Back in the 1920s, in Buffalo, NY, Charles Taylor filed a patent for a machine that would change the future of dessert forever. It was the world’s first soft-serve machine, and the velvety, soft ice cream it produced was a big hit. By the 1940s, even Dairy Queen had soft serve, and trucks serving the whipped sweet treat were becoming a more common sight.
Today, soft serve is still a favorite of many Americans. But while most options are made with dairy, vegan soft serve is also a popular choice. If you’re in the mood for a swirl, here are some of the best spots to grab vegan soft serve across the US.
How is soft serve different from ice cream?
While all soft serve is ice cream, not all ice cream is soft serve. Soft serve has a lighter, smoother, and creamier texture compared to traditional ice cream, which has a slightly denser texture. This is due to the higher amount of air incorporated into the mixture during the freezing process. Both have similar ingredients (like milk, cream, and sugar, for example); however, soft serve often has a higher proportion of milk to cream and may include stabilizers and emulsifiers to maintain its smooth texture.
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Vegan soft serve, on the other hand, swaps dairy for plant-based alternatives like coconut, almond, cashew, or oat milk. The result? A taste and texture often nearly indistinguishable from the original.
Growing demand for vegan soft serve
The dairy-free ice cream market is booming. According to Grand View Research, it was valued at around $1.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $2.7 billion by 2030. The firm attributes this growth to rising health and wellness awareness, increased cases of lactose intolerance and dairy allergies, and the growing popularity of plant-based diets alongside demand for sustainable, ethical food options. North America leads the way, accounting for more than 35 percent of global revenue.
“The increasing availability of various plant-based milk options, such as almond, soy, coconut, and oat, provides a base for creating diverse and innovative flavors,” Grand View Research reports. It adds: “The surge in investments by major food manufacturers and startups to develop and promote dairy-free ice cream propels market growth.”
While most of what’s available is dairy-based ice cream, you can certainly find delicious vegan soft serve across the US if you know where to look. Here are some of the top spots.
Where to grab vegan soft serve in the US
Find out for yourself how tasty vegan soft serve can be by heading to one of these ice cream spots this summer.
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Vaca’s Creamery
1 Vaca’s Creamery
Chicago, IL
Utilizing locally sourced ingredients, Vaca’s Creamery makes delicious, velvety, vanilla and chocolate vegan soft serve alongside limited time flavors such as Sweet Corn. Top with everything from salted caramel sauce to toasted marshmallows. If you need a caffeine hit, you could also opt for an affogato, which is soft-serve ice cream with a shot of espresso poured over the top.
Find it here
Yoga-Urt
2 Yoga-Urt
Multiple locations
All of Yoga-Urt’s soft serve is made with organic nuts. The flavors are consistently changing, but keep an eye out for mouthwatering options like Lavender Blossom and Salted Caramel Zen. You can also opt for a deliciously creamy soft-serve-based shake in flavors like Strawberry Serenity and Chocolate Bliss.
Find it here
Niu Soft Serve
3 Niu Soft Serve
Honolulu, HI
If you’re in Honolulu, Niu’s coconut-based, local-style soft serve is a must-try. All of the toppings are also made in-house—choose from options like roasted macadamia nuts, sesame salted caramel, and hot kūlolo sauce.
Find it here
Ice Queen
4 Ice Queen
Portland, OR
The Oatly soft-serve-based Thiccflurries are a real showstopper at this Chicana-owned ice cream parlor in Portland. Forget McDonald’s and its McFlurries, you need more Ice Queen in your life.
Find it here
Happy Ice
5 Happy Ice
Los Angeles, CA
According to Happy Ice, its frozen dessert shop and food truck are the “happiest places on earth.” Put that statement to the test by ordering one of its Rainbow Gelatis, which is its signature water ice topped with a dollop of deliciously creamy dairy-free soft serve. Once you’ve had a taste, we bet you won’t be able to stop smiling.
Find it here
Besties Vegan Paradise
6 Besties Vegan Paradise
Los Angeles, CA
You can grab all kinds of vegan goodies at this vegan grocery store. After you’ve finished filling your cart with your favorite plant-based finds, reward yourself with the grocery store’s own plant-based soft serve in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and rotating seasonal flavors.
Find it here
16 Handles
7 16 Handles
Multiple locations
Yup, this popular soft-serve shop has vegan options, too. The menu features delicious dairy-free choices like Oat Milk Chocolate and Oat Milk Vanilla. According to the chain, it’s “so good, you wouldn’t even know it’s not dairy.”
Find it here
8 Erewhon
Multiple locations
If you’re in the mood for a bougie grocery shopping trip, Erewhon is the place to go. While you’re there, make sure to give the vegan soft serve a try. Made with coconut milk, the chain’s Cosmic Bliss soft serve is a tasty dairy-free treat.
Find it here
Scoop Deville
9Scoop Deville
Philadelphia, PA
Did you know? Scoop Deville’s “famous custom soft serve” also comes dairy-free. Check out options like the Charles Mint Barkley, which features mint ice cream blended with chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate sauce. There’s also the Philly Samoa Lovin’, which is loaded with salted caramel ice cream, chocolate chips, and toasted coconut.
Find it here
Magpies Softserve
10Magpies Softserve
Multiple locations
This popular dessert hot spot has three locations across California, in Silver Lake, Highland Park, and Tarzana. Each offers a wide range of ultra-indulgent vegan soft-serve choices, including Roasted Strawberry, Cookie Butter, and Chocolate Milkshake. One scoop not enough? Check out its signature soft-serve pies, too.
Find it here
Plant Power Fast Food
11 Plant Power Fast Food
Multiple locations
After digging into vegan fast-food favorites at Plant Power Fast Food—like cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, and sweet potato fries—it’s time for dessert. Cap it all off with the chain’s ultra-creamy, oat-based vanilla soft serve. Plant Power currently has several locations across Los Angeles, plus one in Las Vegas.
Find it here
Monty’s Good Burger
12Monty’s Good Burger
Multiple locations
Monty’s Good Burger, located in Culver City, Los Angeles, and Riverside, is a California vegan fast-food favorite. Like any good burger joint, it also serves up plenty of sweet treats, including a rich and creamy dairy-free soft serve.
Find it here
Mr. Charlie’s
13 Mr. Charlie’s
Multiple locations
Mr. Charlie’s is all about serving crave-worthy, plant-based spins on McDonald’s classics. Alongside Mr. Frowny Meals and Not Chicken Nuggets, you’ll find a dairy-free twist on the McFlurry. Don’t leave without trying the soft, velvety Mr. FluffHead ice cream.
Find it here
Like No Udder
14Like No Udder
Providence, RI
In Rhode Island and craving vegan soft serve? Head straight to Like No Udder. The ice cream hot spot whips up oat- and soy-based swirls in vanilla, chocolate, and a rotating lineup of other delicious flavors.
Find it here
Cassetta
15 Cassetta
Beverly Hills, CA
Creamy, decadent, and totally Instagrammable, Cassetta’s dairy-free soft serve is as beautiful as it is delicious. Every swirl is dairy-free, and you can dress it up with plenty of vegan toppings, including edible flowers. Not in Beverly Hills? Keep an eye out for pop-ups across the US.
Find it here
ID-Eclair
16ID-Eclair
Pasadena, CA
For a touch of elegance, ID-Eclair never disappoints. This vegan French pâtisserie offers an array of decadent baked goods, think éclairs and croissants, alongside indulgent soft serve (which you can even enjoy served in a teacup or croissant).
Find it here
Morgenstern’s Bananas
17 Morgenstern’s Bananas
New York, NY
New York ice cream favorite Morgenstern’s Bananas has plenty of vegan soft-serve options on the menu. Good luck choosing between indulgent flavors like Salted Peanut Butter, Midnight Chocolate, banana, and mango passion fruit.
Find it here
Lavender & Truffles
18 Lavender & Truffles
Los Angeles, CA
Lavender & Truffles’ decadent vegan ice cream is available at Erewhon and its own Los Angeles shop. If you stop by on the weekend, you’ll be in for an extra treat: ultra-creamy vegan soft serve in flavors like Strawberry Etoile, passion fruit, and chocolate.
Find it here
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
