Conspicuously situated on bustling Kirby Avenue on the periphery of campus, Jarling’s Custard Cup fuses unparalleled quality and a unique homespun charm that has earned it the distinction of the best ice cream in Champaign-Urbana.
Jarling’s Custard Cup keeps it simple, offering just four permanent flavors — vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and lemon — but there’s magic in that styrofoam cup. Every bite is an ode to the ideal nature of custard, with a smooth, creamy texture exuding crisp and vibrant flavor.
The dessert parlor’s delectable substance is reinforced by its welcoming aura, with the counter positioned front-and-center in the cavernous, barn-like structure and a quaint patio providing respite from the cacophony of its surroundings. It’s a setting that seems transposed from an idyllic sketch by Norman Rockwell chronicling a flawless summer night.
Although there is minimal seating, this choice could be viewed as an ode to the typical Midwestern get-together among friends — sitting in a parking lot and enjoying the wonders of a sweet treat.
An indelible fixture of the community for over four decades, there’s no indication that patrons will soon cease to flock to Jarling’s Custard Cup’s counter to enjoy a delightful dessert and take a trip to custard utopia.
