Little Italy / North Park · Little Italy · $6–10 · Ranked in 2 lists
Last updated
Quick answer
Salt & Straw is a Little Italy / North Park spot ranked #2 of 7 in our Best Ice Cream in San Diego list, scoring 91/100 in our Best Ice Cream in San Diego. Order the sea salt with caramel ribbons or seasonal flavor. Portland-based but San Diego-adopted. Creative, seasonal flavors and a smooth, consistent base.
We scored Salt & Straw 91/100 in our full editorial review.
Salt & Straw is in Little Italy / North Park, San Diego. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking on weekends — Little Italy / North Park fills up early on sunny days.
On our Best Ice Cream in San Diego list, Salt & Straw lands at #2 of 7, just behind Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream (93/100) and ahead of An's Dry Cleaning (90/100). Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream holds #1 with 93/100, so the gap is 2 points. It also appears on 1 other list in our San Diego coverage.
Salt & Straw scores 91/100 against a best ice cream in san diego field that averages 88.4, running from 84 at the bottom to 93 at the top. That puts it 2.6 points above the category average and ahead of 5 of the 6 other places we scored. It lands 2nd of 7, and the category leader is 2 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Salt & Straw separates itself most on creativity (95/100 versus a 89 category average). Its softest showing is value at 80, 4.3 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for creativity, not for a clean sweep of every category.
Salt & Straw scores versus the Best Ice Cream in San Diego category average
Criterion
Salt & Straw
Category avg.
Difference
Texture
92
89.7
+2.3
Flavor
94
89.4
+4.6
Creativity
95
89
+6
Value
80
84.3
-4.3
Atmosphere
90
87.1
+2.9
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best ice cream in san diego.
Who Salt & Straw is right for
Go if
You care about creativity — it beats the category average by 6 points there.
You care about flavor — it beats the category average by 4.6 points there.
You care about atmosphere — it beats the category average by 2.9 points there.
You want a proven pick: it is a top-three finisher in our best ice cream in san diego list.
You like places that hold up across categories — it earned a place on 2 of our lists.
Skip it if
Value is your priority — it scores 80 against a 84.3 average here.
What else we rank near Salt & Straw
Little Italy / North Park is dense enough that Salt & Straw rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored 1 other ranked spot in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Underbelly (84/100 in our best ramen in san diego list) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
Hours change seasonally, so we link straight to the venue's live hours instead of publishing a schedule that goes stale.
Expect $6–10 pricing. Budget-friendly. One of the cheaper ways to eat well nearby.
Being ranked #2 means peak times get busy — go early, go late, or expect a wait on Friday and Saturday nights.
If it is your first visit, order the sea salt with caramel ribbons or seasonal flavor before you experiment.
Why Salt & Straw made the list
Texture
92/100
Flavor
94/100
Creativity
95/100
Value
80/100
Atmosphere
90/100
Local tips from our rankings
“Ask for samples — the seasonal menu changes monthly and rewards exploring.”
Is Salt & Straw worth it?
Yes — worth going out of your way for.
Salt & Straw scores 91/100 in our Best Ice Cream in San Diego list (#2 of 7). It is strongest on creativity (95) and flavor (94). Portland-based but San Diego-adopted. Creative, seasonal flavors and a smooth, consistent base.
Skip it if value matters most to you — that is its weakest category (80/100).
Plan your visit to Salt & Straw
Salt & Straw is a good fit for ice cream and desserts. Because it ranks #2 on our best ice cream in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Little Italy / North Park rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
Best tactical tip: Ask for samples — the seasonal menu changes monthly and rewards exploring.
No reader reviews yet for Salt & Straw. Be the first.
Own Salt & Straw?
Claim this listing to correct details, send us updated hours or a menu, and get the verified badge for your site. Claiming is free and does not change your ranking position.
Score 91/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Sea salt with caramel ribbons or seasonal flavor · $6–10
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.
Score 85/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Seasonal scoops, olive oil ice cream · $7–11
Salt & Straw's Portland-born flavor program lands well in Little Italy, with dense base and genuinely unusual combinations. Lines are long and prices are high.
Local tip: Ask for samples — the seasonal menu changes monthly and rewards exploring.
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.
San Diego focused. Places and practical planning across the county.
Kept current. Confirm prices, hours, and closures with the venue.
Independent. Affiliate links never influence rankings.