What is the difference between gelato and ice cream?

Gelato is churned more slowly and served warmer than ice cream, so it contains less air and tastes denser and more flavorful. Ice cream typically has more butterfat and a lighter, fluffier texture from higher overrun (air content).

Is gelato healthier than ice cream?

Gelato usually has less fat and less air than ice cream, which can mean fewer calories per scoop and a more intense flavor. However, both are treats best enjoyed in moderation.

Does gelato have dairy?

Traditional gelato is made with milk and may include cream and eggs, so most flavors contain dairy. Sorbetto is the dairy-free alternative, made with fruit, water, and sugar.

Our Story

A Family Recipe, Reimagined

Viva Gelateria began with a restaurant, not a gelato counter.

In 1994, our family opened a restaurant in Vancouver that grew from a small grocery and bakery store into a beloved community staple restaurant — earning a local Readers' Choice Award for 12 consecutive years.

It was there that Masoud, one of our founders, first fell in love with gelato — training formally in the craft and spending nearly a decade perfecting recipes for the restaurant's dessert menu. What started as a side passion became something he couldn't stop refining.

Viva Gelateria is the next chapter: a dedicated space built entirely around that craft, bringing small-batch, handcrafted gelato and sorbetto to Laguna Beach — made with the same standards of quality and hospitality our family has held for over 30 years.

Read our guide: Gelato vs Ice Cream →

A family photofrom the restaurant era — coming soon

The Founders

Meet Masoud & Mehrnaz

Portrait of Masoudcoming soon

Masoud Shekarchi

Behind the scenes, Masoud crafted the desserts, managed shipments, and oversaw daily operations for our family's restaurant. His decade spent perfecting gelato recipes, backed by formal training in the craft, is the foundation Viva Gelateria is built on.

Mehrnaz at Yaas Bazaar — Best Iranian Food and Best Ethnic Food award winner

Mehrnaz Oveisi

Mehrnaz was the face of our family's restaurant — building relationships with customers, making sure every guest felt welcome, and every experience felt special. That same hospitality is what she brings to the counter at Viva Gelateria.

Together, Masoud and Mehrnaz spent 30 years running an award-winning family restaurant. Viva Gelateria is their next chapter.

Small-batch. Handcrafted. Family-owned.