Cieladito’s — Restaurant in Coral Springs

Shane Carter was a U.S. Army officer working at the Pentagon when he married his wife, Dulce, 27 years ago. He was an American, his wife, born in Mexico.

When traveling through her native homeland, he fell in love with her rich culture and the unique form of ice cream store, the heladería, which pepper every major town and city throughout that country.

Mexicans do not just love ice cream and frozen desserts -- one could argue that they worship them.

Shane and Dulce decided that Coral Springs needed a real Mexican ice cream shop. But not just any kind -- one with ice cream made with high-quality dairy products, natural flavorings, and real fruit ices. But there just wasn’t anything like that anywhere in Broward County they could compare to, nor could they buy pre-made ice cream products that fit the bill. They learned they would have to make it, by hand, from scratch.

Cieladito’s, on Wiles Road in Coral Springs, opened in March 2020. Two days after its opening, Florida was in complete lockdown. The business has been slow but steady for the last eight months, and now it is finally picking up again, requiring him to hire additional staff.

Shane attributes his success during such difficult times to the uniqueness of his product, the overwhelming support from the local Coral Springs Mexican-American community, and savvy Millennial and Gen-Y customers looking for a more adventurous ice cream experience.

The store’s offerings represent the full spectrum of frozen Mexican-style desserts.

The first is helados (ice cream), which uses a 100 percent natural dairy base, all-natural flavorings (such as shredded Broward County coconuts), real fruits, hand-squeezed fruit juices, real cookies and baked goods, with minimal color additives.

The helados come in unusual flavors that are very typical in Mexico, such as Maria Cookie, Ferrero Rocher, Coconut, Flan, Gansito (the country’s favorite snack cake, which is like a chocolate and cherry Twinkie), Mocha, Strawberries and Cream, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Sweet Corn, and of course, Mexican Vanilla -- a much richer version than what is typically eaten in the US, made with real bean pods, imported from the coastal state of Veracruz.

Cieladito’s also specializes in various water ices, which are a favorite of Mexicans and what draws them in droves from all over Coral Springs and Broward to the small shop.

There are Nieves, Mexican sorbets, that use natural fruit and fruit nectars, not syrups. Then there are Raspados, a snow cone made out of shaved ice and topped with fruit nectars. There are Paletas, frozen ice pops.

But the product that draws more customers than anything else? The Mangonada -- mangoes, topped with mango ice, swirled and drizzled with Chamoy, a savory sauce made with spicy chile pickled fruit (such as mango and tamarind), with more fresh fruit on top.

“I could sell just these, and we would be totally successful,” said Shane, beaming. “But people love everything else...

Cieladitos is hands down one of the best ice cream places I have ever visited! From the moment I stepped inside, I and my family was greeted with warm smiles and the sweet aroma of fresh ice cream. The owner, who also happens to be an amazing host, welcomed me with open arms and made me feel right at home.

What sets Cieladitos apart from other ice cream places is their commitment to using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. I could taste the difference in every bite, and it was clear that a lot of care and attention had gone into making each flavor.

Speaking of flavors, the variety at Cieladitos is truly impressive. From classic favorites like chocolate and vanilla to more adventurous options like soursop and passion fruit, there's something for everyone. The best part is that you can try different flavors before making a decision – a real treat for indecisive ice cream lovers like myself!

I have to say, my personal favorite was the rum and raisins . It was creamy, rich, and had just the right amount of sweetness. But honestly, every flavor I tried was absolutely delicious.

Overall, I can't recommend Cieladitos enough. The combination of friendly service, incredible flavors, and commitment to quality make this ice cream place a real gem. Whether you're a local or just passing through, be sure to stop by and treat yourself to a scoop (or two!) – you won't be...

Always happy to see unique local business offering quality products. First thing you notice is how clean everything is. You won't experience the sticky floor of a Baskin Robbins here; the shop is spotless and staff is constantly cleaning all surfaces. Second point of note is how friendly they are and their eagerness to introduce you to new flavors of ice cream. Which leads me to the most important point: their products are delicious.

We purchased several containers of various flavors and thoroughly enjoyed both the dairy and non dairy selection, the Popsicles, and my favorite: the combination of ice cream with mango chunks and chili's. You must get this if you enjoy sour mixed with a gentle spice.

Their ice creams are made in house so we were very pleased to not have the chemical aftertaste you sometimes get from dairy free ice cream. Tamarind and Mexican vanilla were the top two flavors we enjoyed but everything we tried was excellent.

Will be coming back on the weekend to try out their corn topped with spicy chips.

Very happy to see a unique local...