Ranking 12 Fast Food Soft Serve Ice Creams From Worst To Best
Ice cream is one of life's true joys. There's nothing quite like a cool cone on a hot summer's day, whether you're sunbathing at the beach, enjoying a leisurly hike, or simply sitting in your own backyard, relaxing in the blazing sun. While all ice cream is delicious, soft serve holds a special place in many people's hearts. It's delicious on its own, accented by nothing but a sweet golden cone — yet it also plays well with other ingredients, from swirled-in chunks of candy to luscious chocolate syrup. Its smooth texture is simultaneously decadently dense and irresistibly light. Watching it ripple out of its specialty machines never fails to delight, no matter how old you might be.
And then there's the fact of soft serve's availability. While every fast food chain has its own signature desserts, a wide swath of them offer soft serve ice cream. Not every chain favors the smooth sweet stuff, but generally speaking, if you're not in the middle of nowhere, you're probably just a short drive away from a soft serve-slinging fast food joint. Because of this, millions of people have fond memories of soft serve eaten on car trips, on the way home from school, and for no particular reason at all, aside from its deliciousness. This also means opinions on which chain does the dessert best abound. We're here to take a look at how these eateries stack up by ranking 12 fast food chain soft serves from worst to best.
12. Chick-fil-A
Why is Chick-fil-A at the bottom of this list? The answer is simple: Their soft serve ice cream isn't actually ice cream. As eagle-eyed fans might have already noticed, they technically sell what they call "Icedream," which falls into the broad category of "frozen dairy treats." What does this mean, exactly? Basically, Chick-fil-A's Icedream is much lower in fat than typical ice cream: A standard cone contains just 4 grams of fat and 180 calories in total. To be considered actual ice cream under USDA regulations, the dessert in question must contain 20% milk solids, of which 10% must consist of milk fat. Chick-fil-A's Icedream dessert doesn't meet these requirements.
That's good news to some — but what does it mean, flavor-wise? Nothing good, unfortunately. Chick-fil-A's Icedream is watery, weak, and altogether forgettable — in other words, exactly like you'd expect pseudo-soft serve ice cream to taste. Eating it is more like eating the idea of ice cream than the dessert itself. Moreover, if you opt for a cone over a cup, you run into a new world of troubles. As ice cream devotees on Reddit have pointed out, the cones are bizarrely hard and often seem to have gone stale. This would be disappointing in any context, but tough cones paired with such insubstantial ice cream make for an especially unpleasant contrast. Next time you're looking to indulge your sweet tooth at Chick-fil-A, you'd be better off opting for a chocolate chunk cookie.
11. Krystal
Fast food fans of the American South know Krystal as the go-to place for sliders. That's not the only thing that distinguishes this chain, however. Krystal is all about unique spins on old favorites, like their tiny hot dogs (called, appropriately enough, pups), chili cheese tater tots, and pimento cheese-slathered chicken sandwiches. You might assume, then, that their ice cream comes with a charmingly offbeat twist. But, in fact, it's completely straightforward. At Krystal, you can get a dish of vanilla soft serve, accented by chocolate, strawberry, or Oreo topping.
This simplicity isn't an inherently terrible idea, but it doesn't spell success when it comes to Krystal's soft serve. The best thing you can say about this ice cream is that it's adequate. Is it cold enough to satisfy on a hot day? Sure. Is it sweet? Yeah. Does it taste identifiably of vanilla? Affirmative. But it doesn't do anything more than that. This lackluster quality even dooms Krystal's milkshakes: As one Reddit user put it, "I had their Reese's shake ... the ice cream part didn't have much of a taste." If the addition of candy can't hide the fact that your ice cream leaves a lot to be desired, you have some serious work to do in the dairy department.
10. Burger King
As their name denotes, Burger King is all about the beef. But the chain has a long history of success with other comestibles as well. Their onion rings have fans far and wide, for example, and they've shown an admirable interest in some seriously risky fare — consider the Impossible Whopper. You'd think, then, that they'd have a fair shot of nailing something as classic as ice cream. But sadly, you'd be grievously wrong.
Burger King keeps things simple when it comes to ice cream: They offer a swirl of vanilla soft serve in either a cone or a cup. This simplicity doesn't help the dessert stand out, though — it just highlights its problems. Burger King's soft serve is, to put it bluntly, a bland afterthought. All the richness, depth, and creaminess that makes ice cream such an irresistible joy is absent, leaving nothing but a thin approximation of the classic vanilla cone. As one reviewer on Tripadvisor put it, "[The soft serve] tastes very watered down." The texture also leaves a lot to be desired. While soft serve's lightness is one of its strengths, there's such a thing as overdoing it. Burger King's soft serve seems to melt instantaneously in your mouth, as though it's barely holding itself together. Once its melted, its flaws become even more evident: You're basically left with a vanilla-scented puddle of water on your tongue, and nobody wants that.
9. McDonald's
McDonald's ice cream is notorious for never being available, due to the easily broken machines that produce it. This problem is so widespread, entire websites are devoted to tracking which locations are currently plagued by a broken ice cream machine. Are these machines broken because the ravenous public simply can't get enough of McDonald's mind-blowing soft serve? Probably not — this ice cream is only adequate.
Now, it's important to note that McDonald's soft serve isn't actively bad. Their lofty swirls of vanilla aren't watery, like lesser restaurants', and their cones are pleasantly crisp and sweet. Flavor-wise, this take on vanilla is solidly classic, though there is a hint of artificiality that occasionally lingers in the mouth. All in all, it's a decent take on the iconic cone. But the moment you finish a serving of McDonald's ice cream, you forget about it. This isn't an entirely bad thing, believe it or not: McDonald's soft serve's plain nature makes it a solid base for McFlurries. Ingredients like Oreos, Shamrock Shake syrup, and M&M's pop against such simple flavor. But on its own, this soft serve is the dessert equivalent of a shrug. Opt for a McFlurry, or leave the frozen foods behind entirely for one of the chain's piping-hot apple pies.
8. Sonic
Sonic has won many fans through its charmingly retro approach to fast food. You'd think, then, that their vanilla soft serve — an American classic if ever there was one — would be the pinnacle of what such a dessert can be. The truth, however, is more complicated. The drive-in chain's soft serve is solid, and noticeably rich. There's a greater depth of vanilla flavor and more genuine creaminess in Sonic's vanilla cones than can be found in many other entries on this list. On a hot summer night, this is exactly what many customers are looking for.
But this richness can go awry. As one Tripadvisor user remarked, a bad cone of Sonic soft serve leaves a greasy film in one's mouth. Most won't, granted, but if you happen to be eating at a Sonic with lacking ice cream turnover, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise. These unfortunate cones taste oddly separated, as though the water, dairy fat, sugar, and flavoring agents have parted company. This is basically the worst case scenario for ice cream, which depends entirely on well-blended components to succeed. Luckily, this is a fairly uncommon occurrence, and probably avoidable by patronizing well-trafficked locations. Moreover, the rest of Sonic's dessert menu is extensive, and they offer far more topping and mix-in options than most of their competitors.
7. KFC
KFC's soft serve is among the most reliably satisfying out there. It's smooth, sweet, and enjoyably rich, without being overwhelming. Considering the chain's most famous offerings — golden-brown fried chicken, coated in a legendary blend of herbs and spices — this low-key approach to ice cream is widely appreciated. If you're looking to top off a bucket of delightfully greasy drumsticks with something sweet, you probably aren't looking for a decadently creamy, multi-flavored bonanza, packed with wacky toppings — you just want a simple dish of vanilla goodness, possibly topped with a drizzle of chocolate sauce. That's exactly what KFC offers, and the results are consistently satisfying.
But there's also something a tiny bit disappointing about KFC's approach to soft serve. The celebrated chain has never been afraid of embracing out-there dishes, marketing schemes, or ingredients. Remember the Double Down? How about the chain's official video game, in which you romance Colonel Sanders? In light of these bizarre flights of fancy, KFC's rigidly normal approach to soft serve feels a bit boring. Why not add a cherry or two, just to see how it goes over? Why not add some chunks of Oreo or M&Ms and see if the customer base jumps on board? Years ago, internet jokesters tricked thousands into believing KFC would soon be selling fried chicken-flavored ice cream, complete with a cornbread cone. Why not try that out for a day and see what happens? It worked for the Double Down!
6. A&W
When you think of A&W, you think about root beer. The stalwart chain, whose origins go all the way back to 1919, does indeed have a lot of experience with sugary soft drinks — but does that translate to ice cream? Well ... sort of. A&W's soft serve, which comes in a timeless swirl of vanilla atop a golden cone, will hit the spot for most dairy fans. The cone is light without being insubstantial, enjoyably sweet, and baked to a pleasant crunch. The soft serve itself offers a nice balance of vibrant vanilla flavor to impressive creaminess. It's not going to be the cone that lives in your dreams forever after, but it'll satisfy you in the moment. As the lesser entries on this list attest to, this is far from being guaranteed when it comes to fast food soft serve.
There's really just one problem with A&W's soft serve: They use it in their root beer floats. A&W is root beer, which means the chain is root beer floats, the drink's most famous application. A float demands the robust texture of classic ice cream, which drifts like a sweet, snowy mountain atop the tangy beverage. Soft serve, in contrast, just falls apart atop the tangy soft drink in a mushy pile of vanilla-flavored goop. The problem is so pronounced, some Reddit users haven't visited the chain since they swapped typical ice cream for soft serve in their standard float.
5. Jason's Deli
Here's the thing about the ice cream at Jason's Deli: It's always free. You read that right. No matter what location you go to or what else you order over the course of your visit — so long as you order something — you can exit a Jason's Deli with a fresh cone of soft serve in your hand at no further cost. Sounds like a literally and figuratively sweet deal, right? If you're seriously craving ice cream and short on cash, it absolutely is. But if you're a soft serve aficionado looking for the best offerings available, you might want to consider going elsewhere.
Jason's Deli's offers vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry soft serve, which is a point in its favor — plenty of similar chains only offer vanilla. This soft serve is also perfectly functional: It's sweet, creamy enough to pass muster, and refreshing on a sweltering day. It goes down especially easy after one of the chain's robust sandwiches. But sadly, Jason's Deli's soft serve isn't much more than, well, functional. If you're already at a location and thinking you could go for some ice cream, you should absolutely take advantage of their unique offer. But if you're specifically seeking out soft serve greatness, you'll leave disappointed.
4. Wendy's
For many fast food chains, ice cream is an afterthought. This is decidedly not the case when it comes to Wendy's. The restaurant's signature Frosty is one of the most famous dishes in their lineup, as closely associated with the brand as any of their sandwiches or salads. What is a Frosty, exactly? It's a unique cross between conventional soft serve and a milkshake — not so rigid it can sit in a cone, but not so soft that you can't eat it with a spoon. Most fans would argue that its best descriptor is, simply, delicious.
Indeed, the Frosty is tasty. It's decidedly thick and creamy, yet somehow still light. You don't feel weighed down by a Frosty — you simply feel refreshed. But there's a pronounced difference between the vanilla Frosty and its chocolate counterpart. Opinion is deeply divided as to which flavor is superior: Fans on Reddit range from diehard chocolate haters to obsessive loathers of vanilla. No consensus exists — people just feel really, really strongly about which Frosty rules, and which one is terrible. Consistency is key to excellent soft serve, and apparently, there's something about the Frosty that resists it. This is a mark against the chain's ice cream, but not a major one — once you've found your go-to flavor, you're golden.
3. Dairy Queen
It would be pretty scandalous if Dairy Queen, a chain entirely built on soft serve, didn't produce a decent cone. In fact, the ice cream-centric restaurant's offerings are more than decent — they're deliciously and dependably classic. Dairy Queen's vanilla soft serve is pretty much the treat's platonic ideal: It's rich without being overwhelming, and its vanilla flavor is bright and sweet, without any artificial aftertaste. The ice cream's thick texture is particularly enjoyable, and makes a great base for the chain's Blizzards, which can infamously be held upside-down without splattering all over the floor.
Blizzards are a delightful world unto themselves: These blends of soft serve and add-in ingredients range from candy-stuffed masterpieces to decadent tributes to strawberry cheesecake. How beloved is the Blizzard? As one Reddit user put it, "Want to be popular at the office? Every few months go by DQ and get fifteen to twenty mini Blizzards in a variety of flavors and take them to the office." They're not the only soft serve-based treat available, either: A simple vanilla cone dipped in smooth chocolate is just as closely associated with the Dairy Queen brand as the fabled Blizzard. The chain also offers banana splits, Dilly bars, and other desserts. One thing unites them all: delicious, vanilla soft serve.
2. Tastee-Freez
There's a strong chance that when you think of Tastee-Freez, the lyrics to John Mellencamp's "Jack & Diane" pop into your head. "Little ditty about Jack and Diane," that ballad begins, going on to describe these children of the American heartland enjoying Tastee-Freez's signature chili dogs. This classic song might zero in on Tastee-Freez's savory offerings, but it's the soft serve that keeps the Jacks and Dianes of the world coming back to this classic establishment — or remembering it, many years after their last visit. When a Reddit thread asked nostalgic internet denizens if they remembered visiting Tastee-Freez, one user put it perfectly: "Yep, and it was the best ice cream place in town."
Though there are fewer Tastee-Freez locations in the world now than there were when Mellencamp wrote his famous song, those who live near one can attest that their soft serve is still the best around. They offer vanilla, chocolate, and a swirl of both flavors in their golden cones, and every option is a winner. Tastee-Freez's ice cream boasts a delicious depth of flavor, lacking any sort of chemical aftertaste, and its texture is utterly velvety. It's as fantastic on its own as it is in a banana split, sundae, or parfait. Plus, it does, in fact, go great with chili dogs.
1. Braum's
If you're lucky enough to live near a Braum's, you're probably not surprised to see it snag the top spot on this list. The chain's soft serve is utterly unparalleled — and surprisingly simple. Customers can get a cone of vanilla, chocolate, or a swirl of both. They can also opt for one of Braum's Mixes, which swirl the sweet stuff with candy, syrup, cookies, or fruit toppings. Pretty straightforward, right? If you haven't had the pleasure of sampling a Braum's cone before, you might be wondering what makes it all so special. Isn't this basically what every eatery on this list offers, after all?
The secret to Braum's success goes all the way back to the source of all soft serve: the cows. Braum's commands the largest herd of A2 milk-producing cows in the entire country. A2 milk is distinguished by its unique proteins, which make it significantly easier on the stomach for the less lactose-tolerant among us. Braum's is so proud of their herd, they also sell cheese, yogurt, and plain old milk. This focus on quality origins is especially apparent in Braum's soft serve, which boasts luxurious creaminess, vivid flavor, and a smooth finish. One Reddit user summed it up by saying, "The ice cream, malts, and milkshakes are incredible." There's soft serve, and then there's Braum's soft serve. And it all comes down to the cows.