What better way to celebrate Latinx Heritage month (September 15 – October 15) than enjoying an iconic Latinx dessert? While many may consider a paleta to be a popsicle, there are some key differences. While popsicles are made of syrups and juices, paletas consist of fresh fruit and cream. Originating in Mexico, paletas offer everything you could want in a frozen treat. They’re a convenient and tasty delight that come in every flavor imaginable. Join us as we explore our list of unique flavors found in different paleterias across the U.S.
Please note that some of the listed flavors are seasonal or limited, current offerings can be confirmed with the businesses featured.
Have this full list handy at all times by bookmarking this Yelp Collectionhere.
AZ Pops– Phoenix, AZ |Prickly PearLime| If there is one flavor you are guaranteed to find in the Southwest, it’s prickly pear. AZ Pops is stocked with local flavors as well as some fun finds like balsamic fig chevre or rosemary butter pecan.
Cielito Artisan Pops– Miami, FL |Key Lime Pie| Cielito is the spot for the most picture perfect pops in Miami with toppings like rose petals, toasted coconut, and unicorn cotton candy. Be sure you don’t miss their wall of paleta art while you’re there!
Diamonds Ice Cream– Columbus, OH |Buckeye| Diamonds Ice Cream is a Latinx-owned favorite with lots of character and a menu full of treats. You can tell from the photos alone that their paletas contain generous amounts of fresh fruit and more.
Holy Pops– San Antonio, TX |Clamato| Loaded with fun toppings, these paletas will make all your sugary dreams come true. This Latinx woman-owned paleteria keeps things colorful with lots of candy on top.
Ice Queen——运动tland, OR |Oatchata| Looking for some plant-based delights? Look no further than Ice Queen in Portland. Their menu is fully vegan and they’re happy to make additional accommodations for other dietary restrictions.
King of Pops– Atlanta, GA |Toothpaste| King of Pops might win the award for the wildest flavor offerings, such as pizza, macaroni, and toothpaste. For the less adventurous palate, they serve up some southern classics like banana puddin’ and fresh peach.
La Michoacana– Renton, WA |Flan| The term “La Michoacana” is often used as a shorthand for paleteria and you can find them all over the country. This particular spot serves up a noteworthy flan paleta as well other unique finds like the guanabana paleta.
La Newyorkina– New York, NY |Pink Limeade| La Newyorkina is a woman-owned shop that keeps it fruity with lots of all natural options to choose from. Beyond paletas, they offer ice cream and even chamoyadas.
Lil’ Pop Shop– Philadelphia |Basque Cheesecake| This artisan shop proudly serves up local ingredients in their products including dairy, herbs, and seasonal fruit. Here you can find an abundance of choices on the pop menu from mango sticky rice to strawberry matcha lemonade.
Locopops– Durham, NC |Mighty Mojito| Your furry friends deserve to join in on the fun with their own special treats. The paletas here are made for everyone and come in all shapes and sizes including baby pops and pup pops.
Mateo’s Ice Cream & Fruit Bars– Los Angeles, CA |Sapota Negro| With everything from fresh juices, ice cream, and tons of paletas, Mateo’s is a must visit. Their menu is fruit heavy with plenty of familiar options as well as rare finds.
Morelia Gourmet Paletas– Sugar Land, TX |Pineapple Mint| Morelia Gourmet Paletas is a Latinx-owned multi-location paleteria known for their handcrafted, small batch paletas. Go all out with special toppings like toasted marshmallow or a waffle burrito.
Paco Pops——运动ter, TX |Pumpkin Spice| Paco Pops is a Latinx-owned shop that knows how to follow the seasonal trends. The menu features rotating flavors like pumpkin spice and apple pie just in time for fall.
Paleta Bar– Albuquerque, NM |Zombie| Paleta栏正急剧增长,成为the most popular spot for paletas in multiple states. Here they are known for their dipped and filled paletas, plus a drool-worthy selection of rotating flavors.
Paletas Betty– Chandler, AZ |Platano| Paletas are a treat that can be enjoyed any time of year, especially in the Phoenix area. This spot also offers a solid selection of aguas frescas to keep you extra cool.
Paleteria Rey Azteca– Wallingford, CT |Tequila| Ready for a childhood treat with an adult friendly twist? Paleteria Rey Azteca is a traditional paleteria with some non-traditional takes like their tequila flavored paleta, lime and chamoy included.
Pete’s Pop– Milwaukee, WI |Coffee n’ Donuts| Here you will find no shortage of fun flavors including a large selection of vegan options. Don’t miss out on flavors like brown butter miso, peach swirl, rosewater lemonade, and sweet corn blackberry.
Picolé– Austin, TX |Mango Margarita| Chocolate dipped or covered in chamoy, these paletas are as beautiful as they are tasty. Their menu is filled with interesting flavors and so many cocktail-inspired options, you won’t know where to start.
Pop Fizz– Albuquerque, NM |Cafe con Leche| You will know when the Pop Fizz truck is out and about because wherever they go, a crowd always follows. The menu here is always adding creative selections and they even serve up ice cream tacos in addition to their paletas.
Pop Pops Paleta– San Diego, CA |Guava Cheesecake| The creativity is always flowing at this Latinx, woman-owned shop in Little Italy. Their menu features flavors like cotton clouds, mangonada, and the ‘dirty classy’ which contains charcoal and gold flakes.
Popston– Houston, TX |Mexican Banana Foster| Popston offers up an incredible variety of gelato and sorbet-based paletas. The shop even has a walk-up window and a colorful mural to match your vibrant pops.
Seattle Pops– Seattle, WA |Lilikoi| This woman-owned Seattle gem is known for their creamy pops with a wide selection of unique flavors. They offer everything from creamy banana chocolate with chunks of fresh banana to tropical guava plus dipping options galore.
The Hyppo– St. Augustine, FL |Sweet Potato Crunch| Located beachside, The Hyppo is a shop that really brings the heat when it comes to their flavors with spicy offerings like mango habanero. The menu is seasonal but the in-house creations are guaranteed to hit the spot any time of year.
The Pop Nation– San Francisco, CA |Bourbon Peach| This pop-up can be found all around San Francisco and offers an abundance of unique flavors. Dietary restrictions? No worries here as all their menu items are vegan and gluten-free.
Zora Dora’s Micro Batch Ice Cream– Beacon, NY |Lavender Honey Bee Pollen| Like the name says, flavors are made in micro batches so the menu is constantly changing and you are always guaranteed to find something fresh and seasonal.
Methodology: This is a list of unique paletas from the U.S. and Canada created by polling Yelp’s Community Managers from across North America and asking for their individual recommendations from their areas. If the business has opened multiple locations, only the original is included. Businesses are not ranked and sorted alphabetically.
