If you’re looking for an adventure in ice cream, look no further than Scoops. Tai Kim, the mad scientist behind Scoops, creates unusual flavors – so while goat cheese and lavender may not be ingredients that you would associate with ice cream, they are part of the regular rotation of flavors.

At Scoops Westside, there are at least 12 flavors, including a couple of non-dairy soy-based ones, great for vegans and the lactose-intolerant. My daughter, who is the first to complain, will often choose one of the non-dairy flavors instead and has declared them equally delicious. Ordering a single allows you to try two flavors – definitely the way to go.

The flavors reflect the melting pot that is Los Angeles – like horchata peanut butter, miso Irish cream and pistachio rosewater. Usually there’s some alchohol-based flavor which I will always order (and am never disappointed).

Some flavors are totally bizarre – like the bacon cheeseburger I once tried here. If you’re unsure of a flavor, you can always sample it first, just to be safe. Thanks to sampling, that bacon cheeseburger did not have the honor of making it into my final selection.

If you can think of some exotic flavor you would like them to develop, there’s a handy dandy chalkboard on which you can write down your idea.

Toppings like sprinkles and nuts can be added on for free – just ask! These used to be placed on the counter for customers to help themselves, but not any more. I blame my daughter’s best friend, who once loaded up on the peanuts, emptying out the container. After that visit, the serve-yourself topping had disappeared. Coincidence? I think not.

Scoops updates their Twitter feed daily with the latest flavors – except on Sundays, when they are closed. They share a small parking lot with C & M Cafe, so if you time it right, you can eat lunch at C & M and dessert over at Scoops, which would make a perfect pairing.

Location – 3400 Overland Ave., Los Angeles 90034. Additional location in East Hollywood.
Website – http://www.scoopswestside.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes

Editor’s note: Scoops Westside closed in 2019.