Rita’s Italian Ice: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Rita’s Italian Ice keeps its entire menu meat-free, so the real question isn’t whether you can eat here, it’s how vegan you want to go. Everything is built from just two things, Italian ice and frozen custard. The ice is dairy-free and lands vegan for most flavors, while the custard is vegetarian but never vegan.

What to order at Rita’s Italian Ice

Order the Italian ice in flavors like mango, cherry, strawberry, blue raspberry, or lemon, all made with water, sugar, and real fruit, no dairy or eggs. Sugar-free flavors are dairy-free too, so they work for both vegetarians and vegans. If you want custard, the frozen custard and gelati, which layers ice with custard, are vegetarian options. A pre-made cone or cup is vegan on its own before you add anything.

What to watch out for

Skip the Mini Gummy Bears topping, the one item on the whole menu that contains gelatin. Frozen custard, Cream Ice, and any gelati or Misto Shake built on custard all contain milk or eggs, so they’re vegetarian but not vegan. Chocolate Chocolate Chip is the one Italian ice flavor with milk in it, unlike the fruit flavors. Caramel, hot fudge, and brownie bite toppings all carry milk too, so stick with fruit-based Italian ice and dry toppings to stay fully vegan.