5 Best Ice Cream Shops in Los Angeles (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

On a 90-degree day in downtown Los Angeles, the line at the wrong ice cream shop can outlast your patience, so it helps to know which ones are worth the wait. Between them, the ice cream shops on this page have logged over 3,500 Google reviews, and every single one holds a rating of 4.4 or higher in a city with no shortage of mediocre soft serve.

Short answer: Salt & Straw leads on scale with a 4.7 average across 1,527 reviews and rotating small-batch flavors. For the highest rating in the group, Mashti Malone's holds 4.9 across 718 reviews with Persian-inspired flavors like rosewater and saffron. Expect around $15 for a pint at the craft end, with single scoops typically running $6 to $13 across the group.

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1. Salt & Straw
2. Mashti Malone’s
3. Somisomi
4. Paradis Ice Cream
5. 28 Wishes Ice Cream Sh…
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Los Angeles ice cream shops, side by side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Salt & Straw	4.7 ★	1,527	Craft, rotating flavors	View ›
2	Mashti Malone’s	4.9 ★	718	Persian-inspired flavors	View ›
3	Somisomi	4.4 ★	720	Korean-style taiyaki and soft serve	View ›
4	Paradis Ice Cream	4.8 ★	323	Dubai chocolate and specialty scoops	View ›
5	28 Wishes Ice Cream Shop	4.8 ★	267	Classic flavors done well, including vegan	View ›

5 Best Ice Cream Shops in Los Angeles (2026)

Our picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Salt & Straw

4.71,527 Google reviews

Salt & Straw is a Portland-born small-batch ice cream maker with a location on 3rd Street in Downtown LA, known for chef-driven, locally sourced flavors that change monthly. The site sells pints for nationwide delivery alongside in-shop scoops, and its menu leans inventive: brown butter with birthday cake, malted chocolate chip cookie dough, and seasonal collaborations rather than straightforward vanilla and chocolate.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently call the flavors unique and the ice cream rich and creamy
Staff let customers sample multiple flavors before committing to a scoop
Take-home pints and limited-edition seasonal flavors keep regulars coming back
Friendly, welcoming service noted across many reviews

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,527 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown79% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The biggest name here by review count, and the reviews back it up: this is the shop reviewers describe returning to specifically for flavors they can't find anywhere else.

Website Book now +1213-988-7070 Directions

829 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Mashti Malone’s

4.9718 Google reviews

Mashti Malone's, on Griffith Park Boulevard, is a long-running Los Angeles ice cream shop built around Persian-inspired flavors like rosewater, saffron, and lavender alongside more familiar options. It also runs a catering arm for events, and the shop stays open late into the evening most nights of the week.

What people praise

Reviewers specifically call out rosewater, saffron, and pistachio as standout flavors unlike typical shops
Friendly staff who offer generous samples before you choose
Vegan options mentioned favorably by multiple reviewers
Consistently rated near-perfect across hundreds of reviews

Worth knowing

One reviewer noted the shop starts closing up shortly before its posted closing time

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume718 · 87th

Confidencevery high

Recency7 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown93% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The highest rating on this list, and it holds up across nearly 720 reviews. If you want flavors you won't find at a typical scoop shop, this is the one to try first.

Website Book now +1323-928-2400 Directions

1529 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

#3🕑 Open 7 days

Somisomi

4.4720 Google reviews

Somisomi, in Little Tokyo, specializes in Ah-Boong, a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with custard or Nutella and topped with soft serve ice cream. It's more a Korean-Japanese fusion dessert concept than a traditional scoop shop, and the format has made it a regular stop for people exploring Little Tokyo.

What people praise

Reviewers describe the taiyaki cones as a genuinely fun, distinctive treat
Matcha and Nutella fillings praised repeatedly for flavor and texture
A playful, cozy atmosphere that stands out from a typical dessert shop

Worth knowing

A few reviewers note the waffle can come out undercooked depending on the batch
Limited seating means you may need to eat standing or walking

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume720 · 92th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown71% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Ranks a little lower on rating here mainly because it draws more mixed feedback on execution consistency, but it's still the most distinctive format on this list if taiyaki and soft serve sound appealing.

Website +1213-265-7769 Directions

332 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Paradis Ice Cream

4.8323 Google reviews

Paradis Ice Cream, on South Spring Street in Downtown LA, has built a following around Dubai chocolate flavored ice cream, alongside classics like taro and rocky road. Staff regularly offer samples of multiple flavors before you order, and the shop stays open into the early hours on weekends.

What people praise

Reviewers describe generous sampling of five or six flavors before ordering
Dubai chocolate and Dubai baklava flavors called out repeatedly as standout
Friendly, patient staff mentioned by name across several reviews
Late weekend hours suit a post-dinner stop

Worth knowing

A couple of reviewers mention limited nearby parking

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume323 · 71th

Confidencehigh

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick if trend flavors like Dubai chocolate interest you, and the sampling policy makes it easy to find something you'll actually like before you pay.

Website Book now +1213-866-1468 Directions

700 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

#5🕑 Open 7 days

28 Wishes Ice Cream Shop

4.8267 Google reviews

28 Wishes Ice Cream Shop, on South Spring Street in Downtown LA, was rebranded by two brothers in late 2024 and focuses on well-executed classic and Asian-inspired flavors rather than gimmicks, using an Italian-technique base that reviewers describe as thicker and creamier than average.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight the vegan chocolate flavor as genuinely rich, not a compromise option
Caramel matcha and other classic-plus-twist combinations praised for balance
Staff patient and helpful with first-time visitors and families
Open late, including until 2am on weekend nights

Worth knowing

A couple of reviewers mention pricing feels a bit high for the portion size
Parking near the Downtown LA location isn't always easy

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume267 · 55th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenessphone · hours

Rating breakdown91% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Ranks last here mainly on review volume rather than quality. Reviewers who focus on classic flavors done properly, including a genuinely good vegan option, rate it just as highly as the bigger names.

Book now +1213-221-7914 Directions

755 S Spring St #101, Los Angeles, CA 90014

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How we score these shops

Rating is the live Google average. Review volume shows how many customers have actually left feedback, ranked against the others on this page. Confidence blends the two, so a strong rating built on over a thousand reviews scores higher than the same rating on a few dozen. Recency checks how recently people are still reviewing, since a shop that was great two years ago isn’t guaranteed to be great today. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much does ice cream cost in Los Angeles? (2026)

Prices depend on the shop’s positioning: craft, small-batch makers charge more per scoop and pint than straightforward dessert-format shops, and downtown locations can add a premium.

Job	Typical price
Craft pint (Salt & Straw)	$15
Single scoop, general range across shops	$6 - $13

Prices as published on Salt & Straw’s website and general pricing mentioned in customer reviews, verified July 2026.

Ice cream across Los Angeles

These shops cluster around Downtown LA, from Little Tokyo to the Historic Core and Spring Street corridor, with Mashti Malone’s further out near Silver Lake and Griffith Park. Wherever you are in LA, an ice cream shop near you is rarely more than a short drive away.

What to ask before you pick an ice cream shop

Can I sample a flavor before I order a scoop?
Do you have dairy-free or vegan options, and are they made in a separate batch?
Are pints available to take home, and do you ship?
Is there parking nearby, especially for downtown locations?
How late are you open, especially on weekends?
Do you rotate flavors seasonally, and how often does the menu change?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these ice cream shops?

We pulled every ice cream and dessert shop with a public Google Business Profile in Los Angeles, then ranked by a mix of rating, review volume, and how recently people are still reviewing them.

How often is this updated?

We refresh this page periodically. Data on it was last verified in July 2026.

Which shop has the most unique flavors?

Mashti Malone’s is known for Persian-inspired flavors like rosewater and saffron, while Salt & Straw rotates inventive seasonal collaborations. Somisomi and Paradis lean into trend flavors like taiyaki soft serve and Dubai chocolate.

Is parking easy near these shops?

Several are in Downtown LA, where street parking can be limited. A few reviewers mention nearby paid lots as the more reliable option.

The bottom line

Salt & Straw is the safe default for scale and consistency, but Mashti Malone’s edges it on rating if you want something distinctly different from a standard scoop shop. Either way, ask for a sample first. Nearly every shop on this list offers one.

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