The owner is incredibly helpful and happy to teach noobs advanced techniques…read more The prices are excellent and he carries most items (like Mr Hobby Sprays) that are overpriced online. I really recommend Ying's shop and I hope he continues to share his tips with the next gens of gunpla-ers :)

Definitely a "hole in the wall" store located in an unassuming alleyway in SF Chinatown. Store…read morehours appear accurate and the owner Tony opened the door right at 1:00 PM. The store is cramped and ceilings are low, so be mindful of any big purses or backpacks - you wouldn't want to knock over any of the delicate figurines. The place sells mostly Gundams. Not as many Real Grade (RG) gundams available, but still a great place to check out. Prices are marked on a majority of the products which I appreciate, though I still did find some items that didn't have a price tag stuck on it. Overall a cool place to check out if you're just browsing and seeing if anything catches your eye, but not if you're hoping to find something super specific (you might be able to call ahead of time to check inventory but I haven't tried this)

Resealed packs. I…read morebought a White Flare (JP) and Team Rocket (JP) booster box and found that two cards belonged to the Terastal Festival collection I don't have video proof of opening these boxes. These were the first boxes I've ever bought and opened them with some friends, but when I put them in a scanner neither original collection showed up. Thought it was an error, did some googling on these cards and the serial numbers - Terastal. If they respond, they'll call me out for lying - I have no reason to do so. In my lifetime I've now opened four boxes and two were resealed, apparently

I've been coming to Classic Materials for years! When they were in Tanforan Mall and now Stonestown…read moreGalleria. This store is tucked in the mall on the 2nd floor not too far from the Food Court and Target. They have a great selection of Sports Memorabilia, Funko Pops, Hot Wheels, collector cards, toys and more. I specifically like going there for their collectors items. I even remember meeting Klay Thompson and other Golden State Warriors current and past players when they used to be at Tanforan Mall. The team working at this store is great, especially DJ who is very helpful and knowledgeable of the products he sells The store gets fairly busy, however, DJ is always attentive to his customers and makes it a point to help the customers find what they want/need. The store is very clean and organized. The prices there are reasonable and I never leave the store without making a purchase! Never found myself dissatisfied with any of their items! Highly recommended! My kids love going here too! 5 stars!

To sum it up: Many games for purchase, clean and organized store, MSRP Pokemon trading cards, and…read moreallows donations. My husband and I are huge Pokemon fans and we love to open and collect cards. But with the surging popularity of this hobby, many stores such as Target, GameStop, and other collectible places sometimes increase their prices, so it's not worth it to buy them overpriced. Gamescape keeps their prices as MSRP and their staff is very friendly. They keep it simple and easy with their Pokemon trading card items behind the counter and if they have more, they'll tell you and if they're not, they're out. None of that "hiding items from customers" nonsense that you see from other stores because they want to keep it for themselves, and etc. I also appreciate them accepting our donations of Pokemon items and accessories such as playmats, dice, binders, etc. After opening Pokemon cards, my husband and I do not need 10+ playmats, bunch of dice, and countless binders. With all of these in "never used" conditions, we would rather donate them to kids who would appreciate them more and have fun with them. I definitely do not want to sell those to kids or others as well, since they are free items with the Pokemon cards. Gamescape accepted our donations and was very appreciative. Thank you Gamescape for being one of the few places who sells their Pokemon items at MSRP and allowing us to enjoy this hobby without burning our $$$ too much lol

Tempted to gate keep this place but I can't. They are hands down the best game shop in San…read moreFrancisco! I came here for a One Piece card tournament and it was so fun. The bustling murmuring of fans chatting bout the game. Everyone in the community here is so helpful and open. They gave me card protectors and even game resources. The staff is the best. Always friendly and enthusiastic about helping you. Their price are the best in town bar none. Even the official Bandai store is 20$ more. Ironically, during this pre release event for a new set, the official store didn't have any products. ( Gamescape price are the best and they give free packs per win. I definitely recommend you to shop here for your TCG and figuring hobbies needs.

Used to come here every now and then for anime figures, but haven't been back since I stopped…read morecollecting. I started coming again now that I got into model kit building and painting and I have a totally new appreciation for this place. Due to the small size of the store, the selection is not comprehensive, but I always find very cool things every time I come in. I usually shop for gunpla, military model kits, game miniatures, and hobby supplies like paints and glues. I'm fine with paying a bit more to support a local store, but I'm always pleasantly shocked that prices here are either roughly the same as online or cheaper! I don't keep up with anime figure prices anymore so I can't tell you if the prices on those are as competitive. I can only vouch for the model kits/miniatures/supplies. The biggest downside is the place is super cramped, but in a way it's also somewhat of a plus because I can look around at the various stacked boxes and find lots of treasures. Plus the person behind the counter (think he's the owner?) is very nice and patient.

A great store with a wide selection of figures, board games, and other animanga collectibles :)…read moreThis store is across from the bathrooms next to Suzu Noodle House. The store offers a variety of collectible/fun items at competitive and relatively low prices. They have a rotating and wide selection of figures from various franchises that other stores in the Japantown mall might not have, even the Kinokuniya. During my last visit (12/17/2025) in particular I remember they had a huge selection of Spy Family figures and many of the Project Sekai Sega Prize figures but they also carry other merch from many other franchises like JJBA, Love Live, and MHA. The store limits its capacity to six customers at a time but that's only because they have so much items in the store! The employees are very nice and help get the items you want quickly, every item I've purchased from here has been unopened and in perfect condition. Highly recommend this store

Tl;dr: this store has amazing customer service - Junior gave 110% effort to making sure I left Tap…read morePlastics with the perfect products for my family's needs. He was extremely patient in listening to what we were looking for, and showed me a variety of different options around the store. Background: I ended up at Tap in search of plastic display cases (for cherished figurines), and plastic display frames for pictures. The SF store seems to have a much wider selection of the 'Showcase Plastic Boxes' than the San Mateo store. Thanks to Junior's expert guidance, I left the store with a variety of boxes that perfectly fit all of the objects (big & small!) that we were looking to encase. It was as if we'd gotten them custom made! Pro tip: Know the dimensions of the objects you're looking to encase beforehand, or simply bring them with you to the store and let the magic unfold.

Thank you Junior and your plastic craftsman for replicating a clear plastic pick guard for my…read moreGibson Les Paul Custom Shop R9 guitar. It looks great and a perfect match to perfectly fit on my guitar without any problems. Now, I can show off the wood-work of the full body of my guitar while protecting the it from my picking motions when I play. Thank you for rushing my order and for the excellent service. All of you treated me so well, and you treated me like I was your only customer when you had a bunch of customers in your shop today, 5-November-2025. I wish you all the best, and I will be a return customer. /s/ Alfonso Faustino

I first met Joe Pon at Misdirections Magic Shop over 20 years ago. Back then, it was also where I…read moresaw Eric Anderson and Eugene Burger for the first time--moments that left a lasting impression on my journey in magic. Brick-and-mortar magic shops are increasingly rare, but Misdirections isn't just a place to buy tricks--it's a place to grow as a magician. The real value in supporting Joe isn't only in the products he sells, but in the way he guides you through what to learn and in what sequence. That structure can save you years of trial and error, not to mention a lot of money, because in magic, the order in which you learn things really does matter. If I had one wish, it would be to see more lectures return. In the past, Joe brought in some of the greats of magic--legendary inventors, creators, and consultants to names like David Copperfield and David Blaine. Meeting these minds in person, asking questions, and seeing how they think is invaluable. Live lectures and workshops don't just teach tricks; they help build a stronger, more connected magic community. If you're serious about magic--or even just curious--supporting a shop like Misdirections is supporting the craft itself. Subscribe to Joe's email list to stay updated on events, and if you're in San Francisco, drop by. It's more than a store--it's part of magic history.

You may have said to yourself, when will I have need of a magic shop? I think the answer will…read moresurprise you, but it will always be eventually. And fortunately, Misdirections is waiting and ready to serve you. Whether it's more novelty items to more sophisticated magic, they will sure have you what you're looking for. And if you don't see it, ask! They are extremely friendly and knowledge about what they sell and what customers are looking for.

The Nintendo San Francisco store is located right in front of Union Square. The store is lined with…read moreNintendo merchandise featuring popular characters, bringing back the boyish spirit even for adults. The staff are cheerful and seem to work in a relaxed atmosphere. In the basement, you can play Nintendo Switch on a large screen and enjoy a dynamic game of Mario Kart. Nintendo has spread its wings and become a global success from Japan, where I was born and raised. The products you can buy here are more than just price-conscious; they are filled with the dreams and hopes of childhood.

Nintendo San Francisco is a dedicated Nintendo retail store in the city, and it delivers on what…read moreyou would expect from that concept while adding enough of its own character to make it worth visiting even if you are not coming in with a specific purchase in mind. I walked into a clean, modern space with interactive displays and character installations throughout that gave the store an energy beyond a standard merchandise shop. The product range covers the full breadth of Nintendo's franchises. Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Pikmin, Splatoon, Donkey Kong, and Kirby all have dedicated sections, and the merchandise extends well beyond games into clothing, accessories, plushies, kitchenware, home goods, cards, and collectibles. The exclusive items, things I cannot find at a general retailer or order online easily, are the main draw for serious fans, and the store stocks enough of them that it justifies the visit for collectors. The window decals, which show Nintendo characters from the inside looking out onto the street with passersby visible behind them, are a small design detail that worked better in person than it sounds. Game demo stations are set up throughout the store and add an interactive element that makes the space feel like more than a gift shop. Staff were consistently friendly and engaged, willing to have actual conversations about the products rather than just processing transactions. The store gets busy, particularly on weekends and during summer, and there can be a wait to get inside during peak periods. Weekday afternoons are the easier time to visit if I want to move through the space without too much pressure. For Nintendo fans of any age, it is one of the more enjoyable retail experiences in San Francisco, and the prices are more reasonable than I expected going in.