The Best Place in Vancouver to Get Dairy-Free Ice Cream

Like most healthy Asian people, I developed lactose intolerance in my late teens. And—also like most healthy Asian people—I made very few substitutions to accommodate that change, save for putting an end to the ungodly amount of milk I used to drink. I eat dairy-free ice cream when it’s available, but both ice cream shops and grocery stores rarely have a good selection of plant- or nut-based frozen dessert.

Now, allow me to introduce you to the Sunshine Coast Convenience Store (located at 4th and Macdonald, so ironically, not convenient if you happen to be on the Sunshine Coast). This Kitsilano corner store is known for dealing snacks from around the world—not just your run-of-the-mill rare green tea Kit Kats and super sour candy, but chocolate bars you’ve never heard of and specialty food that perfectly walks the line between intriguing and bizarre (I’m looking at you, Cheeto macaroni and Dunkaroo cereal).

Besides other corner store staples like toothpaste and canned soup, most of the store is candy and snacks. There’s every variation of Reese’s cup, Hi-Chew, Kettle chip and cotton candy bucket (!) your heart desires. In fact, there’s so many sweets and snacks to look at, it’s easy to miss the freezer section in the corner.

Dairy-sensitive friends: don’t miss the freezer section in the corner. This store has the largest selection of plant-based ice cream I have ever seen. Here’s a rundown of the diary-free goods available on a random Tuesday in March:

Nora’s (mint chip, vanilla bean, peanut butter and chocolate, strawberries and creme)

Righteous (peanut butter and jam, toasted coconut, passionfruit lemonade, mango pineapple, roasted pistachio, strawberry rhubarb, salted caramel)

Halo Top (toasted coconut, peanut butter swirl, chocolate, birthday cake)

Da Vinci Sorbetto (strawberry lemonade, coconut, tropical mango, dark chocolate)

Coconut Bliss (coconut, dark chocolate, sea salt caramel chocolate, mint chip, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate hazelnut)

Haagen-Dazs (peanut butter fudge bars)

For the milk-tolerant, there’s also tons of Ben and Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs pints.

Each pint goes for nine to 11 bucks—that’s about the same as your grocery store Ben and Jerry’s, and all things considered, way cheaper than any by-the-scoop joint. It’s non-dairy heaven. You’re welcome.

READ MORE: Our Editors Draft the Best Ice Cream Shops in Vancouver