The Original Rainbow Cone

(773) 238-7075

9233 S Western Ave (W 92 Place)
Chicago, IL 60620 41.7258 -87.682

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Beverly, Far southwest Side

rainbowcone.com/Rainbow1/Home…

Hours:

Mon-Thu 12pm-8pm

Fri-Sun 12pm-9pm

Price:

$

Last updated 1.24.11

Category:

Restaurants, Ice Cream Parlors, Dessert Shops

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Lunch Spot, Hidden Find

Smoking Permitted:

No

What People Are Saying About The Original Rainbow Cone

Featured Review

Peter Behle

Contributor

The Scene – This restaurant has been forming these unique cones here since 1926. Lines get long in the summer, so plan on a wait. There are a few picnic tables out back, but it's standing room only inside, where kids will love watching cone production. Look for a big pink building on this rather desolate stretch of Western Avenue--the Evergreen Country Club golf course is across the street, but fenced off and inaccessible. – – The Food – The "original rainbow cone" is composed of five flavors--chocolate, strawberry, pistachio and Palmer House (cherry flavored, with…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
During fall and winter, hours are shorter: Monday-Thursday, 12pm-8pm; Friday-Sunday, 12pm-9pm.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. The orange is like a sorbet and cleanses the palette before you get down to the other flavors; the pistachio has almonds in it along with pistachios, that way it has a nice balance, not too salty; Palmer House works as a nice halfway point- I sometimes ge
dessert
93.14000129699707% positive
  1. Available as full size cake roll or half, the perfect ratio for my guests has been 1 full-size chocolate : half roll yellow.
  2. Where else can you get a fresh banana ice cream?
  3. The most unique ice cream cone to be had!
  4. The ice cream was FANTASTIC!
  5. Rainbow Cone is my absolute favorite place to have ice cream!
  6. But if you want to sit and eat your ice cream I suggest Gerties they're all over the south side and what does the editor mean by out of the way?
  7. The ice cream is great (the Palmer House is divine), and we usually run into neighbors.
  8. It works great next to the chocolate because, honestly, what better way to enjoy strawberries than with chocolate?
  9. Bring any and everyone you know who likes ice cream and have a blast!
  10. The ice cream is excellent, especially the Palmer House ice cream.
  11. They have staying power because it's just good homemade ice cream.
  12. The 92nd and western Rainbow Cone is very family welcome and has awesome ice cream flavors including black walnut and butter pecan.
  13. LOVE this ice cream!
  14. This place is great for ice cream anytime on the go.
  15. My sister and her family think Oberwies ice cream is the best, I challenged them to an ice cream taste off.
  16. know this ice cream is pricey, but so well worth the taste experience.
  17. GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, GREAT ice cream
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. :>) The price is tasty too.
  2. Though you can order any flavor you'd like, not getting a rainbow at rainbow cone is like eating a salad at a chop house.
  3. Where else can you get a fresh banana ice cream?
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. Original Rainbow Cone Inc service is not good
  2. The service is great!
  3. Great service.
  4. There wasn't a line at all though, and the people were nice!
  5. It is located on 92nd and Western and the service is outstanding.
  6. The employees do an excellent job serving their customers and their management is great.
value
75.0% positive
  1. know this ice cream is pricey, but so well worth the taste experience.
  2. :>) The price is tasty too.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/21/09

The only place for a real Rainbow Cone

by saddlebredgal89 at Citysearch

Actually the flavors are Chocolate, Strawberry, Palmer House (New York vanilla with cherries and walnuts), and Pistachio ice creams, with orange sherbet on top. The rainbow cone is not a mish-mash but a complex combination of flavors that work very well together. The orange is like a sorbet and cleanses the palette before you get down to the other flavors; the pistachio has almonds in it along with pistachios, that way it has a nice balance, not too salty; Palmer House works as a nice halfway point- I sometimes get just palmer and green (Pistachio) on a cone (those are the flavor calls the kids working there use-that in itself is fun and helps the line go faster); the strawberry has actual chunks of strawberry in it and it is so fragrant. It works great next to the chocolate because, honestly, what better way to enjoy strawberries than with chocolate? (There’s a whole science to it) My family’s been coming here for generations-my aunt used to work there when she was my age. It is a real piece of Americana and a family favorite that is worthy of the highest praise!

  • Pros: Has been around since 1926, so you know its good
  • Cons: Can be a little messy, but honestly that is half the fun
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/23/08

Come for the Cake Roll--Reward your Great Decision with a Rainbow Cone for the Trip Home!

by AudreyCakefaceFischer at Citysearch

Instant smiles are spontaneous when this spiral rainbow appears outlined in a sponge cake of chocolate or sun yellow. It is my first choice as a special treat for my guests. Sometimes I need to remember to treat myself to something special too... but, I'm getting better at that! Yum! Talk about positive reinforcement... this is the way to go! :>) The price is tasty too.

Tip: I like to slice the Rainbow Ice Cream Cake Roll frozen, then let it soften 10-min before savoring maximum flavor.

Available as full size cake roll or half, the perfect ratio for my guests has been 1 full-size chocolate : half roll yellow.

  • Pros: *Thumbs UP* Tasty ageless treat, plenty of parking and picnic tables, good prices and great smiles :>)
  • Cons: Although they move quickly, be prepared for long lines some summer afternoons and early evenings.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/30/08

Best Ice Cream

by Lincarol at Citysearch

I remember going here as a kid. My parents would drive out here for a cone on a Sunday afternoon. My sisters and I thought this was an adventure, far from our Brighton Park home. It was a treat for all. I still go at least 4 times a year and bring home a 1/2 gallon of the rainbow. My sister and her family think Oberwies Ice Cream is the best, I challenged them to an ice cream taste off. I purchashed from RC, a pint of strawberry. They brought strawberry ice cream from Oberweis. Well, the strawberry from RC won, hands down. Also, you can get hand packed flavors to your liking. My hubby loves the butter pecan and the banana. Where else can you get a fresh banana ice cream? My Son-In-Law is a devotee of the pistachio, my daughter loves the orange sherbet. I know this ice cream is pricey, but so well worth the taste experience. You must check it out. Enjoy!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/04/08

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, GREAT ICE CREAM

by MfromBeverly at Citysearch

Rainbow Cone is a desitnation dessert haven! The ice cream is great (the Palmer House is divine), and we usually run into neighbors. For those of you who come from out of town and are "fearful" of the neighborhood -- don't be! Although that stretch of Western Avenue may look depressing, if you drive one block east into the neighborhood you will see historic houses, trees and gardens. Beverly is the Oak Park/Evanston of the south side!

  • Pros: Ice Cream and the neighborhood ambiance
  • Cons: None! (Unless you consider a line on some summer evenings to be a con)
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/23/08

Its the best

by stubbbone at Citysearch

the neighborhood has changed since I was a kid but the ice cream has not. get a gallon every time we gon the side. I am lucky to be within 20 minutes of it. the original is the best!!!

  • Pros: FUN CHILDHOOD MEMORIES WITH GRANDFATHER
  • Cons: ?

The Details on The Original Rainbow Cone

Place Categories:

  • great homemade ice cream
  • great original rainbow cone
  • great service
  • original flavor combination
  • great neighborhood
  • bad memory
  • tasty price
  • divine palmer house
  • suggest gerties
  • not good original rainbow cone inc service
  • like nuthin
  • awesome ice cream flavors
  • great management
  • order flavoes
  • enjoy strawberries
  • loves butter pecan
  • loves banana
  • full size cake roll
  • full half
  • pricey ice cream
  • nice people
  • enjoy real chicagoans
  • favorite place
  • depressing stretch
  • best oberwies ice cream

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