The OC’s Trendiest Ice Cream Traveling to North County

San Diegans are about to get their first taste of Cauldron Ice Cream, which is slated to open this month on Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa. The frozen treats shop, a smash hit in Orange County, has partnered with Fransmart to expand the brand, with multi-unit franchises already planned in Los Angeles County, Northern California, Dallas, Texas, and Toronto, Canada.

And there’s a handful of other outlets in the works for San Diego. Local franchisees Tyler and Sammi Kunz have signed a three-unit deal to bring Cauldron to North County; a release says they are “actively scouting” for potential locations in Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and San Marcos while different franchise partner who is opening the Kearny Mesa store has another planned for the downtown area.

Founded by Terence Lioe and Desiree Le in 2015, Cauldron Ice Cream is a fixture on Instagram feeds for its eminently-photographable menu based on made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream that can shaped into a rose and tucked inside a signature “OG puffle cone”, or Hong Kong-style egg waffle. Popular flavors include Earl Grey Lavender, Milk and Cereal, and H20 Rose but the shop regularly rolls out new seasonal flavors; April’s additions include American Pie with graham crackers and apple filling, the Dole Whip-inspired Pineapple Express, and the blue-hued Sun, Moon, and Stars, a blend of oolong, jasmine and green tea. Newly launched are gluten-free Frosés, blended ice cream drinks topped with a floating ice cream rose.