- MARCO POLO ITALIAN ICE CREAM
Despite moving from their iconic Parkside neighborhood location to Noriega St. last year, ice cream lovers everywhere will be happy to know Marco Polo’s delicate flavor and authenticity to its roots has remained.
The shop mixes Italian gelato with a variety of classic and Asian flavors, like durian, mangosteen, taro, and more. This allows customers to experiment with some wacky combinations, like mixing scoops of sesame with mint chocolate chip. The gelato itself is dense, stretchy in texture, and absolutely delicious. The flavors in each bite stand out, but still manage to be sub
tle and not overwhelming, making for a refreshing treat.
Marco Polo earns first place on my list for its uniqueness, exquisite flavors, and dedication to the community. The shop has been serving San Francisco residents, specifically the Sunset, since 1982, and is my go-to spot!
FLAVOR RECOMMENDATION: Thai Tea and Chocolate (Thai Tea scoop on top!)
2. SALT & STRAW
Similarly to Marco Polo, the Hayes Valley shop offers a mix of classic flavors, like Double Fold Vanilla or Salted Malted Cookie Dough, as well as some peculiar ones, like Pear and Blue Cheese or Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper. Their friendly staff are never hesitant to offer multiple samples for customers to try every desired flavor. The names of their flavors are quite the mouthful, but so is the actual flavor of their ice cream. There isn’t anything I hate more than when my cookie dough ice cream doesn’t have enough cookie dough, but I’ve never faced that problem at Salt and Straw. Their scoops are brimming with rich flavors and their serving sizes are incredibly generous. I’d never imagine that a mix of that many different tastes could be so delicious, but Salt & Straw pulls it off beautifully.
FLAVOR RECOMMENDATION: Salted Malted Cookie Dough in a waffle cone
3. MITCHELL’S ICE CREAM
Mitchell’s is the only shop in the city where you can expect there to be a line out the door at any time of the day, and to be something like 56th in line while they’re still serving number seven. The iconic Mission District shop has been serving the city since 1953 and is a classic part of living and growing up in the city. They offer a very wide range of flavors, including many classic flavors like Rocky Road, as well as several Filipino specialties like Ube (purple yam) . For me, its appeal comes from the ’50s style storefront and for the diverse community you can find surrounding the shop. Its atmosphere is
lively and welcoming, effectively drawing people in and always convincing me to stop for a scoop. The reason it’s not higher on this list is because the ice cream is frankly overrated. Yes, it’s delicious, but is it better than the Mint Chip I can pick up from the grocery store? I’d say no.
However, the creamery’s tropical flavors, like Coconut and Mango, do stand out in their refreshing taste and light texture. Mitchell’s earns its rightful place on this list for its tasty ice cream, distinct atmosphere, and for the iconic role it has played in mine, and many other SF residents’ childhoods.
FLAVOR RECOMMENDATION: Mexican Chocolate and Coconut
4. HUMPHREY SLOCOMBE
I’ve heard about a million different variations in how people pronounce Slocombe, but what Humphrey Slocombe is consistent in is its creamy ice cream and funky flavors, like their San Francisco-themed sourdough flavor or their corn flake flavored Secret Breakfast flavor. I fell in love with their Malted Milk Chocolate about two years ago, when I was on the hunt for something restorative to indulge in. Imagine the best hot chocolate you’ve ever had, but morphed into rich and revitalizing ice cream. That is how I’d describe its delectable flavor. Aside from ice cream, the service and employees at every location I’ve been to have been engaging and incredibly welcoming. They take
the time to get to know their customers and give suggestions about their own personal favorite flavors. I’ll never forget the employee who always knew and remembered I wanted Malted Milk Chocolate before I could even order it. This shop — with two locations, at the Embarcadero and in the Dogpatch — earns its place on this list for their rich flavors and welcoming aura.
FLAVOR RECOMMENDATION: Malted Milk Chocolate
