I love food and truly enjoy eating out. My favorite part of any meal is always dessert! I was raised by a Mom who would pick where we went to eat based on who has the best dessert. As we all know LA is a massive city that is filled with all different types of places to eat. This list of the best desserts in Los Angeles will always be growing as I continue to find new favorites. If there is a place that you believe should be on the list please reach out and let me know.
This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and buy something, I will earn a small commission from the advertiser at no additional cost to you.
The Strawberry Donuts from The Donut Man
Price $
Location 915 E Route 66, Glendora, CA 91740 & 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
I want to start off this list with an iconic and famous treat. The strawberry donuts from The Donut Man are a must-try! As of right now, you do have to go on a drive to find them. The Donut Man is located on Route 66 in Glendora. However, they are opening a second location at Grand Central Market on 6/26.
The Chocolate Soufflé from The Tam O’Shanter
Price $$$
Location 2980 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
The Tam O’Shanter in Los Feliz was Walt Disney’s favorite restaurant. This is one of those desserts that can take up to thirty minutes to prepare so you’ll want to order this when your food arrives. I had never had a soufflé before and I was not disappointed. It had such a fantastic taste!
Sprinkles Cupcakes
Price $
There are multiple locations throughout the LA and OC areas
Sprinkles Cupcakes is a favorite of both locals and tourists. You can find Sprinkles at popular locations like The Grove, Beverly Hills, Downtown Disney, and more! Did you know that they even have a cupcake ATM at select locations? That means you can get a cupcake 24/7.
Some locations have ice cream so you can get a cupcake ice cream sundae which is really, really good. My favorites are the black & white and the seasonal chocolate peppermint. Be sure to join the Sprinkles Perks Program in order to get a free cupcake. If you would like to make your own Sprinkles Cupcakes you can find the cookbook on Amazon.
Edelweiss Chocolates
Price $
Location 444 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
My two favorite chocolate shops in LA are See’s Candies which you can find all over the city and Edelweiss in Beverly Hills. Edelweiss has a great variety of treats and they sell really fun creations like edible gold Oscar shaped chocolates. A few years back I took a Cupcake and Macaron Tour of Beverly Hills that stopped here. As part of the tour, we got to go in the back and see the conveyor belt that inspired Lucille Ball to create the I Love Lucy chocolate factory scenes. The chocolate-covered marshmallow has been my go-to treat!
The Simpsons Donut from Universal Studios Hollywood
Price $
Location 100 Universal City Plz, Los Angeles, CA 91608
The Simpsons Donut from Universal Studios Hollywood is the biggest donut that I have ever eaten! It is really good and is the perfect size for sharing. Even if you do not have a ticket to the park you can buy it from the Universal Store at the CityWalk. *While the park is closed it does not seem that the donuts are currently being sold at the CityWalk.
Jack Jack Num Num Cookie from Disneyland
Price $
Location Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Park in front of the Incredicoaster
The list could go on and on with all of my favorite treats and desserts from The Disneyland Resort. I did narrow it down to 9 snacks that I love from Disneyland and of course, this tasty cookie made that list. The chocolate chip cookie is bigger than my hand and the chocolate chips melt as you bite into it. I cannot say enough good things about this cookie. I just wish you could get ice cream put on top of it. Disney was generous enough to share the cookie recipe during the quarantine.
Hollywood Romance From the Polo Lounge
Price $$$
Location 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
This beautiful cake is from the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Hollywood Romance which was a decadent and delicious chocolate cake. This dessert has a lot of chocolate but surprisingly it is not too rich.
The Elvis Sundae from The Federal
Price $$
Location 5303 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
The Federal is a fun restaurant that is an old bank turned restaurant. The North Hollywood location is the only one I’ve been to, they have a location in Long Beach as well. If you check in on yelp you are able to redeem a free dessert. I ordered the Elvis Sundae which I highly recommend. It is a chocolate brownie with banana peanut butter ice cream.
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches from Diddy Riese
Price $
Location 926 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
My entire family loves Diddy Riese. We found out about it when I was taking a class at UCLA. Diddy Riese is located in Westwood Village. They sell cookies, brownies, ice cream, and shaved ice. My favorite thing to get is a cookie ice cream sandwich from the store. And then I get at least a dozen cookies to take home. The prices cannot be beaten. You can get a dozen cookies for $5 and even cheaper if you get cookies that are a day old.
Aroma Coffee and Tea
Price $$
Location 4360 Tujunga Ave, Studio City, CA 91604
Aroma Coffee and Tea in Studio City is my obsession. It is my favorite date night spot because the atmosphere is so charming and the food is incredible. But, the desserts are really where they shine. The birthday cake and the raspberry cheesecake are amazing! Though to be honest I have enjoyed every single dessert I have ever tried here.
S’mores Fudge Brownie & Banana Mouse Crepes from Yamashiro
Price $$$
Location 1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Yamashiro is truly one of the most beautiful restaurants in Los Angeles. It is located on a hill above Hollywood and offers stunning views of the city. The restaurant itself is stunning and the food is incredible. My family order the banana mouse crepes and the s’mores fudge brownie. Both were fantastic and I highly recommend them.
Any Dessert From Porto’s Bakery
Price $
Location 3614 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
Porto’s Bakery is hands down one of the tastiest and most affordable places to eat in the Los Angeles area. There are currently locations in Buena Park, Burbank, Glendale, Downey, and West Covina. The cheese rolls are a fantastic dessert and they cost 85 cents each. I got the most delicious crumb cake that served six people and was less than $8. The chocolate dessert pictured above was $3.75 I believe. Their sandwiches and potato balls are incredible too.
Apple Pie from The Pie Hole
Price $
Locations: The Arts District in DTLA, Pasadena, Glendale & Hollywood.
There are two pie shops in Los Angeles that my family loves. Marie Calenders is a must-visit for my parents when they come to visit. We typically get three pies to enjoy throughout their visit. Our favorites are the lemon meringue, chocolate satin, and cream cheese. The Pie Hole, unlike Marie Calenders, is just for pie but wow is it tasty!
I will continue adding to this list as I find more incredible desserts from the LA area. If you have any recommendations please reach out and let me know.
