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    Malai

    4.5 (15 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Malai Takeout or Delivery

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    Mango Lassi flavor and Masala Chai
    Jazmin C.

    Malai was such a delicious unexpected treat for me :) I stumbled across this place in west village after a fundraiser hosted on west8th street! All of the flavors are house made and South Asian inspired. I tried the Masala Chai and Mango Lassi and it was genuinely the best combination of flavors. The service was really friendly and fast / I actually feel bad for the people who work here bc they have a huge sign that states you can't try more then 4 flavors - and the 2 girls in front of me did exactly that kept asking for flavors and literally one girl didn't purchase anything at all and the other got 1 scoop of sea salt vanilla ...... Ambiance is cute, small shop light and fresh minimalist but still decorative and cute

    Josephine L.

    Mmmm, Saffron Soft-Serve. Me like bright buttery yellow frozen treat that tastes like kesar peda. Also, it's about time Indian ice-cream was a thing in NYC. It's embarrassing how the most flavorful cuisine in the world--literally the origin of most spices--has been overlooked for so long in favor of countless bland gelato spots. Go Malai!

    Single scoop, Ginger Root
    Michelle T.

    Malai means cream of the crop.. and their ice cream is CREAMY without feeling overly rich or heavy. With unique flavors inspired from South Asian ingredients, you will want to sample a few flavors before deciding what to order... and they encourage you to taste a few. I sampled the ginger root, cherry black cardamom and passion fruit cilantro. I would have been very happy with a full scoop of all of them, but chose the ginger root, which after talking to the owner, is one of the first flavors they created. The passion fruit cilantro was a fun and refreshing combo. This ice cream stands out as a unique option among all of the fabulous ice cream in NYC. I cannot wait to go back to sample the other flavors and try their soft serve which some others rave about. This shop is currently under scaffolding, so it could be easy to walk by without noticing it if you're not looking for it on Christopher Street. $7.25 for a single scoop. Portion felt generous and perfectly round.

    Wendy C.

    Malai is a fun spot in the West Village that serves South Asian-inspired ice cream flavors you won't find anywhere else in the city. The ice cream was genuinely delicious. The only downside is that it's a tiny space with one AC unit that was fighting for its life, and a single staff member handling everything on her own with a line out the door (thus defeating the purpose of the AC). Didn't get to try the soft serve this time, but that'll be for next time.

    Anthony P.

    Been wanting to try Malai for a super long time ever since I heard about their original location in BK. So glad they've finally posted up in WV and are much more accessible for people who live in Manhattan. Really love that they are one of the few spots making south asian flavored ice cream and making that public for people who are both less and very familiar to enjoy. I got the masala chai ice cream and though I enjoyed it, felt it was a bit icy in texture. It wasn't too sweet though, and would definitely come back to check out some of their other flavors. They also sell pints for you to take home. Best of luck Malai! Really want to try the guava flavor next. Gonna have to bring friends to try more flavors all at once. The staff were friendly. It's cute inside, but not toooo many places to sit if that was the vibe you're looking for.

    Parita A.

    Stopped by Malai and was seriously impressed. I had a split scoop of the guava chili and pineapple pink peppercorn, both happened to be vegan, but you'd never know. The texture was more like a sorbet, super refreshing, with a sweet start and just the right punch of spice at the end. Perfect treat on a hot day. The person behind the counter was really helpful, and the space itself is lovely, clean, thoughtfully designed, and inviting. Always love supporting a South Asian-owned spot, especially one that brings such unique flavors to the table. Can't wait to go back and try more!

    Evonne H.

    Went to try their tulsi chocolate chip and it was pretty good very strong spices flavor... will come back try their soft serves

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    10 months ago

    marvelous inventive ice cream flavors, both dairy and not. great texture too. recommended.

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    Gelateria Gentile

    Gelateria Gentile

    4.3
    (113 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    This gelateria I…read morecan't believe it took me so long to discover it. Located in New York, small quiet spot, you can't wait inside, it a take out thing, I don't care! Their gelato is delicious and so rich! I was so happy!

    Tiny, clean desert place. No bathrooms for customers…read more Staff are accommodating. Don't be afraid to try to sample the gelatos. Sample them all until you choose the flavor you like. There are different types of cold treats: gelatos and more slushie like consistency frozen confections that are served in a cup. My vegan friend appreciated that he could choose from multiple vegan flavors, not just be limited to the one and only offering, which is what most places usually have. Melon flavor was incredible. Tasted like frozen melon was crushed with ice and chopped into an ice/smoothie blend. Super refreshing. Very sweet, though. All flavors are very sweet, so a small portion can be shared and you will feel satisfied. I personally enjoyed their in-house special flavor of gelato: honey cream with crushed almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts. That was bombastic! Love how nutty the consistency was. I love nuts, so this almost reminded me of a chunky peanut butter situation: just more fine grained and smooth, with gelato being the base. Highly recommend trying this flavor! Focacia was okay. A bit too dry and bland for my liking, but still decent. My favorite item was the pistachio bombolone which is officially now my favorite dessert. This was magnificent! The yeasty dough was so light and airy--perfectly light and balanced. The filling of pistachio cream was very delicate and not sweet at all, which was such a nice surprise. I do not like saccharine dessert. The fresh raspberry jam was a perfect balance to the pistachio cream. I never like jams in my desserts, but this was a perfect complement. Woooow, what a treat! Can't wait to return for it and to try more of their other flavors--hazelnut & chocolate, coconut, white chocolate, tiramisu. You could taste the superb quality of the ingredients. Highly recommend.

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    Gelato Flavors
    Gelato Flavors
    Vegan/Non dairy options: Bergamotto (orange) and Fondente (dark chocolate)
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    Sundaes and Cones

    Sundaes and Cones

    4.3
    (1.7k reviews)
    0.6 mi
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    Amazing Ice Cream Shop on East 10th Street off 3rd Avenue…read more Awesome selection of ice cream and gelato in traditional and unique flavors, many Asian, like lavender, ginger, etc. They have a frequent visitor membership rewards and bet there are many, like myself, who take advantage given frequent visits year round. The service is always great. Sometimes the Moms and Dads visiting their kids at NYU clog up the front with a LOT of questions, but usually very quick for a large waffle cone with 2 scoops. If dining at other venues in the area, skip desert and stop here for a special treat!

    This ice cream shop has been around forever - 2000's maybe & is just slightly off the busy area of…read moreSt. Mark's but deserves the attention! Don't remember what I had the previous 20+ years I went there after a group dinner. This time I was influenced & specifically took a bus over for their corn ice cream. It's STILL the summer of corn. Prices are now average - good for a scoop $7.50 & the portion is good compared to other craft ice cream shops in LES. The corn flavor was good. Medium flavor with that corn sweetness. The quality of the ice cream was excellent, medium creamy & very smooth with the teeniest bit of corn blended. Sampled the hazelnut which was great also - like a thick gelato. Would like to try the lychee next time. They have probably 20 different flavors, displayed well. The staff is patient & very nice. The space is very big for a business in the East Village with mostly a waiting area. 4-5 seats are up front & they set up a few plastic chairs on the side. On a 90°F day, the shop was filled with customers & groups. A stantion at the door with directions for 2 lines would help manage things better.

    Photos
    Scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a cup with a cone. Ice cream freshness ftw
    Scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a cup with a cone. Ice cream freshness ftw
    Exterior
    Exterior
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