I stopped by Paleteria y Neveria Tocumbo last week when in DE to visit my parents. I’d been wanting to check it out for awhile, but needed to go alone as my parents aren’t adventurous eaters. An errand nearby gave me the perfect opportunity to stop by, so I did. Having read the other reviews and tips, I knew that the must try flavors are elote(corn) and queso(cheese), so opted for a double scoop cone with a scoop of each($ 3). The woman serving me initially started to scoop the elote first, but I used my rusty Spanish to ask her to scoop the queso first so that the elote would be on top. After she’d scooped both flavors in that order, I asked her to sprinkle the cinnamon-chili powder on the top scoop of elote, which is why I asked for the scoops in this order. She asked me if it was to my satisfaction, which I confirmed. To my surprise, I wasn’t as much of a fan of the elote as most other reviewers seem to be. Although the flavor, which was brought out by the cinnamon-chili powder, was pleasant, I found the consistency rather icy due to the corn kernels being frozen. By contrast, I was a big fan of the queso. I enjoyed its sweet-salty balance as well as its creamy texture, which was enhanced by tiny bits of cheese(queso blanco?) strewn throughout. Unlike the elote, this flavor didn’t need any enhancement – it was perfect as is. Overall, I was pleased with my experience at Paleteria y Neveria Tocumbo. This was my first time trying Mexican ice cream, so perhaps there are some differences that I’m unaccustomed to. Despite the language barrier and my persnickety requests, the woman serving me was amiable. While I don’t usually comment on parking since I’m usually not driving, I was in this case and had trouble getting into and out of the parking lot, which was full at the time of my visit. I parked around back and noticed that they have an ice cream truck, which I’m sure must be a hit with the local children. Based on my own experience and others’ comments, I’d definitely be up for returning and trying the popsicles at some point in the future!
P E.
Place rating: 4 Swarthmore, PA
This is another of those Mexican ice cream places that offer typical and exotic flavors of ice cream as well as popsicles. Today, they had some odd flavors like cheese(a vanilla type ice cream with bits of queso fresco) and angel kiss(vanilla with marischino cherries and granola). We opted for one cone with tequila ice cream(no liquor but tasted like agave syrup) plus a second cone with a dip of Nutella and pistachio. All were very tasty and smooth but not as creamy as their competitors in Kennett Square. They are very friendly here and will offer you a taste. The English can be challenging(could not translate one particular flavor) but they are patient as were we. Parking will be challenging during busy times and there was no place to sit inside even though there were small round tables but no chairs. Be prepared to eat in the car. The parking lot is dirty and it’s at the crossroads of two busy streets so you will not be inclined to sit in the plastic chairs on the walkway. Prices are very cheap. $ 5 for two cones — one with two scoops and one with one scoop.
Victoria L.
Place rating: 5 Hockessin, DE
Ok this was my first time to gave someone 5 stars. I had been tried a lot of ice cream shop but the first time when I put ice cream in my mouth and I can not stop say .man so yummy. Believe me, I am so picky .all my friends told me that… ice cream handmade… I love it… I would come back again for sure.
Miyah L.
Place rating: 5 Philadelphia, PA
I so happened to drive passed this hidden gem by accident. My eyes lite up only because it reminds me of my childhood living out on the West Coast as Mexican ice cream are sold quite heavily through neighborhoods. They have quite an extensive variety of flavors to choose from. However, the«Elote»(Corn) is a must try. It may sound absurd, but definitely worth the taste buds. The ladies behind the counters were very nice as well. It can get quite busy though so be prepared to wait. I grew up eating this stuff and can continue to do so now that I know this place existed. I can’t wait to go back!
Brigit B.
Place rating: 5 Wilmington, DE
Okay this place is legit. I don’t care how weird it sounds, but corn ice cream is straight perfection. I’ve tried a few of the natural fruit bars and all have been scrumptious. Watermelon, Mango and Coconut are incredibly delicious!!! With actual pieces of fruit in each bar, these things are refreshing with zero guilt! If you’re into spice, try the Mango Con Chile… happily scorched tastebuds! The menu is huge and I anticipate falling in love with many more items in my near future. I’ve never imagined corn ice cream existing let alone being so scrumptious, but seriously… whoa! Bonus feature alert: you’re getting dairy as well as a serving of a vegetables, practically making this joint a health food store, let’s call it Trader Jose’s!
Mazhar K.
Place rating: 5 Bear, DE
Out. Of. This. World. Amazing. Best ice cream I’ve had in my life. Lines are long but well worth it. Speaking Spanish is a plus as all the menus are in Spanish. Delawarean secret. Wow.
Manish S.
Place rating: 5 Wilmington, DE
Had some ice cream at Rockwood Park Ice Cream Festival and this place was fantastic. My son housed the Mango ice cream which was essentially on a popsicle stick and my wife just got a simple chocolate flavor and it was delicious. I am definitely looking forward to going to the actual store front.
Elana B.
Place rating: 5 WSHNGTN XING, PA
Queso ice cream. New favorite. A true experience in textures. So SOOOOO good.
Jay W.
Place rating: 5 Westville, NJ
I wish Paleteria Y Neveria Tocumbo was a bit closer to my house. I could see myself combing through all of the flavors that are offered here. I am not a big ice cream person, but the interesting flavors were exactly the sort of thing I like. The ice cream is so THICK, it will give your spoon a run for it’s money. Jef C. has it right, nieve de elote(sweet corn ice cream) is terrific, and the flavor IS enhanced with cinnamon and chili powder. I tried a small bite of the strawberry cream ice cream as well, also very good. The horchata was excellent, full of cinnamon and refreshing. Some of our group had a bit of difficulty in the odd, corner shaped parking lot, but I didn’t think it was so bad. I’ll be back, and I’ll be trying the popsicles.
Deanna G.
Place rating: 5 Wilmington, DE
The juice here is DELICIOUS. Can’t wait to try the ice cream. I love the homey Mexican feel of the place too.
Peter C.
Place rating: 5 Newark, DE
This is part of my «Small Wonders of Delaware» review series. I have known that Paleteria Y Neveria Tocumbo existed for a number of years, but I imagined it was nothing special, just watered down Mexican food like most of the taquerias aimed at the local Mexican population. Last night, after a rather mediocre meal of Indian food at the Star of India(also a wonder: I wonder why it is still in business?), our friends suggested Mexican ice cream at Tocumbo. First, the atmosphere: I was suddenly transported to Mexico City in the fifties. The customers were Mexican families treating their children to an evening helado(ice cream). Everyone was smiling, everyone was happy. The children were making lots of noise, running and playing. The ice cream: all the ice creams are home made. many exotic flavors. One of the specials of the day was elote, sweet corn. Does this sound odd? It turns out that corn IS really sweet and makes wonderful ice cream. Who would imagine? The young girls behind the counter were encouraging their customers to try tastes of different new flavors. Apparently, the owners are constantly experimenting with ever new varieties of ice cream. In addition to ice cream, they have many types of water ices and various kinds of sundaes. In the mornings they make many varieties of fresh juices. It is worth going to Delaware to visit the Paleteria Y Neveria Tocumbo. Now imagine a visit first to the wonderfully authentic Taqueria Zilantro(ex-Xilantro), then a quick trip to Peru for Peruvian at Perucho’s finishing up with ice cream at Paleteria Y Neveria Tocumbo, all without leaving the vicinity of Kirkwood Highway(Tecumbo is a few blocks off Kirkwood Highway). This would certainly be a delicious way to spend the evening.
Jef C.
Place rating: 5 Collingswood, NJ
As far as I am aware, Paleteria Y Neveria Tocumbo is the last Mexican ice cream place in Northern DE, and it’s fantastic. Many taquerias in the area sell this place’s frozen treats. Prices are up to $ 2 for a small regardless of delivery system(e.g., cup, cake cone that other brown cone), but it’s still cheap compared to the average chain. Quarts are $ 8. Lots of great flavors, but Nieve de Elote(sweet corn ice cream) is my family’s favorite flavor. Ask for it with cinnamon and/or chili powder on top to really enhance the flavor. There are bits of real corn in it, which I love. I wish it was available all the time, but I’ve been told it’s somewhat seasonal. Eggnog and pistachio are great, too, as well as each of the fruit flavors I’ve tried. I tried Queso once; despite having chunks of cheese in it, it was surprisingly not bad, though once was enough. They sell big styrofoam cups of horchata, mexican popsicles, and even elote(corn on the cob) on a stick with salt, chili powder, butter, cheese, etc. I’ve always wanted to try the elote, but I usually come here after a meal. Over the last year or two, they expanded into the space next to them, so it’s a lot easier to get inside and order and they even have a few tables and chairs now.
Maria S.
Place rating: 5 New Castle, DE
I have to agree with the other reviewers — this was some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had! It’s hard to find an ice cream place in the winter, so I Unilocaled and found the good reviews for this place, so I tried it out. Wow is it delish! I had rum raisin and coconut and the flavors were intense and the ice cream hard and perfectly sweet. I also had Jamaica(hibiscus) agua fresca which was sweet and pure. A wonderful gem! So glad my fellow Unilocalers helped me quench my craving!
Yingbo W.
Place rating: 5 Philadelphia, PA
This place is like a hidden gem! I can’t believe I haven’t found this place earlier. The ice cream they sell here tastes genuinely homemade and not overly sweet and ladled with high fructose corn syrup. The ice cream at Woodside(which supposedly have homemade ice cream) seems fake compared to this place. Other than ice cream and popsicles, the shop also sells various agua frescas(with flavors such as fruitas, horchata, tamarindo, and some rum drink I forgot the name of that vaguely tastes like egg nog). You can ask for samples for all ice cream and drinks. Ice cream flavors I’ve tried include blackberry, coffee, and strawberry cream. The blackberry has real pieces of blackberry in it which I loved. The coffee tastes like coffee with condensed milk, very real creamy taste. The strawberry cream almost tastes like strawberry cheesecake. My favorite things to get here are the popsicles because they taste like the real deal: no artificial flavors(maybe some food coloring)! Edy’s real fruit bars pale in comparison to these popsicles. So far I’ve tried pistachio, nance(some mexican fruit), and watermelon. The pistachio was very creamy and tasted like pistachio ice cream, the watermelon tasted like the real fruit, not some artificial watermelon flavor you find in jolly ranchers. My least favorite was the nance which tasted like a fermented fruit of some type, but only because the popsicle had marble sized nance pits in it. Nonetheless, it was still very interesting to try. Nothing I’ve gotten here has disappointed me so far. The ice cream is also something like $ 1.50 a scoop which is 50% cheaper than other ice cream places. The popcicles go for like $ 1.50 each as well. I can’t wait to go back when I’m in the area. If I can get a wholesale discount on the popsicles, I think I would buy a whole case. They accept credit cards and cash.
Darren W.
Place rating: 5 New Castle, DE
Molecularly, I have no idea where they fit the cream in between the rum and the raisins. Rum Raisin still reigns supreme. Queso — It’s good. Sorta like cheese in a danish. Corn — WOW. This was WAY better than I thought it would be. Texture might be tough for some people… there’s CORN in there. Strawberry — WOW. This is STRAWBERRYICECREAM. It’s not vanilla with some strawberry flecks in it, we’re talking full on strawberry purée and goliath strawberries.
Sarah S.
Place rating: 5 Wilmington, DE
I found this place by accident, but I’m so glad I stopped in. This is a real-deal, Mexican ice cream shop that sells many different flavors of ice cream including flavors such as queso and elote. They also sell house-made popsicles, water ice, tradtional sundaes, and drinks such as agua fresca and horchata. I ordered the pineapple water ice on this visit, and it was sweet and refreshing without tasting overly sweet or artificial. You could tell it was made from the actual fruit. I paid with cash, but I believe I saw a sign that said they accepted cards. I’m looking forward to many visits to this ice cream parlor, especially if the taqueria next door proves to be a winner. Edit: The agua frescas are excellent. I’ve tried strawberry and pineapple so far.