Baby pink and rounded like a toy, the Rollado trailer had caught my eye since landing in Sayulita several days prior.
I falsely assumed that the Rollado Hand-Rolled Ice Cream Taco cart peddled a mere somewhat fancier version of the Chaco Taco of my childhood as I passed by the cart each day, rubber-necking a bit but not quite willing to fully stop by and take in the menu lest they think me a willing customer. But one night I finally gave in to my curiosity, and after wandering the town in search of food I felt myself heading straight for the adorable pink bubble cart to have myself some ice cream for dinner.
For all the adulting I have to do, pay my taxes and mundane tasks like replacing water heaters and door knobs, I might as well flex an adult muscle I do have and indulge in an ice cream dinner because no one can tell me not to.
Menu and Location
The menu was extensive and a bit overwhelming so I zero-ed in on the Kinder Bueno and Nutella ice cream taco (~$5 usd) that was only a few choices down before my indecision became a bout of public analysis paralysis. And although a part of the experience is to be able to watch your taco being made, a line was quickly forming behind me so I moved aside, parking myself at one of the few bistro tables.
The small sitting area was cozy and sweet, decorated with string lights and local art available to purchase, and the location on Miramar street was perfect for those staying on the North side of town but also close enough to the main bridge making it an easy destination for those staying in the main downtown area.
Cart parked just outside Casa Nawali: C. Miramar 13, 63734 Sayulita, Nay., Mexico
A short few minutes after ordering, I was handed an ice cream taco beyond anything I could have imagined. It was much larger than I expected and suddenly I was relieved I hadn’t tried to have this after a meal as I would not have been able to finish it comfortably.
Since I had gotten my taco ‘con todo’ (with everything), my delectable beauty was topped with whip cream and nuts and handed to me in a paper to-go boat and a napkin.
They also gave me a spoon which I used mostly as a spreader as I mawed the treat from alternating ends as things were getting melty quickly and the stability of the taco shell was becoming compromised by the second.
I was fast becoming a bit self-conscious to the tremendous mess I was making at this little pink table as the line for the cart had grown to at least 13 eager clients and they had front row seats to me and my dribbly, crunchy affair with this newfound love in ice cream form.
Lucky for me a neatly stacked pile of fresh napkins had been left on the table by the previous inhabitants. I managed to wipe down the evidence and waddle away, happy and full of my fabulous dinner of ice cream.
What is Hand-Rolled Ice Cream?
Originating in Thailand, hand-rolled ice cream differs a bit from traditional ice cream. A liquid base is poured onto a frozen metal plate, then ingredients are added and chopped, rolled and mixed together. Unlike traditional ice cream, which is whipped to add air for a lighter, fluffier texture, rolled ice cream is denser, and offering endless flavor possibilities since desired ingredients are added directly to the base.
Rollado Ice-Cream Cart Origin Story
Thao Le Nguyen, the founder of Rollado, entered the world of ice cream by happy accident. As the story goes, she was on a solo trip when she up met her life partner in Sayulita. Together, they traveled through Colombia, where she was first introduced to hand-rolled ice cream. The idea stuck with her, and in 2022 she opened her first location in Sayulita- a food truck by the beach- adding her own special twist by wrapping the ice cream in a waffle ‘taco’ shell.
Currently Rollado locations are in Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, and Vancouver, BC, with catering options available in all locations.
