Little Italy / North Park · Best Ice Cream in San Diego
Salt & Straw Review
Last updatedRanked #2 of 7 in Best Ice Cream in San Diego
Portland-based but San Diego-adopted. Creative, seasonal flavors and a smooth, consistent base.
Score breakdown
- Texture92/100
- Flavor94/100
- Creativity95/100
- Value80/100
- Atmosphere90/100
The verdict on Salt & Straw
Ranked #2 of 7 — 91/100 in our Best Ice Cream in San Diego coverage
Salt & Straw brought its Portland creativity to San Diego, and the city embraced it. The sea salt with caramel ribbons is a permanent classic, and the monthly rotating menu is genuinely adventurous without being gimmicky. The texture is smooth and consistent, and the flavors are balanced enough that even unusual combinations work. The Little Italy and North Park locations are bright and modern, and the staff is enthusiastic about samples. It is the best place to take someone who wants to try something they have never had before.
What to order at Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw appears on more than one of our lists, and the pick depends on which one you are reading:
- Sea salt with caramel ribbons or seasonal flavor — from our Best Ice Cream in San Diego coverage
- Seasonal scoops, olive oil ice cream — from our Best Desserts in San Diego coverage
Ask for samples — the seasonal menu changes monthly and rewards exploring.
Is Salt & Straw worth the price?
Salt & Straw sits at $6–10 — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
Salt & Straw FAQ
Is Salt & Straw expensive?
Salt & Straw is priced at $6–10, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is Salt & Straw worth it?
It scores 91/100, 2.6 points above the 88.4 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What should I order at Salt & Straw?
We recommend the Sea salt with caramel ribbons or seasonal flavor.
What else is nearby Salt & Straw?
Underbelly (84/100 in our best ramen in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
Every list Salt & Straw ranks on
Salt & Straw shows up on 2 of our ranked lists, without a category win so far. Places that hold up across more than one category tend to be the safer recommendation when you are booking for a group with different tastes.
What works
- Strong creativity — scored 95/100 in our ranking
- Strong flavor — scored 94/100 in our ranking
- Strong texture — scored 92/100 in our ranking
- Top-2 finish out of 7 spots we scored in this category
Know before you go
- Value is the weak point — 80/100, below the rest of its scores
The full review
Salt & Straw brought its Portland creativity to San Diego, and the city embraced it. The sea salt with caramel ribbons is a permanent classic, and the monthly rotating menu is genuinely adventurous without being gimmicky. The texture is smooth and consistent, and the flavors are balanced enough that even unusual combinations work. The Little Italy and North Park locations are bright and modern, and the staff is enthusiastic about samples. It is the best place to take someone who wants to try something they have never had before.
On our weighted scale it earns 91/100 — good for #2 of 7 places we evaluated for best ice cream in san diego. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes.
What to order at Salt & Straw
Sea salt with caramel ribbons or seasonal flavor
Price: $6–10
How we scored Salt & Straw
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: texture, flavor, creativity, value, atmosphere. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.