I last wrote about Los Angeles soft serve ice cream for The Los Angeles Times in 2015. At that point, eight places stood out, which now feels quaint. I’m steering clear of places I previously covered, though I would gladly devour any of those light, creamy swirls. Most of those options are still available nearly a decade later, though a few businesses closed or discontinued soft service. If anything, the Los Angeles soft serve scene has exploded in popularity since 2015. Dozens of new fast casual concepts and more fashionable restaurants keep joining the delicious fray across L.A.

Of course, soft serve ice cream is nothing new. Have you driven by a Dairy Queen or Frosty Freeze lately? There are always lines in warmer weather, and have been for decades. Soft serve remains a draw for Carvel customers as well, though I’m partial to Fudgie the Whale in that case. Check out my favorite Los Angeles soft serve ice cream from the current crop since 2022. I’ll continue to update this guide through late summer and year round as inspiration strikes.

UPDATES SINCE NOVEMBER 22, 2024
Additions: 626 Ice Cream, Chaffee, Gott’s Roadside, Heavy Handed, Honeymee, Loreto, Magpies Softserve, Meccha Matcha, Mochi-Ya Ren, Nana’s Green Tea, Normal Ice Cream
Subtractions: Layla (Closed)

626 Ice Cream Black Sesame & Honey Misugaru Soft Serve – Arcadia ↓

Budonoki Soft Serve (rotating flavors like Tokyo Banana or Pandan Coconut Vanilla) – Virgil Village ↓

Cafe Tropical Malted Milk Vanilla & Vegan Rhubarb Soft Serve – Silver Lake ↓

Chaffee Tie Guan Ying Oolong Ice Cream – Temple City ↓

Coucou Soft Serve Sundae – Venice + West Hollywood ↓

Damian Soft Serve – Arts District ↓

Dayglow Awan Coffee Soft Serve (When Available) – Silver Lake ↓

EZPZ Vanilla Soft Serve w/White Balsamic + Lemon – El Segundo ↓

Gott’s Roadside Soft Serve Vanilla Chocolate Swirl @ The Original Farmers Market – Los Angeles ↓

Heavy Handed Soft Serve Ice Cream Swirl – Santa Monica + Studio City ↓

Honeymee Passion Fruit Affogato – DTLA, Gardena, Koreatown + Little Tokyo ↓

Indigo Cow Hokkaido Milk & Hojicha Swirl – Echo Park + Sawtelle Japantown ↓

L’Moon Creamery Thai Tea Trophy – Pasadena ↓

Loreto Soft Serve – Frogtown ↓

Magpies Softserve Sweet Cream + Malted Milk Chocolate Soft Serve – Highland Park, Silver Lake + Tarzana ↓

Meccha Matcha Matcha Soft Serve + Flavor of the Day (Changes Every Tuesday) – Artesia ↓

Midori Matcha Cafe Matcha Soft Serve + Seasonal Swirl – Little Tokyo ↓

Mochi-Ya Ren Matcha Mont Blanc – Arts District ↓

Nana’s Green Tea Matcha Chocolate Crunch Soft Serve – Pasadena ↓

Normal Ice Cream Salted Vanilla Ice Cream w/Strawberry Matcha Dip – Pop-Up ↓

Saffy’s Soft Serve (Seasonal Flavors) – East Hollywood ↓

Wax Paper Soft Serve – Chinatown + Frogtown (Seasonal Flavors in Frogtown) ↓

Yang’s Kitchen Soft Serve (Seasonal Flavors) – Alhambra ↓