Little Truckee Ice Creamery - Experience Quality, Handcrafted Ice Cream in Reno, Lake Tahoe, & Truckee

Locations

*Downtown Truckee (featured in post)

10157 Donner Pass Rd.
Truckee, CA 96161

*Donner Lake 
15628 Donner Pass Rd
Truckee, CA 96161

*Downtown Tahoe City

North Lake Tahoe Visitor's Center Parking Lot

100 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145

*Northwest Reno

1650 Robb Dr Ste B4, Reno, NV 89523

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The moment I tasted this ice cream, I knew I had to tell the world how amazing it is! Honestly, it is some of the best ice cream in the Reno Tahoe area. Scratch that, it is some of the best ice cream I've ever had. It is creamy, rich, packed with flavor, and tastes as fresh as can be. I can never get enough, and I always start craving another scoop the moment I finish one. It's an ice cream lover's/foodie's dream come true that you can't help but crave no matter then season and weather.

Little Truckee Ice Creamery started in Truckee in 2017, when owner Kenny Blum opened the original shop near Donner Lake. This small ice cream shop was created with families and the outdoors in mind and has since grown into several locations around the area. I used to make the drive from Reno to their Truckee shops just to get my fix, so you can imagine my excitement when the ice cream gods finally answered my prayers and Little Truckee opened in the old Rita's Italian Ice location in Northwest Reno.

Little Truckee serves up all the classic flavors you crave, made with quality ingredients and plenty of care, along with creative flavors that really stand out. One of my favorites is Truckee Trails, made with pine nut brittle, caramel, and house made brownies folded into a sweet cream base. It is dangerously delicious.

Pricing reflects the quality & taste of the ice cream. It's always worth every penny, but if you find yourself torn and on a budget, go for the pint and split it between your peeps - it's the best bang for your buck.  For my adventurous foodie friends, order 4 minis in different flavors and book your one way flight to flavor town.  You're welcome!

Locations

-Donner Location: Right next to Donner Lake & Donner Memorial State Park ($10 day-use fee) - both gems filled with natural beauty and endless things to do. Camp, kayak, paddleboard, pedal boat, hike, or just lounge on the unique, almost private patches of shoreline while enjoying a nearby BBQ picnic.  There's absolutely nothing more satisfying than spending a whole day at the beach and later topping it off with the best ice cream.

-Downtown Truckee: Truckee is one of the most charming alpine towns that has the best views and vibes.  Catch the ice cream trailer on the main street and enjoy a scoop or two with a magnificent backdrop of evergreen trees and a bustling strip of shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

-Tahoe City: Just about a 20-minute drive away from Truckee, you’ll find this neighborhood gem, along with a strip of charming shops and restaurants right by the shore that goes by the name of Tahoe City. The ice cream truck is parked in the California 89 Home & Apparel parking lot.  Free parking available at Common's Beach and the Tahoe City Transit Center.  Common's Beach is one of my top 10 hidden beaches in Lake Tahoe where you can enjoy seasonal markets, movies on the beach (summer nights), events, an epic playground, watersports rentals, and more.  Just a half mile, you'll find Cobblestone Center - enjoy movies at Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema, dining and live entertainment at Tahoe Tap House, and browse some really cool boutique shops.  Common's beach is directly across the street of Cobblestone Center.

-Northwest Reno: Located at one of the last Reno exits (Robb Dr.) before ascending on 80W to Truckee.  This stop is a great location to visit while heading in and out of town.  

Now, back to the ice cream...

All of their flavors are incredible.

-Blueberry Honey Lavender: Fresh and delicious, with the honey and lavender taking center stage while the blueberry adds a subtle touch. Every bite had me saying, "YUM!"

-Truckee Trails: Pine nut brittle and brownie in sweet ice cream marbled with caramel.  Hands down my favorite flavor! This OUT OF THIS WORLD foodie dream combines crunchy, flavorful brittle with brownie and ice cream, with pine nuts adding a warm, nutty tone that plays perfectly with the other ingredients. The pine nuts are a fitting touch, considering Lake Tahoe is surrounded by tons of pine trees.

-Chocolate Brownie: A sophisticated treat with RICH & INTENSE chocolate flavor and homemade brownies for extra flavor & texture.

-Salted Caramel: It's a popular flavor everywhere for good reason.  Theirs is no exception.

-Strawberry Lemonade: Super refreshing & the perfect non-dairy option.

-Spooner Strawberry: Clean and fresh with supreme strawberry flavor.

-Mountain Top Mint Chip - mint flavor not too overpowering, loaded with chocolate chips.  No artificial dyes.

-Cookies & Cream - OMG good! Oreo is my favorite go-to ice cream flavor anywhere.  Theirs is honestly one of the best versions ever to exist. Loaded with cookies and that classic oreo flavor. 

They even have vegan options like roasted coconut - a coconut milk base with toasted coconut and chocolate shavings, and rotating selection of sorbets. 

I could keep on going on about their other flavors, but you get the picture.

As someone who cooks at home all the time, I know that simple ingredients can be elevated with quality & care. Little Truckee Ice Creamery nails this, achieving a perfect balance between mouth feel, sweetness, and flavor that’s hard to get right.

Topping Options
Brownies, cookies, coconut, chocolate/caramel sauce, nuts, cherries, chocolate chips.

Seating
-Limited seating at the Downtown Truckee location.
-Outdoor patio seating at Donner.
-No seating at the Downtown Tahoe City location, but you can easily enjoy your treat right down the street at Common's Beach.
-Indoor seating available at the Northwest location.

NOTES
-If you're celebrating a special occasion, or just celebrating life, their brownie sundae is the ultimate indulgence. It’s huge & so perfect for sharing!
-In a single scoop, you're allowed to pick two flavors.
-They offer a mini option, perfect for kids or if you just want to sample a few flavors.
-Espresso available at the Donner & Reno location for affogatos.
-If you're planning to camp at Donner State Memorial Park (nearby), make sure to book sites well in advance. Campsites fill up fast!
-Watch out for specials on pints throughout the year, especially during the holidays.

Prices as of 2020

***Information subject to change.  All opinions are my own.***

Photography 
© Katherine Fung,
All rights reserved.

Categorized under "Good Eats"

Dazzle Your Taste Buds at Icecycle Creamery & Pedaler's Deli in Reno

6147 Lakeside Dr. Suite 102
Reno, NV, 89511

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Website

Icecycle Creamery is the place to go if you’re looking for some of the most adventurous ice cream flavors in town. The unique flavors were inspired by Jeremy, the original owner, who combined his love of the culinary world with his appreciation for different cultures to create fun and unexpected flavor combinations. In addition to ice cream, they also serve fresh and tasty sandwiches made with house-made bread, along with salads, soups, and a variety of drinks.

Some crowd favorites for ice cream include Cookie Roulette, Chocolate, & Home Means Nevada, staples you're more than likely to find on hand on any given day. Some of their unique flavors include Lemon Lavender, Horchata, Earl Grey, Salted Pretzel, Apple Pie, Mango Cardamom, & a variety of Asian inspired options.  I love a good classic flavor as much as the next person, but I also love venturing out and trying new and innovative flavors.  There's just so many cultures to borrow from and so much potential for flavor combinations that could work.  I'm just thankful to have both traditional and adventurous flavors to look forward to on every visit.

The original owner of the shop, Jeremy, started out selling this ice cream from the back of his bike out of a cooler. After a ton of encouragement from friends & family, he opened a brick and mortar shop in South Reno. When it was time for him to focus on other goals, he passed the business to Juan, who's still keeping Jeremy’s bold, amazing flavors alive with just as much passion. Juan has even added his own twist introducing flavors inspired by his Mexican culture, like a mango Tajin flavor that will remind you of those delicious and highly sought after mangonada drinks from Mexican snack shops.

Juan is awesome... the kind of local business owner that helps make Reno into the loveable city that it is.  One visit, he kept my three high energy kids entertained for quite a while without being phased and was happy to share a little about his story.  And Juan is just a genuinely nice & down to earth kind of person, dedicated brightening everyone's day with flavorful ice cream and good food.  Fun Fact: Juan used to work for De La Rosa in Mexico when he was a kid.

Everything here is made in house, and I love the deli and ice cream combo because it satisfies both hot and cold cravings year round.

With so many unique ice cream flavors to choose from, you might find yourself unsure of what to get. In that case I recommend trying their six flavor flight.  Why get one flavor when you can get six at one time?  #FoodieLogic.  Plus, they're always happy to give out samples.

Hope you enjoy this one. 

Notes
*Pints available for purchase
*Some people have mentioned having an issue with the texture, which can occasionally be a little gritty or have a rich, fatty quality that lingers on the tongue. While I agree that the texture could be improved with certain flavors, I still enjoy the ice cream overall and find myself coming back for more.
*They have an actual espresso machine on hand. Affogato anyone?
*Deli closes an hour before closing time
*Deli features hot and cold sandwiches, salads, & soups
*Bartley Ranch Park is just a minute drive away - the perfect outdoor spot to enjoy your food and drink. Grassy areas, picnic tables, restrooms, nature trail, visitor center, and views included.

***All opinions are my own.  Information subject to change.***

Photography

©Katherine Fung,

All rights reserved.

Categorized under Good Eats