San Diego’s An’s Gelato company has been named the No. 2 independently owned ice cream shop in America in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards, which were announced Wednesday.
It’s the fourth year the local company has been ranked in the USA Today contest. An’s ranked No. 1 in 2025 and 2024, and No. 2 in 2023.
An’s operates four shops in San Diego County with a fifth set to open soon in Oceanside’s iconic Top Gun House. The judges praised An’s for its scratch-made gelato and unique flavors, like brown butter, brookies (brownies and cookies), watermelon and mint sorbet. The judges also noted An’s generous sampling policy, where employees encourage visitors to taste all seven flavors of the day before they buy.
An’s and No. 9 finisher Marianne’s Ice Cream in Santa Cruz are the only West Coast brands to make this year’s top 10. Taking the crown as No. 1 this year is Coneflower Creamery, a “farm to cone” scoop shop in Omaha, Neb.
To celebrate the latest 10Best honor, An’s scoop shops in Normal Heights, Del Mar and Ocean Beach will give away one free small gelato cup or cone per customer from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 1, while supplies last. Then the shops will close for the rest of that day to give employees the evening off.
“With roughly 33,000 ice cream shops operating across the country, earning the No. 2 ranking from USA Today’s readers is both humbling and exciting,” said Travis Bailey, one of the company’s co-founders, in a statement. “This recognition really belongs to our team that works tirelessly to provide one of the best and most unique customer service experiences, and of course our customers who continue to support and vote for us year after year.”
An’s serves small-batch, scratch-made Italian-style gelato, a silky and intensely flavored style of ice cream with less fat and air. Over the years, the company has created more than 600 flavors. Each location serves seven gelato flavors, which change every two to four weeks.
The company was launched in 2018 in an empty 1934-era Normal Heights storefront previously occupied by An’s, a Martinizing and tailoring shop. To honor the neighborhood’s history, company founders Kris Warren, Bailey, David Aguilera and Jimmy Blalock decided to name their first shop An’s Dry Cleaning, and they created flavors named after fabrics.
An’s Gelato’s leadership team, from left, Kris Warren, David Aguilera, Jimmy Blalock and Travis Bailey outside their Del Mar store, An’s Hatmaker’s. (Kimberly Motos)
In 2022, they opened An’s Hatmakers in Del Mar Plaza, which is near the Del Mar Racetrack, where hats are the fashion. In 2024, they opened An’s Athletic Field Services at Petco Park. And in 2025, they opened An’s Electronic Repair in a former phone repair shop in Ocean Beach. Their next shop, An’s Gate D5 in the Top Gun House, will have a retro airport theme in homage to the former Top Gun Navy training school for jet pilots at what was then called Naval Air Station Miramar.
“Making this list year after year is incredibly meaningful because it’s voted on by the people who actually visit our shops,” Bailey added. “We’re grateful for every vote, and every customer who comes for a flavor tour and appreciates what is special about An’s.”
The USA Today 10Best nominees are chosen each year by a panel of experts and editors, then voted on by readers nationwide. For flavors, locations and updates on the Oceanside opening, visit ansgelato.com.