Best Ice Cream in Los Angeles: 12 Shops With a Story to Tell
From Persian saffron and Thai gelato to Mexican paletas and New Zealand fruit ice cream, these LA shops take your taste buds around the world.
What does Los Angeles taste like? Sometimes, it tastes like the whole world.
In one city, you can find Persian ice cream scented with rosewater and saffron, Thai gelato served in a sweet bread roll, Filipino purple yam, Mexican fruit paletas, and Italian pistachio gelato. And then there are the places that tell a distinctly Los Angeles story, from a century-old family ice cream business to a Leimert Park shop celebrating hip-hop culture.
A conversation with a culinary historian once reminded me how much food reveals about the people and places behind it. Ice cream is no exception.
Over the years, we've explored some wonderful LA ice cream shops ourselves, including Wanderlust Creamery in Venice, Fosselman's in Alhambra, and Saffron & Rose in Westwood. For this guide, we've combined those firsthand experiences with nine more destinations selected for their distinctive flavors, culinary traditions, and local stories.
This isn't a ranking of every scoop shop in LA. These are 12 ice cream destinations worth seeking out because each offers something different.
Where can you find the best ice cream in Los Angeles?
For globally inspired flavors, try Wanderlust Creamery; for old-fashioned ice cream, visit Fosselman's in Alhambra. Saffron & Rose and Mashti Malone's specialize in Persian ice cream, while Kanomwaan offers Thai-inspired frozen desserts. Other distinctive choices include All Chill in Leimert Park, Indonesian-inspired AWAN, Kinrose Creamery in Pasadena, Creamy Boys in the South Bay, and Mateo's for Mexican paletas.
12 Los Angeles Ice Cream Shops at a Glance
Ice cream shop | Why it's worth visiting |
Wanderlust Creamery | Travel-inspired flavors from around the world |
Fosselman's | Old-fashioned ice cream and LA history |
Saffron & Rose | Traditional Persian saffron, rosewater, and pistachio |
Mashti Malone's | Persian specialties and a Hollywood origin story |
All Chill | Small-batch ice cream meets hip-hop culture |
Kanomwaan | Thai gelato, sweet buns, and elaborate desserts |
AWAN | Indonesian-inspired plant-based ice cream |
Kinrose Creamery | Contemporary Persian-Egyptian flavors |
Creamy Boys | New Zealand-style real-fruit ice cream |
Henry's Secret | Limited-release, chef-made ice cream |
Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bars | Mexican paletas with Oaxacan roots |
Ecco un Poco | Artisanal Italian gelato with inventive flavors |
1. Wanderlust Creamery: A Passport Full of Flavors
Where: Venice, Torrance, Atwater Village, Pasadena, Fairfax, Sawtelle, and other LA locations
If an ice cream shop could have a passport, Wanderlust Creamery would need extra pages. Founded by Adrienne Borlongan and JP Lopez, this Los Angeles brand creates ice cream inspired by travel, cultural traditions, and ingredients from around the world.
We visited the Venice shop one evening and were fascinated by the combinations. Sticky Rice + Mango captures the beloved Thai dessert with mango, coconut, and rice, while Malted Ube takes inspiration from Filipino purple yam. Other creations have explored Japanese tea, European pralines, Brazilian fruits, and New Zealand honeycomb candy.
The flavors are inventive, but what makes Wanderlust especially interesting is the cultural inspiration behind them.
What to try: Sticky Rice + Mango, Malted Ube, or a rotating seasonal creation.
Why go: A delicious journey through global flavors without leaving Los Angeles.
2. Fosselman's: A Century of Old-Fashioned Ice Cream
Where: 1824 W. Main Street, Alhambra
Sometimes you don't need an unusual ingredient. You just need really good, old-fashioned ice cream. Fosselman's has been part of the Los Angeles ice cream story since 1919. The family-run business retains the charm of a traditional American ice cream parlor, complete with retro interiors and an impressive selection of flavors. We stopped by on a particularly hot summer day and found a line outside. Fortunately, we managed to park right in front.
Our biggest problem? Too many flavors to choose from.
Fosselman's offers traditional ice cream, sherbets, and sorbets, alongside sundaes, shakes, malts, floats, and banana splits. There's something wonderfully nostalgic about the experience.
What to try: A classic sundae, banana split, black raspberry ice cream, or a malt.
Why go: A genuine LA-area institution where the old-fashioned ice cream parlor experience is part of the pleasure.
3. Saffron & Rose: Persian Ice Cream in Tehrangeles
Where: 1387 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles
Westwood's Persian community, often called Tehrangeles, is a wonderful place to explore Iranian flavors, and Saffron & Rose is one of its sweetest institutions. The family business has been serving Persian-style ice cream in Los Angeles since 1974, with fragrant flavors such as saffron, rosewater, pistachio, orange blossom, and dates. During our visit, we tried rose, saffron, dark chocolate, and mint chocolate chip, then took home a pint of Orange Blossom. The rose ice cream reminded us of Rooh Afza, the floral syrup popular across South Asia.
Traditional Persian ice cream, known as bastani sonnati, often incorporates saffron, rosewater, pistachios, and pieces of frozen cream. Its flavors and textures make it a distinctive alternative to American-style ice cream.
What to try: Saffron Pistachio, rose, Orange Blossom, or a traditional Persian frozen dessert when available.
Why go: A longstanding family business offering a taste of Persian culinary heritage in Westwood.
4. Mashti Malone's: Persian Ice Cream With a Hollywood Story
Where: Hollywood, Westwood, and Silver Lake
Mashti Malone's has one of Los Angeles' more memorable ice cream origin stories. When Iranian immigrant Mashti Shirvani purchased an existing Hollywood ice cream shop called Mugsy Malone's, he kept part of the original name. Mashti Malone's was born. The shop developed a following for Persian-inspired flavors such as Saffron Rosewater, Orange Blossom, Persian Cucumber, and lavender. Another specialty is faloodeh, a traditional Iranian frozen dessert made with delicate starch noodles and flavored syrup, often served with citrus.
Although Mashti Malone's and Saffron & Rose share some culinary roots, each has its own history and personality.
What to try: Saffron Rosewater, Persian Cucumber, Orange Blossom, or Cherry Faloodeh.
Why go: A classic Hollywood immigrant-business story accompanied by fragrant Persian frozen desserts.
5. All Chill: Ice Cream Meets Hip-Hop Culture
Where: 3415 W. 43rd Place, Leimert Park
All Chill is more than an ice cream shop. It's a celebration of music, culture, and community. Founded by Genelle Brooks-Petty and Julian Petty, the Leimert Park business combines small-batch ice cream with an impressive collection of hip-hop memorabilia and cultural artifacts. Flavors have included cornbread caramel, vanilla rose, Caribbean sorrel, and other inventive combinations inspired by familiar desserts and unexpected ingredients. The setting is as memorable as the menu. Rather than a minimalist dessert counter, All Chill feels connected to the creative spirit and cultural history of its neighborhood.
What to try: Cornbread caramel or one of the rotating small-batch creations.
Why go: A distinctly Los Angeles experience that brings together ice cream, hip-hop history, and Leimert Park culture.
6. Kanomwaan: Thai Gelato in a Sweet Bread Roll
Where: 5261 Hollywood Boulevard, Thai Town
Who says ice cream needs a cone? At Kanomwaan Thai Gelato and Dessert Cafe, gelato can be served inside a soft Thai-style bread roll with ingredients such as sticky rice, sweet corn, coconut jelly, and other traditional toppings. Inspired by Thai ice cream sandwiches, the creations turn a familiar frozen dessert into something wonderfully different. The flavors embrace ingredients such as pandan, butterfly pea flower, coconut, Thai tea, black sticky rice, and salted egg yolk. The shop also offers elaborate shaved ice desserts and Thai sweets.
Connected to the family behind nearby Ruen Pair, Kanomwaan brings another dimension to Thai Town's already impressive food scene.
What to try: Pandan gelato, a Thai-style ice cream sandwich, or Thai tea shaved ice.
Why go: A playful introduction to Thai dessert traditions beyond the familiar mango sticky rice.
7. AWAN: Indonesian-Inspired Ice Cream Without Dairy
Where: Venice, West Hollywood, and Melrose
AWAN proves that plant-based ice cream can be just as imaginative and satisfying as its dairy-based counterparts. Founded by Indonesian-American chef Zen Ong, the brand draws on Indonesian ingredients and seasonal California produce to create rich, coconut-based ice cream. Flavors have included Balinese Vanilla, Gula Jawa Caramel made with palm sugar, Pineapple Pandan, Golden Sesame, and tropical fruit combinations. What makes AWAN interesting is its focus on creating distinctive flavors rather than simply recreating conventional dairy ice cream.
What to try: Gula Jawa Caramel, Balinese Vanilla, or a seasonal tropical fruit creation.
Why go: An entirely plant-based ice cream experience inspired by Indonesian flavors and culinary traditions.
8. Kinrose Creamery: Persian and Egyptian Desserts Reimagined
Where: 140 Mills Place, Old Pasadena
Kinrose Creamery brings a contemporary perspective to Persian and Egyptian dessert traditions. Created by Maria Oveysi and Moe Kamal, the shop combines Middle Eastern ingredients with imaginative presentations and unexpected textures. Flavors have included saffron-pistachio-rose, walnut baklava, sour cherry with Persian fairy floss, and Egyptian-inspired stretchy ice cream. Other creations have drawn inspiration from knafeh, the rich Middle Eastern pastry dessert, and lavashak, the tart Iranian fruit leather. Rather than simply adding an unusual ingredient to a traditional ice cream base, Kinrose reinterprets entire dessert traditions.
What to try: Saffron Pistachio Rose, Walnut Baklava, Sour Cherry, or a rotating Egyptian-inspired flavor.
Why go: A creative exploration of Persian and Egyptian sweets in Old Pasadena.
9. Creamy Boys: New Zealand Real-Fruit Ice Cream in the South Bay
Where: 1136 Hermosa Avenue, Hermosa Beach; 118 W. Grand Avenue, El Segundo
If you've never tried New Zealand-style real-fruit ice cream, Creamy Boys is a fun place to start. The concept is simple: frozen fruit is blended directly into vanilla ice cream or an oat-based alternative using a specialized machine. The result is a smooth, freshly made fruit soft serve. New Zealanders Duncan Parsons and Joe Wedd brought the concept to Southern California, where it feels particularly suited to the beach lifestyle. You'll also find Hokey Pokey, the classic New Zealand ice cream flavor featuring crunchy honeycomb toffee.
What to try: Real-fruit ice cream with your favorite berry or fruit combination, or Hokey Pokey.
Why go: A distinctive New Zealand dessert experience with convenient South Bay locations.
10. Henry's Secret: The Chef-Driven Ice Cream Drop
Where: West Hollywood, by advance pickup
Not every great ice cream destination has a traditional storefront. Henry's Secret takes a different approach, offering limited batches of ice cream created by chef Bradley Ray, whose experience includes acclaimed restaurant kitchens. Rather than walking in for a scoop, customers follow weekly online releases, choose from a small selection of flavors, and reserve pints for pickup. Creations have included Strawberry Shortcake, Pistachio Brittle, and Mascarpone Stracciatella with Amarena cherries. The interesting story here isn't simply scarcity. It's the craftsmanship of a pastry kitchen applied to small-batch ice cream.
What to try: Something from the current weekly release.
Why go: A chef-driven ice cream experience with carefully composed flavors and limited production.
Plan ahead: Order online and confirm the designated pickup location and time before visiting.
11. Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bars: Mexican Paletas With Oaxacan Roots
Where: Lawndale, Culver City, Mid-City, West Los Angeles, and Pico-Union
No exploration of LA's ice cream culture would be complete without Mexican paletas. Mateo's was founded by Priciliano Mateo, who brought his experience making frozen treats in Oaxaca to Los Angeles. The family-run business specializes in paletas, Mexican ice cream, and refreshing fruit-based desserts. Flavors include leche quemada, or burnt milk, along with mamey, guava, soursop, chile mango, and other tropical fruits. Some paletas are creamy, while others highlight the natural brightness and intensity of fruit. With a shop in Lawndale, Mateo's is also a convenient discovery for South Bay residents.
What to try: Leche Quemada, chile mango, mamey, or a seasonal fruit paleta.
Why go: Traditional Mexican frozen desserts rooted in a family story connecting Oaxaca and Los Angeles.
12. Ecco un Poco: Italian Gelato With a Los Angeles Twist
Where: 8318 W. Third Street, Los Angeles
Ecco un Poco takes Italian gelato seriously, but its flavor imagination extends well beyond Italy. Founded by a couple with Italian and Mexican backgrounds, the shop emphasizes small-batch production, traditional gelato techniques, and carefully selected ingredients.
One highlight is Bronte Pistachio, featuring pistachios from Sicily's Mount Etna region. The menu has also included olive oil and rosemary, Sicilian cannoli, Argentine alfajor, tropical fruit sorbets, and inventive Los Angeles-inspired creations.
What to try: Bronte Pistachio, Olive Oil and Rosemary, or a seasonal gelato or sorbet.
Why go: Italian gelato craftsmanship with a creative, multicultural Los Angeles sensibility.
Looking for Ice Cream in LA's Beach Cities?
If you're exploring Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, or El Segundo, you don't have to travel across Los Angeles for a great frozen treat. We've put together a separate guide to ice cream shops in the Los Angeles Beach Cities, featuring neighborhood favorites, gelato, ice cream sandwiches, and soft serve.
It's especially useful when you're looking for a dessert stop after dinner or a day at the beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ice cream shops in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has standout shops for different tastes. Wanderlust Creamery is known for globally inspired flavors, Fosselman's for traditional ice cream, Saffron & Rose for Persian specialties, All Chill for creative small-batch scoops, and AWAN for plant-based ice cream.
Where can you find unusual ice cream flavors in LA?
Wanderlust Creamery, Kanomwaan, Kinrose Creamery, and Ecco un Poco are excellent places to discover unusual combinations inspired by Thai, Filipino, Persian, Egyptian, Italian, and other culinary traditions.
Where can you try Persian ice cream in Los Angeles?
Saffron & Rose and Mashti Malone's are longstanding Persian ice cream destinations, particularly around Westwood. Kinrose Creamery in Pasadena offers contemporary Persian and Egyptian-inspired flavors.
Which Los Angeles ice cream shops offer dairy-free options?
AWAN is entirely plant-based. Wanderlust Creamery, Creamy Boys, Ecco un Poco, and other shops offer dairy-free selections. Check specific flavors and ingredients if you have dietary restrictions or allergies.
Where can you find old-fashioned ice cream in Los Angeles?
Fosselman's in Alhambra is a favorite for traditional American ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes, malts, and banana splits.
Where can you find interesting ice cream in LA's South Bay?
Creamy Boys in Hermosa Beach and El Segundo, Wanderlust Creamery in Torrance, and Mateo's in Lawndale offer distinctive options. For additional choices, explore our dedicated Beach Cities ice cream guide.
A World of Ice Cream, Without Leaving Los Angeles
The most memorable ice cream experiences aren't always about finding the creamiest vanilla or the biggest sundae. Sometimes it's discovering an unfamiliar ingredient, learning about a family's culinary traditions, or visiting a shop that contributes something special to its neighborhood.
These 12 destinations tell different stories, and together they offer a delicious way to explore Los Angeles. After all, when a city brings together so many cultures and culinary traditions, why settle for just one kind of ice cream?
