Mateo’s Ice Cream and Fruit Bars is a vibrant dessert haven serving over 30 flavors of Oaxacan-style paletas, creamy gelatos, and refreshing smoothies, perfect for cooling off in LA's heat.
"Between the Oaxacan-style paletas, silky gelatos, and sorbets that taste like fresh-squeezed juices, Mateo’s Ice Cream and Fruit Bars reminds us of a magical bow and arrow—it simply doesn’t miss. Their storefronts in Mid City, Koreatown, and West LA are packed with rows and rows of juicy, colorful paletas. There are over 30 flavors including watermelon, mango dusted with chili, and leche quemada—a smoked milk concoction that tastes like someone kippered a gallon of dairy over an open flame." - kat hong, garrett snyder, arden shore, sylvio martins
"Mateo’s paleta case is like Meryl Streep’s IMDb page - if you can’t find something you like, the problem is probably you. Known for their excellent Oaxacan-style desserts, this small paleta shop is stocked with over 30 flavors, including fresa (strawberry), sandia (watermelon), and leche quemada - a creamy, smoked milk concoction that tastes exactly like someone kippered a gallon of dairy over an open flame. But if you’re searching for ultimate popsicle perfection, order the mango paleta - sweet, juicy, and made with zero artificial flavoring, this tropical pop is the perfect salve for a super-hot day, or whenever you remember the time your bank called you a “severe financial risk.”" - kat hong
"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." - Jess Basser Sanders, Brant Cox, Nikko Duren, Garrett Snyder, Sylvio Martins
"Between the Oaxacan-style paletas, silky gelatos, and sorbets that taste like fresh-squeezed juices, Mateo’s Ice Cream and Fruit Bars reminds us of a magical bow and arrow—it simply doesn’t miss. Their storefronts in Mid City, Koreatown, and West LA are packed with rows and rows of juicy, colorful paletas. There are over 30 flavors including watermelon, mango dusted with chili, and leche quemada—a smoked milk concoction that tastes like someone kippered a gallon of dairy over an open flame. " - Kat Hong, Garrett Snyder, Arden Shore, 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
