Lines Form Down The Block Nightly At This Beloved Illinois Frozen Custard Shop
By Linze Rice|Published July 28, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Growing up in the Midwest, dairy was queen and farmland was vast. This meant not only the best cheese, freshest milk, richest butter, and most cloud-like whipped cream, but also that we enjoyed frozen custard just as much, if not more, than traditional ice cream. Frozen custard is just like ice cream, but also includes egg yolk and is made at a slightly higher temperature to produce a creaminess that can’t be beat. And while there is an astonishing amount of incredible dessert shops in the Prairie State, I can confidently say that this small local creamery has the best frozen custard in Chicago, Illinois. Allow me to show you why.
Lickity Split Frozen Custard, 6056 N. Broadway St., is located in the lakeside Edgewater neighborhood in Chicago's Far North Side.
The beloved neighborhood shop is a step back in time, going straight to the timeless roots of America's obsession with sweets. From the ornate tile ceiling to a large poster of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland sharing a milkshake to the red-and-cream checkered floor, every detail evokes the feeling of a 1950s confectionary.
Of course, the star of the show is the fresh frozen custard made daily. Specialized concretes — custard blended with goodies and topped with whipped cream — rotate regularly, always giving you something new and mouthwatering.
Linze Rice
My favorite is the Pumpkin Pie concrete, which blends in a real piece of pumpkin pie — perfect for the fall season.
Although you can never go wrong with a sundae here. Whether you go with a classic banana split, opt for a Tasty Turtle, or create your own, the possibilities for deliciousness are endless.
My husband always goes for an Affogato, which sees a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of frozen custard.
The shop also serves up fresh-baked goods like cupcakes, cookies, bars, and cake slices, which can be eaten ASAP, taken home, or given as a gift. Walking by the displays, they're hard to resist.
Another unique feature is the selection of candies. Everything from malted milk balls to licorice to gummies, the shop showcases the best collection of old-fashioned and modern sweets. Take a bag away and pay by the pound to have on hand when you need a sugar fix at home.
Prefer to try an adventurous drink? Then you're definitely in the right place. Lickity Split sells an array of sodas from classics like root beer and cream soda, to the downright bizarre like butter- and carrot cake-flavored.
With all of the incredible offerings, lines form nightly through the dining room filled with patrons waiting for their turn to get a scoop. On summer nights, the line goes out the door and wraps around the corner.
Linze Rice
Fortunately, the servers are pros and the line moves very quickly!
Even canine customers can't wait to get their paws on their own chilly treat. The shop stocks ice cream just for dogs, and for years I took my pup here every year on his birthday.
Do you think Lickity Split has the best frozen custard in Chicago, Illinois? What’s your go-to frozen dessert shop? Tell us in the comments! Start planning your trip by checking out the Lickity Split website and the Lickity Split Facebook page. Want to grab dinner beforehand? Just a few blocks south is a must-visit restaurant with one of the best burgers in Chicago!
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