I can't thank my friend enough for telling me about this ice cream. It has been around for years, but somehow I never heard about it. When I stopped by, it was raining heavy, but the walk from the metro was totally worth it. I stepped inside, heard some great R&B jams playing, and I made my way to work that amazing smell was coming from. Along the way, I passed some cute merch -- insulated bags and more. And then there was a freezer with all of their pints, ice cream sandwiches, and ice cream cakes. I got up to where the scoops are being served, and there was a very helpful sign next to it with all of the descriptions. I appreciate it the thorough breakdown of what has allergens, what has dairy, and what is vegan. I pretty much tried everything. My favorites were the vegan ones (spiced peanut crunch, tamarind spice), the spiced date cake, saffron pistachio, mangos & cream, black forest... I could keep going. I split a generous scoop of the spiced date cake & saffron pistachio and it was divine. I could've gotten some cool toppings too, but decided not to. It was $8 as is XD. It's definitely a splurge, but a unique flavor profile like this I think it's totally worth it. The pints are $12, which also isn't bad for something this unique imo. I'll be back to get some pints. It's awesome that it's in Brooklyn too, so my sister can explore it as well. read more

I was thrilled when this NY ice cream shop announced it was opening in DC. I'd read about the amazing flavors online for years and was excited to taste them for myself. I was so excited, in fact, that I waited in line on opening day. While the flavors were indeed exciting, I found the flavor to be muted. I was picturing intense Indian spice that hits you in the face, only to be confronted with very mild flavor. I've been a few times since opening, and I think it's fine, but it doesn't live up to expectations. I've found the soft serve to be better than the hard ice cream, but it almost has too creamy of a texture. The yogurt soft serve flavor with cardamom was the best thing I've tasted there. The ambiance is fine, there is a small patio for warm days. The last time I was there the inside smelled like sewage, eeek! read more

Malai - Pistachio saffron swirl - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

came in with a group of 7, 20 minutes before closing. staff was super welcoming and patient (so many good flavors we didn't know which ones to get) highly recommend! read more

One of my favorite ice cream spots in DC! I love the South Asian inspired ice cream flavors... you can't go wrong with any of the flavors to be honest. Although prices may be steep compared to other ice cream places, I think it's worth it. The service is pretty well as they let you sample flavors and give you their two cents. There is seating outside. read more

Malai - Menu with split scoop - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Explore and discover unique flavors that are hard to find anywhere else. Thoughtfully crafted ice cream inspired by South Asian ingredients creates an experience that feels both familiar and new. Worth stepping outside your usual order. read more

Really tasty ice cream spot! We tried a variety of flavors and the chai and cilantro/passion fruit were the standouts. Some flavors were lacking a bit pizzazz in consideration of the price tag. The place is a bit pricer than your normal ice cream shop but more reasonable than some of its competitors in terms of portion size. If you like SE Asian flavors, I think it's definitely worth checking out because not places other places offering the same - particularly in D.C., you'd have to head out into VA. I didn't try the chai beverage but would certainly come back to do so read more

Delish ice cream and soft serve options. Ordered the Gulab Jamun soft service and was satisfied. Option to try flavors and the staff were extremely kind. Will definitely be going again to try more flavors! read more

This place genuinely makes me soooo happy. Malai is the kind of ice cream spot where every flavor sounds so good you immediately panic because you can't choose. I ended up doing a half scoop of rose (with cinnamon roasted almonds) and a half scoop of chili chocolate and it was sooo worth it. The rose is floral in a really cozy way & the cinnamon almonds add the perfect crunch. The chili chocolate had this super interesting texture and a little kick that made it feel extra special. If you need a quick serotonin boost, come here. Periodttttt! read more

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Aesthetic: Hip ice cream shop with unique South Asian flavors and toppings. My Favorites: The Rose Soft Serve! Experience: This place was the cutest. They had so many delicious flavors, we had to try a scoop. The Rose Soft Serve was fantastic, I added sprinkles for an extra flair. My husband tried the Cardamon Pistachio Crumble and the Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds which were also great, but mine was the best! I will definitely make this a staple when we're in DC. read more

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it's finally actually warm in dc and i'm on spring break so obviously we had to get ice cream and sit in the park!! malai has so many delicious sounding flavors but i was enticed by their flagship rose with cinnamon roasted almonds. this was one of the most delicious scoops i've ever had and it was absolutely perfect on a warm day like this. my friends all got different flavors - the tamarind spice, mango & cream, saffron pistachio, and cardamom pistachio crumble. i tried all of them and each and every one was absolutely delicious. they also have ice cream sandwiches, cakes, and popsicles for sale plus soft serve!! and i would truly be happy to have anything on the menu. i can't wait to come back and try something new!! read more

Malai - rose with cinnamon roasted almonds; tamarind spice; mango & cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Flavors are unique! Had a chocolate with coconut and a mangos and cream. Tried a coffee ice cream and the coffee soft serve. Both were delicious too. Only thing I wish was that the ice cream was more reasonably priced. After tax it was nearly 10 dollars for a split scoop of two flavors and this was before tip. Pints are also over 10 dollars. read more

Located near 14th Street NW, Malai is a delicious, egg-free ice cream shop. The shop has indoor and outdoor seating, as well as merchandise for sale. We shared a two-scoop cup, which was plenty! We tried the Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and the Coffee Cardamom, both paired really well. We especially liked the crunch from the almonds and the bold coffee flavor. One thing to note: they don't offer lids, so with the generous portions, it was a bit tricky to take leftovers home. Service was okay. We were the only ones there, but the staff member was mostly on her phone with loud music playing. It felt a bit off for an ice cream shop, though it didn't ruin the experience. read more

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Surprising flavors that also feel nostalgic. I loved that they have so many Asian flavors, from their guava chili to their curry leaf creamsicle. I tried a few flavors and one of their ice cream sandwiches. The rose with cinnamon toasted almonds ice cream flavor is average, but their guava chili is divine. It's sweet and the unexpected heat is delicious. I also really loved their Chai Molasses Cookie with Masala Chai Ice Cream sandwich. You can order at the counter and it's overall a clean establishment. The tables could be bussed more often between groups though. read more

Malai - Chai ice cream sandwich - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Honestly, Malai keeps getting better. When I went last year, I wasn't impressed, but the few times I've gone recently, I've been pleasantly surprised at the flavor innovation and the service -- always incredibly kind! The line moves slowly though since it's a popular area, flavors run out, and some flavors are a miss for me, lacking the texture I desire -- it's definitely not too sweet which is appreciated. read more

Malai - Pumpkin Garam Masala Crumble - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The Tulsi chocolate chip was BOMB! The line moved quickly. They have a rewards program. You can try up to four flavors. $6 single scoop $7.50 double Vibe here is casual and cute. Mix of girls who just came from brunch, families, and random people stopping through. The service was nice. Would return. read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was so excited to try the Indian flavors of ice cream here! Malai ice cream is usually one of my favorite! I was a bit surprised that they didn't have a basic malai flavor at this store though. I got a split scoop with rose and cinnamon covered almonds and lychee. The rose was my favorite but both were delicious! I usually love eating tulsi raw but the tulsi ice cream was a bit too strong for me. They had some other very interesting flavors that I would love to try next time. They do have a small restroom at this location that requires a code. They also sell t shirts and cook books and pints of the ice cream flavors in case you would like to take some home to your family. read more

Malai - Lychee and Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Loved trying this place! Their ice cream is so packed with spices and flavors and is very unique! The staff were all so friendly and happy to give samples and their opinions on the favorite flavors. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, so it's a great place to hang out with friends regardless of any weather. I got the Ghughra flavor, and I absolutely loved the cardamom flavor coming from the ice cream. Even in small quantities, the other flavors I sampled were delicious. Can't wait to be back! read more

Malai - Ghughra flavor - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I had been to the one in Philly when visiting up there and was happy to see one close to home. We got 5 different flavors between the 3 of us and all were so yummy and flavorful. Loved the intense flavor in the chocolate scoop. Staff was helpful and friendly while we tried different samples and in making our selections. Can't wait to come back for more delicious and uniquely flavored ice cream. read more

Well parking was very difficult to find on a Friday night. It took about 30 mins to find parking. The line out the door was look, but it moved fairly quickly. We were served very quickly and found a place to sit outside in the patio area. The shop is rather small and the seat indoors were limited. The ice cream flavors we tried were interesting and unique! We got the two flavor scoop in the cup. The ice cream was really sweet. I did struggle to finish my scoops. read more

Malai - Coffee Cardamom Gulab Jamun ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Seriously, after a week, nobody contacted me. I wasn't expecting free products or any special compensation -- I was just expecting a sincere apology. read more

Appreciate the cultural representation and bold creativity. First impression: the decor is bright and inviting. The rose flavor was surprisingly floral and light, while the roti and ghee was well-balanced. A gentler touch on the sweetness and a smoother texture could take it even further--but honestly, this treat is perfect for a nighttime stroll. Desi flavors in modern desserts are herculean to pull off, but it's still refreshing to see. I really can't wait to bring my parents here. Rooting for this place--and the location couldn't be better. Thank you! read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So excited to finally try this place. The first few months they opened the line was always long and I was too impatient to wait. I went yesterday and there was no line at all! The summer crowds are gone and the Christmas crowds were as well. I read previous comments about the poor customer service but I had a pleasant experience. The workers answered all my questions and I was able to sample some flavors. I asked the workers what flavors they recommended and ultimately went with that. I got the baklava and the rose with roasted almonds. The flavors were amazing! I think the hype is worth it and I can't wait to try some of the other flavors. read more

Malai - Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and Baklava - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Living in suburban NJ I've never heard of Malai. Took a trip to DC and ran by Malai 3 days in a row did not think much of it. We walked pass Malai and saw a poster with mango lassi soft serve and we had to try it even we just had ice cream. We are so glad we went it. The service was great. The girl somehow knew what we wanted and asked if we wanted mango lassi haha. It was amazing. They mixed mango and cardamom yogurt ice cream to create the flavor of mango lassi. They know their flavor. It was so good and refreshing. Probably the best thing we've had the few days we spent in DC. There are tables both inside and outside. I'm so happy to learn that they have locations in Jersey inside some whole food. Cannot wait to try out other south asian inspired flavors read more

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Good dessert spot after a date. They have a variety of ice cream sandwiches and Asian inspired flavors. I really liked the guava chili sorbet and their chai ice cream sandwich, which you can get right out of their freezer. They also have a rewards program but it does take quite a bit of time to rack up points unless you're going there every day/every week. Service was good and that you could try samples of the different flavors. read more

Malai - Gulab Jamun - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I stopped by Malai after always getting the same flavor at the Jeni's nearby. After walking in I realized that Malai makes Jeni's flavors look like plain vanilla. Climate mint is ho would've thought, curry leaf creamsicle never heard of her...until today. Malai is definitely boasting brand new flavor combinations however I believe that I stopped by on an off day for them. When I walked in I noticed someone working on the fridges and that should've been my hint. I opted for a safe flavor their sea salt vanilla. The flavor was solid, however the texture was a 3/10. I dare say that it tasted like it melted then was frozen later. To end on a good note the gentleman who apparently used to work at Jeni's was great. Malai is definitely the new cool kid in DC when it comes to ice cream but I think that I'll stick to Jeni's for my next sweet craving. read more

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Ok thankfully time was the ticket. My second visit to Malai a year after their opening madness, and now I think it's a great spot! They let you sample up to 4 flavors. I liked saffron pistachio, mango cream, and rose with cinnamon almond and chose the rose ice cream to get a scoop! Really creamy and tasted ice cream along with vegan sorbets. The servers were certainly friendly and patient this time, unlike my last visit. Limited indoor or outdoor seating so plan to take to go for a large group. read more

Malai - Rose with Cinnamon Roasted Almonds - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Been a fan of Malai ever since I discovered their pints at my local grocery store. Even more pleased to find out they had a store front in the city. My first visit was early in the summer when they were serving saffron soft serve. The day that we went their soft serve machine wasn't properly working so the soft serve was a soupy mess. They gave it to me at no charge and while it was mostly melted, the taste and flavor was great. Came back this weekend to try out the mango lassi soft serve - this time the machine had no issues and the soft serve was delicious. My husband got the saffron pistachio ice cream which was also SOO good! I'm not a fan of whole nuts in my ice cream and seems like they use pistachio paste instead. Excellent texture! I hope they make it into a pint. As soon as we checked out, the more bizarre thing happened- the two employees working behind the counter both went on break around the same time and there was no one else working in the entire store. I don't know how long they were gone for but they definitely did not return for the 15-20 mins we spent inside eating our ice creams. The whole store just open and unlocked and not a single employee to serve a customer, not even a manager on duty. Definitely really weird experience. read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Was SO excited to try this place and it has been on my list since they opened. Came with my friend who rave about it only to kinda disappointed with my experience :( I got a 2 half scoops of raisin cashew and sweet milk but when I was handed my ice cream 1) my also single scoop order was half the size of my friend's 2) was both freezer burn and melted. I have to give kudos to the staff for trying to remedy that problem quickly when I told them my ice cream was freezer burned, but I still felt they were a little rude when I was initially ordering and asking questions about the ice cream :/ Overall as much as I wanted to love Malai I can't say I will be back or recommend it to anyone else read more

Malai - Freezer burned and melting uneaten single scoops - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had to come and try this spot! Lots of south Asian inspired flavors in ice cream form! Great customer service and great price for three scoops! Pretty popular for BIPOC to come and hang out at which is very comforting and support this place as it is AAPI month. Also it is validating how great this place is! Tried several flavors over two separated visits: Ginger root- very thick, creamy and delicious! They really capture that flavor in ice cream form very well! I'm beyond impressed with it. My favorite out of all! Good choice for ginger root fans! Orange fennel- very citrusy with a hint of spice but not too much as you eat it with other ice cream flavors so it wasn't overcoming too strong. It could be better if it was with orange zest. Pineapple and pink peppercorn- very unique and refreshing as it is sorbet alike. Light but not much of spiciness so it actually balances each other out to bring sweetness out. Chai masala- good chai tasting, also thick, creamy and delicious as well! Safe choice for people who like chai masala in general. read more

New favorite DC ice cream spot!! The flavors are so awesome and unique. I've gotten the cilantro mint every time and do not feel the need to get anything else because it is so good. read more

Malai - Cilantro Mint - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Awesome ice cream spot just off 14th. I've tried a few of their flavors so far. My favorite is the cherry black cardamom, but honestly, all of them sound quite inventive and delicious. My pro tip is to go during off hours. The line is way out the door on Saturday afternoon. But if you go just an hour or two earlier, you may not have to wait in line at all. read more

Yes it's somewhat pricey, but wow this place is amazing!!! If you're looking for delectable unique flavors, Malai is the place for you! I love that they have dairy-free offerings, and let you sample flavors before making a decision (granted this is why you'll be waiting so long - everyone ends up doing this) Each time I've gone I've ended up getting a split cup of two different flavors because everything is so good!! They change up their flavors seasonally/for holidays so there's always a reason to go back ;) read more

Malai - July 2024 menu - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I don't usually gravitate towards overwhelming ice cream flavors BUT this spot off of 14th is worth the hype! Sometimes they have a line but we recently walked right in on a hot Saturday afternoon. Service is always elite, letting you try flavors before choosing yours. I always get the non-dairy option and by far, my favorite is the Lychee sorbet. read more

Malai - Lychee - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love that Malai opened up here. The shop is cute and the staff working the restaurant were super nice about providing recommendations and letting me try different ice creams. I tried a couple, I wasn't a big fan of the saffron soft serve (personal preference though) but enjoyed the mango sticky rice and their specialty chocolate chip (it was kind of like a mint chocolate chip) ice cream. Definitely a unique place and good for a hot day. read more

Malai promises a taste of India in every bite, and they did not disappoint! The flavors were some of the most unique I've ever seen. I went with a scoop of the baklava ice cream, and the flavors were so perfect! Service was friendly and straightforward. Thankfully it wasn't busy, so we were helped right away and allowed to sample up to 4 flavors. The space has a few tables and chairs inside and outside to sit and enjoy your treat. I also saw a few people coming in to pick up online orders, so that's also an option. read more

Malai - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I stopped by Malai with a couple friends this past Friday evening. I've been wanting to try this ice cream shop for awhile but I never find myself in this area. There was a decent sized line when we got here but it wasn't anything more than 10 minutes. We were able to sample 4 flavors -- all were so unique with various spices and quite a few options had pistachio in it. I appreciate that the pistachio-based flavors here actually tasted like pistachio and not some artificial flavoring like a lot of other places. I ended up getting the Masala Chai ice cream which had a melty/slushie texture that wasn't present in the other flavors I tried. The Masala Chai flavor was solid but I was not a fan of the texture. However, my friend got the Masala Chai soft serve which was super smooth and creamy. I didn't know they had a masala chai soft serve, otherwise, I would have just gotten that HAHA. We agreed that the soft serve was much better in terms of texture, but it's possible that the Masala Chai ice cream just had an off day? Overall, I'd be back to try their other flavors in a scoop. Very unique South Asian flavors that you really can't find elsewhere. read more

The best ever!!!!!! Try the cilantro, amazing!!!!!!! Anytime I'm near there I stop in

There was no line when I visited, a fact that others commented on with some surprise so I'm assuming it can get busy at peak times. This place offers Indian ice cream flavors, and it's really full-on South Asian, not like one or two flavors added on to the standard American lineup. They had some special Diwali flavors on when I stopped in, which I tried but which didn't convince me off of my desire to try their chai flavor and their vegan flavor. Strangely enough, the two actually tasted quite similar. Both heavily of cinnamon with other interesting spice notes. I suppose it's to their credit that the difference between dairy and non-dairy was not huge. If you asked me to say which was which in fact, I'm not 100% sure I'd get it right. They had some interesting options in the freezer including ice cream sandwiches, and some distinctive toppings as well. I credit them for going for it; it would have been easy to offer some more conventional American options than they do, but the Indian flavors certainly seem to be enough to sustain a business. read more

Malai - Masala Chai and Royal Cinnamon with Black Salt Caramel - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Malia is a gem in the neighborhood. Its unique flavors, friendly staff, and great pricing makes it one of my go to stops for a "little treat." So far, my favorite flavors that I've tried have been strawberry pie, chocolate with chili, and spicy peanut. The latter two make an excellent two scoop combo, but don't take my word for it! read more

Easily the best ice cream store I've tried in DC! The saffron in saffron pistachio is absolutely authentic, and the texture is just creamy and dense! Black forest and Masala Chai are also great flavors. read more