If you're searching for ice cream shops in Omaha, chances are you've stood in line—maybe outside Coneflower Creamery in Blackstone, or at Ted & Wally’s in the Old Market. Maybe you’ve waited 30 minutes at Dairy Chef in Elkhorn while Nebraska heat rose off the sidewalk and your kids ran laps around the bench. Good. That wait is the point.
At Omaha Food Magazine, we’ve been covering this scene for 15 years. We were there at the original Ted & Wally’s on Howard Street when the butterfat content was revolutionary and the flavors were less about Instagram and more about intention. We were among the first to sample Coneflower’s Honey Butter Bourbon, and we championed eCreamery before it hit Shark Tank. We stood in the earliest lines at Dairy Chef, Zesto, and Graley’s, and we’ve documented every new scoop shop brave enough to step into this city of loyalists and legends.
This is our definitive guide. Not just a list—but a love letter. Omaha’s ice cream scene deserves nothing less.
Ted & Wally’s
Old Market: 1120 Jackson St.
Benson: 6023 Maple St.
There are places that serve ice cream, and there are places that define it. Ted & Wally’s is the latter. Founded in 1984, in a converted Old Market service station, their ultra-premium, small-batch ice cream is built on 20% butterfat, scratch-made inclusions, and a fearless sense of flavor.
Over 3,000 creations have graced the menu—some whimsical, some challenging, all deeply intentional. The Apple Pie Moonshine, the Mr. Breakfast, the Salted White Chocolate Pretzel Cheesecake—each one is a reminder that ice cream can be rebellious, nostalgic, even soulful.
And their hot fudge? Still the best in Omaha. That’s not a tagline—it’s our editorial ruling.
“You haven’t tasted real ice cream until it clings to your lips like a slow goodbye.” – Omaha Food Magazine, 2011
If you find yourself in line on a summer night, lean in. Watch the crew call out names. Feel the anticipation. Snap a pic. Use a hashtag. Because you’re part of something bigger than dessert—you’re keeping a neighborhood tradition alive.
Coneflower Creamery
Blackstone: 3921 Farnam St.
Millwork Commons: 1241 Millwork Ave.
Olde Towne Elkhorn (Opening 2025)
Coneflower doesn’t follow trends. It sets the standard. Voted #1 Ice Cream Shop in America, it was founded by chefs Brian Langbehn and Katie Arant Chapman, who brought fine-dining finesse and farm-to-cone ethos to Omaha—and then took it national.
Every flavor begins with a story: Blackstone Butterbrickle, Christmas in July, Honey Butter Bourbon—all rooted in seasonal sourcing and small-batch production.
The Blackstone location is iconic. People chat in line along Farnam with strangers. The Millwork Commons location feels like a European plaza—families sit in the grass, jazz drifts from open windows, the scent of Dolomiti Pizza mingles with freshly baked waffle cones.
“Coneflower doesn’t sell ice cream. They sell Nebraska.” – Alejandra Marquez, OFM
Waiting here isn’t a delay—it’s a shared experience. And it’s worth every moment.
eCreamery
5001 Underwood Ave, Dundee
Before “small-batch” became a buzzword, eCreamery was living it. Long before Shark Tank, they were delivering custom-churned pints from Dundee to the world.
Known for dense, low-air ice cream and creative flavors like Sea Salt Caramel Brownie and Snickerdoodle, eCreamery is Omaha's gift to the national ice cream stage.
“Barbara Corcoran called it the best ice cream she’d ever had. Mark Cuban called them innovators. We just call them local heroes.” – OFM Editorial Board
Come for the custom pint. Stay for the scoop. Then walk the block like it's 2010 again—slow, sweet, and grateful.
Dairy Chef
3223 N 204th St, Elkhorn
No place captures summer in Elkhorn like Dairy Chef. Lines form early. Teenagers work the iconic machines like pros. Names are called out as orders stack on the counter, each cone taller than logic allows.
The Breakup Storm, the Turtle Storm, and the infamous Tower Cone are tests of dexterity, not just dessert. Kids lick frantically to keep up with the melt. Parents lean in, visit, and watch—this is the unofficial town square in soft-serve form.
“Sitting at the outdoor tables at Dairy Chef is a rite of passage for Omaha families.” – OFM Staff
Want to feel what a community tastes like? Start here.
Betty Rae’s Ice Cream
6307 Center St
595 N 155th Plaza
Imported from Kansas City, but made with Omaha in mind. Founder Zach Molacek brought Betty Rae’s home, and it was love at first scoop.
Their 26 core flavors—like Lavender Honey, Bee’s Knees, and S’mores—blend whimsy and craft. The vibe is colorful, local, and unapologetically happy.
“Betty Rae’s is a fantastic addition to Omaha’s vibrant ice cream scene.” – Mary Krause, OFM
The Aksarben shop already feels like it’s always been there. That’s how you know it fits.
Cup and Cone
15420 S 2nd St, Bennington
New, yes. But already essential. Family-owned Cup and Cone has created a community hub disguised as a scoop shop. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t need to be.
Here, you’ll find espresso in the morning, hand-dipped cones at night, and a patio full of neighbors.
“Cup and Cone isn’t a business. It’s a neighborhood heartbeat with sprinkles.” – OFM
Sprinkle Joy
9821 Giles Rd, La Vista
Frozen custard with a conscience. Sprinkle Joy donates 5% of profits to charity, and the scoops are as rich in flavor as they are in purpose.
It’s simple: 14% butterfat, real ingredients, and a daily reminder that dessert can do good.
“Even a curmudgeon can’t walk out of Sprinkle Joy without smiling.” – OFM Field Notes
Graley’s Creamery & Confections
Papillion, NE
An 1800s soda fountain in spirit and setting, Graley’s is pure nostalgia. Their 20% butterfat ice cream comes in flavors like Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and Cafe Oreo—and if you can’t decide, order the flight of eight scoops.
“You don’t visit Graley’s. You time travel.” – OFM Flavor Review, 2024
Centi
Downtown Omaha
Refined. Quiet. Profound.
Centi’s gelato is where chef technique meets minimalism. Flavors like Taro, Chocolate Absolute, and Bourbon Vanilla are as much about balance as they are about flavor.
“You don’t eat Centi. You study it.” – OFM
Zesto Ice Cream & Grill
7130 N 102nd Cir & 8608 N 30th St
Before trends, there was Zesto—and it’s still exactly what it should be. Thick shakes, crispy fries, double cheeseburgers, and classic soft-serve sundaes that transport you to a better era.
“We walked to Zesto in high school. Now we drive our kids. And it still hits.” – Chris H., OFM Contributor
Doozies (Council Bluffs, IA – But It Counts)
4105 S 11th St, Council Bluffs, IA
Just across the river lies a gem. Doozies makes everything from scratch—from their homemade ice cream (16 rotating flavors, 14% butterfat) to their hand-pressed burgers.
It’s small-town magic, perfected.
“Come hungry. Leave changed.” – OFM, July 2023
Stella’s Ice Cream (Coming Soon)
4002 N 203rd St, Elkhorn
Omaha’s most competitive ice cream neighborhood is about to get even sweeter. Stella’s, a beloved Idaho chain, brings vegan options, small-batch values, and a hunger to prove themselves.
Elkhorn is watching. So are we.
The Final Scoop
There’s a reason people stand in lines for ice cream in Omaha. A reason they wait under heat lamps, with melted cones and sticky hands and full hearts. It’s not just about sugar. It’s about belonging.
It happens outside Dairy Chef, where kids chase each other and parents trade stories. It happens in Blackstone, where strangers bond over waffle cones. It happens in Millwork Commons, where ice cream is eaten in grassy parks as jazz and pizza fill the air.
“Ice cream brings people together.” – Omaha Food Magazine
So support your shops. Snap a photo. Use a hashtag. Tip your scooper. You’re not just buying dessert—you’re helping a tradition endure.
Who do you think belongs on the list of the best ice cream shops in Omaha? Drop us a note!
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