I have a confession to make: I am not a dessert person. I much prefer a salty chip or a savory garlic knot to anything sweet. So when I went to review Pop Pops Paleta, the new paleta store in Coronado, I was hesitant. Skeptical even…
The Coronado location of Pop Pops Paleta opened on Orange Avenue on the 4th of July this year. There are also locations in Little Italy and Hillcrest that have been around since 2020 and 2025, respectively. The company is known for its sweet treats that offer respite from the heat in a wide range of unconventional flavors. A paleta is a frozen Mexican treat on a stick, coming in both fruity and creamy bases.
The first thing I noticed when I walked into the quaint storefront was the wide array of frosted treats coming in every imaginable hue and flavor. The colors were vivid and the flavors that went with them distinctive, ensuring a flavor for everyone… including myself. The sour and salty flavor profiles drew me in, an immediate hit to my not-a-dessert-person facade.
Founders Shira and Nissim Levy wanted to start Pop Pops Peleta out of love of the game. “What’s more happy than bringing people joy,” says Shira. All of the paletas are made in-house at the Hillcrest location and distributed to the other stores.
I got three flavors: Barbie (cotton candy), mangonada, and chocolate peanut butter. After I selected my paletas, I had the option to add a drizzle, dip or toppings, including gummy worms, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut. A committed food writer, I got the works recommended for each flavor. All for the reader, of course.
The cotton candy bar was smeared with marshmallow fluff and topped with rainbow sprinkles. The mangonada was paired with spicy Tajín and sour chamoy. And the chocolate peanut butter was showered in decadent chocolate sauce, which is where my anti-sweets facade really gave way.
I was having the time of my life and the paletas took me by surprise. I was expecting them to have more of a popsicle consistency, icy and watered down. When I took my first bite, initial assumptions melted away. The paletas were rich and creamy.
It was incredible. Each paleta got a resounding 10 out of 10 from me. I was shocked by how velvety the paletas were, the texture resembling frozen ice cream. Each flavor was distinct but equally impressive.
But the biggest surprise was the price point. My sweet trifecta of paletas cost less than $25 for all three – accoutrements included.
For these reasons, I am happy to report that, against all odds, I am a changed woman – salty to sweet. That fateful day of paleta indulgence continues to replay in my mind.
I will be coming back to Pop Pops Peleta to try every flavor, and to lean into my new identity as a dessert person.
Pop Pops Paleta is located at 943 Orange Ave, Coronado, Calif. The store is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit https://www.poppopspaleta.com
