Tastee-Freez is a Newport Beach, California-based franchised chain of fast-food restaurants with stores in 22 of the United States, with most of its stores located in Virginia, Illinois and Maryland. Currently there are fewer than 100 freestanding stores in the United States and Panama. It was founded in 1950 by Leo Moranz and Harry Axene. Moranz invented a soft-serve pump and freezer which enabled the product. Originally stores focused on frozen dairy-based desserts, but newer restaurants have a larger fast-food menu.
In the 1950s, Tastee-Freez had the Tastee-Freez Twins mascots: Tee (female) and Eff (male). The mascots were naked with ice cream (strawberry and chocolate respectively) on their heads.
Since 2003, the company has been owned by Galardi Group Franchise & Leasing, a franchisor based in California, that also owns Wienerschnitzel hot dog restaurants. Wienerschnitzel has begun to incorporate Tastee-Freez soft serve products in their approximately 350 restaurants.
Select Tastee-Freez soft serve products can also be found at The Original Hamburger Stand locations.