Yala Greek Ice Cream — Restaurant in Washington

A Sweet Revelation in Georgetown: My Accidental Encounter with Unforgettable Ice Cream

During a recent vacation to Washington D.C., I stumbled upon a soft opening in Georgetown that completely redefined my perception of ice cream. Honestly, so much of what's available in the U.S. today feels more like candy, an attempt to cram in as many sugary components as possible. This was different. This was incredible.

I was immediately struck by the sophisticated and balanced flavors. The Black Cherry Opa! transported me with its taste of fresh cherries, complemented by delicate shards of smooth chocolate in a cream that was perfectly sweet without being cloying. Then there was Greek Blue Summer, a vibrant classic blending bright blueberry with just the right amount of tart lemon. The Yasou Dubai was a revelation—this is how "Dubai chocolate" should taste, with its ingredients harmonizing into a truly worldly flavor profile. And for pistachio aficionados, the Pistachio Odyssey is a dream come true, offering a perfect balance of savory and sweet cream.

While I sampled many other delightful flavors, these were the ones that truly captivated me over two visits. Yes, you read that right! After a long day of museum hopping, we found ourselves drawn back for a second round the very next day, eager to indulge in more scoops of this exquisite ice cream.

If you ever find yourself in the Georgetown neighborhood—or even anywhere in the D.C. metro area—it would be a genuine mistake to miss out on this place. Seriously, stop whatever you're doing and treat yourself to a few scoops. And if you're a local, do yourself an even bigger favor: bring a cooler and stock up on some pints to...

Last week at the Dupont Circle farmer's market, I overheard one of the owners talking to the greek yogurt vendor (while buying out their greek yogurt bc their primary supplier had some supply problem or something) saying they're opening a new ice cream place in Georgetown. I was already intrigued bc then I knew they use good ingredients, so when I saw a long line out of their shop today I immediately decided to join the line and have a taste. The wait was long, and in this 90 something weather I was praying that the ice cream would be worth it, and it absolutely DOES! I tried three flavors: Papou's promise, pistachio odyssey, morning with Thea. Papou's promise was okay but mainly because I've never been a big fan of vanilla flavored ice cream. Although I'd say it still worth a try because it has a pretty unique texture/flavor I can't put my finger on so you might be delightedly surprised; Morning with Thea, a greek yogurt based ice cream (ice yogurt?) with candied orange is great. It is rich in flavor but light in texture so it doesn't spoil my appetite for dinner; Last but not least, as a pistachio ice cream/gelato aficionado, the moment I tasted the pistachio odyssey I knew I was in the right place. It doesn't taste of stale pistachio and definitely not of artificial flavoring, which I too often encounter with pistachio flavored ice cream. For me the pistachio ice cream is a litmus test and this place passed with flying colors. Last thing to note, the pricing is fair, I got a medium cup with two scoop for 8 something dollars, which is not above average for ice creams in this area (I've had them all). I will certainly go back and try...

Also reviewed on Instagram @ryrythefoodie ✨️

I was very fortunate to have visited during their soft and grand opening and to have met the co-founders there in person. Yala Greek Ice Cream is a fantastic little ice cream shop with clear passion behind their vision. It's also in a really perfect spot (Wisconsin Ave x N St NW) of Georgetown, right on the corner where many people meander past shops and restaurants. Just as well, of course, since they have excellent quality ice cream.

They use high quality ingredients and dairy, and many of their flavorings are imported from Greece and the Mediterranean.

We ended up trying several flavors, including their versions of vanilla, cookies & cream, pistachio, strawberry sorbet, Greek yogurt with orange zest, and a walnut baklava ice cream. All were truly amazing.

I had about 8 scoops of their ice cream over the course of 2 days and I absolutely don't regret it. The textures were divine and each item was noticeably light and not at all dense with excessive sugar, as is common with more commercial ice cream.

My personal faves: "Papou's Promise" (vanilla from Tonga), "Americanaki Cookie" (cookies and cream), "Pistachio Odyssey" (pistachio), and "Mornings with Thea" (Greek yogurt ice cream w/ orange preserves). That's SO FAR. Looking forward to coming back to try more.

I highly recommend stopping by Yala. It is well, well worth the visit into Georgetown alone.

One other bonus is that it's an LGBTQIA+ friendly business and a queer safe space....