Karen Klemens’ team fills a freezer with tempting grab-and-go treats like ice cream sandwiches and chocolate covered bananas. Their vegan popsicle selection includes lavender lemonade, chocolate, and both matcha and Thai tea blended with coconut milk.

Oaxaca natives Catalina Alejo Chimil and Benito Rios Banchez opened this colorful paleteria in 2019. They make ice cream and paletas in tradición garrafa (with a traditional churn). I ordered three paletas ($3 each) leche quemada con tuna (smoked milk with cactus fruit), coco de leche and black sapote de agua, all distinctly memorable.

Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts are having a whole lot of fun at their multi-faceted Playa del Rey compound, which includes Dockside restaurant, Grain whiskey bar, a front room cafe, and the airy Small Batch ice cream parlor. The display case touts ice cream sandwiches, choco tacos, and seasonal pops like the colorful Kiwi Cantaloupe with distinct fruit flavors.

Former high school teacher Tom Dibblee channels SoCal vibes in soft, sorbet-based pops. Distinctly flavorful pops include tart yuzu lemonade, vivid watermelon pitaya, sumptuous mango, and summer strawberry that finds balance with peach and lemon juice.

This small batch ice cream shop from pastry chef Shiho Yoshikawa, Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan has two Westside branches. The nearby Santa Monica Farmers Market fuels yogurt pops with seasonal fruits like Murray Family Farms blueberries and Tamai Family Farms raspberries. Sweet Rose also sells decadent chocolate “animal” pudding pops co-starring cookie dough.

Viva Cafe has provided “una fiesta de sabores” (a flavor party) since 2020. The owners are from Oaxaca and feature a sea of paletas de agua and de leche. I opted for tangy nance de agua and syrupy, brown sugar chilacayote de agua. Mexicana (cucumber, coconut and watermelon) reps colors from Mexico’s flag and stashes an Oreo in the middle.