The Spicy Summer out bingsu felt like we were biting into the summer day with every single crunch…read moreof lychee my friend and I chewed. It felt alive. Almost like an amoeba in the best way possible. I had the organic matcha lava cake and that cake was perfect for someone having a bad week. I felt suddenly calm biting into the warm matcha inside with the cold matcha ice cream mixed together. They both were paired well for a hot day, The ambiance was good; the sound was perfect and the service was incredibly fast and welcoming.

U:Dessert Story is a dessert-focused spot that combines Asian-inspired sweets with a more modern…read morecafe atmosphere. We walked into a space that feels designed for groups, with plenty of seating and a menu built around shareable desserts. The interior has a contemporary, stylish feel with comfortable seating arrangements that accommodate both small groups and larger parties, making it the type of place where you can come after dinner and spend time trying a few different things instead of just ordering one dessert. The energy is lively and social, with groups gathered around large dessert plates and the hum of conversation filling the room. The bingsu is the main attraction here, especially the mango sticky rice bingsu and volcano-style creations. We ordered the mango sticky rice version and found the shaved ice had that soft, fluffy texture that melts quickly, creating a light, refreshing base that absorbs the toppings well. The combination of sweet mango, coconut rice, and the fine ice created a nice balance of fruity sweetness and the familiar coconut flavor, and the toppings were generous enough that each bite felt complete. The volcano-style creations add a dramatic presentation, with toppings cascading over the ice and creating layers of texture and flavor that make the dessert feel more like an experience than just a bowl of ice. The crepe cakes are also worth trying, with lighter layers that make them easier to enjoy without feeling overly heavy, and the matcha and strawberry flavors stood out for their clean, well-balanced profiles. The portions are definitely on the larger side, so this is a better place to share. We found that splitting a few desserts across the table allowed us to try more of the menu without overcommitting, and the variety of options from bingsu to honey toast and lava-style desserts meant there was something for everyone. The honey toast is a fun choice if you want something warm and more indulgent, with a crisp exterior and a soft, buttery interior that pairs well with the ice cream and toppings. Some desserts can feel a little expensive depending on what you order, but the presentation and variety make it more of a dessert outing than a quick snack, and the quality of the ingredients is noticeable across the board. Service can be a little slower when it gets busy, especially later at night when the shop fills up, but the staff are generally friendly and the atmosphere makes it easy to wait. We noticed the team handling the steady flow with efficiency, and the pacing of the meal stayed comfortable even when the restaurant was full. The energy of the room remains social and relaxed, and the staff checked in at the right moments without rushing us through the meal. U:Dessert Story is a solid spot for creative Asian desserts, especially if you are going with friends and want to try a few different flavors together. The combination of shareable portions, thoughtful presentation, and a lively atmosphere makes it a destination for a more social dessert experience, offering a meal that feels both indulgent and communal. The variety across the menu gives you room to explore different styles on repeat visits, and the quality of the desserts keeps the experience feeling intentional and satisfying.

Although they don't serve variations of buttercups, A Buttercup is one of the few dessert houses…read moreoffering Taiwanese-style treats like Bingsoo, Milk Bread Toast, and other Asian fusion creations. I'm always hunting for spots like this because I have a weakness for those over-the-top, Instagram-worthy desserts that look like diabetes in a dish. Like most places in this genre, A Buttercup is small, modern, and minimalist with limited seating. If you plan to go, aim for off-hours unless you enjoy waiting in line for sugar. The decor is cute and trendy, perfect for photos if that's part of your dessert ritual. As they say, "you eat with your eyes first," and when it comes to presentation, this place definitely gets an A+. The desserts look stunning and set high expectations. Unfortunately, that's where things started to crumble. It's like going to see your favorite artist live. You've watched the videos, memorized the songs, and paid for the experience. But instead of the electric performance you imagined, you get someone lip-syncing and barely connecting with the crowd. That was this place in dessert form. We ordered the Mango Bingsoo on our first visit, and when it arrived, we were surprised by how small the portion was. The guy next to us even looked over and said, "Whatever that is, I'm getting that next time." He shouldn't have. The Bingsoo looked great but was bland, and the "snow" was more chunky ice than soft shave. The Thai Tea Roti was also not what I expected. It came with Thai tea ice cream and sauce alongside a roti that was fried to a crunch. Interesting idea, just not the best execution. The sauce and ice cream needed a stronger Thai tea flavor to balance the crispy roti, and the flavors never quite came together. Overall, A Buttercup nails the aesthetics but misses the flavor. If you're here for the photos, you'll be happy. If you're here for the taste, you'll leave with a full camera roll and an unsatisfied sweet tooth.

We got the pandan roti, which was fantastic! The roti itself was super flaky and crispy, and I…read moreloved the combo of the roti + spoonful of ice cream with a bit of the pandan drizzle. The coconut strips were also the perfect addition. Super decadent and overall the perfect sweet treat I agree with the other reviews that portions + presentation are a bit disappointing, but it was still undeniably tasty food

The flavors are so creative and delicious. Add the burnt marshmallow on top if you're feeling an…read moreextra sweet tooth. Milkbomb is hidden gem, truly. You have to know where to find it...

A friend used to live in Portreo Hill, so we'd frequent this Milkbomb location. They used to have…read moresporadic hours of operation, and don't do samples - yet I'd still keep coming back! Between the creative flavors and the high sugar content (like the ice cream sandwiches using donuts or the toasted marshmallow, yum!), there's nothing quite like it in the city. Their flavors change based on availability, so your favorites might not always be there. My personal favorites are the coffee, ube, and biscoff. There'd be more of a cult following (like Salt & Straw) if they were in a more optimal location... They also usually only have 1-2 employees at a time, so from order to pick up, there's a bit of a wait. The plaza they're located in is very small, but there's a park nearby if you want somewhere scenic to eat your ice cream.

I went into Naya with my partner for dessert after a Friday night dinner/cocktail at nearby…read moreAbsinthe. We looked it up online, saw the good reviews, and decided to give it a try since we both love thai foods and desserts. What a great place we discovered! We were asked if we were comfortable sitting outside or if we preferred to wait for an inside table. We chose to wait as it was a pretty chilly evening, but we were only outside for a few minutes before our table was ready. We were given water glasses and a pitcher and then left to look at the menu for a moment. The place was quite busy but it wasn't long before they came back to us. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and friendly and took the time to explain to us what she recommended (the mango sticky rice in the picture). I've ordered mango sticky rice at thai restaurants before, this one was the best I've ever had. My only complaint would be that the booth side to the table we were sitting at was well worn, and little peices of the leather were peeling off. But the quality food and service more than made up for it.

Been wanting to try this FOREVER and finally got a chance to. I heard lots about the mango tango…read moreand honestly thought the mango would be the main part of the dish that I'd like but WOW that ice was top tier did not know it can be so good. Also did not expect to like the sticky rice but that too was a hit. They said they were out of the big size so they gave us the smaller one which is good for two people. Definitely coming back and honestly will try other stuff here too next time.

Got a smore while walking by and it was freshly toasted. It was a decent price too. With plenty of…read moresamples of chocolate around the store. They had a lot of delicious looking drinks I wish I got a drinking chocolate but I will have to next time. So good!

If you're planning to visit Dandelion Chocolate, my biggest piece of advice is to double-check…read morewhich location you're heading to. We originally went to the location near Union Square, thinking we'd be able to grab pastries and hot chocolate, only to realize it's primarily a retail shop with chocolate bars and merchandise. We ended up making our way to the Valencia Street location, and I'm so glad we did. We learned that it used to be the original factory before they outgrew the space. Production has since moved a few blocks away, and now this location offers classes, a café, and plenty of chocolate treats. While we were there, a chocolate-making class was in session, and it was fun to watch part of it. The instructor even came over to chat with us and answer a few questions, which was such a nice personal touch. We ordered the brownie bite flight along with a hot chocolate, and both were fantastic. The brownie flight was rich, flavorful, and a fun way to sample different chocolates. The hot chocolate came with a tiny cookie that was absolutely delicious. At first, we were a little disappointed because we thought our hot chocolate was supposed to come with a marshmallow and didn't see one. When we mentioned it, the instructor smiled and showed us a toppings station we had completely missed. There were homemade marshmallows, flavored sugar cubes, and other little extras you could add yourself. He even encouraged us to take a few extra marshmallows, and they were some of the best I've ever had. One thing to know before you go is that Dandelion Chocolate focuses on high-quality chocolate that isn't overly sweet. If you're expecting the sugary milk chocolate flavor of a candy bar, this is a different experience. The chocolate has a richer, more complex flavor, and we really enjoyed trying something different. Between the friendly staff, delicious treats, and unique experience, I'd definitely recommend adding it to your itinerary--just make sure you head to the café location if you're looking for food and drinks!

My sister and I randomly stumbled upon Garden Creamery while we were walking around San Francisco,…read moreand I'm so glad we did. We had never heard of it before, but the shop looked so cute from the outside that we decided to stop in and try it. We got really lucky because there was no line when we arrived, but by the time we left, there were probably around 20 people waiting outside. After trying the ice cream, I can definitely see why it gets busy. They have so many interesting flavors to choose from, and everything we tried was delicious. We got the hojicha, Hokkaido milk coffee, and pandan ube, and honestly, I loved all three. The flavors were unique, creamy, and not overly sweet, which I really appreciated. The hojicha had such a nice roasted tea flavor, the Hokkaido milk coffee was rich and smooth, and the pandan ube was probably one of the most fun flavors we tried during our trip. I loved that there were options here that you don't always see at a typical ice cream shop. This was such a great little accidental find during our 24 hours in San Francisco. I would absolutely come back the next time I'm in the city and try even more flavors. Definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area!

Absolutely Fantastic! Organic and fresh laving your pallets…read moretaste buds raving with amazing ingredients and flavors! Absolutely Fantastic! Absolutely Fantastic!

WOWWWWWW I've tried nearly 20 different matcha brands around SF and this place truly has one of the…read morebest matchas I've ever had. The ice cream was fantastic as well! The Hokkaido cheese tart was delicate, soft, and absolutely delicious. Everything was so good, definitely coming back soon.

Service was fast but it gets extremely busy since it is in Japantown. Really crowded depending on…read morethe day you go and it gets quite hot in there. I got the ube matcha which was $8.50. As a Filipino from the mainland, I don't think it tasted like ube at all and it was quite sweet. It was still pretty good although the matcha itself was lacking. I would've liked it if it was much stronger to balance the sweetness of the ube.

The last time I had Kiss Of Matcha, my ice cream came out gritty and inedible. The owner / manager…read morereached out and apologized and offered a small gift card to come back. I came back and tried their matcha latte which was solid. A bit on the sweet side but overall decent matcha notes, sweet/ perfectly bitter. Would love to come back to try a different drink next time.

It's a really tiny space with 2 kiosks or you can also order at the front. It's definitely the…read moreplace where you order and go, but there are a few seatings inside. I got the kiss of matcha latte with oat which came out to be $8.44. The matcha was definitely on the stronger side and on the bitter side. It tastes very traditional (not in a bad way). Not very sweet at all so you get to focus on the matcha itself. I prefer just a little bit of sweetness with my matcha so I probably would try the other things on the menu!

My friend and I walked 20 min from Haight to Powder since we were craving a sweet treat! She got…read morethe earl grey with misugaru, and I got the honeydew with mochi and misugaru (a type of Korean roasted grain powder). The mochi topping was a bit hard, and the misugaru started blowing away in the wind and getting all over our clothes! Definitely consider the weather in SF and how this might affect your plans, because I wouldn't have gone with this topping had we thought ahead. The honeydew was so light and perfect- we had such a hard time deciding which flavor to get, but this nailed it for me. I'm a big fan of the personal sizes they offer. There's very few places to get shaved ice in the Bay in the first place, and many are meant to be shared with friends. This way, you can mix and match with your party and try different options!

I didn't like the passion fruit topping - it was too tangy for my taste. The powder is sooo fresh…read moreso light so airy! Favorite!! And can't go wrong with the milk glaze topping. I'm def going to come back to try more combos! Service was so quick! Just one person working yet so fast! The fact that this is on divisadero was soo convenient! Great outdoor location for a summer day

3.29.26 Piping hot! Got my egg tart dozen yesterday. Delicious. $45 a dozen…read more GGB Lady told me they'll be on vacation for 3 weeks starting Monday 3.30.26.

Parking: None, chinatown will be impossible street/meter parking…read more Interior: None, this is a order/pick up window. If the shop is open you will see a line. Wait Time: 10min on a weekend afternoon. I got lucky and saw it was open beginning of this year before crowds found out. Their hours are not accurate so just up to chance. Items Order: 9/10 Egg Tart $3.75 - larger than average egg tart. It comes piping hot and fresh. the shell is very buttery but holds well. custard is very hongkong style (eggy/milky vs the custardy Portuguese version). Sweetness level is about 50% so not that sweet. CASH ONLY