Wanderlust Creamery

When we first discovered Wanderlust Creamery, the LA-based, Filipino-owned ice cream maker was serving atypically interesting ice creams at Smorgasburg LA, “inspired by our own feelings of wanderlust” and travels around the world. Though anyone could claim to have dreamed up “Thai tea ice cream” after visiting a local restaurant, Wanderlust’s monthly rotating flavors are way too specific to be the products of anything but actual exploration – and deep appreciation for both recipes and ingredients loved regionally elsewhere in the world.

Today, Wanderlust operates multiple locations in Los Angeles and two in Orange County. The first opened in 2023 in Irvine, followed by the second in Costa Mesa in 2024. They’re small scoop shops with limited indoor seating, 15 signature flavors, and six monthly rotating flavors. Plain paper bowls, waffle cones, and waffle bowls are available.

Available year-round, their signature flavors include options that may sound common enough around here – Sticky Rice Mango, Abuelita Milk Chocolate, and Black Sesame Cookies & Cream to name a few – but are executed at higher standards. Actual chunks of fruit, cinnamon and Abuelita grains, and cookie bits give these flavors special textures and pops of flavor, while Wanderlust’s ode to Thai tea also includes boba, memorably distinguishing its take from others.