The Best Ice Cream Shops in LA (Updated 2026)

This post was originally published in 2021

It’s taken me about 6 months to try these ice cream shops, and I’m delighted to finally share them with you!!

If you’re not from LA, let me enlighten you with the most beloved ice cream places:

-Salt & Straw

-McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams

-Jeni’s Ice Cream

-Wanderlust Creamery

In this post, besides mentioning a few essential LA ice cream shops, I’ll highlight small businesses that you will not find in most LA ice cream guides. 

Before I moved to LA from Spain, it was astounding to see people’s undying love for ice cream and their willingness to wait in long lines just to get a scoop. Ice cream in LA is a year-round business. There’s no such thing as opening an ice cream shop only in the summer. Even on cold days, by LA standards, people will head over to their favorite ice cream shop for a scoop. 

On top of having outstanding ice cream shops, LA’s grocery stores offer an impressive plethora of ice cream flavors and brands. 

I went to Whole Foods the other day and I counted all the different ice cream brands in the freezers. There were a whopping 21 brands! Trader Joe’s has its own ice cream brand with a myriad of best-selling flavors, like Cookie Butter, French Vanilla and Ube.

For those who grew up in Southern California, Thrifty evokes happy childhood memories. A combination of their cylindrical-shaped scoops, innovative flavors and bargain prices (25¢ a scoop), turned Thrifty into one of the most beloved brands in the 20th century. Thrifty was a drugstore chain bought by Rite Aid in 1996. The ice cream was so popular that Rite Aid decided to keep selling it!

In a city where ice cream is as common as palm trees, these are the best ice cream places!

Awan

Multiple locations

In September 2021, Awan opened its doors through a tiny walk-up window in West Hollywood. Awan was founded by Indonesian-Australian chef Zen Ong and his business partner, Tohm Ilfergan. They met in 2020 and founded Awan with the mission of bringing Indonesian, plant-based ice cream to LA. The most impressive thing about Awan is how truly unique the flavors are. An example of this is their chocolate flavor, which tasted exactly like hot chocolate, or their tortilla flavor, which made me wonder what type of magic powers they concocted behind closed doors. Seriously, it was like tasting a real handmade corn tortilla! 

Zen or Josh are usually there to greet customers, and they do a marvellous job walking customers through the menu. The downside is that you can’t get too attached to any of the flavors because they change every week!  

I recommend getting one scoop with two flavors because the portions are pretty generous. The attention to detail that goes into each flavor says a lot about the experience they’re trying to convey.

On my second time, I had the orange and the strawberry flavor. Josh, the employee who took my order, said the strawberries came from Harry’s Berries farm in Oxnard. Understandably, Awan’s prices are higher than the average ice cream shop in LA, but honestly, it’s worth every penny.

At Awan, you’re truly getting an experience that goes beyond eating a regular ice cream scoop, something that not many of the popular places in LA are able to achieve.

Hours: Monday through Friday from 3PM-10PM

Saturday and Sunday from 12PM-10PM

Awan: Website and Instagram

Fluffy McCloud’s

1814 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

I wrote about Fluffy McCloud’s at the end of 2023! Read my full review here. 

Founded by club entrepreneur Nick Fisher, Fluffy McCloud’s is the late-night version of a 1950s fountain shop. The interior features a Lactaid dispenser, a Saturn overhead lamp, knick knacks and a horned jukebox. 

Although the most popular menu item at Fluffy is their banana split, their ice cream, made with minimal stabilizers and organic dairy, is one of the best ice creams in Los Angeles. Nick approached the task of making ice cream very seriously. From a pistachio flavor using Italian paste to a delicious vanilla flavor in honor of Nick’s late grandmother, Fluffy is the best place on the Eastside to indulge in creamy, decadent ice cream. If there aren’t too many people, I highly recommend ordering the ice cream in one of their decadent silver goblets and enjoying it in the quirky atmosphere!

During the week, Fluffy McCloud’s is open until midnight, and until 1 am on the weekends.

Fluffy McCloud’s: Website and Instagram

All Chill Hip Hop Ice Cream 

3415 W 43rd Pl, Leimert Park.

All Chill is owned by married duo Genelle and Julian.

In order to support their community of Leimart Park, Genelle and Julian allow small businesses to do pop-ups and events inside their shop. At All Chill, hip-hop culture is ever-present through photographs and knick knacks.

When I went there, Genelle and her young daughter were serving out scoops. Genelle was so nice and her knowledge of ice cream was palpable. When I asked what led her to open an ice cream shop, she said: 

“I was tired of going on long drives for good ice cream. I love ice cream and prefer more interesting flavors. Finding a product driven by experience over profit is more difficult, especially in our area. So we are making products that we want and feel the community deserves this simple luxury.”

Genelle’s favorite ice cream places in LA are Jenni’s, Carmela, and Bloomfield. I cannot thank her enough for mentioning Bloomfield. It made it on this list because of her! Genelle is an interior designer and she’s so well-traveled. You could see that she was a very worldly person: her mannerisms, her vast lexicon…basically, a total gem!

They carry a few vegan flavors, but all the ice cream is organic, handcrafted, and made with locally sourced ingredients.

I picked Honey Lavender and I was not expecting to like it so much. The texture was very delicate and the flavor was rich, bursting with floral notes and hints of honey.

“We have several local organic honey resources and these flavors are nostalgic yet innovative. People have responded very well to this one,” she said.

After trying out so many ice creams over the last few months, I know that when I detect a very soft, creamy, yet firm texture with a flavor that takes my taste buds on a journey, it means the ice cream is artisanal and high-quality. Always pay attention to the texture and flavor!

I knew I would be kicking myself if I had to wait another week to try another flavor, so I went right back and ordered Cherry Vanilla, which was another winner. The cherries Genelle uses for this flavor are Luxardo Maraschino cherries, which are the most expensive cherries you can get. This boujee cherry is produced in Torreglia, Italy and is a far cry from the typical Maraschino cherries you will find at the grocery store. 

Instagram

Ken’s Ice Cream Parlor 

18511 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746

Ken’s is a Black-owned, family-run business founded by Wanda Johnson-Pope in 1980. The ice cream shop is now run by his grandson, Keaton Johnson. 

The ice cream at Ken’s is not made on the premises. They sell Thrifty ice cream and ice cream from independent ice cream makers around Southern California. Keaton told me that they’re currently looking into making their own flavors in-house, as well as expanding their menu items with vegan options for those who have special dietary needs. 

Inside the shop, there are several pictures on the wall of Ms. Wanda, the previous owner, with celebrities and Long Beach government officials.

Although you’ll find perennial favorite flavors at Ken’s, it’s important to note that they also specialize in old-school milkshakes and banana sundaes. When I was waiting for my order, the man ahead of me ordered a sunday to-go. Also, while I was eating the ice cream in my car, two more people came out with a banana sundae in tow. It’s definitely a best-seller!

I got two ice cream flavors: Lemon Pie and Chocolate Malted Krunch. I’m usually not into super rich chocolate flavors, but that one was just calling my name that day. The Lemon Pie was so good!! It had the perfect amount of sweetness — not enough to spike your blood sugar levels through the roof — and the texture was very creamy and delicate. This one was from an independent ice cream maker. 

The Chocolate Malted Krunch was from Thrifty! Can you believe it was my first time trying Thrifty ice cream? I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. I did not grow up in Socal, so it didn’t evoke any feelings of nostalgia, but it was good enough on its own. It was like drinking a straight-up chocolate malt milkshake. 

Ken’s also hosts events to help the neighboring communities of Compton and Watts. When you walk in, even if you’ve never been there before, they’ll treat you like family. I truly hope their business continues to flourish! 

Website

Instagram

Sad Girl Creamery

Sue Mancini is the founder of Sad Girl Creamery, a Latinx-owned ice cream pop-up born during the pandemic where she merges ice cream and mental health awareness. Born and raised in Houston to an Uruguayan family, Sue was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 26.

She shared the following with KCRW.com:

“The idea kind of came up during the height of the pandemic, when everyone was stuck at home. I figured sharing my own personal experiences with mental health could make people relate and feel a little alleviated with the sad feelings they’re having at home.

It’s not very common, especially in immigrant families, that we talk about things like mental health. I think that comes from a hard-working mentality. Your family moves here because of whatever reason, and you’re put into this survival mode. So if you’re talking about being sad, it’s kind of like, ‘Well, you can overcome that sadness on your own, can’t you?’” 

Sue uses Instagram as a platform to not only promote her business, but to also broach the subject of mental health in hopes of encouraging others to talk about their hardships and struggles. 

“A lot of the things I post about are happening in my life at that moment. I might have a situation with a friend where something happens with them and it’ll be on my mind for a while, so I’ll make a post about it and do research so I can read into things myself and find good practices,” she said.

Sue shared with LATaco.com: “A lot of my flavors are honestly memories of people in my life, the flavors either represent them, or I want to honor a memory of them.”

Some of the flavors are inspired by Latinx icons Sue grew up with, including Anything for Selenas Treat, or La Vida Es Un Guarnaval, named after the song “La Vida Es Un Carvanal” by legendary Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz.

Make sure to follow @SadGirlCreamery to stay updated on her next pop-ups! Place your order online to guarantee your pint because she sells out really fast! Priscilla Ono, Rihanna’s makeup artist and Fenty Beauty Ambassador, whom I had the pleasure to meet, posted her pints on IG!

Sad Girl Creamery: Website and Instagram

Sonny’s Handcrafted Ice Cream & Italian Ice

15030 Ventura Blvd #17, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Ice cream galore! Thank you Mila Kunis for letting us in on one of your favorite ice cream shops in LA! In Harper’s BAZAAR’s “What I Eat In A Day” video series, Mila said that she and Ashton loved driving around Los Angeles and trying out different ice cream places. 

At the end of the video, she said, “Sonny’s, little known spot. This dude that owns it, he’s older, he’s been there forever. It’s in a strip mall, it’s not fancy and it’s damn good ice cream”.

I have been to that strip mall many times, but I never would have thought that herein lies one of the best ice cream shops in LA. I went there in early December. Upon walking in, Matt, the owner, greeted me. I told him it was my first time there and he gave me a thorough breakdown of the menu. I’ve never been to an ice cream shop with so many options to choose from. 

Matt makes over 50 flavors, which are available at all times! He also makes gelato, Italian ice, sundaes, floats, ice cream pies and malt shakes. If this isn’t enough, Matt said he was currently working on his holiday special flavors. Everything at Sonny’s is handcrafted in small batches. Matt is from Brooklyn and lived in Wyoming for 34 years before moving to LA, where he’s been residing for the last 13 years. His passion for ice cream was infectious.

Since there was no one behind me, Matt allowed me to sample as many flavors as I wanted. One of them was Chocolate Cherry, which was extremely decadent and unique. If you like chocolate, this is a must-order!

I ended up getting a double scoop of Pistachio and M&M’s. The first thing that struck me about his ice cream was the cloud-like texture: very creamy yet dense. The flavors are true to their names and are distinctly delicate without being overpowering or too sweet. I’ve never had an ice cream with such a marvellous texture. Look at the picture. It was so good. 

While I was sampling the flavors, I told him that I had found out about him because of the video. He thanked me for letting him know and said that many people had also come in for the same reason. Although Sonny’s has been open for almost 11 years, he let me know that Mila and Ashton started going there during the pandemic.

I ended up loving the ice cream so much that I went back the next day. That’s how you know the ice cream was good! Upon walking in, he said, “You’re back, that’s a good sign.” 

If you’re indecisive like me, ask Matt what flavor combination he recommends. 

Sonny’s is one of the Valley’s best-kept secrets! It’s been three days since I had his ice cream and I’m still thinking about it. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that I’m willing to drive to this place all the way from West Hollywood. Thanks, Mila.

Sonny’s: Website and Instagram

Website and Instagram

Creamy Boys Ice Cream

Hermosa Beach and El Segundo

When I first came across Creamy Boys Ice Cream on Instagram in 2022, I saw that their Hokey Pokey ice cream was a hit at all their events. Upon doing some research, I found out that this flavor is a staple in New Zealand, which consists of vanilla ice cream and crushed honeycomb toffee.

When I tried it at the Smorgasburg food market in DTLA, I was blown away. How could something so simple taste so good? The smooth vanilla soft serve and the sweet crushed toffee was a delight for my taste buds, especially on such a sweltering day. I didn’t expect to like the vanilla soft serve so much, but the texture was off the charts! The Hokey Pokey was $8, but you definitely get a good amount. I thought it was going to be too much, but I ended up eating the whole thing. 

When I did this interview, Creamy Boys had a temporary brick-and-mortar in Manhattan Beach. I went there on a Saturday and talked to Bud, one of the founders. Inside, there were cans of Lyle Golden syrup on display, a top-rated brand they use to make the toffee. Although the soft serve vanilla is not made in-house, the toffee is. Bud was crushing the toffee as we spoke. Thankfully, Creamy Boys now has two permanent spaces in the South Bay!

Can you tell me about the Hokey Pokey?

“The Hokey Pokey is our version of New Zealand’s most popular ice cream. As far as we can tell there’s no one else making it quite like we do – it’s always satisfying to serve something original! It’s made using a toffee – we make all the honeycomb toffee in house – and we use the real fruit ice cream blenders to swirl it through, and is then finished with a toffee dust topping to add a satisfying contrasting crunch providing both texture and flavor. Our vanilla is currently made by a co-packer using high-quality California dairy, we are looking to add in house ice cream making to our coming store!” – Bud

Kansha Creamery

18515 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90248

Founded in 2015 by brother-and-sister Elaine Yukari Marumoto-Perez and James Tatsuya, Kansha Creamery uses organic ingredients from local farmers. The core values of Kansha Creamery are rooted in kindness and generosity, where a percentage of every ice cream pint and scoop goes to different charities.

Kansha Creamery is located in a Japanese strip mall in Torrance, so it can get pretty busy during peak hours. Inside the shop they rotate their portraits to showcase different artists.

Kansha Creamery: Website and Instagram

Carmela Ice Cream 

2495 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104

750 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

When I first tried Carmela for the first time in 2017, I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know ice cream could taste so good! 

Founded by Jessica and Zach, Carmela’s handmade artisanal ice cream hails from Pasadena. After years of selling their ice cream at farmer’s markets in the late 2000s, they opened the first brick-and-mortar in Pasadena in 2011.

Their ice cream shop, tucked away in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains, with its close proximity to parks and hiking trails, adds a special charm and allure. To this day, the ice cream is still manufactured at their Pasadena creamery, in small batches, and using the highest-quality ingredients. My favorite flavor is the salted caramel, which is also their best-selling flavor.

Carmela also offers other creative flavors, like their Guinness ice cream, a beer-flavored ice cream that was intended to be seasonal but became a favorite and turned into a permanent flavor. The flavors at Carmela are ultra rich with a velvet-like texture. The waffle cones are also made daily in-house — you will notice the heavenly smell as soon as you walk in!

Vegan options and sorbets are available as well. 

Genelle, founder of All Chill, said that Carmela was her favorite ice cream place in LA!! 

I DMed Genelle on IG and she said: “Love Carmela. I had some this week. 🙂 Their flavors are simple yet interesting and delicious.” Genelle lives in Leimert Park, so you know the ice cream has to be nothing short of exceptional for her to make the trek all the way to Pasadena.

I took this picture in 2017. It makes me a little bit emotional to look back on my growth since that year, when I was just starting to discover LA and had just started my blog. :_)

Website

Instagram

Fosselman’s Ice Cream

1824 W Main St, Alhambra, CA 91801

The oldest ice cream shop in LA! I’m so glad they decided to keep the old-school atmosphere because stepping into Fosselman’s is like entering a soda shop from the 50s. 

This nostalgic ice cream shop was founded by Christian Fosselman in 1919. He was the youngest of five and his father was a German inmigrant brewmaster. Christian, who had a beer and soda business, began using ice cream after tasting it for the very first time at a bottling convention in Toronto.

Fosselman’s has been working with the same family-owned dairy company as when they started. At Fosselman’s, the vast range of flavors is a reflection of Southern California’s melting pot. You can find Asian-inspired flavors like Ube or Black Sesame, and Latin-inspired flavors such as Oaxacan Chocolate, Horchata, and Dulce de Leche.

I haven’t tried a flavor at Fosselman’s I did not like. If you love lemon, get the Lemon Custard!

Website

Instagram

Saffron and Rose Ice Cream

1387 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

If you want to impress someone with some of the best ice cream in LA, take them to Saffron & Rose. I had been to Mashti Malone’s, a stalwart Persian ice cream shop in a Hollywood strip mall, but I found the signature flavor, Saffron Rose, too milky and too thick.

I decided to give Persian ice cream one more try — so I went to Saffron & Rose in Westwood. I didn’t have any expectations. I ordered one scoop with two flavors: Lavender and Saffron Rose. I was completely mesmerized by the Lavender flavor, bursting with floral notes. This was probably the best lavender ice cream I’ve had to date. On a scale from 0 to 100, the lavender flavor probably falls in the 1,000 category. The flavor of the Saffron Pistachio, however, was more subdued. It had bits of pistachio inside, which elevated the overall ice cream by adding a crunchy texture, and paired excellently with the subdued sweetness of the saffron. 

The ice cream texture at Saffron and Rose was executed perfectly. It was very smooth yet dense and stretchy. Something I also noticed was the complete lack of dairy flavor, which speaks high volumes in their quality and their refined process of making the ice cream.

You can also get their signature Saffron and Rose flavor but vegan! Everything at Saffron and Rose is organic, made from scratch without using any artificial colorings.

If you don’t want dive into the world of Persian ice cream, no problem. You’ll still find a great plethora of flavors like Nutella, Dark Chocolate, Caramel Crunch, Almond and Cookies and Cream!

Before I drove away, I noticed a big fire truck that had just pulled up right in front of the shop. I thought, “Were the ice creams so good that someone passed out?” No! Just joyous firefighters lining up to get a scoop of Saffron & Rose’s delicious ice cream!

Saffron and Rose: Website and Instagram

Bloomfield Creamery 

1727 E. Washington, Pasadena, CA 91104

A big thank you to Genelle from All Chill Ice Cream for the tip!

“We can’t remember a time when ice cream hasn’t been a part of our lives. We were born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan where our parents have been in the ice cream industry for over 40 years. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2010, we sought out a place to get the traditional feel-good ice cream that we grew up eating in the Midwest. When we couldn’t find what we were looking for we decided to start a business of our own. We set out to create a product that would satisfy our desire for that creamy delicious ice cream of our youth and offer it to everyone.” – Bijan & Leila Sadeghi.

I’m a sucker for anything birthday flavored, so I went for a scoop of their vegan Birthday Cake ice cream — especially after noticing the almost empty stainless steel container. The employee said that because this flavor was vegan and had oat milk as a base, the consistency was much creamier than their regular ice cream. Not only was it incredibly good, but they even added real chunks of birthday cake, which was beyond words! I couldn’t believe that even the birthday cake bits were also made in-house. Absolutely recommend. 

Am I the only one that’s stunned at Bloomfield Creamery’s low-key presence in the LA ice cream scene? After combing through many LA ice cream blog posts, only one blog so far mentioned Bloomfield. 

It says on their website: “We don’t rely on gimmicks to impress our customers; instead we let our products speak for themselves.”

Bloomfield Creamery boasts an impressive selection of gluten-free and vegan ice cream flavors! Not only do they specialize in handmade ice cream, but they also make edible raw cookie dough, shakes, and gluten-free frozen yogurt.

Website

Instagram

SCOOPS

Highland Park: 5105 York Blvd
Chinatown: 727 N Broadway #125

Had it not been for this ice cream quest, I would not have discovered this gem of a place.

Founder Tai Kim went to Cordon Bleu school in Portland, Oregon, where he specialized in ice cream and cheese. After he graduated, Tai was interested in trying new things and expanding his palate, and that’s when he realized ice cream would be the perfect medium for that. 

Before opening his shop, he embarked on an extensive quest to find the perfect ice cream, but he didn’t find much success. He said: “Pretty much everybody had the same flavors — vanilla, chocolate, etc. — nothing really new. So, that’s when I felt like, ‘OK, that’s going to be my niche market.’”

THIS article by Thrillist is so interesting and I highly recommend you read it! Here are a few cliff notes:

-Unlike most artisanal ice creams in LA, at Scoops you will not find pints for sale. He prefers the customer to go to the store and explore the different flavors in person.

-The motto of Scoops is to expand your palate. 

-Scoops was one of the first ice cream shops in LA to offer groundbreaking and unconventional flavors. One of Tai’s favorite ice cream shops was the defunct Peddlers Creamery in Downtown LA, an unusual ice cream shop where the workers churned their artisanal ice cream using a bicycle.

– Some of the most unique flavors at Scoops have been Cuban Cigar, Nicotine Mint, Cumin Chocolate, Whiskey and Hot Cheetos.  

-Scoops locally sources the ingredients by using Grade A sweet cream, pure cane sugar, and other natural flavors. 

-The Highland Park location sits inconspicuously among the many businesses that prevail on the main drag of York Blvd. When I went there for the first time, I couldn’t find it and thought my GPS was faulty until I spotted the ice cream sign. 

-They have a few vegan flavors, but except for their Brown Bread flavor, they change their flavors ALL the time, so don’t get too attached if you end up loving one. 

I had the Brown Bread and Vanilla M&M Chocolate Chips. Just wow. That day was 86°F in LA and this ice cream was the perfect way to cool down. The vanilla flavor was very smooth, but the winner for me were the M&M’s inside, which added a nice chocolaty crunch. I got this flavor because the guy working there said Tai often complains about many places not getting the vanilla flavor right.

The Brown Bread is the only permanent flavor at Scoops. This particular ice cream harkens back to 19th century Britain, where frozen treats were starting to gain notoriety among the rich between meals. For the brown bread, the cooks incorporated leftover bread from the day before in a vanilla custard-based ice cream.

It tasted like bread dipped in milk, a flavor I really enjoy. I loved the juxtaposition of the creamy ice cream and the crunchiness of the bread. Two days before this post went live, I went back for another scoop of Brown Bread. It was so cooling!

What I like about Scoops is that they have a unique variety of flavors that you won’t find anywhere in LA. I ended up learning about the Brown Bread flavor that day, which shows how seriously Tai Kim takes the educational aspect of ice cream.

All in all, Scoops is definitely not your average ice cream shop. If you’re not an adventurous ice cream person and you want to stick to the classic flavors, this will not be the place for you. Below you will see the flavors that were available at Scoop the first time I went.

There’s no website!

Instagram

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt

Multiple locations

Handel’s has been recognized by many publications as the best ice cream in the world. If you’ve never been, get ready to walk away with towering scoops of ice cream.

Alice Handel founded Handel’s with her husband in 1945 through a walk-up window at a gas station in Youngstown, Ohio. 

Her first batches were made using old-fashioned recipes with fresh fruit she picked from her backyard. Since then, Handel’s has expanded into different US states, continuing the legacy of the original shop by operating through walk-up windows. The workers definitely don’t skimp on the scoops, so keep that in mind if you dare to order more than one. I prefer mine in a cup rather than a cone. In all the locations I’ve visited, their consistent quality and excellent customer service are ever-present.

Although Handel’s has recently expanded into different locations, their first LA location was in Redondo Beach.

Handel’s: Website and Instagram

Antico Nuovo

4653 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004

This upscale Italian restaurant opened in 2019. During the pandemic, they started incorporating menu items that received a good amount of positive feedback, like their Caesar salad and focaccia bread. However, their most requested item was their ice cream pints, which they hadn’t sold before! Their ice cream is prepared fresh every day with locally sourced ingredients and a cutting-edge ice cream machine from Italy, yielding a wonderfully creamy and uniquely smooth texture. If this is not enough, the ice cream is made by veteran pastry chefs who introduce a variety of seasonal flavors to the dessert menu. 

Some people have deemed their honeycomb ice cream “the best ice cream you will ever have”. Their pint prices start at $14. If you’re feeling extra fancy and you want to treat yourself to a five-star Italian meal followed by premium ice cream, then Antico will be your best choice. Considering that the pint will last you for a few days and that you won’t be eating a run-of-the-mill ice cream, but rather ice cream meticulously prepared from scratch by renowned chefs, the price doesn’t seem that exorbitant.

To see the ice cream flavors and the menu, click here. 

Website

Instagram

Mateo’s Ice Cream & Fruit Bars

Multiple locations

Owning an ice cream shop was always the dream of Priciliano Mateo, a Oaxacan immigrant who moved to Los Angeles in 1982. In the year 2000, he made his lifelong dream a reality by opening his namesake ice cream shop: Mateo’s Ice Cream. The bright, colorful ice cream establishment is beloved by the Hispanic community in LA. Mateo paid homage to his roots by offering popsicles (also known as paletas) with flavors he grew up with. You can find over 30 different popsicle flavors and about 18 ice cream flavors. Sadly, the paleta maven passed away in 2018, but his frozen delights continue to put smiles on people’s faces.

In the Hispanic community in LA, Mateo’s reigns supreme when it comes to getting a frozen treat.

The first time I drove past Mateo’s was on a weekend, and the line wrapped around the block! I went back (Pico location) during the week in the afternoon. I still found a line, but it was much shorter. Once I walked in, I was welcomed into a haven of multi-colored paletas and a rainbow of ice cream containers of every conceivable fruit flavor you could think of, like dragon fruit (pitaya), passion fruit (maracuya), mamey (a tropical Mexican fruit), and soursop (an exotic Caribbean fruit).

The ice cream at Mateo is freshly made on the premises, where you’ll see employees cutting the fruit in the kitchen. When I interviewed Zen, owner of AWAN, he said that Mateo’s was his business inspiration, praising the variety of items and the fresh ingredients.

I was not in the mood for ice cream, so I opted for two flavors from their sorbet section: Maracuya and Dragon fruit.

It felt like I was eating freshly harvested fruit. My mom used to make a lot of maracuya mousses back when I lived in Spain, and I cannot tell you how much this flavor reminded me of her! The dragon fruit also made my taste buds swoon in delight. It wasn’t too sweet or sugary and I was awestruck by how fresh and tasty everything was. Fruit sorbets can be hard to nail. 

Mateo’s takes pride in using fresh, simple and 100% natural ingredients at amazing prices. My total was only $5, a steal in LA!

Overall, Mateo’s is a home away from home for Latin Americans who want to savor the nostalgia of the tropical fruits they grew up with — in all forms: sorbets, ice creams, paletas, smoothies, and even milkshakes.

Mateo’s also offers your classic ice cream flavors, like vanilla and chocolate — and some flavors with a Latin twist, like their Coconut Pineapple (coco y pina), or Horchata ‘N Walnuts (horchata y nueces) ice cream. At Mateo’s, the sky is the limit!

Website

Instagram

I hope this list has given you a deeper insight into LA’s incredible ice cream landscape. Thank you for reading!