A NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORITE @ JOE'S ITALIAN ICE - GARDEN GROVE / ANAHEIM

2 LOCATIONS:

12302 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840 

(original location but NOT the one pictured below)

***GARDEN GROVE LOCATION CLOSING SOON. LAST DAY MONDAY, AUGUST 31 --> FREE ICE! 

CLICK HERE FOR DEETS.

2201 S Harbor Blvd Anaheim, CA 92802 

(Literally 2 blocks down from the original location and is also closer to Disneyland. The photos below show this location)

http://joesice.com/

  BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE "COMING SOON IN 2013" SIGN IS STILL THERE... EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOW 1 YEAR LATER AND ALREADY OPEN!

REMEMBER IF YOU'RE GETTING THE JOE-LATTI (I RECOMMEND!) YOU CAN ONLY GET IT IN THE REGULAR SIZED OR LARGE. BUT YOU CAN PICK 2 FLAVORS IN BOTH!

THERE IS ACTUAL INDOOR SEATING FOR THIS ANAHEIM LOCATION!

This is one of my favorite places for Italian Ice. Especially, since it is walkable from my house! Exercise with Italian ice as the prize! ^__^

Christina and I decided to check out the newer location which is basically 2 blocks down from the original location (on the same street). It is a lot bigger in looks but there is very minimal seating just like the original location. The difference is, there is actual indoor seating this time but don't expect to fit a huge party in there! It'll seat like maybe 10 people at most.

Anyways, I usually only get the Joe-Latti here which gives you a choice of up to 2 Italian Ices and custard of your choice (Vanilla or Chocolate). I ordered the Bada-Bing Cherry Italian Ice with Vanilla Custard. It has actual cherry bits inside! Yum! Christina just got the Vanilla custard and that was more than enough to satisfy her.

I absolutely recommend Joe's Italian Ice because the price is not too expensive (around $3-$5 for the Joe-Latti) and you get a lot in my opinion. And, it's very popular for tourists who go to Disneyland! They also have tiki cream which is their version of Disneyland's Pineapple Dole Whip "but better" according to a worker at Joe's.

So how does this place compare to other Italian Ice places (there are so many now in the area!) ?!

1. Honestly, I think all the ice at the Italian Ice stores I've been to taste very similar. The difference is not enough to favor a particular place.
• But, the place that wins for BEST VANILLA CUSTARD is definitely Joe's Italian Ice
• it's just so much fluffier and creamier and sweeter than other places (Confetti, Frostbites, Zero Degrees, Rita's)
2. If you want "Asian" flavors of ice such as Lychee, Green Tea, Thai Tea, etc. then I recommend going to Confetti (Costa Mesa) and Zero Degrees (Westminster). 
3. If you want unique not-available-at-most-places custard like Salted Caramel,  Peanut Butter, Oreos, etc. then go to Confetti & Zero Degrees
4. If you want also "Mexican" inspired flavors go to Confetti (Costa Mesa) because they have CHAMOY there!
5. If you want freshly made French style crepes then go to Frostbites (Costa Mesa / Cypress)
6. For everything else go to Joe's Italian Ice.
• They also have Dreyers ice cream, sundaes, banana splits and more!
7. I don't like Rita's .... but that's just my bias.

The one thing I dislike about Joe's Italian Ice is that they don't have all of their flavors listed on their menu available. They only make certain ones on certain days (follow their website for the daily updates) which drives me crazy because I loooooove their mint cookie Italian ice but I only ever had it one time and I go to Joe's quite often....