Is there a great dedicated cheese shop in Los Angeles? you know, like Murray's cheese in New York City?

Cheese might be killing us one curd at a time, but it's also well-nigh irresistible, whether you prefer it semi-soft, mild, stinky or creamy. And though some of us may spend a little too much time wading in the Velveeta sea, the top shelf stuff is readily available at the city's many top-notch cheese shops, stacked high with pungent wheels and wedges and lovingly curated down to each aged crumble. Here are a few of our favorites; as always, leave yours in the comments.

MURRAY'S CHEESE SHOP: Murray's has been a lifeline for the city's cheese connoisseurs since founder Murray Greenberg opened the original Greenwich Village shop in 1940. Here, knowledgeable cheesemongers hock a vast variety of creamy, stinky and curdled wares, which are stored beneath the flagship shop in a subterranean cheese cave labyrinth. You can find cheeses from all over here—the usual French camemberts, the Italian pecorino and rare parmiaggiano, the sheep cheeses from the British Isles, and more exotic offerings from the deeper dairy pockets of the world.

Murray's also holds cheesemaking and tasting classes for burgeoning turophiles, and their outpost at Grand Central Terminal is a perfect spot to purchase a pre-or-post-commute wedge or two. Most recently, the Murray's crew opened a cheese bar just a few doors down from the Greenwich Village store, where you can sample some of the cheeses and charcuterie in a more laid-back, sit-down setting. Murray's Cheese Shop has two locations: 254 Bleecker Street between Leroy and Cornelia Streets in Greenwich Village (212-243-3289, murrayscheese.com); and a shop at Grand Central Terminal, 43rd Street and Lexington Ave in Midtown East (212-922-1540, murrayscheese.com).

Follow them on Facebook. BEDFORD CHEESE SHOP: Don't let the stinky-feet smell blasting from both the Williamsburg and the newer Manhattan location of this bi-borough cheese store scare you away. Though it's a bit overwhelming upon first whiff, the ripe odor is merely a marker for the fine collection of dairy goods that line the shops' shelves.

Both stores boast over 250 varieties of cheese, along with fresh breads, charcuterie and imported non-perishables; cheesemongers at both shops are quick to offer a sample or two, so if the selection seems too overwhelming, you can let your tastebuds do the picking. Prices can be steep—this is some fancy cheese, after all—but workers here know their stuff when it comes to brie, gouda and the like, and you'll leave with a quality hunk of something when you're through. Bedford Cheese Shop has two locations: 229 Bedford Ave between North 4th and North 5th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718) 599-7588, bedfordcheeseshop.com); and 67 Irving Place between 18th and 19th Streets in Gramercy (718-599-7588, bedfordcheeseshop.com).

Follow them on Facebook. BEECHER'S HANDMADE CHEESE: Beecher's is a relative newcomer to the city's artisanal cheese scene, having just opened its Flatiron location in June 2011. But what the Seattle-based company lacks in longevity, it makes up in quality and entertainment value, since as the name suggests, Beecher's makes its own cheese, and shop visitors can watch workers whip up the goods.

The cheese shop is upstairs, offering a variety of tasty artisan fresh-and-aged cheeses and charcuterie, and there's a counter where you can purchase daily sandwiches like fig-and-cheese and simple grilled cheese. Downstairs, Beecher's restaurant and bar serves booze and dairy delicacies; stop by their happy hour (weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.) for deals on wine and their famous "World's Best" mac 'n' cheese ($11). Beecher's Handmade Cheese is located at 900 Broadway between 19th and 20th Streets in Flatiron (212) 466-3340, beechershandmadecheese.com).

Follow them on Facebook. ARTISANAL FROMAGERIE, BISTRO AND PREMIUM CHEESE: The name is pretty sigh-worthy, but we swear this isn't another overwrought bespoke foodie trap. The bistro's cheese counter, curated by Maître fromager Max McCalman, boasts over 200 varieties of cheese, with everything from Oregon blue cheese to Spanish ibores to Dutch Geit-in-Stad, available over the counter or by delivery order.

More impressive than the actual cheese catalog, though, are Artisanal Premium Cheese's selection of classes, which range from the beginner's Cheese and Wine 101 ($75) to sultrier Sexy Cheese and Sumptuous Wines ($75) to daylong master classes for professional cheesemongers and sommeliers ($900). The 90-minute tasting courses are accompanied by a half hour of schmoozing, fondue and sparkling wine, so you can rub shoulders with your fellow cheese enthusiasts while you feast. Artisanal Fromagerie and Bistro is located at 2 Park Ave in Midtown East (212-725-8585, artisanalbistro.com).

Premium Cheese is located at 483 Tenth Ave between 36th and 37th Streets in Hell's Kitchen (212-239-1200, artisanalcheese.com). Follow them on Facebook. THE CHEESE COUNTER AT FAIRWAY MARKET: We're sort of cheating the system with this one, since Fairway is a little more all-encompassing than your average cheese shop.

But the venerable gourmet grocery chain's vast collection of cheese (600 varieties, all curated by cheese poet Steve Jenkins) at each of its various locations is worth a mention in this list. When a new cheese makes its way over to the States from the wilds of New Zealand or the cultured depths of the French countryside, Fairway will probably stock it first, and sell it for a little cheaper than one of the smaller shops in town. And the cheesemongers at Fairway's counters are just as knowledgeable and passionate as the ones working the boutique stores, too.

Yes, you should support the mom-and-pop shops too, but if you happen to be pushing a cart around Fairway and get a hankering for some Iberian Tortal del Casar, you're in good hands. Fairway has locations all over the city, including on the Upper West and East Sides, in Midtown East and in Red Hook, Brooklyn; for more details, visit fairwaymarket.com.