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Mitchell's Ice Cream
Category: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
688 San Jose Ave(between Valley St & 29th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Noe Valley
(415) 648-2300
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
2200 reviews for Mitchell's Ice Cream
Review Highlights
"The mexican chocolate was rich and creamy."
(in 258 reviews)
"My absolute favorite is grasshopper pie."
(in 158 reviews)
"Halo Halo was creamy with delicious little bits in it."
(in 233 reviews)
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2196 reviews in English
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Review from Ashley C.
San Mateo, CA
2/9/2012
Been coming here since I arrived in the US in 1969. The place hasn't changed much since I first started coming here. It's still in the same old location and there's always a line out the door.
I love their tropical flavors Mango, Macapuno, Buko, Lychee, Avocado, etc. Sure there are other brands that offer similar flavors but none of them make it as creamy and flavorful as Mitchell's.
Next time it rains in town....go see for yourself...there will be aline out the door!
Enjoy the ice cream! Remember the good times, create new good times! -
Review from Alyssa G.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love ice cream. Any time of day. Especially on a warm, sunny day. I walked in and it was quiet, no other customers so I felt comfortable taking my time to survey the different flavors du jour. Once others rolled around, I didn't like feeling rushed to choose a flavor. I sampled the Ginger Spice, which was a modest replica of a doughy gingersnap. However, I realized an entire scoop of that would be a bit boring, so I opted for the Mexican chocolate, with a hint of cinnamon.
Great choice, as a junior scoop is enough for an afternoon snack. I have to say the prices are a little higher than Humphrey Slocombe, not sure why.
BONUS: parking (modest) in the back! -
Review from July H.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012
It's not bad, but there is nothing exceptional about it either. They have lots of flavors, but really nothing out of the ordinary considering we are in the Bay Area.
Would rather go to Bi-Rite or Marco Polo. -
Review from Cristina D.
Hayward, CA
2/7/2012
Best macapuno ice cream I've had! Be prepared to wait in line, it can be long - even in the cold and in the rain! You can always get it to go!
**Also, they sell their ice cream at Draeger's Market in San Mateo if you can't make the trek out to San Francisco. -
Review from Lloyd B.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love ice cream and this place has received some worthy praise.
This shop is notorious for its line that usually runs down the block, but today I walked right up and ordered. Woo hoo! It's freezing out here on a Wednesday night in December.
Aside from the tropical flavors like halo halo, mango, and jackfruit, the flavors are more traditional than Bi-rite (which is down the street) but they're done well. I ordered the chocolate chip in a sugar cone. The ice cream was buttery and perfectly creamy with good size chunks of chocolate. The cone was crunchy and not too sweet. The way it should be.
Delicious! Parking is in the back. Hopefully it isn't crowded otherwise you'll either be circling or walking a few blocks. -
Review from Marilyn T.
Palo Alto, CA
2/3/2012
It's nice that you can find their tropical flavors at most Asian supermarket chains now, but it's still worth checking out the original store in SF.
Regular traditional flavors aren't bad, but I'd go for the more unique ones like ube (beautiful purple color) and though cliche, green tea. Macapuno, mango, and buko are other popular tropical ones. If you want something more traditionally Filipino, get some halo halo (sweet beans, fruit, shaved ice, syrup, ice cream, evaporated milk) - it's huge (but not available in winter).
If only they had black sesame... -
Review from Lucia C.
1/29/2012
Haters are gonna hate, but my favorite here is Buko (Baby Coconut)! There are slivers of fresh coconut pieces in every other bite and it's the thought of finding another sliver that stops me from putting my pint down- it's like a treasure hunt!
I've tried the Macapuno, and although it is supposed to be a customer favorite, I just don't think it's really meant for coconut fans since it's sweeten.
Mitchell's can be a wait, and there were 30 customers ahead of me when I last came here (for my coconut ice cream!), but it only took 30-40 mins for the line to abate and for my entrance to coconut heaven. :)
Pints are about $6 and they generously pack in the ice-cream until it's overflowing. You can also do half &half either vertically or horizontally along the container. Ube & Buko were a good mix.
In short, I go to Mitchell's for the coconut and the tropical flavors, Bi Rite for the salty caramel, Icy (in berkeley) for their asian &experimental flavors + chocolate cones, & Frenton's (in Oakland) for the crazy portions. -
Review from Shirley N.
San Jose, CA
1/31/2012
Yes, my friends and i drove 45 mins for Mitchell's Ice Cream..Was it worth it? YEP! Parking is horrible, your lucky if you get parking as soon as you arrive. I would suggest finding parking elsewhere and walking to the ice cream shop. As soon as you get there, grab a ticket! Favorite flavors--TOASTED ALMOND AND WHITE PISTACHIO!!! :) I've had most of their flavors but those stuck out the most. Their ice creams are rich, creamy and delicious! It would be great if they provided some chairs and tables but sadly there's only a few benches :/
Flavors I also love--Dulce de Leche, Espresso Toffee,Thin Mint, Kahlua Mocha Cream, and Mocha Fudge.
Prices are decent, just be prepared to wait in line and find parking! -
Review from Lisa T.
1/25/2012
Lisa T. scores a hat trick!
Now that I've sampled the holy trinity of Bi-Rite, Humphrey Slocombe and Mitchell's I can authoritatively rank them in order of excellence: 1) Bi-Rite, 2) Mitchell's and 3) HS.
Here at Mitchell's, we had chocolate ice cream, chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and rocky road ice cream ... are you picking up a theme here? Chocolate.
So if you want salted caramel or honey lavender, go to Bi-Rite, if you want fantastic rich chocolate come here, and if you want something else (she said diplomatically) go to HS.
Not too eloquent but there you go. -
Review from Mel P.
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Single scoop of Egg Nog on a sugar cone, super yum! It's a seasonal flavor, but hopefully they made enough to last until the spring.
How do they make their ice cream sooooo creamy???? -
Review from Krystal G.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
It's been a little over 20 years and I'm still a fan of the quality and flavor of Mitchell's ice cream. I may have made myself sound a little older there.. But that's just to emphasize that I'm only 24 and I've been spoiled with good ice cream my whole life.
My favorite flavor is Ube (Purple Yam). I can get a little selfish when it comes to my half gallon of Ube ice cream in the freezer. Their other flavors are really good too.
Word of caution: it can get really crowded here. There's a small parking lot that can accommodate about 10 cars or so. If you plan to drop by toward the afternoon (weekday or weekend) and are in a rush, it would be better to bring someone along to stay in the car while getting ice cream. Also, they call out to waiting customers on a number system. There's a separate line for people who are just picking up prepackaged ice cream to save them time.
One last thought: It's worth noting that Mitchell's Ice Cream was voted #1 by Lonely Planet. Their awards hang all over their store.
http://www.lonelyplane... -
Review from Jason W.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012
best ice cream in town.
don't really need to say much. it gets crowded. go at obscure times like..3-4pm to get in and get out quickstyle. they have ice cream to go but honestly, it's not the same experience.
fave: egg nog (seasonal)! but the creamiest ice cream. nothing tops this place. -
Review from Ace D.
Palo Alto, CA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Once in a awhile you owe it to yourself. This ice cream literally stops time, everything is great after visiting here. Not much parking to speak of unfortunately. I wish I lived within walking distance.
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Review from Felisa D.
1/17/2012
Why doesn't Seattle have a place like this??
There's definitely always a line but you just have to be patient. I go here for a pilgrimage of sorts whenever I visit my family in the Bay Area and the wait has never stopped me! This is some of the best ice cream I've ever had. Although, I must admit, I miiiight be kind of partial to the place because the "tropical" flavors they have are Filipino ice cream flavors... so they're right up my alley.
My bias aside, they do things well and they do them right. I've had those flavors of ice cream both in the Philippines and here in the US (they sell Filipino ice cream that is typically made in... Southern California I wanna say?) and none of them beat Mitchell's. You can just taste that it's made RIGHT THERE and with the best ingredients they can find. And if you're a little less adventurous, they do have plenty of non-tropical flavor options. -
Review from Casey L.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Get a ticket and prepare to wait.
Although Mitchell's has decent hits with the typical ice cream flavors, it's the exotic tropical flavors that bring a more diverse crowd to their doors. Flavors are simple and they don't need to jump through hoops to attract the crowd.
One tip is that their small milkshake is more than enough for one person.
Their ice cream is creamy and not icy like what you would get from cheap quality or poor refrigeration.
There is parking lot is located in the back and can get packed quickly. Evening hours typically mean parking a few blocks away and walking unless you're lucky.
There is an express line for those who want to pick up prepackage items for those in a hurry to bring home some ice cream. -
Review from Edrian D.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mitchell's Mitchell's Mitchell's...
So growing up in So Cal, this kind of brings back memories when I'm going to Seafood City and grabbing a pint of Mango Ice Cream, Ube Ice Cream, Macapuno Ice Cream, whatever Ice Cream your heart desires and then your traditional ice cream of choice, but what I'm a sucker for and always get is the Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich...
2 cookies and ice cream in the center to satisfy my sugar tooth.
Thank you Mitchell's Ice Cream.... Mahal Na Mahal Kita. -
Review from Kathleen R.
San Jose, CA
1/23/2012
I'm Filipino. I love Ube and Halo Halo. I mean... come on, now! It's a huge staple in the Filipino culture! With that said, Mitchell's Ice Cream is ridiculously good. I tried multiple flavors and they were all amazing!
Ube was A+
Mango was delicious
Halo Halo was flavorful
White Pistachio was nutty
Peach was fruity!
One star off for their Halo Halo, not their Halo Halo ice cream. I've had better and the ice was too chunky.
There was a line when I went but it went by fairly fast. I waited ~20-25 minutes and ordered 3-4 cones... definitely worth the wait. -
Review from Emmy D.
1/30/2012
Mitchells has been around forever. Being Filipino I had check this place out early on. This place creates regular flavors but what I come here for is their unique flavors of ice cream that I am use to having at Filipino parties and ordering at restaurants. They make ube ice cream, halo-halo, macapuno (with coconut), mango, and so many more flavors. I sometimes buy a half a gallon to go cause its just that good. Its great memories as a childhood for me when I see all the flavors they have.
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Review from Sandra L.
Fullerton, CA
1/22/2012
got the kauai pie: coffee ice cream, chocolate fudge, coconut, macadamia nuts
TOO SWEET! ackkkk but it tasted pretty darn good after a long bike ride! -
Review from Elizabeth N.
Honolulu, HI
1/6/2012
Out of sheer pricipality, I HAVE to write this review.
#1) This review is YEARS over due as I've been eating Mitchell's since I was a kid
#2) I'm Filipino-American and this place straight up caters to my pallet with flavors such as Ube (OMG!!!), Halo-Halo (OMG runner up), and Macapuno (coconut) and Mango, Lanka, Avocado (!!!!) and well you get the point even if you have no idea what I'm talking about.
Mitchells is so good coz they don't skimp on ingredients and they don't change the recipe. This is the CREAMIEST, DREAMIEST place I've ever had ice cream. Yeah, I live in Hawaii so of course I gotta get my fix somewhere else, but nothing compares to Mitchells. Period.
Pros:
-Quality ingrediants; no fat free fake cream or corn fructose here!
-Dang everything here is friggin good.
-Pre-packaged cashier line so you can just run in an run out with a gallon or two or five (for reals)
-Avocado milk shake....sigh....i miss you
Cons:
-The lines can get super long no matter what time of day.Comment from Linda M. of Mitchell's Ice Cream 1/17/2012
Thank you for taking the time to review our store and thank… More » -
Review from Sheryl G.
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming to Mitchell's since I was a little yelper! Since before 1989... but even to this day the flavors of those ice creams still taste the EXACT way it did when I first started devouring those amazing desserts. Although the neighborhood still looks as rough as it did back then, I love how Mitchell's has always kept its family home style quality.
My favorites have always been MANGO. my mom was always UBE or LANGKA (misspell) or BUKO. I know they've added different items over the years but I can't ever get over how delicious that mango ice cream is. It's worth running 2 days worth i love it that much. Plus where else can you find a mom and pop shop that has FILIPINO flavored creations besides Goldilocks? The line is worth it just to get a simple cone.
The one thing I'm happy to say still exists at the store is the rainbow ice cream cone halogen lamp sign that's been hanging up on the window for almost 20 years. Every time I see it, I know "It's MITCHELL TIME" nom nom nom! -
Review from Troy R.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
OMG Becky look @ that line!!!! These were my first thoughts when I got parking right in front of Bi-Rite Creamery and the line was stretching almost around the corner. What did I expect on a beautiful New Year's Eve Day?!
None the less I didn't want to deal with it and had some time restraints of my own, so sadly I moved on BYE Bi-Rite. On my way to the meat market I came across Mitchell's Ice Cream with a parking place right in front (..BOOOM) and NO line (..double BOOOM). Was this a sign from the ice cream Gods?!
All of a sudden I had a weird deja vu sequence, remembering different stories of the great Mitchell's Ice Cream. GREAT?! Hmmm I'll put that to the test. I crap you NOT! ...as soon as I got in this place I reverted to being 10 yrs old but luckily enough with access to a 30 something's bank account ....YEAH BOY!!!! I didn't know what to order there were so many wonderful flavors to choose from & as soon as I figured it out a mob of people came in and there was a line going outside of Mitchell's. WTF...is it Ice Cream Day and I didn't get the memo.
I got Chocolate Caramel Crackle, Coconut-Pineapple and Dulce de Leche. They weren't great they were more like FANTASTI-BOMB-DERFUL-GREAT!. Yeah that's not a word but there is no word to describe the taste, texture and overall creamy experience of Mitchell's Ice Cream.
The only problem I have now is I'm stuck in this ice creamery love triangle between Mitchell's and Bi-Rite. Actually that's not a problem and it's pretty sweet!!! -
Review from Jaime P.
12/22/2011
Oh man, it might be a good thing that Mitchells is not anywhere near where I live. My fiancee and I would easily both be overweight again!
Their ice cream is the creamiest I've ever had, ever! And I love their assortment of tropical flavors too! So stinkin' good! -
Review from Diana N.
Goleta, CA
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh BUKO BUKO BUKO!!!
Whether coconut is a fruit, nut, seed, or all of the above, it does not matter! Delicious is what it is and BUKO is one of the best coconut ice cream I ever had! Lick lick -
Review from James V.
Garden Grove, CA
1/31/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Yum the Pear flavor. Love it how they pack the cone for you :)
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Review from Donna S.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012
Not really a fan of Mitchell's Ice Cream, but let me tell you... I discovered that they sell frozen banana covered in chocolate with nuts. It was soo yummy... Their price for it is reasonable. It is freshly made, because they put in a zip lock bag. So for now on, whenever I crave for frozen bananas I'm definitely coming back to this place. Unless you'll can recommend a different place around San Francisco that sells them. I would give it a five star but customer service needs improvement and a faster service. But over all this place is fairly decent, just wish they had a place to sit down inside instead of sitting outside. And yes they do have a private parking lot.
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Review from Ursula U.
12/22/2011 11 photos
Vanilla ice cream with swirls of passion fruit and mango sorbet sandwiched between 2 chewy lemon sugar cookies-
H E L L O - I ' L L H A V E A N O T H E R - S O Y U M M Y ! ! ! ! -
Review from Michael S.
Dana Point, CA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had the Ube and sweet coconut, Ube was good and different taste at the same time, I actually like the texture of the Ube better then the sweet coconut ,I tried the Grasshopper and that was really good and seemed to have a better texture.....I would probably get that next time.
Overall it was honestly a little to creamy and melted really fast. -
Review from Laurie W.
San Francisco, CA
So many flavors!!
Never been here and it was lil around 9ish and it was packed...surprising!
They have so many interesting flavors! Some originals but some interesting mix
Price is a little high for ice cream but its well worth it. You can try different samples
I tried the avocado and i loved it! It's very creamy and its doesnt get runny as quickly!
Soft but yet has a nice bite!!
Definitely coming back!Listed in: My favorites
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Review from vince b.
Fremont, CA
1/3/2012
Despite the maddening wait for a taste of Mitchell's Ice Cream, I do enjoy coming here after devouring dinner at Front Porch (it's a cajun/creole restaurant less than a block away, but I digress).
They have a pretty good selection of flavors; from Rocky Road to Green Tea, French Custard, Coffee, Ube, Black Walnut, Cantaloupe ... you'll have plenty of choices once you get here.
If you've never been here and have zero clue where the line starts -- pick a number. Grab a ticket number to your left once you enter the door. Wait is usually around 10-20 minutes depending how busy it is, but it's worth it. -
Review from Anita i.
12/6/2011
i love ice cream samples because you can try everything and then get full.. but of course i got a scoop, make that 1/4 pintt for myself that i barely made a dent into. I ended up getting the mango which was refreshing and delicious. after a big meal i didn't have room for anything creamy but it was all so yummy. I tried avocado.. it was definitely interesting and tasted like avocado, but I couldn't bring myself to eat more than my sample.
Bi rite is still my first ice cream love, but Mitchells you were delicious too!
w h a t i d i g
sampling! what i do not dig? choosing! -
Review from Mel H.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
So awesome and woth the wait. My favorite is the pumpkin ice cream (seasonal). Get a quart and take it to a holiday party to enjoy with friends. Plus, if you get a quart you don't have to wait in line!
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Review from Whitney N.
Oakland, CA
1/19/2012
I'll love this place every time I come sf, I'm thinking how am I going to get some mitchell's ice cream today. The only downfall is all the flavors are wonderful and I just can't decide which one, White pistachio, baby coconut, ube, halo halo, etc. I also see that they make their own ice cream cake there too, I think for my birthday this year I'm going order one. There usually is a little wait if you grab a number by the door you will be called shortly. The staff is very friendly and quick! Definitely a place to stop by when you're in San Francisco. Oh and there's also parking!!!! That deserves a extra star in it's self!!
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Review from Aditi R.
12/19/2011
The line in this place! My god, you know this place is good when the line is out the door and there is pure chaos in there. Except somehow you find order in it all. Thanks to machines that give out numbers and a team of mitchell's employees who are efficient and quick.
There are numerous flavors to choose from. Numerous. Probably around 30-40. It's pretty crazy. And it makes choosing a nightmarish experience especially with so many people around you. However, I went with their what they're known for (ube) and my roommate went for more fruity flavors - peach, strawberry, and something else I cannot remember. What I do remember however, is liking her combination much more than my ube. Definitely give ube a try before getting it - doubt its everybody's scoop of ice cream.
However, the place is pretty amazing. The fruity ice creams were delicious and we went through the pint incredibly fast. Made the wait worth it. -
Review from Irina Z.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2011
There are two schools of thought on San Francisco ice cream: old school and trendy. Mitchell's is firmly in the first camp and thank god. Chocolate is a simple dose of heavenly classicness, it is not fall until I've had Mitchell's pumpkin I've cream, and the off the beaten path flavors like avocado and ube (purple yam) are also delightful. Swing by, take a number, and get in line (bc there always is one, even when it is 10:45 pm and foggy and freezing, but it goes quick and is totally worth it).
Consider it a blessing from the gods if you're able to park in the teeny lot behind the place. -
Review from Adonis A.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
ube and strawberry all day! i dont even know how to describe how good this place is other than just saying that
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Review from Annie W.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I rarely give out ratings of 5 stars but this place definitely deserves it. Their ice cream is so good, and they have fun flavors.
My two all time favorites if I absolutely had to choose would be toasted almond and white pistachio. Both are so rich and creamy and they come in the big tub. hehe.
If you're about to head home after visiting Mitchell's, I suggest shelling a few extra and just bring the big tub of ice cream home instead of waiting for your number to be called. It's a lot more worth it, and you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home.
I've only ordered a scoop once because there was nobody there as it was a Tuesday evening right before they were closing. I ordered a scoop of toasted almond and the girl gave me a lot more than a scoop. Can't complain about extra ice cream. Also, this ice cream doesn't melt as quickly as others. Usually when I have ice cream, by the time I get close to the bottom, a lot will have already melted. But it was not the case this time. Or maybe it was just really cold outside and that's why it didn't melt as quickly.
One downside is parking can be a pain when it's a hot summer night, or just one of those busier weekends. They have a lot, but it's fairly small. If you're coming on a warmer evening, be prepared to possibly have to circle around the block a couple times to look for parking. But this place is definitely worth the extra circling. -
Review from L A H.
Pacifica, CA
11/27/2011
I've been coming here for ice cream since I was a kid.
And if you were to ask me is there any other shop where they have better ice cream, I'd say the answer is no.
Their ice cream sandwiches are the best thing ever.
Sorry It's It's...
This place is always packed for a reason.Listed in: Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am.
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Review from Tri P.
Milpitas, CA
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love San Francisco for its wide array of foods, the ability to get different takes on the same cuisines all within one city's limits. My inaugural trip to BiRite Creamery was fantastic, so I chose Mitchell's as my next place for ice cream.
It has a small parking lot which is an amazing luxury in San Francisco, and it also rests in a less busy area of the city. It's got a warm and welcoming feel, and there are many employees on hand even at 9:30 PM. To get service, you have to take a number, though you can walk right up and ask to sample flavors.
By reviewer suggestions and photos, I ended up with the ube (yam similar to taro) and macupuno (sweet coconut). My brother had the mango, while my friend had the coffee. The scoops were enormous; I was afraid it'd melt, but we were eating in the cold, so I was safe. The ice cream itself was good, very rich and creamy, though I felt that it was a little too creamy. The mango could have stood to be a little more tart. In my last trip to Bi-Rite my brothers and I were ready to go back for seconds, whereas this place left us prepared to trek back home.
I'll stick to Bi-Rite, but, hey, this place is a hidden gem to some. -
Review from Shelley L.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Great place for ice cream.
Associates are nice.
Not so great when there's a crowd, remember to grab a number if you are a first timer.
There's a parking lot in the back, so parking is usually not a problem. I usually come at odd hours, so the 10 min zone in front is usually free.
Great flavors. The purple yam was visually a bit interesting, but still tasty. Bi-rite has more unique flavors. and Swensons & Baskin Robbins has the standard flavors. Poly Ann's quality has been dropping even though they have unique flavors, so I started enjoying Mitchell's more. I LOVE Fenton's in Oakland, but they're across the bay. Mitchell's will have to do.
Neighborhood gem.
Read more reviews for this business:
French (3),
Spanish (1)
