I had a great experience! Got the birthday cake and cookies and cream and it was delicious. Service…read morewas amazing and the spot had a very homey feel. Prices were great as well. Definitely a hidden gem. It is cash only. Would def recommend if you're in SF!

Great, ambiance, tom is very kind. Definitely come here! Lovely milkshake, good price (cash only!!)read more

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.

The matcha had almost no flavor--it tasted like milk with just a faint hint of matcha. The hojicha…read morewas the same: practically water with a very light aroma. I understand that drinks may be prepared in batches, but they should at least be shaken or stirred properly before being poured and served. This place used to be much better, but the quality has continued to decline. At $6-$7 per drink, the quality was far below what you would expect at this price point. Such a waste of money.

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.

Okay. No sampling allowed. Long queues. Maybe people know…read morewhat flavor they like? There are two self order kiosk at the end of the queue and various flavors to choose from. Ordered ube/yam and matcha swirl in their classic fish shaped waffle (not sire what its called) Be careful as the cone leaks very quickly. No seating of any kind at this outlet. Revisit score - 3/10

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.

Love this place! Been a few times and finally am leaving a review. It's right next to the park and…read moreusually I wait in a small line but it moves quick. I tasted the black sesame (so good) but was feeling a refreshing mint chip. I didn't know that they had gluten free cones, so that was a treat! The space is cute, not much seating but they have a water station which was VERY needed. Staff were really cute and kind!

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.

We arrived at Mitchell's Ice Cream around 10:30 pm and grabbed a ticket to wait our turn to sample…read moreand order. It was pretty busy, but the line moved quickly and we waited around 10 minutes overall. We ordered the Grasshopper Pie and Lucuma. The employee helping us accidentally gave us Ube instead of Lucuma at first, but was incredibly sweet about the mix-up and let us keep the extra scoop. Funny enough, the Ube ended up being our favorite flavor of the night, and his service was one of the highlights of the visit. Overall, the ice cream was solid and there were plenty of interesting flavors to try. There is a parking lot in the back, but it's fairly small, so be prepared to look for street parking if it's full. I'd definitely come back to try more flavors.

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。

Our favorite ice cream shop in San Francisco! We always get the banana dipped in chocolate, and it…read moreis SOOOOO good! Seriously, we look forward to it every time we're in SF. The staff is always super fast, friendly, and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Great treats, great service, and definitely a must-stop for us whenever we're in the city!

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!

This heatwave is heating up and it's getting sunny in August. There are a few things you can enjoy…read moreto get some relief from the sun. On taco Tuesday more hot sauce isn't going to work to feel refresh. There is place where the tacos are frozen. This place also has many different flavors of ice cream such as pear& blue cheese and sea salt with caramel ribbons like some on my social feed. They also have pies like Wildflower Honey & Lemon Chess Pie and Cherry Coconut pie like some on my social media feed. It's a place for people who like it sweet and salty in SF. It's called Salt & Straw. On a Summer stroll on a sunny day in August I landed inside Salt & Straw in Pacific Heights on Fillmore street. I got the Tacolate a collaboration between Taco Bell and Salt & Straw. The ice cream taco was not too sweet and the sauces like the Wild Berry were tasty and the Mango Jalapeño was a bit savory. The waffle cone for the tortilla was crunchy. Overall it was refreshing and a place for the sweet and salty on a hot day in SF. When the sun is shinning and you need feel refreshed you can to a "shopping mall "or do a "pub crawl" and get something cold and "tall" or grab something sweet and salty like some in SF at "Salt & Straw" Get saucy with packets of "Taco Bell" sweet sauce and waffle taco "shell" and all the flavors tend to "gel" like ice cream with ribbons with sea salt with "caramel"

staff was very rude and dismissive. there were 7 people working and no one said hello or asked to…read moretake my order. there seven people all talking to each other and ignoring me. i had to ask the cashier directly who finally directed me to someone. I specifically called this guy out and said there's about seven people working here and no one would make eye contact with me or ask if I needed help and he said oh I understand it can be confusing. And I said no someone should have asked me do you need help? Can I help you and only after I pushed him did he apologize for that. But I teared up because it was really rude and I felt very ignored. and for this guy to go ahead and make up excuses for the fact that out of seven people not one person was able to do their job is pathetic. i decided to walk out because the level of customer service was completely unacceptable.