Portland's Salt and Straw to Bring Its Quirky Ice Cream Flavors to SF

San Francisco’s ice cream game is already plenty strong, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get better. So it is very welcome news that the Portland-based Salt & Straw is coming to the seven by seven. Specifically, it will land at the 2,400-square-foot 2201 Fillmore St. in spring 2017, followed quickly by a second location in Hayes Valley.

Owners Kim and Tyler Malek were attracted to San Francisco because of the local and seasonal ethos it shares with Portland. They plan to create SF-inspired flavors, as well as bring stand-bys such as almond brittle with salted ganache and sea salt with caramel ribbons. The SF locations will also benefit local schools.

In the five years it has been open in PDX (and since expanded to Los Angeles), Salt & Straw has consistently drawn the city’s longest lines (rivaling other sweets power player Voodoo Doughnuts), largely due to its surprising, weird creations, according to Eater PDX editor Mattie John Bamman. That includes smoked Oregon ham soft serve, strawberry honey balsamic with black pepper, fennel five-spiced egg nog, and more.

Before its official brick-and-mortal arrival, Salt & Straw will hold pop-ups the week of December 5. More details to come.

• Portland ice cream shop Salt & Straw plots San Francisco expansion [The Chron]
• 14 Essential Ice Cream Shops in San Francisco [ESF]
• All Coverage of Salt & Straw [EPDX]

Watch: Trying Funky Flavors at Salt and Straw