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Chocolate Covered
Categories: Food Specialty Food Candy Stores Food Specialty Food Chocolatiers and Shops Shopping Flowers & Gifts Candy Stores, Chocolatiers and Shops, Flowers & Gifts [Edit]
4069 24th St(between Castro St & Noe St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
Neighborhood: Noe Valley
(415) 641-8123
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10:30 am - 7:30 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
165 reviews for Chocolate Covered
Review Highlights
"...such a unique store and I also got to try Mo's Bacon Bar."
(in 11 reviews)
"Their (custom) tins and lunch boxes make great gifts."
(in 25 reviews)
"All the pictures are of street signs in SF and I was..."
(in 18 reviews)
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165 reviews in English
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Review from Daniel D.
12/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
OH BABY!
The dark side has come out and it's my chocolate addiction!
I noticed this place, instantly after driving by looking for parking to eat at Patxi's. I love Noe Valley and it's merchants! *Warning* Parking sucks!
If you're serious about Chocolate, the types, the quality and the variations, this is definitely a place to visit. I did end up spending $37 on everything but I felt like it was so worth it.
Lately I've really been looking for high quality, glutten-free chocolate and I found it here! And it was organic! I ended up with 5 bars of chocolate and some chocolate covered gummy bears (for my GF).
They have a lot of other stuff here but the main attraction is definitely chocolate. It can get pricey but it's worth every penny. So pass on the garbage at your grocery store and just stock up on some quality goods here.Listed in: My Favorite Food, San Francisco Spots, Dessert Time :)
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Review from Susie W.
10/13/2011
I'd always seen Chocolate Covered's cute tins imprinted with San Francisco neighborhood streets etc. but only recently did I delve into the depths of this chocolate plastered mecca. My fantasy is buying a few of their retro metal lunchboxes and filling them up with chocolate bars from all over the country and world.
Even the most jaded and savvy chocolate lover will be sure to find something you haven't seen or tried before. The staff are as passionate as I am about all things sweet and brown, and we had a great time geeking out over the various local chocolate bon bons and bars filled with herbs, nuts, and all sorts of exotic fillings.
In short -- if you love candy and chocolate, this store is a must visit! (I recommend the Junior Mints lunchbox. Sooo cute!) -
Review from Rachel S.
Healdsburg, CA
1/6/2012
I tried calling this place, and I'm not sure if I just got a crabby young worker, but I found the employee on the other end to be incredibly rude. I was very polite but throughout our (short, thank goodness) conversation he did not once say 'please,' 'thank you,' 'hello,' or anything of the sort, and simply hung up on me after I said goodbye. I was stunned.
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Review from Jessica L.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2011
This is the awesomest place on earth, and that includes space.
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Review from Sofia R.
7/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Chocolate Covered is THE place to go for chocolate. It's a very quaint store that I stumbled upon while I was walking around doing something or other.
It's a very cozy shop with very friendly people who really know their chocolate. If you ask them for suggestions, they will point out anything they have in the store. When they were ringing up my items, the owner actually remembered all the prices! They also give you samples now and then.
The store is lined with vintage lunchboxes and chocolates of all kinds. Weird ones, traditional ones, imported, local, exotic...what you can be sure of is that anything you buy will be delicious of of the best quality.
It's a good place to go if you want to buy a gift or if you simply want to splurge for yourself. I have a friend who goes there all the time just to try the chocolate and to get chocolate for his cooking (like a chocolate mint bar...the mint in the chocolate tasted very fresh rather than overly sugared). The prices can be a bit up there but it's all within reason and I would say that it's totally worth it.
Currently enjoying some Maple & Bacon Caramels by Snake&Butterfly. -
Review from Jessica t.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2011
Simple. Natural. And truly phenomenal chocolate.
Chocolate Covered doesn't need trendy packaging or cutesy gimmicks. Their goods do all of the talking.
Their Dark Chocolate Chamayo Red Chili Pistachio Bark will own you.
Trust. -
Review from Jacqueline D.
Vallejo, CA
5/28/2011
I love chocolate! I came here with my sisters for our sister day outing. My eldest sister has been here before, but this time she took us, the gang!
We went chocolate crazyyy. The owner is all knowing when it comes to the chocolates in his shop! Right when we stepped in, we were offered to try some chocolates! They were totally friendly and told us if we are interested to try ANY chocolate feel free to let them know and they'll be more than happy to let us try!
My sister asked the owner about the chocolates with chilis - or the spicy chocolates then BAM, the owner pulls out a box and pieces the chocolates for us. He pieces 4 chunks - three for us girls and one for himself. Then we all had the spicy chocolate experience together. As we were munching down he was kind of walking us through the bursts of flavor.
OKAY so I recommend Mo's Bacon Bar - well anything Mo's was pretty good. Also definitely try the spicy chocolates - i dont remember what the one we got was called, but its in the plastic wraps 3oz. Anything with sea salt I love!!
Definitely just ask the owner, he'll be glad to direct you to the right chocolates that compliment your taste buds! -
Review from Carol L.
San Francisco, CA
Chocolate lovers of all ages: REJOICE! Chocolate Covered is the go-to shop for anyone who is in love with chocolate, bean to bar chocolatiers and simply for a good time.
My friend took me here a month ago for the first time & I've fallen in chocolate love with this shop. There's over 100 kinds of chocolates in the store along with customizable tins, collector tin lunch boxes and Chocolate Covered's own line of chocolate. The service is great and the knowledgeable owner shared his life experience with my friend and I along with some yummy samples of the pistachio bark. It can get pricey when you start to add up all your items, but who cares about that when you're having a good time using all your senses. Purely delicious!
It's a must-see and must-experience shop. Hands down.Listed in: My Favorites
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Review from P G.
Palo Alto, CA
12/18/2011 2 photos
Yes, this place has some of the best chocolate around but you can have them place the chocolates in a little metal box with any street or landmark in SF you can think of. If you have a photo that you'd like to use, they can do that too. Don't know much about the turnaround time but wouldn't that make a cooly, unique gift?!
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Review from Amy K.
3/15/2011
One of my clients told me about this place months and months ago, and I'd been waiting to include it when I finally hit Northern CA. Thus, my friend and I made a special trip to Noe Valley, and: oh man. Chocolate Covered is absolutely overwhelming, with hundreds - maybe over a thousand? - types of chocolates, mostly brands I'd never heard of, coming from small chocolatiers around the US and others from all over the world, including bars from Dubai made with camels' milk.
I wanted to try the camels' milk bar, but I didn't want to pay $12, and that's one of the rough things about the store: since so much of the chocolate is made by small manufacturers, and/or is imported, plus is made with quality ingredients, this ain't a cheap place to shop. If you're on a budget, watch yourself carefully; however, I ended up wishing I'd splurged on some of the more expensive bars, because I found a couple of the ones I bought in the Whole Foods down the street for cheaper (also, Yelpers, Vosges is everywhere, get something more interesting!)(and I can't wait for the stupid bacon trend to end!)(I like parentheses and exclamation points!). Maybe I should have gone for the camels' milk? Damn.
Jack, the owner, is radtastic and seemed really proud to be featuring small US chocolatiers. He was able to show us around and point out what we said we were looking for (which, of course, was different from what we bought). We were offered samples of a very spicy white chocolate. He also features an enormous variety of tins in varying sizes to put your goodies in, from little tins with photos of places around San Francisco to Hello Kitty lunchboxes.Listed in: the YAY Area!
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Review from Mish L.
1/16/2011
Sweets for the sweet? :-)
Walking into this quaint chocolate shop in Noe Valley will blow your mind. Wall to wall of chocolates of every size, shape, style and unique offerings that you can imagine.... They even carry peanut butter fudge and bacon chocolates....Yow! Helpful and friendly owner, who'll take the time to show you the offerings and recommend some chocolate sweets if you're stumped.
If you have an uncurable love for sweets (like I do), you'll experience a bit of sensory overload as you breathe in the rich, chocolately goodness. Mmm!
They also have adorable lunchboxes (think to your childhood days of Gumby and Carebears), and I absolutely loved the walls covered in candy tins with the names of SF streets.... cute touch!
Purchased a small sampling of two chocolates for the sweetie (soooo tasty!), but really can't wait to go back and paruse some more!Listed in: Sweet Treats
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Review from Saunders C.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2011
There was a Christmas episode of Punky Brewster when Mr. Warnimont walks into a gift shop and buys a music box for Punky, which turns out to play a song that her mom used to play for her as a baby. When he goes back to look for the store, it's gone.
I feel like Chocolate Covered might be like that shop. If I go back and look for it, I'll just find an empty storefront. The guy that works here knows more about chocolate than anyone I've ever met. When I asked for a recommendation, he went into a full-on lecture on regional varieties and vendors of chocolate, how they produce their cocoa, and suggested a bunch of interesting chocolate flavors I'd never heard of. Very friendly and very knowledgeable. I selected some dark chocolate with pistachios and red pepper bark and it was amazing. The chocolate so intense followed by the heat of the pepper, it was a new chocolate experience.
The selection of chocolate for sale here is uncanny. A lot of boutique or ultra-special treats that one dark chocolate bar I saw was $15. That must be some damn good chocolate. Not for someone just looking for a Mr. Goodbar.
In the end, I walked out with a few new bars to try and a small packet of the dark chocolate bark for $13. Yeah. $13 for chocolate is steep, but I wouldn't hesitate to drop back in again to try out another of their chocolate concoctions.
If I can find it, that is. -
Review from Manabu M.
9/21/2010 7 photos
Heaven exists for chocoholics in Noe Valley in San Francisco.
The name of the heaven is "Chocolate Covered."
This place is like a museum for chocolate BUT that is not all.
When I dropped by at this store with my friends, this small place had so many kinds of chocolate from all over the world that I couldn't check all the items during our 20 minute visit. I am usually a "decider" but this place made me like a girl who couldn't decide what to order for 20 minutes at a French restaurant. The quality of the chocolate products is high so we need to spend more money but it is worth it.
The service here was really great. All the staffs were very friendly and one gentleman kindly explained some of products to us just like a museum guide. He was very knowledgeable and I felt his passion in chocolate.
They have so many kinds of chocolate that I cannot write about all but I like the items below.
1. Vosges Chocolate...Mo's Bacon Bar, Mo's Dark Bacon and Matcha (Japanese Green Tea) bar.
2. NEW TREE...Cassis (Renew/Rejuvenating) bar. One bar has more antioxidants than 2 glasses of red wine!
3. Francois Pralus.... "Les Tropiques du chocolat" series, "Cuba" (made from rare cacao from Cuba)
What I really like about their chocolate is that many of them are from European countries, where cultivation and sales of GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) is banned.
I already feel good when I have chocolate but knowing the fact that my chocolate doesn't have GMO makes me feel much better.
This store also sells a lot of metal boxes with the photos of street signs in San Francisco. It is just fun to look for my street or friends' streets. This can be a very original gift for your friends in the city or even out of the city. When your friend who used to live in the city misses San Francisco, you can purchase a box with the name of the street which he used to live on and send it to your friend. They also sell metal lunch boxes for boys, girls and some adults with nostalgia.
Here's another great part of this store.
They can also create a custom-made special box (metal or wooden, your choice) with your favorite photo on it for you if you bring the photo. Last year, my dear friend secretly took a photo of me there and had them make the box as a Christmas gift. So if you are looking for a surprise gift for someone, you should visit this place with a photo as well. As for the photo, the stronger contrast, the better.
In 2007, British scientists found that chocolate caused a more intense and longer lasting brain "buzz" than passionate kissing, and doubled heart rates.
I don't say "Don't kiss but melt your chocolate in your mouth!" but I would like to say,
"Melt your chocolate in your mouth when you kiss!"
I am sure that will be heavenly and you will be very happy even when your shirts get chocolate-covered. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Belmont, CA
9/16/2010 3 photos
Do you love Snickers bars? Then no offense, but "GO AWAY!" This store is too good for you.
Is it blasphemous to call this a holy place? I now understand what Ben P. was talking about when he describes his almost religious biweekly pilgrimage to Chocolate Covered (a.k.a. Chocolate Heaven).
Whether it's a "Church of Chocolate" or "Den of Iniquity," this is *the* place for epicurean chocolate lovers to come and find amazing chocolates. The owner has exquisite taste and only stocks the shelves with high quality stuff. The customers are able to sample to find the *right* chocolate that fits their flavor profile.
One of my top picks is the dark chocolate Chamayo red chili pistachio bark http://www.yelp.com/us..., which is spicy, salty, smooth, and everything I didn't know I wanted and really adore.
I LOVE this store.Listed in: Chocolate Obsession
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Review from Ninna G.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011
No comparison in San Francisco, for quality, diversity, price, and wonderfulness of staff. Period.
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Review from Ben P.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2010
Alright, I'm only going to say this once.
I'm Ben P. I'm a notorious cowboy lawyer. And an occasional chocolate addict. I won't say my life is currently beyond my control (that was a few months ago, and it had little to do with chocolate), but I will admit that the people who work at Chocolate Covered know me and know my particular preferences. I prefer to think this says more about how friendly they are and less about my $50 biweekly chocolate habit.
Stalkers note #9: Chocolate Covered also sells painted tins with the names of every single street in San Francisco. The tin for the street I live on actually features the BLOCK I live on. I bought one.
The good news is that Noe Valley is at the top of a very high hill, whose slopes I must ascend every time I walk here. I like to think it's like climbing the mountain to speak to the wisened old guru and gain insights into life's deep mysteries. Except that, in the case, the guru is made of chocolate. Which, I think, makes it better. Also, this guru takes AmEx, which I appreciate. I will use my Members Reward points to buy a baboon heart when the inevitable massive coronary strikes.
P.S.: You know how movies will say they are "inspired by a true story"? Well, this review was inspired by Jennifer L., Yelp's number uno authority on chocolate. And parks. But there were no parks in this review, so that's less relevant. But just as true. -
Review from Cathy U.
San Jose, CA
6/9/2011
I lost all my cash before I came into this store, but the owner was so nice and knowledgable. I can't wait to come back!!
I tried a spicy chocolate - and it's not just spicy, but had this kick.
So many varieties of chocolate - and I LOVE chocolate! He's got a ton of the good stuff. Yup, the PDolci Tiles are there (like he mentions in TasteTV) and a lot of the same stuff I see at Whole Foods, Fog City and way way more!!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Angelina F.
San Francisco, CA
6/1/2010
OMG OMG OMG!!! this place is so awesome!!! They have all sorts of chocolate. I had a few questions about a certain kind and the shop assistant was so helpful. She was also so cool because she totally opened a box of chocolates I was thinking about buying to let me try one. SOLD!!! I had to have them. Smoked salt, chocolate covered caramels. YUM!
Beware because it's pricey and you can literally spend all your money here. I spent 40 bucks on a few bars of chocolate but I don't care. The experience and the chocolate was worth it! I'm definitely a fan! -
Review from H I.
Lee's Summit, MO
1/16/2011
Well, we wanted to write an amazing extravagant review, but darned Jennifer L beat us to our review...down to the most exhilirating, delightful, decadent chocolate imaginable.
Quit reading reviews and take your sweet booty down there!!! You WON'T regret it!!! -
Review from andy r.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2007 ROTD 6/26/2007
LADIES! I GET IT NOW!
I have seen the light (and dark)! Why it took so long, I don't know. I've lived around the corner from Chocolate Covered for years, and only set foot inside last week. My taste runs more the savory than the sweet. CC had about every variety from nearly every continent with any seasoning, salt, or infusible legal substance imaginable.
After several samples of "feel the burn" chocolate with chili, burnt caramel and a spectrum of sea salts, 24th St. looked different, somehow. Everyone looked better, happier, HOTTER. Did the temperature just go up? Why do I have the sudden urge to drop my panties? This I must research.
According to http://thinkquest.com, Chocolate has a funny effect on human's nervous system. Chocolate contains chemicals that trigger the production of opioids. Opioids dull the pain and increase the feeling of well-being.
Also, chocolate contains a brain neurotransmitter called -phenylethylamine. Studies have shown that people in love have unusually high amount of -phenylethylamine. It has the effect of high-energy and chocolate therefore, produces similar effects as being in love.
I turned to look at my wife, who somehow looked the same as before the chocolate.
You can't go any higher when the "hotness" needle is already pegged at eleven.Listed in: Noe Valley represent!
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Review from Kerrie L.
Seattle, WA
3/31/2008 ROTD 4/19/2008
Whenever I would walk by this store, all I could see was the painted Altoid boxes with SF street names in the window.
"Tchotchkes...pish tosh," I would think, with a sniff and a wave of my hand.
*But little did I know what magical surprises lay inside.*
I just happened upon Mary A's review (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) extolling the virtues of Mo's Bacon Chocolate, and the proprietors of the store, and I had to check it out for myself. Walking up to the store, I saw the painted boxes ("ooooh, so THIS is the place*).
So many different kinds of chocolate! I couldn't find the bacon bar, so I asked behind the counter. Apparently this is one of the hot items, as they already had a bar open for sampling (who wouldn't want to try this?). We left with a bar of Mo's, and four pieces of honeycomb to fuel us on the long hike to the Castro (with that extra little oomph for checking out the daddies at the Bar).
The bacon chocolate is yummy (and, I've found, the perfect combo for PMS). But as I continue to eat it, I'm finding that the chocolate is really just a vehicle for the bacon - it's nice to find out some things about yourself through your candy choices...like the discovery that I actually DO prefer bacon over chocolate! Now if I want to indulge these cravings, I know I can just get some bacon...or a jar of bits...without having to buy an $8 bar of Mo's.Listed in: My all-time favorites
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Review from Patty P.
San Francisco, CA
9/29/2009
Walking down 24th St, I spotted Chocolate Covered from over a block away. Hmmmm, I'll just take a quick peek in and maybe try just one little treat....
Within 2 minutes, my hands were filled with chocolate delights. The sign did say sweets AND gifts, and I can think of no one more deserving of a present than myself. Besides, how often am I in Noe Valley? Might as well just try everything now. And this is how one little treat turns into a $15 "snack". If anyone out there ever does feel like giving me a gift, a guide book on setting limits and self control might be useful.
I ultimately left the store with:
1. Dark chocolate malt balls: high class whoppers. I was disappointed in a chocolate malt I had the other day and needed some serious malt taste to make up for it. Mission accomplished.
2. Ginger liquor truffle: My favorite item of all. I originally picked a peppermint schnapps truffle, but I always go the mint and choco route, so decided to trade it in for something different. Glad I did, the ginger ganache in the center was to die for.
3. Dark chocolate honeycomb: a classic choice for me, I love this combo. Sometimes honeycomb can taste stale, but these were perfectly fresh.
4. Passionfruit dark chocolates: fruity liquidy gel-type center surrounded by chocolate. I love passionfruit, so there was really no way to go wrong here.
5. A sample of chocolate chili cashew bark: The trend of spicy chocolate has been slow to grow on me, but I did actually enjoy this one. I probably wouldn't want a whole bar to myself, but it was a nice taste.
I envisioned myself nibbling on everything slowly with a chocolate stash to last me days, but of course it was gone within hours. And there are about 100 other things in this store I'd like to try, so hopefully I'll be making my way back to Noe Valley sooner rather than later.Listed in: I Eat Dessert For Dinner
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Review from Darlene W.
Santa Clara, CA
5/31/2011
Went wandering around Noe Valley for the first time and stumbled into this shop. I was immediately drawn to the adorable tins with San Francisco street signs and other local signs printed on them. The prints are created by placing image positives over photosensitive watercolor paper and exposing it to UV light. I have done work in photopolymer and can appreciate the work that goes into this process. I purchased a tin as a gift and filled it with chocolate cable cars. Chocolate Covered is the perfect place to go for a unique San Francisco souvenir!
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Review from Jeremy S.
8/28/2009
An offbeat store that adds character to an otherwise unadventurous street.
The proprietor is a friendly chap who gives off that "caring local business owner vibe" and his son and daughter were hanging out with him watching the Giants game... a very sweet picture if you pardon the pun.
The chocolate selection was excellent and the store is also filled with lunchboxes and San Francisco themed gift tins (no, they don't have lame photos of the bridge). If you were putting together a gift, I suppose chocolate bars from all over the world and a tin would go together nicely... I was shopping for myself so I focused on the bonbons and bars.
I eventually ended up with some interesting finds and left as happy as a clam (who likes chocolate). -
Review from Liz T.
San Francisco, CA
12/11/2010
I was looking in the store for awhile with my boyfriend and I was trying to keep up with all the chocolate they were selling (Way too much for me to just stay there for 15 minutes, I wanted to stay longer) The guy that works at the store was very nice and informative with the chocolate I was searching for (Poco Dolce), and he was even gracious enough to point it out where it was located in his store. I loved their dozens of tin lunch boxes they were selling. I must stop by again!
~ Thanks for the chocolate~ -
Review from Shelly V.
Oakland, CA
6/7/2008
I was in the neighborhood and was told this is the store of the famous Mos' Bacon Bar so I had to stop in for a look-see.
The store is very cute and filled with chocolate so who could complain? I looked for Belgium chocolate and they had it but it was pretty expensive. OK, not expensive when you consider the exchange rate and the shipping from Belgium and the chocolate itself but after living in Belgium and use to buying the same thing for next to nothing, it's really hard for me to cough 4x that for the same thing. So, needless to say, I left without the Cote d'Or 70% Cacao bars.
However, I did get the small (.5oz) bar of Mo's Bacon Bar. It was 41% cacao with apple wood smoked bacon for $2.50. I already respect the company because from their ingredients, they make chocolate the proper way and they put the cacao percentage on the front. YEA.
When I first heard bacon chocolate I thought it would be gross. But I made some bacon chocolate cupcakes that were really good. You don't taste the bacon at first, just the chocolate and the bacon is an aftertaste.
With the Mo bacon chocolate the first nibble was the chocolate and then it sat in my mouth melting. Chocolate. Then there it was, the bacon. A faint taste, more of an aftertaste, but pleasant. I expected lots more bacon flavor but it was much more subtle. Very, very good. -
Review from Kristina R.
San Francisco, CA
Chocolate Covered has some funky tins and some awesome chocolate. This little store has been around for ages, and I forget it's there most of the time. But when I walk by and happen to have a craving for chocolate, I take a quick side step into this cute, independently owned store.
All of the chocolates here are packaged into little bags of sweet treats. They offer pretty much every variety in every form under the sun, and boy, do they know their stuff. They have an answer to any question you have about candy, guaranteed.
The person who helped me pointed me in the right direction and helped me choose exactly what I didn't know I was craving...which was pretty much one of each.
This store may be dangerous to your waistline. BEWARE. -
Review from Marsha Z.
San Francisco, CA
3/24/2008
I've been to Fog City News, its closest rival in the chocolate department, but it lacks a certain charm that Chocolate Covered has.
A narrow shop showcasing a vast amount of chocolate, locally and from around the world, the other draw to this place are their novelty lunch box cases. Though, I managed to fend off the urge to buy a couple of their smaller tins, I couldn't resist purchasing a tin with my street name. (You know you've got a good thing going when you influence your customers to buy things they don't really need.) I walked out $30 poorer, but was so mesmerized by the selection and conversing with employee, Pali (of Rocket Dog Rescue fame), that I didn't mind all that much. Her and Jack, the owner, were unbelievably helpful in selecting bars based on my tastes. Like others have mentioned, the chili and pistachio bark is a must buy.
My only gripe is that the bars are a bit pricey--especially the ones that I can buy at Whole Foods for at least a dollar less. When you say you can get something at Whole Foods for cheaper, I think that's a safe bet that you're charging too much. But overall, I adore Chocolate Covered and will make it a point to patronize more often, not only for myself, but for others; their tins would make for a great gift.Listed in: F.O.Y. - Found On Yelp
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Review from Connie C.
San Jose, CA
10/20/2007
CC loves CC!
This shop run by super sweet and cool hippies rocks my world. If you're overwhelmed by the hundreds of different chocolates, take home these 3 guaranteed to satisfy your sweet and salty cravings:
1. Mo's Bacon Bar by Vosges Haut Chocolat- a deep milk chocolate with bits of applewood smoked bacon and a sprinkling of alder wood smoked salt
2. CC Almond and chocolate covered toffee
3. CC Powdered sugar and chocolate covered almonds
They have lots of chocolate available to sample, but trust me on the three I mentioned. You'll see why the bacon bar the new breakfast of champions!Listed in: For the Sweet Tooth, Chocolates I Crave
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Review from megan w.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2006
The proprietor of Chocolate Covered is a delightful pillar of local flavor, and the shop is filled with the most elite echelons of artisanal chocolate in myriad varieties. Also, this is the place to go if you're one of those people who holds up the line at Peet's while you contemplate the subtle differences between a Columbian bean and an Ethiopian bean, because lucky for you, elitist prick, chocolate beans afford one the same opportunity for pretentious differentiation of flavor compounds between regional bean varietals. My favorite is the Venezuelan. Naturally sweet and a little spicy.
But really, the thing I love most and hold so dear about this delightful shop is the picture printed tin boxes. Ordinarily, I am anti-tchotchke, but these tins are special because they feature San Francisco street signs. Which may seem trite, but the owner makes several boxes featuring the more little-known and obscure streets which are my own personal area of expertise. Five stars. -
Review from Pali B.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2006
The very best chocolates from all over the world!
there is every thing from chili chocolates from New Mexico, to the most incredible Caramel you have ever had- with Grey sea salt!
there is plenty for vegan choco-holics and fair trade, organic. a wide variety of high cocoa content chocolates- many 100% bars.
something for every one.
There is a white chocolate with cinnamon and chili that will change your life FOREVER! Jack, who owns the place is an awesome guy- he makes handmade Cyano-type tins.
it is a rare form of old photography- its a beautiful blue color- he will make custom (your photo) boxes (either wood or tin) with Japanese paper on the sides. it is worth a trip across town to visit this store! Open every day!
we are hoping that he gets in Vegan marshmallow products, but even still Chocolate Covered gets 5 stars! this place ROCKS! -
Review from Michael M.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2008 1 Check-in Here
A friend told me of some Pistachio Chili Bark at this place, and raves about it so much, I just had to go. Walking in, my eyes were instantly drawn to the walls, were just about every street in San Francisco is on it's own tin in two sizes. I even found the street one with my surname on it. It's someplace in the TenderNob, I think. So I had to get that. While I was at it, I might as well get one with my street name on it as well. Filled with chocolate, they make for a unique gift. I'm told that for $10 more, you can bring in any picture, and they will make the same tin for you, with that picture.
I don't see how you can find anything you want in this store, as it's cramped, and not in any kind of order. Luckily, the store owner will direct you to what you want. I suppose half the fun is trying to find what you want, and try new kinds of chocolate.
Want some from a certain country, they will have it. Don't expect to find any Snicker's Bar here. Don't pass up the Pistachio Chili Bark. It's not spicy at first, then heats up just at the finish.
I still like Fog City News, but this place has it's own charm, but it's a bit harder for me to get to. -
Review from X marks the spot ..
San Francisco, CA
1/17/2007
So I have one or two addictions and chocolate is on the top of the list of addictions. At one point I had a chocolate bar for every purse, backpack, wallet I own. I was walking around the house in chocolate stained pj's, truly disturbing. My chocolate addiction is only rivaled by my bf who enjoys bragging about the time he devoured a 1lb. easter bunny. Damn we are one sick couple. Understandably I avoid going into chocolate covered because inevitably I will be lost for hours browsing through the rows of dark 71.666% chocolate.
Chocolates galore from all over the world and for all sorts of discriminating tastes. Chocolate truffles, filled chocolates, chocolates w/nuts, or fruits, or alcohol or some combination of both. The owner also has tin boxes which can be personalized by bringing in a picture of your choice. I've met my match in chocolate covered... so glad that it's just a walk up the hill. -
Review from Elizabeth K.
Austin, TX
5/9/2010
I just returned from a visit to SF and was shocked to discover that I haven't already written a review of Chocolate Covered. It was pretty much my home away from home while I was living in San Francisco and I miss it terribly now that I've moved away.
Jack, the owner, knows everything about every single piece of chocolate in his store and almost everything about many of the customers who walk through his door. He's liberal with samples. He's been known to implement an honor system if you discover you're short a couple bucks. He often tailors his recommendations based on people's individual preferences. For instance, would I ever have picked up the chocolate-covered salted macadamia nuts on my own? No. Did it ever occur to me that spicy pistachio bark could become a staple of my diet? No. Did I believe him when he told me I'd like the blue cheese chocolate? Hell no. But he was right every single time.
In short, life is just a little bit less sweet now that Chocolate Covered is no longer a 15-minute walk from my apartment. Jack and Cady, I miss you!! -
Review from Michael S.
San Francisco, CA
7/29/2007 2 photos
Super cute store. Super nice owner. Super unique items that one won't find in the city anywhere else. The owner was incredibly knowledge about his products. After telling him that I was a dark chocolate fan, he helped me select a gradient of different dark chocolates so I could get a range of tastes 60% to 85% dark.
They even had ginger covered chocolates which was a perfect gift my friend Josh's b-day.
They also have little/medium tins with street signs printed on them. So if you have a friend that proud that they life on Capp or Mission st. this is the perfect gift for them.
Definitely a unique store that should be visited if you're walking around Noe. -
Review from Green L.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2007
It looked like normal chocolate -- dark, rich, deliciously inviting.
I held the piece in my hand and went over what the guy behind the counter had just told me. Why did I hesitate?
Both ingredients were so common, and yet the combination of the two seemed so outrageous. But why?
I shrugged and popped the nugget into my mouth.
Salty. Chocolatey. Rich. Good. No, Amazing.
Who woulda thunk it? Dark chocolate and bacon.
Chocolate treats -- most made by Bay Area chocolatiers -- spiced up with such things as lavender, chili, and yes, salted pork derriere.
Try the chocolate-covered toffee and sea salt. -
Review from brittney g.
Manhattan, NY
3/16/2009
Most everything here is chocolate covered, save for the San Francisco-specific tins that line their magnetic walls. Pencil boxes, made of tin and in two sizes, feature SF street signs, landmarks, schools and churches. No doubt, almost every street in the City is represented on a gift-worthy box. I got my new roommate a tin featuring our Bernal Heights street name--it even was a shot of the street sign right on our 300 block.
Perfect for City-centric gift giving. -
Review from rachel m.
Austin, TX
3/8/2007 2 photos
Thanks so much to everyone in the "Vintage Metal Lunch Box" talk thread who lead me to Chocolate Covered. I got this fabulous Cowboy lunch box (see pictures) for my friend Tim's 40th birthday and filled it with retro 70's candy* (more pictures).
GREAT store - a cornucopia of gourmet chocolate and adorable tin containers in a variety of sizes and designs.
*The retro candy came from another store. CC sells high end chocolates, and I specifically wanted to do the retro-drug-store-candy thing... -
Review from Wes M.
San Francisco, CA
10/6/2007
It's called Chocolate Covered, but chocolate is only half the story here. The other half is the most kick-ass collection of mint tins and lunchboxes I have ever seen. The small tins feature San Francisco street signs, and there are hundreds and hundreds of them. In the unlikely event that you can't find the street you're looking for, the owner will make one. I have no cause for owning a lunchbox, but it was damn hard turning down the Junior Mints and A&W boxes. So cool. There's lots of other nostalgic designs too, like the Goonies or Beatles album covers.
So where do chocolates fit in with all this? No idea. But they have some seriously high-end stuff, including (wait for it) pumpkin bark! All in all, it was a place eerily up my alley, so much so that I had to get out quick before I bought too much.Listed in: Noe Valley
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Review from Chi L.
San Francisco, CA
2/19/2008
The chili-pistachio dark chocolate bark made me swoon, lose my balance, and knock down 5 retro lunch boxes as well as, unfortunately, a 4 year old child!
Before you start to think that I'm a clutzy buffoon, be aware that it COULD happen to you. The shop is narrow - it could happen to you!
Oh, yeah - try that bark. You'll thank me!Listed in: Why my belly is distended and…
