With Mother’s Day approaching, all minds turn to chocolate. Still, Los Angeles isn’t known as a sweets capital. Wheat grass shots, perhaps, but caramel ganache? Not so much. Fortunately, a boom in specialty chocolate shops has sparked competition between artisan chocolatiers from Santa Monica to Silver Lake. Here’s a look at the best chocolate Los Angeles has to offer mom (and anyone else).

Valerie Confections draws crowds to its hidden-away east side factory store for morsels like Fleur De Sel Toffee, modeled after the iconic See’s Candy classic. On the west side, John Kelly tempts the Montana Avenue yoga crowd with, among other flavors, dark chocolate fudge around the choicest California walnuts. They are nearly impossible to resist.

L.A.’s  Compartes Chocolates has been around since 1950 but it still makes the chicest, most succulent bonbons in town. After buying his parents’ landmark Brentwood confections shop several years ago, Jonathan Graham, 30, has spiffed up the family line, from logo to toppings, without compromising the local flavor. Almost everything at Compartes is made by hand in-house, and most ingredients are organic, conscientiously sourced and presented in true Hollywood style. Whether it’s the tropical sophistication of chocolate passionfruit truffles or the over-the-top indulgence of chocolate dipped English toffee, Graham understands that bonbons aren’t just candy. They’re emotional experiences.

Last year, Hasty Torres, wife of Jacques and a champion whisk-twirler herself, closed her Beverly hills shop, Madame Chocolate, and moved to a dedicated chocolate factory downtown. The good news is she’s still selling online, and offering free two-day shipping for orders over $50. Perfect for chocolate lovers who require Torres’s trademark dark chocolate covered Oreos or the mini glitter Louboutin high heel shoes. Chocolate shoes, that is.

Here’s where to find the sweet stuff in LA:

Compartes Chcolate
www.compartes.com
912 S Barrington Ave  Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 826-3380

John Kelly Chocolates
www.johnkellychocolates.com
1111 1/2 Montana Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 899-0900
1508 N Sierra Bonita Ave  Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-3269

Madame Chocolat
www.madamechocolat.com
1200 Industrial St  Los Angeles, CA 90021
(310) 247-9990

Valerie Confections
www.valerieconfections.com
3360 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90004
(213) 739-8149