Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bars

"Between their Oaxacan-style paletas, super-creamy gelatos, and sorbets that taste like freshly juiced strawberries, this incredible Mexican dessert shop reminds us of an enchanted bow and arrow, or Olivia Colman’s IMDb page: it simply doesn’t miss. There are a few locations throughout the city, with each storefront stocked with over 30 different flavors of paletas, including watermelon, mango dusted with chile, and leche quemada, a creamy smoked milk concoction that tastes exactly like someone kippered a gallon of dairy over an open flame." - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins, jess basser sanders

"Mateo's is a Los Angeles legend, a palace of paletas that come in every color of the rainbow. Known for their Oaxacan-style paletas, Mateo’s features 30+ flavors, including strawberry, watermelon, and leche quemada, a unique smoked milk concoction that tastes like it was kippered over an open flame. But the ultimate popsicle—the paleta of the palace—is mango. Made with fresh, blended fruit (read: no artificial flavoring), this sweet, tropical pop is every purist’s dream." - kat hong, brant cox, sylvio martins

"Easily my favorite place on Earth. Seriously, I come here like, five times a week. They have an entire wall stocked with 30+ flavors of Oaxacan-style paletas, in flavors like fresa/strawberry, sandia/watermelon, and creamy leche quemada, a.k.a. smoked milk, which tastes exactly like someone took a gallon of dairy, then kippered it over an open flame. Which is all good and fine, but the ultimate popsicle here, the paleta of the palace (and my personal go-to) is their mango flavor. Made with nothing more than fresh, blended fruit (and no artificial flavoring), this sweet, tropical popsicle is simultaneously every purist’s dream and my dentist’s worst nightmare." - kat hong

"Just like most paleta shops, Mateo’s Ice Cream & Fruit Bars sells sandwiches, esquites, and fresh juices. Luckily, there are four locations (Koreatown, West LA, Del Rey, and Mid-City) to nab a refreshing paleta made of jamaica/hibiscus or guava." - Mona Holmes

"Mateo's is a Los Angeles legend, a palace of paletas that come in every color of the rainbow. Known for their Oaxacan-style paletas, Mateo’s features 30+ flavors, including fresa/strawberry, sandia/watermelon, and leche quemada, a unique smoked milk concoction that tastes like it was kippered over an open flame. But the ultimate popsicle—the paleta of the palace—is mango. Made with fresh, blended fruit (read: no artificial flavoring), this sweet, tropical pop is every purist’s dream." - Kat Hong