I feel truly blessed that cupcake shops are everywhere in the Los Angeles area. From Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills to Dots in Pasadena, and even Baby Cakes in Downtown, Angelenos can find wonderful cupcakes virtually anywhere in town. I am even more blessed because Yummy Cupcakes, the shop I feel makes one of the best cupcakes in town, is a mere mile from where I live. Not that I would, of course, but if I wanted to walk, I can certainly do it in less than 30 minutes. It’s really amusing that this place is located on Magnolia Blvd. Maybe this place should be called Magnolia Bakery instead (which, by the way, is opening in LA soon).

I find it interesting that we all have our own favorite shops and how different our taste preferences / opinions are — even for a little dessert as innocent as a cupcake. I was talking to someone the other day who is absolutely head-over-heal in love with Violets Cupcakes in Pasadena but I find cupcakes there to be pretty yucky. I gave the place several tries, only to be disappointed time after time. She swears by it but I just don’t get it. Everything there is way too sweet and greasy for my taste. Some of my friends think Dots is blah, although I think its Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Icing and Pumpkin Pie Cupcake (with the same amazing frosting) are one of the best in the world.

Many of us, however, seem to agree that Yummy Cupcakes is pretty darn good. Maybe it’s because this shop hasn’t received the kind of rave other places have gotten and is still managing to keep its existence pretty low-key … but whatever the reason, this place is mighty divine.

Yummy Cupcakes doesn’t have fancy flowers made out of fondant resting atop a luscious frosting and most of the items on the menu are pretty straightforward, yet a Red Velvet Cupcake (my ultimate favorite and a barometer that measures how good the place really is) tastes like what a red velvet should taste (light but moist, and never too dry), and the frosting is fluffy and satisfying without being too rich and sweet. This is actually the only place that makes me want to try something other than a Red Velvet and that’s saying a lot!

I hosted a lunch party this afternoon and bought a few cupcakes from there. Out of these selections, I found the Chocolate Mint Chip (chocolate cupcake with peppermint buttercream, pictured on upper right-hand corner) and its signature Yummy Cupcake (chocolate cupcake with pink vanilla buttercream, pictured on upper left-hand corner) to be my favorites (after the Red Velvet, of course).

If you’re in the Burbank area, or in Santa Monica, check this place out. You won’t be disappointed.

Yummy Cupcakes
2918 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505
There is another store in Santa Monica, on 313 Wilshire.
★★★★★