Score 93/100 · Order: Hawaiian flight or lilikoi quark · $5–9
Hammond's is the best ice cream shop in San Diego because it treats texture as seriously as flavor. The base is dense and creamy, with a slow melt that lets you taste the ingredients as they warm on your tongue. The Hawaiian-inspired flavors are the signature: lilikoi quark balances passionfruit tang with a cheesecake-like richness, and the flight program lets you sample without committing to a full scoop. The North Park shop is small and often busy, and the staff is generous with samples. It is the destination ice cream shop that locals and tourists line up for equally.
Local tip: Order a flight. The scoops are small enough to try four or five flavors without sugar overload.