Cryo Cream

Sufficiently underwhelming. I was in downtown Burlingame for an afternoon and was craving some ice cream. As usual, I hit up Unilocal,and Cryo Cream was pretty favorable reviewed by the majority of people, so I decided to give it a try. The Cryo model is much like the Smitten model. They basically make the ice cream with liquid nitrogen on the spot when you order. This is good and bad since at Smitten it takes them forever, but at Cryo they’re actually pretty efficient since I think they just make really big batches on the spot since they can more or less guess what people are going to order (e.g. everyone around me basically ordered the Vietnamese Coffee so it made sense that they just made a larger batch). You can customize or upgrade your experience with waffle cones/​bowls, toppings, etc.
I went with a small vietnamese coffee because I just wanted to give it a try. And yeah. Like I said. Very underwhelming relative to the other liquid nitrogen options in the Bay Area (Smitten, Scoops.) The whole point of the liquid nitrogen ice cream model is that because it’s made on the spot, it’s supposed to be softer and creamier as the ice crystals are more compact relative to regular ice cream. I found out to completely not be the case with Cryo. The ice cream I had was fine… as ice cream. But so subpar as liquid nitrogen ice cream. The flavor was good, but was it dense and rich? Absolutely not. The ice cream was also rock solid which isn’t typical of this type of ice cream either. So from an ice cream perspective it’s aight. It’s not bad ice cream. But when you’re being told that this is liquid nitrogen ice cream, you expect more, and it doesn’t meet that mark at all.
tldr; liquid nitrogen ice cream. good ice cream, but not great — there are better places in the bay for this specialty

By far one of my favorite ice cream shops in the Bay Area! Cryo cream also puts on a show by using liquid nitrogen to instantly create SMOOTH and CREAMY ice cream from a LIQUID BASE! How fun!
My favorite is the cookies and cream! Yum! Don’t be alarmed, there are marshmallows in the ice cream. Marshmallows+liquid nitrogen = gummy marshmallowey deliciousness.

I liked my Philz coffee flavor. It wasn’t too sweet. it was silky smooth and creamy.
The only bad thing may be is that you can’t try the flavors before buying and also they only allow one flavor for any size.
Their waffle cones are pretty good as well.
Kinda dingy inside and dark.

Their caramel sea salt was unbelievably good. Dear owners, I like to joke, so have a sport spirit about what follows. Although you looked like couples who had a fight Sunday morning, but the ice cream you made, was so incredibly good. If you can make delicious ice cream with low mood and no smiles, can you imagine what you can do with if you add a big smile!
#SaltCaramel #Burlingame

Ice Cream made with Liquid Nitrogen.
Haven’t tried it before, but stumbled upon this joint while walking around downtwon Burlingame one sunny weekend.
They have all kinds of flavor, but as long as there’s coffee flavor I am happy. I had the Vietnamese Coffee and watched the two girls make it. It looked fun and both looked like they were havin’ fun makin’ it. In fact, they were havin’ too much fun.
Hmmmm…or does the smoke have an effect?
I wonder…
Think of dropping dry ice into a cup of water and you’ll get the same effect. Maybe workin’ with that stuff the whole day has some chemical effect on the brain.
I hear a Cypress Hill song comin’ on.
Anways, it’s good ice cream and I will try their other flavors when I am in the neighborhood. Besides, it’s entertaining to watch them make it.

They have all this science behind how liquid nitrogen makes smaller ice crystals bla bla. All I know is that it makes the ice cream seem smoother, colder, and more flavor packed so its SO GOOD.
Cookies n Cream is the best I’ve had. I also liked their macaron ice cream sandwiches back then. Huge macarons that actually taste very professionally baked. They have many flavors to choose from for the ice cream and a couple for the ice cream sandwiches too. They have a waffle cone making machine that you see the workers use with their fresh batter every once in a while.
May seem expensive but it’s really different from ice cream (in a good way) and the liquid nitrogen blasting amuses me every time.

Not too shabby. Location is great and can be seen from the busy Burlingame Ave. I came here on a whim during a chilly afternoon. We walk in and there is only one person behind the counter making several orders at a time. I felt bad for the kid, but he knew what he was doing.
Concept is: liquid nitrogen is fed thru pipes from the ceiling into a Kitchen-​Aid-​like mixing bowl. They put in fresh liquid cream and toppings, turn the machine on and the beaters inside do the work until it solidifies into ice cream. The difference between Cryo and places like Smitten is the mechanics. Smitten has a spinning bowl with multiple beaters inside mixing the ingredients. Cryo only has a single beater inside a stationary bowl.
I feel like Cryo’s method does not produce the same consistency as Smitten where their ice cream is super smooth, whereas Cryo was a bit more icy.
I may return for a different flavor and give them another shot.

A few girlfriends of mine were looking for some dessert and we stumbled upon Cryo. Upon arriving we were greeted by a friendly face. We came close to closing and were sure that the only person working was going rush us out, but that didn’t happen. After a couple of tastes, we decided to order a large of the Cookies and Cream, Strawberry, and Mint Chocolate Chip. All freshly made, nice and creamy. We were only 3 and the large portion was way more than enough for us. We actually struggled to finish. How they make the actual ice cream is a definite entertainment factor in itself… and I’d return on this alone. Perfect place to bring kids or friends.

This was my first experience with liquid nitrogen made ice cream. MIND BLOWN!
The texture was soooo smooth, like butter. I didn’t think that the texture would be a deal maker for me but after the first spoonful, let me repeat MIND BLOWN. It made me question my previous ice cream decisions that were solely on flavor. The texture was so luscious and smooth that am now a liquid nitrogen ice cream addict!
For the flavors, I have tried the salted caramel, strawberry, cookies n cream, and mint coffee. All the flavors are good but the texture is what really sets this place apart from other ice cream joints.

Our friend introduced us to this place. I ordered the salted caramel and she ordered the philz mint mojito. It’s quite an experience to see how they do nitrogen ice cream.
The ice cream had a buttery texture and they have spoons that change colors! I wish they had more flavors though. Their mint mojito is bomb!

So i realized that the froth that tops the Sharetea crema is the exact same taste as the salted caramel cryo ice cream made here. The secret is out!
Nothing amazes me about the nitrogen entertainment and the cute machines but the being greeted and checked on by the cashier is refreshing. But the ice cream is super creamy. I tried everything but the strawberry which i hear have real strawberries. The salted caramel was a little too salty but tolerable. The breakfast cereal tastes like milk with fruity pebbles. Phil’s mint mojito tastes like coffee and with a mint after taste and some mocha. Green tea doesnt really have that match texture with few mochi balls. Cookies and cream was really good! A bit pricey for a small cup of cream.
The place gets packed right before closing time.

While this place used to be frozen yogurt it’s now turned into a small ice cream shop with limited flavors. The concept of nitrogen ice cream is interesting but the taste is relatively the same.
We got the strawberry and cookies and cream in a waffle cone. The waffle come seemed old and not crispy at all. The strawberry was good, but the cookies and cream was excellent. They make the ice cream first and then add the Oreos which leaves crunchy cookies, not soggy cookies and cream.
With a small staff, there can be a small wait but worth while.

As a science geek, I’ve made liquid nitrogen ice cream — you can mix up a base, pour in the nitrogen, and stir like crazy. It doesn’t make the most perfect ice cream, but it’s fun and a little dangerous. So I was super excited to find a shop making liquid nitrogen ice cream professionally (declaring this a «delicious artisan experiment»). I expected a really cool experience, especially with the notion that every batch is made to order and they have fancy equipment.
They had a small selection of flavors — chocolate, strawberry, green tea, and cookies & cream. They offered a couple of those flavors to taste, so I tried a bit of the green tea — yummy! They suggested topping it with mochi (another favorite) and I ordered a scoop. I expected the magic to begin and… they scooped my bowl out of a pre-​made batch. Not made to order at all, no liquid nitrogen awesomeness, really disappointing. They put 6 mochi bits on top, warned me they were falling off and handed it to me as 2 of the mochi fell onto the floor.
My companion ordered strawberry and at least this was made on the spot. But it wasn’t as magical as I’d hoped — they put a little cover over a mixer bowl, a nitrogen fog came out, and then there was ice cream. You don’t really see anything happen. At least both flavors were tasty, not particularly different than any other ice cream. The biggest highlight of our visit was the color-​changing spoons that react to temperature — is it sad that this «technology» was much more fun and memorable than the fancy liquid nitrogen ice cream itself? This place hinges on a gimmick, which fell flat for us. I’ll stick with my potentially-​dangerous homemade ice cream experiments, thanks.

Good alternative to Smitten in the Peninsula. We came here last weekend to beat the heat.
I sampled the Vietnamese coffee (w/​o the condensed milk topping of course) and thought it was so bland. We loved the cookies and cream though and shared a small of that. It was one of the better cookies and cream I’ve had, though I think the marshmallows were not necessary and it could have just been done with the cookies pieces. Under $ 4 for a good size small. Looked the thick texture too. Will have to try their other flavors whenever I’m in the area (rarely). 3.5 rounded up for now.

Great tasting ice cream! It’s fun to watch it being made.
Tried the following:
Green tea
Vietnamese coffee
Cookies n cream
Strawberry
Salted caramel
All were smooth and creamy. However, the vietnamese coffee was lacking flavor. The rest were really tasty though. Friendly staff and clean establishment.

Cheaper than other places I’ve been to that serve liquid nitrogen.
They also have awesome color changing plastic spoons… That react to the temperature. Ahaha.
Cookies n’ Cream though. So good. Just the right balance of flavor and sweetness.
I enjoyed watching them make it too — super exciting. It’s like an upgraded version of watching someone swirl your froyo… Hahahah???

Great to see a place that offers Liquid Nitrogen ice cream. I haven’t had this since making some in materials science class back in high school. So coming to this place brings back memories.
Cryo Cream is located right next to Peet’s, near the corner of Burlingame and Park Blvd. The place is small and offers few seating. But like a lot of other ice cream shops, I think it is meant for to go.
During my first visit with friends, we tried 3 flavors:
Green Tea-​more cream flavor than the green tea for my green tea fanatic friend. More matcha powder would be perfect.
Mint Chocolate Chip-​used real mint leaves. Same as green tea with more cream flavor than the mint chocolate. Kind of taste like toothpaste. I think a little more sugar can help. Also chocolate chips were a little big and hard to chew on.
Cookies and Cream-​best of 3 flavors. This is when we realized the other flavors need to be stronger in flavors proportional to the cream. The Oreo cookies had enough sweetness to balance out with the strong cream.
I normally complain about most desserts and drinks being too sweet. In this case, it can be sweeter because the cream is quite strong. The waffle cone could be a bit thicker.
As for the service, well I thought it was awkward that the cashier, who was also the one preparing the ice cream, did not smiled at all. From the point where we walked in, watch her preparing the ice cream, to eating and finish the ice cream… there was not a single smile. All 20 minutes of it. Ice cream is supposed to be happy moments of enjoyment. Without even a welcome or smile, I didn’t have much enjoyment dispute the cool preparation and good tasting ice cream. Seats, table and floors can be cleaned too. Basically, they need to hire better workers who can be more welcoming and clean the place. There is potential though.

Cookies and cream. Do it. You will thank me later.
Vietnamese coffee. Great! Adding condensed milk will quicken the melt so it can get very messy.
Strawberry. Fresh, fresh, fresh. Would be even better in strawberry season.
Chocolate. Super smooth. Better without the chocolate chips.
A small is plenty!

After checking around at a few spots on Burlingame Ave for some tasty desserts, Denise L. and I finally made our way over to Cryo Cream. Not to knock any of the other options around in the area, but we really should have just come here first. Ice cream on a sunny afternoon? Can’t ever go wrong with that!
Serving ice cream that is literally fresh (they make it right in front of you), Cryo Cream definitely offers something different to the area. And with roughly eight flavors to choose from (some that are apparent staples, others that seem to rotate), Cryo Cream offers up a good amount of variety as well!
After scoping out their menu board (
), I opted for one of their «new» flavors — a Regular Cup of VIETNAMESE COFFEE ($ 4.50). Now, while the ice cream is the obvious reason people come here, the process of making the ice cream is pretty cool too. First, with how the bowl «smokes» from the liquid nitrogen and then at the end as you hear the newly formed ball of ice cream roll around (
).
Although I haven’t been to Smitten in SF yet, I think it’s unfair to label Cryo Cream a «knock off» just because they use the same process (we’re not talking Coach and «Couch» purses people…). All I care about is how the ice cream tastes, and I thought it was pretty good — light, flavorful, and just creamy enough (
). Plus, even though it comes out a little stiff, the ice cream melts down perfectly in the warm Burlingame sun!
While they don’t quite approach my SF favorites like Bi-​Rite and Humphrey Slocombe (who has a great Vietnamese coffee), Cryo Cream is now my go-​to ice cream spot on the Peninsula. Can’t argue with zero lines and plentiful parking! With summer fast approaching, I’ll definitely be back to check out their other flavor, like Cookies n Cream and Salted Caramel (do people really think ANYONE could be better than Bi-Rite’s?). Plus… those color changing spoons! Can’t not be a fan of those!

This ice cream makes me want to sing!
After scoping out various dessert places around Burlingame Ave and not being terribly excited by them, Mike L. and I decided to give Cryo Cream a try. With several flavors, it was difficult to choose just one. Finally I made my decision based on rarity. Vietnamese coffee?! YES PLEASE.
Watching the staff work the liquid nitrogen process filled us with great anticipation. It was definitely worth the short wait. The result was superbly creamy and delicious, but still wonderfully light. Awesome to know it was also natural and organic. When I saw how huge the «regular» size was, I thought there was no way I could finish it. The **Vietnamese coffee ice cream with condensed milk** was so HEAVENLY that I finished every single drop. Well, except for the drop I lost because it started to melt as I tried to capture the perfect Unilocal photo.
Other than the two conflicting menus that declared certain flavors were both regular and new, everything was pretty straightforward. You pick a size and flavor, and you’re good to go. You also get a pretty cool spoon that changes colors with temperature, so your experience will be even more entertaining. My yellow spoon turned green wherever it touched cold ice cream. As if you needed eating ice cream to be MORE fun!
FLAVORS (according to standing menu):
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -
— Mint Chocolate Chip: fresh mint leaves & chocolate chips *NEW*
— Vietnamese Coffee: coffee topped w/​condensed milk *NEW*
— Cookies ‘n Cream: fresh mint leaves & chocolate chips
— Salted Caramel: topped with caramel sauce
— S’mores: graham crackers & marshmallow
— Strawberry: fresh strawberries w/​dash of lime
— Chocolate: Ghiradelli w/​chocolate chips
OBJECTIVES for Next Visit:
— — — — — — — — — — — — -
1. Try the other flavors.
2. Obtain different color-​changing spoon.
In order to achieve these important objectives, I shall return.
TIP: Have no fear of the huge portion. FINISH IT!