Handels Homemade Ice Cream | Pittsburgh’s Beloved Spot for Unique Flavors Generous Portions

Overview

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, nestled in Pittsburgh at 9020 St Simon Way, delivers a classic ice cream experience that resonates with fans of quality and variety. The shop has built a reputation on generous portions and a wide selection of flavors that cater to traditionalists and adventurous palates alike. From timeless staples like Butter Pecan and Cookies and Cream to distinctive offerings such as Graham Central Station and Buckeye, their menu strikes a careful balance between comfort and novelty.

Visitors will find the atmosphere welcoming and family-friendly, perfect for casual outings. While seating is mostly outdoors with a good number of benches and picnic-style areas, the true draw is the ice cream itself. The space accommodates groups well, making it a great spot for families and friends to gather and sample multiple flavors. For those unsure where to start, the sampler option allows tasting a variety of their handcrafted creations without committing to just one.

Handel's commitment to quality shines through in both their traditional ice cream and sorbet selections. Though the dairy-free options are limited, the mango sorbet topped with fresh strawberries and nuts provides a refreshing alternative for those with dietary restrictions. Innovative items like the Chocolate Dipped Waffle Cone and Handel Pops add fun textures and flavors, enhancing the overall tasting experience.

The brand clearly understands portion sizing, often exceeding expectations with scoops that feel hearty and satisfying. For customers looking to extend the experience beyond the visit, the option to order pints and take home favorite flavors adds convenience without sacrificing freshness.

Overall, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream stands out as a solid choice for anyone seeking well-crafted ice cream with authentic flavors and ample variety. Whether you're a local or passing through Pittsburgh, this spot offers a comforting and memorable indulgence that appeals broadly—from families and couples to ice cream aficionados eager to explore new tastes.

Menu Highlights

See Full Menu

Amenities & Services

Popular for

Good for solo dining

Atmosphere

Casual

What Customers Say

Kimberly Matthews

Dec 11,2025

5/5

I'm lactose intolerant. They really don't have a selection for it. They have a limited selection for it. But they made me a delicious type of mango sorbet topped with strawberries and nuts that was very good ! My boyfriend ordered an ice cream cone 1 scoop which turned out to be what looked like 3 scoops ! Portions are generous and prices are decent ! Recommended!

Ulyana K

Dec 11,2025

4/5

Really good ice cream! This brand offers a solid variety of flavors. Not many were too unique, but they were still very good. I decided to try a few of their flavors, and the 4 scoop sampler is perfect for that. I got the salty caramel truffle, buckeye, coffee chocolate chip, and chocolate peanut butter brownie. I’ll start with the one I found least interesting: the salty caramel truffle. I didn’t find any chocolate truffles or anything like that. Just regular caramel ice cream. Not bad, but kind of disappointing. Decently sweet. Also, the slabs of caramel weren’t that thick. Next, the coffee. This was pretty good. It had a nice balance of sweetness and slight bitterness from the coffee. Decent amount of little chocolate chip pieces sprinkled throughout. Good. The buckeye was unique and tasty! The ice cream itself was reasonably sweet without being too overpowering. There were large chunks of buckeye, which were the real highlights. Finally, the peanut butter chocolate brownie. I didn’t find the peanut butter flavor that strong, but it was still really good. Real pieces of brownie, it seems. Mostly chocolate flavor. All in all, definitely a nice ice cream spot. I was fond of most of the flavors, with the buckeye and peanut butter chocolate brownie being my favorites.

Mia

Dec 11,2025

5/5

I have never had a bad flavor here. This is the best ice cream I have had anywhere in the country. It's that good. Graham Central Station is the best ever!!

Brian Holbert

Dec 11,2025

5/5

Handel’s homemade ice cream is always a good choice! When we found out we would be near McCandless Crossing, we knew we had to stop and bring some home for the entire family! They have a wide variety of flavors that everyone will enjoy. We tried the salty caramel truffle, horchata, mint chocolate chip Handel’s pop, and multiple different pints to bring to family members! We absolutely loved the dipped waffle cones, it was the cherry on top!

Ciara DeWalt

Dec 11,2025

5/5

Yummy! Stopped here as a family just for a sweet treat! Everyone was super friendly! I love that they have weekly and monthly flavors! Tip: if you don’t know which flavor to try, they have a sampler!! My favorite was graham central station! The confetti brownie flavor was also amazing for any chocolate lover!! I didn’t try my kids flavors but they said they were so good! (Cookie Monster and orange sherbet) Everything was very yummy! They have cone bowels which are awesome for best of both worlds in the heat! Highly recommend checking this place out! They also have little character popsicles for kids! No bathroom, or indoor seating, but a decent amount of benches and out door seating options! There are also a couple vegan options! (More sherbet flavored!)

B H

Dec 11,2025

5/5

Excellent ice cream with a huge selection of flavors/creations. The Generous portions; a single scoop is usually enough....if you can pick just one flavor. This is a walk up location with limited outside bench seating and long but quick lines.

Jorgely Yzquierdo

Dec 11,2025

5/5

My pup and I treated ourselves to dessert since it was a beautiful day. I ordered a pup cup for my dog and he absolutely loved it! I got myself a mango sorbet and a pineapple sundae which were both absolutely refreshing and so yummy! I can’t wait to come back here and try all of the many more amazing items and flavors they have!

Angie Carducci

Dec 11,2025

5/5

I absolutely love Handel’s and wish we still had one in the South Hills. Fortunately, this McCandless Crossing location is not too far and is so worth the trip. Do I regularly bring a little ice cream cooler packed with ice to make sure I get a couple pints home safely? You bet I do. Handel’s ice cream is so decadent and well-made. It has just the right texture, creaminess and add-ins. They also have such an incredible variety of flavors that it is nearly impossible to choose. Fortunately, on my last visit I discovered the four-scoop sampler for just about $6.50, which is an incredible deal. I had already eaten a two-scoop cone so asked if it could be packaged to go, but this is going to be my go-to order here in the future. With a constantly rotating selection of seasonal flavors, I want to try as many things as possible each time I visit, and this also makes it easier to figure out what you might want more of for later, so you can choose any take-home pints wisely! Their prices overall are so affordable here. We got a two-scoop waffle cone, a banana split, the four-scoop sampler, two small vanilla scoops and two pints all for under $40. This is a popular spot that often has a line, but the friendly staff works efficiently and keeps it moving. It has a nice amount of seating outdoors, with one table with an umbrella and eight or so good-sized benches. Lots of folks bring their pups and I did on this visit, too. Mine are sometimes too nervous to eat their ice cream until they get home but could not resist the vanilla here. I don’t know that I’ve ever had a miss on a flavor here. My recs from this visit: Spouse Like a House (think Chubby Hubby but better), dark and decadent Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, and the summery, seasonal Peach and Lemon Bar.