I get a kick out of watching desserts made with liquid nitrogen, so when I heard of the Sub Zero ice cream chain, I really wanted to check it out.
Sub Zero Ice Cream & Yogurt makes frozen yogurt and ice cream right in front of you using liquid nitrogen. The process is a little like places like Cold Stone, where you choose an ice cream and then different flavors and mix-ins. The ice cream is still in its liquid form when you place your order. They pour in the liquid, toppings and flavors into a bowl. Then they turn on the liquid nitrogen and begin mixing until it becomes solid ice cream.
In addition to traditional ice cream and frozen yogurt they also have dairy free options too.
Ice Cream with Piña Colada and Reeses Pieces
This was Mr. K’s choice. We both enjoyed it. I worried the ice cream would be too icy, but it wasn’t at all. The pina colada flavoring was a little light though. It tasted like vanilla ice cream with a pina colada syrup, so the flavors don’t transform the ice cream into different flavored ice creams. It’s more of the same effect as flavoring Hawaiian shaved ice with different syrups.
Cashew Dairy Free Ice Cream with Coconut and Mango Flavoring and Kit Kat pieces
I saw a dairy free cashew ice cream that had me really curious. Unfortunately, neither of us really liked this. The ice cream tasted dry without the dairy and also wasn’t very sweet.
It was fun to watch the ice creams being made with the liquid nitrogen, though it is also a little bit pricey ($4.82 for a small). I wouldn’t come here as my go-to place, but it’s a fun place to visit.
Sub Zero Ice Cream has a few locations in San Diego and beyond San Diego as well. I went to the one in Encinitas.
Sub Zero Ice Cream
several locations
123 N. El Camino Real suite E
Encinitas, CA 92024
https://www.subzeroicecream.com/#
Hi Kirbie! I am part of the subzero team and I just happened upon your review. I am sorry your experience was anything less than excellent. I would like to invite you to come back in and give our company another try on the house. In January of 2014 the store took on new owners and underwent many product changes as well as pricing changes. We fully stand behind our product and are not satisfied unless our customers are too! We would like our customers to know that if they ever get anything they do not like, we will gladly take it back and make them something new! Please send me an email so we can find a good time for you to come back in and try our product out.
-Audrie
thank you for your comment. It’s a little out of my way, but I will try to come in again and see the changes.
hi kirbie – okay, another reason to go to escondido! interesting concept. i agree with mary that you are probably paying for the show as well as the ‘treat’.
that being said, tc wants to go here. she got excited when i told her about this post. she said she saw it on tv somewhere (i forgot what show/foodnetwork).
I heard about it being on tv, though I didn’t see it. I think TC would like it
That looks like it would be fun to watch them make it! Bit pricey, but I guess you’re getting a treat + “a show” haha.
Yeah I think they are charging for the show and probably all the liquid nitro they have to use.
I saw the one in Escondido and wondered how good the ice cream was. I like the idea of the pina colada ice cream! The nondairy one, not so much.
It was surprisingly rich ice cream. I wouldn’t put it in the same category as a gourmet ice cream, but I liked it. I was afraid it would taste something like Dippin Dots, but it was much creamier than that.