When it comes to finding the best matcha desserts, look no further than the SF Bay Area. The earthy flavored, antioxidant-rich green tea has risen to celebrity status over the past years, with restaurants developing more and more creative ways to incorporate it into traditional desserts.
Whether it be in the form of soft serve, milk tea, or rolled ice cream, the Bay is teeming with places to get your matcha fix. So pack your bags and hop on the next flight to SFO, because here are nine places in the SF Bay Area with matcha desserts that you don’t want to miss.
Recess Italian Ice
Why eat ice cream from a cone when you could eat it out of an adorable bear instead? Originally created as an Italian ice shop, Recess is famous for their frozen custard creations that are almost too cute to eat. For the ultimate matcha experience, order a matcha flavored bear cone with matcha frozen custard and green tea pocky on top.
Matcha Love
Tucked inside a Japanese grocery store, Matcha Love is a shop dedicated entirely to serving up frosty swirls of soft serve. Their menu consists of only three flavors: matcha, black sesame, and hoji-cha. While the flavors are limited, Matcha Love’s unique and refreshing ice cream makes for the perfect compliment to a bowl of ramen from neighboring Santouka.
Milk and Wood
Gone are the days of cheap, icy popsicles—Milk and Wood has turned the classic childhood treat into a gourmet affair. After choosing a base flavor, customers get to customize their pop with drizzles and toppings such as pretzels, sprinkles, or cereal. If you love chocolate, don’t miss their matcha pop – it comes with an entire Kit-Kat hidden inside.
HoneyCreme
Located in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset District, Honeycreme is a hidden treasure serving up organic Korean soft serve ice cream at an affordable price. Their signature topping is a chunk of authentic honey comb, sourced from bee farms in the US. Not a fan of honey? Other toppings include cotton candy, boba pearls, kettle corn, or even a shot espresso.
Boba Guys
Unlike many boba shops in the Bay Area, what sets Boba Guys apart is their commitment to high quality ingredients. Rather than using artificial powders and creamers, their drinks made with house brewed loose leaf tea and Straus Family Creamery organic milk. Their menu puts a spin on traditional matcha drinks, with options such as the multi-layered strawberry matcha latte, and the horchata infused “matchacha.”
Icicles
Icicles first brought the rolled ice cream trend from Thailand to the Bay Area in 2015, and have since expanded to ten locations. They make each cup of ice rolls fresh to order, and even call you up to watch the magic happen. As an added bonus, their ice cream comes with unlimited toppings, ranging from torched marshmallows to fresh fruit.
#SpoonTip: If you love free ice cream, be sure to visit Icicles on your birthday for a complimentary treat!
Powder Shaved Snow
Described as a cross between shave ice and ice cream, shaved snow is a refreshing dessert with a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Powder brings this Taiwanese style dessert to the Bay Area, with snow that is made from scratch and shaved fresh to order. While it’s hard to go wrong with any flavor, the matcha green tea snow topped with mochi is a must-try combination.
Uji Time Desserts
In the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown lies Uji Time Desserts, a Japanese fusion shop known for their soft serve Taiyaki. These fish-shaped, ice cream filled waffles originate from streets of Japan, and are gaining popularity in the Bay Area. At Uji-Time, you can even top your cone with a mini, Nutella filled fish for the ultimate Taiyaki experience.
Voltaire Coffee House
Voltaire Coffee House deserves a spot on the list of best matcha desserts solely for its lattes adorned with the iconic Japanese character Totoro. This totally instagramable drink boasts a smooth matcha flavor complete with adorable latte art that puts the standard heart design to shame. To avoid disappointment, make sure to let the barista know that you want the Totoro art.
From shaved snow to taiyaki soft serve, the creative array of matcha treats offered in the Bay Area reflects the innovative, diverse culture of the region. Whether you’re living in the Bay or just visiting the area, be sure to stop by one of these nine restaurants for the best matcha desserts around.