Awan
Ice cream shop · West Hollywood ·
Vegan coconut-based ice cream with unique Indonesian flavors
Vegan coconut-based ice cream with unique Indonesian flavors
"Vegan ice cream often gets a bad rap, but Awan, a coconut-based ice cream specialist, seems to have cracked the code: Indonesian coconut cream delivers the rounded fattiness you want from ice cream while adding nuance to scoops like Balinese Vanilla Bean (its base comes from Indonesian coconut water and coconut cream), and the vibey storefront feels somewhere between a green mermaid’s grotto and a Grecian cave, which heightens the experience, similar to dining in the cavelike Cento Raw Bar in West Adams. What to order: Chocolate Oreo, made with Valrhona chocolate and kluwek, an Indonesian mangrove seed that imparts a malted flavor, and packed with gluten-free Oreo cookies — it might be one of the only gluten-free cookies-and-cream-style flavors you can find in Los Angeles (ask for extra Oreos on top); Gaviota Strawberry; and Gula Jawa Salted Caramel, dusted with unrefined Indonesian palm sugar. Go for whatever the seasonal specials are, too: a fall Pumpkin Atole, made in collaboration with cookbook author Andrea Aliseda, imbues the earthy flavors of the Mexican hot drink atole with pumpkin-spiced kabocha puree and Awan’s Gula Jawa Salted Caramel base. Insider tip: the business is connected to Dayglow coffee; at the Venice location, you can get an espresso shot from the Dayglow next door to make an irresistible DIY affogato, and you can also find locations in West Hollywood and Larchmont. Best for vegan ice cream diehards who miss the real thing and non-vegan ice cream lovers who want some of the most unique flavors in town — my toddler actually danced when he had his first taste of Awan’s Gaviota Strawberry." - Nicole Fellah
"Awan serves creamy, plant-based ice cream from a tiny takeout window in West Hollywood. You come to this Indonesian-inspired dessert shop for refreshing flavors like blood orange, lemongrass, and rhubarb pie—not a basic scoop of chocolate on a sugar cone. The vanilla beans here are imported straight from Bali and the strawberries come from renowned farm Harry’s Berries in Oxnard. Expect to walk away holding a beige cup full of something wonderful and unexpected. Our favorite surprise so far? The tortilla flavor, which will leave you wondering how a scoop of vegan ice cream can taste more like a hand-pressed blue corn tortilla than the real thing." - cathy park, brant cox, sylvio martins
"This dairy-free shop in West Hollywood serves complex flavors, including saffron pistachio with Medjool dates, spiced persimmon and graham, and blue corn tortilla. A future Larchmont location is coming soon." - Eater Staff
"A vegan creamery recommended for its dairy-free Gaviote strawberry scoop, illustrating LA’s strong plant-based dessert offerings." - Eater Staff
"Before coming to Awan, we had never used “tortillas” and “ice cream” in the same sentence. Now, we can’t shut up about this dynamic duo. This rich, nutty flavor is so precise, and immediately reminiscent of a hand-pressed blue corn tortilla. It leans savory, but there is a slight sweetness that shows up as a surprising undertone. We were introduced to this ice cream on a random Monday night stroll through West Hollywood, and our freezer has been stocked with a pint ever since. This is just one of the inventive flavors created at this small ice cream window, but we also love the bergamot, chocolate hazelnut, and cara cara flavors." - nikko duren, kat hong