My L.A. favorite is/was Proof Bakery (it’s been several years since I last consumed their CCC).
Another NYT article (with attached recipe) published this week for the “Perfect” Chocolate Chip Cookie. No vanilla. Feel free to move to home cooking.
A ‘Perfect’ Chocolate Chip Cookie, and the Chef Who Created It
I love Milk Jar’s chocolate chip cookie - more the “extra flour” type, quoting the super handy diagram @js76wisco shared. Thick with a gooey center and big chunks of chocolate. It’s not really chewy at the edges although some time in the toaster oven helps.
As mentioned above, Paderia’s cookies are awesome too. They manage to be both thick/gooey in the middle and chewy on the edge.
I like Milk Jar Cookies a lot, and I like supporting local small mom ‘n pops (literally, it’s a husband and wife team), so it checks the boxes. My problems are that I can taste too much baking soda and because they’re thick & kinda’ fluffy they’re sometimes better the next day or zapped in the toaster oven. Also, they charge the same price per cookie even when you buy dozens, so it makes giving them as holiday gifts, etc. too pricey for me. M2C.
Totally agree about the toaster oven/next day thing, letting them dry out/harden a bit. I see what you mean about the baking soda thing - dunno enough about baking, but I suppose that’s necessary to get the texture they’re going for? Also, you are very generous getting cookies for others in the dozens, but I suppose that makes sense given your username! These are so huge, I’ve only ever gotten them in batches of 3-6, even as gifts. Per my username, I do go a little crazier with donuts.
Thanks @glazedonut! Good point about the baking soda & texture. Since they make the cookies thick possibly the baking soda is needed to get that rise? Good point about the cookies being big too - maybe a whole dozen of these isn’t needed for gifts. 
But my name is deceiving - I have a few good recipes under my belt and when I had more time baked for the holidays, but I‘m not a very experienced baker. 
Batch Three
Keepers
Recently opened on the corner of 2nd and Los Angeles, and having walked by a number of times, I decided to check out Keeper’s coffee window advertising a number of pastries. The bottom line: it’s fine. There’s a nice crisp on the edges, and it’s completely inoffensive with a solid flavor. But compared to some of the other things the small window at Keepers has available like mochi doughnuts, blueberry yuzu scones, and black sesame muffins, it sort of stands out for not trying something more interesting.
Bristol Farms
JFC. Right when this dropped in my hands I knew I was eating this in the parking lot because it was so damn hot and fresh. As @paranoidgarliclover mentioned, it’s incredibly decadent. If I had to guess, I’d say it could be 85% chocolate chips and wouldn’t be surprised if the remainder was 5% walnuts and 10% dough. Taking a bite through the crisp exterior crust revealed it to be basically uncooked and molten in the center. If this is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Even though I still felt like I wanted to take a shower afterwards.
Zooies
I’d had Zooies a couple times (but never visited the gas station location myself) and knew from previous cookies I had to make a trip out of it.
Zooies: Gooie
They’re not kidding when they say it’s gooey. If you like your cookies undercooked in the middle like me, this is a near flawless execution. It still maintained crisp edges, and taking into account the layered chocolate and hint of vanilla, it’s not hard to recognize this as one of the best cookies in the city.
Zooies: Chewy
I hadn’t knowingly had the Chewy before, so when I asked how it was different (hoping for a description of ingredients or technique) the response I got was “it’s chewier”. So yes, it’s a bit chewier, and because it lacks the gooeiness of the Gooie, the chocolate stands out as a bit more proportionally significant. The flavors are largely similar though, and for that reason of textural preference I’d go with the Gooie every time.
Zooies: Brown Butter
The Brown Butter was the only other thoroughbred chocolate chip cookie on Zooies menu, but with that extra brown butter training. Getting the taste out of the way first, it’s a solid chocolate chip cookie, though the brown butter flavor was maybe a bit too subdued because I was wishing it would distinguish itself more from the other two cookies. The big difference was the consistency—it was much airier and lighter than I anticipated—with a couple big pockets of air. The cakiness is fine is that’s what you’re looking for, but personally I did not find it as remarkable as the Gooie.
For what it’s worth, Zooies is a one stop shop for demonstrating the diversity to be found in chocolate chip cookies–each is distinct enough to justify standing apart from the others. However, if you’re getting a handful of cookies from Zooies, it is probably best to choose your favorite chocolate chip and then branch out to many of the different, more exciting flavors they have on offer.
The Chocolate and the Chip
I spotted the Chocolate and the Chip online, and knew that if there was a chocolate chip cookie specialist (it’s literally in the name) that I needed to include them.
The Chocolate and The Chip: The Original
This is the kind of cookie you’d be pleasantly surprised to find on the snack table at a PTA meeting. It absolutely checks all the boxes with a classic flavor profile that doesn’t do anything wild, but that’s about it. The original chocolate chip cookie is cooked all the way through, with no real crispness to the edges or chewiness in the center to speak of. Not to jump the gun, but after having the other cookies on offer from The Chocolate and The Chip, I get the feeling that because this is the table stakes cookie, it was probably baked farther in advance than the others and might have not been as “fresh”. Still, it’s easy to see the potential here in a cookie that’s fresh out of the oven.
The Chocolate and The Chip: Lavender
Now this is interesting. The lavender flavor really comes through in a fantastic way here, and overall the cookie seems much better executed than the original: it’s chewier and even a bit chocolatey-er. There’s also no real crisp or crunch to the edges here, but with a super soft center, it’s still a winner.
The Chocolate and The Chip: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip
This was the flavor of the week, and you can tell that there was a lot that went into it. Laced with marshmallows and caramel, this is one gooey chocolate chip cookie. Similar to the Lavender, the pumpkin flavor here is off the charts and perfect for this time of year. Yet again—and this now seems to be The Chocolate and The Chip’s MO—this cookie is soft baked but to super chewy and dense perfection.
Though I could take or leave the Original, It’s cookies like the Pumpkin and the Lavender that make The Chocolate and The Chip exciting. Be on the lookout for those special flavors.
Blue Bottle Coffee
Blue Bottle’s tahini chocolate chip cookie isn’t kidding about the tahini. It’s got little bits of chocolate scattered throughout, but unlike others doing similarly sesame (tahini/halva) inflected chocolate chip cookies, this one emphasizes the tahini nearly to the extreme. It’s even got raw sesame seeds on top, and just leans on the chocolate chips to balance it out. It’s got a fair crispness to it, but it’s also still chewy. If you give this to a child and they’ll hand it back to you asking for a chocolate chip cookie.
Tartine Silver Lake
For those that may have missed it, this is the same cookie that was on the menu at the now closed Manufactory. I liked it back then, and was pleased to see it had made the jump to the Tartine Silver Lake location. It’s thin, crispy, and a bit crunchy, with the standout element being the finely chopped walnuts evenly distributed throughout the cookie. Instead of larger, broken chunks of walnut found in many other chocolate chip cookies, the walnuts here add a much more pronounced and noticeable flavor. The nut becomes a feature, not a bug. It’s also a BIG cookie, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming because it’s also extremely thin.
All day baby
Contrasted to the Halva Chocolate Chip cookie that can also be found at All Day Baby, the Brown Butter Chocolate Chip is much less dense and closer to the mainstream. The airy texture and slight nuttiness from the brown butter obviously lacks the intensity of halva chocolate chip from batch one. This cookie also uses milk chocolate. There is some intense layering of chocolate as you work your way to the center—culminating in what seems like a small chocolate mountain in the center. All put together it seems like this cookie would be perfectly paired with a glass of milk.
Onward we go…
New life goal: figure out how to work this into my obituary, or memoirs, or something.
I hadn’t remembered that you had tried the halva one previously. Just had them both this weekend (and totally thought of you when I had them!).
I very much liked the halva one. Could you make out much halva through the walnuts, though?
The brown butter one is not really to my taste, esp the texture. I need a bit of goo.
Glad you liked The Cookie! And, yeah, you’re gonna need a shower afterward to wash off all the grease… I eat one of those, and I don’t need any solid food for the next like 6 hours.
The Halva Chocolate Chip I got was definitely more forward on the halva and pretty much overshadowed the walnuts in it. I had completely forgot there even were walnuts in it because of the flavor until you mentioned that there are some in there.
But yes, totally aligned with you that I prefer the Halva Chocolate Chip for both flavor and texture. It’s the one of the two I’d buy again. Whereas if only Brown Butter was available then I’d look for one of ADB’s other pastry items.
This cookie reminds me of Levain in NYC. This is a great cookie.
I have conflicting feeling about this whole thread.
#1 - this is a fantastic and informative post with a lot of pictures and very thorough research.
#2 - I can’t believe @TheCookie isn’t the author
I’m gonna have to head to Bristol farms. What does “Jfc” stand for is that the brand of cookie or is it just available in their baked goods section?
@rlw gooie is one of my favs in town, glad you enjoyed it.
This thread is great, thanks for the detailed photos and reviews!
JFC = my shorthand for Jesus Fucking Christ 
But yes, this cookie does remind me of the one at Levain like @js76wisco mentioned. It’s available near where all the other baked goods are, but has it’s own little stall where they are displayed and sold from. One of the employees will take it right off the warming sheet and slip it in a little bag for you.
Thanks @hanhgry, just trying to spread the good cookie gospel 
I know! 
Nice update @rlw! I recently had a recent awesome chocolate chip cookie at Gjelina Take Away, might want to check it out. But in my opinion, it does not dethrone Proof’s version.
Not sure, but IIRC, the GTA version had a decent amount of sea salt on top and I don’t recall oatmeal.
Wow I’m gonna have to go this week!
I’m always surprised how little overlap there is between the two.
Batch Four
Mozza
On @NewTrial’s suggestion, I put Mozza on my list. Sold in wrapped packages of three, I wasn’t sure standing on the sidewalk if they would be that fresh, but upon opening them it does appear that they were cooked that day. To the point: can confirm that Nancy Silverton can make a good cookies. They’re a bit well done and cooked all the way through, but maintain crisp edges and a still chewy center. It’s also notable for having great dynamic contrast between both the salt and the high quality chocolate. It’s pretty much the cookie embodiment of Nancy Silverton her self.
Ludobab
I missed Ludobab’s chocolate chip cookie the first time around, so on a second pass I picked up what is advertised as Ludo’s special recipe from France. On first blush, this cookie is definitely a looker. And digging in—if this cookie did originate in France—then the French absolutely know what they’re doing. There’s a hint of vanilla flavor to the dough, and it smashes all the right notes from crisp edges and chewy center, to layers of still melty chocolate. Ludobab’s kebabs are probably still the reason to make your way over, but do not skip the cookie on the way out.
Susie Cakes
Susie cakes is better known for, well, their cakes (and cupcakes) but they do offer other desserts including a pretty standard chocolate chip cookie. What’s fairly interesting is that in the world of fancy chocolate chip cookies with chocolate chunks and chocolate discs and different types of flour and espresso grounds, this cookie uses actual chocolate chips and doesn’t try to chef it up. It’s pretty chewy and soft in the center, but doesn’t have any real crisp. It’s still a good cookie, but you’d probably be more satisfied running down the street for a Republique cookie or sticking with a slice of cake.
Larouloo
I’ve had Larouloo’s fantastic salted cookies and cream thiccie before, and after seeing a special of their salted chocolate chip thrown up on Instagram, I jumped on it. Once revealed, I wasn’t super stoked about it. It’s absolutely unlike the other chocolate cookies participating in this death match, and that’s probably what threw me a bit. It didn’t have those crisp edges I typically look for and appeared to be more soft baked than chewy. But upon closer inspection, it did have a firm crisp on the bottom. And honestly, I don’t know what my problem was, because even though I judged its looks, JFC when I took a bite this was an amazing cookie. It’s essentially uncooked in the center, and has an amazing flavor where the vanilla in the dough is actually apparent. It’s packed with chocolate, but not overpoweringly so, and damn is it thicc. While unlike your typical chocolate chip cookie, this is one of my favorites in the game right now. It deserves a bang bang with everything else in Far East Plaza.
Superba
On a crispness scale of 1-5 this is probably a 4.5 because it practically shatters when you bite into the edges. The chocolate is more on the bitter size and it has decently sized chunks of walnuts that really don’t add that much (versus the one at Tartine where the walnuts are very much a feature). Once you work your way to the center though, it is still a bit chewier. What really stands out about this cookie is the fantastic layer of salt crystals dusting the top, which helps to bring out a bit more sweetness.
Pie Hole
Pie Hole’s Chocolate Chunk Cookie is, like Susie Cakes, another example of a dessert place putting a chocolate chip cookie on the menu because it’s a bit of a no-brainer. Pie Hole’s has a light crisp on the outside, is very wide and thin, but has a good buttery vanilla flavor to the dough. It’s a bit chewier than the Susie Cakes one and has a good balance of sweetness in the chocolate, but similarly plays it down the middle. It’s another instance of why-buy-a-cookie-at-a-non-cookie-dessert-shop.
Tendergreens
Another one for the work crowd trying make good choices with a serviceable desk salad. And like Lemonade, this chocolate chunk cookie is way better than you’d expect and much better than it should be. It’s absolutely packed with chocolate, has a nice crisp to it, and better than expected flavor. It isn’t a trend yet, but there may be something to healthy-ish lunch chains actually hiding sneaky good chocolate chip cookies on their menus.
Urth Cafe
Urth has been around for awhile, and it was time to throw it into the ring. The Chocolate Chunk Pecan should really be the Pecan Chocolate Chunk because wow these are huge pecans. There are some nice chunks of chocolate in there, but the pecans do crowd them out and you might actually get some bites with no chocolate at all. Did I mention there are large pecans? Bottom line: I hope you like pecans.
Verve
I did it. I found a bad chocolate chip cookie. Time to pack up and go home. Now to be fair, Verve outsources some of their baked goods (this being one of them) to Sweet Laurel Bakery, which makes vegan and refined-suar-free baked goods. For some, that’s great, but for our purposes here, this cookie that’s made with almond flour, some maple syrup (instead of refined sugar), chocolate chips, coconut oil, and baking soda is truly our first casualty in the death match. It’s soft, not sweet, and doesn’t have any flavor except the chocolate chips. It’s really just not worth it—if you’re going to indulge with a cookie, indulge in something that’s actually worth the calories you’re eating (it is a cookie after all and not a celery stalk). This is far and away the worst cookie of any batch.
Groundwork
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie
Spurned by Verve, I wanted to know that not all coffee shops had bad chocolate chip cookies, so I walked over to Groundwork and picked out both of their offerings. First up, the gluten free chocolate chip. It comes prepackaged, and is crisp with no chew to it. The gluten free flour creates an unfortunate graininess and also makes the cookie quite crumbly. It does have that traditional flavor that’s not going to break the mold, and while it isn’t offensive like Verve’s, it just doesn’t do much either.
Cowboy Cookie
Groundwork’s other offering is their Cowboy Cookie which does come from the pastry case and is clearly prepared that day. It’s definitely a mishmash of ingredients and flavors, with oats, walnuts, and coconut folded in alongside the chocolate chunks. It’s very soft, not crisp at all and is actually more reminiscent of an oatmeal cookie. It also falls apart pretty easy and just crumbles, but is still pretty tasty when all the elements coming together. If you have a choice of cookie at Groundwork, choose this one. You might not get the exact chocolate chip cookie satisfaction you’re looking for, but you’re less likely to be disappointed expecting a great chocolate chip cookie (it’s better than the gluten free chocolate chip and way better than whatever they’re selling at Verve).
Believe it or not, there is still more to come…
