As someone who's picky about chocolate desserts, I really enjoyed this stop…read more The hot chocolate had a deeper cacao flavor than most places, and I liked that it wasn't overly sweet or heavy. It felt much more balanced and grown-up than the usual sugary version. The pastry I tried was also nicely done.. rich, layered, and satisfying without being too much. What stood out most to me, though, was the whole atmosphere. It feels part café, part chocolate boutique, part tasting experience. Even just browsing the bars and beautifully packaged products was fun. A really nice place if you enjoy thoughtful desserts and want something that feels a little more elevated than a typical coffee-and-pastry stop.

While I appreciate fine chocolate, I'm no connoisseur when it comes to top-tier craft chocolate. I…read morejust know Dandelion by their lofty reputation and that it rests on their approach, a pure mix of cocoa beans and sugar without the need of extra cocoa butter. Last year I saw how insanely popular their Tokyo store was, so I finally tried this cafe for the first time because it was unusually empty as I was passing by. I had no idea what to order because the menu wasn't conspicuous to virginal visitors. Only later did I notice the drink menu on the left wall. The openly exposed desserts are what really caught my eye first. I decided to order the $6.75 Frozen Hot Chocolate because it frankly reminded me of the decadent monstrosities at the legendary Serendipity 3 in Manhattan's Midtown East (Photo 8). It was similar but not nearly as huge of pricy. I liked it a lot though with a generous dollop of whipped cream, it was more a mid-afternoon dessert. That should've been enough, but the confections on display were too inviting. Filled with 70% Takyikrom and Ghana chocolate ganache, the $8 Apple Donut was freckled with candied apple bits and tossed in spiced sugar (Photo 9). Delightfully decadent. FOOD / DRINK - 5 stars...definitely in a class by itself AMBIANCE - 4 stars..,I sat at the solitary counter that provided a view of their prep area SERVICE - 4 stars...they appear to work efficiently together TOTAL - 5 stars...when you feel deserving of the decadence RELATED - Exploring the Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/8atEsCvE8x

A dangerous store filled with delightful treats! You can either buy pre-bagged candies or mix and…read morematch and pay by the pound. I walked in intending on just buying a couple pre-mixed bags, but walked out $65 poorer....so be warned. It's dangerous in here! I love sour candies and there's a great selection of those here. They also have vegan-friendly gummies (if that's you, this is your shop!). I also found a great selection of chocolates that I thought were quite interesting, and bought a few bars to sample.

I stopped by Giddy Candy while looking for gifts for coworkers and ended up spending way more time…read moreinside than I expected. The store is super cute with a pink theme and colorful displays everywhere. They have a wide variety of candy selections, gummy bears, chocolates, and snacks from different places. I honestly so surprised to find Maison Marou chocolate there since it's from Vietnam, my homeland, and I never expected to see it in a SF store. That alone made me so happy. Everything feels thoughtfully picked instead of random bulk candy. It's the kind of shop where you keep spotting new things everywhere around the store. Definitely a great spot for gifts or just treating yourself a little.

Think Halloween's over? Think again…read more All the candy's still for sale. (Even though TorT is free.) Don't knock the hustle, son.

It was a great treat after Caliber down the street. It was to our surprise that they serve some…read moreMitchell's ice cream. But a lot of the flavors on the board were not out because they wanted to finish the other flavors first which was a bummer. One girl was working and was super friendly and patient. It was a quick trip, but ice cream is always a treat!

When news first broke that the original Shaws was going to be closing its doors, I was legitimately…read morebummed out. For me, it's always a shame when a longtime business shutters, but even more so when it's a spot I used to frequent when I was a kid! So, you can imagine how stoked I was when I heard that not only was a new owner going to be coming in to take on the space, but that they were going to keep just about everything about this place the same! If you ever visited the original Shaws, this place will look and feel more than a little familiar. From their signage, to their decor, to their range of offerings, so much of this place is just like its predecessor. Most importantly, of course, their offerings are no different from before either. While most folks, like me, mainly stop in for a scoop (or three) of their Mitchell's ice cream, Shaws is actually a candy shop, selling a variety of housemade fudges, chocolates, and confections along with candies from both well-known and lesser-known brands, like Tootsie Roll Pops, PEZ, and Nerds. -- GRASSHOPPER PIE ICE CREAM Despite how there are so many newer ice cream creations and flavors out there, this continues to rank as one of my favorites anywhere. The mint chocolate chip, Oreo, and fudge complement each other very well and the ice cream itself is so smooth and creamy - DELICIOUS! -- ESPRESSO TOFFEE CRUNCH ICE CREAM On the rare, RARE occasion that I don't get the Grasshopper Pie, this is what I typically get instead. The ice cream has a nice espresso taste to it with a good amount of toffee bits thrown in. Yet, much like the Grasshopper Pie, it's still not overly sweet either. -- DARK CHOCOLATE CARAMEL WITH SEA SALT...about $1 for my piece ($32 per pound) A worker mentioned this is her favorite candy here and I get it. While it was initially tough to bite (cold), it was perfect once it warmed up. The caramel was rich, smooth, not too sweet, and well complemented by the chocolate's bitterness and the bits of sea salt. -- ENGLISH TOFFEE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE - $3 for my piece ($32 per pound) This was terrific! The toffee had a nice, buttery flavor to it and a really good consistency - slightly thick, but not impossibly hard to crack. The nuts on the outside were great as well, but I do wonder if this might've been better with milk chocolate for some added sweetness. -- DUBAI CHOCOLATE...$7 Ehh. My least favorite thing I've tried, but the best Dubai chocolate I've had (I'm just not a fan of it/fudge). The chocolate portion was decent, albeit very stiff, while the chopped filo added some texture. That said, the pistachio portion felt really subtle. Along with how great their sweet treats are, the workers are just as awesome. Each time I've been here, they've always been super welcoming and it's cool how they'll chat it up with regulars and their kids, which adds to Shaws' small town/local charm (and that of West Portal at-large). Plus, it's awesome how they have a backroom space that you can rent for parties and to do activities, like candy making! Looking back at my review for the original Shaws, I'm surprised that I only gave it four stars. Not that it matters at this point, but if I had to guess, I would've bet good money I gave five. Also, I know some of my fellow Yelpers have dinged Shaws for not making their own ice cream, but I'm fine with it since A) they're a CANDY shop and B) coming here is far more convenient than heading to Mitchell's, unless I'm looking for a flavor they don't offer here (they usually have 15-20 of them). Not to mention the fact that I can also pick up some other sweets while supporting the newest iteration of one of my childhood favorites! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded up.

I can't give The Candy Store anything less than 5 stars due to their incredible candy selection…read more I think they carried all the heavy hitters of Swedish candy in every flavor imaginable. We got so many different varieties of candy and everything was great. Only annoying part is they have to scoop it for you. Which I get in a hygienic practice, but extremely inconvenient to get a large selection and try many different flavors. You're subject to the scoop they do and don't get to really individualize your bag.

Cute little shop. Found out they have been around 19 year…read more The lady bagging the candy and working the register was super sweet. Daughter loved the gummies. Some of the items they have inside brought me to my childhood.

zcioccolato is delicious and the hardest part is picking which flavors. I've purchased twice now…read moreand will do it again! Oh! and their salt water taffy is the best.

This is the absolute best place in all the SFBAY to buy fudge. What is special about this candy…read moreshop is the FUDGE OF THE MONTH CLUB for a whole year. Anytime I go in person, I purchase a few pieces and I just eat too much of the fudge but it is difficult to say no to the candy store staff. So, I always say yes. of course I would enjoy a small sample. My favorite is the dark chocolate fudge. yummy for my tummy ... The seven layer peanut butter pie is decadent.

Everything I tried her was Amazing! From the pastries to the handcrafted chocolates and macarons. I…read morecan't wait to go back!

A charming dessert shop. The exterior and interior are modern with charming flourishes throughout…read more I found their frozen confections to be mediocre, but their signature creations were great. Service was kind. Don't Stay for Breakfast: Disappointed by this one, was 1-dimensional and no better than any run-of-the-mill ice cream bar. It lacked the maple flavor I was looking for. The only highlight was the crunch from the waffle flakes. Pavlova: A significant step-up from the other dessert. Visually, the pavlova wrapped around the presentation of fruit is quite beautiful. The pavlova was light, airy, and had a nice sweetness. The fruit filling was decadent, and added variety to each bite.

Charming little place full of foodstuff, e.g. wines and cheeses plus things we never knew we wanted…read moreor needed, knickknacks plus they have a deli style sandwich counter, where they'll make fresh for you. Refrigerated and canned higher end beverages and pickles plus condiments. Such a treasure trove though parking is a beast.

I want to be clear that a female Asian employee was kind, understanding, and professional during…read morethis situation. She acknowledged that my reaction was understandable and apologized to me, and when she saw how upset I was, she kindly processed a refund, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, a big, tanned male employee handled this situation extremely poorly. I had already purchased two coffees and bakery items before continuing to browse. While looking around, I picked up a bag of chips but had no free hands, so I placed it on top of my very full bag, clearly visible at all times -- not inside it. At checkout, this employee aggressively accused me of putting the item in my bag and repeatedly insisted that he "saw it," despite the fact that it was never hidden and I was fully willing to pay. I calmly explained the situation multiple times, but he refused to listen and continued to accuse me of stealing. He never apologized and continued to push the accusation. Ultimately, I was so upset by how I was being treated that I requested a refund, which was handled politely by the female employee, not by him. Being accused of theft without evidence, especially after already making purchases, was humiliating. The way I was treated felt racially biased, discriminatory, and deeply disrespectful. Loss prevention does not justify treating a paying customer this way. This experience left me extremely uncomfortable and disappointed.

Sakura is a teeny tiny little Japanese convenience store in the Sunset with all kinds of little…read moretreasures, healthy and delicious snacks and bento boxes, and Japanese pantry items. They get their bentos from Delica in the ferry building I believe and they also have the prettiest cakes, pastries, and sandos. I stop by for their ume onigiri whenever I'm in the area and it's the perfect little snack to hold me over on my drive home to the Valley. Their prices are really good compared to j town and it feels good knowing I'm supporting local small business by shopping there. The people working there are also always really friendly.

It's a cute little store that has some prepared foods and lots of little things to look at. I'll be…read moreback when I have more time to browse. Staff was pleasant.

Wow I am impressed with their macaroons and the old fashion cupcake…read more The macaroons are different from others that I tried. They are made with coarsely ground almonds with the skins intact. They do not add any food coloring or processed flavorings, so they are distinctly rustic and natural. It is not sticky, gooey or has too much sugar stuck on them. I like the hazelnut flavor. The cupcakes are decorated nicely. Their Italian Meringue Cupcake is a rich Double-Chocolate cake with a light and fluffy marshmallow-like texture makes me think of a hostess cupcake. I had two yellow cream cheese frosting gingerbread cupcakes, raspberry chocolate and strawberry vanilla cupcake. I am happy with the selection I received which is a great way to try and determine if this bakery knows how to make a good cupcake. I enjoyed their carrot cake cupcake. All cupcakes were nice and moist, the frosting is always the key to a good cupcake. Thank you and I hope to stop by again and try a cake.

Such a cute place, albeit pricey for candy and baked goods. But you're getting it in a beautiful…read morestore in cute packaging, so any gifts you purchase here would be well received. :) I'm not a fan of their cupcakes, but I will definitely return for their candy.