LA's Best Cupcakes

Could Sprinkles be the cupcakery that started all this madness??? Possibly. While many swear by Sprinkles (you can usually find most of these people waiting in a long line that snakes out of the shop and onto the sidewalk), others find the cupcakes way too sweet. Still, they offer a fun selection of flavors like chai latte, ginger lemon, and cinnamon sugar.

Leda’s crafts a pretty cute looking cupcake, and that’s not the only reason it attracts foodies from all over the city. One of the big draws here is that Leda’s offers mini versions of its scrumptiously light and fluffy cakes, so you don’t have to spend the rest of the day feeling like a glutton. And, they even offer vegan cupcakes!

This quaint little place is a little off the beaten path, but it’s worth a visit. The cupcakes are LARGE (one can definitely feed two people), and moist without being too sweet. Try the coconut and the carrot cake.

This cute little bakery seems like it could have come straight out of “Leave It To Beaver.” The cupcakes taste like homemade (try the chocolate mint), and come with frosting on the inside (for the frosting fiends among us). And while it technically isn’t a cupcake, you should also seriously consider getting a whoopee pie.

This Eastside bakery has hipsters getting Italian butter cream icing all over their bearded faces. The chocolate mousse, red velvet, and salted caramel ensure that people keep on coming back—not to mention the cakes are fluffy and not overly sweet. And unlike Westside competitors, these frosted delights are reasonably priced.

Violet’s has won the heart of many a sweet tooth. And why not? This mom and pop shop keeps it interesting with a variety of inventive flavors like cherry pie, oreo, p.b. & j, and raspberry lemonade—don’t worry they also have traditional chocolate varieties as well. And since they use top-notch ingredients (like fresh fruits and high quality butters), these cupcakes never taste artificial.

Yummy has a reputation for packing a lot of sugar in their cupcakes, so be prepared for your blood sugar to spike. Those who aren’t prone to breaking out in sugar-induced hives can go a little crazy and try the Lemon Pinot Grigio, 7-Up, Tomato Spice, or the Banana Split flavors. And if you’re REALLY looking for something special try the Cupcake-In-A-Jar or the Cupcake-On-A-Stick.

In a rather ballsy move, Crumbs set up shop down the street from Sprinkles. But Crumbs has failed to lure Sprinkles’ fans down Santa Monica Blvd. (last time we checked, the lines at Sprinkles were much longer than those at Crumbs.) The cupcakes here aren’t bad by any means, but the sugary parcels aren’t worth fussing over either.

Joan’s strategically places its baked goods in the window in order to lure dieting Third Street shoppers. But you’re much better off sticking to the sandwich fare here. These cakes may look delectable, but they’re not terribly moist or tasty, for that matter.