Mariposa Ice Cream in Normal Heights

Mariposa Ice Cream is a teeny little shop in the heart of Normal Heights, a block east of the giant “Normal Heights” neon sign (and therefore about a block east of Jyoti Bihanga Restaurant). The owners of Mariposa ice cream make some of the best ice cream this side of the Sierras.

The definition of gourmet ice cream, according to the American Ice Cream Association, is that the ice cream must contain at least 40% butterfat. That is what ice cream makers mean when they say gourmet. The gourmet ice creams have no regulations regarding quality or freshness, only a minimum fat content. Mariposa Ice Cream does not make gourmet ice cream by this definition. However, their ice cream is fresh, home made in small batches right there in the store, with a huge variety of creative flavors, made with all natural and high quality ingredients.

They offer all the usual flavors like chocolate, vanilla, chocolate chip cookie dough, and mint chip, as well their more imaginative flavors. Some of the more unique flavors that are not to miss are the white chocolate blackberry ripple, the Mexican chocolate, the maple walnut, and the peanut butter.

Their ice cream is egg free (except cookie dough). The ice cream is lower in sugar than most commercial ice cream, and it has less air! This means it has more real flavors and is not too sweet! The sherbet contains a small amount of low-fat milk, but the sorbet is all dairy-free!

The owners are a married couple. They create the flavors, make the ice cream, and serve it up. They do it all! They are super-friendly, and great supporters of the community. They support San Diego and the Normal Heights community in many ways, by donating ice cream, time, and money to local organizations, and especially local schools! They also give students of all ages a discount (with Students ID).

In addition to offering delicious ice cream they have really reasonable prices. It’s only $2 for a scoop unlike the gourmet places that are closer to $5. And Mariposa has a weekly special, making a special treat for a special price. They make ice cream pies for birth days and special occasion, sell their ice cream by the pint to take home, and even sell three-gallon tubs for really big parties! Mariposa also offers a full range of classic soda fountain ice cream dishes, like root beer floats, sundaes, banana splits, and so on. So if you’re looking for a fresh, quality, all natural ice cream, head over to little Mariposa and experience an ice cream lover’s dream come true!

Mariposa Ice Cream
3450 Adams Avenue
Normal Heights, San Diego
619-284-5197

Open most days 12pm-8pm
Saturdays and Sundays 2pm-8pm
Closed Tuesdays, major holidays, and occasionally for local events

Jyoti Bihanga

Ahhhh… Perhaps my favorite restaurant in San Diego. Though I’ve been to fancier, ritzier (and more expensive) restaurants, none can replace the role of Jyoti Bihanga in my dining life.

I’m not sure what exactly it is about Jyoti Bihanga that I love so much. It is located in Normal Heights, one of the best neighborhoods in San Diego for wandering around and exploring the shops. Everywhere you go is filled with personality. There are bookstores with huge selections of used poetry, coffee shops filled with teen angst, and magic shops selling oils and potions.


Jyoti Bihanga, or JB as I affectionately call it, is housed in a beautiful corner building, built nearly a century ago, directly underneath the neon “Normal Heights” sign. The ceilings are high, painted light blue with clouds, and the windows are two-story arches that fill the space with natural light.

This vegetarian restaurant serves a variety of American and Indian dishes, including a curry of the day, a special of the day that usually features mock meat, soups and dessert of the day, and their regular menu.

The infinite blue salad is a good option for a filling salad with steamed vegetables in addition to fresh leafy greens. The sandwich menu includes the Buddha Burger, a homemade grain patty of above average quality on a wheat bun with fresh lettuces and tomato. They have a variety of wraps, my favorite being the Shiva wrap which is a wrap with the curry of the day rolled into one with a full on salad, served with their homemade chutney. But my all time favorite is their best-selling Neatloaf. Available in vegetarian and vegan versions (vegetarian is more full in flavor), it is a grain and cheese (if you have it) loaf topped with a homemade barbeque sauce and served with the most delicious mashed potatoes this side of the Mississippi.

Now I must warn the un-expecting: this restaurant is staffed entirely with followers of a guru of a somewhat obscure Hindi-based religion. The servers are friendly, but odd. Many speak English as a second language, and most seem a little spacey. Be sure to check out the picture of the guru hanging on the wall by the bathroom; he is lifting 300,000 pounds with one arm while he levitates. No, I’m kidding. But he is supposedly lifting some absurd amount of weight. If you’re lucky, they are sometimes showing videos of the same unbelievable feat.

There are sister restaurants across the country and even in Paris. I have been to a few and in the United States they seem to offer a similar fare, somewhere in between American and Indian, all with the infamous Neatloaf. However in Paris the food was as Parisian vegetarian is: bland. That aside, though, the San Diego branch offers a delicious, home-cooked, affordable meal with a beautiful atmosphere, in a funky neighborhood. Bon appetite!