San Francisco is a city known for its amazing food scene, especially the diversity of options it has. An essential part of any trip to San Francisco is the dessert. Whether you have a big sweet tooth or not, San Francisco has something for everyone. This list also includes a places that accommodate for a variety of dietary restrictions and allergies. This list is just a handful of great dessert places in SF, but does not include all of them!
Rinah Anatalio / Daily Nexus
The first dessert spot on the list is Yasukochi’s Sweet Stop in Japantown. This bakery is located in the Super Mira market and is cash only. Yasukochi’s is known for their coffee crunch cake, which is amazing. It has been voted “Best of San Francisco” multiple times according to Modern Luxury magazine. The cake sells out quickly and the ladies working the bakery recommend getting there right when it opens to avoid the lines and the chance that you won’t be able to get a slice!
Rinah Anatalio / Daily Nexus
Another yummy dessert spot in Japantown is Benkyodo Co, a family operated shop that makes fresh mochi every morning. Since mochi is made from rice flour, it is gluten-free and many of their flavors are vegan. The shop is also cash only and closed on Sundays. Their menu changes with additions of seasonal flavors and their popular flavors sell out quickly, so it is best to get to the shop early to see all of what they have to offer.
Rinah Anatalio / Daily Nexus
In the nearby Mission district, Bi Rite Market serves some of the best ice cream in the city. They have a variety of unique flavors and use ingredients sourced from local farmers from the Bay Area. Bi Rite also has a variety of gluten-free and dairy-free options for those with dietary restrictions. This ice cream shop is one of the few places in SF that offers gluten-free cones.
Rinah Anatalio / Daily Nexus
Many people walk over to Mission Dolores Park, which is across the street, to enjoy their ice cream and people-watch. Another hidden gem in the mission district is Stonemill Matcha. Stonemill Matcha is a cafe that offers a full brunch/lunch menu and incorporates matcha into all of its drinks and desserts. They offer a variety of drinks such as hojicha matcha, ginger matcha and yuzu matcha. Their pastries are made on-site and are known for being very aesthetic looking. Although they do not have many vegan and/or gluten-free options, one of the workers mentioned that they are planning on expanding their menu to do so. Stonemill Matcha almost always has a line but the wait is worth it.
Rinah Anatalio / Daily Nexus
Across the city in the Sunset District, Golden Island is a Chinese cafe that many locals frequent. Golden Island is known for their sago desserts, which are small clear starch balls that are boiled and served with sweetened coconut milk. Sago can be served cold or warm. The customer is able to customize fruits or other add-ons such as sweet tofu, boba and red bean. One of the most remarkable things about Golden Island is that its desserts are not overly sweet or heavy, making it perfect for any time of the day.
Rinah Anatalio / Daily Nexus
The final place on this dessert guide is Souvla, a Greek restaurant that has multiple locations within the city. Souvla is home to the best Greek frozen yogurt that I’ve ever had in my life. The flavor is reminiscent of a plain tart frozen yogurt but better. There are four flavor options available but the baklava one is the best. The workers are always very generous with the portions so the $5 serving could be easily shared.
Although this concludes my SF dessert guide, there are hundreds of other places that serve great sweets. I hope this guide helps you find a new favorite the next time you visit the city!
