There is no issue that ice cream can’t solve, but there is a dilemma: where should you go to get an awesome scoop of ice cream?

Salt & Straw, located in the fountains, recently opened in the past year with over 17 unique flavors. Nationwide, there are 40 locations, spanning from Northern California all the way to Miami, Florida. Over the past few years, they have gained popularity opening new locations left and right. Their niche flavors come with a reasonable price tag.

When you enter Salt & Straw, the aroma and crispness of waffle cones surround the parlor. They have an extensive menu of ice cream flavors such as Peanut Brittle Caramel Fudge, Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, and Honey Lavender, just to name a few. After tasting an endless supply of flavors, (which they encourage) I purchased a one scoop split for $7. This is where you get two flavors but each one is a kids scoop, so it fits in the cone. I decided on the Cinnamon Snickerdoodle, and the Salted, Malted, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

As I took my first bite, I tasted the spicy cinnamon flavor reminiscent of a snickerdoodle, along with a chunk of cookie dough. Not only was it delicious, but it was nice and cold, perfect for a warm day. I made sure to eat every last bit of it, including the cone. The cone was freshly made, crispy, and tasty.

A close competitor to Salt & Straw is Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream. Established in 1945, this ice cream parlor has served our community for ages with ongoing success. Their fun flavors and large portions are a stand out. Their convenient location, near the Galleria, is ideal to attract a lot of customers.

When you walk in, you are typically greeted with a long line and a massive menu up for view. Some of their most popular flavors include the Blue Monster, Brownie Dough, and Blueberry Cheesecake Chunk. I went with the classic Chocolate Chip in a small cup for $5.

It was a tennis ball-sized scoop, and it was delicious, chilled with chocolate flakes lathered in the vanilla ice cream. It was perfect for a midday treat, and I didn’t feel stuffed after either. The ice cream was the perfect consistency, and I was tempted to get more after finishing it.

Overall, both parlors are great and you can’t go wrong with either one. However, with Handels’ surplus amount of flavors and overall appeal, I’d consider it the winner.