In a city that never stops moving, there’s a truck that does the same. Sweet Paradise Ice Cream isn’t just any typical ice cream truck, it's a moving feast, bringing the bold and bright flavors of Mexican street food to neighborhoods across Reno.
For Diana and Santiago, the owners, it's a business built on flavor and passion for sharing their food culture.
Their journey began 12 years ago when they left Puebla, Mexico, at just 20 years old, hoping for a fresh start in Reno. Dreams of opening a restaurant quickly ran into barriers as landlords didn’t want to rent to two young immigrants. But instead of giving up, they looked for another way. At 23, they invested in a food truck, and that decision changed everything.
The timing worked. In 2022, while the pandemic forced many businesses to close, Sweet Paradise hit the streets.
“We prefer the food truck and going around being able to see everyone and the community. At first we wanted a restaurant but now we see more in a food truck than having an actual location,” said Diana.
Sure, they serve ice cream but their menu goes beyond that. It’s a full lineup of antojitos mexicanos: Buldak noodles loaded with elote and Hot Cheetos, creamy elote served in a cup or on the cob, Mangonadas bursting with chamoy, and refreshing aguas frescas in flavors like cucumber, watermelon, and horchata. It’s street food, comfort food and sweet treats all rolled into one.
“We wanted to do more,” Diana says. “People see the truck and think it's just desserts, but they don't know what they’re missing.”
For them, it's more than food, it's about connection. They’ve become a familiar sight across Reno, and their menu continues to grow. They welcome diversity and new faces to come give it a try. Of Course they sell ice cream and popsicles but right now, they’re serving their version of the viral Dubai-style chocolate covered strawberries, made with premium ingredients straight from Los Angeles. Just one example of how they keep up with trends.
The key to Sweet Paradise success is their constant movement. Every day is a new route and some mornings you can find them parked outside office buildings, in Spanish Springs or Sparks. Wherever they are, their instagram (@sweetparadiseicecream) keeps followers updated, making it easy for customers to find them.
Their hustle hasn’t gone unnoticed. What started as a way to make a living has become a community staple, a place where families stop by for a quick treat and friends gather for something new.
Later this year they’re planning to launch a second truck, a new venture that will bring churros, flan, and other sweet desserts to their menu.
“This is a truck for summer antojitos,” says Diana. “Our other truck is more for antojitos in the cold like coffee, hot chocolate, flan, churros and more.”
For Diana and Santiago, Sweet Paradise is a family story. It’s proof that good food and good people will always find each other. For anyone who hasn’t tried them yet, there’s a simple invitation: follow them on instagram, track them down, and see what you have been missing.
Our Town Reno reporting by Genevy Machuca