Uji Time is known for its adorable fish-shaped cones stuffed with soft serve, which began in Berkeley and has since expanded to San Francisco and beyond. The famed cone, called taiyaki, is a take on the traditional Japanese dessert in the shape of a fish, and here it’s filled with flavors like matcha, black sesame, and ube, along with a seasonal option and a multitude of toppings. In addition to the taiyaki cones, which take extra time to prepare, other choices include waffle cones and cups.

Toy Boat by Jane is the revived version of Clement Street’s longrunning classic ice cream shop, courtesy of Amanda Michael, the owner of SF mini-chain Jane the Bakery. Michael went to great lengths to preserve the nostalgia of Toy Boat, including the vast toy collection, and opened in September 2020 selling Jane’s bakery breads, cookies, and pastries, and, excitingly, adding Double Rainbow Ice Cream.

This no-frills classic scoop shop doesn't pull any punches, offering Americana standards such as root beer swirl and rum raisin, or more unconventional flavors like wasabi and chai tea. One thing’s for sure: it’s still serving up ice cream straight from your San Francisco childhood.

Head back in time at this classic 1930s-inspired soda fountain shop serving malts, boozy milkshakes, ice cream soda floats, and ice cream sandwiches — there are even a few vegan options, too.

Head to this unassuming Mexican ice cream shop tucked into a Mission market for flavors like corn, guava, and leche quemada (burnt milk). Order it by the scoop, in a banana split, or go for a combination of fruit and toppings like a mangonada made with mango sorbet, fresh mango, chile, lime, and tamarind. Check out its sister shop in Fruitvale, too.

There are plenty of reasons to head to Hometown Creamery. At the top of the list, of course, is the ice cream, which brothers Adar and Saadi Halil make themselves. There are the standards such as the fresh mint chip ice cream, but also outstanding and unique rotating flavors that make the case for stopping by year-round. The pastries at the shop are another draw, such as the brownies.

Double Rainbow is an ice cream company that was originally founded by two best friends in the Castro in the 1970s. It returned to the neighborhood in late 2020 with a new scoop shop just a couple of doors down from its original location. Longtime fans stop by for old-school scoops of malt chocolate and mint chip, shakes, cups, and pints.

Small-batch, seasonal, hand-made, and local ice cream is the calling card at San Francisco’s arguably most-popular scoop shop. Lines usually snake out the door and down the block with people waiting for tastes of salted caramel and balsamic strawberry, two of Bi-Rite’s most popular flavors, or the more unusual options like basil and honey lavender.

Garden Creamery is the Mission District ice cream shop that became an Instagram star for opening with churro-like chimney cones, made with sweet yeast dough baked and covered in cinnamon sugar. Garden Creamy offers an array of Hawaiian-influenced flavors (including some non-dairy options), as well as matcha with toasted rice, black sesame, plus Mexican and Manila mango, salted plum, and Thai tea.

Have flavor fatigue? Leave your fate in the hands of Polly Ann, where you can spin the wheel and let it decide which of the more than 500 rotating flavors you’ll be trying today. The shop, which has been open since the 1950s, often has Asian flavors like durian, lychee, and jasmine on display, as well as classics like rocky road and mint chocolate chip.

Get your weird on with experimental flavors at this crazy-popular Mission ice cream destination that’s been slowly expanding throughout the Bay Area. The most-talked-about flavor is Secret Breakfast, made with vanilla, cornflake cookies, and Jim Beam bourbon, but there’s no shortage of wacky options from evil ice cream genius Jake Godby.

Named for the explorer said to have introduced Italy to ice cream by way of China, Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream serves its frozen treat the other way around, with scoops of gelato-like creaminess with Asian flavors. Try lychee, green tea, black sesame, or durian, made from the fruit that’s famously banned on public transit in Singapore for its strong smell. Opened in 1982, Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream is a favorite gathering spot in far-flung Parkside, and a second location opened in San Jose in 2015.

The draw of Eazy Breezy is its variety of froyo flavors, but the shop also has a following for its custard, as well as gluten-free and dairy-free options. Toppings are also a big thing here and go past the basic sprinkles into fantastical candy options to really amp up your cup of ice cream.