Toby's Homemade Ice Cream

Favorite ICE CREAM ever! This is a local gem of an ice cream store. It’s a locally owned ice cream place with amazing workers, creative and delicious ice cream flavors )representing many cultures), additionally despite inflation they have better prices than other ice cream chains in the area! They have my favorite ever ice cream, which is their Ube and they do it the best.

We’ve been trying out several ice cream shops around the area this summer. We came here on a Sunday night and were so surprised to see a long line out the door as no other place we’ve been to had lines and this was late on a Sunday night. Not sure if it was because it was national ice cream day (they were giving out free sprinkles). Line moved quickly and staff was very friendly and efficient. Waffle cones were really good. The ice cream was definitely on the creamier side and not full of air like some places do. Some flavors were sold out so we’ll have to be back to try them next time

We love Toby's so much that we serve their ice cream with our churro donuts. They have so many great flavors. The staff are always nice. You have to try the Ube ice cream. It is purple and a unique flavor you can't get elsewhere. I haven't had a bad flavor yet! Be sure to drop by next door at Westover Taco and say hello to me!

I love finding unique ice cream shops with exotic flavors like Ube, Buko pandan, and lychee. The girls who were working were nice. Toby's is located in a strip mall next to a Walgreens, and popular Italian store. There is free street parking, and a small parking lot behind the Italian shop. Happy Eats ✌️

Ice cream at Toby’s is the perfect level of sweetness. I got the Oreo and Ube and they tasted very good together. Can’t wait to try the sorbets on a warm day

Cruising around the Arlington area, and this Ice Cream shoppe popped up as a top result in Google Maps. This joint is the very definition of hole-in-the-wall; and I always love visiting such locations. They have a lot of flavors to sample, but they were out of their more popular ones (such as Oreo) — which made sense, as I arrived late in the day and near closing time. I sampled the Old School Vanilla Chip, S’mores, and Cookie Dough; sadly, none were my cup of tea. I did like the Vanilla Chip the most though, which left a minty aftertaste in my mouth for some reason. I ultimately rolled the dice on a Chocolate Fudge Brownie Sundae. It comes with two scoops, so I chose semi-randomly (and hastily) and went with Chocolate Peanut Butter and Butter Pecan. It came included with nuts, two of those small round brownie bites, fudge syrup and whipped cream and cherries on top. I ate my Sundae whilst walking on the sidewalk outside. The day was moderately chilly, but very sunny. I made it a point to avoid warm places and tried to find shade while ambulating around. The Sundae was rather decent. The one huge plus point I will say, is that it felt rather light on sugar, despite probably being loaded on calories. I liked that it didn’t *seem* to be a guilty pleasure as the majority of ice cream oft feels like. The other plus points I gave to courteous and speedy service and general kindness rendered. The employees behind the booths acted as gracious and attentive hosts, for all intents and purposes. They did not seem to mind that I took a long(ish) time to decide, for instance. Overall, nice ice cream shop and hole-in-the-wall joint in the heart of Arlington. Recommend stopping by if you’re in the area. I’ll likely be back at least once more, to sample some of their more decadent and popular flavors (:

Love the variety of flavors! I especially love cinnamon any time of year, but in the fall, combined with pumpkin spice - it’s perfect. It’s an authentic cinnamon flavor, not the artificial red hots candy flavor. The ube is also fantastic and not found at just any ice cream shop. There are so many great flavors, which is sure to please most. *edit* most negative reviews were written during the pandemic by people either unhappy with the mask policy or unhappy with people standing too close. We should all agree that public health is important, and I commend this small business for trying to remain operational during a challenging time and shouldn’t be tainted by these specific reviews.

Love this place! I am not a very ice cream person but i really enjoy my salted caramel with waffle cone very well😍 deff will be back! The counter lady is so nice tooo

When we pulled up and the line was out the door on a Sunday night, we knew it was going to be good. Although the line was long, we progressed through quickly. When it was our turn it felt efficient, but not rushed. The difficulty is, the flavors on the screen are different than what's in the case, so once you get up and can see the case you have to make a split second decision. I opted for their speciality, the ube and really enjoyed it! Looking forward to coming back!

I was told the ice cream here was really good so was super excited to try it. I got mint Oreo, i ordered a small but there was a decent amount of ice cream. It was super creamy and delicious! Price was pretty fair for the size too. The shop is pretty small so you may not be able to sit inside. Service was great too!

I love finding unique ice cream shops with exotic flavors like Ube, Buko pandan, and lychee. The girls who were working were nice. Toby's is located in a strip mall next to a Walgreens, and popular Italian store. There is free street parking, and a small parking lot behind the Italian shop. Happy Eats

5 stars for some really excellent traditional Arlington ice cream! When it comes to finding ice cream in Arlington, it seems like a lot of places have a twist. I'm happy to try the rolled ice cream or funky flavors in a small storefront or nitrogen cooling, but sometimes you just want a waffle cone of scooped ice cream without having to drive over the river to Georgetown. Fortunately, my wife and I were looking for ice cream during the recent National Ice Cream Day and came across Toby's. Located on Washington Boulevard only a few minutes from Ballston, we were excited to head over and give it a try. We arrived at the venue (which shares public parking with over venues in the area, which can be a little tough) and walked inside. We found an average-sized ice cream counter with lots of different flavors to try, various toppings to put on top, and waffle cones ready to go. My wife and I decided to share a two scoop cone with pistachio and chocolate peanut butter and boy was it delicious. Plus, unlike other ice cream spots that just give you 2 big scoops that don't really fit, the person behind the counter put together 2 scoops worth of ice cream in several scoops so that you can taste ice cream throughout the entire cone without the mess. To some people, this might not seem special, but finding a place that made a tasty and convenient cone was like hitting the jackpot. Overall, Toby's Homemade Ice Cream provided us with some of the best ice cream in the Arlington area.

Cruising around the Arlington area, and this Ice Cream shoppe popped up as a top result in Google Maps. This joint is the very definition of hole-in-the-wall; and I always love visiting such locations. They have a lot of flavors to sample, but they were out of their more popular ones (such as Oreo) -- which made sense, as I arrived late in the day and near closing time. I sampled the Old School Vanilla Chip, S'mores, and Cookie Dough; sadly, none were my cup of tea. I did like the Vanilla Chip the most though, which left a minty aftertaste in my mouth for some reason. I ultimately rolled the dice on a Chocolate Fudge Brownie Sundae. It comes with two scoops, so I chose semi-randomly (and hastily) and went with Chocolate Peanut Butter and Butter Pecan. It came included with nuts, two of those small round brownie bites, fudge syrup and whipped cream and cherries on top. I ate my Sundae whilst walking on the sidewalk outside. The day was moderately chilly, but very sunny. I made it a point to avoid warm places and tried to find shade while ambulating around. The Sundae was rather decent. The one huge plus point I will say, is that it felt rather light on sugar, despite probably being loaded on calories. I liked that it didn't *seem* to be a guilty pleasure as the majority of ice cream oft feels like. The other plus points I gave to courteous and speedy service and general kindness rendered. The employees behind the booths acted as gracious and attentive hosts, for all intents and purposes. They did not seem to mind that I took a long(ish) time to decide, for instance. Overall, nice ice cream shop and hole-in-the-wall joint in the heart of Arlington. Recommend stopping by if you're in the area. I'll likely be back at least once more, to sample some of their more decadent and popular flavors (:

Cute little local ice cream spot in east falls church! They have a good variety of flavors that include your classics, as well as some unique ones, like ube (sweet potato) and green tea. I tried s'mores and espresso chip, and both were awesome. They also have a variety of "wet" and "dry" toppings, coffee, and "pupsicles." They don't have much seating (inside or outside), but it's a great little area to walk around if you can't find a spot inside.

Parking is a little scary, but the staff here are absolutely wonderful and the ice cream is great too. I really enjoyed the cicada ice cream they had during the "emergence." I hope to be back soon!

Toby's is such a nice neighborhood spot. In an age of abundant gourmet-yet-commercialized ice cream, Toby's is a breath of fresh air. It's no frills, just good menu items and good prices. The flavors include classics like vanilla and chocolate, twists like s'mores and salted caramel, and fruits/veggies like banana, raspberry, and ube. You can get a cup, regular cone, or waffle cone. There are toppings like sprinkles and broken cone pieces. There are also milkshakes, sundaes, and frozen hot chocolate. They stick to crowd pleasers. The ice cream flavors are more on the mild side rather than super potent. The texture is really nice--very smooth, not icy, doesn't melt too fast. And you get a good portion of ice cream for the price. A two-scoop cup is good for at least two people to share. There are a lot of good restaurants in this area in Westover. You could easily have lunch/dinner and then walk over to Toby's. Or just get ice cream first!

Saw this place on IG so decided to check it out! I came for the Ube flavors which were pretty authentic and strong! The texture itself was pretty good: I liked how it both chewy and very smooth. Sweetness was definitely appropriate. The cinnamon flavor was very similar to the flavor profile of a horchata drink so I enjoyed it as well! The only concerning thing was the staff who served us didn't have gloves on and the side of her hand had visible ice cream stains from different flavors. She then proceeded to scope our ice cream for us even with her contaminated hand. Despite how small the store is, they serve a good amount of flavors! Definitely had the cozy mom and pop shop feel! Unfortunately there aren't any indoor seating options but some public benches are available walking-distance down the street. Lots of street parking options too.

Tiny ice cream spot where all of the ice cream (and waffle cones) are homemade Not really any seating Classic ice cream flavors Ice cream is solid A bunch of sundae options

What a neat little discovery not too far from my place! We were on the hunt for local ice cream, and came to discover, once we got there, that the service was friendly and chatty (esp about their Fleetwood Mac playlist/recommendations) and how the owner is Filipino. This made me smile bc I am Filipina and have not had calamansi sorbet. It was sweet, tart and paired well with their peachy ice cream. Although the ube flavor was out, I am looking forward to trying it. Lastly - I appreciated seeing local events posted, and although we couldn't attend, it was neat to know these types of nearby activities were being advertised.

A cute little ice cream shop located near the Italian Store and across the street from Lost Dog. Its a great stop after a lunch or dinner for a quick dessert. The service was very friendly. Its a fairly basic traditional shop inside with minimal seating except for a countertop area. They offer all the usual flavors plus a handful of unique ones, and a decent selection of toppings. There really isn't anything unique here, but for an ice cream shop, that's not a bad thing!

The ice cream here is GOOD. Not the creamiest or smoothest but the flavors here are done well. I got the small scoop ($3.25) of ube and the guy gave me a good amount (two mini scoops). It's pretty cheap for the amount I got. I was really excited to try the ube flavor since I don't normally see it in most ice cream places. Overall, it was good but I would prefer a stronger ube flavor. If I closed my eyes and did a blind tasting, I'm not sure if I would be able to tell off the bat. My friend got the "coconut chocolate crunch" flavor and that was phenomenal!! I definitely need to get that next time because you can taste the coconut and the texture of the flakes in every single bite. And the chocolate complemented the coconut flakes really well. I'm super excited to try other flavors here! It's a relatively walkable distance from where I live (~40 minutes) but it would be worth it to treat myself here and there!!

I did try UBE, Strawberry & Cafe ..( coffee). All is good :). Service is good. The kids that worked on 5/11/23 in evening did good jobs :). It was so busy :)

Finally checked this place out after moving into the neighborhood a few months ago and it's delicious! Best chocolate chip ice cream I've ever had, perfect creaminess and consistency. We'll be back soon!

Definitely worth the visit! Please try the bittersweet chocolate and ube! Bring your family to enjoy!

An unassuming little ice cream shop tucked between a bar/grill and a barber shop, Toby's Homemade Ice Cream is your friendly neighborhood ice cream shop that serves delicious flavors with high-quality ingredients. Toby's uses all-natural ingredients and makes ice cream by hand in small batches to guarantee freshness. Their ice cream is rich, creamy, and flavorful. I recently popped in to finally try it out. I sampled both ube and espresso chip and decided to get both in a regular cup. Oh my goodness, the two flavors were fantastic. Creamy, smooth, full-flavored. The perfect pick-me-up. Highly recommend trying both the ube and espresso chip! They also serve espresso, coffee, milkshakes, sundaes, smoothies, and some blended drinks. I hope to try an espresso or coffee drink next time!

I've been to this place ever since I was a student at Swanson and it's such a great place for ice cream! I love how they've added a lot more flavours over the years. You can tell the ice cream is rich quality wise. I'd say the ube here is much better than at Trader Joe's or at other grocery chains because it's more flavourful and rich. There's some flavours here that are okay to me though or that you can probably get at other places for cheaper and better taste, but I feel like that's all ice cream shops. Staff are usually pretty nice to me. I sometimes feel intimidated in the store because kids and students always bombard this place and being the only adult there can be awkward for me. Lol. They also have strange close and open times too which can be confusing and sometimes I come when they're closed for an hour during the middle of the day. I personally think the prices for the pints are a little pricey but that's just like any other ice cream shop that sells pints.

Fantastic ice cream spot. I got the Ube on a cone and it was perfect. I of course read the reviews before coming here and noticed many people complaining that the Ube flavor wasn't as strong as other flavors . I would like to point out that those of us who are Ube lovers, we know that Ube is not supposed to be a strong flavor . It can be described as a very mellow nutty vanilla like flavor . If you're looking for a strong flavor I would definitely advise to check out other options . If you are like me and prefer something more mellow and light, then go ahead with the Ube and you won't be disappointed:)

The ice cream and milkshakes were delicious! There were a lot of flavors - like vanilla bean, ube, and salted caramel. The customer service was excellent- everyone was friendly and created an enjoyable visit.

You walk in and the employees are ready to serve you with a great smile. When I was there they were very patient, answered all questions, and gave samples! The ice cream was rich, creamy, fresh, and not too sweet. My favorite flavor was ube, it tasted fresh and it was perfect in sweetness (it tasted similar to a taro milk tea). I will definitely come again especially when the weather is nice enough to walk around the little town.

This brand new ice cream place has everything you are looking for when it comes to ice cream and toppings. They have many flavors, I think it was 16, and they included some essentials + pistachio and other delicious somewhat less standard options. Recommend!

Can't say it's bad because they're closed when it says they should be open. Based off other reviews, they really need to work on their online presence and get their hours synced up.

First time at Toby's and I'm in love! Also, the hours aren't really correct on Google...so just call ahead to double check on the hours. There was plenty of free parking right outside on the street. It's small spot, so it's pretty easy to miss if you don't know where it is. There's no seating space inside, so you'll have to grab your ice cream and find a bench or something outside. They didn't have any gluten-free cones, so if you're gluten-intolerant like me, you'll have to go for the cup. I got the Ube ice cream, while my friend got a coffee oreo ice cream. I don't recall any dairy-free options either, but I may be wrong. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of "a scoop". I got a good amount (like 3 scoops) for "a scoop". The staff are friendly and it was a quick in and out after getting the ice cream. I highly recommend this spot if you're in the area!

Heard about this place and had to try it. The place itself is small and yet this is a great place to get ice cream in cones, cups or even milkshakes/malts. I had to get the ube ice cream but I did also sample the pumpkin. Both were great flavors and if people are in the area they need to try this place.

*2nd visit Toby's is one of my favorite spots in Arlington. The ube here is top notch, but the service was something else. The staff here was patient with all of our questions that we had, I think it's worth supporting a small business rather than trying the names we all know. I think the oreo coffee flavor was also a big hit, best of all the price is fair and the location is around a wonderful area to walk, thank you again Toby! :D

Went to the Vienna location in the evening and had a wonderful ice cream cone! Fun flavors, nice staff. I had a waffle cone (espresso chip and s'mores), and my spouse had a s'mores milkshake. Seating is relatively limited in Vienna, with a couple chairs right outside the door. Parking is plentiful. They sell pints to go and even had ice cream sandwiches as well! I really enjoyed it and can't wait to go back! High quality and interesting flavors.

Toby... or not Toby. That is the question. Well, considering how good the ice cream is, I say... Toby! Toby is a nice ice cream shop with excellent service and pretty good products... prices are on the high side, and it's definitely worth trying if you love ice cream and you're in this area. Parking can be a nightmare but so can your mother on dates - I would know. If I find a flavour I'm truly in love with, it'll go up to 5.

This is a review of the Vienna location. I wanted to like this place a lot, but the ice cream is just not good. We tried eight different flavors over two visits and found most of them to be bland. Ube and peach get a lot of rave reviews, but they both tasted like vanilla at best. Chocolate and bittersweet chocolate were meh, so were a few fruity flavors. The texture of the ice cream is subpar as well. It is very icy, not really creamy. Mango sorbet was more flavorful than the ice cream but it was more like a slushy than a high quality sorbet, texture-wise. The staff were friendly, helpful, and patient; hence the three stars. Unfortunately, we won't be returning. We'll stick to Ben & Jerry's on Maple Ave to satisfy our ice cream cravings. Sigh.

Delicious homemade ice cream! After reading about it on DCEater as one of the top ice cream shops in the DC & NOVA area, I decided to see for myself. Is it worth the long lines and the trip from DC? YES! I'm really impressed by the 2 dozen unique flavors and the Coffee Oreo, Expresso Chip, and Cinnamon are my favorites. I love that there are chocolate chips added to the ice cream for the Expresso Chip flavor while oreos are added to the Coffee Oreo flavor. You can taste oreos and chips in every bite with a hint of coffee. The Cinnamon is simple and refreshing! The crunchy waffle cone is quite good and fresh, you can tell it's homemade. You must get the waffle cone! Great ice cream, waffle cones, and excited to come back to try more!

It's a gem- finding great ice cream joints in NOVA is a challenge!! It's located in Arlington and offers homemade ice cream of a rotating variety of flavors. It's just delicious and would recommend it to anyone wanting quality ice cream! Please support this local place which seems to be staffed by college students! They have the most unusual ice creams called Abe- google it- purple sweet potato from Philippines -this is incredibly delicious!! Never see it anywhere else!

I think ultimately I like gelato better than ice cream. While the flavors are good and the ice cream is decent. It is not anything special compared to some other spots I can think of.

We apparently went after they'd experienced some major flooding, so there was this lingering smell that wasn't particularly appetizing. But after learning they'd flooded, I'm giving them a pass. (But their bathroom is a nightmare and I don't think that's a recent thing ... I think it's just a nightmare.) We'd just been to another restaurant down the street for burger week and decided we simply needed some ice cream to finish off our meal (this is always the correct answer, by the way). We ordered: Two scoops in a cup - Coffee Oreo and Chocolate Coconut Crunch Cookie Beast Sundae I honestly couldn't decide between the two flavors as to which was better - they were both so so awesome. The Coffee Oreo had a smooth, light coffee flavor that didn't overpower the oreo, and the Chocolate Coconut Crunch was true to its word - it had a delicious coconut flavor and crunchy, thin chocolate threaded throughout. My husband loved his Cookie Beast Sundae. They have loads of flavors, and their prices are great. I'd return!

New favorite neighborhood ice cream shop! I'm so glad I came back to give this place another try after a few years. I love their ice creams, they are very flavorful & creamy. There is also a variety of flavors, both traditional & seasonal including Vanilla Bean, Bittersweet Chocolate, Coffee Oreo, Strawberry, Oreo, Cafe Au Lait, Salted Caramel, Mango Sorbet, Raspberry Sorbet, and even Ube. My favorite flavors have to be White Chocolate Blueberry, Green Tea, Mint Oreo. As a lover of matcha, I was quite surprised that their Green Tea ice cream is actually authentic matcha and not the fake green tea flavor that most ice cream places have. The prices are decent too, compared to what the norm is at other ice cream shops now-a-days. They have anywhere from single scoops, banana splits, milkshakes, to custom ice cream cakes! I also loved the White Chocolate Blueberry so much that I took home a hand-packed pint of it! The staff is friendly, patient, and helpful. They seem to be mainly high school & college students. The space is small, a few tables & chairs along the wall. I'm definitely a fan & will be back several times in the future!

Good "comfort spot" - I personally wish there was more obvious places to have a seat, but the service behind the counter is very nice and the ice cream is very good. I love buying a waffle cone with two scoops and then going for a walk.

Great little spot with just the right mix of traditional flavors and some more interesting ones. I had 3 scoops- one was Oreo coffee and the other was coconut chocolate. Both were so yummy! And so was the waffle cone. The prices are reasonable compared to similar places. Had a great experience and will be back for sure.

The ice cream here can be pretty good - but the entire experience will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. The owner, who is in periodically and serving customers, can be extremely rude and standoffish. We went in on a Saturday...there was one group (3 younger kids) in the store and three people working behind the counter. We asked for two pints of ice cream, two different flavors. Toby, the owner, proceeded to raise his voice in disgust that we would make such a request when they were "so busy." He said we had to call ahead to order something like that - how are we supposed to know that if we are walking in off of the street. What if I had ordered 6 banana splits? The group of kids had said they needed more time to figure out what we wanted. The kids he has on staff aren't much warmer - they yell at customers and roll their eyes if you ask questions. It's such a shame as we live within walking distance and have heard similar reviews from our neighbors.

Ice cream is good. Went there because I heard about how good it was- walked in and immediately felt uncomfortable because of all the signs about what customers should or should not do- including the cell phone policy, the correct way to order policy, the correct way to reach for your ice cream policy and the business reserving the right to check customers' temperatures from the "back end" if not masked policy. It is June 2021- and all businesses we frequent follow the science and allow vaccinated people in with lout masks and generally follow other commonly held beliefs about customer service. Very odd establishment. Will not return.

Recently discovered this place and it's now my go-to ice cream shop! It's locally owned and the flavors are so good! I personally love the chocolate peanut butter, especially since it's actually chocolate peanut butter FLAVORED, not just chocolate ice cream with peanut butter chunks in it

A great local spot that's well known by most people in the area. It has a nice old-school, cozy vibe, but also happens to be in a good location near other stores with cute outdoor lighting. The ice cream is delicious, their scoops are huge, and their sundaes are reasonably priced given the amount of toppings you get with the giant scoops. They have a lot of traditional flavors, but also some fun ones like ube!

Ice cream was ok, but it's definitely not the cleanest place at all!!! The customer service would definitely use some improvement!!!

Service was good, unfortunately the worst mocha I ever had. Tasted watery with no coffee. Really disappointed

The ice cream is delicious and the customer service is amazing. My favorite is the matcha :)

Best ice cream in the area! Flavors are each so delicious and amazingly high quality. Check in for 15% off and even without it, it's very reasonable and big portions. Ample street parking around the area.

I got the white chocolate blueberry and honestly I could barely taste any blueberry or white chocolate :/ actually it was just tasteless :( I was so sad that I wasted calories on something that tasted like nothing :( Friend said strawberry also barely tasted like strawberry

Great selection of flavors and coffees. For iced coffee I noticed they use ice cubes made of coffee so that coffee does not get watered down. My mother-in-law (whom I love) is no longer the only purist who does this! Today, I got coffee oreo and chocolate ice cream with a side of iced coffee - all delicious and generously portioned! Can't say enough about the service too. Staff is always friendly and price is super reasonable! In a super quaint neighborhood in N. Arlington with other good eateries and coffee. Great for kids. Highly recommend.

Toby's is in the heart of Westover near Westover Market and the Italian Store which makes for a good night of dining and libations. Upon entry to Toby's we were greeted right away. It was our first visit and I wanted to sample a few flavors before deciding. Unfortunately they limit the sample to two per customer. I was hoping they'd have more than the two sorbets in the freezer. We went with two sugar cones and one scoop. I thought the price was very reasonable. The layout of the store is not conducive to hanging out as I felt it's a bit cramped so we took our cones outside. I'm glad we tried this local shop but it did not surpass my personal favorite in Arlington. More samples and a more welcoming space would earn Toby's a five-star rating.

I paid $21 for my 3 kids which is at least twice what it should have cost. Then I declined to leave an extra tip on top of that so I left feeling like a cheapskate too. Next time I'll just go somewhere else.

If you like high quality ice cream, I wouldn't stop here. It's mediocre at best. Fine for kids, but not for discriminating adults.

I'm lactose intolerant but I'd risk it all for Toby's ice cream. My current favorites are banana and cafe au lait. The banana has real banana pieces in it and the cafe au lait has a fresh brew taste. What makes Toby's ice cream great is that they're not overly sweet. Their iced coffee is made with frozen coffee ice cubes!!