The Original Rainbow Cone in Cypress, CA: A Chicago Icon Comes West
Last updated July 07, 2026
Nearly a century after Joe and Katherine Sapp first sliced a five-flavor cone in Chicago, The Original Rainbow Cone has arrived in Cypress, California. The shop at 9527 Valley View St brings one of the Midwest's most enduring ice cream traditions to Southern California, giving local residents a taste of something that generations of Chicagoans have grown up eating. It's a rare thing for a regional institution with roots stretching back to 1926 to transplant successfully, but the Cypress location has already earned a devoted following among Orange County ice cream lovers.
What sets Rainbow Cone apart from the typical scoop shop isn't just the history. It's the method. Every cone is built by slicing, not scooping, five distinct flavors into a single towering creation. That technique, unchanged since the Sapp family first developed it, produces a cone that looks like a piece of edible architecture and tastes like nothing else in the region. For Cypress residents who never had reason to book a flight to Illinois, the Valley View Street location has changed the calculus entirely.
The Original Rainbow Cone
- Rating
- (133 reviews)
- Phone
- +16572561016
- Address
- 9527 Valley View St, Cypress, CA 90630
- Website
- https://rainbowcone.com
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is The Original Rainbow Cone located in Cypress, CA?
- The Original Rainbow Cone is located at 9527 Valley View St, Cypress, CA 90630. You can also visit their website at rainbowcone.com for hours and additional details.
- What is the Original Rainbow Cone and what makes it unique?
- The Original Rainbow Cone is a five-flavor ice cream cone that is sliced rather than scooped, a technique developed by founders Joe and Katherine Sapp in Chicago in 1926. The slicing method allows multiple distinct flavors to stack cleanly into a single cone or cup.
- How long has Rainbow Cone been in business?
- Rainbow Cone was founded in 1926 and has been operating for nearly a century, making it the oldest ice cream parlor in Chicago still owned by the original founding family.
- Is the Cypress Rainbow Cone a franchise or family-owned?
- Rainbow Cone has been locally and family-owned since Joe and Katherine Sapp opened the original Chicago location in 1926. The Cypress, CA location is part of the brand's national expansion while the family continues to oversee the operation.
- What flavors are in the Original Rainbow Cone?
- The signature cone features five flavors sliced together, including orange sherbet and chocolate among the layers. The full combination is available in a cone or a cup at the Cypress location.
- Does Rainbow Cone in Cypress offer anything besides ice cream cones?
- Yes, the Cypress location also offers waffle bowls and birthday cakes in addition to the signature five-flavor sliced cone.
- Is Rainbow Cone expanding outside of Illinois?
- Yes, Rainbow Cone has been expanding nationally after nearly a century of operating primarily in the Chicago area. The Cypress, CA location is part of that broader expansion effort.