Moonbeam Ice Cream
We conducted extensive “research” this spring, eating our way through dozens of frozen treats, and are excited to share some of our favorites. House-made is table stakes, bold flavors of classics need to shine through, and we love some inventiveness with unique flavor profiles that define a location.
Shuga X Ice
Solaire Social, 8200 Dixon Ave, Downtown Silver Spring, MD 20910
At Shuga X Ice, Ndidiamaka Agu reimagines full-fat classic ice cream through the lens of African flavors. Her small-batch creations blend bold West African ingredients to take you on a taste journey. Try Nebadaye, a lush, dairy-free blend of moringa, coconut milk, and tiger nut. Vimto swirls red grapes and raspberry; Love Nwantinti: A malty, bittersweet scoop inspired by Nigeria’s beloved non-alcoholic Malta Guinness; while Gbas Gbos, a spicy chocolate, lives up to its name—intense and thrilling in small doses. Top with agege bread or a puff puff waffle drizzled with sweetened condensed milk.
Carl’s Frozen Custard
2200 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Carl’s Frozen Custard is a real classic, operating from the same drive-in location on the outskirts of Fredericksburg for 72 years. What Carl’s serves is frozen custard, a richer cousin of ice cream made with extra egg yolks and less air, giving it a dense, velvety texture that holds flavor. You’ll likely be served by Dan Sponseller, nephew of the original Carl who has been dishing out treats for more than 40 years. The flavors are simple and timeless: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry—the strawberry is made from real strawberries and has a deep, true-fruit taste that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Happy Ice Cream
1509 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
The team at Happy Ice Cream may be low-key, but their credentials run deep—alumni of top kitchens, now scooping imaginative takes on the classics. Operating from a wine shop and pasta bar with a cult following in Dupont’s Boys Town, their cart draws loyal lines. Bold riffs on classics like dark chocolate sea salt with a splash of olive oil are rich and refined with a great mouth feel. Don’t skip the sourdough waffle cone—it’s tangy, toasty, and seriously next-level.