Buttercup Ice Creams & Chowders — Restaurant in Nehalem

Outstanding soup and ice cream take out in Nehalem. Having their soup on an hot summers day or a cold winter afternoon... can't decide which I like better yet. Happy to keep trying to figure it out, though.

Last time I was here I had the coconut miso Ramen with seafood for extra protein. It was garnished with seaweed and fresh kimchi. Inhaled it. Almost wish they'd offer an extra portion of Noodles like some ramen places do for four or five dollars, so it could make the dish last longer!

This time I decided to go with the coconut Thai vegan base and add a tofu for extra protein. It was just chock full of delicious vegetables perfectly cooked and again it was hard not to eat the whole thing. I always congratulate myself on the intelligence of ordering the pint instead of half pint. If you're not used to paying over $20 for a pint of soup but you just have to watch them put your soup together and you realize it is just chalk full of healthy goodness and so damn hearty you won't remember the last time someone took such care to make a soup for you. Take my advice and don't scrimp: order the pint if you come all the way here from Seattle (or Cannon Beach)... you don't know when you're gonna come back so it's better to order the pint and save half if you really can't finish it. But that rarely is the case.

While you're waiting there's a chance to taste their ice creams. They offer a solid vegan selection as well as having some Italian cream based options. I like the gingerbread cookie. But the almond joy is also good. I recommend tasting before buying because the unique flavors can sometimes surprise you if you're used to generic ice cream flavors bought from a store.

They also stock some good items including spice blends that they use, that you can take home in a jar. I picked up several for a girlfriend who I knew would appreciate the homemade blends.

I love that they source a lot of their ingredients within 50 miles of the store. I love that they have a back area where you can eat on picnic tables facing the river/creek that flows quietly behind the town.

I love that the staff signs all their takeout bags by hand with a stamp and an actual thank you. And sometimes they even remember your name which is a bit of magic.

Don't miss this stop, check hours, and remember to be smart enough to order the pint.

Excellent sour dough from Wolf Moon Bakery...

The Peanut Brittle Malt is quite literally the best ice cream I’ve had in my entire life… dethroning a Burnt Honeycomb I had in Bath, UK, and a Black Garlic I had in Paris, France.

I mean it genuinely when I say I have thought about the ice cream every day since having it two times in 24 hours a month ago. Sometimes I look at the picture I took of the scoop on days where my craving is particularly bad. It’s become an obsession. Probably 15 of my closest friends have heard me rave about this scoop weekly since having it.

I actually work at an ice cream place and realized earlier that I have been subconsciously attempting to recreate this scoop every day using my shift meal. I may call out of work sometime soon to drive 5 hours for another scoop.

Genuinely a life changing culinary experience. As I reflect on this review I realize that it may have just been my favourite single food of all time, and my biggest lifetime regret is not picking up a pint to take home.

The extravagance of my review may come off as hyperbolic but I promise I mean every...

I don’t usually write reviews but this place deserves all the stars. I randomly popped in here for ice cream with my kids while driving through this cute tiny town thinking we were just going to get some typical ice cream in a cone. This place was such an unexpected treat! We travel fulltime all over the country and you start to get bored of even going out to eat because so many places serve the same exact things. Buttercup is the exact opposite. Their creativity alone deserves so much praise. They have created the most unique flavors of ice cream and chowders. Your curiosity will want you to try all of them… and you should! We were only in the area for a short period of time but wish that we were local to be able to come here regularly. We just picked up some more to go ice creams on our way out of town and I can’t wait to try them! Owners of Buttercup, thank you for putting so much thought and creativity into your work, it’s truly unique and appreciated…. And yummy!! I pray your business thrives for many many years so I can stop in anytime we loop...