Mashti Malone’s Ice Cream

Long-standing Mashti Malone’s is a direct rival of Westwood’s Saffron & Rose, but we’d be remiss not to mention both on this list. Like its competitor, Mashti makes scrumptious Persian ice cream in flavors like Rosewater, Lavender, and Orange Blossom—all colored and flavored naturally using herbs and spices from Lebanon, India, and other countries—and, if you so desire, topped with sour cherry syrup or lemon juice. Ask for a “Mashti” instead of a cone, and you’ll get a fat scoop sandwiched between two crisp, paper-thin wafers and rolled in crunchy pistachios. Order the “Malone” to get your ice cream served on a zoolbeyah—an Iranian take on the carnival funnel cake that’s deep-fried and deliciously sweet.

In a rather grim strip mall on a flyby stretch of La Brea, one of Hollywood’s happiest places hides in the corner under the stairs. Mashti Malone’s is a Persian-style ice cream shop with a fantastic array of unusual flavors that lean heavily into rosewater, saffron, cardamom, and pistachio. Owner Mashti Sirvani—the Malone’s part was just convenience, repurposing the previous tenant’s huge sign—immigrated to the US in 1979 with ice cream in his heart after growing up helping out at his uncle’s ice cream shop in Iran. That passion is still clear, in all of the wild and creative flavors and toppings that manage to brighten up even the darkest day.
How to book: Walk in or order online for pickup.