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I cannot count how many times my family has been to this place, especially my adult children For my youngest daughter's birthday she specifically wanted Malai's chai ice cream cake. It is vegan, and 6 inches big. I do have to say it is a bit sweeter than usual, and it is not all ice cream. They have cake in between ice cream. The cake is kind of hard to slice through. However, everyone enjoyed it. In July and August they have cilantro mint ice cream which I love! I went back few nights ago and had their orange fennel ice cream which was a dream ice cream for me. Authentic orange flavour and a hint of fennel (I think they could have made the fennel flavour a little more pronounced, but I don't know if some people would think that's off putting.
This by far was one of the best ice cream parlors that I've ever visited. I love the bright colors of the establishment. It was very inviting and fun. I was able to try a couple of the rotating flavors. All the flavors were so unique, flavorful and rich. The quality of the ice cream is at a 10. It was definitely hard to settle for one flavor. I definitely would return and bring a friend with. 10/10 would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!
Came to Malai after dinner for some dessert and really enjoyed the ice cream. They have a lot of unique Indian-inspired flavors that were fun to try. I got the Masala Chai and Pistachio Crumble, and both flavors paired really well together. The chai flavor was very strong, which was exactly how I liked it, and the pistachio tasted natural rather than artificial. I also sampled one of the mango flavors and almost ended up getting that one too. There is some seating inside, but it was very warm when we visited and seemed like their AC might not have been working. Other than that, I really enjoyed the ice cream and would definitely come back to try some of their other flavors!
Super cute place. Creative flavors inspired by Indian desserts and spices. My family tried pistachio kulfi and mango and cream -- all happy with their choices. I love love love that they had several vegan flavors. I tried a couple of others first, but guava chili was the one that surprised me -- I wasn't sure I'd love it, but I did. Ended up going with guava chili and mango, and was very happy with my choice. The staff was really friendly. This place was buzzing at 10:45 pm -- every seat was filled. It's a must visit.
This is such a unique ice cream place with Indian flavors. I got a trio with 1) rose with cinnamon-roasted almonds, 2) sweet corn saffron, and 3) fig. Loved all the flavors. I just wish I could fit more flavors in my belly.
Born in NYC, this woman-owned ice cream shop is throughout the East Coast, including Philly and D.C. Walk inside and find one spacious room with plenty of tables and even more outside along the sidewalk. There's usually a line, but it moves quickly. All their ice cream is inspired by South Asian flavors like chai. They also have two soft serve options. The ice cream is pricey, but it's worth it. It's very good ice cream!
A great addition to the Rittenhouse ice cream scene! I love that the flavors are unique here - think Indian spices, desserts, flavors etc. Service is friendly and moves quickly. There is seating inside and more outside on the sidewalk.
The flavors are unique, but if I'm being honest, the ice cream texture is really grainy. We tried three different flavors, and same issue with all 3. Love the South Asian flavors (genuinely pack a punch), but the texture was just a bit off putting, especially at the price
My friend and I were thinking of dessert after dinner and ended up choosing Malai because the flavors were unique. My friend had Malai before in NYC, but it's my first time. Although I was interested in the flavors due to the south asian ingredients, I didn't necessarily know what each flavor or ingredient is supposed to taste like. The menu in store ended up being different from what I saw online, so it took a while to re-decide what flavors to get samples for to narrow down. In fact I should say that the menu at the time didn't stand out to me which made me less excited and struggle more what to choose. I don't remember exactly but I tried samples of: cilantro mint, masala chai, sweet corn, saffron pistachio Corn was a pleasant surprise because it had a soft subtle earthy sweetness. I was disappointed in cilantro and chai. Cilantro wasn't green and refreshing enough for me. Chai wasn't deep and warm at all. The setup made the service weird too. They had a menu outside their entrance and at the counter where the cashier is. It felt weird looking at the menu in either spots, maybe more so at the counter. People lined up one behind another such that only the first or second group could see the fridge. Even if you were up against the fridge, I struggled to comprehend the flavors since the labels wouldn't mention the ingredients or description. The server who helped us was discouraging too. She looked really checked out and would give us a stare when we're deciding what to try. I tried asking what's the difference between the mango & cream and soft serve. I got my answer in an uninterested tone about how the soft serve has a stronger mango flavor. My friend urged me to try samples of their soft serve. Even if I will enjoy the stronger mango flavor from the soft serve, I felt like that defeats the purpose of coming here for unique flavors. I ended up getting split cup of sweet corn and mango & cream. I actually appreciate the creamy flavor of the mango & cream, and my friend asked why not just get the sweet milk flavor instead. I thought about it but didn't want to sample further due to pressure from interacting with the server. I also felt bad for only getting one flavor (corn) after sampling multiple. I can't recall for sure but I don't think they had napkin. Ice cream is definitely an item that calls for napkins, so it's quite inconsiderate they don't provide it. If they want to control costs then have the staff provide one per cup when ordering, not none.
Omgggggg sooooo goood!!! Without even trying a bite, I picked the sweet roti and ghee ice cream and OMG was it the best choice ever!!! Also tried rose, mango cream, and something pista. They were good too!!!! Def going back! Certainly expensive - paid $9 for one scoop of roti and ghee.
The baklava ice cream was really good. I loved the bits of flakes and walnuts. Overall, ordering was easy and the prices weren't too bad. There was no line when I went at lunchtime.
If you're adventurous to try unusual flavors, you can give it a try. Among others, the flavors are coffee cardamom, baklava, red chili chocolate, toasted nutmeg, date tamarind, cardamom pistachio crumble. There are a couple of regular flavors: milk and cookies and sea salt vanilla. For those who don't consume dairy, they have non-dairy flavors and sorbet. You can buy Dubai Chocolate ice cream pie: crisp katafi crust with chocolate ganache layer on top of it, pistachio card among ice cream and topped with crackling chocolate shell. Not a big fan of ice cream, no problem. They have soft serve, pop sickles, and ice cream sandwiches I bought a pint of rose with cinnamon roasted almonds. The rose flavor is very subtle, I didn't notice the cinnamon. It's refreshing and light with
Unique ice cream flavors! We got the cherry cardamom and baklava flavors that paired well together. There's a cute seating area with plenty of natural light which was enjoyable.
Absolutely LOVED their Saffron-Pistachio - the best of the lot! Was not the best idea getting it with the Fig-on-Fig because the latter was overpowered by the pistachio. But the saffron-pistachio was decadent - loved the tiny bits of pistachios and their roasted flavor. All the other flavors were delicious too - the mango soft serve was their summer special I suppose. I really liked their guava chili but I wish the chili popped a little more. Overall, highly recommend! Very cute ambience and quick service. The server was patient with us wanting to taste a couple of flavors. Restroom - gender neutral and accessible. read more
11 days ago
Almost defeated by happy hour--overestimated how much we could actually eat--but we had to get a sweet treat. Made the much shorter walk than we had anticipated to Malai. Glorious day it was--everyone was out in Rittenhouse. There was a lion statue outside that I used as a handrail to get up the stairs--do use his head as boost up those stairs. Seating options inside and outside. After opening up a sliver of a second stomach for dessert from the 2 minute walk, we pondered the menu. There was also freezer, ready-to-go options, like pints, bars, and cakes (maybe? I don't remember what the third option was). A wide variety of flavors that you could taste test. Indian Tea Biscuit soft serve: it's similar to cereal flavored ice cream. Mild, but sweet flavor. I really liked it--this would be basic, go-to flavor to get when you don't know what to choose. Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds: very fragrant and floral. I kind of liked the slight texture that the almonds added to it. Masala Chai: strong flavor. I would come again if I was in the area and craving ice cream. I would probably get the Indian Tea Biscuit soft serve in a waffle cone, which was actually what I tried to order, but the cup ended up being the better option since I was so full from dinner. (visited on 09/16/26) read more
I wasn't aware there was a new ice cream shop off Rittenhouse Square, until I was walking home from school with my 6 1/2 year old granddaughter who 'conveniently' pointed it out to me. She said the 'ice cream was good', and gave me a 'look'. Of course, we went in! She said the Mango Soft Serve was what she'd had before and she wanted to get it again. She asked if I was going to get it as well, and I said "of course", which brought a big smile! We got two 'small' (they weren't small at all) Mango soft serves in cups. The ice cream was delicious; it had a fresh, fruity taste with a rich, creamy texture. My granddaughter was right about the ice cream being good! I was going to write a review with only the Mango Soft Serve and felt I needed to try the ice cream. So....I went back the next day! I had read several reviews and had an idea of what I was going to order, but tasted a few more flavors. I ordered three scoops - Cardamom Pistachio Crumble Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds Sweet Corn Saffron The Cardamom Pistachio Crumble had pistachios and caramelized shortbread crumble in a cardamom ice cream. It was the 'best' of the three, as it had some texture and pistachios. However, the ice cream was bland and lacked any true flavor. The Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds also was a bland, very sweet floral rose ice cream - the rose taste was not discernible and there were very few almond pieces. The Sweet Corn Saffron had no flavor other than a hint of corn, and again a seemingly overly sweet taste as the others. I was truly disappointed after having a delicious soft serve, and didn't finish even half the portion. I probably will not return. While the soft serve is very good, the cost ($8) is excessive for the amount and quality, and of course, I would not order the scooped ice cream. read more
2 months ago
I cannot count how many times my family has been to this place, especially my adult children For my youngest daughter's birthday she specifically wanted Malai's chai ice cream cake. It is vegan, and 6 inches big. I do have to say it is a bit sweeter than usual, and it is not all ice cream. They have cake in between ice cream. The cake is kind of hard to slice through. However, everyone enjoyed it. In July and August they have cilantro mint ice cream which I love! I went back few nights ago and had their orange fennel ice cream which was a dream ice cream for me. Authentic orange flavour and a hint of fennel (I think they could have made the fennel flavour a little more pronounced, but I don't know if some people would think that's off putting. read more
This by far was one of the best ice cream parlors that I've ever visited. I love the bright colors of the establishment. It was very inviting and fun. I was able to try a couple of the rotating flavors. All the flavors were so unique, flavorful and rich. The quality of the ice cream is at a 10. It was definitely hard to settle for one flavor. I definitely would return and bring a friend with. 10/10 would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND! read more
Came to Malai after dinner for some dessert and really enjoyed the ice cream. They have a lot of unique Indian-inspired flavors that were fun to try. I got the Masala Chai and Pistachio Crumble, and both flavors paired really well together. The chai flavor was very strong, which was exactly how I liked it, and the pistachio tasted natural rather than artificial. I also sampled one of the mango flavors and almost ended up getting that one too. There is some seating inside, but it was very warm when we visited and seemed like their AC might not have been working. Other than that, I really enjoyed the ice cream and would definitely come back to try some of their other flavors! read more
Super cute place. Creative flavors inspired by Indian desserts and spices. My family tried pistachio kulfi and mango and cream -- all happy with their choices. I love love love that they had several vegan flavors. I tried a couple of others first, but guava chili was the one that surprised me -- I wasn't sure I'd love it, but I did. Ended up going with guava chili and mango, and was very happy with my choice. The staff was really friendly. This place was buzzing at 10:45 pm -- every seat was filled. It's a must visit. read more
This is such a unique ice cream place with Indian flavors. I got a trio with 1) rose with cinnamon-roasted almonds, 2) sweet corn saffron, and 3) fig. Loved all the flavors. I just wish I could fit more flavors in my belly. read more
Born in NYC, this woman-owned ice cream shop is throughout the East Coast, including Philly and D.C. Walk inside and find one spacious room with plenty of tables and even more outside along the sidewalk. There's usually a line, but it moves quickly. All their ice cream is inspired by South Asian flavors like chai. They also have two soft serve options. The ice cream is pricey, but it's worth it. It's very good ice cream! read more
A great addition to the Rittenhouse ice cream scene! I love that the flavors are unique here - think Indian spices, desserts, flavors etc. Service is friendly and moves quickly. There is seating inside and more outside on the sidewalk. read more
26 days ago
The flavors are unique, but if I'm being honest, the ice cream texture is really grainy. We tried three different flavors, and same issue with all 3. Love the South Asian flavors (genuinely pack a punch), but the texture was just a bit off putting, especially at the price read more
Business owner information
Jodi R.
We really appreciate you giving Malai a try and sharing this with us.…
3 months ago
My friend and I were thinking of dessert after dinner and ended up choosing Malai because the flavors were unique. My friend had Malai before in NYC, but it's my first time. Although I was interested in the flavors due to the south asian ingredients, I didn't necessarily know what each flavor or ingredient is supposed to taste like. The menu in store ended up being different from what I saw online, so it took a while to re-decide what flavors to get samples for to narrow down. In fact I should say that the menu at the time didn't stand out to me which made me less excited and struggle more what to choose. I don't remember exactly but I tried samples of: cilantro mint, masala chai, sweet corn, saffron pistachio Corn was a pleasant surprise because it had a soft subtle earthy sweetness. I was disappointed in cilantro and chai. Cilantro wasn't green and refreshing enough for me. Chai wasn't deep and warm at all. The setup made the service weird too. They had a menu outside their entrance and at the counter where the cashier is. It felt weird looking at the menu in either spots, maybe more so at the counter. People lined up one behind another such that only the first or second group could see the fridge. Even if you were up against the fridge, I struggled to comprehend the flavors since the labels wouldn't mention the ingredients or description. The server who helped us was discouraging too. She looked really checked out and would give us a stare when we're deciding what to try. I tried asking what's the difference between the mango & cream and soft serve. I got my answer in an uninterested tone about how the soft serve has a stronger mango flavor. My friend urged me to try samples of their soft serve. Even if I will enjoy the stronger mango flavor from the soft serve, I felt like that defeats the purpose of coming here for unique flavors. I ended up getting split cup of sweet corn and mango & cream. I actually appreciate the creamy flavor of the mango & cream, and my friend asked why not just get the sweet milk flavor instead. I thought about it but didn't want to sample further due to pressure from interacting with the server. I also felt bad for only getting one flavor (corn) after sampling multiple. I can't recall for sure but I don't think they had napkin. Ice cream is definitely an item that calls for napkins, so it's quite inconsiderate they don't provide it. If they want to control costs then have the staff provide one per cup when ordering, not none. read more
Omgggggg sooooo goood!!! Without even trying a bite, I picked the sweet roti and ghee ice cream and OMG was it the best choice ever!!! Also tried rose, mango cream, and something pista. They were good too!!!! Def going back! Certainly expensive - paid $9 for one scoop of roti and ghee. read more
If you're adventurous to try unusual flavors, you can give it a try. Among others, the flavors are coffee cardamom, baklava, red chili chocolate, toasted nutmeg, date tamarind, cardamom pistachio crumble. There are a couple of regular flavors: milk and cookies and sea salt vanilla. For those who don't consume dairy, they have non-dairy flavors and sorbet. You can buy Dubai Chocolate ice cream pie: crisp katafi crust with chocolate ganache layer on top of it, pistachio card among ice cream and topped with crackling chocolate shell. Not a big fan of ice cream, no problem. They have soft serve, pop sickles, and ice cream sandwiches I bought a pint of rose with cinnamon roasted almonds. The rose flavor is very subtle, I didn't notice the cinnamon. It's refreshing and light with read more
Wow really love this concept. Malai takes inspiration from Indian flavors, spices, and desserts to make very creative ice creams. The ice cream itself is high quality - mine was really creamy and lovely. And the flavors really take it to the next level (butter roti + ghee - yum!) The workers were patient with our many questions and let us try a few flavors. They also accommodated my friend with celiac, who needed them to scoop out of a fresh tub so she wouldn't get any gluten. The inside is fun and vibrant with a coraly hot pink color all over. Take your ice cream to the square on a nice day and enjoy! read more
3 months ago
I went to Malai because I didn't bring lunch to work, and I wanted soft serve or anything close to frozen yogurt. The swirl that they have right now, the mango lassi, is sooooo delicious. I added the vegan peanut crumble things, those were soooooooo good too, I wouldn't say this was super filling instead of a meal, so next time I'll just have dinner nearby and then come back again, I'm so excited to try the rest of the flavors and the woman working there was really, really kind! read more
7 months ago
The flavors are so unique here, definitely not to sweet. The ice cream has a nice creamy consistency, even the vegan ones which is so hard to get right. The cardamom pistachio has been my favorite so far, but they let you try 4 samples per person so you can try different flavors. I can't wait to go back and try more flavors! read more
It is great to have an Indian ice cream store right here in Philly. I was familiar with Malai from their original Brooklyn location. I am happy to see them expanding to new areas. There was a long line of people waiting to get in. It was a warm summer day so everyone was craving some ice cream. When we entered we were happy to smell the great ice cream flavors and great air conditioning. They have several mixed flavors such as Tulsi and Cardamom. You have your regular flavors with an Indian mix. You can always grab a kulfi on a stick and enjoy it as a treat. Some of the highlights I saw were the gulab jamun ice cream cake and the ice cream cake with coffee cardamom and orange fennel ice cream. It was interesting to see the American/Indian mixtures in the ice cream flavors. I only tried a couple flavors but will be back for more. Usually I only go to Van Leeuwen down the street for ice cream but this provides a new option. Everyone should go to Malai and check out the new flavors when they get a chance. read more
1 year ago
I really wanted to like this place because I love the vision it has being born in Sri Lanka. The quality of the ice cream is top notch, no argument there. What lacked is the flavor. It's such a shame too because the flavor combinations are so creative and have so much potential but your tastebuds are searching hard for even a smidge of what it's supposed to taste like. I ended up getting the mango & cream and the rose after sampling quite a few flavors. I hate to say this but I wouldn't come back, and honestly there's much better ice cream spots in Philly. If they were to hone in on the flavors more, it would've been a home run for me. read more
1 year ago
Peanut crunch tasted exactly like those peanut caramels with black/white pepper. Sweet with a hint of spiciness. It was smooth and creamy despite being vegan. I was not a fan of the hibiscus flavor that they had today because the savory spice and floral hibiscus flavor didn't match well in my opinion. That being said, the flavors were very true to their names! A 4.75 for me if I could do fractions read more
1 year ago
It is absolutely magical inside. The interior design has such thought and the peach colored walls are so warm and inviting. I will definitely be coming back to try each creative flavor. I want to pick up the gulab jamun ice cream cake for a special occasion in the near future. We got a mango soft serve and then a cardamom soft serve. Wish we knew that we could get a swirl of them both. Both flavors were good but I think I'd personally prefer one of the dairy options in a waffle. Got the iced chai, it isn't that milky. The masala used for it is really intense, it's all the spices you could imagine in a chai exploding in your mouth. it might not be how you make chai at home but still a good drink overall. When we went to pay, the staff member did not even look up to acknowledge us, she just asked the scooper what we got. read more
The famous Indian ice cream shop that had roots in Brooklyn and came to Washington DC finally opened up in Rittenhouse square. It is located less than a block from the square and there was a big line to get in. The outside was a townhouse shaped building in an interesting orange color. There was some seating inside. The place sells pints of ice cream as well. We ended up trying a ton of flavors. They also have a mango lasso soft serve I am dying to try next time I visit. The flavors did have an Indian vibe to them. Reminded me of when my mom used to buy ice cream at the Indian store. I did like how it tasted more Americanized than the indian grocery store ice cream. The only flavor I wasn't a big fan of was the curry leaf creamsicle. That must be an aquired taste. Ended up getting the rose with cinnamon roasted almonds and mango with cream. I really liked how the rose tasted just like the rose milk my mom made when I was younger. I also liked the use of roasted almonds. The mango with cream was ok. I felt like it was pretty basic. It tasted like mango pump juice mixed in with vanilla ice cream. read more
We were here on a hot weekend looking for some great ice creams. We had heard a lot and were very excited to try it out. We were not disappointed. We ordered rose ice-cream and Tulsa chocolate chip ice cream. The rose was nice and easy to eat. Tulsa chocolate chip was regular chocolate chip, missing the wow factor of Tulsi flavor. Overall we thought the ice cream were nice but nothing that we would rave about. The service was polite and ambiance was casual. The place is small with limited seating. read more
This ice cream spot in Rittenhouse is a total delight! So many wild and interesting flavors to try, but the masala flavor is my fave! spicy, sweet, and totally addictive. The staff is super friendly and even let us sample all the flavors before choosing. The shop itself is super cute, and sitting outside with a scoop (or two!) just makes the experience even better. Can't wait to come back and try more flavors! read more
1 year ago
Congrats on the opening day! With inconsistent ice cream textures and scoop sizes I would probably give the experience a 3.5/5 Hope the staff can figure out best way to manage the line and freezer temp while giving more attention to scoop sizes! ICE CREAM: Apricot Mace was fairly melted when it was scooped off to us already (photo right side bright orange scoop). It looked to be a full "fresh" freezer tub too. It was also the smallest scoop compared to the other two we got from the same staff. Flavor is fruity and a bit too sweet (3/5 ) Cherry Black Cardamom was partially melted but a medium size (photo front light pink scoop). Flavor was a creamy ice cream with a light smokiness and a semi tart sweet cherry jam (4/5) Passionfruit Cilantro was the best flavor, a real scoop, and good texture. The flavor of passionfruit is very bright and fruity and the end of a bite is a light earthy cilantro -- I appreciate the creative flavor and great execution of a vegan option (5/5) SERVICE: I don't even count waiting an hour in line for the opening day as staff seemed to move along. The blond female staff member with a bright smile who helped us seemed to give inconsistent scoop sizes compared to other staff that customers who walked away with scoops as tall as the cup. Receiving three scoops of varying sizes itself that appeared smaller than some other customers, AND having two fairly melted textures was more disappointing. ENVIRONMENT: The shop itself is really cute with bright lights, colorful wall mural, and decent amount of table seating as an ice cream shop. It gives cafe vibes to easily hang out and enjoy. Worth visiting when the opening days rush subsides to normal business levels. read more
Business owner information
Kim M.
Thank you so much for coming out on opening day and for supporting…
A new ice cream spot offering some fun, unique flavors! I went in the afternoon on a weekend and there was no line - it seems like it might have just been that opening rush the weekend before. The rose ice cream was fantastic! Really enjoyed that one. The cinnamon honeybun, the Philly flavor, wasn't as good - there was too much cinnamon for my liking and the one piece of cinnamon roll that was in it was dry and hard. I had a tough time choosing flavors as there were several others I wanted to try, like the lychee, mango & cream, strawberry, etc. I got the split scoop with two flavors and could not finish it. There are a couple of tables and chairs within. They do ice cream sandwiches, cakes, and pints to take home (each pint is about $12.50). read more
1 year ago
Had a great experience in Malai! Stopped in while it was pouring rain so only two other people were in there - probably why the workers let us sample more than the listed limit, they were very kind and chatted with us! It was perfect for someone indecisive like me. I ended up getting the lemon cardamom and masala chai but everything else was unique as well (tulsi chocolate chip, passionfruit cilantro). Ice cream itself is nice and creamy, slightly sweet but worth it for the flavors. I'm still dreaming of the saffron soft serve I sampled! And awaiting the next time I'm in a city blessed with a Malai location. read more
I wanted to try this place like many others because Indian inspired ice creams are not widely available. Apparently this place has been on Gold Belly but understandably, I didn't want to pay for the extra shipping. The place will do well in bigger cities. Eventually, LA will have a place, probably Chicago, maybe Austin, and maybe Baltimore. This place opened two Saturdays ago I believe, and there was a line at least one block long when I arrived. I had the passion fruit cilantro, cinnamon honeybun, and strawberry pie. All the flavors were fine but it wasn't that extra flavor punch I was hoping for. I am not sure if cilantro mixes with passion fruit the best but it wasn't bad by any means. The cinnamon honeybun, I wasn't tasting much cheesecake, cinnamon, or honey. The strawberry pie had a few nice frozen strawberries but I didn't taste the jam, anise, or crust enough. I also had the Jalisa Iced tea and the Indian spiced flavoring was too faint for me to feel it was different than a regular tea. The hibiscus frosted loaf- I enjoyed the frosting and the spiciness of the loaf but I would've wanted more of the frosting on the loaf. Is that too Americanized for me to say? lol. Staff is friendly here. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
Malai is such a cool little ice cream spot that takes Indian-inspired flavors and absolutely nails them. I got the saffron soft serve and the masala chai ice cream -- both were amazing. The saffron soft serve was creamy and floral in the best way, not too sweet, just really elegant. The masala chai ice cream had that warm, spiced flavor you'd expect, like a scoop of cozy in the summer heat. Also tried the tulsi tea and it was super refreshing -- herbal, clean, and just the right thing for a hot day. The sitting area is small but cute, and it's right next to Rittenhouse Park, so you can easily grab your treat and chill nearby. Service was super fast too -- they had four people behind the counter, so we didn't have to wait at all. Can't wait to come back and try more flavors. read more
Malai has some delightful flavors, a bright space (with a few tables), and a terrific staff. The person who helped us let me know that the Strawberry Pie has an anise note, which surprises some orderers--as someone who doesn't like black licorice, I appreciated the heads up! I ended up ordering half scoops of the Cinnamon Honeybun and the Tulsi Chocolate Chip, which were great. Looking forward to trying other flavors on my next visit! read more
Really cute Indian-owned ice cream spot that opened up! I love that they have such a unique array of flavors. I tried the chai flavor as well as the tulsi chocolate chip. I thought the ice cream was super creamy, but for the chai especially, the chai flavor itself was a little too muted and the ice cream was a touch too sweet. However, I get that it's a fine line between subtle spicy flavors and ruining the sweetness of ice cream. Would love to come back and try new flavors! read more
New ice cream spot opened a Philly location just south of Rittenhouse square. Quite busy on their opening weekend with a line down the block to try the unique flavors. Inside has a few tables and chairs, and the line moves fairly quick. Had the black cherry cardamom and mango cream flavors. Black cherry cardamom had a nice standout flavor. Mango and cream was quite subtle. Both melted quite quickly, more so then other places. They also sell a few other things like cakes, ice cream sandwiches, and pints in a freezer. I'd go back and try different flavors as there were a few other interesting ones. I think Malai will be another decent ice cream option as it competes against the others right around Rittenhouse with its unique flavors. Thanks read more
Some of the best ice cream I've ever had. Malai hits the spot with its own unique twist on classic Indian flavors. Very excited to have Malai in Philly! I got the pistachio and saffron soft serve swirl and it was incredibly creamy. The flavors of both were coming through and blending nicely. For opening day the staff kept it smooth. They also have pints, pops and ice cream sandwiches available! Editing to add Indian aunty approved! I came back 3 days after opening when my mom came into town and we got rose cinnamon and tulsi chocolate chip. My mom loved the rose cinnamon and she doesn't even like cinnamon things. The tulsi chocolate chip had the crunchy texture from the chocolate chips that I love and a mild earthiness from the tulsi. It was so good. Line was still long but it moved quickly. read more
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260 S 18th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Rittenhouse Square
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(215) 650-7180
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http://www.malai.co
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