New! Popular taco restaurant owners open Mexican ice cream next door

Liz Balmaseda, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read

Sweet news for fans of Taco Chula, the hidden-gem taquería popular for its Mexican street food and agua fresca:

The taco shop owners recently opened a dessert spot selling Mexican ice cream, paletas (ice pops) and specialty coffee just steps away in the Palm Beach Gardens plaza Taco Chula has called home since 2017.

On Oct. 14, siblings Dahiana Lainfiesta and Peter Tapia debuted the the new sweet shop they named Chulados, a play on a Spanish term for cute and “helados” (ice cream).

When the medical practice in the neighboring space became available, the siblings and their father Pedro Tapia decided to put a longtime wish of opening a dessert shop into motion.

Customers check out the selection of ice cream and Mexican ice pops (paletas) at Chulados sweet shop in Palm Beach Gardens.
Customers check out the selection of ice cream and Mexican ice pops (paletas) at Chulados sweet shop in Palm Beach Gardens.

“We have churros at Taco Chula, but we thought churros were not enough. We needed to make more desserts,” Lainfiesta said as the hum of weekday lunch customers filled the al fresco tables outside Taco Chula and Chulados on a recent day.

The churros are still sold at the taco shop but a new variety of treats awaits at Chulados.

At Chulados, the gourmet scoop ice cream, sorbet and paletas are crafted for the shop by Jupiter ice cream confectioner David Hoyuela.

Chulados ice cream shop offers a variety of Mexican paletas (ice pops) in Palm Beach Gardens.
Chulados ice cream shop offers a variety of Mexican paletas (ice pops) in Palm Beach Gardens.

“He makes the most delicious ice cream with no preservatives, no additives, no added sugar,” Lainfiesta said. “He’s amazing.”

Hoyuela owns Rosa Ice Cream shop in Jupiter, where his handmade, all-natural ice cream and ice pops, infused with fresh flavors, have drawn a local following.

At Chulados, flavors range from naturally ripened fruit such as watermelon and strawberry to rich banana praline, cheesecake, chocolate, piña colada and a coffee ice cream that adds a luxurious touch to the shop’s affogato.

Dahiana Lainfiesta opened Chulados ice cream shop with her father Pedro Tapia (at right) and her brother Peter Tapia in Palm Beach Gardens in October.
Dahiana Lainfiesta opened Chulados ice cream shop with her father Pedro Tapia (at right) and her brother Peter Tapia in Palm Beach Gardens in October.

The paleta variety dazzles with flavors that include green tea, mango-strawberry, avocado, pistachio and many others. Treats can be dressed up with dips, sprinkles and other toppings.

Other desserts include flan, tres leches, panna cotta and carlota de limón, a Mexican-inspired icebox cake.

Prices: Ice cream cups and waffle cones are $6 for two scoops, $8 for three scoops. Gourmet paletas with one dip and two toppings are $7.50. Other desserts range from $6.50 to $9. Nespresso specialty coffees go from $3.50 for an espresso to $9 for an affogato.

Chulados

Specialty coffee drinks also are offered at Chulados, a new Palm Beach Gardens sweet shop selling Mexican paletas (ice pops), ice cream and other desserts.
Specialty coffee drinks also are offered at Chulados, a new Palm Beach Gardens sweet shop selling Mexican paletas (ice pops), ice cream and other desserts.

Taco Chula’s sister sweet shop opened Oct. 14.

Location: 10800 N. Military Tr., Suite 106, Palm Beach Gardens, 561-530-7755, on Instagram @ChuladosPGA

Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. Will be open on Sundays in December.

Liz Balmaseda is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. She covers the local food and dining beat. Follow her on Instagram and on the Post on Food Facebook. She can be reached by email at lbalmaseda@pbpost.com. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Taco Chula taco shop opens Chulados Mexican ice cream in Palm Beach Gardens