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    Dairy Star

    4.3 (263 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Banana Split
    Heather B.

    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.

    Kesha B.

    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!

    Mar K.

    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.

    AR C.

    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.

    Oreo dipped
    Kayla S.

    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!

    Elizabeth A.

    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.

    Rocky Road
    Xavier Thomas M.

    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!

    Strawberry Shortcake
    Vivian L.

    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.

    Outside
    Tony G.

    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.

    Allison C.

    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.

    Regular vanilla cone with a coconut dip
    Bri R.

    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!

    Parfait and Sundaes
    Tanya M.

    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.

    mogan

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

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

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    Page 1 of 7

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    Ask the Community - Dairy Star

    Do they usually close during the winter ? Or have they closed down due to COVID?

    Don’t worry—They close every year for the winter (late fall I think) but they reopen in the Spring!

    Do they take credit cards now because of COVID?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Went solely for their fruit and red bean shaved ice. The ice could've been finer (I had to chew on…read moresome larger shards of ice which wasn't pleasant), but otherwise we enjoyed it, and I was very happy to see that it had all the makings of an old school patbingsoo with both fruit and red bean, as well as mochi and ice cream, which is rare nowadays. It was pricey but enough for 2 people to share. Metered parking on a weekend evening was easy. My only complaint is that it had a strange, unpleasant smell inside (we were there in the evening during the weekend of April 25th). Also, when I came a few years ago, it had a really cozy, welcoming vibe packed with comfy couches. Now, it just looks like basic tables and plastic chairs, lacking comfort, character, and charm. I'm hoping to return to try the sweet potato latte and the other shaved ices, but I hope they do something about the smell and make the space feel more cozy and inviting.

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