Uli's Gelato Vending Machine and Manufactory

I'm writing this specifically for the vending machine because I've never known anything else and I see the reviews of people who are mad about no more storefront. Staying in DTLA for 5 days, I had the opportunity to pass the vending machine a couple of times and thought "BRILLIANT!" because who doesn't love gelato or ice cream? But I just stopped and looked because we were coming/going to other food places. Well Sunday night I finally said - I'm tired of the options over at Grand Central LA - let's go check out the vending machine. And there you have it. I already knew I wanted the black sesame because you don't see that except sometimes at the asian grocery, but even then it's not easy to find. Plus I figured this would be a premium version and I was right. Got the big version (and the machine worked for me exactly as it should) and took it to my place and ate some. Absolutely delicious. Offered it to my hubby and his brother & wife, and although none really wanted to try it, they did, and they all liked it. I then went to the website and the IG and listen - she's out there getting distribution in stores etc and busting her hump so chill out on the closed down shop. I could never be a business owner...I appreciate a little creativity when life hands you lemons. Or black sesame seeds :-)

Amazing customer service! They reached out to me via text to confirm correct address, upgraded the order to make box feel extra full, and even asked me if id like to add a personal note as this was being delivered as a get well gift. 10/10! Thank you Uli!

I didn’t go inside but I used the vending machine and seating area. Very yummy and the seating area was very cute and spacious

Highly recommended, the vending machine provides multiple flavor options and presentation of the best gelato in the city. You have to try them all!!! Additionally, knowing that you are supporting a family business makes the experience even better.

I discovered Uli’s at Bristol Farms and really wanted to come and visit this vending machine. Their mint stracciatella is fire and I want to try all the flavors at some point. There are a few lunch options in the arcade where this machine is located, so it’s a perfect dessert stop after getting lunch at one of said spots. 👍🏼

Meh. I'll give it 2 stars for creativity with the vending machine, but the gelato itself is subpar (it's about the same as grocery store gelato for 2-3x the price). If you're like me and can typically eat gelato because of the fresh ingredients, pass on this one... There are 2 gums in these, both of which can cause digestive issues and did for my husband and I. My husband who has an iron stomach even struggled to digest this. Plenty of ACTUAL homemade ice cream and gelato in the area for a fraction of the price.

Amazing staff & Awesome ice cream! I was there on 8th afternoon before heading back home. I actually had a big lunch and didn't have much room for anything else. I was just wandering there, and the gentleman in the shop did a very good introduction of their products and I tried two flavours. I ended up with one scoop in the cone. It was so DELICIOUS! I sincerely wish I could take more. The girl in the shop was so sweet. I asked if I could have a plastic bag because I had an aircraft pillow in my hands for my flight back home that night. And the girl offered me a souvenir bag free of charge! Wow, that was completely beyond expectation! Thanks guys! Wish you a great 2019!

So glad we found this place! Gelato flavors are so good and refreshing! Had the basil, Jamaican agua fresca with mint sorbet, California Pistachio, yogurt with cherry jam, pluot sorbet and they were all amazing 👌👍🙌 will definitely come back 😆

Uli's is situated around many ice cream shops, but this one definitely takes the cake!! They have many unique flavors and are open until 10pm most nights, acting as a fantastic last night treat, especially to quench that sweet tooth. My favorite flavor was a biscoff-based flavor that tasted just like the traditional "airplane cookie." Prices are reasonable and they allow folks to taste the flavors prior to making a decision. There is a small outdoor patio which allows folks to sit outside or take it on the go. Due to its close proximity to the Grove, it is a great spot to snag a snack and walk over for an afternoon or evening stroll. I'll definitely be back!

Ice cream was no good melted Do not buy from the vending machine I rang the bell and she brought me a frozen one

DO NOT BUY from the vending machines. Their vending machine ALWAYS MALFUNCTIONS after taking your payment. CONVEYOR BELTS do not work, DOORS do not open and when you try to connect and reach out for assistance, THEY IGNORE YOU! ULI GELATO is a OVERPRICED SCAM.

It's just a vending machine--no storefront to sample or order from. Don't waste your time driving to DTLA and dealing with a sketchy area just to get frozen treats from a machine. Just go to a grocery store instead.

What happened to Uli? So disappointed to see the iceam shop gone, replaced with vending machines! Sure, they still have a cute outdoor area and interesting, unusual flavors- halva or horchata anyone? But 5 Oz for $ 5,75 is too pricey and you don't get even a spoon. Luckily you can get that at other restaurants around. Thanks Guisados! Also, it's stupid you can only get one order at a time. No more Uli for me, unless they get it back to the regular ice-cream parlor with fresh ice-cream, with nice humans working, where you can sample flavors and be served in silver cups like in the Old Word. I want my Uli back!

I'm writing this specifically for the vending machine because I've never known anything else and I see the reviews of people who are mad about no more storefront. Staying in DTLA for 5 days, I had the opportunity to pass the vending machine a couple of times and thought "BRILLIANT!" because who doesn't love gelato or ice cream? But I just stopped and looked because we were coming/going to other food places. Well Sunday night I finally said - I'm tired of the options over at Grand Central LA - let's go check out the vending machine. And there you have it. I already knew I wanted the black sesame because you don't see that except sometimes at the asian grocery, but even then it's not easy to find. Plus I figured this would be a premium version and I was right. Got the big version (and the machine worked for me exactly as it should) and took it to my place and ate some. Absolutely delicious. Offered it to my hubby and his brother & wife, and although none really wanted to try it, they did, and they all liked it. I then went to the website and the IG and listen - she's out there getting distribution in stores etc and busting her hump so chill out on the closed down shop. I could never be a business owner...I appreciate a little creativity when life hands you lemons. Or black sesame seeds :-)

I was excited to come try their gelato until I realized their shop closed down and they only sell through their vending machine. Since I drove all the way to DTLA, I ended up trying two of their flavors. Their espresso gelato wasn't anything special but I enjoyed their strawberry balsamic. They have a little patio where you can sit and enjoy your gelato. I hope they reopen their shop soon.

I have been wanting to try this place for such a long time and I was extremely disappointed to stop by and find the storefront was closed. I'm not sure if their posted hours are incorrect or if it's really just a vending machine place now. So instead of getting some fresh gelato, I tried one of their pints from the vending machine. They were out of all the flavors I really wanted to try, so I settled for Fresh Mint Stracciatella. It wasn't great and the texture wasn't how gelato should be (even after waiting absolutely forever for it to melt as it came out as hard as a puck). All in all, such a letdown.

Updating Flavors as I try the pints since the store is no longer opened. Just strictly vending machine operated. Faves so far lavender yogurt, baku saffron, & black sesame Lavender yogurt is by far the perfect adult gelato you have creamy yogurt flavor with a good dash of lavender! Baku Saffron is 2nd, I really like the unique buttery milky taste with the nice hints of saffron Halva you'll enjoy if you like a light nutty sea same flavor! I liked Black sesame so this Halva is like its cousin Banana white chocolate is meh, not my fave. Great gelato and I'm committed to trying all the flavors now. I will WARN that this Spot is heavily/maybe even ONLY vending machine operated now... idk when or if they plan to open it back up. But if they don't, they should update store hours. Shame, I'd love to stop by and sample some flavors before buying the whole pint via vending machine. They should add back salted caramel large pint too!

I tried going here a few times recently and vending machine was out of order, even though they didn't mention it online. Today I finally saw it working. I bought a 5oz gelato for $5.75. When I got it, it was freezer burned, I had to wait for a while for it to thaw out and they didn't even have spoons, which is weird, because if you buy a 5oz gelato you probably want to eat it right away. When I finally tried it, it tasted like those nasty ice cubes you get from your freezer, when you don't clean it for awhile. It was impossible to eat. If you can't provide a service and good quality gelato, you should not charge people $6 for a nasty scoop of ice cream.

Hahaha it's funny, I didn't know this was a vending machine ice cream place, but I have to say it's pretty good considering... my usual complaint with gelato is the texture as it's kept in a refrigerator that's either too low or too high to maintain the texture of gelato. Aside from the surprise, when I ate it, there was nothing wrong. I got the black sesame and my girlfriend got the pistachio. The only complaint might be that the pistachio was a little too salted, but otherwise the ice cream itself was good. I think it's a nice servicing size as well and very clean. Pretty good place to hit the craving for ice cream. 7/10. Service was excellent, didn't have to talk to anyone!

Texture was as though it had melted and refrozen--icy and not uniform, with the feeling of having sand mixed in in some bites. Flavors were creative, but I wasn't blown away by the two I tried either.

Women-owned, local gelato shop with drinks and vegan options. Came here on Memorial Day Monday around 10:30 and got some coffee. The lavender latte isn't too sweet and they have some strong espresso. The employee (whose name I didn't catch but is a Gemini and was the absolute best) mentioned that there is complimentary filtered water should you wish to make an Americano after you're done with the espresso. Credit cards are accepted. Street parking is available but it's DTLA, so you know you'll have to circle a few times. There's a bathroom available but you need to show your receipt to the security guard who'll open the door for you. There's some seating outside and one table that can accommodate a wheelchair. We came back after lunch at the nearby Rice Box. You can try three flavors, so sampled the bee pollen, basil, and matcha waffle bits. All of them were delicious and creamy. I decided on the matcha since it's a seasonal flavor and got a vegan waffle cone ($1 extra). I enjoyed every single bite (and still think about it). Overall, it's a cute spot with stupendous gelato and really friendly workers.

I think this place is just a vending machine?? I went around 6 pm and I just saw a vending machine. It was filled with pints and my friends and I wanted cones. I was just very confused bc that isn't what is advertised on Yelp

Says they're open and it's just a vending machine. The gelato is so frozen that it's probably gonna be 20 min before we can get the tiny plastic spoon they provided in it. Change your hours. You're not open.

We hadn't been to Uli's Gelato in years (not too sure how long it's been really), but we were there a few weeks ago, and I was quite surprised that they were selling gelato in pint-sized (?) containers in a VENDING MACHINE. Thanks for those Yelpers who made that obvious in their reviews. I wasn't being sarcastic there by the way. No, really, THANK YOU!, for putting that in your review. :) I was a bit confused on why there wasn't anyone there. I should've checked the reviews before going there because it would've saved us the trip. I guess that's okay; we were in the area anyway, and I would've missed seeing the people set up their own medicinal weed dispensary on the sidewalk a few blocks away. I know--I don't get out much. Yes, their gelato was pretty tasty years ago, but I couldn't even get a pint of this gelato because someone took all the spoons that were on the table next to the gelato vending machine. They put up some sort of sign that said something like take only one spoon or something like that. This never works. If you've ever left Halloween candy out in a bowl outside your door, you'll know that some little punk (yes, punk) always takes ALL of the candy. Some guy seemed determined to get gelato that day and bought one anyway. I'm not sure how he was going to eat that either. He sat down at one of the tables near the store and just stared at his pint of gelato. I would've hung around to see how this drama would've have unfolded, but I was lured away by a promise of a McDonald's soft serve cone. So, there's no storefront anymore, but there's a vending machine and fond memories of dark chocolate and pistachio gelato. Just remember to bring your own spoon.

I called. No answer, thought they were busy. I came by and it is closed. Sad that I could've try this spot! Perhaps next time. *** closed for remodeling **

They should probably update their hours because we went on a Friday afternoon around 6pm only to find out that the store was closed. Their vending machine was operating but it was $6+ for a tiny tub of really bad tasting ice cream. plus terrible parking situation with having to street park around. sorry just wasn't worth it at all

Literally a half empty vending machine of not so fresh gelato. Like wut. I don't know who would spend money on this? Part of the appeal of gelato is the storefront, and I don't understand why they don't have anyone manning it.

Part of Downtown Los Angeles' bourgeoning dining scene since 2014 it was over six years later that Gelateria Uli earned accolades from Los Angeles Magazine as the city's "Best Ice Cream," a visit to the original Spring Arcade location on Saturday casting doubt on the validity of that list based on a sampling of three flavors. Owned by Ulviyya Nasibova, a native of Azerbaijan who considers the Gelatetia her "American Dream," it is with Social Distancing guidelines in place that guests are invited to choose from 24 daily flavors, the fact that three were sold out at 6:00pm preventing a taste of California Pistachio that was instead replaced by Cinnamon-heavy Horchata. Using time-honored Italian techniques, plus local Ingredients as often as possible, additional flavors run the gamut from traditional to "LA-Inspired," and although the willingness to try Black Sesame or Lavender is commendable a spoonful of Stracciatella lacks the creaminess of what one gets in Italy or locally from an "American" spot like Jeni's while Bee Pollen tastes more Caramel than Honey with a slightly granular mouthfeel.

Came to this small Gelateria after watching a show across the street. Now, I'm a huge stickler when it comes to ice cream and gelato. Gelato MUST be smooth. Texture must be THICK. If it's too soft, then it's just not good. Flavor obviously must be on point. After trying a bunch of samples, I settled on the Jamaica and Strawberry vegan sorbets.The Jamaica was VERY tart (I LOVE tart), and minty--like a mint mojito. It was so refreshing, I could eat it every day. Even though they were vegan, they were still THICK and had a great consistency. It didn't feel like I was eating an icy, which it usually tends to feel like. The flavors here are very strong. But I love bold flavors, so I love it here. If you're not a fan of that stuff, maybe this place isn't for you, BUT it's still worth a try. They do have softer flavors like Straciatella and Thai Tea, etc. It is a bit pricey though. But if you're like me, you won't mind paying a little more for GREAT quality.

A MUST DO! 4 & 3/4 STARS. Gelateria Uli is located in The Spring Arcade Building l in DTLA. They are known for their DELICIOUS UNUSUAL FLAVORS OF GELATO! It's a small shop & they are very friendly here. On the outside of the building in the window you'll see the great write ups by LA Magazine, LA Weekly & others. They deliver through Postmates & Doordadh. If you live out of state they deliver to all 50 States as well. INSIDE TIP #1 Read the outside of the window for codes etc before you enter. When I was there they had Codes before you order ahead of time & Skip the Line from Allset. Take Advantage of the Codes posted. INSIDE TIP #2 Remember to Check in with Yelp, you'll Save 10% off a Small Gelato which is 2 Scoops. The Gelato was Fresh & Tasted Delicios & I loved all the different unusual flavors. It was really hard deciding what to eat for a dessert treat. In addition to Gelato they also serve Sorbet, offer Vegan options, Coffee, Tea, Iced Drinks & Baked Goods. So have some Delicious Gelato at this Fun Spot in Downtown Los Angeles. It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget

(Current Yelp Check In Offer: 10% off small size gelato) This Gelateria Uli location can be found inside The Spring Arcade Building (pretty cool that there are other eateries in here, very similar to Grand Central Market). Since my husband and our little girl dog was in the general area, we ended up making our way to this gelato place (because of Yelp). My husband and little girl dog were sitting outside when I walked in. I was greeted by the employees behind the counter and was told that I can try as many of the flavors as possible. I was also told that my husband and little girl dog can sit inside (in which we did after I ordered our ice cream). After trying a few flavors (in which all of the flavors here are truly amazing), we ended up ordering: Two orders of a small gelato, 5.63 after tax & 10% Yelp Check In (per order). We were able to choose 2 flavors per small gelato order. We ended up getting the following: Saffron, Pistachio, Yogurt Lavender, Bee Pollen. All very delicious flavors and had an excellent texture/ mouth feel of the gelato. You can tell that each of the flavors was made with real ingredients instead of artificial ones. Each flavor of gelato had a nice balance, not too sweet. Also it was nice that the lavender was not overpowered in the yogurt lavender (which is important to note because I have been to many places in which the lavender would always be an overkill and that is all you can taste or it would be very faint and you can barely taste it, making you question if there was any in it, to begin with). Seating inside this little eatery is rather limited but there is plenty outside (please note that although you are sitting outside of this eatery, you are still inside the Spring Arcade Building, so it is shaded and air conditioned). I liked that there was a water dispenser with cups available. There was also free WiFi and a few outlet plugs available for those that may need to charge their mobile devices/ laptops while dining in. I do want to note that there is a restroom that you can use in this building, but it is only for customers. You have to take your receipt (for any of the restaurants in this building) and show it to the security guard, who is guarding the entry door to the restroom (which is located in the middle of the building) and he/ she will unlock it for you. Please note that ladies restroom was just decent upon this visit. Overall, we had a great experience and would love to come back here if I am in the area (too bad there isn't a location in the San Gabriel Valley).

On more than a few times, I've been here, the staff appear to be new, unorganized and lack focus. Because I've witnessed this downhill trend in service and not using gloves by their servers, who handle both the gelato and sorbet products and the cash register...NOT sanitary or hygienic, I was compelled to revise my review of this gelato shop. Service by the new girl (Joyce) is unprofessional and very bad...instead of helping move the line faster, she was oblivious to waiting customers and continued a personal conversation that everyone can hear and see...'she seemed desperate to get a date'..was a comment from a customer in line. Customers appreciate it more if you focus on helping the next person so as to help the flow of business...no common sense...ugh! Also, it would be preferable if all servers wear gloves; it is more hygienic. Not all servers appear to have clean hands, fingernails have some chipped off nail polish, possibly fell into the gelato, eewww!

I have been coming here since they opened. Uli is such an amazing lady and her gelato and sorbeto are out of this world! Any time I have friends visiting, Uli is a must-do stop. I was in recently and got the watermelon and basil for the first time. They're both so good. My favorites are any of the summer peach or nectarine flavors. The mint stracciatella is also a go-to. As is the dark chocolate sorbeto and the salted caramel gelato.

I'm really glad I found this place. I was out to dinner with my friend and wanted ice cream so we looked on yelp and walked here. Really great gelato place. The staff is so friendly and you are allowed to try as many samples as you want. I was really blown away with all the flavors and everything I tried. They even have vegan options. I the end I ordered a small, which contains 2 scoops. I ordered 1 scoop of green tea matcha and 1 scoop of bee pollen. I enjoyed every bite. My friend ordered the affogato and was impressed. I will definitely come back!

In almost every venture humans embark on, there's a turning point after which the true joy of *why* we set out on the journey is clouded by the seductive allure of money. We cannot hate it, we don't love it, it just is, and Uli's was/is no different. Uli's was a place of true artistry for a long, long time. Today, after a long hiatus, I am sad to report art has given way to commerce. It's still good. Compared to other places it stands out. But I remember when it shined, and I'm sad to see what remains.

Was downtown today and stopped at Gelateria Uli in the Spring Arcade to see what they had. If you are wondering what any of the flavors taste like you can try a sample. Everything I sampled (tried three flavors) was very good. Little metal spoons are used for the samples. There's no waste using metal spoons like there is at places using plastic spoons which are then thrown out. Had a single scoop (called a "Kiddie") of Raspberry Sorbet in a sugar cone. The sugar cones are made fresh there and waited a few minutes until the sugar cones were ready. I've always had ice cream in sugar cones. The sugar cone at Gelateria Uli was the best sugar cone I've ever had. Don't know why anyone would want ice cream in a paper cup when they could have it in a sugar cone. There is no waste with a sugar cone. Everything gets eaten. Go green. Get your ice cream in sugar cones. The Raspberry Sorbet was very good.

One of the best Gelaterias in LA. Doesn't take you long to google and confirm that, or see all of the signs outside their window. Cute little shop in a cuite little area with friendly staff. Big fan of their salted chocolate, horchata, and waffle cone matcha. On occasion I have had extra icy "barely any left in the tin" gelato from them which is never that fun. Because when you get their best stuff, it is simply the best. But it can be a tad inconsistent.

Not bad tasting, but they brag about the quality of their ingredients. I'm sure they use only the finest dextrose, maltodextrin , inulin, guar gum, and locust bean gum. It's just that some ice cream don't bother with this junk that causes upset stomachs and flatulence even though it's all natural.

This is my favorite gelato place! They always have new flavors, so unique! They have such a vision for amazing gelato flavors. Yum yum! Must try this place if you haven't yet. I tried a vegan chocolate as one of my flavors this time and it did not disappoint! The chocolate was so rich, the dairy was not missed and it was not lacking in any kind of way.

Wow the gelato here is super creamy, rich, and delicious. We got the small affogato ($6.50) with pumpkin spice, speculoose (like the biscoff cookie), and espresso all in separate cups. Speculoos as teeny bits of cookie in it that provided a nice crunch, pumpkin was delightfully flavored and smooth. Service was great :) But It was SOOO rich we honestly could have split the kiddy size in between the two of us. Located in a trendy plaza with multiple food establishments. Limited seating.

No frills, no fancy hooks, just plain good gelato. And this is from someone who's favorite dessert IS gelato. I take my Gelato seriously, and hell yeah, It's real gelato. For LA, it's probably one of the best ones apart from Gelato from Italy. Well deserved since 90% of Gelatos that I've had are just artificially flavored ice cream (you don't want those chemical stabilizers and icey stuff in gelato), but this is one of the few places that does serve real ones. Let me give a rundown on why: Low Gelato Height. The gelato served must be reasonably low and not stacked too high for a consistent temperature, which this place does a pretty good job. Gelato stacked too high is gelato done wrong and actually a health hazard for the gelato on top is above the keeping temperature. The gelato end result is nice and dense, and I feel good here that I'm not paying for air like other gelato places. Earthly colors: This place has whitish/light contrasting colors, which is a good sign for real gelato. More muted colors means less chemical stabilizers, which also means richer and denser gelato. Not numbingly cold: Gelato is served slightly warmer than ice cream and you can definitely taste the flavor here without the cold numbing your buds, another plus. K now that's out of the way I do want to say that if you love sea salt caramel, this is the best sea salt caramel gelato you'll get. Period. The gelato when you walk in is dense and low, which I thoroughly enjoyed every spadeful of gelato. The gelato had the perfect texture, temperature, and right amount of sweet and salt taste for both Banana White Chocolate and especially the Sea Salt Caramel. The texture was super creamy all around without it being too airy, which is good. Price wise was $4-7 which is about right for gelato since it's generally more expensive than Ice cream. You do get denser creamy Gelato though so in my eyes it's fair. Overall a solid place on a hot day.

Seems like most of my Yelp friends have already been to this place so I wonder what took me so long. Honestly, I've never even heard of this place until Yelp Badge Day at the Wallis. Uli, herself was on site greetingYelpers and leading her entire team in giving away free samples. Such an amazing and friendly lady to talk with. After that event, I still didn't make it here but the day finally came into fruition when I was doing a personal walking tour of DTLA and found this location at the Spring Arcade by accident. Of course, I didn't waste time to come in. A friendly lady promptly greeted me and immediately offered assistance. I tried several flavors and I liked all of it but settled on the speculous, which according to her is one of the most popular flavors. The gelato was very delicious and felt very smooth in the palate. All their gelato are made fresh daily. There are no toppings offered here which is fine because the gelato superb on its own. However, I find the price a little steep compared to its competitors.

Very nice and friendly service here! Right when you walk in, you see the dazzling display of colorful flavors in front of you. The decision on which flavor to get is so difficult that they tell you right away to try as many samples as you'd like. Their smallest size container is a cup, which they put 2 scoops of whatever 2 choices you'd like, not just 1 but 2 scoops! Several of their gelato choices consist of a combination of 2 flavors. Such as espresso with waffle bits, white chocolate with peppermint, persimmon with roasted almonds etc. Since you get 2 scoops for your cup, that means you get 4 flavors total in 1 small cup! Taste-wise, their gelato is cold, soft, creamy and packed with the yumminess! This place also has a lot of vegan items, the a few gelato choices are vegan and all the sorbet choices are vegan. It's located in an alley-way filled with restaurants. Overall this is a good place to get dessert.

Damn it's hot in this covered outdoor mall today! Good thing this place opened up! They have very unique flavors. There wasn't even vanilla but that's okay. They have vegan and sorbet. I tried to get a small split into 2 small cups and they wouldn't let me hence the 4 stars.

One of the best US gelatos , flavor selection and freshness it's clean quality gelato. In a small gelato you get to try two flavors which we thought it was sizable and satisfying ! We got : -Speculoos Cookies (their cookie batter version) and yogurt and Seasonal Jam. Which was full of life , very very different than typical flavors yet they paired up well. - black sesame and fog & almonds , which were great (but the black sesame is amazing without anything else needed I would say) SERVICE. Angelica Was great , super friendly and helpful introducing us to their gelato since we were first timers . COST - about $7 per person which is great for the quantity you can even share one if you're not the dessert type (my husband and I both are ) so we each got our own. COVID / dine in - it's regulated , only one group at a time enters the space and the line is outside. The Gelateria is located within a "mall" but it does have some benches outside for you to enjoy your gelato - which is a plus nowadays!

I think this is one of my favorite gelato spots. And a large part of that is the service. The person behind the gelato booth, Joe, literally made my day. I stumbled on this place with my boyfriend in this little indoor food strip mall and I was craving something sweet and found this cute spot. It's easy to miss since it's tucked away but there's seating inside and outside of the shop. As soon as I walked in, Joe was extremely enthusiastic to help, offering us tastings of various different flavors of gelato. They had such a large assortment ranging from Thai iced tea to horchata to speculoos to pistachio.they also had a very wide variety of vegan flavors too, which also tasted super delicious and I wouldn't even know rhat they were vegan. I ended up getting the speculoos and pistachio, which was so good. I loved that the speculoos actually had biscoff pieces in it, which were so yummy. It was $6.25 for two scoops (any two flavors) and if you check in you get a 10% discount which was pretty sweet. I definitely will return to get more gelato here if I'm in the area, and hopefully Joe will still be there!

Just had this yesterday after Rice Box. Got two scoops in a cup, Black Sesame and Sea Salt Caramel. The Sea Salt Caramel was the BEST ice cream or gelato I've ever had. It was really that amazing. There are soft traces of real caramel in it that you can slightly feel on your teeth (but not in a bad way). The Black Sesame was disappointing to me. I love that flavor, but for whatever reason this one just didn't do it for me. My friends some pink mint mojito and a yogurt flavor and they were all really happy with them. Even if i didn't like the Black Sesame, the Sea Salt Caramel more than enough made up for it and there are several intriguing flavors I'd be excited about trying again. Just wish there was one closer to me with easier parking than downtown

The best gelato place I've been to! Amazing service, always love buying the pints from here.

Every day is a good day for Gelato! I am a fan of the amount of flavors Gelateria offers, both vegan and non-vegan. It is soooo rich, smooth, and creamy. The portions are pretty big. I got a small which is 2 scoops (hazelnut and of course, salted caramel). The caramel was the perfect mixture of sweet and salty. There isn't much seating on the inside but they have a cute set-up on the outside of the place where you can enjoy your dessert and people watch. The small was $6.50. Parking can be found on the street which is almost always for 2 hours only.

I went here for the first time today, after walking by it 1 million times (on my way to Guisados) wondering how good it was. It was amazing! I got the black sesame and chocolate gelato in a small, and the small was quite large tbh. The gelato is a perfect consistency, really creamy, not too sweet. I tried two of the vegan options and they were really tasty! Joe helped us out, he was really funny and super nice. It's winter and there wasn't a huge line, so he took extra time to help us as his coworker helped the other group there. Everything was super clean and well labeled and well stocked. The vibe was pretty cozy and relaxed. Overall, totally worth the money, and I will definitely come back! Guisados and gelatos!

Gelato vending machine ftw! Very glad the Spring Arcade location is open again! Must try speculoos

Having had at least two Yelp friends rave about this spot, my gelato cravings could only be staved off so long until I finally made my own visit. Today was the day. Gelateria Uli is an awesome gelato shop in a pretty awesome covered outdoor walkway called the Spring Arcade Building. Several other food stops can be made here (and one was made by yours truly for lunch), but my eye was set on trying the flavors available from this gelato maker. I don't have just a sweet tooth, but a desire to experience what can be done with the medium of frozen desserts. Gelato is smooth like ice cream, but tends to be less airy and more focused on the individually named flavors rather than the base. It's also more expensive, almost spectacularly so here with sizes ranging from kids' to medium unless you want to lug a pint to-go. If only I actually lived here so that I could stock up a freezer's worth... I probably just tipped my hand that I really enjoyed what I had. They offer 16 flavors at a time, but they also rotate seasonally and perhaps even experimentally, not content with providing only traditional flavors or only the same things all the time. As with any frozen dessert crafter worth their salt(ed caramel), they offer samples welcomingly. Everything had a similarly smooth, soft mouthfeel (even the sorbets) but carried a distinct flavor, and certainly nothing felt too sweet or looked unnaturally colored. From subtler tastes such as California pistachio gelato and June Lady Peach sorbet, to black sesame gelato and coconut lemongrass sorbet, I enjoyed everything which I sampled. However, they only offer limited flavor selections in the standard menu items here, so I had to make some tough choices, starting by not tasting absolutely everything so that I could expedite my decision-making. I got a small cup ($5.75) of espresso w/ chocolate waffle bits for my parents to share, and I picked out a medium cup ($7) of beet tarragon gelato, speckled nectarine sorbet, and chocolate sorbet for myself to devour (with a modicum of sharing, of course). The espresso was definitely what you'd get in a strong coffee frozen treat, but with crunchy bits to add sweetness and texture. The beet tarragon was pretty fantastic, with a tempered but still prominent beet flavor and a tarragon accent. The nectarine sorbet has the particular flavor of concentrated fruit that you would expect. The chocolate sorbet is rich and certainly dark enough, certainly among my favorite chocolate desserts both frozen and otherwise. Price aside, it's hard to say that I've had definitively better. (The following paragraph was lifted wholesale from my own review of Guisados.) Note on parking: next to the Arcade Building, there seems to be a lot for $8 max, but we instead went with valet parking for a $8 flat rate at nearby Hotel Alexandria, also on the same side of the street. The weekday lunch visit was surprisingly quick though, so perhaps a cheaper option would be available for a quick visit. Other lots are listed/mapped at web sites that can be Googled; metered street parking was filled up on this specific day, with the situation exacerbated by a filmmaking crew unloading set pieces and whatnot into the Arcade Building alleyway. Gelateria Uli is a destination-worthy spot for anyone with a sweet tooth, and I will strive to return on my next vacation to try different flavors. They're definitely among the very best gelaterias which I've had the pleasure to try.

I'm not gonna lie, I ended up here by default. The hip and super overhyped Little Damage down the street had a 30+ minute line and ran out of vegan options. Thank goodness Gelateria Uli was a few short blocks away to satisfy my craving! Attempting to limit my sugar intake, I ordered the smallest size but got two yummy flavors. The Coconut Lemongrass Sorbet was unlike any flavor I've ever had in a dessert. Strong in taste but its boldness was well balanced by the rich and dark Chocolate Sorbet. Mmmmm!!! http://bit.ly/2vkElrw Definitely appreciate that this place makes their gelato and sorbettos in house daily in small batches. It's also nice that it's located inside of the Spring Arcade Building. A bit of a quiet getaway from the crowded streets of DTLA.

Upon searching for the "best gelato in L.A." Gelateria Uli had the most reviews as well as Bulgarini Gelato located in Altadena. Gelateria Uli is in the heart of downtown and was the perfect treat to the end of the day. I got there with my friends around 7:30pm and there was nobody in the shop. There was only one guy working and he wasn't super talkative. We sampled a bunch of flavors and I ended up getting a small that includes two flavors. I chose hazelnut and pistachio. I really enjoyed both flavors, but the pistachio from the Bulgarini Gelato is the best I've had. The gelato was delicious and the ambience of the small shop is very homey and welcoming. I recommend Gelateria Uli to anyone that loves good gelato!

Espresso with chocolate waffle bits on a cone: This was the best tasting espresso flavor I've ever tried. No extra milkiness. Just pure sweet espresso coffee goodness. The chocolate waffle bits added extra texture. The cone is very unique! It's the thinnest cone I've ever had and it's also more salty. If you let the flavor rest in your mouth a bit you can taste the cinnamon and waffle spice mixture otherwise it just tastes salty which still goes well with the sweet ice cream. I really liked the cone! Samples: Raspberry sorbet - very very tart. A bit too much for me Blueberry sorbet - can taste more of the blueberry skin flavor so slightly tart but not as much as raspberry Cucumber sorbet - very light and refreshing. This would be good by itself. Peach sorbet - regular peach flavor. Nothing notable Watermelon sorbet - just watermelon. Nothing notable Jamaica - tastes more like a mint mojito. The mint is strong Thai tea - more milky here. Nothing notable Horchata - very nice light cinnamon flavor and cream. My second pick Hazelnut - tastes like Ferrero rocher minus the choco. A bit too strong for me. Strawberry stracciatella Yogurt & cherry jam - the yogurt tastes like Greek yogurt and has some of the tartness and the cherry flavor is very very subtle; I could barely taste it.

Didn't know about this place, but it was right next to Guisados and I wasn't so paying. So sure, why not lol. Not sure where all these comments are coming from saying that Gelateria Uli is the best gelato ever. One scoop does get your two flavors, so I had my pick between sea salt caramel and stracciatella. Sure, it's good, but the best ever? Nah, definitely have had better. Would come back again though!

Gelateria Uli wasn't love at first scoop but it's gelato fun trying all the unique flavors! Flavors Sampled: + Olive Oil: smooth, creamy, olive-y, slightly savory (definitely sample but you don't need a whole scoop of this ultra rich flavor; if you buy a pint, top with sliced strawberries at home but in store has no toppings) ~ Bee pollen: subtly sweet, florally, milky (this is a simple flavor to truly enjoy the gelato texture; downside: milky aftertaste) ~ Pistachio: nutty, salty, creamy, chunky bits (this is a popular flavor but the nuttiness was a little too faint) Inside Scoop: Gelato: Small batches, vegan friendly, unique flavors, display case goals, heaping scoops Ge-little-o: Customer service (made sampling experience slightly awkward and thoroughly disappointed given the positive comments on Yelp)