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    Nippon-Ya

    4.4 (210 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Nippon-Ya Photos

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    Yan W.

    We checked out this cute Japanese shop in Japantown for food souvenirs. This store has many kawaii confections. We ended up getting the Sakura Dango instead of mochi. The packaging was so beautiful, but the Dango tasted okay. They have a lot of mochi products. It's worth visiting because many items are directly imported from Japan. I will try their mochi next time.

    Strawberry Sakura mochi (no filling)
    Priyanka S.

    Ahhhh the mochi! You cannot go wrong with the mochi at Nippon-ya. The mochi is perfectly sweetened, chewy squishy goodness filled with different kinds of pastes. When I went I decided to get the chocolate flavored mochi filled with chocolate pieces as well as the strawberry Sakura mochi with no filling. Both were incredibly delicious, tender and bouncy. The ratio of filling to mochi exterior was also perfect! It was so delicious I finished the whole box the same day haha.

    macha
    Sydney C.

    The chocolate here is very cheap and I got this box for only 10 dollars. Ive also tried the strawberry and chocolate ones which were really good too. If you come visit they also give you samples and the cashier was really nice. The shop does sell out on weekends so come early!

    02.17.24 located on the West Mall in Japantown
    May A.

    Thank you very Mochi! [Japantown, San Francisco CA] These are beautiful Japanese confections located on the West Mall at Japantown in San Francisco. The confections are fun, fresh and yummy. We were given samples of the Harajuku mochis in strawberry and chocolate flavors. Ooh the chocolate just hit you at first bite... it's like Nutella with a doughy texture. I preferred the chocolate over the strawberry but these little soft pillows are so heavenly delicious. The packagings and canisters are amazing. Beautiful selection of wrapped traditional Japanese food gifts! They also have some packaged candy and mochis that come in cutesy Hello Kitty tin cans. My daughter couldn't stop with the oohs and ahhs LoL ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Nippon-ya is located on the West Mall at Japantown in San Francisco. Instagram: @nipponya.sf Review #3378

    Motchis
    Cristina T.

    I just stocked up on assorted authentic Japanese green teas and mochis, because this store is my weakness. Very courteous cashier. A small store that I really enjoyed, featuring colorful mochis, candies, and green teas.

    Ann T.

    Another MUST if you're going to SF Japantown. After the first time I went here, I always make a stop and I ALWAYS make a purchase. It's a great place to get some gifts to bring back from your travels or just to indulge in yourself! There's candies, savory senbei/rice cracker snacks, mochi, teas, cookies, etc. My go to favs just to get for myself are the Harajuku Mochi Chocolates, matcha & strawberry flavors! Additionally they have some neat collaboration items with series like Demon Slayer and characters like Hello Kitty and Kumamon. Everything is packaged nicely and ready to give as is from the shop. I just want to add that a lot of the items here are imported straight from Japan and aren't the usual fare that you would find in the snacks/gift section at Tokyo Central, Nijiya, Mitsuwa, etc, so going here is definitely worth going to! Both for those who love Japanese sweets and snacks or those who like trying new and different things.

    Chocolate mochi and yuzu seaweed
    Daisy G.

    For someone who dislikes mochi and only eats mochi ice cream, the mochi here is so good to pass up. We tried the strawberry mochi in store, as they were kind to let us try an entire piece, we really liked that flavor but decided to go with chocolate mochi. The chocolate mochi was SO GOOD. It was perfectly sweet, where the sweetness wasn't overbearing nor was it bland. My sister wanted the hello kitty tin, so we tried yuzu seaweed. We were pretty surprised with how good it was! It was pricey tho. Our total for the mochi and seaweed was about $20. Definitely will come back for their mochi.

    Store front
    Sherri W.

    Happy to see Nippon-Ya has more selection since a couple of months ago. Our favorite is the Matcha Chocolate Mochi, & Strawberry Chocolate filled Mochi. The Matcha Mochi is generously sprinkled with matcha powder so you taste the true flavor of the tea leaves. While the Strawberry Mochi has a fresh fruit flavor. The Mochi is a little thicker than I would like, but it has a nice chewy texture to it. Because it is packed for ultimate freshness the shelf life is only 2 months. I bought the Orange Mochi with White Bean bc it was a summer special. It had a hint of citrus flavor & I could taste the white bean in this small bite size Mochi. Although I would prefer the red bean Mochi, it was still fun to try a new flavor. The seaweed chips are fresh & packed with a lot of flavor, so it would be a perfect match with rice. The roe/fish flavored chips definitely had a fish like smell & bits of red roe, so if you enjoy fish flavor, this would satisfy your palate.

    Demon Slayer Wafers, green HK (Yuzu Honey Seaweed chips), blue HK (Sesame seaweed chips), and the golden tin (Wasabi seaweed chips)
    Jenny T.

    Cute little shop for food souvenirs in Japantown! This store reminded me of the mini shops in Japan for omiyage, to be gifted or enjoyed with friends/families. I'm a sucker for Japanese snacks and sweets, so I couldn't leave empty handed! All of these are top quality snacks/sweets - specialities of Japanese flavors such as sesame, yuzu, etc. I picked a few items for my sister's fiancé and boyfriend as well which I think they'd enjoy. The prices are reasonable and there's many products to look at, I wonder if they swap out items during the season.

    Juliet T.

    I was exploring japantown with a friend and came across this shop! There was a variety of mochi, teas, matcha, and chocolates around the shop. Also cute anime items closer to the cashier. Items: Strawberry Mochi: The mochi was very soft and chewy, good for a small snack or pick me up in the middle of the day. The strawberry flavor was there and was lightly sweet. The packaging is really cute inside too! White Chocolate Strawberry: One was enough for me. It's sweet and hits the spot! I liked how the freeze dried strawberry complimented the white chocolate. This would be good to drink with tea to wash it down.

    Mochi
    Fancypants X.

    I'd forgotten Nippon-Ya existed! It's a small store in Japantown that sells beautifully-wrapped edible gifts. Their tins are especially eye catching. I don't speak Japanese nor am I familiar with Japanese snacks, so the contents of any given package is a mystery to me until I do further investigation. I ended up with a tin of Gaufres, giant wafers (comical in size, really) filled with chocolate, strawberry, & vanilla cream, and with a box of delicately-wrapped mochi. Four varieties: the white bean paste was best, followed by red bean paste topped with sesame; red bean paste with chestnut pieces & white bean paste with egg custard were just ok. Decent price point, I believe each item was under $12. Not my usual cup o' tea (they have that, too!), but a good specialized store to have in your back pocket when buying for Japanese snack aficionados.

    Harajuku mochi chocolate
    Sydney J.

    I stopped by here while I was visiting the Japantown malls and was intrigued by the Harajuku mochi chocolate strawberry, so I decided to buy it since it was a reasonable price ($10.95 for the box). The mochi itself was delicious; reminds me of chocolate truffles because of the generous amount of chocolate, and has sugary strawberry filling. A great place if you have a sweet tooth or want to buy edible gifts!

    Strawberry chocolate mochi
    Nancy L.

    Tried to get some strawberry chocolate mochi but they were closed. Today we got 5 boxes for friends. It melts in your mouth. Love the flavor too.

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    11 months ago

    My go to for mochi gifts when traveling and visiting. Plenty of choices, nice location in mall.

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    I've been coming here for years so I figured it's time to give my review. Basically 5/5 they have an amazing selection of mochi.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Nippon-Ya Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nippon-Ya

    Do you ship?

    I was there today and asked. They said no.

    Is this place open during the pandemic?

    Walked by this place yesterday and saw that it was shuttered and most items cleared out

    Do they sell Toyko Bananas?

    I've never seen them sold here. Tokyo Banana only has a 2 week shelf life, so it makes it hard to import and sell in the US.

    They sell this grape jelly that comes in a box of 6. Does anyone know what it is called?

    There are two kinds: one is $9.00 Kyoho Kirara and the other is called Okayama Pione Jewelry $9.95

    View All 7 Questions

    Review Highlights - Nippon-Ya

    This store reminded me of the mini shops in Japan for omiyage, to be gifted or enjoyed with friends/families.

    Mentioned in 47 reviews

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    Dandelion Chocolate - Iced Chocolate Chai and Chocolate Milk

    Dandelion Chocolate

    4.4(1.9k reviews)
    1.7 miMission
    $$

    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

    Photos
    Dandelion Chocolate - European drinking chocolate

    European drinking chocolate

    Dandelion Chocolate - House Hot Chocolate

    House Hot Chocolate

    Dandelion Chocolate - House Hot Chocolate (Oat Milk)

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    House Hot Chocolate (Oat Milk)

    Shaws San Francisco - Sundae with Mitchell's Ice Cream

    Shaws San Francisco

    4.6(72 reviews)
    3.7 miWest Portal

    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.

    Photos
    Shaws San Francisco - Photo#11,100. Inside Shaws San Francisco. Family owned since 1931.

    Photo#11,100. Inside Shaws San Francisco. Family owned since 1931.

    Shaws San Francisco - Chocolate roses

    Chocolate roses

    Shaws San Francisco

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    Candy’s - Candy Near me
 Birthday Party
 Candy
 Swedish Candy

    Candy’s

    4.9(52 reviews)
    1.3 miThe Haight

    I would order the viral Swedish Candy on Door Dash, would get extra candy like kisses and caramels…read morefrom the sweet girls that work at the store. Finally popped in after walking my dogs around the Haight. If you ever find yourself wandering the Haight with a sweet tooth, Candy's is the kind of place that reels you in with its polka-dot storefront and keeps you there with its sheer wall-to-wall candy magic. I popped in during an evening dog walk & it was game over. Inside, the shop bursts with color, rows of gummies, chocolates, and nostalgic treats that make you feel like you've stepped into a real-life candy playground. The selection is seriously impressive. Think sour watermelon slices, Swedish-style raspberry gummies, cola bottles, peach rings, rainbow belts, giant marshmallow twists, Haribo classics, and even fun themed candies like frogs, sharks, and gummy strawberries. Everything is neatly packaged and easy to browse, which makes it extremely dangerous for anyone prone to impulse snacking. Even my pup tried to "shop" the lower shelves -- apparently the scent of sugar is universally appealing. The staff is as sweet as the inventory. They greeted me right away, offered recommendations, and seemed genuinely excited about their collection. Prices feel reasonable for the neighborhood, especially given the variety and the care clearly put into stocking the shelves. Plus, the vibe is just delightful -- bright, cheerful, and very Haight Street. This candy-coated gem that's perfect for locals, kids, visitors, and anyone who needs a little sugar rush check Candy's out! 5 stars!

    Gummies! Amazing vibes and will definitely make it back. Cool that they are open until 7pmread more

    Photos
    Candy’s
    Candy’s
    Candy’s

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    The Epicurean Trader

    The Epicurean Trader

    4.4(102 reviews)
    0.7 miHayes Valley
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    The Epicurean Trader - Inside

    Inside

    The Epicurean Trader - Ham & cheese baguette & ice tea

    Ham & cheese baguette & ice tea

    The Epicurean Trader - Outdoor dining

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    Nippon-Ya - candy - Updated May 2026

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