Cake and Ice Cream all at once! Ice cream cake photo courtesy of Salt & Straw

The Best Birthday Cakes from Los Angeles Institutions

These are the cakes that everyone is familiar with—they show up at several birthday parties a year. It’s because they’re so darn good and people have been ordering them for generations.

Porto’s Bakery and Cafe

Locations in Glendale, Burbank, Northridge, West Covina, Downey, and Buena Park
The Tres Leches cake at Portos is regarded as the best cake in LA by many a native Angeleno. However, the most popular flavors for kids seem to be the Milk N’ Berries or Parisian Chocolate. This Cuban American bakery is an iconic LA birthday cake supplier—and if you need catering for the rest of the party, the Cuban Sandwiches and Potato Balls are heavenly (We had Porto's cake for our wedding—it's that good.)!

Sweet Lady Jane

Locations in Santa Monica, Encino, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, San Fernando, and Larchmont 
Sweet Lady Jane makes seven different cake flavors, but we’re only talking about one because everyone only talks about one—the Triple Berry Cake. If you don’t know the cake I’m talking about, your child must be celebrating their first birthday soon, because this cake shows up at every other party. It’s that good. If you want to mix it up a bit, the Old-Fashioned Coconut Cake is another stand-out! 

Hansen’s Cakes

Locations in Mid-City and Tarzana
Since 1920, Hansen’s has been making birthday cakes for kids across Los Angeles. Not only will Hansen’s create pretty much anything your child can dream up, they make some of the best (and least expensive) cupcakes in town, just in case you want to offer a choice of flavors to party guests. They also have fantastic gluten-free options available. 

SusieCakes

Over a dozen locations around Los Angeles.
Though the first SusieCakes only opened in LA in 2006, it was so popular that there are now over 25 stores in California and Texas, and it already qualifies as an LA institution. These cakes taste like they were made with love by your grandma—if Grandma is a world class baker.

The most popular flavor is Susie’s Famous Southern Red Velvet, closely followed by the Vanilla Celebration Cake (it’s basically the best Funfetti cake you’ve ever eaten, and kids adore it).

Magnolia Bakery 

West Hollywood 
This bakery is a New York City gem, with one singular location in Los Angeles. Whenever we are in the area, we pop in for some divine cupcakes, and their whole cakes are to die for. The Confetti Cake is the perfect way to celebrate a little one's big day, and the Hummingbird Cake will be a definite crowd pleaser for the older set. 

Salt & Straw 

15 Southern California locations 
Are your kids into ice cream cake? This is truly the only ice cream cake you will ever need to purchase. "The Cake" is a new addition to the Salt & Straw family and it's mind-blowing. It's packed with birthday cake and blackberry ice cream, plenty of birthday cake crumbles, cream cheese frosting, and tons of sprinkles (obviously). Trust me, it's divine. It's the cake I'm getting for my birthday this year. 

RELATED: Kids Birthday Party Ideas in LA Where You Can Celebrate Right Now

This little robot is almost too cute to eat. Almost. Photo courtesy of Charm City Cakes

WOW! Show-Stopping Birthday Cakes from Los Angeles Bakeries

If your child must have a cake shaped like a teapot, Hogwarts, or even an eerily realistic favorite pet, here's where to go.

Charm City Cakes

Mid-City
If your kid ever gasped at a creation they saw on Ace of Cakes, it may not have occurred to them that one of those cakes could show up at their very own birthday party. But since Duff Goldman opened his West Coast shop here 10 years ago, anything cake is possible. Order a pre-designed cake, browse the birthday cake gallery for inspiration, or order a cake in literally any shape or size imaginable. Your kids will ask "Is it cake?" and gasp when they realize it is! 

Sweet E's

West Adams
Sweet Es has a gallery of hundreds of the most beautiful and interesting pre-designed cakes, making ordering (and knowing exactly what you’ll get and exactly how much you’ll pay) a snap. I can lose myself in this gallery for ages, dreaming about birthday cakes. Oh, these cakes also taste as good as they look, come in a variety of amazing flavors (including several vegan ones), and can ship anywhere in the country. They even offer free delivery for LA locals if you order online. 

Cinderella Cakes

Locations in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, and Laguna Niguel
The motto of this bakery is “Where sugar and flour become art” and that’s exactly what happens. As seen on Food Network, these cakes come in 10 flavors with over 20 fillings and four frostings so you can mix and match the perfect palate experience—and then the fun starts. Browse the shop's spectacular gallery of cakes, and order one of those, or come up with something uniquely perfect for your birthday kiddo.

Roobina’s

Glendale
These cakes are so pretty you won’t want to cut them. Roobina’s specializes in gorgeously designed tier cakes that will knock your socks off. The artisans at this bakery pride themselves on perfection, and that’s what you get. Loads of sweet, personal attention goes into each cake and each ordering experience. Just check out the cakes that have come out of this bakery!

Cake and Art

West Hollywood
If you want a cake from where Oprah, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and pretty much every other star in Hollywood get their cakes, this is the place. The bakery bills itself as Hollywood’s Edible Art Experience, and the only thing more impressive than the client list is the cakes. The store is not currently open for in-person consultations or tastings but call or contact the bakery online to order one of these spectacular (and delicious) cakes.

Bake My Day

Rancho Cucamonga and Long Beach 
Do your kids want a Cocomelon cake? How about a Grogu? A magical castle? A unicorn? A puppy? If you can dream it, the team at Bake My Day can probably do it. They create custom cakes using fresh quality ingredients. 

RELATED: Best Virtual Party Performers and Kids Birthday Parties to Celebrate Online

 
Photo courtesy of Milk Bar

Where To Get the Best Tasting Birthday Cakes in Los Angeles

These cakes are for kids who don’t need a cake that looks like it came from Cake Boss, but want one they will remember eating for the rest of their lives.

Milk Bar

Mid-City
Christina Tossi’s famous New York bakery has a flagship store on Melrose, and it is every bit as good as the legend suggests. Cakes are available in 3 sizes: 4-inch, 6-inch, and 10-inch, to cater to every size party. There are two basic flavors (Birthday Cake and Chocolate Birthday Cake) and one seasonal flavor, and if that sounds limited, it’s because you haven’t tasted them.

These cakes are truly spectacular (and they ship anywhere in the country so you can send one to a loved one). I've ordered this Birthday Cake for my birthday multiple times—t's that good! 

Lido Bakery

Manhattan Beach
Scrumptious cakes in delicious flavors, made to order. This might be the best bakery in the South Bay, with a real neighborhood flair that makes you feel like you live in a small town and this was baked just for your family with love. Because it was. (They also sell cakes by the slice, just in case you can’t convince your kiddo to pick a flavor you’re dying to try, like the addictive Almond Rocca.)

Lark Cake Shop

Silverlake and Pasadena
Lark developed a dedicated following in Silverlake by baking with locally sourced ingredients, when possible, and relies on butter and cream from a California dairy cooperative. And it shows. These cakes are rich and delicious, and come in any shape or size imaginable. The Vegan Chocolate Orange just might be the best flavor. And while you’re here, snag one of the famous Ice Box Cupcakes (they come in cake form, too).

Big Sugar Bakeshop

Studio City and Downtown LA
Any size, any flavor, gluten-free and vegan options, and they’re insanely adorable. But what sets Big Sugar apart is the taste—memorably sweet and dense without being cloying or too much. Custom flavors (like the popular rainbow cake) and designs must be ordered in advance but several of the most popular selections are always ready to go, just in case you need a last-minute option (including a gluten-free and vegan option, not to mention the adorable mini unicorn cake).

Cake Monkey

Mid-City and North Hollywood
Retro is the name of the game at this bakery. Famous for homemade versions of Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and Snowballs, they also make cakes in truly outstanding flavors and all sizes. And we do mean ALL sizes. While a cake to share is fun, getting many mini cakes (not cupcakes, actual layer cakes for one) is the best for smaller family parties.

Can’t decide between a Raspberry Red Velvet Cake and a Mint Chocolate Chip one? Get both! There are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, too.

Top Tier Treats

West LA
Formerly Jamaica's Cakes, the name has changed but the location and owners haven't. The ban on shortening and preservatives continues, too. Top Tier Treats makes top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art cakes to order using only the freshest ingredients available, and adorned with signature fresh flowers—or designed to your exacting one’s specifications. There are a whole host of vegan options, too.

RELATED: Great LA Parks for Outdoor Birthday Parties Kids Love

No one will believe that this cake is gluten-free, dairy-free, and has no refined sugar! Photo courtesy of Sweet Laurel

The Best Gluten-Free Cakes in Town

Other bakeries have some delicious gluten-free options if your celebrant has a sensitivity. But for severe allergies and celiac sufferers, only a completely gluten-free baking facility will do. Order from one of these delicious providers for total peace of mind.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery

Santa Monica and Larchmont
This bakery originated in NY and opened its first LA bakery under the name Babycakes. Everything made here is wheat, gluten, dairy, egg, and soy-free, and the Larchmont location is certified Kosher. The only sweeteners used in the baked goods are agave nectar and evaporated cane syrup.

While the cakes are delicious, and perfect for a birthday boy or girl with allergies, my favorite thing is the brownie bites. I have ordered them for every party or gathering I have ever hosted, because this is LA, and someone will show up without mentioning an allergy. 

Sweet Laurel

Pacific Palisades
The first time we ate here, my son needed a snack after a hike, so he got a muffin. It was so good, we all took bites and had to go back for another. And a piece of cake, just to try. Which was so good that I went back and bought the cookbook. Paleo and gluten-free cooking shouldn’t taste this good.

But everything here is organic, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. Two of the cakes are also nut-free. I don’t know what wizardry is employed here, but these are seriously the best anything-free cakes I’ve ever eaten. There are plenty of vegan options, as well! 

Originally published January 26, 2016