How Does The Choco Taco (RIP) Hold Up Against These 14 Ice Cream Truck Treats?

It's not like Choco Taco was the best.

Remember when Joni Mitchell sang, "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone?" No? Perhaps you remember how delectably delicious the Choco Taco was now that it's discontinued and gone forever.

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And we took that chocolatey, crunchy goodness for granted.

Klondike recently announced they're discontinuing the popular treat due to an increase in nationwide demand for their other products. As expected, the people are shocked and feel a great loss for the ex-communicated treat.

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Some people are heartbroken and feel betrayed.

Stephen King @StephenKing

If Choco Tacos are gone, what’s next? Hershey Pies? Salt and vinegar potato chips? Baseball? AMERICAN DEMOCRACY? I tell you: this is how it starts.

09:57 PM - 26 Jul 2022

Twitter: @StephenKing

Some people are happily dancing on Choco Taco's grave.

Roy Wood Jr- Ex Jedi @roywoodjr

2 years ago, Choco Taco Hive came for me. Yet here I stand, vindicated. You spent days slandering me. What you didn’t spend, was money on them folded ass ice cream cones. Always be brave enough to stand alone. This is a beautiful day. One down. One to go.

11:52 PM - 25 Jul 2022

Twitter: @roywoodjr

And others are taking it a bit too far.

Congressman Chuy García @RepChuyGarcia

I’m calling for a Congressional investigation into the end of the Choco Taco. https://t.co/JuHnu9bFQr

02:29 AM - 27 Jul 2022

Twitter: @RepChuyGarcia

But, it's a wrap for Choco Tacos. And, now that we know Choco Taco is going bye-bye for now — let's ask ourselves if the ice cream treat was even that great in the first place.

Is Choco Taco a reigning champ, or was it garbage compared to the ice cream sandwich or the Drumstick?

These are the 15 best ice cream treats of all time, and yes, Choco Taco made the list. If you disagree, you're welcome to come for me — but I highly doubt I'm wrong.

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15. Characters with Gumball Eyes

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Your childhood is not complete without purchasing one of these branded babies. The experience of eating one is a core memory. I will not judge whether you choose Tweety Bird, Powerpuff Girls, or Spongebob Squarepants. That's your business. But, I will consider judging if you think that a generic popsicle with gumball eyes is the best ice cream treat in the world. They're great, but other goodies can stand the test of time with their traditional design. The gumball bandit is constantly looking for the next trending cartoon to shove some gumballs into — and they never stay in place for long.

14. Sundae Cups

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Regarding the flavor profile, there's no denying this treat is a 10/10. When it comes to presentation, you must admit that whoever thinks it's the best has no imagination. It's not a popsicle, a cone, or a fun shape. It's a tiny, overpriced version of a dessert that you should just build yourself with cheaper ingredients at the grocery store. The plus is that you get a wooden spoon that can't be used for anything but accidentally gagging yourself while riding your bicycle.

13. Creamsicle

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I always gave kids who ordered these the side-eye. This is a favorite of grandmas and aunties, and I understand their tastes. It's a subtle blend of yummy fruit flavor and an icy snack. But no kid has any business being this conservative in their ice cream tastes. Yes, it has a delicious flavor (most likely orange), but it's such a simple ice cream truck treat that you can buy any version of this from any grocery store. You mean to tell me you stole those coins from your mama's purse and chased down the ice cream truck five blocks for this? 

12. King Cone/Load'd Cone

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It's your typical ice cream cone with some extra bells and whistles in the form of nuts and chocolate. Sure, the presentation of the ice cream cone is top-notch, but it will last no longer than .5 seconds after you give this treat a tongue lashing. When you ruin all the intricately designed sweetness, you're left with your average ice cream cone and realize that spending the extra money for pizazz wasn't worth it.

11. Fudge Bars

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Pick this, and you're not about that fruity life. Instead, you want to stick to old faithful chocolate and give your tongue freezer burns. It's more or less a giant, frozen tootsie roll, but it's been in the ice cream truck game for so long it's earned a place amongst the best and most popular. If you don't like eating your fruits and vegetables and still think dessert is a necessary food group — pick this.

10. Screwball

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The screwball is a household favorite. It's simple in flavor and even simpler in execution. Pop this joker open and began sucking and slurping, constantly worried about squeezing too hard and wasting the entire treat in one move. It's the low-budget snow cone with only one flavor for the minimalist. If you're picky and don't like mixing your flavors, hit up one of these old faithfuls to get the job done.

9. Strawberry Shortcake/Chocolate Eclair

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It's like the shake and bake of ice cream. Sure, it doesn't taste exactly like its namesake, but the treat gets pretty damn close. It's smothered in sandy candy crumbs and has one of the shortest lifespans of all the ice cream treats combined. Choose this squishy bar if you're a daredevil looking for some strawberry or chocolate goodness. It's a race against the clock to see if it will wind up in your stomach or a melted mess on the floor.

8. Cookie Sandwich

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Haters will say it's just a wannabe ice cream sandwich, but this cookie concoction is much more. Two king-size chocolate chip cookies with a double-stuff wad of ice cream squished in the middle are the best of both worlds. If your sweet tooth is looking for excitement and another cavity, bite into these frozen cookies and cream and live your wildest dreams. It's worth the price tag.

7. Drumstick

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The chocolate coating sets this ice cream truck treat apart from other waffle cone specialties like the King Cone. That extra step allows you to take your time and enjoy the treat without fear of it melting all over your hands and causing a mess. Once you get through the chocolate force field and make your way down to the cone, the best part waits for you in the tiniest crack of the cone — a reservoir of chocolate and your saliva.

6. Push-Up Pops

Kroger / Via kroger.com

Push-up pops are the best. Push-up pops are also a complete mess. Who doesn't remember eating this chunky ice cream Chapstick and getting all the stickiest parts on your fingers? When they had a collab with the Flintstones, it was almost over for all the other treats because back then, Fred Flintstone and George Jetson were like the MCU of the cartoon universes. Today, I'm not sure it's worth all the messy trouble.

5. Choco Taco

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As a kid, a teenager, and a full-grown adult — I gave myself every excuse to munch on the mouthwatering chocolate and peanut-covered ice cream in a wafer taco. It's just a culturally appropriated version of the drumstick, but it was one of the most expensive items in the truck. You were the coolest kid on the block if you had enough quarters for this one. Choco Taco was nothing more than a tasty status symbol.

4. Snow Cone

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Snow cones from the ice cream truck are a must. You can't purchase anything like this without the assistance of an ice cream expert squirting some colorful syrup over a chunk of ice. The ingredients aren't the most elaborate, but it's all about the experience of seeing that sweaty, frustrated ice cream truck driver trying to give you a perfect rainbow of colors on your cone. The snow cone screams "gay rights." We love a progressive treat for the kids.

3. Traditional soft serve ice cream cone

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Why play games and venture out too far and risk disappointment? Ordering a regular ice cream cone from the ice cream truck will give you no surprises, good or bad. You get what you ordered. Don't worry about a deformed Spider-Man with gumball eyes or a sticky mess of corn syrup. It's the most universal ice cream truck treat and deserves all the respect. Without this one, there wouldn't even be a truck. Give traditional soft serve ice cream cones all the flowers — and the licks.

2. Firecracker

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It's the best of all the phallic-shaped ice cream truck treats. It's not only one of the largest, but you also get a variety of fruit flavors for one price. The raspberry and cherry flavors perfectly blend as you go down on this top-tier, succulent snack. It's a treat made for anyone. If you're too macho and feeling self-conscious because of its shape, remember that it's patriotic, so it doesn't count. Challenge the depths of your gag reflex with the best 4th of July ice cream option.

1. Ice Cream Sandwich

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When Miranda Priestly from Devil Wears Prada said, "everybody wants to be us," she was talking about the ice cream sandwich. People started getting wild, sandwiching ice cream between cookies, and folding them up into waffle tacos, but this is the original blueprint. If you savor the treat too long, it starts to stick to your fingers and fall apart, but it's all worth it for a soft, delicious balance of sweet cookie-biscuit-wafer-skin and ice cream. We have a winner, folks.

I have a strong feeling that you don't agree with my list. Which is wild because I'm 100% correct in my assessment. If you still want to battle, sound off in the comments.

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