I totally get why this place is so popular. The soft serve is creamy and smooth. There's every topping you could think of and they're available in a shake, ice cream or malt. I tasted the original parfait which is strawberry, pineapple and chocolate sauce. I also tried the cone with Oreo and had a few sips of a blueberry, sour and lemon lime slushie. The person who took the order was patient, welcoming and helpful. The only wait was to place the order and to find parking! There's picnic bench seating if you prefer to eat onsite. The sundaes are approximately $13 which appears totally worth the pricepoint. read more

Dairy Star - Oreo dipped cone - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

This is such a cute place! On Labor Day it was super busy but the line moved pretty fast. It tastes very similar to Dairy Queen, but better quality. We got a swirl cone and a sundae. $12 for a sundae is incredibly overpriced and I do not think it justifies that price tag, but the experience was fun nonetheless. read more

Dairy Star - Swirl cone - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

Parking for a handful of cars available in the back. My first time here last Wednesday. I love that the staff cares about my order. I wanted to get ice cream soda but I actually want a float lol. The ice cream soda has regular soda (not coke) and syrup + ice cream. I didn't want the extra sugar so I went with the float. I also ordered the piña colada sundae with pineapple and marshmallow cream sans the coconut flakes. The nut toppings was so crunchy. I usually don't like nuts but liked it here. I'm not lactose intolerant but got the stomach gurgles after, so the dairy is pretty strong ;) read more

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First off you're swarmed by nothing but huge bees waiting in line and it would actually be worth getting stinged for if the ice cream was even flavorful ice cream had no actual flavor to it just tasted like cold goop , then asked for two simple toppings that they could've put on the cone but put in a small Side cup instead ? Prices are overcharged & place is overrated. read more

Always crowded but the lines move quickly. Soft serve ice cream is delicious but melts quickly in hot weather (it's ice cream!)

My company hired Dairy Star to came to our work place for a Summer treat. They came to set up during our weekly staff meeting. After a short while, neither myself nor my coworkers can pay attention to the speaker. The 2 staff members came to serve us were absolutely wonderful and friendly. I decided to have the chocolate soft serve with crushed Oreo cookies. It was quite delicious. Everyone enjoyed their treats and we all had a fabulous time. Their shop is not too far from where I live. I bet I can walk there (even with my one good leg since my health scare), have a double and walk back without feeling any guilt. Parking is available on Devon Avenue and near by side streets. I highly recommend everyone to stop by and have a treat. read more

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Came back. Brought family, tried a banana split for the first time. Fabulous. Big portion sizes. A bit cloudy today but overall nice outside. Quick service. Modified things how we like. read more

Dairy Star - Banana Split - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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It's chill and you'll get delicious ice cream rlly fast, been going there for years and it's never disappointed EVER. good ambiance good service. read more

How have I not written a review for this place? Truly a staple of growing up in the North Shore. The Dairy star is known for their soft serve ice cream and their variety of dip options. Located and tucked away in Lincolnwood but shy to no one, they have a few parking spots but there are plenty of street parking throughout. We came by around 5pm and there was tons of parking but also tons of people getting a treat. I got a chocolate and vanilla twist dipped in chocolate. A regular cone, I must've gotten a small cone growing up because holy moly did the size of the regular cone shock me when she handed it to me. Don't get me wrong it was delicious and I ate most of it but it melted fast than I could eat it and we had to ask for a cup. Truly a place to go for ice cream if you are looking for great local soft serve. They also have funnel cakes and more. Can't wait to be back for my next cone! read more

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First time my friend took me there it was almost 10 at night and the place was packed. Lineup was about 20 minutes but everybody was in such a good mood because... You're waiting for ice cream. It had been a super hot week. They have two windows open and service happens really fast because there's a very quick moving staff behind the one who takes the order. The soft service delicious. Not too sweet. And whatever it's made of the real stuff because it starts melting right away... That's how you know it's not chock full of preservatives and who doesn't love that? I had the birthday cake dip because I love all things birthday cake when it comes to ice cream. It did not disappoint. But honestly the ice cream underneath the vanilla chocolate swirl was so good it really didn't need a dip. Also picked up a chocolate dipped frozen banana for my dad. If you have to go with a healthier option -- that's a good one That was pretty popular and disappeared quickly. Bite for bite I think I might've liked that better than even the ice cream. My friend got a blitz. It involves some kind of chocolate bar. It was about $20 for three things. I hope you get to try it -- and if you're there it's the sign that's bright, the line that's long, and where the péople are happy. read more

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Stopped by Diary Star Ice Cream and really enjoyed it. The staff were friendly, and the place has a nice feel for hanging out with family or friends. I tried the vegan swirl and it was tasty. Prices are a bit on the higher side, but that seems true everywhere these days. It's also CRC certified kosher, which is great to know. Overall, a solid spot for good ice cream. read more

Dairy Star - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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This is the perfect local spot to grab soft serve ice cream. They have so many dips and topping to choose from. You can easily fulfill your sweet cravings here. The workers were friendly and it's overall a great spot for summer. They have outdoor seating and it gets packed but the line moves quick. I will definitely be back again! The portions are generous so be prepared to eat quick. I got a regular chocolate dipped cone and I was fighting for my life to eat it before it melted. read more

Dairy Star - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

Best soft serve ice cream around. Blows Dairy Queen away. So many types of dipped toppings for cones. Great shakes etc . Everything here is great. Last of the old school sit outside and have ice cream places around. read more

We always love coming here! Great soft serve ice cream, amazing toppings. I love how you can get creative with your order. Service is always fast! read more

Dairy Star - Oreo dipped - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

Unfortunately overhyped by tiktok and other social media. We were very excited to visit, especially because we just moved in to the neighborhood. We ordered a regular of rocky road and it didn't feel worth it for the $10 of ice cream. Although I commend the old fashion style of rocky road (mix ins instead of a blended ready rocky road), it was more so the taste that took away from it. And my fiancé loves desserts, so the fact that we both felt underwhelmed was unfortunate. The chocolate ice cream wasn't a special taste for a place listed as, "the best ice cream" on social media reviews. The marshmallow sauce according to the sign tasted like under mixed whipped cream and it even looked like it. The hot fudge was only in the corners of the bowl so I didn't mix with the taste. Old fashioned or not it just didn't taste like a good mix of ingredients, just a hodge podge of items in a bowl. But, at least people seem to like it. There is always a huge line, especially on weekends, and the signage gives homey vibes so that's nice. I hope the place is great for others and maybe it's just not for me. Wish y'all well though! read more

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Nothing screams summertime Chicago like enjoying Dairy Star. Much like The Freeze, Dairy Star is a classic for ice cream in the north side of Chicago. Be prepared for some long lines in the summer, but thankfully things move quick. Must be all the high school/college kid energy working a summer job. I think most people go for the dipped cone, but in my opinion it just melts way too fast and leaves quite the mess on you, your hands, or the ground. Despite it being a bit more expensive, I usually opt for the snow blitz which is basically a blizzard from Dairy Queen or a McFlurry from McDonald's. I opted for the Oreo snow blitz recently and thought it was a great treat. My friend opted for the Kit Kat snow blitz and I felt like they were a bit stale. There's a good bit of seating in front and on the sides of the the building. If you're not in a rush and the weather is nice, definitely recommend just hanging around and enjoying a nice summertime Chicago vibe. Especially in the evening! Also parking lot can get full quickly, but usually you can find parking in the neighborhood and walk over. read more

Dairy Star - Outside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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I never visited because it just looked so crowded all the time. I assumed it would be good since there's always a line and my assumption was correct. The ice cream and toppings were all delicious. There's limited seating but it didn't take us too long to find a spot to sit. They're pretty quick to get us our ice creams and the staff were all very nice. It's such a fun place to get ice cream in summer evenings. The pricing has increased in the last few years (I'm comparing to photos on yelp...) but at this point do we even blame them for having to up their prices? And even with the increased prices people are still flocking here to get ice cream. Overall loved it and everyone enjoyed their ice cream. read more

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Delicious little old-fashioned soft serve ice cream shop tucked in on Devon. Has ample outdoor seating and the prices were very reasonable. It's great that places like these still exist. They were friendly and the soft serve ice cream did not disappoint. read more

SO tasty. Served up quickly even on a busy evening. Plenty of seating. I'll be back to try more, there's so many menu options! read more

Dairy Star - Regular vanilla cone with a coconut dip - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

Every time I go there I'm never disappointed! This has quickly become my #1 Summer bucket list choice. I usually get the original parfait but I've had a sundae as well. It's humongous! So bring an appetite or someone to share it with. read more

Dairy Star - Parfait and Sundaes - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

My favorite ice cream stand in Chicago/near Chicago. A can't miss when I am near. A good tandem with Novelty Golf & Games / Bunny Hutch. I normally get a dipped cone or a sundae. It's good. Really good. read more

Delicious ice cream! So many choices! Even if there is a line it doesn't take too long to get to the front.

A classic Chicago Northside institution. It's a mom and pop shop with high schoolers working the register, and very summer night you can see a line wrapping the entire place for a reason... The soft serve isn't too sweet and has vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry in all of the twist combinations you want! I reccomend a twist cone with some sort of dip. The dairy free option is pretty great since it's hard to tell the difference between regular soft serve. They also offer gluten free cones, so it's super accommodating for everyone. read more

Dairy Star - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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It's soft serve with creative dips, but it's so insanely overpriced. I did not expect to pay $50 for two regular sized cones, a milkshake and a banana split. I know people love this spot, but there are 10 better more reasonably priced spots closer to home for me. read more

Great place to grab a classic summer treat. They're known for their dipped cones which is what I usually get. Their ice cream is smooth, creamy, and the perfect texture, not too sweet so the toppings/dip really helps. The ice cream melts and can get messy very quickly. On a busy day the seated area was pretty full of drops of ice cream but still sittable. Props to the person who recommended requesting a cup especially if you're taking it to go! There's a small parking lot and some side street parking. There's usually a line in the summer but it moves pretty quickly. read more

i was served by this ginger piece of trash who goes by "mogan". this mogan fellow not only skimped on my ice cream scoops but he also picked his nose and put the pieces into my ice cream while making direct eye contact with me. lest to say i was utterly disgusted and demanded money back. i was very disappointed with the service due to this mogan. never speak to mogan. read more

Dairy Star - mogan - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

Something about this place is just so bland. Got a vanilla ice cream with peanut butter dip, and everything from the soft serve vanilla to the peanut butter dip fell short. read more

Dairy Star - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

A neighborhood staple. This place ALWAYS has a line but don't let that turn you away from this gem!! The teens working there are FAST and efficient! Seating is open, people often share tables which is a very sweet midwest thing. They have cones, shakes, sundaes, etc. Everyone in the family will be able to find a dessert they love!! Pro tip: Read the toppings carefully, I dont like nuts and the topping I picked was basically all nuts... haha. Thankfully my partner ate them all! Fail on my part read more

Dairy Star - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

Literally all of their ice cream options are delicious and you just can't go wrong. The staff is always Kind and Efficient. My personal favorite is the chocolate ice cream with sprinkles in a waffle cone. read more

Tasty treats and feels like a throwback to a more relaxed era (my childhood ) Even when it's packed the employees are still nice.

Another childhood favorite. The lines go so fast, everyone so nice and the ice cream is just so good. Sometimes I'm a plain Jane and I'll just get a plain vanilla ice cream or I'd like to get mine with Oreos on top. Every summer it's always nice to come here and I hope they never close down read more

Nice little popular place on the Northside. Sometimes there could be a long line. Yesterday was their last day of the season 11/3/2024. Glad I was able to get some ice cream. read more

Dairy Star - 11/3/2024 - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

Dairy Star was a must visit when I was back in Chicago. Trip to Chicago? In the summer? It was basically all but certain. COVID hasn't changed it much, I don't think they've had to reduce the number of tables and chairs and aside from having a set order and pick up line and a table to ensure proper distancing. What hasn't changed is that their ice cream is still top notch and the strawberry shortcake sundae is still too much of a draw to get a parfait. read more

Always good bt damn 2 Sundays 26 bucks And u should have your employees tell people there a pint of ice cream Me and my wife were like wtf 26 for a sundae n we dont need that much read more

I've been coming here for as long as I can remember, leaving a review to counteract the other reviews saying this place is overrated. The soft serve ice cream here is the best in the area. The banana split is my go to behind the soft serve. The ice cream here is not life changing, but it's definitely very delicious. If you come on the weekends at night and there is always a line, it moved pretty quick but there is a slight wait. Highly recommend this place! read more

Dairy star must be a popular place because the line was wrapped around the place on a Thursday night!! Plenty of seating outside, but filled with patrons. Be prepared to wait for a table or split one with strangers if you/the other party are comfortable. The root beer float I had was pretty good, but pricey! Inflation is hitting everyone! Parking lot available in the back, but might not have spots available. Free parking is available on the side streets. read more

Delicious ice cream. Wonderful outdoor seating. Fast service. A little on the pricey side but so worth it. #iraeats #iraeats1 read more

Dairy Star - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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Yummy yummy giant dipped cone in a thin layer of chocolate. There was a long line but they went thru quickly. Everyone had something delicious. Along with other dipped cones one person had a fresh banana shake. It was delicious too! We ate outside because it was still nice out. Unfortunately the weather is coming to an end but the cones were terrific read more

Yummy soft serve ice cream, right in Devon in Lincolnwood. They have a socially distant line due to the pandemic and when the weather is nice it can be long, but it moves. You walk up and place your order at one of two windows. The staff are all really nice and they're fast, too. They have several tables in front if you want to stay and eat your treat. Dedicated one star only because they only have one size for their specialty sundaes and they're a bit pricey at almost $8. But I love their cones and they make great shakes. We are fans! read more

Dairy Star - people sitting at picnic tables - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Lincolnwood, Illinois

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They carry a full variety of soft freeze products, made to order. The base is smooth and rich, making for great dipped cones, shakes and malts, and sundaes. Service has always been prompt and polite, even when they are slammed with orders. Prices are very reasonable for top quality treats. read more