Matcha Cafe Maiko is a matcha specialty shop that first opened in Hawaii and currently has multiple…read morelocations across multiple states including California (two Los Angeles locations in Monterey Park and Rowland Heights), Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey, and Arizona. For this location, the shop is located inside the Kinokuniya Mall in Japantown in San Francisco. [Parking]: There are two parking garages - The Main Garage (1610 Geary Boulevard) and The Fillmore Annex Garage (1650 Fillmore Street). Parking rate = $5 per hour from 12 PM to 6 PM and $3 per hour outside of those hours. I got lucky and was able to find metered parking spots near the intersection of Buchanan St and Sutter St (free on Sunday). [Atmosphere]: Matcha Cafe Maiko is located on the first level of Kinokuniya Mall. This is mostly a takeout only spot with no indoor tables and limited chairs available. [Menu]: Most visitors come here for the matcha soft-serve ice cream. The shop also offers the Golden Sho-Gun 24K gold soft-serve ice cream. Other items include sundaes, parfaits, lattes, cream foam lattes, and teas. *** Soft Serve Ice Cream (Matcha, Cone - $6.95): Amazing ice cream - creamy and dense with a strong matcha flavor. *** This is a fantastic matcha ice cream shop - two big thumbs up. P.S. - If you are already at the shop, this is also a good opportunity to check out other shops in Kinokuniya Mall and the adjacent Japan Center Malls.

Matcha was okay considering the matcha was premixed…read more I ordered the double matcha and it was more the texture of a smoothie rather than a matcha latte. The flavor was good and tasted decently fresh but the thick texture really threw me off.

Maybe it was the flavors I chose the first or second time I went here but I wasn't too crazy about…read morethis place. I've been here about 10x since my last review because the tourists we take to Japantown always want something from here. The soft serve is so good now. The most recent flavor I got was yuzu something and it was smooth, creamy, and had a nice yuzu flavor. The fish cone is pretty good, I enjoy both types the regular fish shaped cone and the mochi version. The mochi version is indeed mochi. I wish they would use an unscented floor cleaner because the smell of the cleaner is really strong and wafts out into the area where people order at the kiosk and wait to pick up their ice cream. It's an unpleasant fragrance to smell while you're waiting or trying to enjoy your food. They've finally added more tables outside the shop where people can hang out and eat their ice cream. They could add even more tables and chairs, and there'd still be plenty of walking space.

I had been looking forward to coming back here for a while, but this recent visit was a total…read moredisappointment. The shop is always packed, but they have completely eliminated customer service by forcing everyone to order through a kiosk. Worse, the soft serve isn't as good as it used to be. The matcha flavor was incredibly weak, and the black sesame was way too grainy, weak and lacked any depth. The biggest issue was a major hygiene and professionalism fail. Despite using order numbers, the employee at the counter ignored them and handed my ice cream to two other customers. When they realized the mistake and said it wasn't theirs, the employee just took the ice cream back and handed it right to me--with zero apology. Passing along food that other people have already handled is completely unhygienic. Japantown has way too many amazing dessert spots to waste your time and money here. I won't be back.

Incredible concept with ice cream and crepes, and to top it off, your food is handed to you looking…read morelike a cute character from one of the shops in Japantown. Delicious desserts served in a uniquely creative way has made this a must-have when we visit San Francisco!

I was stuffed after dinner, but as we all know, dessert goes into a completely different stomach!…read more Another bonus was that there was no line when I arrived, so I quickly decided on the Daifuku Special. It came with a matcha-flavored crepe, matcha ice cream, caramel sauce, and, best of all, daifuku. I opted to skip the bananas since I wasn't really in the mood for fruit with my dessert. I just wish the crepe skin itself was a bit crispier. I requested it but I don't think their method of making the crepe makes it possible. At $12 plus tax it felt like a fun indulgence and a sweet way to end the evening.

Ice cream shops are all over the city, but this one was the best…read more It's located catty-corner to Dolores Mission Park, that has beautiful views of the city and the water and nice public bathrooms! Bi-Rite has a myriad of flavors, from classics (mint n chip and cookies n cream) to unique creations (balsamic strawberry, black sesame, and coffee toffee). The small size was around $6 and includes two flavors. They offer tasters, on real metal spoons, so you can try the unique flavors before committing. The servers were so friendly and must have the patience of saints -- there are too many good flavors to choose from!!! I had the honey lavender and the crème brûlée. Both were 10/10! The honey lavender was so unique and the crème brûlée had little chips of hardened caramelized sugar like the actual dessert. Easily one of my favorite ice cream shops and a strong competitor against my favorite, Caffè Panna!

Disappointing, Overhyped, and Not What We Expected…read more My family and I are very experienced diners, and we rely heavily on Yelp when we're looking for honest opinions from other customers. We were recently in San Francisco and were excited to find a great ice cream spot. With so many options, we turned to Yelp and that's where we found Bi-Rite Creamery, boasting nearly 11,000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating. Those numbers set some pretty high expectations. I read through quite a few reviews beforehand, looking for recommendations on standout flavors and specialties. After all that praise, I was genuinely confused when we arrived. First, finding parking was a nightmare and the surrounding area felt pretty rundown. The shop itself was underwhelming, the employees weren't particularly welcoming and the ice cream looked noticeably soft as though the freezer temperature wasn't quite where it should have been. The flavor selection was surprisingly limited and I wasn't impressed by the use of reusable tasting spoons. I ordered the sundae, expecting something memorable after reading so many glowing reviews. Instead, it was completely ordinary and the bananas weren't fresh. There was literally NOTHING about it that justified the level of hype I had read beforehand. And that's really my bigger issue: the experience simply did not match the reviews. It was confusing. This wasn't terrible ice cream, but it was decidedly average. The selection was limited, the ice cream wasn't as cold or impressive as expected, location sucked, the atmosphere was nothing special and the customer service was marginal at best. Afterward, I started looking more closely at the business and its enormous volume of reviews, and I honestly found myself wondering how our experience could be so dramatically different from what I had read beforehand. Nearly 11,000 reviews?? That is an extraordinary number for an ice cream shop, especially when so many reviews describe the experience as exceptional and rave about specific flavors which were subpar. Obviously, I can't speak to the authenticity of other customers experiences and I'm not going to accuse anyone of manipulating or leaving fake reviews without evidence. But I can speak to ours: it was nowhere near the experience YELP led us to expect. This is exactly why I wish Yelp did a better job helping consumers distinguish genuine, useful customer feedback from whatever is driving these enormous review counts and inflated expectations. My family spent our time, money, and effort getting there based largely on those reviews and we left wondering what we had missed... Nearly 11,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating? Based on our experience, that's a level of hype this ice cream simply didn't live up to and something's up. It sucks when dishonest people take advantage of useful resources.

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion…read moreof their appointed rounds..." Okay...that was a stretch, and this is not the United States Post Office. However, on this drizzly, cold San Francisco SUMMER evening, when Karl the Fog has apparently forgotten what season we're in and everyone is bundled up like it's mid-November...there's still a crowd gathered outside Mitchell's Ice Cream yearning for that sweet escape of scoops and smiles. Only in San Francisco do people stand outside shivering while patiently waiting to eat something even colder. And somehow...it makes perfect sense. Meet Mitchell's Ice Cream, a San Francisco institution that's been family owned and operated since 1953, sitting on the same neighborhood block for more than 70 years and doing something remarkably simple...making really, really good ice cream. And for me, it was that time again...the monthly resupply. Some people stock their freezer with vegetables and sensible frozen dinners. I stock mine with Mitchell's pre-packed half-gallon tubs...we all prepare for emergencies differently. Today's first selection was an old faithful... Rocky Road. It starts with a luxurious chocolate ice cream base that's rich, creamy, and unapologetically decadent. Then come the soft marshmallows and crunchy walnuts, providing that beautiful contrast of textures that makes Rocky Road such an enduring classic. Creamy chocolate ice cream, pillowy marshmallows and crunchy walnuts. Every spoonful delivers a little something different while somehow bringing everything together. Calling it Rocky Road almost seems unfair...this road is pretty darn smooth. Next into my frozen shopping cart went one of Mitchell's tropical treasures...Mango. If Rocky Road is comfort, Mango is vacation. The moment that frozen goodness melts across your tongue, you're transported somewhere sunny, tropical, and most importantly somewhere Karl the Fog apparently doesn't have a forwarding address. The flavor captures the bright sweetness of ripe, sun-kissed mangoes while Mitchell's rich dairy base gives it a wonderfully velvety finish. It's like a creamy tropical breeze in frozen form. But while perusing the freezer...something caught my eye. DURIAN. Ahhh...Durian. The tropical fruit famous for inspiring equal amounts of culinary devotion and olfactory panic. Travel and food writer Richard Sterling once described its aroma as an "unforgettable combination involving onions, turpentine, a gym sock...and something even less appetizing". With an endorsement like that...you KNOW I had to try it. What could possibly go wrong? I cautiously took my first taste and fully prepared for my taste buds to file a formal complaint. Instead...Surprise!!! Mitchell's somehow managed to tame this notoriously aggressive tropical beast. The first sensation was a cool, creamy burst, followed by Durian's warm, custard-like depth. There's an intriguing sweetness, a subtle savory quality, and that unmistakable tropical funk quietly reminding you..."Yep...I'm still Durian." The smooth ice cream combined with the slightly denser character of the fruit creates an unusual but fascinating contrast, while those sweet and savory undertones turn each spoonful into a genuine culinary adventure. Did I like it? Yes. Would I buy an entire half gallon next time? Ummmm...Maybe?!?! Let's call our relationship with Durian "complicated." Finally, I returned to familiar territory with their Strawberry ice cream and what a homecoming. Made with berries sourced from the Pacific Northwest, this isn't strawberry ice cream that tastes like pink food coloring and childhood cough syrup. This tastes like...Strawberries. The ice cream itself has that wonderfully dense, velvety texture that slowly melts across the palate, while the fruit delivers bright bursts of natural sweetness and gentle acidity. Creamy dairy richness meets ripe strawberry freshness in a combination that's simple, elegant, and timeless. No gimmicks needed. Just really good ingredients churned into something wonderful. And that's ultimately why Mitchell's remains so special. Food trends have arrived and disappeared. Restaurants have opened and closed. Neighborhoods have transformed. San Francisco itself has changed dramatically. But Mitchell's remains right where it's always been...quietly scooping happiness one cone...and in my case, several half-gallon tubs at a time. Overall: 5 stars. Mitchell's isn't simply an ice cream shop. It's a piece of San Francisco history that happens to serve some spectacular ice cream. From the chocolatey comfort of Rocky Road and tropical elegance of Mango to the adventurous Durian and beautifully simple Strawberry, there's always another reason to return. Mitchell's will always be my go-to ice cream spot in the City. Rain...Fog...Cold...Durian...Nothing's stopping this appointed round. Come hungry...and Go Big!!!

Incredible ice cream place with tons of options. A little out of the way from where I live but…read moreworth it. They have lots of great Asian and Latin American flavors to choose from as well as classics. It can get busy though so expect a wait. You need to get a ticket and then they'll call out your number. Most people eat outside or in the vicinity, not as much space inside

such unique flavors!!! the Rose petal pistachio stole the…read moreshow: super strong rose flavor (worked for me because i love rose flavored desserts) with these chunks of crunchy (not sure but probably caramelized) pistachio scattered throughout it. i would definitely return for that the Chai was also good, not artificial at all i also sampled the mexican coffee and i really liked that you could tell it had actual spices in it also tried their seasonal Plum flavor: this was like a real plum, on the sweeter side, but will only be around for 2 more weeks definitely would return to try other flavors the one small bad thing: really really sweet, which is only a problem for me because I usually enjoy lighter flavors also pretty good service! allowed sampling even though I was super indecisive also not a long wait

This is a really great place for ice cream!!!…read more Hungry for some cool and refreshing ice cream on a hot day I discovered this place on Google maps. Being it was just a few blocks away we decided to check it out. Glad we did. It's a small unassuming place but the ice cream (gelato) is high quality and very delicious. The offering choices are quite good. We both decided to get cups with two scoops, the same- one scoop of Stracciatella and one scoop Butterscotch Creme Brûlée. YUM! What a good combination. The ice cream was creamy smooth and really hit the mark of quality product. The flavor of the Butterscoth was even and not overpowering. The chocolate pieces in the Stracciatella were spot on good, the flavor equally good. They sell pints and quarts of the ice cream and other interesting products as well, for example awesome looking bomb cakes. Service was good, helpful and the prices not that bad for this level of quality. If you're in the area this is well worth a visit.

THE BEST CREPES!!!!!!! No joke, best crepes ever. From east…read morecoast to west, this is the absolute, hands down, best crepe spot. Nestled in the heart of Japan town's shopping center, right next to the bookstore- Sophie's crepes is. Very small bistro seating is available, but this place gets pretty busy. They have an extensive menu of both simple and layered flavors. The crepes here are thin and crispy, and come in a very cute crepe holder when served. I always get the strawberries and banana with Nutella, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. The crepe won't last long, you'll eat it right up. My partner opts for a strawberry and whipped cream option, with raspberry jam- simple in comparison to my order. Sophie's is always our starting point in Japan town, and once you've placed your order, you cannot revise it. Make sure you hold onto your number, you'll need to provide it when your number is called. Enjoy, a must try in SF; even if you just go to Japan town for this one thing, trust me, it's worth it.

It's been a long time since I last visited this crepe shop. With so much competition in San…read moreFrancisco's Japantown, I wouldn't say the flavors here are particularly impressive or outstanding. That said, the prices are quite reasonable, especially considering how generous the portions are. Overall, it's still a pretty good value, and I'd recommend giving it a try! 很久沒去過這家可麗餅店了，但是感覺在競爭激烈的舊金山日本城，這家店的口味感覺不算太驚豔，不過價格不算貴，因為他們的份量非常的多，所以還是挺推薦給各位的。

Came here on a sunny afternoon and it was unusually warm in town. Decided to swing by Swensens for…read morea delicious scoop. I have to warn you, if you are going to walk here, prepare for really steep hills! Your calves will be screaming. In a good way most likely! There's also a bus that drops you off closeby. No worries, guys. But the scoops are generous here. Staff are also very friendly. I got a scoop of their Mint Chip on a cone and it was super delicious. Creamy and minty on a perfect afternoon. They do accept cards here, so don't be shy, grab a cone...or two!

It's never too cold for ice cream. At least it wasn't when we were getting Swensen's!…read more The night before we had driven past and there was a line out the door! Their curb was completely filled with people, so it deterred us from going. But after our dinner, we were seriously craving a sweet treat. They keep the doors open, so you can walk in and the delicious smell of ice cream wafts on to the street. And would you believe--no line! I walked right up to the counter and placed my order! Now, I always love niche flavors and they had plenty of them to choose from! I could've spent time going through and sampling some (which they offer), but I decided on their banana ice cream in a waffle cone. It was spectacular gimme 14 of them. The banana ice cream was creamy and didn't give off that artificial taste that some ice creams tend to have. And the waffle cone was the right move! Highly recommend to get it with whatever ice cream flavor you end up choosing. It was crispy and perfectly sweet! I now understand the line. Definitely a must visit for a sweet treat to end your night!