McConnell's Fine Ice Creams - Studio City

Made with grass-grazed dairy sourced from Central California (and still processed in Santa Barbara), McConnell’s is my go-to scoop shop whenever I’m in the mood for simple, elegant flavors done right. The creamery can trace its roots back to 1949, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the company expanded to Los Angeles by way of a stall inside Grand Central Market. Now you can also find McConnell’s in Studio City and Santa Monica; there’s also a location in the Pacific Palisades, but that remains shuttered due to the recent fires. Where else can you get a scoop of cookies and cream so decadent it should be illegal? Or flavors like banana and salted caramel, or lemon and marionberries? Best of all, unlike Jeni’s, Wanderlust and Salt & Straw, McConnell’s offers a slate of excellent toppings, including whipped cream and a standout chocolate fudge sauce. Plus, there are cookies and brownies if you’re in the mood to build yourself a sundae or a sandwich.