The Original Rainbow Cone

After a busy day, we wanted something to cool off, so we stopped by here since it was the only option available at this location. We each got two scoops in different flavors, and between us we were able to try different flavors. The variety was nice, and some flavors stood out more than others. You can choose between single, double, or triple scoops, and pick either a cone or a cup. They also have mini donuts in a variety of flavors! The flavors were creamy, fresh, and well-balanced, with something for everyone from classic chocolate and vanilla to fruity options like strawberry, orange sherbet, and Superman. The ice cream was good, though not all flavors were equally memorable. Portions were generous, though not all flavors were equally memorable. It’s a fun spot for sharing and sampling, especially if you like having options.

Back in 2020, we visited Chicago and were so disappointed to find the original Rainbow Cone closed the day we planned to visit. Ever since then, trying it has been on my bucket list. After literally years of waiting, we finally got to experience it this June, and it did not disappoint! Watching them carefully craft the cone was almost as enjoyable as eating it while strolling Navy Pier. The flavors were nostalgic, fun, and totally worth the wait. Loved every bite!

Hey, we are Vicky 🇵🇪 and Malte 🇩🇪 from the travel blog Traveling Is Our Passion. For our full Chicago food guide, check out our blog! The Original Rainbow Cone is a Chicago must-try! Their iconic ice cream stack—chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House, pistachio, and orange sherbet—is served on a crisp cone just like in 1926. We shared one for 9.00 USD, and it was the perfect way to cool down by Navy Pier. Pro tip: find some shade and eat quickly, or it will melt fast! A sweet and fun Chicago treat that shouldn’t be missed.

They don’t care to serve it well. Just using too much water between each flavor scope. When you in your hand the ice cream is already melting and you don’t eat ice cream but drink it. Please serve the ice cream as ice cream. I got rainbow cone.

This place is an easy five stars for me - it gets everything right. The experience was flawless from start to finish, with friendly staff, quick service, and no long lines. It's all set in a beautiful, scenic location that just adds to the charm. I got 'The Original 5-layered Rainbow Cone,' which is a classic for a reason. While it may not be a wild, new flavor experience, it's absolutely delicious, with great taste and consistency. It's just a genuinely great and tasty cone. For a perfect, hassle-free treat in a lovely setting with reasonable prices, you really can't beat it.

Very pricey, single rainbow cone will cost you around 11$ with minimal tip, however it’s delicious!

Nice unique thing to experience when in Chicago :) some of the flavors may not be for all, but I personally loved it. You can also just do orange creamsicle which is vanilla and orange “slices” (aka scoops).

Me and my girlfriend both tried the rainbow cone and we loved it! Each of the five flavors was good and very distinct. The portions were perfect. Seemed closer to half a regular scoop for each flavor. I didn't normally eat a lot of sweets but I was able to finish the whole thing no problem. May seem a little like a novelty but we would definitely get it again!

While roaming around in Navy pier, I stopped by to try the iconic rainbow cone. It was a good ice cream. Palmer house and pistachio were my favorite flavors.

Walking down the Navy Pier and looking for a quick treat. Tasty flavors in a cup or cone hit the spot!

Only grabbed a cone to say we tried it, but I would've been okay if we didn't grab one. I think a cone is $7 + tax, but at that price point, I would've been better off with a local ice cream shop. The ice cream quality was definitely low-end. It did make for a pretty picture, though.

For the summer, this was a great relief to have to help cool down. I love the flavor mix of the rainbow cone and it was the perfect amount. I chose to get a cup since it was a pretty hot day and I was afraid it would melt quickly. However, if you do get a cone, they have you a sleeve to hold that would catch the drips if it starts to melt. There is a little bit of shade around the stand if you would like to eat your ice cream nearby too!

Tastes exactly how it looks - all 5 flavors together wasn't really a great combination but it wasn't bad; it was just fine. Quality of the ice cream and cone felt pretty on the low-end side, like the cheapest "great value" option you'd get at the grocery store, in a big plastic tub. That said, ice cream is ice cream - if you generally like these flavors/style of ice cream, you are unlikely to be disappointed. Definitely fun for taking pictures with and a solid option for beating the heat during the Chicago summer. If you're interested in the taste alone, probably not worth going out of your way for but if a big colorful ice cream cone sounds good to you in the moment, it'll get the job done.

How can you go wrong with ice cream? Perfect treat for a stroll along Navy Pier! The orange flavor was my favorite.

This is a great find at this window serve stand at Navy Pier on the South side of the Pier probably about 3/4 quarters out on the pier, a little ways past the theatre. You'll want to get their famous rainbow cone that comes with 5 flavors and as of August 2023 it's 7 dollars. The flavors are Orange Sherbet, Pistachio, Palmer House (has cherry in it), Strawberry, and Chocolate. Whats cool is how they give you the ice cream, they don't scoop it they slice it, so it comes with one flavor on top of another. Not your usual way to get ice cream but oo so worth it. The cone comes with a little protector so your hand doesn't get melted ice cream all over it (smart move guys, SMART MOVE). You can also get wild berry sorbet ice cream or cookies and cream. I do believe you can just get an individual ice cream if you want, but wasn't sure, we went for the 5 flavor original rainbow cone. I for sure would love to try Palmer House on it's own, it was my favorite of the 5 flavors. Whatever you get, just realize that this place and it's growing expansion has been entertaining Chicago and it's guess since 1926, well done Rainbow Cone, you guys are making smiles everyday, both young and old.

The flavors were nothing to brag about. I got the strawberry and cookies and cream. My husband got the Palmer. We've had far better icecream other places. Only two size options.

The Original Rainbow Cone was not a disappointment. We walked by at first and noticed that the line was bout 40 people long. There was no shade so we decided to wait it out. We gave it sometime for the line to die down and eventually it did. This time we only waited about 5 minutes until we got helped. The employee was friendly and our order was simple. We of course had the original cone. The cone was really good. Who could've thought that all the flavors mixed together would make a great combination. We loved it!! We stood by the pier and enjoyed our cones. It's a must try!

If it's a hot sunny day, this is the perfect little giant treat to cool you down next to Lake Michigan with great views. The ice cream was quite delicious and just little surprises throughout the ice cream feast because each layer is different and actually tastes like the flavor it says it would taste. My favorite was the pistachio and cherry layer. It's also such a pretty ice cream. If you want it for the social media, definitely order it with a cone. It's much nicer than in a cup. It also melts quickly so maybe get a cup on the side. It's a lot of ice cream so bet if shared

Finally, I got a rainbow cone in Chicago. And it was enjoyable having the orange sherbet. The staff yesterday were great. I like that they had the drip guards on the cone as it was a hot one yesterday. Nice treat in the pier.

Just like I remember as a kid! I grew up in the Midwest, so trips to Chicago were relatively frequent. My aunt used to take me and my cousins here on the Pier, and I was thrilled to discover this location was still around! Delicious as ever and a great value. The young man dishing up the ice cream was very nice, and the views can't be beat! Can't wait to come back here again!

The rainbow cone is decent enough as a photo op, but the combination of flavors leaves a lot to be desired. My kids were not finicky enough to put up any protest, but it was honestly just ok.

Ice cream was very good! Hit the spot on a warm sunny day! The lady running the stand was helpful and kind despite being busy!

Had a really nice ice cream after so long in Chicago. We tried the original rainbow and every flavor was amazing my favorite was chocolate and orange sorbet. The ice cream had a texture and it was really unique. Must try and they also have some more locations so try it out when you can :)

When you're walking along the pier on a hot day, you can't really beat this spot. They come in the clutch when you need something cold and sweet. I didn't think anything was spectacular about them, but nothing bad either. They invented their flavor combo with slices on the cone. Worth a try, but nothing to go out of your way for.

There are multiple locations of the rainbow cone but this one is conveniently located in Navy Pier. It's $7 for their signature namesake cone and it's so worth it. 5 different flavors in one cone!! I particularly enjoyed the orange sherbert, pistachio, and strawberry. Chocolate tasted kind of weak. There's also a middle layer called Palmer House but not sure what this is. Overall, a great sweet treat to end a fun day at Navy Pier!

Great outdoor stand that features a limited menu of the company's best hits. Service was quick and efficient. Ice cream quality was great!!! As a tourist I recommend this ice cream. I will be.

Stopped by Navy Pier to watch fireworks and decided to get the Original Rainbow Cone, which is 5 layers of sliced, not scooped ice cream (orange sherbet, pistachio, palmer house, strawberry, and chocolate. While it was cool to try something with legacy, it was mostly aesthetically interesting and flavor and texture were just ok. While they put the cone in a little plastic holder that catches some drips, the ice cream does melt pretty quickly so eat it fast!

Rainbow Cone has been a tasty Chicago favorite since 1926. It consists of 5 layers of ice cream slabed (not scooped) on to a cone. The layers are as followed from bottom to top.... chocolate, strawberry, palmer house, pistachio, and orange sherbet. What is palmer house you might ask? Welp I tasted it and still couldn't tell you, all I know is it was good. The location I visited was not the original but rather a small booth located on the navy peir. I grabbed a small cone but wish I would have went with the large. Let me say as weird as the five flavors sound mixed together they actually make the perfect flavor. My only question is... How come you can't get this cone anywhere else? Why hasn't New York or Disney world started making it? Wishing I had one right now, oh well just another excuse to go back to Chicago.

Very good ice cream with a fun concept. All the five flavors together really does make a great cone!

When planning my trip to Chicago I was told that I had to get a Rainbow Cone at Navy Pier. Well it certainly lived up to the hype! It's a small unassuming stand on the pier but clearly marked. The rainbow cone is made up of 5 flavors - Orange Sherbet, Pistachio, Palmer House, Strawberry, and Chocolate. Honestly you'd think all those flavors wouldn't go well together but they do and they all taste amazing! I ordered a large cone, which seemed to be just the right size. You can also purchase a cookies and cream cone or a wild berry sorbet cone. Definitely don't miss this spot at the Navy Pier!!

When you're eating your way through Chicago (what other way is there to truly see Chicago?) and you've had the pizza and the hot dogs and the beef sandwiches, you gotta stop by the Original Rainbow Cone for a one-of-a-kind Chicago treat. Orange sherbet, pistachio, Palmer House (named after a famous Chicago hotel), strawberry and chocolate, squared and tilted onto a cone. Delicious! And perfect for a hot summer day. The cone comes with a plastic drip catcher so you're less likely to get it all over you. And if you have kids, you can ask for a cup instead of a cone. You can't say you've been to Chicago until you've enjoyed the original rainbow cone!

Ordered the small rainbow cone and I just say it wasn't bad at all. I didn't care for one of the flavors (can't remember) but overall it was worth trying. (Even the small was a lot for me and I ended up throwing it away).

Stopped by while at the Navy pier on my solo trip to Chicago. I love the idea of " life's too short for just one flavor". I feel like that can relate to a lot of things in life. I opted for two flavors, pistachio and cookies and cream both very solid flavors. I would say cookies and cream was better than the pistachio if I had to choose. I also opted for a cone and I love that it came with a little cone buddy (not sure the name) that catches the dripping so they don't get all over your hands especially on a warm summer July day.

This location is a standalone kiosk at Navy Pier. I was in Chicago for a few hours so I had to come try it out, but the cones here are pretty expensive. Small - $7 Large - $8 Definitely pricier than the other locations/trucks I've seen on Yelp. The cone is pretty delicious, though, and I would definitely get it again at a cheaper location. You can try and eat the flavors separately before they start melting, but they're not anything you haven't tried before. Think orange sherbet, strawberry, chocolate... but they're really tasty mixed together. Who would've thought?? 5 star product. Knocked off a star for the price.

So delicious! We spotted the Rainbow Cone truck in front of the Shedd Aquarium on a particularly hot day yesterday (reached 90 degrees) and this was the perfect dessert to grab as we continued our walk by the lake. The ice cream didn't melt too fast and I enjoyed all the different flavors.

The ice-cream with most types of flavors I have ever tried, quite a relish to gain one when walking around the Navy Pier on a broiling summer morning.

Heard we had to get one and I'm so glad we did! Such a fun treat and it was pretty stinking cute!

You know I'm a Native Chicagoan and if it hadn't been for a recent tiktok account I follow daily; I wouldn't have sought this mobile ice cream parlor out! I'm an ice cream fanatic and I love neopolitan ice cream and spumoni flavored Gelato. This particular rainbow cone was scrumptious and did not disappoint. I ordered a small version for $7 and honestly for all the rich flavors I experienced this was an excellent value and I'll definitely return here for more! You can even take a seat on the bench nearby and enjoy the views from navy pier.

Perfect stop on a summer day! It's a bit further down the pier so you get away from some of the crowds. And most importantly, IT WAS DELICIOUS!

This was life-saving to say the least on a brutally hot Chicago day. All the flavors worked really well together. You can also enjoy them separately, if you can lick fast enough before they all melted...Highly recommend when you're around the pier; it adds to the fun!

Rainbow Cone actually brought its mobile truck out to the suburbs earlier this summer to share its creamy goodness during the COVID time. I'm telling you, these events were packed with people! This establishment is well liked by Chicago natives and it was easy to tell. This was my first time trying a rainbow cone and it was an adventure. I got the large cone to share with my family. When I say it was large, I'm not kidding. I thought the ice cream would topple over at any minute. It became messy pretty quickly as the ice cream began to melt. That little plastic drip guard was not enough! So it quickly became a game of how fast we could eat before my hand was covered in ice cream. While I wasn't able to savor the flavors as much as I wanted, the ice cream was good! The layers of the rainbow cone are chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with cherries and walnuts), pistachio, and orange sherbet. My favorite flavors were the Palmer House and orange sherbet. The orange sherbet was like nothing I have ever had before. So soft and light, but creamy and tangy at the same time. Just delectable! While in Chicago, it is something worth trying. Though, I would say this is more about the experience than anything else. Now that I've had my experience, I don't find myself looking to go back.

It's a great day for a rainbow cone. And I don't even have to jump down to the Southside. It's been over a decade since I've last had one and it's good folks. My fav part of it is the Palmer house, but it's really good with the pistachio and orange sherbet as well. Somehow all five flavors just goes so we'll together...I don't even like chocolate but I'll eat this one! Catch yours today at the mobile truck location in Skokie!

Check this out. The rainbow cone has the following flavors stacked on top of each other: - Orange Sherbet - Pistachio - Palmer House - Strawberry - Chocolate You don't think this combination would taste good? I didn't either, until I tried it to enjoy my time at the Navy Pier and also take a chance at trying something new (this shop also has the classic Cookies and Cream for those less adventurous). It was a good bet. Each of the flavors on their own are pretty good, and all together it somehow worked. The pistachio they use in this ice cream is better than most of the pistachios I've had in other places. I'll admit, I've never had the Palmer House ice cream before (apparently it was originally made for The Palmer House Hotel in Chicago) but it didn't end up mattering that much. Overall this is a good pick.

This rainbow cone is apparently a novelty with some history, so I was excited when we came across their food truck! The only flavor I didn't like was the green pistachio, but I've never liked that flavor lol. I thought it might be a little gross having so many flavors mixed together, but was very tasty! If you're in Chicago, you need to try it!

What a perfect spot for tourists! The standalone kiosk is towards the end of Navy Pier, but it's worth the trek. The views are great right behind the stand, and you get a snack for the walk back! The Rainbow Cone really should be a Chicago must-try staple. It's pretty, it's surprisingly tasty, and it's unique. All the flavors work so well together, but my favorite by far is the Pistachio. The small is $7, and the large is only $1 more, so I've gone for the large both times I've stopped by. Just make sure to eat fast and grab lots of napkins. It's definitely a messy treat and melts super fast.

Stopped by today. It was the first time I've had Rainbow Cone. Ordered the original, of course. I wasn't sure, at first, how all the different flavors would fare together but I loved every bite of the ice cream. The cones were very stale, though. I was sharing with my little toddler so I asked for a bowl and cone. I should have asked for it in a cone then got a bowl on the side. Of course, was trying to be a good millennial and take an Instagram worthy shot, it with the bowl it didn't look as cute. OH WELL!

If you're hanging around the Pier area and want a convenient dessert, I highly recommend the rainbow cone. Not only does it look instagram-worthy, it's a nice snack to eat while walking around the pier! All of the different ice cream flavors were good and the cone is a typical wafer cone.

Excellent treat. Cone sleeves are sure slippery and cause more mess than just holding the cone. Delicious though

A small shop on the navy pier but they have other chains of stores in different locations. Cone is expensive compared to competitive options but they are very flavorful and we loved it. There were 2 flavors from the rainbow that was too good. Overall ice cream felt premium and it is worth trying. They do serve it very quickly and hence don't worry about the wait time.

ONLY giving this a 3 because of the taste of the ice cream. Before my visit I saw a lot of photos of this ice cream and was excited to get and take a picture of this unique stacked creation. I even saw someone on the pier with it as I was on the way to get mine. I got the small cone which was $7. I don't like chocolate, so I asked for that flavor to not to be included. Was so disappointed when I ordered only to receive a scooped ice cream cone. Of course this looked nothing like the pictures I'd seen, what a bust. Maybe it was because it was a small or because I opted out of the chocolate? If anything the ice cream was good. Still disappointed that I didn't get the scooped creation I'd seen everywhere.

We were down at the pier and knew we had to try this very famous cone. I'm so glad we did!! I went in with low expectations because the flavor combination seemed odd. Somehow it all works together perfectly! Wanted to get another hahah definitely recommend even on a cold day like this one was

It looks cute, and the employee was very nice, but it's a tiny tiny cone. The ice cream is fine, nothing that amazing but tasted good. The cone is one of those super cheap ones that has the texture of styrofoam. And soooo small . For $7-8 even for the small size, that's pretty insane. Way overhyped, we were disappointed.

10/10!!!! I'm ashamed to say this was my first Rainbow Cone but definitely not my last!!! I had been told about this so many time but growing up in the north this was not a thing lol. I was happy to see this booth location at Navy Pier. The stand up a on the east side of the pier just past Rivas. I've passed so many times because I thought they only offered the traditional large size and I really didn't think I would eat all of it. To my delight they offer 3 sizes. I went with the Baby Rainbow for $5. I was surprised how well all the flavors went together. The orange sherbet was my favorite flavor but all were good! I'm not a big ice cream eater but this one I gobbled up quick. The Baby Rainbow is a good size for kids or just a little something sweet. Next time I'm stepping up my Rainbow game and going with the middle size - Delish!!!

On a hot summer day, this was an awesomely cold and sweet treat that my body temp and taste buds welcomed! It's located outside the main building in one of the kiosk styled booths at anchor point #34. The ice cream is flavorful, creamy and sweet at a price that's on par for your usual touristy spots. I'll definitely stop back by on my annual summer migrations!

I don't have a favorite flavor but this is possibly my favorite cone - the original rainbow cone! The flavors are all delicious and work together. You have to eat it up quickly before it melts onto your hand. Speaking from experience, you won't get far if you try to get a nice photo of the cone someplace else on the pier lol.

I'm shocked to come to my home town and be able to snag the 'First To Review' at a place I've loved since I was a child. While this is not the ORIGINAL location, it really worked out very well for our short visit to the city. I was very limited on time and this Navy Pier location was divine intervention as I was fully prepared to drag my family from our hotel accommodations in the Northern suburbs through heavy traffic to the South Side just to have a cone! Not only did I save an hour plus in traffic, I haven't been to Navy Pier since I was a child. The first version of the now famous Taste of Chicago was originally called Chicago Fest and it was held @ Navy Pier (usually in conjunction with the Naval Air Show). I saw Andy Gibb and the BG's (my first concert) here at Navy Pier. I walked my very first truly scary haunted house here as well as ate my very first Gyro here. So to get the FTR for my favorite ice cream cone at this location is truly special! The original rainbow cone is unlike any ice cream flavor combination I've ever had before! It features creamy chocolate, pistachio, strawberry and Palmer House (a cherry-nut blend) ice creams, as well as a layer of orange sherbet!!! It was created by Joseph Sapp over 90 years ago and is still one of the best things about life in Chicago! It was especially great back in the day because they always closed for the winter, so it was only available in summertime. No trip to my hometown is complete without a visit to ORC. Thank you Sapp family for bringing this amazing creation to the shore of Lake Michigan. I was delighted to tears to find you here! 2019/87

Love, love, love this stuff! I remember coming to Chicago years ago and my husband took me to the other location on the south side and it was so good. I've been telling him if we ever go back to Chicago we have to get some more ice cream. So while visiting Chicago for a long weekend, and not very much time, we were going to spend a few hours at Navy Pier and realized they had a location there, JACK POT!!! We got to go twice! (Hehehe) At first I thought it was a little weird the different flavors all put together on one cone, but after tasting that wonderfulness in my mouth, my taste buds had a different thought! OMGoodness!!!! Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla cherry nut flavor, pistachio, and orange sherbet= total deliciousness! They will let you do an individual flavor if you don't want to mix them all but why do that, unless you have an allergy to something. Come on be adventurous, just try it! This will definitely be a special treat we get every time we visit Chicago if we can fit it into our schedule. Which I will do everything in my power to make this happen! LOL