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Don't let the price of dairy deter you from filling your picnic basket, making fondue, or even constructing a wedding cake with cheese. Our notoriously happy cows make Californian cheese lovers rejoice, but the really big cheeses know where to find the best of the world's wonderful soft, semi-soft, hard, medium-hard...well, you get the idea. Say cheese to this guide to L.A.'s best cheese shops.
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills (Photo by framboise via Flickr)
THE CHEESE STORE OF BEVERLY HILLS
You'll probably smell the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills before you enter this tiny top notch shop. Knowledgeable staff are at the ready to get you the cheese(s) of your dreams. In fact, many liken a trip here to a religious experience. Feeling spendy? Put together a swank cheese-centric gift basket. If you’d prefer to take your time to smell and eat the cheese, check out their cheese tasting events.
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is located at 419 N Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, (310) 278-2855
Andrew's Cheese Shop (Photo by denisetaylor☼ via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
ANDREW'S CHEESE SHOP
This Santa Monica hole in the wall cheese shop might be small, but Angelenos flock to this pricey Westside frommagerie for help finding the perfect cheese. Customers love the staff who offer samples and give recommendations. Like your bleu or brie with brew? Check out their highly touted beer and grilled cheese pairing events.Andrew's Cheese Shop is located at 728 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, (310) 393-3308
THE CHEESE STORE OF SILVER LAKE
Hey, hipsters love cheese, too! We kid, we kid. Tucked inside the same building that houses Intelligentsia in Sunset Junction, The Cheese Store of Silver Lake has a solid rep for stocking the cheese plates and Hollywood Bowl picnic baskets of discerning Eastsiders. Quick with the slivers of samples, the staff can help you pair the right cheese with the flight of local craftbrews you’re serving at your next viewing party. If you are in the mood for a little nosh, they make some mighty good sandwiches, too.
The Cheese Store of Silver Lake is located at 3926 W Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake,(323) 644-7511
THE CHEESE BOX AT WALLY'S
Like a little cheese with your wine? Enter Wally's Cheese Box, conveniently located next door to Wally's wine shop. This deli-style cheese paradise is beloved by many for their sharp cheesemongers, outstanding sandwiches, and notable gift baskets.
The Cheese Box at Wally's is located at 2107 Westwood Boulevard in West Los Angeles,(310) 475-0606
THE CHEESE STORE OF PASADENA
With a rotating selection of gourmet cheeses, The Cheese Store of Pasadena is aces for party platters with all the trimmings, and boasts an extensive selection of sweet treats and tasty foodstuffs. Their backroom is where you'll go for cheese parties and gatherings. They're also known to whip up a most excellent grilled cheese sandwich.
The Cheese Store of Pasadena is located at 140 S Lake Avenue in Pasadena, (626) 405-0050
A cheese plate at Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City (Lindsay William-Ross/LAist)
ARTISAN CHEESE GALLERY
Artisan Cheese Gallery is where savvy Valleyites go for good goudas and tantalizing triple creams. The cheerful shop prides itself on their selection of unusual cheese. Grab a seat and have them build you a plate to nibble on, or order from their extensive menu of sandwiches and salads.
Artisan Cheese Gallery is located at 12023 Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, (818) 505-0207
CUBE
Since fancy cheese is a bit of an indulgence, allow us this bit of indulgence in including Cube's Cheese Bar, which is best experienced as a seated diner. The restaurant, which doubles as a small market, is much-lauded for their cheese program, and stocked bar of global cheese delights. Pull up a chair and enjoy a cheeseperience and up your personal cheese intel. Plenty of tasty wines to choose from too.
Cube is located at 615 N La Brea Avenue in Mid-City, (323) 939-1148
Honorable mention:
MONSIEUR MARCEL
SAY CHEESE
THE OAKS GOURMET