! Trust me you will be glad you stopped at La Palapa!

This small business is a hole in the wall on south side of Indy that you can't miss. Everything from hand painted chairs and tables to the variety of snacks and healthy food options makes this place worth the visit.

Visited here for an after lunch cool down. Not mad that I did. The Pina Loca was a unique and pleasant surprise. Served in a pineapple with chopped pineapple, mango, hot sauce, chile and with what seemed to be a fruit-chile'd gummi and a tamarind stick! A very tasty mix of flavors and textures. I can't wait to return as there is so much more cool, fruity goodness to try!

Best strawberry and banana smoothie, their ice creams are also delicious. Deffinetly going back

Delicious ice cream! I loved the unique flavors. Not many places were you can get mamey ice cream. I ended getting the mangonada. Interesting mix of flavors. I highly recommend it. The decorations were really nice. It was likes stepping into a tropical retreat.

I know this is a bold statement, and trust me when I say that I consider myself an ice cream connoisseur, BUT I believe that this is the best ice cream spot in all of indianapolis. Lots of tough competition out there but I think La Palapa has em beat. There's so many choices of unique hand dipped ice cream flavors that you won't find elsewhere in Indy, lots of delicious ice cream combinations and unexpectedly the best hot dogs topped with a spicy mayo, avocado, peppers, and more. The prices are super reasonable and the owner is young and ambitious. Give this place a try, you won't regret it.

La Palapa is a shiny new ice cream shop south of downtown, in a small shopping center just west of Carniceria El Ranchito. I love my Delicias Jalisco, but La Palapa is a step above, newly renovated with a tropical outdoors theme. It is very clean, colorful & modern-looking compared to other Latino/Hispanic ice cream places. I, of course, had to order a mangonada; the sweet and sour chamoy sauce, chile powder, mango sorbet, fresh mango chunks, and tamarind-candy wrapped straw...you can't design the more perfect dessert. My dining partner ordered a delicious shake w. fresh strawberries and cheesecake ice cream (Fresas el Crema). La Palapa also offers freshly-made juices (beet, carrot, etc.), which you don't always see offered at similar businesses. If you're feeling less adventurous, try a simple scoop of ice cream...tequila, queso, cafe leche, and other standby flavors. Tortas, elotes and other savory options were also available, but it's difficult to resist going straight for dessert or tropical-tasting smoothie.