Best ice cream in Los Angeles- an updated poll

[bakersdozen]

There are a lot of postings for ice cream, but I can't seem to find a recent poll of the best ice cream in LA. So apologies in advance to anyone who feels this topic has been posted already. Please, who has the best ice cream and what are your favorite flavors? If you have a top 3 of favorites, please rank and list. I personally don't have anything original because I feel lost in Coldstone Creamery land. I would love to find a GREAT vanilla and coffee without the butterfat that sticks to the roof of your mouth.

[RicRios]

The vanilla with white truffles ice cream made by the sushi chef at Zen Café in the California Mart. Real vanilla beans and real white truffles. Out of this world. Also, his black sesame ice cream is nothing short of spectacular.

[russkar]

Don't Laugh, Costco Super Premium Vanilla, super rich and creamy. $9- for two half gallons.

[Foodandwine]

Another Don't Laugh.. T H R I F T Y.. I enjoy it all the time..

[russkar]

F&W, don't laugh but Thrifty is my back up if I'm out of Costco's.

[ipsedixit]

Does anyone know if Costco uses their Super Premium Vanilla in their ice cream bars that they sell at the concession stand? Those ice cream bars are awesome, and an outrageous bargain at 1.50.

[russkar]

I think it's identical. At least it tastes the same to me. If you thought the Bars are a deal , which they are , wait till you have about 10 bars in a half gallon for 4.50.

[bigtums]

I don't think there's a better ice cream bar out there. With the thick layer of chocolate and almonds, so good.

[peachmahoney]

Okay, I'm glad we're coming out of the Thrifty closet here! I love the Black Cherry!

[gaylenwaydelich]

Black Cherry RULES! I always have a square in the freezer.

[mlgb]

Chocolate Malted Krunch?

[ipsedixit]

Fosselman's. www.fosselmans.com

[eileen216]

I love Foselman's lychee ice cream!

[ns1]

wooo their taro and cherry vanilla are INSANE

[2surly]

I got some Fosselman's cherry vanilla for my SO...he's hooked. Stuff's more addictive than crack. Thank God they're located all the way in Alhambra.

[westsidegal]

dunno where you're located, but i believe that fosselman's is available in culver city in the sandwich shop located in the best buy shopping center.

[Will Owen]

I don't know why this discussion even continued after Fosselman's name came up, but de gustibus and all that. I had some Baskin-Rodent's pralines & cream this afternoon, a fave of mine from back in the days when BR was the only ice cream store in our town, and it was quite as delicious as always...but the texture felt so coarse and gritty, the flavors so two-dimensional. It was like eating a Hershey bar after you'd gotten used to REAL chocolate

[ipsedixit]

And a little tidbit just for you, Will Owen ... Fosselman's has been offering their snowballs just in time for the holidays! Hip hip hooray!

[raytamsgv]

Without a doubt!

[condiment]

Bulgarini

[kel]

In addition to their excellent gelato, do they have ice cream now, also?

[benoswald]

http://www.mashtimalone.com/

Their coffee is amazing. Also tons of other unique flavors.
Not to dairy-fattish, and more important to me,
not too sugar-bomb sweet like Fosselmans is.

[maxzook]

To each his own. I'm ok with Mashti's flavors, but texture -- "mouth-feel" -- is a big part of the ice cream experience for me, and Mashti is so loaded with emulsifiers that it might as well be Baskin-Robbins.

[Woolsey]

Stop reading my mind.

The emulsifiers in Mashti Malone's are gross, and it seems to have only gotten worse over the years. It's almost like eating cold whipped cooking oil. The thing is, they seem to pride themselves on their emulsifiers from the sign on the wall that explains the importance of gum arabic and it role as an emulsifier. Well, points for honesty, but still, it's pretty bad.

[maxzook]

I just remembered: the Persian-style ice cream at the Rose Market on Westwood Blvd. is ten times better.

[hrhboo]

Agreed. Eating Mashti Malone is like eating wax.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i've never had mashti, but if you have a hankering for a waxy, grainy, frozen dairy-based substance masquerading as ice cream, just stop into any coldstone creamery. man, that stuff is gross.

[sel]

I agree, it's pretty bad but my kids love it, and they have had both L.A. and S.F.'s best!!!

[condiment]

My kids like it too - especially that vivid-blue bubble gum flavor, and the cake batter ice cream that was so vile I actually spat it out. I wonder if they custom-stale the mix-ins. There's a lot of turnover, so I can't otherwise understand how nuts could get so rancid.

[maxzook]

Linking ...

[WBGuy]

Scoops. Their flavors constantly change, always innovative.

[ipsedixit]

I like Scoops and I think Tai is a genius, a mad genius to be exact. But the appeal of Scoops is the outlandish flavors that Tai can fuse together, not the ice cream per se.

[fdb]

Concur.

[Diana]

STILL haven't been to Scoops, and kicking myself silly!

Right now, I prefer frozen yogurt...well, the "Wow Cow" and "carbolite" I always did. Not a faddish thing, a fat and calorie thing.

Still, when I want to go all the way with ice cream (kinky!) I like to go to Mashti Malone's. even the simple vanilla is really good.

I also like the madagascar vanilla custard at Lucky Devil's. Ok, so technically it's not ice cream.

I guess my last pick would be the Gelson's Gelato counter. I really dig it. The flavors I like there right now are the Yogurt, Pumpkin, Chocolate, Peach, and Blood Orange (Arancia Rossa). I recently saw something crazy looking there, and it was fruit cake flavor. I couldn't have it (nuts bad for my allergy) but my husband had a taste and really liked it. It looks crazy, though.

fact, blood orange and chocolate go really well together. I like to take a scoop of Blood Orange and sandwich it between two freshly baked chocolate chip cookies! Oh YUM

But still, whenever I get to scoops, I'll probably alter my rankings.

[maxzook]

Which Gelson's has a gelato counter?

[Diana]

I've seen ope at Encino and Woodland Hills (or Whatever they call the one on Topanga Canyon..Calabasas?) I think they also might have it at Pasadena and Culver city, but I'd call them first!

[kel]

Century City.

[avena]

Whole Foods also has Blood Orange sorbet, and its delicious.

[notmartha]

You meant the Ciao Bella ones? It was surprisingly good - not too sweet and about 1/2 the calories of equivalent amount of ice cream.

[avena]

Its from the gelato bar, so I don't know if its a certain brand, or just the WF generic sorbet. Its the only flavor I ever get there because I can't seem to resist it and try something new.

[Amuse Bouches]

The grapefruit campari is also fab.

[Woolsey]

Ditto to all the people who will nominate Scoops. Enough folks will sing its praises, so I won't waste my time discussing the innovative flavors, the fresh ingredients, the friendly staff, the great prices, and so on.

I'm surprised how rarely Boule's ice cream is mentioned. Boule is known mostly for pastries, and its ice cream certainly isn't a bargain. Still, Boule makes great flavors - even if they seem to have abandoned the fun experimentation that marked their offerings in the early days of operation - with fresh ingredients. Boule's ice cream is very light, I've found, not as fatty in mouth feel even as the offerings at many gelaterias. Of course, one could buy three three-scoop cups at Scoops for one three-scoop serving at Boule, but if one is in the Beverly Center area, it's worth a stop, especially with some macarons alongside.

There are a lot of gelateria in the city these days. I think Pazzo Gelato is really overrated between their combination of poor service (at least for some and not others, often at the same moment), strange, Mashtiesque mouthfeel, and ho-hum flavor experiments. I'm fond of Al Gelato on Robertson myself. It's older and much better than the cookie-cutter gelaterias like Il Cono and such, which all seem to be serving up the same gelato-from-a-box flavors.

[sku]

A little known but wonderful ice cream gem is Helados Pops, a Salvadoran ice cream parlor in a strip mall on Vermont near Santa Monica (including Salvadoran fruit like zapote and maranon). Great tropical fruit flavors and some of the best strawberry ice cream around.

[Sarsa]

Handel's in Upland on Mountain Ave., if your in IE. best pistachio, great selection!

Fosselman's in Alhambra.

That gelato place at One Colorado in Old Town Pasadena

[kjs]

Handel's ...yummy...i'm taking a friend to ontario airport on friday, after i push her out of the car, i'm off to handel's....haven't been since august....i may just OD on the stuff !!!

[Sarsa]

Hey Kjs,
I hope you survive Handel's. They have so many flavors. Lately I'm into their Graham Central Station and Strawberry Cheesecake. Let me know how it goes...

[kjs]

I had a scoop of heavenly hash and chocolate malt with caramel....GREAT !! i had strawberry cheesecake last time i was there...the person that ordered before me had blueberry cheesecake...i could see a large clump of blueberry...i actually drooled !!! i decided i'm going down the entire menu...do they change the menu much ?? my sis needs a drop-off to ontario airport.....gee where am i going tomorrow ?!?!? merry x-mas to me !

[avena]

Yesterday I tried Handel's for the first time, and I got pistachio. It had the nuts in every bite I took. It tasted great, and I really liked it. Its not for anyone who doesn't like big chunky nuts in their ice cream though. Very heavy on the nuts. Are you going to go down the menu alphabetically? If so, its too bad pistachio is quite far down the list. Oh well, you will probably have a good time getting there.

[kjs]

it's sad....my sisters flight was at 10:00 am today so no handel's !!! I CRY !!! at least her flight returns at 2:00 pm on monday....i hope they are open on x-mas eve.....i'm getting 2 scoops again !!! yeah...i was figuring alphabetically....we'll see

[Sarsa]

Well I hope they are open on x-mas eve. Why don't you take some home, I always do. Have you ever tried their Handel's Pops? I love their fresh peach during the summer and black cherry too. Happy Holidays!

I once had a Black walnut, bannana, honey ice cream from TJ's that was soooo good that I'm always on the look out (for like 20 yrs now)so if you know of where I can get it pretell.

[Sarsa]

Their Pistacio is crazy great.Not only are there nuts in every bite but they are actualy pistacios!
Do you live in IE? What are your favorite eats in IE?

[schmegegy]

Hi My partner is from Niles, Ohio, the home of Handel's! We haven't been out there yet. I'm from Buffalo, NY and I grew up (and out) on some of the best ice cream in the country. So, I'm spoiled. Some people like exotic flavors. I will only eat real vanilla with REAL chocolate or hot fudge or bittersweet on it. And real whipped cream. So I haven't found any ice cream out here that compares.

[Sarsa]

i'm jello...
I am kinda new to IE and had noticed they were always busy so one day I stopped and result is many quarts of Handel's in my freezer

[SauceSupreme]

I'm glad you mentioned that place in One Colorado. Back when I lived in Pasadena all those years ago, that was my favorite gelato place.

I'll list off specific flavors:
Brown Bread at Scoops
Blood Orange Sorbet at Milk
Pistachio at Bulgarini
Cappucino Crunch at Al Gelato

[Sarsa]

Cool. I will research each one of those places and be sure to check em out in my travels. I am so into Blood oranges these days. Charles makes blood orange fruit pate that is great. What is brown bread like?

[SauceSupreme]

It's sort of like a good dulce de leche, but not as cloyingly sweet, and of course there's the textural difference owing to the little crunchy grape nuts that Tai puts on top.

[maxzook]

As anyone who has ever been to Rhode Island can tell you, ice cream with Grape-Nuts is the greatest food known to man.

[Sarsa]

Thanks, I will try it. That grape nuts thing reminds me of granola on yogurt

[maxzook]

That gelato place is Tutti Gelati.

[Sarsa]

Yes, thats it-Outside of Rome, they have the best gelato I has had

[Amuse Bouches]

I love it too. Can't resist the zabaglione.

[sbritchky]

Don't order the turtle sundae at Handel's if you don't like delicious ice-cream, chocolate and caramel sauces, pecans, whipped cream, and a cherry. If you do, then you can even have it made with turtle-sundae ice-cream!

I actually like Burt n Rocky's (north on Mountain, then east on Foothill to one block before Euclid -- south side of Foothill) better for simple cones. If you're into delicious, try the various forms of chocolate ice-cream. (Hint for people coming in after a long drive in the mountains: Unlike Handel's, Burt n Rocky's has a bathroom.)

[notmartha]

Not sure if you are looking for a scoop shop or store bought, and don't know if you are looking for gelato, or strictly ice cream.

My favorite ice cream is Dr. Bob's Strawberry and Sour Cream or Tahitian Vanilla.
I liked Bulgarini's for light but creamy texture; however Fresh & Easy's Roasted Bananas wins in the flavor department and its very smooth and creamy.

Fosselman's good, but I don't go out of my way to eat there. Tried Han's at Costa Mesa, and I think they are as good as Fosselman's.

[evilbeefchan]

Fosselman's. 60% butterfat can't be wrong. Parking can be a pain when it's busy, though.

[bakersdozen]

I tried Scoop's today. I was surprised how "ma and pop" the shop was...it was refreshing. They said the flavors change daily. I had the pink grapefruit & pear sorbet and the mango coconut ice cream. My husband had the banana coffee and mocha chocolate. It was great!

Next one to try is Dr Bob's. They didn't have a big selection at Gelson's. Just vanilla and 3 versions of the Sch Berger chocolate. Any place else they carry a bigger selection in West LA or the valley?

[pinpei]

Surfas carries a decent selection of Dr. Bob's.

[sku]

Also Bay Cities.

[Feed_me]

Surfas also carries some Delicieuse flavors which I think is even better (and more expensive). They also sell their house brand too. I haven't eaten the Bulgarini stuff although it seems to be a popular choice. I do like the gelato they sell at Piccomolo (sp?) in Little Tokyo. They have a couple of other places around locally I know. I keep saying I'll try Glacier in Manhattan Beach, but it's in a bad location for an ice cream shop although it has a big enough parking lot. I went there when it first opened, but the gal behind the counter didn't want to scoop a pint for me and kind of pushed me towards buying the prepackaged pints (not my flavor of choice) in the freezer. I sort of went out of my way to go there, so I haven't been back.

[ReelMike84]

I just recently had Dr. Bobs for the first time at the LA County Fair and It took me all day to find it without a map. Seriously, it became the quest and chant of the day. Find Dr. Bob's! Find Dr. Bob's!

Once I found it I was having a hard time deciding between the Cappuccino Crunch or the OREO. I tried cappuccino and really liked it, and then I was handed some OREO.

Literally...I put that spoon in my mouth and shouted OREO. I was happily surprised that my generous single scoop in a cup even had full sized freakin' cookies! C'mon... what's better then that?

[goodhealthgourmet]

after dinner at josie last night we ordered their homemade ice cream for dessert. you get 3 scoops, so of the 6 or so flavors offered we chose creme fraiche, chocolate, and walnut crunch.

the creme fraiche was unique and lovely - very subtle and refreshing, not sweet at all. the walnut would have been excellent on its own, but the "crunch" came from sickeningly sweet candied walnuts- that killed it for me.

the hands-down winner was, surprisingly the chocolate. my friend and i both agreed that it just might have been the best chocolate ice cream either of us has ever had!

[fdb]

Kuri (chestnut) ice cream at Yakitoriya on Sawtelle. It's seasonal, and totally delish!

[corydon]

1. Scoops (esp. for vegan and weirder fullfat dairy flavors that excite me)
2. Fosselmans (for old standbys)
3. Thrifty's

[maxzook]

Since the lamented demise of Eiger in Brentwood, the best vanilla ice cream is McConnell's, based in Santa Barbara, but with an outlet at the Fisherman's Wharf in Redondo Beach and at Gelson's everywhere.

We all scream for links ..

[westsidegal]

delicieuse

Delicieuse
www.icedreamonline.com

2503 Artesia Blvd
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
[phone]

[maxzook]

linked

[amela]

Third Delicieuse. Wonderful flavors and mouthfeel can't be beat. Very friendly dad and daughter. Check out the back room to relax and eat your scoop in.

[greengelato]

i'm not going to even read what was posted...the answer is SCOOPS!!!!!!!!!!!

my favorite flavor is brown bread. :) and anything green. :)

[ray9x]

Not sure if it's **the best**, but Milk is pretty good. Their coffee toffee bonbons and cookies and cream are excellent.

On a side note... only in LA is it possible to discuss the best ice cream in early December. :)

[nick_r]

I concur on Milk... especially for their Milky Way Malt.

And since my native Massachusetts consumes more ice cream per capita than anywhere else in the country, cold-weather ice cream consumption isn't as rare as you might think...

[condiment]

How liberal is the interpretation of L.A.? Because Dewar's in Bakersfield has some really good ice cream, All-American division. I think it is, or at least used to be, also served at the Disney soda fountain in Hollywood.

[maxzook]

When it comes to ice cream, we're all left-of-center.

[liu]

Dewar's...and great peanut butter filled taffy as well!

[skoop323]

Rite Aid!!

[kermit]

In a place like LA, there's always room for a topic like this given the new storefronts/brands emerging. Thanks for bringing back this topic, bakersdozen.

My vote:
1. Glacier in Manhattan Beach (great traditional and unique flavors, generous samples)
2. Al Gelato
3. Scoops
(and if I can, #4 is a brand of ice cream that I sampled at the Pasadena Whole Foods last week...it came in a yellow-and-brown-colored pint; I believe the company *only* makes chocolate and vanilla flavors, sourced from indigenous cocao and vanilla from around the world...I tried the Aztec chocolate flavor (I believe that's the name), and it was divine)

[maxzook]

Links

[goodhealthgourmet]

i'd love to know the brand of this aztec ice cream if anyone else has tried it...

[killingmesoftserve]

Now that gelato's in the mix on this thread, my wife and i have been to Piccomolo on San Pedro St. and 2nd in Little Tokyo.. surprisingly tasty.

We usually combine their Hazelnut, Roasted Almond, Pistachio, and Cookies & Cappucino together in a take home box. It's insane!

http://www.piccomolo.com

[killingmesoftserve]

After much confusion searching online for Piccomolo's correct address, i found the right one..

Piccomolo
135 S. San Pedro St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-620-0303

[sbritchky]

Strickland's Frozen Custard in Irvine is a bit too sweet for my taste, but it's very good, nevertheless. Soft-serve style, the Platonic ideal of Dairy Queen.

[kel]

OP: did you mean just ice cream? OR, Iinclude gelato, etc?

[JeetJet]

I really like the vanilla cakes at Maggie Moo's on Foothill in La Verne (in the shopping center with the In'N'Out on the corner).

Maggie Moo's
2084 Foothill Blvd
La Verne, CA 91750
[phone]

[kealoha]

Shockacone icecream at Cold Stone!

[sweiner]

Milk on Melrose has outstanding ice cream and excellent milkshakes. Don't know the butterfat content, but it tastes high.

[carradine65]

I just discovered that they have Dr. Bob's ice cream at Franks Famous Bakery in Montrose. It's on Verdugo Rd. My other favorite place is Scoops on Heliotrope and Melrose.

[culinarycandy]

The Beverly Center sucks, but inside that decadent dungeon is an absolute gem of ice cream nirvana called Silky Smooth Ultra Creamery www.silkysmoothcreamery.com and http://www.yelp.com/biz/silky-smooth-... .
Nothing I have ever tried compares...texture, flavor, freshness. Simply amazing.