Shantanu A.
Google
Malai Ice Cream Parlor in Washington, D.C., near Georgetown had been on my list for a long time, and I’m so glad I finally visited. What makes this place special is how beautifully it brings Indian flavors and spices into creative ice cream combinations.
The shop had a great crowd when we visited, and interestingly, most of the customers were non-Indians enjoying these unique flavors. Their menu is packed with exciting options such as rose with cinnamon toasted almonds, mango and cream, masala chai, cardamom pistachio crumble, lemon cardamom, black forest, sweet roti and ghee, saffron pistachio, confetti sweet milk, and spice date cake with coconut caramel. They also offer non-dairy and sorbet options along with soft serve.
We ordered the trio flavors. The standout for me was the sweet roti and ghee flavor—absolutely amazing! It instantly brought back childhood memories. The ice cream had little roti crumbles with a rich ghee flavor, and honestly it was the first time I’ve ever had an ice cream like this.
We also tried mango and cream, which had a very fresh, creamy mango flavor, and saffron pistachio, a beautiful blend of aromatic saffron with crunchy pistachio bits.
Overall, it’s a fantastic dessert spot with unique flavors, good portion sizes, and reasonable pricing for the quality. I’d definitely love to come back and explore more of their flavors next time