Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bars — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I wish I could give this place zero stars, and for only one reason. They ALWAYS close anywhere from a half hour to 45 minutes before their listed time. The number of times that I and my wife have planned on being their 10 minutes before closing to just pick up some ice cream to take home, only to get there and have it already be closed and often having other potential customers looking in through the windows disappointed as well, is insane. If you say you close at 9pm, close at 9pm, not 8:45pm. It's that simple. If you said you were going to close at 8:45, we'd come at 8:30. But when you say 9pm (on the door and on the PHONE mind you), and you're closed at 8:45, and I'm there at 8:50 and SEE PEOPLE inside cleaning up looking at me and not letting me in, then I and all the other people that I've seen coming at 8:50ish (because guess what, people make plans based on what you say you'll do, i.e., close at 9pm) will take our business to other ice cream places. It's super unprofessional and you've already lost a TON of business because of it, and will continue to do so. It's...

After a nice cardio run in Temescal Canyon, I was on the hunt for something refreshing and cool—what better treat than a Paleta? My search led me to Mateo's on Santa Monica Blvd, and I'm so glad it did!

Service: The service was incredibly friendly. Knowing a bit of Spanish was definitely a plus, but the staff's warmth and helpfulness shone through regardless.

Paletas: I opted for the Cantaloupe Paleta, which was packed with juicy chunks of melon and quite refreshing. While I wished the cantaloupe had been a tad riper for a bolder flavor, it still hit the spot. I’ve had better paletas before, but I wouldn’t hesitate to stop by here again for another round.

Vibe: Mateo’s has such a fun and lively vibe! The bright and colorful decor perfectly complements the array of ice cream and paletas on display, making it a delightful spot to cool off and indulge. Also, parking was super easy on the street in front of the shop.

Overall: A great experience! If you find yourself nearby, definitely give Mateo’s a try. I know...

Mateo, thanks for finally coming to the westside. I just can't get enough of the fruit bars, sandwiches, drinks, and bionicos. The servers here are nicer than other 3 locations. The only downside is no parking. I circled around a couple of times around the block to find a meter. The music is always very nice. See you tomorrow for my vampiro #1! Orale' Mateo's! Update: just learned that Mateo passed away last week in Mexico... I'm so sad. I knew Mateo for over 15 years! What a delightful person he was, so generous and caring. I once told him that I did not know the taste of pitaya, and he gave me a whole paleta (bar). I was hooked on pitaya since. I think heaven wanted some awesome bionicos and fruit ice cream/bars. RIP mi amigo Mateo. We'll miss you, and thanks for letting us get to know how wonderful real fruit products, including drinks and ice cream, as well as sandwiches and bionicos. Love what you did for us all while you were with us, my...