For over 30 years, two brothers from Iran have been serving traditional and exotic ice cream like orangeblossom, lavender, pomegranate and turkish coffee at Mashti Malone's.
"These are flavors that maybe are new to the Los Angeles palette, but as the brothers like to say, these flavors have been around for thousands and thousands of years from Middle East," said Mar Yvette, senior editor of Citysearch.com.
Customers in a hurry can grab a pint to go, but if you have time to stay and relax, indulge in Mashti Malone's version of the ice cream sandwich.
2. Caffe Primo
Caffe Primo uses traditional recipes from Palermo, Italy, to create velvety smooth frozen treats.
Located in the middle of West Hollywood, the popular café offers a spacious, attractive outdoor patio where patrons can enjoy their dessert, and maybe run into somebody famous.
"Caffe Primo is all about its location, it's right on the sunset strip, lots of celebrities love this place," Yvette said.
There are over 40 different flavors of gelato and sorbetto available, and workers say all of them tend be healthier than traditional ice cream.
3. Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bar
1250 S. Vermont Ave. Ste. 105
Los Angeles, CA 90006
(213) 738-7288
Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bar in South Los Angeles specializes in international flavors like mamey, which is popular in Cuba, or Mexican favorites such as horchata with black walnuts and leche quemada, also known as "burned milk" ice cream.
Owner and head ice cream chef, Mateo only uses fresh ingredients for his tropical flavors like guava, strawberry and choco-banana.
Mateo's is also famous for their fruit bars, also known as paletas, made with fruit, juice, some with chocolate and cream - all of them naturally good.
Here are the frozen dessert locations rounding out the top 7:
4. Bulgarini Gelato in Altadena
5. Scoops in Koreatown
712 N. Heliotrope Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 906-2649
6. Gelato Bar in Studio City
7. Pazzo Gelato in Silver Lake
Great frozen desserts are, of course, not exclusive to Los Angeles:
Orange County: Frati Gelato in Fullerton
Inland Empire: Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt in Upland
Ventura County: McConnell's in Ventura
There's no way this list is complete. Share your favorite in the comments below!
