This place feels very nostalgic to me since it was the go to spot in high school and I used to come all the time. Desserts hit the spot and is affordable compared to all the other dessert places now. They also open late until 11pm/12am. My go to is the mango sago or yummy mango. All the mango ones! Friendly service and never a wait for a table. No complaints! Try this place out! read more

Golden Island Cafe - Yummy Mango - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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As a SF native, I grew up with Golden Island and went there frequently, since I live only a few blocks away. Nowadays, it's hard for me to justify going there. It's expensive and they really skimp on the portions. It's also very difficult to find a table there as it's often crowded (mainly because there isn't anything too similar nearby). And they do take a while to make the food. On the plus side, it's tasty and they've got a ton of menu options. My complaints are mainly that it's incredibly overpriced for not much food. Guess it's due to inflation or something, but it's still disappointing. Overall, I'd say it's worth a trip to the Richmond to check out Kowloon Tong instead, which is superior. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Green Tea Delight, Dun Dan Hot. Pitiful portion sizes for $20. - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Minimal service. The food is meh quality but for sure tasty, and affordable :) We got an assortment of snacks and sweets to fuel our evening pickleball session. The interior is casual. read more

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Soooo refreshing. Lots of seating for a chill time with friends. The fruit was tasty and the hot tea they give you once you're seated is an amazing touch to this establishment. The vibes were great and the service was good too. read more

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A classic HK cafe staple in the Sunset for both savory bites and dessert. You'll see all kinds of people here, from teenagers to elderly folks to families. My mom and I ordered the Mango Deluxe and the Popcorn Chicken. I've seen a lot of reviews saying the desserts are bland or not sweet enough but if you're familiar with Hong Kong style desserts, they're typically meant to be lighter and less sweet than your average dessert. A great hangout spot nonetheless and opens pretty late if you're ever craving something past 9pm. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Mango Deluxe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a cute dessert spot and has your typical HK dessert menu. Service was rushed and not the friendliest. Also they wanted to really pack the place so everyone had to wait to be seated and there was only one server on the floor... The black sesame soup (they call it paste...) has good flavor but not as smooth and creamy as I like. The PB condensed milk toast is solid (can't go wrong). The mango & black rice is ok, thicker than I was expecting and needed more mango! Overall, it has nostalgic HK classics but not sure it's worth coming again for... read more

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The review is specific to the black sesame paste with glutinous balls. A little sweet for my taste but otherwise delicious. Service excellent. A lot of teenagers come here so it's a bit too loud for my tastes but I won't count that against the dessert place. Recommend with my utmost respectful regards. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Learned about this place from TikTok. Decided to stop by and give it a try. My family and I got the Grapefruit with Mango and Sago. I didn't know there were 2 different options of sizes, bowl and cup. Since we were taking it to go we went with the cup size. All in all it wasn't bad, it was alright, really felt like it was missing the wow factor. I mean maybe it could have been the fact that it was our first time here that we really didn't know what to order. Maybe someone can help make a suggestion on what to order. I really want to give this place a try again. They seem to have so many options which is great. Place was kept decent, maybe just the day I went, but some chairs and tables were a bit dirty and could have used a bit of a wipe down. It was still decently clean. I'd give them a try again if I am ever in the area other than that I'd stick to something closer by my home. read more

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I definitely won't be coming here again if I'm looking for a late night sweet treat. The only good thing about this place is that it closes decently late which is at 11 PM which is why we decided to give it a shot. The Green Tea Delight and the sweet Tofu were both relatively bland and not up to what I wanted. Wouldn't recommend at all! read more

Golden Island Cafe - Green Tea Delight - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stopped by here after dinner nearby on a Friday and luckily just beat the rush. It had been a while since my last visit, but the vibes were exactly how I remembered them--cozy and familiar. Since it was freezing out, I ordered the ginger milk. It was good, but I was hoping for a stronger ginger kick as it tasted a bit mild. My friends ordered the sampler and really enjoyed it, especially the black rice coconut milk. This is always a solid spot if you want to chat and catch up without going to a bar for drinks. Very wholesome vibes overall--and honestly, that's part of the charm. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Sadly disappointed with the quality of the dessert . I feel it's only existing because there are so few restaurants serving like sweets . The cold assorted item was pathetically bad. Mushy fruit, sad amount of ice cream . The coconut sago was ok but the boba in it was hard ! My hot dessert was a little better . Must look for another dessert place . read more

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Golden island has been such a staple since I was little, but haven't been in a hot minute. Was craving some hk dessert, so came in on a weekend evening. There were quite a few groups waiting outside. I ended up waiting ~15 minutes? I ordered the tofu dessert hot which took a bit to get, but there were only a couple people working a full house, so understandable. Weirdly some parts of the tofu dessert were ice cold while others were steamy hot lol. There was a mysterious black dot floating around in the syrup which could've been dust, could've been a bug. The cups of water we got had this weird shiny film on top (oil?) and one of them had some sus bubbles too lol The dessert itself was fine. Acceptable. Unfortunately, the quality seems to have dropped off the planet since I last visited. On to new hk cafes I guess! read more

Golden Island Cafe - Tofu dessert - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am a regular here. I love their mango sago with coconut milk. The yummy mango was not as good, tasted diluted. Other than that their desserts are pretty good. I always get the curry fish balls or French fries. This would be my go to place for a quick snack or a late night meal when everything's closed. I've been going here for over a decade, it's still the same. Service is ok but that feels like the vibe. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Curry fish balls - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A Sunset classic. I grew up coming here and still recognize people from high school whenever I visit now. The desserts are great. I especially love any of their mango desserts. They honestly are not too sweet. My friend enjoys sweeter desserts and wasn't a huge fan of these. Service is what you'd expect, not great. After dinner time, there can be a wait outside since there's no space to wait indoors. Just be prepared for that. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here after lunch for dessert and it was exceptional. Service was okay. It's kinda dead there so nothing to really note about the atmosphere. The desserts were great in my opinion. They weren't really sweet which tells me they don't add much sugar if they do. I like that a lot actually. It tastes real and I like the pairings of the desserts we ordered. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The spot's got that classic no-frills cha chaan teng feel - cozy, nostalgic with the soft Cantonese tunes, and yeah, it stays open late which is a lifesaver in the Sunset. We got the mango sago (the "Yummy Mango" version with coconut milk and bits), and it was refreshing enough - decent portions, some fresh mango chunks, but honestly tasted a bit diluted and watery compared to what I've had at other places. The popcorn chicken was crispy and tasty as a snack, nothing wrong there, but the desserts overall felt kinda average - not super fresh or bursting with flavor like I remembered from years ago. It got pretty crowded quick (waited about 15 mins to sit), service was meh - staff seemed rushed and not super friendly, no real table service vibe. Prices are fair for what you get, and it's great for a casual hang with friends or a quick solo treat if you're in the neighborhood craving something sweet after dinner. Not bad if you're nearby and need a fix, but I probably won't make a special trip - there are better spots for standout HK desserts. Still, convenient late-night option! read more

The iconic HK style late night bite! They have a variety of desserts and salty items like sandwiches. They get pretty crowded at night and are popular for groups. My friend and I ordered the Mango Deluxe and it was alright; exactly what you would expect from the picture. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Mango Deluxe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Honestly the mango dessert is just okay here... The mango part was too thin in my opinion and I didn't love the coconut taste. I liked the glutinous rice balls but overall it was a little bland. I had just gotten a similar dessert from the mango spot on Geary so I had high expectations for this one. The black sesame dessert was yummy tho!! It had tong yurn filled with sugar (i think). read more

Golden Island Cafe - Mango Deluxe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

A local staple serving the best mango sago in town!? Say no more. After seeing this place packed to the brim every Friday night, my sweet tooth finally got the best of me and I ordered their iconic mango sago. They have a full dessert menu waiting to tempt you - from sweet tofu, to sesame paste, to various flavors of Asian fruit melodies. All made to the best degree of... "not too sweet". It seemed like their sizes of desserts varied, but the mango sago was served in a generous cup. Easy to split between two people. I will be back to try their other desserts and make my doctor mad. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Fresh Mango Sago with Coconut Milk - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the classic late night dessert places in the city. It is best to go on a weekday because they can take their time making the desserts. Sometimes it's a hit or miss. The food ordered was sesame/walnut and walnut, and the tofu and sago (cold). The two hot desserts were fragrant, but the walnut was a bit chunky with pieces that needed to be mixed together. All the dessert were a bit on the sweeter side. They do provide hot tea or water for free. On this weekday, they take your order and you pay at register. When it becomes busy, it is easier to order at the counter. When you pay, they account for the tip post-tax. Tip: You have to write your name on the clipboard to wait for a table. there are only a few tables that can hold greater than 6 people. read more

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Great dessert spot with many different options. Everytime I pass this spot it is always filled with people, but we were able to get a seat right away. The popcorn chicken was a good portion and crunchy texture, and the mango deluxe was yummy too with fresh cuts of mango. Durian coconut sago had a piece of fresh durian inside. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Mango Deluxe, Popcorn Chicken - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A classic in Central/Outside Sunset, Golden Island Cafe is always filled with people no matter what time or day I come. When I come in, they either order at the table I'm sitting at, or I come up to the counter and order with them. I've tried their Mango Sago a handful of times, but when I came with my friends most recently, I tried their Green Tea Ice Cream and Dun Lai with Ginger. The Dun Lai with Ginger was made fresh, and it took around 15 minutes before they served it to us. While I wish the Dun Lai came out first, I happily ate my ice cream and enjoyed the texture and taste of the Dun Lai. There are many desserts and snacks worth trying from this cafe! read more

Golden Island Cafe - Green Tea Ice Cream - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Looking for a easy, light and refreshing dessert come here. We tried multiple things on the menu such as the yummy mango, mango deluxe and popcorn chicken (not pictured). Yummy mango and mango deluxe were great. They are light and not too sweet while still tasting great. Popcorn chicken was just ok. Lacking a bit of seasoning. We were a party at 6 and came in at around 10pm on a Saturday night. They enforced a minimum order of 5 dishes. Not an issue but letting you know before you come. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Mango Deluxe Yummy Mango - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Simple Hong Kong style cafe, plenty of tables around (although they do seem to get busy) and one of the very few options that stay open late! Great spot to grab a little something that won't break the bank, and chat with friends. read more

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Dessert: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: A solid place for Chinese dessert. The extended review... Dessert: Almond Soup with Glutenous Rice Balls - 4/5 - Can't say no to this. Not too sweet and very satisfying. Service: 4/5 - Friendly service. Ambiance: 3/5 - Well lit with some decent amount of seating. Portion to Price: 3/5 - Pretty standard pricing. read more

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Came in with a group of 8 and honestly, it was a bit disappointing. We ordered the mango sago since it's their signature, but it came in a tall cup that made it awkward to eat, and it barely tasted like mango--pretty diluted and underwhelming. We got a few other desserts too, but the quality felt inconsistent across the board. There was a minimum order of 5 dishes for our group, which was fine, but they didn't even serve us water--we had to ask for it. Service didn't leave much of an impression. The place isn't quite how I remembered it a few years ago, definitely felt like the standard has dropped. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I got the mango sago dessert drink, it wasn't that sweet. I can't taste the mango or the coconut flavor. It basically tastes like milk with a tad sugar. I used to really like their desserts, but it's that great anymore. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Fresh Mango Sago with Coconut Milk - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Simple, cute inside! Seated immediately on Monday at 8:30 for a table of two. There was plenty of seating when we arrived, but by 8:45/9 the place was packed. Fast service, and the food came out quickly. E ordered the mango deluxe, which had lots of yummy textures and flavors. I especially liked the mochi balls. read more

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The desserts at Golden Island are so good I went two days in a row with different friend groups. I think any of the Asian desserts (majority of the menu except maybe the banana split) you can't go wrong with because everything is so tasty, so order whatever. Looking forward to my next visit in already. read more

Golden Island Cafe - Black Rice with Coconut Milk Sago - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wanted some dessert after dinner so swung by Golden Island Cafe around 9pm on a Wednesday. There were a decent amount of people at the spot, the interior gave off a very cozy vibe. With that said, not sure if it was just that night, but my friend and I were straight up freezing because it was so cold -- and we were sitting on the very inside, nowhere near the door. There are two menus, one with the usual food and desserts, and one with the 'specials'. We ordered a Strawberry World and Fresh Mango with Black Rice. The food came out within 10 minutes of ordering. Taste wise, I thought both items were just average -- nothing to write home about. I would actually say it doesn't meet my expectations based on my experiences at other places that serve these types of desserts. Tldr; I think if someone suggested coming here in the future, I would probably counter with a different spot, but would still be willing to go if we were in a pinch. read more

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I have been here for many years but I keep forgetting to write a review! I craved for the traditional Chinese desert and was excited that my friend reminded me about Golden Island Cafe! Everything is delicious. The desert menu is quite extensive so it's tough to choose what I wanted to order. This place is awesome as I was happy eating sweets here. The service is a little slow as it is always super busy. Bring a friend or two friends and meet up for a chat. You will not notice how long it would take to get your desserts ready. This place is popular and hip. I enjoy every time I'm here! Check it out. You won't be disappointed! read more

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very crowded hk style dessert shop. our party of 3 waited 20 mins to get seated. 杨枝金露 is part slush, i prefer the regular cream/mango/coconut milk mixture. ginger milk was warm and comforting. my friend said their hk milk tea is very good too. will be back to try daytime snacks. read more

Golden Island Cafe - ginger milk - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Still hits the spot for their variety of desserts! We came on a Sunday night and waited about 15-20 minutes before being seated. Got the classic walnut + sesame dumpling which is still 10/10. Also tried the mango deluxe and sweet fruit sampler this time. - Mango Deluxe: Came with a lot of mango fruit bits, mango sago, mango popping boba, ice cream, and dumplings so perfect for a mango lover! - Sweet fruit sampler: It looks small when they place the tray in front of you but there's 4 different dishes so it was enough food. The 4 dishes include mixed fruit, one scoop of ice cream, mango sorbet, and coconut milk with jelly and assorted toppings. We chose between 3 ice cream flavors and picked green tea ice cream. Everything was great and the sampler is nice if you want to try different things. read more

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Mango sago drink: A little disappointed overall. I've gotten this drink at aqua club countless of times and that is something to go out of the way for! However here, it's a big miss. Skimping on the sago, mangos are somewhat sour, definitely not hitting the sweet tooth. Still good for midnight snack tho! read more

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wanted to gatekeep this for the rest of my life but I'm not eating sugar right now and reminiscing. It's so good. Dessert sizes are Huge here, you can easily split something between 2-3 people. So much variety - many types of fruit flavored drinks and desserts as well as a bean/taro selection with warm options. So good and satisfying. read more

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I just wasn't really impressed with the desserts I had here today. It was all just fine - particularly the mango sago item was a little bit flavorless. It was certainly refreshing and the fresh mango was yummy, but I barely tasted coconut tbh and the frozen mango slush was more ice/texture than flavor as well. For the hot desserts, my whole table burned our mouths on these lol, but even after recovering from digging in too quickly, the dun lai also lacked flavor and the dun dan was too eggy. We enjoyed the dumplings and sesame paste though! read more

Golden Island Cafe - Mango Sago with Coconut Milk - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Excellent selection of Chinese and American desserts. Highly recommend anything with peanut butter in it. I'm someone quite picky on the sweetness level of things but the sweetness of their HK and mixed coffee drinks isnt bad. Very nice white clean yet homey atmosphere with efficient and good table service. Table's arent very big so bring just a few friends or your asian family you'd like to bond with here :)((Its also pleasant to people watch with their huge windows)) read more

Golden Island Cafe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Pancake, Tea and Coffee Mix Cold - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Got the mango deluxe and it was pretty awful. The ice cream was the smallest scoop ever. The sago tasted stale and old and clumpy. The mango slushie or whatever liquid was in was incredibly bland and watery. The mochi balls tasted like a ball of chalky dough. The mango was raw and the popping boba had an awful aftertaste. I can't speak on their other menu items but this was not it for the price... read more

Golden Island Cafe - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I heard that this dessert place was a local staple, so I'm really glad I got to try it! I think the parking was really easy to navigate; there were no issues finding a spot! The interior was very bright, and I'm glad that there were great seating options. I got the mango sago with my friend, and I was surprised that it came in a cup with a skinny spoon. This made it a bit harder to get the sago pieces, but overall the mango sago tasted fine. I'm unsure if the cashier was in a not-so-great mood, but the service was okay. Seemed very disinterested haha read more

Golden Island Cafe - Mango sago - Desserts Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really cute HK style dessert spot! Their menu has both sweet and savory dishes, but we tried the sago and juice/slushy desserts. Got the mango deluxe and a mixed fruit sago with watermelon juice, and both were very refreshing on a hot day. The fruit didn't seem to be the most ripe, but I appreciate that they didn't add a bunch of sugar syrup to the dishes. read more

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