Clayboy’s Shaved Ice

I live in New York and came to Bethesda for the weekend. I was really craving shaved ice on Saturday and saw this place had great views and was up the street. Too bad they weren’t there¿¿ I figure the owner should at least post his phone number there Incase he’s temporarily relocated or something
I was so upset.

Amazing shaved ice for good prices and such friendly workers. Fun and delicious, really happy to see them in Bethesda.

This is such a delicious, refreshing way to spend a swampy Bethesda summer afternoon!
This little cart gives you freshly shaved Hawaiian style sno-​cones with your choice of flavored syrups. I love the coconut or the lemonade. They’ve got all the traditional options like blue raspberry, strawberry, etc. It seems sort of like a blast from the past– definitely a charming option in downtown Bethesda, which has become pretty commercialized.

I was in Bethesda with my daughter and ouR GPS took is right there! We were surprised at the heaping cup of ice and we both loved our flavors; lime a coconut and raspberry. Give it a try!

Grew up on Clayboy’s!!! Such a good summer treat. He always adds a Swedish fish, it’s so fun when you find it hidden in the ice :)

This cart has been around for my whole life and it really brings back childhood memories. As I’ve gotten older I have grown away from liking such sweet things, but as a child this was the best summer treat. I love that its a small family operation and they make their own syrups. The perfect final touch is the single Swedish fish that they submerge in the icy, sweet goodness.

The shaved ice here is not the best that I’ve had (I really like Carmen’s, or the ones you can get from shaved ice trucks in Hawaii) but it’s definitely above average since the ice is shaved much finer than what you would typically get. The flavors themselves were decent although could be more creative — I personally really liked the watermelon, and the blue razz was just okay. It’s a refreshingly light treat for a hot summer day, and I will definitely return frequently as the weather warms up.

I realized that I’ve been working in Bethesda for almost a year today, and as of today my biggest regret so far is waiting to try Clayboy’s Shave Ice. The ice has the perfect soft texture, and the syrup generous enough you don’t end up with a flavorless wad at the bottom of the cup. Rita’s truly pales by comparison.
The prices are a bargain. For $ 3.50 I got a cup of ice I thought would be too big for me to finish (the medium size). That was before I tried it, and swore there was no way I was letting any of it go to waste.

Find that Swedish Fish!

This is probably the best Shave Ice cart you will ever run into. I remember coming here since my early teenage years, experimenting with the different flavors and hanging out in front of the Barnes and Nobles when all the stores were non-​existent. This is a comforting memory never forgotten. You also will never meet someone so enthusiastic about making sure you have the best Shaved Ice Treat. It is a generous soft portion with sweet sugary syrups in so many fun and delicious flavors! Yum!

Nothing says summer in Bethesda like seeing the Clayboy’s Shave Ice cart just chillin’ there, actin’ all cool in front of the Barnes & Noble. What’s normally a somewhat average street corner always becomes a bustling public space when these frozen treats are being served. Everyone loves Clayboy’s, and the joy it brings to everyone makes even this curmudgeon smile.
It’s pretty much like a snow cone; the guy (somehow I’ve never gotten his name) gets a bunch of shaved ice, puts whatever syrups you want in it (they’re all pretty much delicious) and then you hand over some money… IMO it’s a steal. He also somehow always manages to sneak a single Swedish Fish in the ice, and I’ve never been able to catch him in the act. But without fail, when you get near the bottom of the ice you’ll find that frozen ikhthus there.
Writing all that in this cold December weather makes me really want summer to return!

Clayboy’s shaved ice cart is just one of those things that makes the world a better place. The treats themselves are great – fluffy piles of soft ice topped with vivid rainbow syrups – but the real joy is to sit here on a hot summer afternoon and watch others enjoy their snack. From toddlers holding the cup with two hands to cyclists breaking from the capital crescent trail, clayboy’s brings a huge smile to everyone’s face.

I’ve been in Bethesda for three summers now and this was my first year ever to eat a Clayboy’s shave ice.
Every time I passed by, the lines were long so I would just walk on by. Boy do I regret that choice this is one of the best shave ice I’ve had outside of Hawaii.
The ice itself is soo soft and he not at all skimpy with the syrup. Best of all the little Swedish fish treat hidden deep inside.

First of all, I couldn’t agree with Tara L. any more. She said it all. With all the changing stores and restaurants in Bethesda, Clayboy’s or as I call it the «Shaved Ice Man» has stayed the same. Clayboys is more than just a shaved ice stand. Its so simple yet so delicious. I grew up in Bethesda and I grew up eating Clayboy’s shaved ice. Anyone who comes to Bethesda during summertime needs to go to the stand that beats Giffords and Ben and Jerry’s. Anyone who comes to Bethesda during summertime needs to go to Clayboys.

Growing up in Mo County, Clayboy’s Shaved Ice has a very special place in my heart. Although the cart itself has only been here for around 11 years (yes, I said only), I have fond memories of the truck that has made it’s way around Bethesda and surrounding areas for over 18 years.
I’m already a sucker for shaved ice, but not much can top the simplicity and greatness of Clayboy’s. But what’s so great about it? It’s just shaved ice topped with flavored syrup, right?
I think that the genuine, good hearted nature and sincerity that the Styer brothers (one runs the cart, one runs the truck) exhibit may actually be what makes the shaved ice taste better than others. It may just be a psych game.
With over 20 flavors to choose from, I scored a small, shaved ice cup — half lime, half Tiger’s Blood (strawberry and coconut) which was piled high for only $ 2. You can barely buy a soda for $ 2 nowadays, so I think their pricing is fair and a great deal!
It’s also funny to me that after coming here for so many years, the Swedish Fish at the bottom of the ice still always surprises me. It’s like every summer I forget that he throws one in there, so I get abnormally excited at the end.
What is wrong with me?

I don’t know how many people who will happen onto the entry for Clayboy’s are actally from Montgomery County, Maryland. I don’t know how many of you grew up here. But if you, like me, grew up in Montgomery County, then you know that Clayboy’s is so much more than just really yummy, refreshing, awesome shaved ice.
Clayboy’s is a local institution that has existed ever since I can remember. It’s actually two brothers — not just one guy, though they look a lot a like. One of them stays in Bethesda; the other goes from neighborhood pool to neighborhood pool. The rush and crush for Clayboy’s is always greater than the rush for the ice cream man, let me tell you.
Ever since I learned to shove sugar-​coated shaved, fluffy ice into my mouth there has been a gummy worm or (better yet) a swedish fish tucked neatly into my treat, left to freeze and get hard and then melt on the tongue.
When Bethesda started to gentrify in the late 90’s (Oh yes! It was not always a land of SUV-​driving, noise-​complaining, rich white suburbanites! This was once a different place!) they business people of the Bethesda Ave. shopping district tried to force Clayboy’s out. The brothers wouldn’t budge and neither would the hundreds of kids who breathed for their shaved ice every summer, no matter how old they were. So once it stops being so goddamned cold, get your butts to Bethesda and get some shaved ice. They fought for that spot, and I’m sure gonna celebrate that they’re still there.

Clayboy is the most delicious cool concoction on a summer day. The shaved ice is hand packed right in front of your eyes and there are over 20 flavors to mix and match to satisfy your craving. John Styer’s brother, I believe, is the person who runs the Bethesda cart. He is very personable and cranks out these icy snacks very quickly and efficiently. He even tosses in a bonus Swedish Fish for your delight! I highly recommend hitting this cart up if you find yourself in the Bethesda area during a summer day. Its situated very close to the Bethesda path that runs all the way down to Georgetown so even you DCers can run/​bike/​walk and reward your physical exertion with a Clayboy.

Clayboy’s Shaved Ice Cart is a summer landmark in Bethesda. John Styer has been delighting folks with his fresh frozen treats for years, and with a variety of flavors there’s always one that’s sure to hit the spot as it helps cool you down.