Vaca’s Creamery

Vaca’s Creamery is hands down one of the best ice cream spots I’ve visited. The flavors are rich, creamy, and taste like they’re made with real, fresh ingredients. I love that they have unique seasonal flavors alongside the classics, so there’s always something new to try. The shop itself has a fun, welcoming vibe, and the staff is always friendly and upbeat. It’s the kind of place that makes you smile from the moment you walk in.

Very tasty with a good little list of flavors that include classics and unique choices (which I assume are seasonal). Also, a good variety of ways to enjoy your ice cream (cone, cup sundae, float etc.). Good amount of seating inside and out.

Dare I say, the best vegan soft serve in Chicago. They also rotate flavors often so there's always something new in. I like coming back to try whatever is new. Seating both indoors and outdoors which is nice as well.

Me and my family got ice cream here and let me tell you, it was amazing! You honestly couldn’t tell it was vegan lol. I enjoyed the cookie sundae one with chocolate ice cream. My dad got a mint chocolate chip shake that was amazing too!

Everyone raves about their ice cream, but something that is a hidden gem is their pastries! Today I bought a raspberry buttery yet vegan pastry and it defies all logic! It is the most amazing buttery tasting, but still vegan fresh raspberry Galette that I have ever had. It is such a treat and not one person would ever know it is dairy free. I waited till I got home because I had ice cream at the store to eat it hours later and I’m shocked at how amazing this pastry tasted!! It tastes French. It tastes full of butter. But vegan. It’s everything you would ever want in a pastry yet vegan. Bravo!

Came here on a whim at night to get some dairy free ice cream. The inside is cute and has a decent amount of seating, and there is also outdoor spots to eat your ice cream. I got the Death By special with chocolate ice cream. This is a chocolate lovers paradise - The ice cream is pleasantly creamy, the chocolate shell adds a light crunch and the brownies add some density to the combination. I really enjoyed it and the regular size was plenty. My girlfriend got the Corn on the Cob (corn soft serve) and she enjoyed it but wished the corn soft serve had a bit more corn flavor to it. They have a good amount of unique combinations that are relatively allergen friendly, and they clearly list the things on their menu that have common allergens.

I haven't had a milkshake in ages because of the dairy in them, so I was both excited and overwhelmed with the options at Vaca's. The woman working was super helpful and the space is really cute. Will definitely go back!

Vegan soft serve!!!! That’s actually really good! With rotating seasonal flavors plus chocolate/vanilla as a constant! (And they have some baked goods and such too.) Also, they try to pay their staff better than most places, which I appreciate. Indoor and outdoor seating. Paid parking or free a few blocks away, plus transit nearby. I LOVE THEIR VEGAN ICE CREAM!!!

My first time trying vegan ice cream and it was just as good as a regular creamery! Super tasty! I believe this is a new location with its OG spot in Wicker park. They offer fun flavors and specialty sundaes that target your inner child sugar cravings. My bf got the candy bar sundae with vanilla ice cream and it literally tasted and looked like a drumstick in sundae form. I got the oreo cheezecake. Everything may look like it's super sweet but it wasn't. I also bought their Pandan flavor to take home but I haven't tried it yet. I was happy to see a filipino flavor offered! Great addition to the Lincoln Square community!

Vaca's is a fun stop for a sweet treat, and the Lincoln Square location is in an awesome spot, but the product is just okay. I've had maybe 5 times now and realized that every flavor of their soft serve actually tastes the same- it's that salty, sugar-loaded oat base & it's quite overpowering. I tried their to-go pints twice and found them to taste the same too, and that they were a super hard/watery texture. It's def difficult to pull off a good texture for hard-serve plant-based ice cream.... and yeah, vaca's isn't it for me! Basically, I think this spot is great the first time (especially if you get a bunch of fun toppings), but I don't like it as a staple- I definitely prefer regular soft serve or ice cream, and feel v lucky to have the privilege to have a stomach that allows me to partake in those :-)

What can I say, Vaca's Creamery is terrific in SO many ways: Inclusion: Variety of options of vegan desserts which is a win for vegans, those with dietary restrictions, health conscious and people wanting to try something new. Responsible business: No need to tip - Vaca's Creamery pays all of their employees a livable wage through the pricing of their products. I wish more businesses did this so food service workers have stability and support and patrons have transparency on what they should pay upfront. Taste: Delicious and high quality ingredients! You can't go wrong! We'll be back soon!

I continue to get amazed by this place. As a lactose intolerant person, I have always been suspect about vegan ice cream. This place has for me for a satisfying dessert without all the baggage lol! Sundaes are definitely premium priced but they are a tipless business focused on creating consistent income for their workers which I love. Also big focus on sustainability. It's very quiet in there giving me coffeeshop vibes. Service is always great #vegan #icecream #chicago

Came here on a whim at night to get some dairy free ice cream. The inside is cute and has a decent amount of seating, and there is also outdoor spots to eat your ice cream. I got the Death By special with chocolate ice cream. This is a chocolate lovers paradise - The ice cream is pleasantly creamy, the chocolate shell adds a light crunch and the brownies add some density to the combination. I really enjoyed it and the regular size was plenty. My girlfriend got the Corn on the Cob (corn soft serve) and she enjoyed it but wished the corn soft serve had a bit more corn flavor to it. They have a good amount of unique combinations that are relatively allergen friendly, and they clearly list the things on their menu that have common allergens.

Friendly and fast service and impressive selection of vegan ice cream. Truly the creamiest vegan ice cream! It's soft serve with limited flavors but great toppings and sauce combos. They also good coffee options. Seating available inside with unremarkable decor but Lincoln Square's cute little square with fountain and benches is right outside.

Vaca's is a vegan ice cream shop that my girlfriend has been telling me about for months. Finally, she got me out here and I'm upset it took her this long. The ice cream is fantastic and the portion sizes are perfect. Also, you wouldn't even notice it were vegan if they didn't say so. Pair that with the lovely outdoor space, which had live music, and you have a great little ice cream shop.

Cute little vegan ice cream shop in the heart of Lincoln Square. They have only 4 flavors for soft serve but the pairings can be be served as a swirl. We opted for the tiramisu and the gingerbread flavor. I would say that by itself, the flavors were okay, but if you get in a swirl and eat them together, it compliments each other. Would recommend this combo if you are visiting. The service was relatively quick since it is soft serve and they do offer samples! One thing I really liked about the store was that they offered compostable utensils, cups, napkins etc. There were options to order other ice cream flavor in pints to go, but I didn't see it on the menu as an option to get a scoop. The place was well-lit and had plenty of seating. The store was also nicely designed.

Decided to stop in on an unseasonably warm afternoon to try Vaca's Creamery and boy am I glad that I did. This place offers an entirely vegan menu with soft serve as their main focus. I had the 'Inner Child' with vanilla soft serve which was topped with strawberry sauce rainbow sprinkles, and birthday cake pieces. This deliciousness definitely soothed those subconscious wounds from being bullied on the playground in 3rd grade but I digress --- vegan or not, you must try this place! It's a little pricey but the great service was amazing nice cream well worth it. You can sign up for a loyalty program there and I can't wait to return.

This was delicious! Stopped here with a friend and ordered the pavlova with strawberry sauce, meringue, marshmallow and vanilla base -- delicious! I honestly didn't know this was vegan until I looked this place up after the fact to do a review! Cute interior and friendly service!

I have nothing bad to say about vacas at all -- I love the original location of vacas and was excited to see that they opened a location with seating! They sell a lot of varied pints, pastries, and cakes here. The interior is nicely decorated and there are plenty of seats. The space feels very open with the big windows. I love that there are so many seasonal flavors that rotate. I haven't ever had anything I really disliked from Vaca's, and I'll always come back to either location whenever I'm in the area. The service is always extremely friendly and also generous with samples. I highly recommend this place to anyone!

Yay! New Lincoln Square location! I've been wanting to try Vaca's for so long. I ordered the pumpkin pie and maple almond soft serve twist. The pumpkin flavor was my favorite. It was pretty good ice cream, and I would definitely recommend checking them out, even if you're not vegan! This new location is located right in the square in the heart of Lincoln Square. They have indoor seating, a restroom, outdoor seating, or you can sit and eat in the square. It's so cute! I can't wait to come back and try more things.

It was a decent option for someone who is lactose intolerant and glad that they were open fairly late during the winter on a random week night. I do wish they had more soft serve options in terms of flavors. They only had gingerbread/tiramisu and chocolate/vanilla. I didn't try any toppings, but I'd certainly return for that.

This spot was very popular and busy for a warm summer night but unfortunately was not good. As someone who can't have dairy I was excited to give this a try and ended up with something pretty that tasted like a melted watery popsicle. I'd rather stop just about anywhere else next time the marshmallows were hard and tasted like paste and the meringue was salty and awful.

Cute little vegan soft serve shop! The soft serve ice cream is always available in chocolate and vanilla and has an oat base and then they rotate out other flavors that very in the base. I got the soy based mint one which was very tasty and not overwhelming minty. You can ask for a sample if you want to try a flavor before buying it. The cake was okay it had a good texture but I wish the frosting was different to give more of a cake experience.

Truly the best vegan soft serve! I've been here a few times and the flavors are always amazing. My favorite thus far has been the sweet corn, which is also my niece's favorite! During my most recent visit, I had the warm blueberry crumble. The soft serve was melting fast so it ended up becoming more of a soup but I wasn't complaining. Overall, a great spot for dessert for both vegan and non-vegans!

You wouldn't believe this is soft serve vegan ice cream. It's delicious! I find most American desserts overly sweet, but not this...it's just right! There are only a handful of flavors but the add ons will give you an array of combinations. They also have a small selection of vegan baked goods. The staff is friendly and patient (especially for those going in for the first time with questions). The place is simple with tables and chairs and very clean. They do have a picnic table outside for sitting with friends or a larger party. I find most people order their ice cream and walk out to the Giddings water fountain to sit at benches or walk around the strip. On the weekends you will find the line outside the door, I believe that says something about the place. I also like that they're open til 9:30pm which is great for a late snack. I think it's a great place to end a date or meet up with friends. Very casual vibe and love the plants wall. I find myself going at least once a month. Overall, I recommend the place.

I am so glad that Vaca's opened a second location much closer to where I live. It was always worth the trip down to their small shop on Blackhawk, but to now be within walking distance is, well...dangerous. This is some of the absolute best ice cream in the city (especially now that Sundae Stop is no more, RIP). Not just the best vegan ice cream, the best period. The flavors seem fresh and are well thought out, the subtleness of the pretzel salt in the Rocky Road balancing the sweetness of the chocolate and marshmallow. The subtle lavender helping that blueberry pop and keeping it from being too tart. It really is a master class in ice cream flavors, and I am excited to try their seasonal flavors throughout the year. The shop is sort of tucked away in that Giddings Square on Lincoln - they would do themselves a favor to have some sort of signage to let people know they're back there. I came up specifically for Vaca's and it took me a minute to find them. When you do, you'll see this is a fairly large shop with tons of seating, unlike their original location. You can sample any of the flavors they're serving, have tons of options for sundaes and other treats, and two giant freezers of premade pints to take home. Yes, the prices are a couple of dollars more than your average ice cream shop. But, this is to ensure a livable wage for their staff, and also removes the need for tipping. If a pint at Scooter's (another favorite) is $9, after tip you're at about $11. At Vaca's, a pint is $12, so what's an extra dollar for inventive vegan ice cream and to ensure their staff can make rent? Congratulations on your second location - looking forward to your spring and summer flavors!

Vegan friend highly recommended this place to me, a non-vegan multiple times so finally I made it here to try! I sampled the chocolate and pumpkin spice flavor and settled for a child-size cup of vanilla to get a better appreciation of the base flavor. The chocolate and pumpkin spice flavors were very light compared to how regular chocolate / pumpkin spice dairy ice creams are. For a vegan dessert, this is very delicious! The texture is not as creamy or rich as high in dairy fat / cream ice cream but it's not bad... pretty well churned and creamy with just a little bit of iciness. The flavor seems to be mostly almond milk and maybe the creaminess is from the coconut cream. Sweetness levels are balanced as well. In hindsight death by chocolate sundae would've been more enjoyable, but I didn't feel like eating a massive amount of ice cream alone on a chilly night. Perhaps I'll share with the vegan friend next time. Despite the positive tasting experience, I still do prefer dairy ice cream over vegan ice cream. So if you're not vegan and total dairy ice cream snob, it may be difficult to be open minded and appreciate this other type of ice cream. Nonetheless, this Vaca offers excellent vegan dessert options and I would recommend to vegans!

man is this place outstanding. I had the death by chocolate with the hard shell, chocolate sauce, and added peanuts (instead of brownies). its vegan soft serve and you would never know. in fact its better...lots better. I would have this every day, probably a bit scared to see the calories but its outstanding. We also had the mint passion fruit which was perfect and not too sweet. Run to this place and vegan up.

Yum for vegan soft serve!! This was my first time at this Vaca's location! I love how this Vaca's has indoor and patio seating as opposed to just the walk up window at their Wicker Park location. Their soft serve is amazing! I got the Regular size Death By... Sundae with Vanilla/Chocolate swirl. I liked this one better than the S'mores one! Just as good as non-vegan soft serve! Can't wait to go back!

I've gone here quite a few times and the seasonal flavors have always been a hit with me. I have been here with friends that usually eat dairy ice cream and were expecting to be disappointed...but they weren't! I highly recommend trying whichever the seasonal flavor is. I also love their baked goods/other desserts. They've all been so dang delicious! I always walk out wishing I had gotten more. You can also buy pints of various flavors to take back home with you. However, I do not recommend the s'mores flavor. The consistency is good but it doesn't taste like s'mores. Tastes more like caramel swirl flavor with way too much salt. Service has always been good and fast, and they do have seating inside. I like how they're open fairly late, so I'm able to swing by after work.

i love the location and the soft serve - it's so cute inside and has really good vibes. the atmosphere is calm and the workers are friendly. i've been meaning to try vaca's and when i finally had the opportunity i was really excited. i've seen their sundaes on instagram before and i really wanted one. i tried the s'mores sundae and the death by chocolate sundae - both were delicious! the s'mores sundae had toasted marshmallows, chocolate, and the biscow crumble was so good! the death by chocolate sundae had this amazing chocolate shell.. definitely my favorite part of the sundae. i'll be getting that one again. the soft serve here is practically indiscernible from dairy soft serve, without any of the dairy. i got the swirl to try both the chocolate and vanilla... both were perfect! i definitely recommend trying this place out - it does not disappoint. i'll definitely be back to try some other flavors.

Seriously the best vegan ice cream my sister and I have every tried! My sister can't eat dairy and misses ice cream so we were so excited to try this place! We tried samples of strawberry olive oil and it was good. I got chocolate vanilla swirl in a cone with chocolate shell and my sister got vanilla with peanut butter shell. It was so rich and delicious and a huge portion, definitely worth the price. So so cute too we loved the wall.

This place is great. Don't let the vegan aspect deter you in case you aren't vegan. The soft serve is great and all my dairy eating kids approved ( and my husband who eats non dairy was super pleased. Pricy but portions are generous. Choose from basic flavors like chocolate, vanilla and raspberry or swirl.

Vegan soft serve. Never had anything like that. It was fabulous. My only complaint was the price. I am sorry, but $7 for their small cup of soft serve is just too much. I will probably go back, and I highly recommend but will limit how often I come, only due to cost.

very good vegan ice cream spot, the ice cream is very light and tasty. We got the birthday cake one as it is their anniversary, loved the chocolate as well as the raspberry base, and the toppings are great too

Classic options to innovative combinations, Vaca has a variety of flavours. Vaca Creamery is a must visit for a guilt free, palate pleasing treat in Chicago.

Finally tried this place tonight and I was so impressed! I'm not vegan and really loved the vanilla ice cream, as well as the fudge brownies. Probably the best vegan brownie I've ever had. So so delicious - took a few pints home and can't wait to try a few more flavors!

"This is not just good for being vegan ice cream, this is just goodt ice cream. This is my new favorite spot!" Words from my my non-vegan cousin! This is the best soft serve ice cream I've had to this day. Get the chocolate hard dip. The chocolate cake pieces are so delicious I could eat a bowl of them alone.

This used to be a gelatoria and now I'm thrilled it's a vegan creamery! We picked up a few pints for my sisters birthday after dinner and the Inner Child is SO good!! They have seasonal flavors and also had zodiac themed flavors which makes me want to come back in Oct to see what the Libra one would be! 5/5 would recommend

When I found out there was an all vegan ice cream spot in the heart of Lincoln Square I thought it had to be too good to be true. I cannot say enough amazing things about this place. Incredibly tasty food and cafe beverages that do not disappoint. The toppings are so fun and if you don't want to create your own treat their pre-designed sundaes are so awesome. I got the brownie pie for my mom's birthday and she was RAVING. She described it as "unfreakingbelievable" and "to die for" and she could not stress enough how delicious it was. She said it helped make her birthday such a special day. AND everything here is cow-free, cruelty-free! What more could you ask for?

You don't have to be vegan to love this soft serve ice cream, really and truly. It is just so darn good. And I'm so grateful for that heat wave of short duration Chicago experienced in late April, because it was then I saw several people in Giddings Plaza eating ice cream, and then I saw Vaca's Creamery, at the far east end of the plaza between Jerry's and Cafe Selmarie. They seem to have four rotating flavors. I think chocolate and vanilla are the mainstays, but I've also had peanut butter and raspberry. They offer all sorts of toppings. One thing I really appreciate is that they have a children's size, and that's what I normally get. I don't have a huge appetite, so that is perfect for me. Peanut butter with chocolate topping . . . . vanilla/chocolate swirl with pecans. . . the s'mores cup. . . everything has been wonderful. Vaca's also sells their ice cream in pint size to take home, as well as ice cream pies. They do not accept cash; everything is strictly credit. They have a serious recycling program and provide bins to deposit anything recyclable. It looks like they will open a small seating area at the east end for summer, even though it's not necessary. There are benches all around Giddings Plaza. I'm looking forward to visiting Vaca's again to sample more of their imaginative creations.

Ohh em gee. This place is so good. We've been here a few times and each time is incredible! Each time we try something new and each time the sweet treats are wonderful. Today I got chocolate vanilla swirl cone with peanut butter shell and my honey got a Chai milkshake, both were great. Cannot recommend this place enough.

absolutely delicious, refreshing interior and friendly staffs. it's a vegan creamery. i had the earl grey ice cream with brownie bites. these are some super delicious velvety brownies!! pairs really well with the ice cream. their location is a little hidden, behind jerry's sandwich and facing selmarie's porch. it definitely taste better than some ice cream you can find on the market.

I got the swirl soft serve in a cone and it was so creamy and delicious! The cone was gluten free (my first time eating a cone in almost 10 years!!) they offered many toppings and selections. They also had a freezer with pre packaged pints and other treats. A little pricier, but great quality! Well worth it.

I've been going to vacas since they first opened & they have never disappointed me! Ice cream is absolutely delicious & and creamy, not overly sweet. I love that the waffle cones are made in-house. I love the addition of new pastries & sweets at this location. I recently tried the strawberry cheesecake cup & it's perfect it reminded me of flan. The service was superb val was very attentive & all around great at any questions we had. Really cute interior with a sit-down space available to enjoy your sweets.

Omg the thick mint "ice cream" is INSANELY terrible. Literally bought a pint of it, opened to find that it didn't smell of mint at all, and tried it with a friend. We both were off put at first but tried another bite, only to both agree it didn't taste ANYTHING of mint. Instead it was salty, tasted like window cleaner, and had thicker texture (totally understand it's oat milk based which has a chewier texture. The ingredients list of "minerals" and sunflower oil and canola oil as main ingredients before mentioning that less than 2% is mint and spirulina. Nowhere did we taste mint and over the next 10 min it continued to get worse and turn grey in the pint. Will not be returning nor will be recommending to anyone. The 2 stars are for the server who was incredibly kind and helpful, and offered a refund. The place is also cute so I'd rate it the 2 stars for decor and vibes! But my god is the ice cream abominable.

Best dairy-free soft serve I've ever had! I am not vegan and am typically skeptical of dairy free ice creams, but the taste and texture of Vaca's soft serve is fantastic and pretty much identical to dairy soft serve. I love the new Lincoln Square location and like the option of indoor seating during the winter. I highly recommend the ice cream pies as well- they are a fantastic dairy-free alternative to ice cream cake and the brownie pie we tried last week was delicious. The customer service was fantastic each time we have been in and I love the fact that the store has compost and recycle bins. I highly recommend Vaca's as it is a wonderful addition to Lincoln Square and conveniently located near the brown line and local shopping.

I've been dairy free for years, so discovering Vacas in Chicago was very exciting. Their new location is really cute and they have even more options there! My boyfriend isn't dairy free and loves it too.

The best ice cream I've ever had! A little pricey, but worth it for the quality of ingredients & thought put into the product. I happily drive 20 minutes to their new location just for the ice cream! There is easy parking nearby, and the shop is located in a cute plaza. My mom & I got sundaes, but I also left with 3 pints of Strawberry Olive Oil, Rocky Road, and Candy Bar!

the best vegan ice cream i've ever had. so fun that i can get gluten and dairy free ice cream and toppings. this place is a must visit whether you have dietary restrictions or not

Mine and my fiancé's favorite spot for evening ice cream! They have delicious sundaes, yummy seasonal flavors, and the staff is always incredibly pleasant. Highly recommend!

LITERALLY TO EVERYTHING and EVERYONE working there was amazing it's amazing seeing vegan options show up more often now but even my non vegan friends enjoy this ice cream place they are so nice and even if you don't like ice cream come here to get pastries its sooooo good I promise you . You'd want to get everything here also there BATHROOM IS FUCKEN CUTE TOO

Awesome vegan ice-cream shop in such a great spot in Lincoln Square. Their flavor selection is short and sweet, but they have a bunch of great toppings. The brownie bits are homemade and to die for, seriously get them. The employee at the counter was very patient and kind enough to give us little samples of a flavor. There is a decent amount of seating inside, but the area outside is cute and there are public benches as well. Highly recommend this place for a quick plant-based treat.

Soft serve is great but maybe don't yell at and scold your paying customer like a toddler being put in timeout? Instead maybe try: "Miss you really can't reach behind the counter because ... reason. If there are no more napkins please let us know and we'll be happy bring more out!" "Oh goodness! I'm SO sorry!! My mistake, I didn't know! Will not happen again" Point would have been made just as well and also would have kept your customer.

The flavors and toppings are so incredible, it rivals any ice cream in the city (dairy or vegan!). I've always love this place, and the new walk in location in Lincoln square makes it even better. Super friendly and patient staff, and the new ambiance is perfect. Whether or not you're dairy-free, you have to try Vaca!

this ice cream is legit some of the best in the city, vegan or not. i love that they pay fairly, i love all the flavors -- the seasonal ones always bang!! -- and i just adore the vibe. i went to the lincoln square one in the dead of winter and it was WORTH IT! the service is always top tier, friendly, etc. i literally cannot think of a better place if i tried. this lincoln square spot is perfect for lil dates or family outings. im excited to take my non-vegan boyfriend here :)

Best vegan ice cream ever- no debate! The new location is so cute and the service is 10/10. One of my favorite places in the city. The s'mores sundae is amazing but can't go wrong with anything on the menu.