MaggieMoo’s, which has one shop in Orange County, took home two first-place ribbons for its Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Ice Creams, according to a recent report by QSR Magazine.
MaggieMoo’s Vanilla Bean flavor also earned a second place award by the National Ice Cream Retailers Association. For nearly a decade, MaggieMoo’s ice cream flavors have topped the retail association’s awards list.
My take: The only MaggieMoo’s I’ve ever been to is the one on Balboa Island. But that shop apparently shut down more than a year ago, having relocated to Ladera Ranch. That’s too bad. Balboa Island seemed like a perfect spot for MaggieMoo’s creamy ice cream. (The chain also sells ice cream cupcakes.)
Perhaps the Balboa shop couldn’t compete with the iconic Balboa Bars sold in the area.
Chocolate winner (Click photo to enlarge)
Also, a Laguna Niguel MaggieMoo’s apparently closed. When you call that shop’s old phone number, it redirects you to the Ladera Ranch store.
The Ladera Ranch MaggieMoo’s is at 25672 Crown Valley Parkway at the Mercantile West Center. Phone: 949-364-5556
Tell us: Is MaggieMoo’s the best ice cream shop in Orange County?
Maggie Moos is a big hit in areas that don’t have the intense frozen dessert competition of SoCal, let alone the OC.
They failed in locations in SoCal since this intensity weeds out the mediocre and only the very strongest survive.
Also, since SoCal is the fountainhead of new concepts, consumers here are much more savvy about their choices than areas that have only chain concepts such as Cold Stone Creamery, Marble Slab Creamery, 31 Flavors, etc.
While MooMoo might have a good tasting flavor, its quality can’t compete with the the real deals that aren’t chain stores and who can create works of real ice cream quality from the highest quality ingredients.
MaggieMoos- you might deserve a Quick Service magazine award, but when we look at the Emperor’s Clothes under the magnifying glass, your mediocrity is exposed.
Is Maggie Moos the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted? I don’t know, I’ve never eaten there.
But Unless they’ve got a cow in the back with a coca & vanilla bean farm, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t taste too different from all the other ice creams on the market.
The best ice cream I ever had was some I made at home with peaches. FRESH anything is best.
Moos is good, better than Cold Stone (gummy texture). But the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted is Gelato Classico… That’s the one served at the Powell Sweet Shoppe in Laguna Niguel, and a couple of independent gelato shops around.
But now they have it at selected stores like Targets…. Try some… It will fool you, you won’t be able to tell it from freshly made Gelato!
http://www.gelatoclassico.com/locator.php
Of course, my frozen treat of choice is Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt. But when I spurge on eat ice cream it has to be good!
I live near the Maggie Moo’s that was in Laguna Niguel. My kids and I went there once. It was overpriced and not all that great. My kids would regularly choose to go to Golden Spoon instead…which is the healthier choice and fine with me. Golden Spoon happens to be across the street in the Ralphs center and is always busy.
MM’s is good, but not worth the price. It’s better than Cold Stone, for sure, which is also a rip-off.
Chocolate gelatto at Wise Guys Pizza in Orange is the best — hands down.
I live walking distance to a Maggie Moo’s and agree that it is too expensive. I spent about $20.00 for ice cream for my family of 5.
Total Rip Off.
Best bargain/tasting ice cream out is hands down the .99 cent
Hot Fudge Sundae from MacDonald’s. Sooooo good!
The best ever was Mandarin Chocolate Sherbet, which they had at Baskin Robbins many many years ago. I still remember how it tasted.
How can it be the best if those stores shut down???
The absolute best in Stricklands in Irvine, CA!!!
Stricklands at 4523 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA:
http://www.stricklands.info/site.cfm/Locations/Irvine-California.cfm
Stricklands Flavor of the Day:
http://www.stricklands.info/plugins/calendar/calendars.cfm?calid=2
Are you people haters or what? It’s ice cream, how bad could it be?
The Cold Stone at Balboa Fun Zone is great for leisurely afternoons or walks to the beach but when I’m on my way home it’s either Golden Spoon for a quick fix or a tub of Chocolate Malted Krunch from Thrifty’s - still my favorite!
Maggie Moos is the best! It’s better than all the other Ice Cream, Gelato, and Frozen Yogurt places in OC!
It saddens me that so many have closed in OC. I count 3, Laguna Niguel, Balboa, and Lake Forest.
Maybe they should open one in Irvine?
Hey Ice Cream Fans!!
The best ice cream news for 2009 is… The home of the Zoo and the Pig’s Trough is back! FARRELL’S IS COMING BACK TO OC THIS SUMMER IN MISSION VIEJO! (Yes, I’m excited!)
Say “Farrells” to a native Orange Countian who’s been here a while and their eyes will glaze over faster than the Cold Stone folks cheer a tip!
See you there!
We need a Culver’s franchise in OC. Amazing frozen custard treats and tasty burgers, etc.
The best ice cream is the one your eating at the time, when someone asks.
we don’t need any more failing “hot new thing” (read: cupcakes) franchises in oc.
We love Maggie Moo’s! I drive down to Laguna Niguel from Fullerton for just one scoop! What a treat!
How about a diabetic Maggie Moo? One with an automatic shot of insulin.
way overpriced will never go again!
I LIKE MAGGIE’S TOO BUT I LIKE FARRELL’S BETTER. COMING TO OC IN THE SUMMER 2009. CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!
maggie’s red velvet ice cream is the booyah.
The best ice cream I’ve ever eaten in Orange County is undoubtedly Hans’ Homemade Ice Cream, at 3640 Bristol St. in Santa Ana, right across the street from South Coast Plaza. It’s sinfully good. The chocolate/peanut butter is the best ice cream I think I’ve ever had. There are a multitude of amazing flavors. The licorice is unbelievable. The peppermint stick is insane. The pumpkin, when they make it, is crazily good. I could go on. Hans’ is one of the true little joys here in the OC, and anyone who loves ice cream needs to check it out and give a couple of their flavors a try.