Serving Up Soft Serve: This Retro Ice Cream Shop in New Jersey Won Me Over

It's getting hot out there, and while I might not always be enthusiastic about the summer heat, there's no question that there are some parts of summer in New Jersey that I cherish. The Jersey Shore is coming alive, with all the top boardwalks in full swing. The state parks look beautiful this time of year. And of course, a hot day in New Jersey is the perfect chance to indulge in some sweet frozen treats! The ice cream truck should be coming down my street any moment, but if you're looking for something a little different from a toasted almond bar, now's the perfect time to dig into some soft serve from one of the Garden State's iconic old-school ice cream parlors: Jersey Freeze.

Jersey Freeze started at a charmingly retro stand in Freehold and has since expanded to a second location in Holmdel and a new location in Colt's Neck, opening in 2025. It may just serve the best soft serve in New Jersey—and so much more on its seasonal menu!

Is there anything more refreshing than a cup of soft serve on a hot summer day? You can usually find it at every ice cream parlor, but something tastes different about the places that have been doing it for a long time. At one of New Jersey's old-school dairy joints, something as simple as vanilla ice cream with hot fudge is perfection.

That's exactly the vibe I always get from Jersey Freeze. In business since 1952, this place would have felt right at home in "Grease." On any summer day, you'll find an army of locals waiting for reasonably priced frozen treats. The place is small, but it's easy to find a seat outside and indulge.

The menu here is surprisingly massive; in addition to a large number of flavors and ways to have your soft serve, Jersey Freeze also serves up a surprisingly delicious savory menu. During the busy season, you'll often find specials like fried pickles or the restaurant's famous Jersey Reuben (made with pork roll, of course)!

But sometimes it's best to keep it simple. Jersey Freeze always serves unique flavors like cold brew, but the classic vanilla is as pure as it gets. When paired with another flavor, like chocolate or berry, it's a ticket back to those childhood memories. The 2025 season is in full swing, and I can't wait to see what surprises are on offer!

Have you visited Jersey Freeze in Freehold or Holmdel before? If you want to try the best soft serve in New Jersey for yourself, make sure to tell a friend about this article—you can sample twice the flavors that way! You can see more pictures of all the seasonal treats on the Jersey Freeze Instagram page, which is updated regularly. And if it's a particularly hot day, why not spend it indoors at iPlay America, Freehold's sprawling arcade and indoor recreation center?