NJ water ice, by the numbers
The naming war
What NJ stands call it in their own name.
47% of independent stands are named after a person or family (an apostrophe-S name) — water ice is a family business. The big exception is the dominant chain: Rita's alone is 15% of every stand.
The Water Ice Equator
South Jersey says "water ice"; North & Central say "Italian ice." The split by county, among 118 independent stands (chains excluded so they don't bury the signal). We use what each stand told us on the phone or shows on its board first, and fall back to its name. See it on the region map →
water ice · Italian ice
The institutions
Most-reviewed on Google.
- Applegate Farm · Montclair · 3,361 reviews · 4.5★
- Jersey Freeze · Freehold · 2,612 reviews · 4.6★
- Cliff's Homemade Ice Cream · Ledgewood · 2,599 reviews · 4.7★
- Gelotti Ice Cream · Paterson · 2,062 reviews · 4.6★
- Venchi Chocolate & Gelato Short Hills · Short Hills · 1,964 reviews · 4.9★
- Trattoria La Sorrentina · North Bergen · 1,891 reviews · 4.6★
Hidden gems
High rating, fewer reviews.
- Bubba's Creamery · Haddon Township · 5★ (44)
- 4 Girls Ice Cream Truck · East Brunswick · 5★ (42)
- SOMA SWEETS · South Orange Village · 5★ (29)
- Mr Shaved Ice - Raspadillas Peruanas · Bridgewater · 5★ (29)
- The Scribble Garden · Pequannock Township · 5★ (24)
- Little Jimmy's Italian Ice · Iselin · 5★ (22)
Chains vs independents
- Rita's111
- Uncle Louie G12
- Ralph's12
- Polish Water Ice7
- Strollo's Lighthouse6
- Primo's2
- Water Ice Factory1
- DiCosmo's1
- John's Water Ice1
- Luigi's1
- Independents570
Average price by size
- Kiddie (16)$3.31
- Small (103)$4.08
- Regular (33)$4.10
- Medium (51)$5.16
- Large (115)$5.61
- Quart (60)$9.72
- Gallon (5)$23.40
- Water ice (88)$5.48
- Pint (41)$7.02
Cheapest small: Kohr Soft Ice Cream (Little Egg Harbor Township) at $1.50
Stands per county
Most-seen flavors
Widest selection: Pelican's Snoballs (Surf City) with 127 flavors.
Figures from photos, calls, and visitor reports; some stands still pending. Prices may vary by location.