A sign in their window says that they plan to reopen. I hope that they do! Yummy, creamy tropical flavors.
(4)
Christine C.
Been here about 4 times. All the flavors are really good. Price is a bit high but then it seems like most ice cream places are these days. My only complaint is that you're limited to 3 samples. I wish it was closer in location to me so I could go more often. Parking is a pain here because the lot only fits like 10 cars or so. Location isn't the best near that intersection and if you miss the turn it's not easy to get back to it
(4)
Chris S.
I walked over a mile from the Silver Spring Metro station just to get to this place so I was hoping it would be worth it. While it was good it wasn't good enough to walk to again, next time I shall drive. Place is just naturally dim, from the outside it appears they are closed but go ahead and enter because even with low lighting somebody is in there serving up scoops. They have a variety of flavors, I'm unsure of which ones are homemade and which are bought and sold. It didn't really matter to me as once I saw they had rainbow sherbet I knew what I wanted, it doesn't matter how it was made if rainbow sherbet is available I'm getting it. Staff was friendly, it appears to be family owned or at least a small business run by a tight group. I could see myself returning and maybe next time I'll be a little more adventurous and try one of their more unique flavors.
(4)
Hain L.
So many unusually delicious flavors of icecream! I sampled lucuma which just tasted like vanilla to me. My friend and I each got durian and peach ginger. Durian was so pungent but my friend loved it peach ginger was good with little fruit pieces. This place is a bit expensive but considering how close it is to where I live, I'd occasionally go back.
(3)
Johnny M.
This place is amazing. I can't believe that I drove past this place almost every day and never bothered to come inside because I'm a snob, and let's face it the outside looks ghetto as hell.... But be brave after all it's silver spring, nothing is really all that ghetto. The ice cream was sooo good and the flavors were creative and above all delicious. I got the ginger ice cream and honey bee in an oversized vanilla waffle cone and immediately needed to go change my pants :/ Also to my surprise this place also has a wide selection of savory Caribbean dishes such as meat pie and jerk chicken. I had the salmon mean pie and it immediately brought be back to my vacation in the bahamas sanz the cheap rum runners and bahama mama's. I will definitely be back!!! P.S. the owner is a sweetheart
Tropical Ice Cream Cafe is the United Nations of ice cream for it offers frozen treats that are skilfully made with the bold flavors of fruits from all regions of the world, from the Lychee of Far East Asia, to the Durian, Rambutan, and Soursop of Southeast Asia, to the Mamey Sapote, Passion Fruit, and Tamarind of Central America and the Caribbean, and to the Jackfruit of South America. In addition to the exotic flavors, I also enjoyed the standard fares with the nutty French Almond, Rum and Raisin, and Pistachio versions, amidst the low-sugar or no-diary offerings. The seasonal specials too were worth tasting, like the Rambutan and Harambe! This is indeed a most unique ice cream store that makes a gourmand's eyes like mine light up and go into a frenzy with indecision. I'm sure after a few samplings you will be returning back to explore the other missed flavors. To read rest of review and see photos of the food, please look for the link in my profile.
(4)
Ashley W.
At the Fillmore yelp event, I was blessed to taste a slither of mango flavored ice cream. HANDS DOWN, THE BEST CREAM ON THE PLANET. It wasn't overly mango, or sweet, and you could taste the cream. I can't wait for the other locations to open up because I will stalk this place all summer.
(4)
Lia M.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Tropical Ice Cream Cafe. I love them because their ice cream is rich and creamy, and they offer fun flavors (soursop, lychee, etc.). I always seem to be here during peach season, so I've had the peach quite a few times. I've also had mango. Both fruit flavors taste like the real thing, which is great. However, my favorite is the Honey Bee flavor. I'm addicted to honey (I used to eat honeycomb out of the jar) and ever since Baskin-Robbins discontinued Bumble Buzz, I've been sad. But the Honey Bee ice cream is so delicious. The same woman is always working, and she is quite friendly. And while I wouldn't mind trying the Jamaican food, I can't pass up the ice cream.
(5)
Dennis O.
This place is in a tiny little strip mall right before you merge onto 16th St...so it can be hard to find, and if you miss it, it can be a pain to make a U-turn. Anyway, it's run by a nice lady and they have all kinds of African ice cream flavors in addition to the typical ones you find in Baskin Robbins. The ice cream is always fresh. Keep in mind that they rotate flavors so if you got it one day it may not be there the next day.
(4)
Carol S.
The ice cream is some of the best I've ever tasted. It's not cheap, but fresh ingredients aren't inexpensive. The servings are usually generous anyway, but if you happen to get a smaller one the quality more than makes up for it. The owner told me that he used to work at Giffords in Silver Spring ... he certainly knows what he's doing! It was originally called York Castle but now they're using that name for the one in Rockville. I don't know if' it's owned by the same person or not, but I'm just glad to still have the ice cream store in Silver Spring!
(5)
Abegail A.
When I pulled up into the parking lot, I was totally suspect of Tropical Ice Cream Cafe. After all it is in a strip mall. Loved the unusual flavors that they had to offer here. I ended up trying the Rum Raisin and Soursop. Both were tasty, but I ended up leaving with a quart of the Rum Raisin (yes, it was that good...don't judge!) and Strawberry. The actual Rum Raisin ice cream had subtle hints of rum, but when you got a raisin...boom! who got a huge burst of rum in your mouth. Definitely delicious. The Strawberry was delicious as well. It had nice chunks of strawberry it in, which I enjoyed. I need to go back to try the Guinness and Lychee soon...the ice cream here is that good! I also wouldn't mind trying those Jamaican patties I saw and smelt. Service was okay. The lady behind the counter was friendly, however she seemed to have no system for taking customers. She was a little frazzled with the four different sets of customers that were in there, not knowing who to serve first. So, she just randomly gave samples and scooped out ice cream for whoever shouted out an order to her. The parking lot is a little tight and could get crazy, but have some patience. The ice cream here is definitely worth it!
(4)
Alicia G.
All it took was one visit/one scoop to say that Tropical Ice Cream is my new favorite go-to spot for frozen dairy treats. The moment we stepped in, this delicious aroma overwhelmed the senses - like fresh waffles or cake baking in the oven. I tend to go for fruity flavors when I eat frozen dairy so this was a perfect match for me. I ended up with a small cake cone filled with mangoberry ice cream. They have a lot of flavors and one (harambe) that one fellow yelper described as tasting like suntan lotion (but in a good way!). The mangoberry was delightful. It was cold, creamy and filled with dark red berries. The flavors were just perfect. Very pleasant employee manning the counter - she was very helpful with the sampling of the flavors so we could nail down our decisions. The parking in this little plaza leaves something to be desired but it's a small price to pay when you're about to have the best ice cream in Silver Spring.
(5)
Yemi ..
Great ice cream. Lots of exotic flavors and creamy ice cream. Best ice cream in the area.
(4)
Wesley T.
Best ice cream in Maryland AND Washington DC! Not only do they have amazing exotic flavors, it is the creamiest I've had. I consider myself a connoisseur of ice cream and my waistline shows it. This beats all the fancy stuff in downtown DC. Chocolate bans is awesome. Mango,coconut, grape nuts. It's all great. Get a Jamaican patty to wash it down. :)
(5)
Terinee B.
The Guinness really did taste like beer... Espresso chip was phenomenal... Butter pecan was pretty ok too! Spicy beef patty was hittin hard!!! Chicken patty was off da rocker!!! But even with all that, I still can't justify 5 stars... But I would stop by again when in the area.
(4)
Kimberly M.
Yum yum yummy...I only get their grape nut home made ice cream in their home made cinnamon wafer cone.
(5)
Danielle L.
I had read good reviews about Tropical Ice Cream, and we were in Silver Spring on the way home from traffic court, so decided to stop by. At first, we thought maybe the shop was closed since it was pretty dark looking for the outside, but upon closer inspection we saw people inside, and it was indeed open. My Nana got a child-sized peach cone, my sister got a small-sized passionfruit sorbet in a cup, and I ordered a small-sized Grapenut ice cream. The total for all three came up to a few cents under $12, which is the only reason I'm removing one star - $12 is a little pricey for three small orders, but I do get that it's homemade, and the product is definitely quality! Reviews: I *LOVED* my Grapenut ice cream - it was thick, creamy, and smooth, much more like a gelato or a custard than a typical ice cream. WIN. My sister raved over her passionfruit sorbet, and my Nana (always a complainer) actually liked her peach ice cream. I also sampled the honeybee and Guinness flavors. The honeybee was alright, but I wasn't overwhelmed.. The Guinness, on the other hand, was fantastic - like all the other flavors sampled, it tasted like the REAL THING. Verdict: Pretty expensive, but will definitely be back!
(4)
Nick F.
Ice cream is some of the best I have had in a long time. The owner knows and loves her craft and takes time out to talk to us whenever we are there. We keep coming back whenever we can.
(5)
Nya A.
In the area after visiting Rock Creek Park. A great place to stop with the kids. They enjoyed the flavors offered. Reasonable price & a friendly atmosphere.
(4)
Eric S.
Our family always goes to Tropical Ice cream when we need to satisfy our sweet tooth. I don't know how they do it! They pack so much flavor into ICE CREAM! The banana is soooo banana-y. It's so much fun to try new flavors that you can't get anywhere else.
(5)
Ruth C.
Took me a U-turn to catch this neat spot in the unassuming strip mall. Parking and seating are both low-key. Lots of novelty tropical flavors that appeal to the adventurous. No Guinness or Rum Raisin the night we went, but between the three of us we worked the two-sample limit to the max. Lucuma, Harambe, Soursop and Mamey Sapote were all interesting enough to intrigue us. Tart and sweet are pretty well-balanced here. Grapenut was a bit mild but Honey Bee was really good. I ended up getting a butter pecan milkshake, and she worked the blender hard to make the nutty bits drinkable. I'll definitely be back for more frozen treats, and to try their cocoa bread.
(4)
Anita W.
VERY impressive selection of flavors. My kids loved this place.
(4)
Keon D.
Tasty ice cream and TONS of flavors and choices. Came here on a whim and got to taste a few flavors which were pretty good. The place itself is charming and has some room inside for seating. I got the coconut Ice Cream and Amanda got the 'mamey sapote'. When we asked the worker what it tasted like she had no description which wasnt too helpful but at least they offer samples. Basically it tasted like pumpkin kind of almond taste. It was very good. My coconut ice cream was good but too sweet. If you get coconut you should probably not get a large cone cause you'll be crying uncle towards the end of it. Overall very good and I would definitely try this place again if I was in the area.
(4)
Sant A.
Was in the area and the kids wanted some ice cream...daughter loves the fruit flavored ice cream...this place is perfect for that...got the rainbow sherbert and the wife got chocolate mint...if in the area again, definitely goin back
(3)
Jennifer B.
How can anyone give this place less than 5 stars?! If I could give it 10 I would. Best ice cream, hands down. Where else can you get handmade, super creamy Harambe, Rambutan, Lychee, or Irish Moss ice cream (actually at York in Rockville)?! The rum raisin is awesome as well, as are the traditional flavors such as mint and oreo. Love the ladies who run it. It's always good. May seem a little pricey at first, but when compared to other boutique style ice cream places, it's right on par. It really doesn't get any better than this!
(5)
Paul G.
It is a little hole in the wall place, but it has wonderful ice cream flavors. The ice cream is fabulous and worth a stop.
(5)
Alexander K.
This ice cream was just OK as the 2-star rating suggests. I had the coffee ice cream and my girlfriend had the french almond and coffee ice cream. Also, I could have sworn that my credit card was overcharged. Oh well. I think my preference is towards the denser, higher fat ice creams. I wish yelpers didn't give out 5-star ratings so liberally. A 5-star rating should be given to a place that is truly special and memorable with a great level of service.
(2)
Ben S.
I'm a huge fan of everything but the price and the service. There simply isn't another ice cream place around that has the different flavors that Tropical Ice Cream Cafe has and the ice cream itself is pretty good. The one that is most advertised is soursop, but they also have lychee, mango, ginger, Guinness and more traditional flavors. Scoop sizes are small and the prices are high. The store itself is tiny, with very little seating, and I often end up eating my ice cream on the sidewalk, which is very close to the parking lot. They can definitely get impatient if you try too many flavors (they actually have a limit) or are slow to choose. All that said, they offer a unique product and it is a delectable one. I often stop here before or after going to Brookside Gardens.
(4)
Joe G.
Excellent tasting ice cream and cake with prices to raise your debt through the roof. It's not as great as York Castle Tropical Ice Cream in Rockville. The prices are higher as I recall and the ice cream and cakes don't taste as great, but it's a good alternative if you're in the area.
(4)
Suzanne R.
Ice cream very good! Great flavors. You can tell it's homemade not mass produced. PRICEY!! My 12-16oz milkshake was $6.
(4)
Rebecca P.
dont bother with the food they offer...i thought i could get blown away with a beef patty...frozen ones from 7-11 taste just as good. however... THEIR ICE CREAM...you will not be able to find any of their specialty flavors anywhere. im talkign about fruits you have never heard of, unless you grew up or frequented a foreign country and ate the local produce. prices are a little expensive i think, but i know they have their dedicated clientele that keep coming. im so glad i dropped in here on a whim! but yeah..dont mess with their patties.
(4)
Stacy S.
When a place runs Groupon & LivingSocial promotions on a regular basis you know that its trying hard to lure in customers. A good business wouldn't need regular promotions once its been around for some time. The ice cream was good, but the owner's service and business sense just throws me off. I refuse to dine at any place where service is crap..just ruins your entire mindset and appetite. Owner refused to honor the LIvingSocial randomly at 8.45pm when clearly the deal was still valid blaming LivingSocial was expiring the deal at 8pm !! I mean since when does LivingSocial put expiration TIME on deals?? I like near by Moorenko's much better in flavor texture and overall creaminess. This place has some very unique flavors, but then you can't see the actual strange fruit/vegetable so not sure if its just flavoring. Save your money and go some where else..and under no circumstances buy a Groupon or LivingSocial for this place
(2)
L Y.
Pineapple Soda Float with vanilla ice cream was okay. Harambe and MangoBerry flavors were good with the banana split. Veggie patty and coco bread were yummy! Did not try the Guinness flavor, but will try next time. =)
(3)
Kalila W.
I remember some delicious ice cream..had it somewhere one time in silver spring when i was maybe 10 or 11 years old. Well, im 22 now and i STILL remember that ice cream, thankfully i was able to find the name, so i drove 40 minutes to re-visit it. Place is easy to miss. There is a 2 flavor tasting limit, but i guess since there was nobody else in there, she let me sample like 6 of them.. i was really trying to find the flavors that were lodged in my mind from over 10 years ago..it was the pineapple coconut, ginger, and mango. I settled on the pineapple coconut and Harambe - a new flavor in honor of obama that was actually really good! Kinda expensive at $3something per scoop, but trust me, this is quality stuff, and still cheaper than Coldstone and the likes - you shouldnt mind lol
(4)
Shannal S.
If you expect any shred of customer service, you would be truly disappointed. Who needs customer service, 'how about a smile???' Forget about the smile; just don't want the bad attitude. Or a least not made to feel like I'm inconveniencing anyone with my business. I don't think that's asking too much. The ice cream is nothing to rave about, it's not bad but I mainly question the whole use of the word "natural" when describing ice cream that contains Splenda. If the back of this place looks as bad as the front maybe I'm wasting my time writing this review, and maybe I need to call the health department. There is a bad odor as soon as you walk in, which I wrote off as being an "hole in a whole" establishment, but once I had time to absorb the entire environment, it just a filthy place. This place doesn't give the happy feeling you would normally expect when going to get the best dessert on earth. The ice cream is expensive, but I don't have any issues as long as it worth it. In my opinion it is worth it.
(1)
Aimee S.
this place is seriously addictive. i LOVE the mango ice cream. and the peach. and the banana.
(5)
Johnette J.
Nice little spot - I was given a sample to try of the apple pie flavor. I didn't too much care for that flavor. I chose the coffee flavor after trying and the server suggested the espresso as well. I got one scoop of each! Great combination. Yummy for my tummy! I'll definitely try again the next time I am in the area.
(5)
Raj N.
Love Tropical Ice Cream for its variety of excellent flavors and its friendly staff. The fruit flavors are all amazing, including the no-sugar-added varieties. And if you want to immediately counteract no-sugar-added ice cream, try one of their homemade waffle cones. This is really a fantastic place!
(5)
Deb G.
So tasty! Try the ginger ice cream - it is so delicious. Not too sweet and full of fresh ginger taste. This ice cream is super rich, though, so maybe go for a smaller portion. The mango sorbet was also wonderful, like a ripe mango exploded in your mouth. It was also the only non-dairy option the day I showed up. The flavors are so unique here that I can't wait to go back for something new.
(4)
Brent T.
I've probably passed this place thousands of times and tonight was the first time we went in. They have some flavors I'll have to go back for as I got 3 scoops of Guinness ice cream. The lady behind the counter was cheerful and very friendly considering we walked in a few minutes before closing. Definitely going back! Apparently I drafted this 3 months ago and forgot to post it. I've been many times (I'm now the duke!) since that first visit. Their ice cream is so creamy that it blows other ice creams out of the water. Picked up some Ben and Jerry's at whole foods and it felt grainy by comparison. My favorites are Guinness, French almond, coffee and rum raisin.
(5)
Catherine S.
I've only been once but I am a new fan. I had the mamy sopate and the bf had the pistachio- OUTSTANDING. So creamy and taste just like the natural flavor it says it is. I tried the the guiness (like the real thing) and the durian (sp?) fruit (taste like the real thing which is yucky but that's not their fault). I am surprised about the service comments because I found the women behind the counters to be very personable and friendly and they didn't mind us trying more than the 2 limit flavors. I'll be back...
(4)
Libby F.
This is one of Silver Spring's greatest treasures. This ice cream is so good! I had not been here in over three years mainly because I'm not a huge ice cream fan, but when I do get a craving, Tropical is the place I go to. They have great unique flavors. Soursop and lychee are sweet and tasty. My former neighbor stopped by and we went here. Being a Maine native, this is one place that she can enjoy her favorite - Grapenut. They have traditional flavors too. Best of all, they give you large scoops and are cheaper then the other scoop shops. The ladies behind the counter are very sweet and have a lot of patience when dealing with customers that demand sample after sample of their many sweet flavors. I enjoyed my double scoop in a crunchy waffle cone. I wonder why I waited so long to return. Now I know better.
(5)
Sarah M.
I went back to this great ice cream place with the boyfriend to use my LivingSocial deal. We got a quart of chocolate banana ice cream to go, and split a dish of harambe. All was delicious :) The woman working charged the full amount of the order to my card instead of the difference (the LivingSocial deal was for $12 and my order was about $19), but she corrected it right away, so it wasn't a problem. All in all, I am pretty excited I discovered this place, and I will be back for yummy tropical ice cream :)
(4)
N S.
GUINNESS ice cream. Love it. 'nuff said.
(4)
Tara L.
Don't try to be slick and fill up with 15 samples here. They're onto you, so now you're limited to two free samples only. Unless you pay $1 - then you can sample 10. Although that might seem a little petty, I can understand why someone would try to take as many samples as possible of this homemade, tropical ice cream. With exotic flavors ranging from Guinness to Lychee, Honey Bee to Rum Raisin, it's hard not to be intrigued by the dozens of traditional and non traditional flavors. This cafe also holds some sentimental value for me. I've been coming here with my family since I was a little kid. My mom loves the flavors so much because they remind her of he childhood in Jamaica. They also have other treats like, Rum Cake, Jamaican patties and some of the freshest cocoa bread around. Perfect place to stop by after a long, lazy summer day.
(5)
Natalie F.
Guinness flavored ice cream?! This place definitely deserves a super ultra mega yum yums!! The Pumpkin flavored ice cream is incredibly authentic with a touch of spice. Absolutely to die for! They have a wide variety of sorbets, tropical flavors and seasonal flavors. The eggnog flavor sounds incredibly decadent! They have lots of different sundae options, cones, milkshakes and ice cream soda floats. They have a limited lunch and dinner menu of Caribbean patties, jerk chicken wings and other eats. Prices are reasonable and the service is friendly. Will absolutely be back!
(5)
mei s.
We were looking for something different and interesting to satisfy us in the heat. We found it. It was pricey but good. They had ice cream of various flavors. We ordered the Guiness, lychee, tamarind, lemon, and peanut. All for $25 for 4 doubles. The Guiness was awesome, so full of flavor and heavy, just like the beer! What a unique ice cream. The tamarind was not so interesting. If you ever eat the tamarind hard candy, this ice cream will be lacking in comparison. The other flavors were pretty tasty but the Guiness was the stand out. And I'm not even a Guiness drinker!
(4)
Kristin M.
This is probably my favorite ice cream shop of all time! Boom. That. Just. Happened. It's a little Jamaican ice cream shop with homemade ice cream in all kinds of flavors, many of them unusual and exotic (Soursop, Ginger, Guinness) but some more familiar (Coffee or Swiss Chocolate). What's awesome is that the unusual flavors are always surprising but sooo delicious with flavors that really pop, and the more "mundane"-seeming flavors are also unusually awesome. The Swiss Chocolate, for example, is some of my favorite chocolate ice cream. Everything just tastes fresh, creamy, and vibrant! Baskin Robbins can suck it. Tropical's where it's at.
(5)
Janet W.
I love Tropical Ice cream. When it comes to ice cream, they are genius. If you are in the DC area, and like ice cream, you must go here. Where else can you find rose, lychee, or , one of my favorites, Guiness (which to me tastes more like Baileys Irish Cream than a brew) ice creams. Of course they have the usual flavors, too, but seriously, why would you want to? Quality and flavor and outrageously diverse selections are tops...beyond 5 stars. The only think lacking, and it is lacking big, is atmosphere. I feel like I am in a clinic and not an eatery. I dont want to sit an linger. If a really good marketing person got ahold of this place..., well, lets just say "Ben and Jerry who?" My favorites are Guiness (as described above), rose, and (more mainstream) coconut. You dont get a super sized scoop, and you'll plunk down more money than your usual shop, but the fact is, they dont have the same economies of scale as 'industrial' ice cream manufacturers, and that's just how it is.
(4)
Janice V.
sniff sniiff, on such a hot day...I got a small large sundae, two mini scoops for $6, thankful for the coupon or else I would not believe it is worth the deal. The ice cream (quince and marjoram) were not amazing as everyone reviewed. Quite sad actually, not creamy or freezing, it melted really fast and I ate it in the store, plus there were a ton of ice crystals left in the middle of the ice cream. In all my recent eating ice cream experience, I believe ice crystals are a no-no. One day, I'll go back, but not this summer.
(3)
Chris D.
Fantastic flavors! I had and loved the coconut ginger. It was smooth and sweet without being tooth achey sweet. The ginger came through strong both in the bits (obviously) but also throughout the scoop. Definitely not the cheapest scoop you'll ever get but it's a great treat with enough options to keep you interested for a long time to come.
(4)
Vee N.
GRAPE NUT! My favorite!!! Love Love Love it! I was introduced to this flavor many years ago by a childhood neighbor! I found Tropical Ice Cream Cafe 4 years ago when moving to Silver Spring, MD and I treat myself when I'm in the mood! I will probably cheat and try others!!! There is definitely a large selection!
(4)
Mei-ye J.
I love the flavors that Tropical Ice Cream Cafe offers. I have yet to find another ice cream shop serving up flavors such as jackfruit, papaya, soursop, mamey, and pumpkin. The soursop and passionfruit are definitely two of my favorite flavors. While I don't like the prices much I think they are fair considering the the selection of the unique flavors. If you plan on getting two scoops in a waffle cone one person will definitely have a hard time finishing it. When I went in I redeemed my groupon for the two waffle cones with two scoops in each and my mom, my sister, and I were not able to finish all the ice cream. Also, seating is very limited and I wouldn't recommend a large group unless you don't mind eating your ice cream outside on the curb.
(4)
lily w.
Best ice cream in the DC area hands down. Delicious exotic fruit flavors that are still ice cream and not sorbet - so creamy! Love the guava esp :) No frills - you come here for the ice cream and that is all you need. Family friendly. Lots of flavors.
(5)
Tu-van L.
For some reason I didn't see the "York Castle" part of the store name, but regardless this Tropical Ice Cream shop offers quality refreshing tropical flavored ice cream. You really can't go wrong with the fruit flavors here, chock full of strong fruit flavor (even some frozen chunks of fruit). All that I've tried had this flavorful and creaminess that was rich yet not too heavy. I especially like the Haramba flavor, an homage to our current president that included orange, pineapple, coconut, rum and some other flavors I forgot. Other delicious flavors include mango, coconut, peach, blueberry cheesecake and honey bee. Tons of others that look good but those are the only ones I've tried so far. Didn't realize my fellow yelpers are a fan of the Guinness. I must try the next time I visit.
(5)
Linda L.
I've been wanting to try this place for years. My little kids had rainbow sherbert & cookies & cream. Those flavors were just "eh". My older kids had peach (subtle flavor but tasted real) and butter pecan (which was a hit). I decided to try a not so typical flavor, as this is not a typical ice cream shop. I had a tasting of lucuma and mamey sapote, which the store lady said were both fruits. The lucuma was sweet & had nutty/caramel flavoring. The mamey was a sweet strawberry/banana flavor. I would recommend giving this place a try, especially as something different to try. Portions were decent to the prices, but parking is tight.
(4)
Juliana C.
I love you, Yelp, even though York Castle made me want to cry because I saw at least four flavors I wanted, but didn't have enough room in my stomach, post chik-fil-a run, for four scoops' worth of ice cream. I tried Harambe (tropical fruit and rum) and Guinness (yum.yumyumyum), and went for a full scoop of the Guinness and a scoop of lychee (so light and sweet -- the perfect summer flavor!). The friendly, patient lady behind the counter confirmed my friend Kate's inquiry as to whether the grapenut flavor was the same as the cereal. Hrmmm. She went for butter pecan, nothing crazy there, but said it was great. Other things I liked about this place: - It had its own parking lot - It wasn't crowded - The inside was all business - no flashy decor Counter lady: "Thanks for coming in. We'll see you again soon!" Me: "Yes you will!"
(4)
Evsi W.
Just went there and was not disappointed! I had Pistachio (not my favourite) and Lychee ( outstanding), hubby had Espresso chip (amazing) And you should try the very moist rum cake too..... We will be back with friends!
(4)
Mo A.
You need a car to get there and the atmosphere is nothing special. However, the home made ice cream is pretty darn good. The Honey bee and coconut ginger were particularly delicious.
(4)
DON C.
I got a "Love Jones" for this place! Tropical Ice Cream Cafe has a special place in my heart! As a kid, ice cream was a major component in my food pyramid! And, still is!! Tropical Ice Cream Cafe is a unique gem in Silver Spring serving up some of the best "homemade" ice cream in the DMV! I visit this place atleast three times a month. It has a line item in my monthly budget! Can't get enough of the stuff.....and this place offers 31 flavors and then some! Sorry Baskin Robbins. It is amazing a place so small can churn out so many flavors. The ice cream is very creamy...sweet, reminiscent of the back in the day ice cream made with the salt-rock churned ice cream makers. Remember that!? No fillers or artificial flavors. The flavors and types of ice cream are most unique from sour sop, mango, honey bee, pineapple to rum raisin, butter pecan, and strawberry cheesecake! Notice I called out my own favorites folks! LOL! But there are so many choices to choose from that I can sit in this place and eat ice cream all day! There are dozens of traditional and nontraditional ice cream combinations! Also, you can combine scoops from each of these flavors....to create your own!! Fresh baked cakes are sold here too! Tip1: Try the Dominican pineapple cake and a scoop of butter pecan ice cream, with a drizz of caramel!! As good as sex...well...almost!! Tip2: Combine the sour sop and Lychee ice cream together ...and add some nuts with cherries! The taste is heaven! Each cherry crunch explode as if a champagne bottle is poppin in your mouth! WHAT A BANG THEORY and TASTE IT IS?!!! Just writing about this place already has given me "a Jones" to stop in for a visit today! Got to go get my fix....later!!
(4)
Brad Z.
Like others, I was satified by the exotic flavors not normally found at your typical ice cream shop. What was suprising to me were the tasty Jamaican Meat pies. With my priorities in order, I chowed down two scoops of ice cream followed by a spicy beef pie. The pie was so good a got a second for the road.
(4)
Constance C.
What's not to like, except that it's a little hard to get to if you are on the wrong side of Georgia Avenue? Mamey Sapote was a very mild, subtle flavor but the peach was bursting with fresh peaches. Both ice creams were very creamy and dense...mmmm. I am definitely going to get some to take home next time.
(4)
Lisa H.
AWESOME ice cream! All the flavors are very unique and tasty. I am so glad I got to try many of the flavors. I ended up purchasing the Guiness and it was worth the money. Go get some for yourself!!
(5)
Ronda D.
I try homemade ice cream everywhere I travel. I was looking forward to my visit to Tropical tonight. The ice cream was good and probably deserves four stars. There are lots of flavors to choose from, so making a decision is hard. I'm giving them three stars though because the woman behind the counter was rude and the place didn't seem very clean. It smells of fruit that's been sitting out too long and it looked like the tables and the scoop counter could use a good wipe down.
(3)
Erin T.
OMG, this place is off the chain yummy! Do not go here if u r on a diet because it is addictive! It is a small shop in a shopping center. Parking is not that great in the front but additional (free also) in the back. They have great homemade flavors and the employees are very nice. You can sample before you buy which you may need to decide which flavor to get as they all sound (and look) fantastic. I never give 5 stars but this place is just over the moon good. It happens to be next to the shop I get my dog food at so I guess I will be stopping in frequently now that I've tried it! Very reasonable as well....
(5)
Semra E.
The best hidden treasure of Silver Spring. I went on a first date there MANY years ago, and still remember the awesome flavors of fruit that I got. I highly recommend this place on the hottest days in DC (July & August). It's worth every cent. Very hard to park though due to the MAJOR fork in the road from Georgia Ave. & 16th St. (where it starts), but also because the size of the mini me parking lot. Park around the corner off another avenue and walk over there, so you don't get in some awful accident. Trust me, you'll thank me later.
(5)
Jessica H.
This place is VERY expensive. They charge you for every topping. Although the selection is pretty good, I am glad I had a living social deal. If I did not, I would have paid almost 15 bucks for 2 small cups of ice cream with nuts and whipped cream. I prolly wont go back unless I am REALLY craving cool flavored ice cream. Not to mention, they do not have AC! Don't plan on sitting in the place to enjoy your ice cream. You will melt.
(2)
B B.
Mmmmm mmmm good! Why haven't I tried this place before now? Beautiful sun shiny day calls for ice cream. I was headed for 31 flavors, but wanted something different. This place has traditional and unique flavors. I wanted to try the soursop, but decided on mlk's dream, a mix of peach butter pecan and chocolate chips. Tasty.
(5)
Dee B.
If you like peanut butter, I highly recommend that you make your way over to Tropical Ice Cream Cafe and ask for a double scoop of their peanut ice cream. It's full of creamy peanut butter-y goodness and some of the best ice cream I've had recently!
(4)
Philip M.
Great neighborhood find. Tropical flavors from fruit you may have never heard of or never tasted? Check out the pictures on the wall and try a sample. Standard american flavors? Always rich and flavorful. I like the ginger, coconut and mamey. And, yes, the grapenut. Have not tried the Guinness yet. Limited variety of sorbets, for those who do not want milk fat, but great flavors. Especially like the mango and passionfruit. Occasional unusual specials, like pumpkin or peanut, worth trying. Most popular flavors come pre-packed, but others they will pack up for you for a little extra. Just remember that a pint container can easily become a single-serving size at this place. The owner is very friendly, remembers regular customers, handles multi-party orders well and stays calm when customers get hyper. As in any hand-prepared ice cream shop, wait can be long as people taste and decide. Jamaican patties are great based on my limited experience, reasonably well filled, not very spicy, can not taste the fat in the dough (a good thing) even when they are cooled down; have not tried other jamaican specialties. Worth going out of your way for, including dealing with occasional parking and exiting problems.
(5)
Laika W.
The durian ice cream is fantastic.
(5)
Angela M.
Can you say "Yum!"? Ice cream is great, but it's even better when it's handmade and original. They have mind-bending flavors including one I've got to get sometime: their Guinness ice cream. They have delicious traditional and exciting tropical flavors. Guava, Papaya, Mango, Pineapple, Pina Colada and Lychee are just a few. They have an impressive menu of all different kinds of items including cakes, food and Jamaican drinks. They also have sorbet for those avoiding dairy and sugar-free options. I want to go back and try it all! I got the Oreo ice cream and Almond ice cream and my husband got the Guava. His hit the spot better than mine, but mine was also very good. They have seasonal flavors as well. I noticed the woman in front of me ordering 2 pints of her favorite (I can't remember what it was), but she requested a disguise for her ice cream so that her husband wouldn't find it and eat it all. If they had containers that said "broccoli" she would have been set.
(4)
Areta C.
So. Many. Flavors. It's hard visiting Tropical Ice Cream. Do you stay safe with the decadent chocolate banana? Have the peanut you know will have you raving about it for at least thirty minutes after? The fruit flavor you can't pronounce? Or ginger, the one you get EVERY freaking time because you can't get enough of it and you secretly feel she may stop making it and then it's back to lychee for you? This ice cream makes me insane. It's that delicious. Nevermind the sweet owner, the reasonable homemade icecream prices and the incredible baked items. Insane!
(5)
Bulgit K.
I love this place. Every flavor i tasted was great. The Guava is my favorite though.
(5)
Mina A.
Worth a visit. Great variety of flavors. Pumpkin, coffee, guava, orange-pinapple were all great. Lychee and saffron not so much.
(4)
K G.
We drove 30 minutes to get here and got here nearly 30 minutes before they were supposed to close. As we pulled up the manager was walking out - looked at us and proceeded to close up, avoiding eye contact all the while. I hope their ice cream is good, but we won't be coming back to try it. Awful!
(1)
Kate P.
Dude....TASTE THE RAINBOW! This place has a ton of flavors. If I didn't feel rude or cheap doing so, I would have sampled all 30-something flavors they had. And I think the lady would have let me! You can tell that she takes pride in the fact that she makes what you're eating. I tried soursop (like fruit on acid...that's good), Guinnesss (good, but not as rich as others I've tried), butter pecan, grapenut (surprisingly good), and lychee. I ended up going with butter pecan because I was feeling boring today, but just wait til I go back with PMS! Also wanted to try a "castle": cake+ice cream+ whipped cream+ sundae topping. I only give it 4 stars because I'm devoted to a couple of ice cream shacks in Maine :)
(4)
Neal Gone Daddy H.
man...we went here like a year ago. i don't see the big deal. it was just like regular ice cream from the bucket, nothing special. i guess it's charming because it's a little run down and has silly picture on the walls. i don't know... maybe we'll try it again.
(2)
FRANCHESKA A.
Its a preaty good icecream i been going there 4 year on a hot day t rum n raison is really good, i wont recoment t island food way way to greasy but t ice creams r really good.. T only problem i will say is t parking specially wen leaving t parking lot space u got to b very carefull for coming cars..
(3)
Jeff W.
Crazy good ice cream. They specialize more in tropical flavors, many of which I've never even heard of. The flavors all appear to be naturally flavored, as there are lots of little specs in each ice cream and it isn't overpoweringly sweet. Texture is quite good as well. My only issues are that fruit are so hard to pull off in ice cream, and many of their selections do suffer from muted flavors. A lot of these tropical fruits would be better suited for sorbet, or frozen custard, but they pull the ice cream off pretty well. Overall though, many of the flavors taste the same. I also didn't like that they blatantly say they will only give you two samples. With so many unique choices, it's a shame that they limit you to two. This is not the place to come for double chocolate chip caramel cappucino with oreo. They offer some of the usual dessert flavors (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, oreo, etc) but the majority are definitely tropical. An excellent and unique spot to come, especially if you live in the area.
(4)
Candace C.
I've been dying to come here for a while now and I finally got a chance after dinner at Mandalay. This place is full of non conventional flavors--many that I usually only find in Asia (or in the Caribbean). I'm thrilled I won't have to endure a 20 hour flight just to get jack fruit ice cream in the future-sweet! They did not have jack fruit tonight :( but I did get to try some other flavors. Here's the thing--each customers get two free tastings, so choose wisely! Tonight, I was treated to 3--lychee, mango sorbet, and grape nut--all of which were very tasty. I decided to order something new for my real scoop which wasn't the best idea out there because I chose peppermint stick and it ended up being the one I liked least. Oh well--I can't wait to come back to try jack fruit, guinness, ginger, and sour sop. Oh! and I don't forget the waffle cones--I had a chocolate one and it was AMAZING--the rich chocolate flavor really complimented the peppermint ice cream. It might not go with all the delicate tropical fruit flavors, but I'll bet vanilla will :)
(4)
Jean G.
Maybe the best ice cream I've had in my life! It tastes so fresh and creamy. The woman behind the counter (owner?) is super nice and was very proud of the product. Highly recommended!
(5)
Rosana V.
Holy hat. If it came down to it, I think I might sell my children for another scoop of the "Peanut" flavor at York Castle. "Peanut" doesn't quite describe it since it has chocolate chunks as well. Sort of like a Reese's Peanut Butter cup of creamy dreaminess. If you're feeling brave, get on board with the cake/ice cream/topping combo. You will not be sorry. All homemade, this neighborhood ice cream shop will have you coming back for more. Take it from me...I went back two days in a row. I didn't even care that the owner gave me a funny can-your-stomach-handle-all-this-dairy look. And, I didn't care that my stomach was crying out for lactose mercy for the next two days. Worth. Every. Bite.
(5)
Kate C.
This is the best most original flavors of ice cream in the whole dc area... I love - Lychee, Jackfruit, Grapefruit, and Guinness..... I haven't gotten up the courage to try grape-nut flavor but everyone says it's great! The service is always friendly and polite and they have always been really helpful if you cannot make up your mind with the samples and the suggestions. If you don't want Ice Cream - they usually have a Jamaican dish of some sort like jerk wings and they almost always have Jamaican Meat pies and Soda's like Cola Champagne.
(5)
Matthew L.
Great ice cream place up in Silver Spring. The ice cream is delicious AND there are so many tropical funky flavors that will not disappoint you. My only complaint about this place is that it is in a totally generic mini strip mall on Georgia Ave. Fortunately, the Jamaican family that runs Tropical Ice Cream more than makes up in flavor and originality than they lose in being in the location they are in.
(5)
Adam S.
Absolutely wonderful home-made ice cream in all sorts of exotic flavors! Guinness ice cream? I didn't even know I liked stout... but it was pretty damn tasty! I'm particularly partial to the sorbets, though.
(5)
Kate M.
After passing this place almost daily for four months now (granted, it took me about a month to finally figure out which strip mall it's in), I finally--FINALLY--went to York Castle. And I finally--FINALLY--tried the Guinness, expecting to be kind of grossed out but excited that I could tell my suburb-hatin' friends about yet another weird and interesting thing that Silver Spring has to offer. So imagine my surprise when I tried the Guinness and it was strange, yes, but also wonderful (at least at first...I started getting a weird aftertaste towards the end of it). It tastes like beer. It tastes like ice cream. These are not things that you would ever expect to blend well together, but they do. Would eating it while driving be breaking the law? You really can't think about it too much, just eat it. The other flavors here looked pretty interesting, and I'm definitely going to go back to try the guava, coconut, blueberry cheesecake, and lychee. I wouldn't make it there too often, though, because it is a little pricey. My single scoop was $3.70 including tax. It's about the same as my all-time favorite ice cream place in DC (Larry's), but not quite as good. They also have something like a $10 minimum on credit cards, and I found the service to be a little unfriendly.
(4)
Alicia C.
Having lived in the area for years now, I can't believe it's taken me this long to visit Tropical Ice Cream Cafe! I finally made it there this weekend for a sweet treat to top off a dim sum fest earlier that morning. Verdict: Why did I wait so long to check this place out?! Upon first stepping into this shop, everyone in my party remarked how amazing it smelled. Between the delightfully sweet and fragrant aroma, and the number of ice cream choices, I admit, I was a bit distracted, and it took me a while to finally decide on a flavor. Usually with ice cream, I opt for the chocolatey varieties. But how can you go to a place called Tropical Ice Cream and not try one of their fruity offerings? I went with the passion fruit. and was more than happy with my choice. I am looking forward to a return visit soon to try some of their other selections. The only downside to the experience I can think of was the tight parking. I can imagine coming in the busier summer months this place is hard to get in to. Luckily for us, we didn't have too much of a problem getting a spot this time around. Next up on my to-try list are the mango berry and the harambe flavors!
(5)
Alison B.
Nondescript ice scream shop in a strip mall in Silver Spring, but DELICIOUS and unusual flavors. Try Lychee and all the different tropical fruits.
(4)
Betsy G.
This is a unique local institution worth a try on a hot summer night. Lots of unusual flavors along with some of the traditionals. Tasting samples gladly given. Rather expensive as far as ice cream goes, but it is all hand made on site by the employees who are scooping it for you. They have special and seasonal flavors depending on what's available (mmMMmm....peach!) and some standard tropical flavors. The only down side...sometimes there is an alcohol based back flavor to some of the selections. I have no idea what it is, but it's unpleasant. I recommend tasting before you buy.
(4)
Dianez S.
One word: HARAMBEE! (The flavor isn't there all the time though)
(5)
Matthew B.
So, one thing that has always bothered me is when I'm reading review on a place I love to eat with a 4-5 star average and there is a single 2 star rating in there. I usually just toss it off like the reviewer doesn't know what he/she is talking about. I went to tropical Ice Cream Cafe with my wife after reading the raving reviews here on Yelp. I am true ice cream lover and aficionado and was really looking forward to trying this place. As we walked in the middle aged woman behind the counter looked at us like we were crazy. This reminded me of being in the Caribbean where there really is no such thing as customer service. I tried a couple flavors (soursop and passion fruit) and I ended up going with coconut pineapple and passion fruit flavors in a sugar cone. I found the flavor to be pretty good but honestly, a little 1 dimensional. I did enjoy the little flakes of coconut in there. The mouth feel of the ice cream was rather disappointing. I reminded me of some of my first attempts at making ice cream at home. Almost amateur in texture. To be honest I would take a pint of Haagen Daz over this place any day and considering the tab was $13 for 2 ice cream cones with 2 scoops each (1 waffle cone), I will stay away. I was really hoping to find a great place in the neighborhood to be my new go-to but the search shall continue on.
(2)
Ina C.
Guinness-flavored ice cream! Now that I have your attention...I completely agree with David!! You MUST try this ice cream! I tried the Guinness flavor and the peach (not together) - and they are DELICIOUS. I've never had peach like that and it changed my standards in ice cream. Ben & Jerry's, Coldstone -- They do not compare with Tropical's homemade ice cream in this hole-in-the-wall location in downtown Silver Spring. It is worth the trip. Service is extremely friendly, and they let my friends and I try about 4 different flavors before choosing what we wanted.
(5)
Simone B.
Tropical Ice Cream Cafe is my new discovery. As a Hazelnut lover, it was not easy to give it up, until I tasted Caroline's tropical flavors. I enjoy especially the non traditional flavors of homemade ice cream, such as Passion Fruit, Lychee, Soursop, Guava, and any other uncommon fruit flavors. The very friendly owner, Caroline, also makes delicious suger free ice creams and that is great for individuals who seldom can have such a treat. She offers other sweet treats plus lunch and dinner which I have not sampled, yet.
(4)
Sid R.
Very wide choice of tropical flavours. Good feeling of mom pop shop home made! Tried gauva and coconut. Pineapple/Mango.. all of them del!
(4)
PAUL G.
Wonderful ice cream for this returning customer. No problems using Internet voucher good for this location. Two free samples was great, and the staff gave us a third sample free of their newest flavor MY ROSE. Was there 04/2011 and Lemon Swirl and Halambre are winning flavors, though you cannot go wrong with any selection. Highly recommend this busn. Do not drive too fast or you will miss it - located on southbound side of GA Avenue between Seminary Rd and 16th Street. Reasonably priced like other ice cream stores.
(5)
Alex A.
This place has Guinness ice cream. I don't really feel like I need to say anything else. If pressed, I would add that the lady who was working behind the counter was really nice, but really it's the Guinness ice cream. G-U-I-N-N-E-S-S I-C-E C-R-E-A-M.
(5)
giin l.
ooh - so glad this place is still serving yummy delicio ice cream! this little ice cream shop filled my days with happy happy joy joy back when i first moved to dc. (how did i end up in silver spring? o, you should see me drive - i am directionally challenged.) every flavor rocks - i especially love mango! tip - this is a great present for dinner parties!
(5)
Elysia N.
"Harambe" means "unity" in Swahili, the official language of Kenya. "Harambe" is also the name of a new flavor at York Castle Tropical Ice Cream, created in honor of Barack Obama. According to owner Caroline Tay, it is comprised of a combination of flavors from Kenya (orange and banana), Hawaii (pineapple and coconut), the U.S. (rum), and "secret flavors" from around the world. The result? Delicious! The flavor of the month was egg nog, and I was contemplating that, but after a taste of Harambe, I was sold. The rum gave it an almost-egg nog flavor, or maybe pina colada. And, there were yummy tidbits of tropical fruit embedded in the ice cream - a plus for a fruit lover like me. Another hit from the folks at York Castle! No wonder they've been around for 23 years.
(5)
Feedmedc ..
The flavors offered are what make this ice cream shop special. Normally when you have tropical fruit it's in the form of a sorbet not ice cream. It's like an ice cream shop for adult tastes with some vanilla and chocolate thrown in for the faint of heart. Kids seem to love it anyway. I mean ice cream is one of the major food groups isn't it? I've tried Soursop, Guava, Mango, Passion Fruit, Lychee, and Pumpkin. Not sure what's for you? Just ask for a sample or two. All of them are creamy and have some pieces of the fruits of choice mixed in, small so they don't mess up the texture. The colors are vivid as you look down the row of choices. Pumpkin is the seasonal flavor now and it's great. It has all of the spices that you'd put into a pie but in ice cream form. The color is a rich, autumn orange. My suggestion is be adventurous. Go for something unusual and bring a friend so you can try their flavor too. You can even get a coupon on the website to try a scoop for free until December 31. So, eat up and enjoy.
(4)
Teresa M.
Wonderful ice cream! Step outside of you normal and try some of the unusual flavors, particularly soursop (not sour, it's a type of fruit) or Guinness. Very good!
(5)
matt b.
Im in love with his place. Ben and Jerrys Has Nothing on these guys
(5)
Brennan S.
Simply stellar ice cream. Easily the best I have tasted in the last ten years.
(5)
Megan T.
My husband and I got two of the internet vouchers when they were offered since this is close to us and we hadn't been before- thought it would be great to try. We enjoyed the variety of flavors but I have a feeling some of them had a LOT of added food dyes and who knows what else. Icecream was decent but not amazing. The place could use a makeover and switch to more eco-friendly materials (why does anyone still use styrofoam?). Customer service was ok. We missed using our second voucher by one day and when my husband called to see if there was any chance for using it a day late he was told sorry, no luck. Totally understand expiration dates but when other places go out of their way to make your visit to them a great experience it doesn't make sense to go out of your way to visit this place.
(3)
j c.
This place is bomb. i've been here for years and really think people are either sleeping on this place or more than likely don't know its existence. They have so many tropical flavors. If this place was in some trendy DC neighborhood, they would make a killing.
(5)
Steve J.
THIS is THE place for great homemade ice cream, pricey but DAMN GOOD. I like the Jamaican vibe and wish they would play the reggae louder. This town lacks good Jamaican food as the veggie patties are a bit dry but you can't go wrong with the ice cream. The Harambe is a nice creative flavor.
(5)
Chris M.
Amazing place. It's a jamaican ice cream parlor, but that hardly does it justice. They specialize in tropical fruits like mango, lychee, papaya, passion fruit and soursop, which are amazing. Try a few out and enjoy, even if you have no idea what it is! The more traditional flavors are good as well (I particularly enjoy the swiss chocolate, although my memory of it 10 years ago was even better then the last batch I had).
Tanya B.
A sign in their window says that they plan to reopen. I hope that they do! Yummy, creamy tropical flavors.
(4)Christine C.
Been here about 4 times. All the flavors are really good. Price is a bit high but then it seems like most ice cream places are these days. My only complaint is that you're limited to 3 samples. I wish it was closer in location to me so I could go more often. Parking is a pain here because the lot only fits like 10 cars or so. Location isn't the best near that intersection and if you miss the turn it's not easy to get back to it
(4)Chris S.
I walked over a mile from the Silver Spring Metro station just to get to this place so I was hoping it would be worth it. While it was good it wasn't good enough to walk to again, next time I shall drive. Place is just naturally dim, from the outside it appears they are closed but go ahead and enter because even with low lighting somebody is in there serving up scoops. They have a variety of flavors, I'm unsure of which ones are homemade and which are bought and sold. It didn't really matter to me as once I saw they had rainbow sherbet I knew what I wanted, it doesn't matter how it was made if rainbow sherbet is available I'm getting it. Staff was friendly, it appears to be family owned or at least a small business run by a tight group. I could see myself returning and maybe next time I'll be a little more adventurous and try one of their more unique flavors.
(4)Hain L.
So many unusually delicious flavors of icecream! I sampled lucuma which just tasted like vanilla to me. My friend and I each got durian and peach ginger. Durian was so pungent but my friend loved it peach ginger was good with little fruit pieces. This place is a bit expensive but considering how close it is to where I live, I'd occasionally go back.
(3)Johnny M.
This place is amazing. I can't believe that I drove past this place almost every day and never bothered to come inside because I'm a snob, and let's face it the outside looks ghetto as hell.... But be brave after all it's silver spring, nothing is really all that ghetto. The ice cream was sooo good and the flavors were creative and above all delicious. I got the ginger ice cream and honey bee in an oversized vanilla waffle cone and immediately needed to go change my pants :/ Also to my surprise this place also has a wide selection of savory Caribbean dishes such as meat pie and jerk chicken. I had the salmon mean pie and it immediately brought be back to my vacation in the bahamas sanz the cheap rum runners and bahama mama's. I will definitely be back!!! P.S. the owner is a sweetheart
(5)Mo A.
Tropical Ice Cream Cafe has a lot going for them. A local ice cream shop that promotes itself as offering homemade, natural products. A fairly large variety of both traditional and unique flavors. Additionally, they also offer a few Caribbean favorites such as patties and jerk wings. The location, while a little out there, doesn't have a lot of viable competition around. After reading many great reviews, I decided to give it a go. I ordered some Rainbow Sherbet. Gotta tell you, it was delicious. It's funny, I think rainbow sherbet often gets messed up by places trying to be "too cute" with the flavors. It often results in unbalanced sherbet where it's either too sour or too sweet. Not at this place. The sherbet was soft, creamy, smooth and fruity. The flavors were vast but they all came together in harmony. Took me back to childhood when I'd steal money from my dad's wallet to get some ice cream from the neighborhood shop. Don't worry though, I blamed my little brother, so justice was served. Why only three stars? The price. I'm not one to pay attention to prices all the time. I guess it depends on where I am and my mood but a lot of times, it's not a big deal. As I'm standing at the register about to pay, I see a little sign that says "$8.00 minimum for credit card purchases". I think to myself, "hmmm, I think I've reached that amount". Boy, did I ever. One large cup of ice cream, one small cup of ice cream, one single scoop of ice cream on a cone and a Jamaican beef patty (which was spicy but probably not fresh) came to almost $20. I'm sorry? Yes, $20 dollars. Monopoly dollars? Nope, DC dollars, which seem to spend faster than regular American dollars....AKA inflation. Additionally, the service wasn't bad but it wasn't the friendly and hospitable service I was expecting after reading other reviews. Maybe they were just having a bad day? Wait a second. Having a bad day at an ice cream shop? Insanity! Irony? My little brother gives me a call as I'm leaving the store. I tell him about my sherbet adventure, especially about feeling like a victim of highway robbery. My brother pretends to be interested in my plight but then recalls doing time for a crime he didn't commit....being framed by me. Now, I don't exactly remember what his punishment was. I just remember sitting at the dinner table and noticing he wasn't at his "assigned" seat. I vaguely recall my mom saying she didn't like thieves so he was slapped into next week and would be back on Tuesday. I didn't wanna blow my cover, plus we were having hot dogs so I just changed the subject. Besides, I had a football game the next day so I couldn't afford to be gone till next week. I couldn't let my teammates down, that's selfish! Fast forward back to the current situation. My brother said that if I overpaid for ice cream, I deserved it and therefore justice was served after all. Damn you, karma! Despite all of that, I'd probably return here. The flavors and quality of Tropical Ice Cream Café are hard to beat. Just be mindful of the backwards reality- things that are supposed to be better for you are also more expensive.
(3)Alex W.
Tropical Ice Cream Cafe is the United Nations of ice cream for it offers frozen treats that are skilfully made with the bold flavors of fruits from all regions of the world, from the Lychee of Far East Asia, to the Durian, Rambutan, and Soursop of Southeast Asia, to the Mamey Sapote, Passion Fruit, and Tamarind of Central America and the Caribbean, and to the Jackfruit of South America. In addition to the exotic flavors, I also enjoyed the standard fares with the nutty French Almond, Rum and Raisin, and Pistachio versions, amidst the low-sugar or no-diary offerings. The seasonal specials too were worth tasting, like the Rambutan and Harambe! This is indeed a most unique ice cream store that makes a gourmand's eyes like mine light up and go into a frenzy with indecision. I'm sure after a few samplings you will be returning back to explore the other missed flavors. To read rest of review and see photos of the food, please look for the link in my profile.
(4)Ashley W.
At the Fillmore yelp event, I was blessed to taste a slither of mango flavored ice cream. HANDS DOWN, THE BEST CREAM ON THE PLANET. It wasn't overly mango, or sweet, and you could taste the cream. I can't wait for the other locations to open up because I will stalk this place all summer.
(4)Lia M.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Tropical Ice Cream Cafe. I love them because their ice cream is rich and creamy, and they offer fun flavors (soursop, lychee, etc.). I always seem to be here during peach season, so I've had the peach quite a few times. I've also had mango. Both fruit flavors taste like the real thing, which is great. However, my favorite is the Honey Bee flavor. I'm addicted to honey (I used to eat honeycomb out of the jar) and ever since Baskin-Robbins discontinued Bumble Buzz, I've been sad. But the Honey Bee ice cream is so delicious. The same woman is always working, and she is quite friendly. And while I wouldn't mind trying the Jamaican food, I can't pass up the ice cream.
(5)Dennis O.
This place is in a tiny little strip mall right before you merge onto 16th St...so it can be hard to find, and if you miss it, it can be a pain to make a U-turn. Anyway, it's run by a nice lady and they have all kinds of African ice cream flavors in addition to the typical ones you find in Baskin Robbins. The ice cream is always fresh. Keep in mind that they rotate flavors so if you got it one day it may not be there the next day.
(4)Carol S.
The ice cream is some of the best I've ever tasted. It's not cheap, but fresh ingredients aren't inexpensive. The servings are usually generous anyway, but if you happen to get a smaller one the quality more than makes up for it. The owner told me that he used to work at Giffords in Silver Spring ... he certainly knows what he's doing! It was originally called York Castle but now they're using that name for the one in Rockville. I don't know if' it's owned by the same person or not, but I'm just glad to still have the ice cream store in Silver Spring!
(5)Abegail A.
When I pulled up into the parking lot, I was totally suspect of Tropical Ice Cream Cafe. After all it is in a strip mall. Loved the unusual flavors that they had to offer here. I ended up trying the Rum Raisin and Soursop. Both were tasty, but I ended up leaving with a quart of the Rum Raisin (yes, it was that good...don't judge!) and Strawberry. The actual Rum Raisin ice cream had subtle hints of rum, but when you got a raisin...boom! who got a huge burst of rum in your mouth. Definitely delicious. The Strawberry was delicious as well. It had nice chunks of strawberry it in, which I enjoyed. I need to go back to try the Guinness and Lychee soon...the ice cream here is that good! I also wouldn't mind trying those Jamaican patties I saw and smelt. Service was okay. The lady behind the counter was friendly, however she seemed to have no system for taking customers. She was a little frazzled with the four different sets of customers that were in there, not knowing who to serve first. So, she just randomly gave samples and scooped out ice cream for whoever shouted out an order to her. The parking lot is a little tight and could get crazy, but have some patience. The ice cream here is definitely worth it!
(4)Alicia G.
All it took was one visit/one scoop to say that Tropical Ice Cream is my new favorite go-to spot for frozen dairy treats. The moment we stepped in, this delicious aroma overwhelmed the senses - like fresh waffles or cake baking in the oven. I tend to go for fruity flavors when I eat frozen dairy so this was a perfect match for me. I ended up with a small cake cone filled with mangoberry ice cream. They have a lot of flavors and one (harambe) that one fellow yelper described as tasting like suntan lotion (but in a good way!). The mangoberry was delightful. It was cold, creamy and filled with dark red berries. The flavors were just perfect. Very pleasant employee manning the counter - she was very helpful with the sampling of the flavors so we could nail down our decisions. The parking in this little plaza leaves something to be desired but it's a small price to pay when you're about to have the best ice cream in Silver Spring.
(5)Yemi ..
Great ice cream. Lots of exotic flavors and creamy ice cream. Best ice cream in the area.
(4)Wesley T.
Best ice cream in Maryland AND Washington DC! Not only do they have amazing exotic flavors, it is the creamiest I've had. I consider myself a connoisseur of ice cream and my waistline shows it. This beats all the fancy stuff in downtown DC. Chocolate bans is awesome. Mango,coconut, grape nuts. It's all great. Get a Jamaican patty to wash it down. :)
(5)Terinee B.
The Guinness really did taste like beer... Espresso chip was phenomenal... Butter pecan was pretty ok too! Spicy beef patty was hittin hard!!! Chicken patty was off da rocker!!! But even with all that, I still can't justify 5 stars... But I would stop by again when in the area.
(4)Kimberly M.
Yum yum yummy...I only get their grape nut home made ice cream in their home made cinnamon wafer cone.
(5)Danielle L.
I had read good reviews about Tropical Ice Cream, and we were in Silver Spring on the way home from traffic court, so decided to stop by. At first, we thought maybe the shop was closed since it was pretty dark looking for the outside, but upon closer inspection we saw people inside, and it was indeed open. My Nana got a child-sized peach cone, my sister got a small-sized passionfruit sorbet in a cup, and I ordered a small-sized Grapenut ice cream. The total for all three came up to a few cents under $12, which is the only reason I'm removing one star - $12 is a little pricey for three small orders, but I do get that it's homemade, and the product is definitely quality! Reviews: I *LOVED* my Grapenut ice cream - it was thick, creamy, and smooth, much more like a gelato or a custard than a typical ice cream. WIN. My sister raved over her passionfruit sorbet, and my Nana (always a complainer) actually liked her peach ice cream. I also sampled the honeybee and Guinness flavors. The honeybee was alright, but I wasn't overwhelmed.. The Guinness, on the other hand, was fantastic - like all the other flavors sampled, it tasted like the REAL THING. Verdict: Pretty expensive, but will definitely be back!
(4)Nick F.
Ice cream is some of the best I have had in a long time. The owner knows and loves her craft and takes time out to talk to us whenever we are there. We keep coming back whenever we can.
(5)Nya A.
In the area after visiting Rock Creek Park. A great place to stop with the kids. They enjoyed the flavors offered. Reasonable price & a friendly atmosphere.
(4)Eric S.
Our family always goes to Tropical Ice cream when we need to satisfy our sweet tooth. I don't know how they do it! They pack so much flavor into ICE CREAM! The banana is soooo banana-y. It's so much fun to try new flavors that you can't get anywhere else.
(5)Ruth C.
Took me a U-turn to catch this neat spot in the unassuming strip mall. Parking and seating are both low-key. Lots of novelty tropical flavors that appeal to the adventurous. No Guinness or Rum Raisin the night we went, but between the three of us we worked the two-sample limit to the max. Lucuma, Harambe, Soursop and Mamey Sapote were all interesting enough to intrigue us. Tart and sweet are pretty well-balanced here. Grapenut was a bit mild but Honey Bee was really good. I ended up getting a butter pecan milkshake, and she worked the blender hard to make the nutty bits drinkable. I'll definitely be back for more frozen treats, and to try their cocoa bread.
(4)Anita W.
VERY impressive selection of flavors. My kids loved this place.
(4)Keon D.
Tasty ice cream and TONS of flavors and choices. Came here on a whim and got to taste a few flavors which were pretty good. The place itself is charming and has some room inside for seating. I got the coconut Ice Cream and Amanda got the 'mamey sapote'. When we asked the worker what it tasted like she had no description which wasnt too helpful but at least they offer samples. Basically it tasted like pumpkin kind of almond taste. It was very good. My coconut ice cream was good but too sweet. If you get coconut you should probably not get a large cone cause you'll be crying uncle towards the end of it. Overall very good and I would definitely try this place again if I was in the area.
(4)Sant A.
Was in the area and the kids wanted some ice cream...daughter loves the fruit flavored ice cream...this place is perfect for that...got the rainbow sherbert and the wife got chocolate mint...if in the area again, definitely goin back
(3)Jennifer B.
How can anyone give this place less than 5 stars?! If I could give it 10 I would. Best ice cream, hands down. Where else can you get handmade, super creamy Harambe, Rambutan, Lychee, or Irish Moss ice cream (actually at York in Rockville)?! The rum raisin is awesome as well, as are the traditional flavors such as mint and oreo. Love the ladies who run it. It's always good. May seem a little pricey at first, but when compared to other boutique style ice cream places, it's right on par. It really doesn't get any better than this!
(5)Paul G.
It is a little hole in the wall place, but it has wonderful ice cream flavors. The ice cream is fabulous and worth a stop.
(5)Alexander K.
This ice cream was just OK as the 2-star rating suggests. I had the coffee ice cream and my girlfriend had the french almond and coffee ice cream. Also, I could have sworn that my credit card was overcharged. Oh well. I think my preference is towards the denser, higher fat ice creams. I wish yelpers didn't give out 5-star ratings so liberally. A 5-star rating should be given to a place that is truly special and memorable with a great level of service.
(2)Ben S.
I'm a huge fan of everything but the price and the service. There simply isn't another ice cream place around that has the different flavors that Tropical Ice Cream Cafe has and the ice cream itself is pretty good. The one that is most advertised is soursop, but they also have lychee, mango, ginger, Guinness and more traditional flavors. Scoop sizes are small and the prices are high. The store itself is tiny, with very little seating, and I often end up eating my ice cream on the sidewalk, which is very close to the parking lot. They can definitely get impatient if you try too many flavors (they actually have a limit) or are slow to choose. All that said, they offer a unique product and it is a delectable one. I often stop here before or after going to Brookside Gardens.
(4)Joe G.
Excellent tasting ice cream and cake with prices to raise your debt through the roof. It's not as great as York Castle Tropical Ice Cream in Rockville. The prices are higher as I recall and the ice cream and cakes don't taste as great, but it's a good alternative if you're in the area.
(4)Suzanne R.
Ice cream very good! Great flavors. You can tell it's homemade not mass produced. PRICEY!! My 12-16oz milkshake was $6.
(4)Rebecca P.
dont bother with the food they offer...i thought i could get blown away with a beef patty...frozen ones from 7-11 taste just as good. however... THEIR ICE CREAM...you will not be able to find any of their specialty flavors anywhere. im talkign about fruits you have never heard of, unless you grew up or frequented a foreign country and ate the local produce. prices are a little expensive i think, but i know they have their dedicated clientele that keep coming. im so glad i dropped in here on a whim! but yeah..dont mess with their patties.
(4)Stacy S.
When a place runs Groupon & LivingSocial promotions on a regular basis you know that its trying hard to lure in customers. A good business wouldn't need regular promotions once its been around for some time. The ice cream was good, but the owner's service and business sense just throws me off. I refuse to dine at any place where service is crap..just ruins your entire mindset and appetite. Owner refused to honor the LIvingSocial randomly at 8.45pm when clearly the deal was still valid blaming LivingSocial was expiring the deal at 8pm !! I mean since when does LivingSocial put expiration TIME on deals?? I like near by Moorenko's much better in flavor texture and overall creaminess. This place has some very unique flavors, but then you can't see the actual strange fruit/vegetable so not sure if its just flavoring. Save your money and go some where else..and under no circumstances buy a Groupon or LivingSocial for this place
(2)L Y.
Pineapple Soda Float with vanilla ice cream was okay. Harambe and MangoBerry flavors were good with the banana split. Veggie patty and coco bread were yummy! Did not try the Guinness flavor, but will try next time. =)
(3)Kalila W.
I remember some delicious ice cream..had it somewhere one time in silver spring when i was maybe 10 or 11 years old. Well, im 22 now and i STILL remember that ice cream, thankfully i was able to find the name, so i drove 40 minutes to re-visit it. Place is easy to miss. There is a 2 flavor tasting limit, but i guess since there was nobody else in there, she let me sample like 6 of them.. i was really trying to find the flavors that were lodged in my mind from over 10 years ago..it was the pineapple coconut, ginger, and mango. I settled on the pineapple coconut and Harambe - a new flavor in honor of obama that was actually really good! Kinda expensive at $3something per scoop, but trust me, this is quality stuff, and still cheaper than Coldstone and the likes - you shouldnt mind lol
(4)Shannal S.
If you expect any shred of customer service, you would be truly disappointed. Who needs customer service, 'how about a smile???' Forget about the smile; just don't want the bad attitude. Or a least not made to feel like I'm inconveniencing anyone with my business. I don't think that's asking too much. The ice cream is nothing to rave about, it's not bad but I mainly question the whole use of the word "natural" when describing ice cream that contains Splenda. If the back of this place looks as bad as the front maybe I'm wasting my time writing this review, and maybe I need to call the health department. There is a bad odor as soon as you walk in, which I wrote off as being an "hole in a whole" establishment, but once I had time to absorb the entire environment, it just a filthy place. This place doesn't give the happy feeling you would normally expect when going to get the best dessert on earth. The ice cream is expensive, but I don't have any issues as long as it worth it. In my opinion it is worth it.
(1)Aimee S.
this place is seriously addictive. i LOVE the mango ice cream. and the peach. and the banana.
(5)Johnette J.
Nice little spot - I was given a sample to try of the apple pie flavor. I didn't too much care for that flavor. I chose the coffee flavor after trying and the server suggested the espresso as well. I got one scoop of each! Great combination. Yummy for my tummy! I'll definitely try again the next time I am in the area.
(5)Raj N.
Love Tropical Ice Cream for its variety of excellent flavors and its friendly staff. The fruit flavors are all amazing, including the no-sugar-added varieties. And if you want to immediately counteract no-sugar-added ice cream, try one of their homemade waffle cones. This is really a fantastic place!
(5)Deb G.
So tasty! Try the ginger ice cream - it is so delicious. Not too sweet and full of fresh ginger taste. This ice cream is super rich, though, so maybe go for a smaller portion. The mango sorbet was also wonderful, like a ripe mango exploded in your mouth. It was also the only non-dairy option the day I showed up. The flavors are so unique here that I can't wait to go back for something new.
(4)Brent T.
I've probably passed this place thousands of times and tonight was the first time we went in. They have some flavors I'll have to go back for as I got 3 scoops of Guinness ice cream. The lady behind the counter was cheerful and very friendly considering we walked in a few minutes before closing. Definitely going back! Apparently I drafted this 3 months ago and forgot to post it. I've been many times (I'm now the duke!) since that first visit. Their ice cream is so creamy that it blows other ice creams out of the water. Picked up some Ben and Jerry's at whole foods and it felt grainy by comparison. My favorites are Guinness, French almond, coffee and rum raisin.
(5)Catherine S.
I've only been once but I am a new fan. I had the mamy sopate and the bf had the pistachio- OUTSTANDING. So creamy and taste just like the natural flavor it says it is. I tried the the guiness (like the real thing) and the durian (sp?) fruit (taste like the real thing which is yucky but that's not their fault). I am surprised about the service comments because I found the women behind the counters to be very personable and friendly and they didn't mind us trying more than the 2 limit flavors. I'll be back...
(4)Libby F.
This is one of Silver Spring's greatest treasures. This ice cream is so good! I had not been here in over three years mainly because I'm not a huge ice cream fan, but when I do get a craving, Tropical is the place I go to. They have great unique flavors. Soursop and lychee are sweet and tasty. My former neighbor stopped by and we went here. Being a Maine native, this is one place that she can enjoy her favorite - Grapenut. They have traditional flavors too. Best of all, they give you large scoops and are cheaper then the other scoop shops. The ladies behind the counter are very sweet and have a lot of patience when dealing with customers that demand sample after sample of their many sweet flavors. I enjoyed my double scoop in a crunchy waffle cone. I wonder why I waited so long to return. Now I know better.
(5)Sarah M.
I went back to this great ice cream place with the boyfriend to use my LivingSocial deal. We got a quart of chocolate banana ice cream to go, and split a dish of harambe. All was delicious :) The woman working charged the full amount of the order to my card instead of the difference (the LivingSocial deal was for $12 and my order was about $19), but she corrected it right away, so it wasn't a problem. All in all, I am pretty excited I discovered this place, and I will be back for yummy tropical ice cream :)
(4)N S.
GUINNESS ice cream. Love it. 'nuff said.
(4)Tara L.
Don't try to be slick and fill up with 15 samples here. They're onto you, so now you're limited to two free samples only. Unless you pay $1 - then you can sample 10. Although that might seem a little petty, I can understand why someone would try to take as many samples as possible of this homemade, tropical ice cream. With exotic flavors ranging from Guinness to Lychee, Honey Bee to Rum Raisin, it's hard not to be intrigued by the dozens of traditional and non traditional flavors. This cafe also holds some sentimental value for me. I've been coming here with my family since I was a little kid. My mom loves the flavors so much because they remind her of he childhood in Jamaica. They also have other treats like, Rum Cake, Jamaican patties and some of the freshest cocoa bread around. Perfect place to stop by after a long, lazy summer day.
(5)Natalie F.
Guinness flavored ice cream?! This place definitely deserves a super ultra mega yum yums!! The Pumpkin flavored ice cream is incredibly authentic with a touch of spice. Absolutely to die for! They have a wide variety of sorbets, tropical flavors and seasonal flavors. The eggnog flavor sounds incredibly decadent! They have lots of different sundae options, cones, milkshakes and ice cream soda floats. They have a limited lunch and dinner menu of Caribbean patties, jerk chicken wings and other eats. Prices are reasonable and the service is friendly. Will absolutely be back!
(5)mei s.
We were looking for something different and interesting to satisfy us in the heat. We found it. It was pricey but good. They had ice cream of various flavors. We ordered the Guiness, lychee, tamarind, lemon, and peanut. All for $25 for 4 doubles. The Guiness was awesome, so full of flavor and heavy, just like the beer! What a unique ice cream. The tamarind was not so interesting. If you ever eat the tamarind hard candy, this ice cream will be lacking in comparison. The other flavors were pretty tasty but the Guiness was the stand out. And I'm not even a Guiness drinker!
(4)Kristin M.
This is probably my favorite ice cream shop of all time! Boom. That. Just. Happened. It's a little Jamaican ice cream shop with homemade ice cream in all kinds of flavors, many of them unusual and exotic (Soursop, Ginger, Guinness) but some more familiar (Coffee or Swiss Chocolate). What's awesome is that the unusual flavors are always surprising but sooo delicious with flavors that really pop, and the more "mundane"-seeming flavors are also unusually awesome. The Swiss Chocolate, for example, is some of my favorite chocolate ice cream. Everything just tastes fresh, creamy, and vibrant! Baskin Robbins can suck it. Tropical's where it's at.
(5)Janet W.
I love Tropical Ice cream. When it comes to ice cream, they are genius. If you are in the DC area, and like ice cream, you must go here. Where else can you find rose, lychee, or , one of my favorites, Guiness (which to me tastes more like Baileys Irish Cream than a brew) ice creams. Of course they have the usual flavors, too, but seriously, why would you want to? Quality and flavor and outrageously diverse selections are tops...beyond 5 stars. The only think lacking, and it is lacking big, is atmosphere. I feel like I am in a clinic and not an eatery. I dont want to sit an linger. If a really good marketing person got ahold of this place..., well, lets just say "Ben and Jerry who?" My favorites are Guiness (as described above), rose, and (more mainstream) coconut. You dont get a super sized scoop, and you'll plunk down more money than your usual shop, but the fact is, they dont have the same economies of scale as 'industrial' ice cream manufacturers, and that's just how it is.
(4)Janice V.
sniff sniiff, on such a hot day...I got a small large sundae, two mini scoops for $6, thankful for the coupon or else I would not believe it is worth the deal. The ice cream (quince and marjoram) were not amazing as everyone reviewed. Quite sad actually, not creamy or freezing, it melted really fast and I ate it in the store, plus there were a ton of ice crystals left in the middle of the ice cream. In all my recent eating ice cream experience, I believe ice crystals are a no-no. One day, I'll go back, but not this summer.
(3)Chris D.
Fantastic flavors! I had and loved the coconut ginger. It was smooth and sweet without being tooth achey sweet. The ginger came through strong both in the bits (obviously) but also throughout the scoop. Definitely not the cheapest scoop you'll ever get but it's a great treat with enough options to keep you interested for a long time to come.
(4)Vee N.
GRAPE NUT! My favorite!!! Love Love Love it! I was introduced to this flavor many years ago by a childhood neighbor! I found Tropical Ice Cream Cafe 4 years ago when moving to Silver Spring, MD and I treat myself when I'm in the mood! I will probably cheat and try others!!! There is definitely a large selection!
(4)Mei-ye J.
I love the flavors that Tropical Ice Cream Cafe offers. I have yet to find another ice cream shop serving up flavors such as jackfruit, papaya, soursop, mamey, and pumpkin. The soursop and passionfruit are definitely two of my favorite flavors. While I don't like the prices much I think they are fair considering the the selection of the unique flavors. If you plan on getting two scoops in a waffle cone one person will definitely have a hard time finishing it. When I went in I redeemed my groupon for the two waffle cones with two scoops in each and my mom, my sister, and I were not able to finish all the ice cream. Also, seating is very limited and I wouldn't recommend a large group unless you don't mind eating your ice cream outside on the curb.
(4)lily w.
Best ice cream in the DC area hands down. Delicious exotic fruit flavors that are still ice cream and not sorbet - so creamy! Love the guava esp :) No frills - you come here for the ice cream and that is all you need. Family friendly. Lots of flavors.
(5)Tu-van L.
For some reason I didn't see the "York Castle" part of the store name, but regardless this Tropical Ice Cream shop offers quality refreshing tropical flavored ice cream. You really can't go wrong with the fruit flavors here, chock full of strong fruit flavor (even some frozen chunks of fruit). All that I've tried had this flavorful and creaminess that was rich yet not too heavy. I especially like the Haramba flavor, an homage to our current president that included orange, pineapple, coconut, rum and some other flavors I forgot. Other delicious flavors include mango, coconut, peach, blueberry cheesecake and honey bee. Tons of others that look good but those are the only ones I've tried so far. Didn't realize my fellow yelpers are a fan of the Guinness. I must try the next time I visit.
(5)Linda L.
I've been wanting to try this place for years. My little kids had rainbow sherbert & cookies & cream. Those flavors were just "eh". My older kids had peach (subtle flavor but tasted real) and butter pecan (which was a hit). I decided to try a not so typical flavor, as this is not a typical ice cream shop. I had a tasting of lucuma and mamey sapote, which the store lady said were both fruits. The lucuma was sweet & had nutty/caramel flavoring. The mamey was a sweet strawberry/banana flavor. I would recommend giving this place a try, especially as something different to try. Portions were decent to the prices, but parking is tight.
(4)Juliana C.
I love you, Yelp, even though York Castle made me want to cry because I saw at least four flavors I wanted, but didn't have enough room in my stomach, post chik-fil-a run, for four scoops' worth of ice cream. I tried Harambe (tropical fruit and rum) and Guinness (yum.yumyumyum), and went for a full scoop of the Guinness and a scoop of lychee (so light and sweet -- the perfect summer flavor!). The friendly, patient lady behind the counter confirmed my friend Kate's inquiry as to whether the grapenut flavor was the same as the cereal. Hrmmm. She went for butter pecan, nothing crazy there, but said it was great. Other things I liked about this place: - It had its own parking lot - It wasn't crowded - The inside was all business - no flashy decor Counter lady: "Thanks for coming in. We'll see you again soon!" Me: "Yes you will!"
(4)Evsi W.
Just went there and was not disappointed! I had Pistachio (not my favourite) and Lychee ( outstanding), hubby had Espresso chip (amazing) And you should try the very moist rum cake too..... We will be back with friends!
(4)Mo A.
You need a car to get there and the atmosphere is nothing special. However, the home made ice cream is pretty darn good. The Honey bee and coconut ginger were particularly delicious.
(4)DON C.
I got a "Love Jones" for this place! Tropical Ice Cream Cafe has a special place in my heart! As a kid, ice cream was a major component in my food pyramid! And, still is!! Tropical Ice Cream Cafe is a unique gem in Silver Spring serving up some of the best "homemade" ice cream in the DMV! I visit this place atleast three times a month. It has a line item in my monthly budget! Can't get enough of the stuff.....and this place offers 31 flavors and then some! Sorry Baskin Robbins. It is amazing a place so small can churn out so many flavors. The ice cream is very creamy...sweet, reminiscent of the back in the day ice cream made with the salt-rock churned ice cream makers. Remember that!? No fillers or artificial flavors. The flavors and types of ice cream are most unique from sour sop, mango, honey bee, pineapple to rum raisin, butter pecan, and strawberry cheesecake! Notice I called out my own favorites folks! LOL! But there are so many choices to choose from that I can sit in this place and eat ice cream all day! There are dozens of traditional and nontraditional ice cream combinations! Also, you can combine scoops from each of these flavors....to create your own!! Fresh baked cakes are sold here too! Tip1: Try the Dominican pineapple cake and a scoop of butter pecan ice cream, with a drizz of caramel!! As good as sex...well...almost!! Tip2: Combine the sour sop and Lychee ice cream together ...and add some nuts with cherries! The taste is heaven! Each cherry crunch explode as if a champagne bottle is poppin in your mouth! WHAT A BANG THEORY and TASTE IT IS?!!! Just writing about this place already has given me "a Jones" to stop in for a visit today! Got to go get my fix....later!!
(4)Brad Z.
Like others, I was satified by the exotic flavors not normally found at your typical ice cream shop. What was suprising to me were the tasty Jamaican Meat pies. With my priorities in order, I chowed down two scoops of ice cream followed by a spicy beef pie. The pie was so good a got a second for the road.
(4)Constance C.
What's not to like, except that it's a little hard to get to if you are on the wrong side of Georgia Avenue? Mamey Sapote was a very mild, subtle flavor but the peach was bursting with fresh peaches. Both ice creams were very creamy and dense...mmmm. I am definitely going to get some to take home next time.
(4)Lisa H.
AWESOME ice cream! All the flavors are very unique and tasty. I am so glad I got to try many of the flavors. I ended up purchasing the Guiness and it was worth the money. Go get some for yourself!!
(5)Ronda D.
I try homemade ice cream everywhere I travel. I was looking forward to my visit to Tropical tonight. The ice cream was good and probably deserves four stars. There are lots of flavors to choose from, so making a decision is hard. I'm giving them three stars though because the woman behind the counter was rude and the place didn't seem very clean. It smells of fruit that's been sitting out too long and it looked like the tables and the scoop counter could use a good wipe down.
(3)Erin T.
OMG, this place is off the chain yummy! Do not go here if u r on a diet because it is addictive! It is a small shop in a shopping center. Parking is not that great in the front but additional (free also) in the back. They have great homemade flavors and the employees are very nice. You can sample before you buy which you may need to decide which flavor to get as they all sound (and look) fantastic. I never give 5 stars but this place is just over the moon good. It happens to be next to the shop I get my dog food at so I guess I will be stopping in frequently now that I've tried it! Very reasonable as well....
(5)Semra E.
The best hidden treasure of Silver Spring. I went on a first date there MANY years ago, and still remember the awesome flavors of fruit that I got. I highly recommend this place on the hottest days in DC (July & August). It's worth every cent. Very hard to park though due to the MAJOR fork in the road from Georgia Ave. & 16th St. (where it starts), but also because the size of the mini me parking lot. Park around the corner off another avenue and walk over there, so you don't get in some awful accident. Trust me, you'll thank me later.
(5)Jessica H.
This place is VERY expensive. They charge you for every topping. Although the selection is pretty good, I am glad I had a living social deal. If I did not, I would have paid almost 15 bucks for 2 small cups of ice cream with nuts and whipped cream. I prolly wont go back unless I am REALLY craving cool flavored ice cream. Not to mention, they do not have AC! Don't plan on sitting in the place to enjoy your ice cream. You will melt.
(2)B B.
Mmmmm mmmm good! Why haven't I tried this place before now? Beautiful sun shiny day calls for ice cream. I was headed for 31 flavors, but wanted something different. This place has traditional and unique flavors. I wanted to try the soursop, but decided on mlk's dream, a mix of peach butter pecan and chocolate chips. Tasty.
(5)Dee B.
If you like peanut butter, I highly recommend that you make your way over to Tropical Ice Cream Cafe and ask for a double scoop of their peanut ice cream. It's full of creamy peanut butter-y goodness and some of the best ice cream I've had recently!
(4)Philip M.
Great neighborhood find. Tropical flavors from fruit you may have never heard of or never tasted? Check out the pictures on the wall and try a sample. Standard american flavors? Always rich and flavorful. I like the ginger, coconut and mamey. And, yes, the grapenut. Have not tried the Guinness yet. Limited variety of sorbets, for those who do not want milk fat, but great flavors. Especially like the mango and passionfruit. Occasional unusual specials, like pumpkin or peanut, worth trying. Most popular flavors come pre-packed, but others they will pack up for you for a little extra. Just remember that a pint container can easily become a single-serving size at this place. The owner is very friendly, remembers regular customers, handles multi-party orders well and stays calm when customers get hyper. As in any hand-prepared ice cream shop, wait can be long as people taste and decide. Jamaican patties are great based on my limited experience, reasonably well filled, not very spicy, can not taste the fat in the dough (a good thing) even when they are cooled down; have not tried other jamaican specialties. Worth going out of your way for, including dealing with occasional parking and exiting problems.
(5)Laika W.
The durian ice cream is fantastic.
(5)Angela M.
Can you say "Yum!"? Ice cream is great, but it's even better when it's handmade and original. They have mind-bending flavors including one I've got to get sometime: their Guinness ice cream. They have delicious traditional and exciting tropical flavors. Guava, Papaya, Mango, Pineapple, Pina Colada and Lychee are just a few. They have an impressive menu of all different kinds of items including cakes, food and Jamaican drinks. They also have sorbet for those avoiding dairy and sugar-free options. I want to go back and try it all! I got the Oreo ice cream and Almond ice cream and my husband got the Guava. His hit the spot better than mine, but mine was also very good. They have seasonal flavors as well. I noticed the woman in front of me ordering 2 pints of her favorite (I can't remember what it was), but she requested a disguise for her ice cream so that her husband wouldn't find it and eat it all. If they had containers that said "broccoli" she would have been set.
(4)Areta C.
So. Many. Flavors. It's hard visiting Tropical Ice Cream. Do you stay safe with the decadent chocolate banana? Have the peanut you know will have you raving about it for at least thirty minutes after? The fruit flavor you can't pronounce? Or ginger, the one you get EVERY freaking time because you can't get enough of it and you secretly feel she may stop making it and then it's back to lychee for you? This ice cream makes me insane. It's that delicious. Nevermind the sweet owner, the reasonable homemade icecream prices and the incredible baked items. Insane!
(5)Bulgit K.
I love this place. Every flavor i tasted was great. The Guava is my favorite though.
(5)Mina A.
Worth a visit. Great variety of flavors. Pumpkin, coffee, guava, orange-pinapple were all great. Lychee and saffron not so much.
(4)K G.
We drove 30 minutes to get here and got here nearly 30 minutes before they were supposed to close. As we pulled up the manager was walking out - looked at us and proceeded to close up, avoiding eye contact all the while. I hope their ice cream is good, but we won't be coming back to try it. Awful!
(1)Kate P.
Dude....TASTE THE RAINBOW! This place has a ton of flavors. If I didn't feel rude or cheap doing so, I would have sampled all 30-something flavors they had. And I think the lady would have let me! You can tell that she takes pride in the fact that she makes what you're eating. I tried soursop (like fruit on acid...that's good), Guinnesss (good, but not as rich as others I've tried), butter pecan, grapenut (surprisingly good), and lychee. I ended up going with butter pecan because I was feeling boring today, but just wait til I go back with PMS! Also wanted to try a "castle": cake+ice cream+ whipped cream+ sundae topping. I only give it 4 stars because I'm devoted to a couple of ice cream shacks in Maine :)
(4)Neal Gone Daddy H.
man...we went here like a year ago. i don't see the big deal. it was just like regular ice cream from the bucket, nothing special. i guess it's charming because it's a little run down and has silly picture on the walls. i don't know... maybe we'll try it again.
(2)FRANCHESKA A.
Its a preaty good icecream i been going there 4 year on a hot day t rum n raison is really good, i wont recoment t island food way way to greasy but t ice creams r really good.. T only problem i will say is t parking specially wen leaving t parking lot space u got to b very carefull for coming cars..
(3)Jeff W.
Crazy good ice cream. They specialize more in tropical flavors, many of which I've never even heard of. The flavors all appear to be naturally flavored, as there are lots of little specs in each ice cream and it isn't overpoweringly sweet. Texture is quite good as well. My only issues are that fruit are so hard to pull off in ice cream, and many of their selections do suffer from muted flavors. A lot of these tropical fruits would be better suited for sorbet, or frozen custard, but they pull the ice cream off pretty well. Overall though, many of the flavors taste the same. I also didn't like that they blatantly say they will only give you two samples. With so many unique choices, it's a shame that they limit you to two. This is not the place to come for double chocolate chip caramel cappucino with oreo. They offer some of the usual dessert flavors (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, oreo, etc) but the majority are definitely tropical. An excellent and unique spot to come, especially if you live in the area.
(4)Candace C.
I've been dying to come here for a while now and I finally got a chance after dinner at Mandalay. This place is full of non conventional flavors--many that I usually only find in Asia (or in the Caribbean). I'm thrilled I won't have to endure a 20 hour flight just to get jack fruit ice cream in the future-sweet! They did not have jack fruit tonight :( but I did get to try some other flavors. Here's the thing--each customers get two free tastings, so choose wisely! Tonight, I was treated to 3--lychee, mango sorbet, and grape nut--all of which were very tasty. I decided to order something new for my real scoop which wasn't the best idea out there because I chose peppermint stick and it ended up being the one I liked least. Oh well--I can't wait to come back to try jack fruit, guinness, ginger, and sour sop. Oh! and I don't forget the waffle cones--I had a chocolate one and it was AMAZING--the rich chocolate flavor really complimented the peppermint ice cream. It might not go with all the delicate tropical fruit flavors, but I'll bet vanilla will :)
(4)Jean G.
Maybe the best ice cream I've had in my life! It tastes so fresh and creamy. The woman behind the counter (owner?) is super nice and was very proud of the product. Highly recommended!
(5)Rosana V.
Holy hat. If it came down to it, I think I might sell my children for another scoop of the "Peanut" flavor at York Castle. "Peanut" doesn't quite describe it since it has chocolate chunks as well. Sort of like a Reese's Peanut Butter cup of creamy dreaminess. If you're feeling brave, get on board with the cake/ice cream/topping combo. You will not be sorry. All homemade, this neighborhood ice cream shop will have you coming back for more. Take it from me...I went back two days in a row. I didn't even care that the owner gave me a funny can-your-stomach-handle-all-this-dairy look. And, I didn't care that my stomach was crying out for lactose mercy for the next two days. Worth. Every. Bite.
(5)Kate C.
This is the best most original flavors of ice cream in the whole dc area... I love - Lychee, Jackfruit, Grapefruit, and Guinness..... I haven't gotten up the courage to try grape-nut flavor but everyone says it's great! The service is always friendly and polite and they have always been really helpful if you cannot make up your mind with the samples and the suggestions. If you don't want Ice Cream - they usually have a Jamaican dish of some sort like jerk wings and they almost always have Jamaican Meat pies and Soda's like Cola Champagne.
(5)Matthew L.
Great ice cream place up in Silver Spring. The ice cream is delicious AND there are so many tropical funky flavors that will not disappoint you. My only complaint about this place is that it is in a totally generic mini strip mall on Georgia Ave. Fortunately, the Jamaican family that runs Tropical Ice Cream more than makes up in flavor and originality than they lose in being in the location they are in.
(5)Adam S.
Absolutely wonderful home-made ice cream in all sorts of exotic flavors! Guinness ice cream? I didn't even know I liked stout... but it was pretty damn tasty! I'm particularly partial to the sorbets, though.
(5)Kate M.
After passing this place almost daily for four months now (granted, it took me about a month to finally figure out which strip mall it's in), I finally--FINALLY--went to York Castle. And I finally--FINALLY--tried the Guinness, expecting to be kind of grossed out but excited that I could tell my suburb-hatin' friends about yet another weird and interesting thing that Silver Spring has to offer. So imagine my surprise when I tried the Guinness and it was strange, yes, but also wonderful (at least at first...I started getting a weird aftertaste towards the end of it). It tastes like beer. It tastes like ice cream. These are not things that you would ever expect to blend well together, but they do. Would eating it while driving be breaking the law? You really can't think about it too much, just eat it. The other flavors here looked pretty interesting, and I'm definitely going to go back to try the guava, coconut, blueberry cheesecake, and lychee. I wouldn't make it there too often, though, because it is a little pricey. My single scoop was $3.70 including tax. It's about the same as my all-time favorite ice cream place in DC (Larry's), but not quite as good. They also have something like a $10 minimum on credit cards, and I found the service to be a little unfriendly.
(4)Alicia C.
Having lived in the area for years now, I can't believe it's taken me this long to visit Tropical Ice Cream Cafe! I finally made it there this weekend for a sweet treat to top off a dim sum fest earlier that morning. Verdict: Why did I wait so long to check this place out?! Upon first stepping into this shop, everyone in my party remarked how amazing it smelled. Between the delightfully sweet and fragrant aroma, and the number of ice cream choices, I admit, I was a bit distracted, and it took me a while to finally decide on a flavor. Usually with ice cream, I opt for the chocolatey varieties. But how can you go to a place called Tropical Ice Cream and not try one of their fruity offerings? I went with the passion fruit. and was more than happy with my choice. I am looking forward to a return visit soon to try some of their other selections. The only downside to the experience I can think of was the tight parking. I can imagine coming in the busier summer months this place is hard to get in to. Luckily for us, we didn't have too much of a problem getting a spot this time around. Next up on my to-try list are the mango berry and the harambe flavors!
(5)Alison B.
Nondescript ice scream shop in a strip mall in Silver Spring, but DELICIOUS and unusual flavors. Try Lychee and all the different tropical fruits.
(4)Betsy G.
This is a unique local institution worth a try on a hot summer night. Lots of unusual flavors along with some of the traditionals. Tasting samples gladly given. Rather expensive as far as ice cream goes, but it is all hand made on site by the employees who are scooping it for you. They have special and seasonal flavors depending on what's available (mmMMmm....peach!) and some standard tropical flavors. The only down side...sometimes there is an alcohol based back flavor to some of the selections. I have no idea what it is, but it's unpleasant. I recommend tasting before you buy.
(4)Dianez S.
One word: HARAMBEE! (The flavor isn't there all the time though)
(5)Matthew B.
So, one thing that has always bothered me is when I'm reading review on a place I love to eat with a 4-5 star average and there is a single 2 star rating in there. I usually just toss it off like the reviewer doesn't know what he/she is talking about. I went to tropical Ice Cream Cafe with my wife after reading the raving reviews here on Yelp. I am true ice cream lover and aficionado and was really looking forward to trying this place. As we walked in the middle aged woman behind the counter looked at us like we were crazy. This reminded me of being in the Caribbean where there really is no such thing as customer service. I tried a couple flavors (soursop and passion fruit) and I ended up going with coconut pineapple and passion fruit flavors in a sugar cone. I found the flavor to be pretty good but honestly, a little 1 dimensional. I did enjoy the little flakes of coconut in there. The mouth feel of the ice cream was rather disappointing. I reminded me of some of my first attempts at making ice cream at home. Almost amateur in texture. To be honest I would take a pint of Haagen Daz over this place any day and considering the tab was $13 for 2 ice cream cones with 2 scoops each (1 waffle cone), I will stay away. I was really hoping to find a great place in the neighborhood to be my new go-to but the search shall continue on.
(2)Ina C.
Guinness-flavored ice cream! Now that I have your attention...I completely agree with David!! You MUST try this ice cream! I tried the Guinness flavor and the peach (not together) - and they are DELICIOUS. I've never had peach like that and it changed my standards in ice cream. Ben & Jerry's, Coldstone -- They do not compare with Tropical's homemade ice cream in this hole-in-the-wall location in downtown Silver Spring. It is worth the trip. Service is extremely friendly, and they let my friends and I try about 4 different flavors before choosing what we wanted.
(5)Simone B.
Tropical Ice Cream Cafe is my new discovery. As a Hazelnut lover, it was not easy to give it up, until I tasted Caroline's tropical flavors. I enjoy especially the non traditional flavors of homemade ice cream, such as Passion Fruit, Lychee, Soursop, Guava, and any other uncommon fruit flavors. The very friendly owner, Caroline, also makes delicious suger free ice creams and that is great for individuals who seldom can have such a treat. She offers other sweet treats plus lunch and dinner which I have not sampled, yet.
(4)Sid R.
Very wide choice of tropical flavours. Good feeling of mom pop shop home made! Tried gauva and coconut. Pineapple/Mango.. all of them del!
(4)PAUL G.
Wonderful ice cream for this returning customer. No problems using Internet voucher good for this location. Two free samples was great, and the staff gave us a third sample free of their newest flavor MY ROSE. Was there 04/2011 and Lemon Swirl and Halambre are winning flavors, though you cannot go wrong with any selection. Highly recommend this busn. Do not drive too fast or you will miss it - located on southbound side of GA Avenue between Seminary Rd and 16th Street. Reasonably priced like other ice cream stores.
(5)Alex A.
This place has Guinness ice cream. I don't really feel like I need to say anything else. If pressed, I would add that the lady who was working behind the counter was really nice, but really it's the Guinness ice cream. G-U-I-N-N-E-S-S I-C-E C-R-E-A-M.
(5)giin l.
ooh - so glad this place is still serving yummy delicio ice cream! this little ice cream shop filled my days with happy happy joy joy back when i first moved to dc. (how did i end up in silver spring? o, you should see me drive - i am directionally challenged.) every flavor rocks - i especially love mango! tip - this is a great present for dinner parties!
(5)Elysia N.
"Harambe" means "unity" in Swahili, the official language of Kenya. "Harambe" is also the name of a new flavor at York Castle Tropical Ice Cream, created in honor of Barack Obama. According to owner Caroline Tay, it is comprised of a combination of flavors from Kenya (orange and banana), Hawaii (pineapple and coconut), the U.S. (rum), and "secret flavors" from around the world. The result? Delicious! The flavor of the month was egg nog, and I was contemplating that, but after a taste of Harambe, I was sold. The rum gave it an almost-egg nog flavor, or maybe pina colada. And, there were yummy tidbits of tropical fruit embedded in the ice cream - a plus for a fruit lover like me. Another hit from the folks at York Castle! No wonder they've been around for 23 years.
(5)Feedmedc ..
The flavors offered are what make this ice cream shop special. Normally when you have tropical fruit it's in the form of a sorbet not ice cream. It's like an ice cream shop for adult tastes with some vanilla and chocolate thrown in for the faint of heart. Kids seem to love it anyway. I mean ice cream is one of the major food groups isn't it? I've tried Soursop, Guava, Mango, Passion Fruit, Lychee, and Pumpkin. Not sure what's for you? Just ask for a sample or two. All of them are creamy and have some pieces of the fruits of choice mixed in, small so they don't mess up the texture. The colors are vivid as you look down the row of choices. Pumpkin is the seasonal flavor now and it's great. It has all of the spices that you'd put into a pie but in ice cream form. The color is a rich, autumn orange. My suggestion is be adventurous. Go for something unusual and bring a friend so you can try their flavor too. You can even get a coupon on the website to try a scoop for free until December 31. So, eat up and enjoy.
(4)Teresa M.
Wonderful ice cream! Step outside of you normal and try some of the unusual flavors, particularly soursop (not sour, it's a type of fruit) or Guinness. Very good!
(5)matt b.
Im in love with his place. Ben and Jerrys Has Nothing on these guys
(5)Brennan S.
Simply stellar ice cream. Easily the best I have tasted in the last ten years.
(5)Megan T.
My husband and I got two of the internet vouchers when they were offered since this is close to us and we hadn't been before- thought it would be great to try. We enjoyed the variety of flavors but I have a feeling some of them had a LOT of added food dyes and who knows what else. Icecream was decent but not amazing. The place could use a makeover and switch to more eco-friendly materials (why does anyone still use styrofoam?). Customer service was ok. We missed using our second voucher by one day and when my husband called to see if there was any chance for using it a day late he was told sorry, no luck. Totally understand expiration dates but when other places go out of their way to make your visit to them a great experience it doesn't make sense to go out of your way to visit this place.
(3)j c.
This place is bomb. i've been here for years and really think people are either sleeping on this place or more than likely don't know its existence. They have so many tropical flavors. If this place was in some trendy DC neighborhood, they would make a killing.
(5)Steve J.
THIS is THE place for great homemade ice cream, pricey but DAMN GOOD. I like the Jamaican vibe and wish they would play the reggae louder. This town lacks good Jamaican food as the veggie patties are a bit dry but you can't go wrong with the ice cream. The Harambe is a nice creative flavor.
(5)Chris M.
Amazing place. It's a jamaican ice cream parlor, but that hardly does it justice. They specialize in tropical fruits like mango, lychee, papaya, passion fruit and soursop, which are amazing. Try a few out and enjoy, even if you have no idea what it is! The more traditional flavors are good as well (I particularly enjoy the swiss chocolate, although my memory of it 10 years ago was even better then the last batch I had).
(5)