Frankie & Jo's Capitol Hill — Restaurant in Seattle

Ice cream is easily one of the best desserts and Frankie and Jo's has jumped high on my list. I strongly dislike most vegan ice creams so when I saw this place was plant based, I was hesitant. I figured that I may as well though because I was already in the area and saw such high remarks. Well, this is easily the best vegan ice cream spot in Washington as of right now, specifically in taste. Cost-wise there are tons of competitors, but none of them match the creamy taste that is Frankie and Jo's.

Now, if you need to eat vegan and plant-based for whatever reason, pick here! If not, I'd stick to regular ice cream, there's no replacing the delicious, creamy, delight that is regular ice cream. You can really taste the different milk alternatives used such as soy milk or coconut milk, but they're blended so well that the consistency is surprisingly smooth compared to other places.

I opted for a mini (1 scoop) because I was scared of the vegan taste being overwhelmingly inconsistent with my expectations of ice cream and wish I got more scoops. This place easily beats all the vegan options around the U-District.

Vanilla - You have to try a basic to get a "standard," ya know? It's like an oat milk in ice cream form and super smooth yet just the perfect sweetness.

Spicy Tahini Chocolate - I'm not sure how I'd describe this one. My friend noted it was similar to black sesame and I suppose that's mainly the tahini. I felt it was somewhat "cinnamony" with a nice chocolate hint. Overall enjoyable. Also includes some cookie pieces (cookie dough or actual cookie wasn't too clear with texture).

Mint Brownie - This is the most comparable to normal ice cream as the flavors really hid the vegan taste. It's a nice basic you can opt for if you're used to regular ice cream, but it's also just a nice refreshing flavor.

Price point is a factor I was hesitant about in my rating, but I definitely compared to other vegan options and deemed the price pretty fair and consistent with those options. It'll be pricier, that's just how it is, but it's not...

Delicious!

If your previous forays into vegan ice cream have been less than successful (perhaps they all tasted uncannily like the blue frosting on a carvel ice cream cake, or perhaps your sister didn’t like the flavor and gave it to the chickens, only to return later and see to her great surprise that it still hadn’t melted and the chickens hadn’t touched it) then frankie & jo’s will leave you delighted and mystified. How is their ice cream so good? Enigmatic ingredients like “adaptogens” and “activated charcoal” may confound you, but the shop is very generous with free samples and you will quickly find a favorite flavor.

This is ice cream that will make your skeptical dad say “I can tell it tastes different but I wouldn’t have guessed it’s vegan” (high praise). This is ice cream that will make your ice cream loving friend (who has already tried over 14 different flavors from nearby shops that afternoon) say “well I’d like to try it for the novelty” and then declare it to be her favorite of the day. This is ice cream that will tempt you to take a pint home despite the fact that it will inevitably melt during the long wait for a ferry that you begin to fear will never arrive...

5 stars! All flavors are lovely, but I recommend california cabin and supercookies & cream with...

Best ice cream in Seattle.

It’s all vegan, but it’s well-loved by non-vegans as well. The other day I went out to dinner with people who aren’t vegan, and one of them was like “I really want to go to frankie & jo’s” and I was like “oh you don’t have to do that for me bc I’m vegan” and they were like “no I have my heart set on frankie & jo’s”

So we went! And it was great, as always.

Our scooper Gracie was hilarious and I agreed with them on all flavor opinions like, 1. Miso Moon should be a permanent year-round flavor and 2. The cardamom apple seasonal needed more apple flavor.

I get a little frustrated that prices are so high these days (adding a split scoop fee grinds my gears) and you can actually sometimes get their pints for less money at Whole Foods around the corner than in the store (but a limited flavor selection).

Nevertheless, I will continue to go to f&j’s forever. Inside is super Instagram-worthy, very California vibes, cute wallpaper. (Speaking of CA, my favorite year-round flavor is California Cabin.)

My dad loves the cone so much sometimes he just gets it without ice cream. The first time he had it he said it was the best cone he’d ever had, I noted that it was vegan (he is not), and he repeated that it’s the best cone he’s...