As temperatures rise in Fremont, so does my craving for ice cream. On Wednesday, I headed to Pints of Joy, an Indian ice cream parlor that opened downtown on April 27. After months of social media buzz, I was eager to see if it lived up to the hype.
Fusing exotic flavors with allergen-aware recipes, Pints of Joy redefines what ice cream can be. All of their products are made with an eggless base, and lactose-free and nut-free options are also available. According to the USDA, eggs, milk and nuts are among the leading food allergens in the U.S., alongside fish, shellfish, wheat, soybeans, and sesame. These menu accommodations make Pints of Joy an inclusive dessert destination for people with dietary restrictions and sensitivities.
Co-owners and friends Ketki Dandekar and Arshiya Shaikh opened the first Pints of Joy location in Sunnyvale in 2022, after losing their jobs during the Covid pandemic. In the beginning, they sold only ice cream by the pint—a more sanitary option that aligned with pandemic restrictions. That focus inspired the name “Pints of Joy.” Today, they’ve expanded their offerings to include individual scoops and sampling sizes.
Newcomers shouldn’t be put off by the alternative recipes. I tend to approach twists on classic desserts with skepticism, but I was pleasantly surprised by what Pints of Joy had to offer.
When I walked up to the counter and peered through the glass, I was overwhelmed by the choices. Familiar flavors like strawberry and cookies and cream sat alongside names I didn’t recognize. What’s Gulab Jamun? I wondered. What’s in Malai Kulfi? The range of options tickled my adventurous spirit.
I couldn’t settle on just one flavor, so I went with the Ice Cream Flight—a menu option that lets customers sample four mini scoops of their choice for $14.99. I picked Dark Choco and Orange, Alphonso Mango, Biscoff Cookie, and Mulberry Cheesecake.
As a lifelong chocolate ice cream lover, Dark Choco and Orange was an easy first pick. The flavor pairs rich Ghirardelli chocolate with a bright burst of orange juice, dotted with bits of orange rind that add texture and zing. When asked how they thought to pair the two unexpected flavors together, Dandekar said they took inspiration from Lindt’s orange-flavored chocolate bars.
“It’s such a super combination,” Dandekar said.
For my second scoop, I chose Alphonso Mango—a fruity option that instantly brought to mind tropical summers. Often called the “King of Mangoes,” Alphonsos are a rare and prized variety grown along India’s western coast. As co-owner Arshiya Shaikh explained, they’re celebrated for their creamy texture, intense sweetness, and vivid yellow-orange hue—all of which came through beautifully in the frozen treat. Dandekar says this has been one of the most popular flavors since they first opened.
Beyond the Alphonso’s reputation, the owners said mangoes in general are hugely popular in India, making the flavor an obvious choice for their menu. For Shaikh, the fruit evokes vivid memories of cultural traditions and celebrations.
“Mango is very Indian,” Shaikh said, chuckling.
The Biscoff Cookie flavor was my personal favorite: chewy bites of cookie swirled into the ice cream for a dessert that somewhat resembled an elevated version of cookies and cream. After indulging in that, I made my way to my last mini ice cream choice: Mulberry Cheesecake. The texture of the mulberries was an acquired taste for me, but for the berry flavor-lovers, this one’s a no-brainer.
Looking ahead, the pair hopes to expand. They already sell their products at the Apni Mandi Farmers Market store in Fremont, and hope to move into other grocery stores, noting a desire to, in Dandekar’s words, “remain locally grounded.” They are also floating ideas for an ice cream truck and potential parlors in the East Bay and the Peninsula.
But for now, the two are enjoying their new Fremont community. Dandekar said she was very pleased to have Mayor Raj Salwan at the ribbon-cutting on April 24, and Shaikh added that they regularly have city council members stop by due to the office’s proximity to the ice cream parlor.
“We’ll have people from the city stop by and grab a small sample on their lunch break then come back in the evening and get a pint to take home,” Shaikh said. “It’s really nice.”
Pints of Joy, 40061 Mission Blvd., downtown Fremont. Open Tue–Sun, 1–9:30pm; closed Mondays.
