Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

I visited Van Leeuwen on a Saturday afternoon. The place was quiet, and the service was fast and friendly — the staff was truly kind and welcoming, which I really appreciated. Unfortunately, the quality of the ice cream did not meet expectations. The cone was soft and stale, the chocolate sauce had an odd, elastic texture and an artificial taste, and the cookies and cream flavor had a bitter or slightly sour note, which was disappointing. Given the high prices, I expected fresher ingredients and more balanced flavors. The brand has a great concept, but I believe the execution could be more refined to match the premium cost. I truly appreciated the kind service, but overall, the experience was underwhelming.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is hands-down one of the most luxurious and satisfying ice cream experiences you can have. Every scoop feels like a decadent treat, with ultra-creamy texture and rich, thoughtfully developed flavors that set it apart from typical store brands. Whether it’s a classic like Honeycomb or a more adventurous option like Earl Grey Tea or Brown Sugar Chunk with Cookie Dough, each flavor feels crafted with care and creativity. You can truly taste the quality ingredients — from real cream and egg yolks to premium mix-ins — and it makes all the difference. What really makes Van Leeuwen shine is how inclusive it is without sacrificing taste. Their vegan line is shockingly good — flavors like Vegan Chocolate Fudge Brownie are just as luscious and indulgent as their dairy counterparts. It’s rare to find an ice cream brand that nails both ends of the spectrum so perfectly. Whether you’re treating yourself on a hot summer day or winding down with a pint after dinner, Van Leeuwen delivers a consistently five-star experience.

I was excited to find this place because I really wanted thick, creamy French-style ice cream. Unfortunately the texture of the ice cream was not much different than what is served at "Marble Slab." I tried the honey comb flavor and it was such an interesting taste. The honey pieces were sweet and the vanilla ice cream had an enhanced flavor compared to the traditional flavor. The simplest comparison is that it tastes like an elevated vanilla caramel swirl.

Summary: cute icecream place with its decor, aesthetic, and menu options. Just probs won’t ever come back bc it’s expensive given the portions. The workers were nice and patient though!

Staff were nice and very accommodating. Service was fast too, we didn't have to wait for long. Ordered Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Strawberry Shortcake. Loved the Dark Chocolate! Strawberry Shortcake was too sweet. But overall, 💯 They also offer vegan ice cream!

Delicious ice cream and berry large variety of flavors! Team is very friendly and polite. Also Stefon was very patient as it’s my first time here and I wanted to make sure I got the right flavor and I ultimately settled on the Strawberry Sorbet as strawberry is my favorite.

Daniel was very amazing! Great personality and really sold me on some of the amazing flavors and overall made my first experience a 10 out of 10. Will be back for sure! Make sure when you visit you ask for him.

Boutique ice cream shop. Go early - they ran out of the flavor my family wanted. Cute store.

Sign up for their emails to get notified of specials. Their pistachio parfaits are delicious. Not sure what to get, their delicious samples are offered in little metal spoons. Who does this?? Definitely share an ice cream parfait with that special someone....or buy them their own parfait. A delicious sweet treat.

The earl grey flavor at Van Leeuwen is addicting! I first came across this brand at HEB, where pints were sold. I wanted to visit the store to explore other flavors, and was amazed with the variety. I was warmly greeted as I walked in the door, and offered samples - great customer service! I tried the black cherry and honeycomb flavors, decided to get a cone with earl grey though, it's too good! I also picked up a couple pints, which is when I realized their pints are 14oz, not 16oz like other brands, and cost $11 per. This was my mistake, I should have checked the menu/price list. These pints were $5 or $5.5 at HEB (what a deal there). Just a small FYI

They have different flavors of ice cream that are not seen at other ice cream joints. They let you try the different flavors so definitely try the flavors before ordering! All the wonders were really nice and sweet. It's a cute spot for a hang out! You can park right outside with metered parking or at the parking garage for 2 hr free parking!

It was the first time visiting here and I loved the fact that they have vegan options! I tried almost every vegan sampling options and I liked the dark cholesterol fudge brownie the most as it wasn't too sweet and it was fine for me. Along with that, my girlfriend got passion fruit something and crispy something! Twas very delightful but over little less sugar will be appreciated. But I will be back again! Cheers

Such good ice cream, they also have vegan flavors for those who have allergies. There is a variety of different ice cream flavors and this place is one of my fav go to ice cream spots. This place also has their own ice cream tubs that you can buy, which is nice. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. There isn't seating inside but since it is in rice village you will find a ton of seating outdoors.

Loveee their ice cream especially the butter cake! Parking can be tricky but street parking is there

Tried this ice cream place on a whim and had a great experience! Service was great they let us try several flavors before we decided on a pistachio milkshake (delicious) The store was clean and bright, only downside is the ice cream is a bit on the pricier side ($10 for a milkshake) but given the location, it's not too surprising

Van Leeuwen is one of the best ice cream places within the Houston area! The specialty flavor strawberry matcha is so good and the perfect level of sweetness. Parking is easy and there is a lot of outdoor seating.

Super nice girls working there. Delicious cherry chip ice cream. Kind of overpriced honestly but I liked that it had big chips and real cherries.

the ice cream here is so rich in flavor. They have a large variety of flavors! And they are not basic flavors either. Price is fair. Small seating area inside. I love how the have to go pints that you can take home. My favorite flavor is the brown sugar cookie dough chunk! They even have some dog friendly ice cream to take home in a pint size! My dog LOVED it! It's in rice village so you do have to park in designated garage areas or spaces. But you can easily walk to it! Near shake shack and an ear piercing parlor. Service was friendly and even let us sample a few flavors before making a decision. Clean environment.

Unique flavors, friendly staff. So many options to pick from and taste all of them. Only negative is the parking.

The earl grey flavor is so good! They have fun flavors and let you sample as many as you want. They also sell pints of icecream. Super friendly and helpful employees. However, the price they charge for one scoop of icecream with no toppings is kind of crazy.

Van Leeuwen is offering your favorite cold treats in vegan form. Don't worry though if you are an ice cream lover you can still order the old fashioned treat. Featuring many different flavors the ice cream tastes fresh and really delicious. Service was great and they let you try out a sample as well. The place was clean and I can't wait to go back and try a different flavor.

"A life without anything good is bad" is their motto here and I completely agree. I find good here, so I have been hitting Van Leeuwen up anytime I am near one. This particular location is the closest to my part of town and easy to get to. It is usually our go to after dinner spot for something sweet. I have only ever come later in the evening so parking is plentiful but metered. I honestly don't know the meter policy here so park at your own risk or throw some money into it. The parking garage nearby is free for 2 hours. Customer service has always been on point here which always keeps me coming back. What I like about this place is their unique flavors. They push the bar with some of their limited releases such as the Hidden Valley Ranch or Kraft Mac & Cheese flavors. I'm an adventurous eater, but I will leave that one for you ranch and cheese lovers. I'm also a creature of habit when it comes to ice cream. Cookies and Cream all day for me. This place has made me curious and has me ordering new things every time I come. Don't get me wrong, I still get the cookies and cream in addition to something new. My newest discovery and probably my fave here is the Praline Butter Cake. It has pralines along with pieces of brown butter cake and it is divine. Don't sleep on some of their fruity flavors or even their vegan options. They let you sample as much as you want before committing to anything. There truly is something to please everyone here. Run, don't walk to any of their many locations and thank me later!

Van Leeuwen is a national chain of gourmet ice cream, sold both at grocery stores and at dedicated retail shops across the country. This location is at Rice Village in Houston Texas, and was fairly busy when we stopped by on a Saturday night. It actually might be the most expensive, non-local ice cream we have ever bought: $8.25 for one scoop. It's only 10 cents more for a double scoop, so obviously they really are encouraging the two scooper (scoops are average, so a two scooper ends up being the same size as a one scooper at some other ice cream shop...but you get to pick different flavors). Wife and I shared a two scooper, flavors being dark chocolate fudge brownie and mint chip. The dark chocolate was excellent, and the fudge chunks were small. The mint chip was OK, and acted as a nice counter balance to all that heavy chocolate. They have a limited number of flavors, but that's OK...ice cream IS better when it is fresher, so appreciate the turn around for each barrel. My nephew wasn't as impressed with his strawberry ("not much flavor")...I'm wondering if they served him the vegan version by mistake? There was limited seating inside, but luckily found a small table in the corner. It was still very hot outside (even after the sun went down), so appreciated that we could eat it inside. Expensive but very good ice cream.

Van Leeuwen has a great variety of flavors. Appreciate the vegan options as well! My favorite is the Earl Grey or Marionberry Cheesecake

Olivia helped us and was so sweet! We got to try multiple flavors and the ice cream is so good. I got the ice cream cake flavor it was delicious. Super cute little shop!

Ice cream is too good to be true, a little pricey but the taste & vibes match the place. The service were

Flavors are always delicious and I appreciate how you can taste test the holiday offerings. They need more weekend staff though. Line out the door with just one employee. :(

Great ice cream place, reasonably priced and nice portions that we normally have to share Been in other locations in San Diego and California, so familiar with the vibe and ice cream Doesn't disappoint

I stopped by Van Leeuwen to pick up some ice cream and had pleasant visit! This location is in Rice Village, and I'd recommend parking in the Rice Village garage (free for 2 hours). I got the planet earth flavor (spirulina and matcha), and I think my friends got some sort of berry cheesecake flavor and coffee chocolate chip flavor. All were tasty, and the employees were very nice and let us sample some before choosing. There's vegan flavors and pints available to purchase. The cons are that it is on the pricier side for ice cream, and there isn't much seating.

The perfect sweet late night pick-me-up. The ice cream here is well balanced in creaminess and sweetness. Their honeycomb, marionberry cheesecake, and earl grey tea are my favorite staple flavors. They also have an extensive vegan menu. What makes this shop stand out compared to other ice cream shops to me is the waffle cone. It's extra big and super crispy while not being too sweet or crumbly. Yes, the price is a little expensive here, but it's a sweet indulgence.

I'm obsessed with this place! As a dairy free person, this place is incredible with all of their amazing vegan ice cream flavors. They are also very nice and the place is located in a wonderful environment. Everyone who works there is always down to help.

Great lil ice cream place. My friend and I were looking for nearby dessert, and this place was nearby. There's a lot of options in terms of flavors, suitable for any taste. They use coconut milk for some of the non dairy and even vegan options. I got the tea flavor and non dairy strawberry shortcake. Both were satisfying! The interior was bright and clean. Definitely worth another visit! Yes, you will probably have to pay for parking, but that's the unfortunate price to pay for businesses there!

I'm an ice cream whore...legit. When in NYC, we have points delivered late at night and I have no regrets. My go-to is always the honeycomb and the praline butter cake - together. Chef's kiss! So I was so excited they were around the corner from where I was having lunch because I needed to end my day with a perfect sweet treat. If you've not tried them, what are you waiting for??? Plenty of options and pints to go.

Every shop is just a shop until you find your one "thing" there. That "thing" may be the owners care, bomb customer service, convenience, the product itself, or a combination of any of the above. For me this one was all four. Meeting Ben and Laura along with the Blind Chef at the Montrose store openings, the convenience to try multiple scoops through a Yelp Elite Week, great service at this location, and finally landing on Planet Earth (a custard Ice cream made from spirulina with matcha green tea cake chunks)- my flavor! This process took a few months, and a few visits to arrive at 5 stars, but it's certainly well deserved. I highly recommend stopping into a scoop shop vs finding the ice cream in stores. They will personal scoop a pint for you if it's not in the freezer, allow you to sample any flavor you're unsure of (*Kraft Mac and cheese, planet earth (mascarpone based), vegan versions of the favs, grey poupon ice cream *cough cough* ) and will certainly send you out with a smile! Signed, sealed, delivered, it's gooooood

I think I've visited Van Leeuwen enough times to write a review. It doesn't help that this spot is close to my workplace and that it's open late. Lol. Free parking is available in the garage nearby. But, I just pay $1 for parking in front of their business. It's good for 30 minutes. More than enough time to knock out my ice cream snack. Customer service is great too. They're always so patient when we want to sample many ice cream flavors. From my many visits here, I can give a rundown of the some of the flavors here. I have not tried all of them yet, nor will I be able to, since they do have new flavors that come up regularly. So, here goes: Earl Grey: strong flavor, but not a pleasant aftertaste. PB brownie chip: my sister loved this flavor. She's ordered it twice. Mint Chip: tasted like mint chip. Nothing spectacular. Black Cherry Chip: both my sister's and my favorite flavor. Generous and aromatic cherries and chocolate chips throughout, which made this ice cream so much fun to eat. Raspberry layer cake: I enjoyed this flavor as well. Although not as punchy as the black cherry chip, the raspberry was pleasant and went well with the yellow cake pieces throughout the ice cream. Cookie crumble and strawberry jam (vegan): I sampled this and another vegan ice cream flavor. Honestly, I got a big hit of coconut flavor with these vegan ice creams. I'm not sure if I even tasted the intended flavors of the ice creams. I was not a fan. But, if you love coconut, go and give their vegan ice creams a try. Big Face Coffee Affogato and Blueberry cheesecake: initially, my sis and I enjoyed both these flavors because of the punch of coffee and blueberries that we tasted. But, for some reason, as we moved further down our cups of ice cream, my sis and I both agreed that we stopped tasting the intended flavors. My only guess was that the ice cream may not have been evenly mixed throughout. We hope this was just a fluke during our most recent visit. Overall, we do like the ice cream here, although it's expensive for even one scoop of ice cream. We just enjoyed how fun it was to sample different ice cream flavors. I also liked the outdoor seating area with other adjacent eateries. I can't wait to try their fall/winter seasonal ice creams. I'm a big pumpkin spice fan. Lol. #teampumpkinspice Come check them out.

Opens late which is a plus! They have some great tasting flavored ice cream here. Staff is nice and willing to let you try as many flavors as ya like. One of my fav ice cream spots to go to in Houston!

An updated review a year later since my previous one. The size of each scoop is significantly bigger than before, and we decided to try the regular ice cream instead of their vegan flavors. We tried the Earl Gray Tea flavor and the Blueberry Shortcake flavor. I'm an earl gray aficionado, and I have to say the earl gray flavor at Van Leeuwen is one of the top ones I've ever had. It's so rich and creamy, it has the most exquisite flavor. I'll definitely come back and get a pint soon! The blueberry shortcake flavor is fun and satisfying to have, it's well mixed with chunks of shortcake and swirl of seasonal fresh sweet blueberries . If you love fruity, rich and sweeter ice cream, you won't be disappointed with this one.

I've been hearing a lot about this place and was super excited to try it out! It's in the popular Rice Village area, plenty of parking and right next to Shake Shack! First impressions when walking in, it was actually super nice inside. Loved all the different colors and signs. The ice cream choices were abundant! We tried a few, but I ended up with the Marionberry Cheesecake and Raspberry Layered cake ice creams! The taste was actually super on point and it was very unique. The reason I'm giving 3 stars is because we actually found a hair inside the Ice cream. I would've said something but there was a little girl and her mother in the shop, so didn't want to ruin the experience for them. And it definitely wasn't one of my hairs (I shave my head). I definitely won't let this deter me from trying the place again and updating at a later time, but I definitely think the ice cream shop should be carefully with these things .

Delicious ice cream - CHECK! A myriad of options - CHECK! Yummy flavors that are not too far "out there" - CHECK! Friendly staff - CHECK! Parking situation - meh PRO PARENT TIP: If your kid gets a cone and he accidentally drops it on the floor, the nice staff may get him a replacement cone :).

Amazing experience in Rice Village. Perfect to end a date with your special someone. Don't forget to sample a few flavours before you buy.

Loved visiting! Super cute shop and TONS of flavors! I am currently dairy free and love having several delicious choices! Feels nice to partake in "normal" things and they actually taste amazing!!

Good selection of vegan ice cream. Great place to try things you can't get elsewhere if you're lactose intolerant or vegan!

Delicious! The employees are delightful and the shop is clean and inviting. The only negative is the price is high but that has not stopped me from indulging and stopping by often. Enjoy!!

We had a fantastic time on our team outing at Van Leeuwen. Amazing service provided by Sirra and her team mate it was some of our first time and they were patient and let us try the flavors and we didn't feel rushed or a bother! Highly recommended!!!

I have never heard of this brand before so I got to try something new today! Located in the West University area (ice cream shop is located right off University) very each to find. I arrived right when the opened around 11AM. As soon as you step into this shop you're hit with the sweet aroma of yummy goodness. Extremely clean and simple interior decor, where there's plenty of inside seating if you want to sit for a few and enjoy your sweet treat. There is a plethora of ice cream flavors to choose from and thankfully Roy, who was working behind the counter on this day, was patient with me while I was trying to decide. He informed me all the ice cream is made in-house and suggested I try one of their new Summer 2022 flavors. So I go for one of their brand new flavors Campfire S'mores! I also read reviews prior to going so I wanted to try All Cookies as well. The scoops are pretty big so even though one scoop is around $6 it's enough ice cream to satisfy you. All Cookies was yummy but Campfire S'mores was a hit! I'm a huge chocolate lover so I loved the chunks and bits of chocolate, although I would've loved to taste more of the marshmallow flavor it was still pretty darn delicious! In this scorching Houston heat, Van Leeuwen should definitely be on your Summer to do list! Also thank you to the employer, Roy, working that day very nice guy! He also gave me a card for my next visit 'buy one scoop, get one free' so I'll definitely be back.

Vegan ice cream and simple ingredients. I'm in. When I heard the famous Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen was making its way to Houston, I knew I had to check it out. Many Houston ice cream shops *do* offer some vegan options or non-dairy alternative, but it's usually only sorbet. Usually... But Van Leeuwan offers a variety of ice creams that are vegan-friendly (oat-, coconut-, or cashew-based). So you still get that creamy, silky texture. So on a hot fall day, we finally made it a point to check out this Rice Village location. I opted for the vegan chocolate chip cookie dough (made with cashew milk). It was rich - very rich. One scoop was enough for me. Probably a little too much for me. :) The beau ordered a scoop of the oat-based "bourbon vanilla apple crisp" and the "pumpkin cinnamon roll." It was devoured in record time. They also have sundaes and milkshakes on the menu. Or grab a pint to go or a box of ice cream bars. It would be lovely if this location had a bit more outside seating, and sold doggy ice cream. My two pups really wanted to try my scoop, but ya know, it had chocolate.

I hadn't been to Rice Village in a while, so I decided to check it out and stop by Van Leeuwen. It was my first time here, and everything was amazing. The employee there that day was super nice and helpful. I got the chocolate fudge brownie and cookies and cream with toasted walnuts and honeycomb candy toppings, and they all tasted so good. Will definitely stop by again for sure next time I have time.

This place was packed- there was a line out the door! There was only one person working up front and 1-2 people that were in the back, which didn't really make sense for a Saturday night. There is meter parking directly in front in that shopping center or the parking garage is free for 2 hours. The shopping center is super cute! The inside of the shop is pretty small but is cute! They have regular ice cream, several vegan options, cookie sandwiches, etc. Lots of choices! I got the churros and fudge vegan ice cream. My mom got the coffee flavor (regular) and really liked it. Even though it was tiny, I liked the vibe and thought the ice cream was good and was super happy they had a decent selection of dairy-free flavors!

Rating: 3.5/5 To be honest the ice cream here is really over priced for the portion and taste. I only go here because it's the best option in Rice Village. The consistency is not as creamy as I like and I've tried flavors like mint, strawberry, pumpkin, cookies and cream, yuzu- but I've never been that impressed.

They had a variety of flavors of ice cream. I chose one scoop in a cup of the earl grey tea. It was creamy and good, not too sweet. That 1 small cup set me back $6 though. Tiny place so don't expect to sit a big party.

Olivia and Aniya were such great servers! The ice cream was so tasty! We got brown sugar cookie dough brownie was the best!

Came here on impulse just because we saw 'vegan ice cream' and my date is all about trying out vegan places although she's not actually vegan. The place was super packed when we walked in, but we didn't have to wait too long before it was our turn - maybe around 5-10 minutes? So don't get discouraged by the wait if you see the place being super packed. The vegan ice cream is not very creamy, which is kind of expected. But the ice cream wouldn't stick to the spoon which made it kind of hard to scoop since every time I did, the ice cream would fall off the spoon. And the biggest disappointment was with their banana pudding flavor, which didn't really taste like banana. I mean, what could be more vegan than banana? All you have to do is put in a bunch of banana, right? Not the case here. I have yet to taste their real ice cream flavors yet, but if they're anything like the vegan ice cream, this is definitely NOT a place I'd come back to visit.

I am absolutely blown away! I'm not a huge sweets person but I was so impressed with their creative flavors and especially the texture of their vegan ice cream. My boyfriend is lactose-intolerant and I'm not so we can't usually enjoy them together. The counter server who helped me was super gracious and so friendly. I've picked up some of their flavors at the grocery store but it's nowhere near the selection and experience of getting it fresh in the store. I definitely plan on going back!

Decided to get dessert here after dinner! I like that they're one of the few places offering sweets that are open late in Rice Village. They have unique flavors but a limited topping variety. I tried the earl grey tea which had a strong tea flavor and was very sweet but I'm not sure if I would get it again. My partner got the dark chocolate fudge brownie which he liked a lot. The ice cream is pretty pricey but after a heavy dinner, one scoop with a single topping is more than enough to hit the spot for me!

Ice cream was absolutely delicious and the shop is cute but it's very expensive! I got 2 scoops of ice cream and it was $9. The quality of their ingredients must be really good for these prices. The earl grey ice cream was not too sweet and had strong flavor. The berry cheesecake one was yummy since it had contrasting textures between the jam and the cheesecake. I liked that the sample spoons were metal and not plastic!

I've thought of Van Leeuwen ever since I first tried them during my visits to NYC. For some odd reason, I still followed them masochistically and hoped they would come to my city one day - AND THEY FINALLY DID! In fact, Houston is slated to have 2 more locations after this one in Rice Village. Cue the happy dance! I went on opening day since I would be there early to pick up something. It's a nice little shop on Amherst, just a few doors down from Starbucks and Sweetgreen. They have both regular ice cream (or "French ice cream" - correct me if I'm wrong - due to the fact that they use more egg yolks in their ice cream for optimal creaminess and decadence factor) and non-dairy options as well as other treats. Most are cashew milk based but they also have 1 oat milk when I went. Not to mention boozy flavors. Every month, they have 4 limited edition flavors. I'm a sucker for interesting flavors so this type of ice cream scoop shop speaks to my soul. After you enter, there are people who will help you until you make a decision and then you head to the cashier. Yes, they welcome samples and they use metal spoons - yay for no mountains of plastic used, tester spoons! There was a bit of a rush at the beginning but they later controlled the amount of people inside the store. Yes, masks are required until it's time to enjoy. This time, I tried: Honeycomb - a sweeter flavor but absolutely delicious. Wild blueberry shortcake - you won't normally see me snacking on blueberries but I really liked this one! It's not all that sweet but obviously blueberry with with a lemon curd swirl and shortbread bits. Really, just perfect for summer. Waffle cone - I wanted to live a little and this was great! Not very sweet, either. However, beware as there is a minuscule hole at the bottom and if you're eating outside in the Texas heat, cover the tip. :) They're not exactly cheap - then again, we're in Rice Village - and their scoops are average sized. However, the flavors are top notch, creative, and absolutely delicious. And yes, they have more classic flavors as well for those are like them. Perfect for a treat every now and then or maybe even for a late breakfast like I did. I look forward to future visits and trying the full menu!

Ok, YUM! Located in the heart of Rice Village, this is Van Leeuwen's first location outside of New York and California. The shop is fairly spacious with a large overhead menu and a wide counter to place your order. They offer a number of unique flavor combinations - earl grey tea, brown sugar cookie dough chunk, honeycomb, as well as a lot of non-dairy vegan options. I am vegan and let me tell you, the options ARE AMAZING. Brownie sundae raspberry swirl, cookie crumble strawberry jam, PB brownie honeycomb - yes, yes, YES! I opted for the PB brownie honeycomb and it was fabulous. Creamy and rich but not overpowering. Plus the regular cone is vegan. So good. A couple of other perks about the shop - they offer samples, pints to go, and waffle cones. Parking out front is metered but the Rice Village shopping garages are free. It is a little pricey but well worth it. Definitely a must try.