"At Old Town Pasadena’s Kinrose Creamery, toppings are just as important as the ice cream. The flavors at this former Smorgasburg vendor turned brick-and-mortar draw from Iran, Egypt, and across the Middle East—stretchy Egyptian mint, lavashak, saffron pistachio rose—and each scoop comes topped with eye-grabbing garnishes like rose buds or phyllo crumble. Our favorite might be the sour cherry flavor hidden under a cloud of Persian fairy floss: the fancy cotton candy melts on your tongue and balances the tart ice cream. Kinrose serves a tight list of eight flavors, but limited choices aren’t an issue when they're all this elaborate and delicious." - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins, jess basser sanders