IT’S-IT Ice Cream is a famous store in San Francisco, known for their ice cream sandwiches. According to their website, they’ve been serving ice cream sandwiches since 1928. A scoop of ice cream is sandwiched between two raisin oatmeal cookies and then dipped in chocolate.
I’ve passed by the signs for IT’S-IT and have read several blog posts, but have never gotten a chance to visit. Recently, I learned from Pink Candles of Ridgemont High, that the ice cream sandwiches are available for purchase at Vons in Southern California. The full list of distributors can be found on their website, here.
I was so excited that I could finally try these sandwiches and wait straightaway to go buy some. They were pretty hidden at Vons, but thanks to CC’s instructions, I was able to locate them. They were in the freezer section, at the very bottom row, with nothing really to make them stand out.
They had two flavors that day, mint and vanilla. I chose the vanilla ones. Inside each box are three sandwiches. The price was about $3.50, making each a little over a dollar.
To my surprise, the oatmeal cookies inside are quite hard. They taste more like graham crackers because they are so crunchy and crumbly. I didn’t particularly care for the oatmeal cookies and it made it messy to eat with crumbs dropping everywhere. Perhaps if they had been fresh cookies, but with them frozen, it just felt like I was eating a graham crackers covered in chocolate, with ice cream in the middle.
I was a bit disappointed with these sandwiches after hearing how good they were. The cookies really bothered me. Perhaps if they used another type of cookie. But that’s just my personal preference. A lot of people have felt differently, so if you are curious, and have a distributor nearby, you should check it out for yourself.
It’s It. I’ve been eating them for years on and years off since I was a little thing. Recently I had one and, purchased at Ralphs on sale for 3.00 a box. And I did notice that the cookie was a bit harder then I remember. There is a look alike called the UFO. When I find one of these, usually at the corner Quik-E-Mart I find the same results. I think these cookies are in a fast, deep freeze for a little too long and this effects the cookie. I honestly remember them being softer and then you say, yeah, It’s it!
Ah, that is interesting to know. I had a feeling maybe the cookie is harder.
As a native of the Bay Area, allow me to try to defend It’s It’s. I’ve never had a problem with the cookies being crumbly, but I usually let mine thaw out a little because really cold ice cream hurts my teeth.
The oatmeal cookies are a must for it’s it’s. Otherwise it’s just another ice cream sandwich. I find that the warm cinnamon spices in the cookie goes great with the vanilla ice cream and the chocolate shell.
But that’s just my opinion. 🙂
The best ice cream cookie combo I’ve had recently was Circus animal ice cream from Thrifty’s. It was the featured flavor last month and they still sell it by the scoop but I can’t find it in the 1.75 quart size anymore. 🙁
OMG I just ate one of these for the first time.
They sell them at Papa John’s. I tried the vanilla ones and they were pretty good. I wish the ice cream had more flavor but I liked them and they are decently priced.
Oh I didn’t know they sell them at papa john’s. Interesting
I haven’t had an It’s It in years. Maybe it’s a nostalgia thing – you remember that they used to taste better. I probably won’t be in a hurry to buy them at Vons.
Their offices are in Burlingame (not Burlington) just south of the airport. As caninecologne mentioned, you can see the giant inflated It’s It on the roof (west of the 101).
you’re right – i meant Burlingame. I was probably thinking of Burlington Coat Factory! ha ha
I’m not a big fan of these either but then I prefer the old fashion kind ice cream sandwiches.
I’ve had them before, too, they’re just okay. The raisins are killer though, since I hate raisins. Cookie minus raisins would be so, so much better!
I agree!
Trust me it doesn’t taste better in Bay Area. I have this at work given
by the drivers all the time. I don’t understand why it is so famous, the cookie is terrible, ice cream nothing special from the regular ones.
It sounds like a good concept but I’m not a fan of oatmeal raisin either. They should try it with different flavors of cookies! Maybe it tastes better in the Bay Area…
I’m wondering if they taste better fresh from the original location too. Next time I’m around there, I plan on checking it out. I would like other cookie flavors too. Esp choc chip!
hi kirbie
i think i would like these better if the cookies were NOT oatmeal. chocolate chip would be awesome. i liked the cappuccino and original flavors the best. mint is okay but mint with an oatmeal cookie is a wierd combo.
if you and your FH are ever up in the Bay Area, you can check out the Giant It’s It on top of their factory/office building. It can be seen from the 101 freeway (it’s in Burlington off of Burlway Road). i’m a sucker for those wierd roadside attractions. 🙂
Yeah I was thinking I’d like it better if it was chocolate chip cookie too! Not a huge fan of oatmeal raisin to begin with and didn’t like it all frozen with my sandwich. Oooh, good to know. We will have to check it out next time we are in the Bay Area.
stay tuned for my upcoming SF posts…of course I had to stop by to gawk (and snap pix) of the giant It’s It on top of their factory roof! 🙂
one thing – you can’t buy it’s it from their factory store, unless you buy a big@$$ case
Good to know. So I guess I have to visit the normal storefront to try just one
I got them the first week I came out to SD. My cookies still had a bit of give and I thought they were actually what put them a step above other ice cream sandwiches.
I’d still opt for one of your cookies though.
Bake Sale. Really.
You should make a suggestion to all the sdbloggers to do a bakesale. 😉