Our guide to the tastiest ice cream in Nashville

Nolensville Pike is well-established as a diverse culinary force in Nashville, with its bevy of international restaurants and an especially deep bench of Mexican food offerings.

• Fueled by reader suggestions, we learned that Nolensville Pike has turned into a one-of-a-kind ice cream alley with several fantastic mom-and-pop shops worth checking out.

Driving the news: We asked readers last month for the best ice cream shops in town, and then took on the task of testing them out.

• It's gritty work, but someone had to do it.

Zoom in: Three of Nashville's best ice cream shops are located on or near the Nolensville corridor.

Adam's favorite: The ice cream stand inside Uptown Fresh Market

• Reader Mark M. called this blink-and-you'll-miss-it stand next to the dairy aisle "stunningly good." He was not wrong.
• We tested several flavors, and our pick for the best of the bunch might surprise you: rice pudding. The texture was silky smooth, and the cinnamon was a perfect accent for the rich spoonful.

Nate's favorite: La Michoacana Premium #1

• This suggestion came from reader Bridget L., who singled out the mangonadas on the menu as a "sweet, spicy, salty, mango ice thing."
• La Michoacana Premium #1, located at 3763 Nolensville Pike, has dozens of different flavors of popsicles, ice cream bars and ice cream.
• Nate, who has a 10-year-old's taste when it comes to ice cream, got the cotton candy bar. It was cream-based and loaded with marshmallows, so it was amazing. There are also juice-based bars and other dairy-free options.

Third up along Nolensville Pike is The Ice Cream Bar. Reader Mark E. described the "assault on the senses" when you walk in and experience bright colors everywhere, including piñatas hanging overhead.

• Despite the colorful decor, The Ice Cream Bar is best known for its subtle flavors. Mark liked the corn-flavored ice cream.

🍦 Yes, and: Other ice cream shops also got readers' love. Nate and his family visited East Nashville standard Sip Cafe, recommended by Randy R.

• Four enormous cones cost $17. The orange sorbet was the biggest hit.

☕ Readers also singled out Hattie Jane's Creamery, which has a downtown location, and the ever-classic Bobbie's Dairy Dip.

• Adam bought a pint of Hattie Jane's Mulekick flavor, which is steeped in Muletown coffee beans. He can't tell if he's vibrating from the sugar rush or the caffeine.

🗺 Reader Jessica Y. even provided a road map to branch out beyond Nashville for ice cream by visiting the Tennessee Ice Cream Trail.