Does Los Angeles do the most when it comes to frozen treats? Yes, yes it does. You can always count on the city to offer exceptionally interesting flavors and combinations. So many treats to eat, so little time. How do you pick which to try? Here are 18 of LA’s best to at least get you started.
1. FroYo at The Bigg Chill
Photo courtesy of @carly_halili on Instagram
With a large selection of dairy-free and gluten free options, The Bigg Chill is an LA fave. But with great variety comes great responsibility; know the best and worse FroYo combos before you get to the counter.
2. Gelato at Amorino
Photo courtesy of @eleanor_skyj on Instagram
How does anyone respond to a rose-shaped gelato? With a heart eyes emoji. We should all eat more flowers.
3. Cupcake and Ice Cream at Sprinkles Ice Cream
Photo courtesy of @bibi_lou on Instagram
When this cupcakery opened an ice cream shop adjacent to their store it was all the rage. Not only because you can order your cupcake with ice cream is layered between the icing and cake, but it helps. It’s an irresistible combo…Remember, cupcake calories don’t count.
4. Ice Cream at Carmela
Photo courtesy of @ria_sugarcanesf on Instagram
While famous for their salted caramel ice cream, the truly interesting flavors at Carmela are especially worth the hype. Carmela isn’t the only place that serves salted caramel treats, but they are one of the best.
5. Milky Bun at Afters Ice Cream
Photo by Deanne Umbay
Is that heaven I see or a doughnut stuffed with ice cream? ‘Cause they look the same to me.
6. Mini Pies at Atticus Creamery and Pie
Photo courtesy of @awesomeatticus on Instagram
These mini pies are firstly so darn cute, and secondly amazing. Pair them with one of Atticus’s ice creams for the ultimate summer treat. (If you can’t make it to Atticus for mini pies, you should definitiely make your own.)
7. Macaron Sandwiches at MILK
Photo courtesy of @travel_with_kimmee on Instagram
This sandwich is the perfect balance from the thin macaron and the creamy, rich ice cream. But can you truly appreciate their goodness if you don’t try your hand at baking some first?
8. Popsicles at Popshop
Photo courtesy of Gia Canali on thepopshoponline.com
These totally delicious these ice pops come in a variety of flavors including Bananas Foster, Strawberry Balsamic and Mint Mojito.
9. Funnelle Cake at Quenelle
Photo courtesy of @de_ma_cuisine on Instagram
A generous portion of your choice of ice cream nestled between two funnel cakes (offered every Wednesday from 5pm-8pm) should be everyone’s #goals.
10. Freeze at Pressed Juicery
Photo courtesy of @kimmy.actually on Instagram
Why eat actual fruit and vegetables when you can have this? Freeze is a vegan froyo that is equally as delicious as it is healthy.
11. Ice Cream at Ice Cream Lab
Photo courtesy of @akhsak on Instagram
This is not your average ice cream. Ice Cream Lab specializes in liquid nitrogen ice cream—they instantly freeze the ingredients in the bowl excluding all preservatives and artificial ingredients.
12. Paletas at Mateo’s Ice Cream and Fruit Bars
Photo courtesy of @dianablisss on Instagram
Paletas, paletas and more paletas. If you love paletas you’ll love Mateo’s. The paletas are made from real fruit and even have chunks of sweet produce inside to bite into.
13. “The Original” Churro Ice Cream Sandwich at Churro Bourough
Photo courtesy of @claudia_franco on Instagram
Welcome to the world of unique ice cream flavors like Matcha Green Tea, Spicy Hot Chocolate and Spanish Latte sandwiched between churro “discs.” Not even Harry Potter could create a dessert this magical.
14. Milkshakes at Millions of Milkshakes
Photo courtesy of @freshman15food on Instagram
Millions of Milkshakes is a small shop that offers shakes with names like Vivica A. Fox Cougar Crunch and Adrienne Bailon’s “Cheetah Shake.” You can also choose your favorite Kardashian sister or insert yourself in the beef and join team T-swizzle with the Taylor Swift shake.
15. Ice Cream Sandwich at Diddy Riese
Photo courtesy of @gammacataclysms on Instagram
These cookies taste so good they would even make Gordon Ramsey happy, and they come at a price that will make you happy. At only $2 per sandwich, you can fall in love with the fact that they are as kind to your bank account as they are to your mouth.
16. Fat Shakes at Fat Sal’s
Photo by Lauren Onelum
A sandwich shop so good that the shortest wait is 45 minutes. Milkshakes are your appetizer as you wait for the rest of your food, but they’re so good you won’t even care about what’s coming.
17. Froyo at Golden Spoon
Photo courtesy of @ilovegoldenspoon on Instagram
Ever get annoyed when your toppings are only on the top of your fro yo and the rest of the sweet mountain of yogurt gets no love? Here they put a little bit of fro yo, toppings and then cover the toppings in more froyo. Yes, dreams do come true.
18. Shaved Ice at Get Shaved
Photo courtesy of @jacgxoxo on Instagram
Frozen water never tasted so good.