Best ice cream? This North Carolina shop ranks among nation’s favorites — again
A North Carolina ice cream shop serves “appealing flavors” — and fans can’t get enough.
So much so, Andia’s Ice Cream again ranks among the nation’s best places to grab a scoop, a new report finds.
Andia’s, which has multiple locations in the Triangle, landed at No. 4 on a list from USA Today’s 10Best. To determine the top ice cream shops, the website said editors and travel experts nominated destinations across the country. Then, readers could vote on their favorites over the course of a month.
“These spots were chosen for their use of quality, fresh ingredients and creative takes on this beloved frozen treat,” 10Best wrote in its June 18 report.
Why the ice cream shop is a fan favorite
On the website’s list of readers’ choice award winners, Andia’s was the only place in North Carolina to rank in the top 10. The shop was praised for offering crave-worthy flavors and massive milkshakes.
“Andia’s small-batch ice cream comes in appealing flavors like baklava, rose pistachio, and brownie batter, which you can enjoy from a cup or freshly made waffle cone,” 10Best wrote. “Monster shakes that come in mason jars make for great photo-ops, with over-the-top additions like mini cupcakes and torched marshmallows.”
The shop has a presence in Cary, Durham and Raleigh, though the Durham location has limited menu options. Andia Xouris told The News & Observer she and her co-founder decided ice cream could be a way to show off their creativity.
“It’s not a trend that’s going to come and go,” Xouris said in 2022. “Everybody loves a nice scoop of ice cream. You could create all kinds of amazing flavors when you’re doing this with ice cream.”
At the time, Andia’s had beaten out other business to be named the winner of the N&O’s Triangle ice cream bracket. The shop also ranked on 10Best lists in 2023 and 2024, the newspaper reported.
In addition to ice cream shops, 10Best had readers vote on their other favorite places to get treats. North Carolina highlights include:
- Manolo’s Bakery in Charlotte at No. 2 for best cake shops
- Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery in Raleigh at No. 4 for best cake shops
- Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies in Clemmons at No. 5 for best cookie shops
- Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh at No. 8 for best chocolate shops
Nationwide, the top-ranked place to eat ice cream was An’s Dry Cleaning in San Diego. In the past, 10Best has told McClatchy News it doesn’t reveal the number of people who vote in its contests.
