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Xanath Ice Cream
Categories: Food Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Food Desserts Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts [Edit]
951 Valencia St(between Liberty St & 21st St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 648-8996
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
174 reviews for Xanath Ice Cream
Review Highlights
"I went with Saffron Ginger and Fig - both delicious."
(in 26 reviews)
"We tried the Mexican vanilla and the chocolate walnut."
(in 28 reviews)
"Sure beats the wait at Bi Rite and Mitchel's."
(in 45 reviews)
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173 reviews in English
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Review from Cathy K.
11/20/2011
The vials of vanilla bean on display intrigued me to try this ice cream shop (plus I didn't want to wait in Bi-Rite's long line). The day I went, Xanath had a modest line that moved at a good pace, thanks to their friendly and efficient staff.
Ambiance was clean and bright, I like.
Ginger saffron, is my favorite (so far). It has a nice kick, creamy, and made from Strauss Family organic milk.
They specialize in vanilla bean and saffron, which you can buy on its own, so if you like those flavors, this is the shop to try. In addition to ice cream, they have fruity sorbets, and fro-yo.
Check out the parklet next door ~ it has a triceratops topiary. -
Review from D B.
San Francisco, CA
10/3/2011
You know when you have to line up what seems like forever for great tasting ice-cream? - Well welcome to Xanath - no ridiculous lines and the ice cream is all organic and great tasting. There is not a huge selection, but what is there is really tasty, creamy and perfect for a hot day, probably great on a cold day too for that sugar fix late in the afternoon. The girl who served me was also very helpful in assisting me with flavors which would go together (my husband wanted 2 scoops of course!).
I will be back, what a nice little find along Valencia St. -
Review from Chrissy H.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2011 2 photos
I'm a little jaded because of all these fancy ice cream places. They SAY they have unique flavors, but is saffron ginger really that unique? I wouldn't say so. I'm waiting for the places that take it a step further and do some really unique stuff...like Harry Potter every flavor beans. Okay not that far, but definitely things like corn ice cream (which I did have in New York) and avocado (a coworker told me about this one).
This was not great--had the Saffron lemon orange. Tasted like an otter pop because it was so icy. Wouldn't go back again. If I were you, I would spend the time trying to get into Birite instead. -
Review from Julian P.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I try to avoid this place at all costs.
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Review from hen a.
a sunny saturday...odd name...no lines, and a whole lot of vanilla beans and saffron for sale...here for an ice cream scoop...$two.ninety-nine even...taking a purple huckleberry scoop on standard cone...quite good...good indeed...the friend taking the saffron ginger....good enough that he recommended it to a random ice cream browsing stranger...also mention soft serve only ninety-nine cents!
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Review from Lara O.
8/6/2011
This is my back up ice cream place. When I don't feel like waiting in the lines at Humphry Slocombe or Bi-Rite I go here. It's not in the same league as the afore mentioned ice cream shops, but it suffices.
My favorite flavor is the brown sugar banana. It's nice to get a scoop of ice cream and then sit on the benches outside to people watch.
For those with an aversion to dairy, Xanath also makes some interesting sorbet flavors. -
Review from Joanne G.
10/23/2011
I don't care what everyone else says-- just try the saffron ginger ice cream. Delicious, organic ice cream, and hey, no lines around the block! I like this place.
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Review from peter R.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011
If you tire of waiting in line at Bi-Rite for yummy ice cream, walk down Valencia to Xanath and you will be happy you did. Organic ingredients, delicious and inventive flavors like fig, pomegranite, ginger,(as well as traditional ones), generous portions, good price and compostible containers. And much, much shorter lines.
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Review from Joe M.
6/21/2011 1 photo
Xanath was the second stop on the Yapsie Pupcrawl and I was eager for some yummy ice cream on this hot day. They're known for their vanilla and saffron flavors and the flavors are infused in every bite. In fact, you're supposed to enjoy their ice creams like a fine wine. Just let it melt on your tongue and allow the flavors to develop.
I tried the banana cream with chocolate chips. It had something else in it but I forget what it is now. Either way, it was delicious! I also got to sample some of their vanilla and saffron flavors and they were subtle, yet loaded with layers of flavor.
Xanath has some great flavors and there's bound to be something for everyone. They even offered us a complimentary vanilla bean to take home and I might even use it for my own ice cream creations. There's plenty of outdoor benches for your dog to hang out at too. They'll watch longingly for some ice cream to drip off and love you more for it. Enjoy your scoop and your day with your pooch!
Food: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Price: $
Atmosphere: 9/10 -
Review from Faina L.
San Francisco, CA
8/18/2011
Holy crap this place was good. Like screw the calorie count, this is amazing and worth it. Generally, I only eat soft serve and stick to sugar free. Not a big fan of hard ice cream. Couldn't care less if the sugar is organic or not, its still freakin' sugar people and I try not to raise my levels too much.
All that said, this place was beyond worth it, and its softer than regular hard ice cream as well. She gave us samples in a metal spoon to try out first, I ordered mexican goat cajeta (its a mexican candy, kind of caramel flavored) and a banana choc chip. Really rich and creamy, their ice creams are made with organic sugar, definitely one of my fav places of all time, up there with gelato in Italy and Argentina. Can't wait to try the other interesting flavors, the flavors weren't as exciting in the store as their menu online, but I assume it changes so we will have to go back!
Note to Xanath: you should really make sugar free though. you would turn me into an every other day instead of once a week customer if you did! -
Review from Jenny B.
San Jose, CA
11/13/2011
Caramel toffee, totally would come again!
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Review from Adriana V.
Berkeley, CA
8/20/2011
This review is (mostly) for the froyo.
I went to Xanath with my brother and tasted a couple of flavors (dry cherry and a goat somethingorother.) I found both of the flavors to be unremarkable, and there were definitely some ice crystals involved in one of them.
My brother got the 99cent special frozen yogurt.
My understanding of yogurt cultures is that they require a controlled environment that encourages controlled, known populations of cultures to grow.
This froyo tasted like something soured in an awful, pre-refrigeration, pre-awareness-of-bacteria kind of way. I spent the next couple of hours being unable to taste anything other than the acidic funk of the yogurt.
My brother agreed that it tasted funny, but he finished it anyway. "Too much trouble to find a garbage can," he said.
Should I raise the ratings by a star because they give out free vanilla beans? Nah. -
Review from Shizuka L.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
As I was tasting the flavors I was getting steadily disappointed, and embarrassed, because I had used the bathroom first and thus felt obligated to purchase something. Finally I found something great. The mango ice cream was delicious and mango fruit tasting. They give you GIANT portions so even though I got one scoop it was nearly the size of my fist and I could not finish it. There are lots of vanilla products you can purchase (although honestly, buy vanilla beans on ebay, much cheaper). The staff was friendly and the bathroom was clean.
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Review from Cat N.
10/14/2011
I'm usually a little put off when I see places that try too be too fancy, i.e. "all organic!" and "unique vanilla!". The flavors are truly intense here though - the ginger-spice cookie maybe unpleasantly so. The rest of the flavors were incredible though, and yes, the vanilla really is special. The service was excellent; usually I feel bad asking for samples, but the owner (I presume) insisted I try as much as I wanted, even all of them if I so wished. The prices are actually reasonable for the quality that you are getting, and jesus this is truly quality ice cream.
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Review from Allison S.
Manhattan, NY
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
A friend and I stopped by when we decided that Bi-rite was too far a walk for our mid-study break. We were greeted by two towering sculptures made out of vanilla beans, and three freezers full of interestingly flavored ice creams and (!!!) sorbets.
Intrigued by the ginger saffron mango and the plain old saffron (plain old saffron!?), I asked for samples and was given a generous bite on a real spoon--yay for no plastic. Deciding to be gentle on my lactose weary stomach, I opted for fig sorbet, which was perfectly sweet, icy, and refreshing.
They have a great range of sizes to choose from (from children's all the way up to not-needing-to-eat-ever-again) and they offer you a free dried vanilla bean with your purchase. I took it and gnawed at it for a while... but I don't think you're supposed to do that--oops. -
Review from J. C.
Pacifica, CA
6/7/2011
A love for all things sweet as well as an un-satiated craving for gulab jamun after some Indian food drove me to this lovely little spot.
They are pretty simple and all natural. They boast flavors that I personally have not seen elsewhere. They offer 3 different sizes as well as a child's size. I highly recommend the Saffron flavor as it is incredibly reminiscent of that tasty Indian dessert. I also have tasted the Creamy Caramelized Apple, Caramel Toffee and the Brown Sugar Banana. There is also Ginger Saffron, Green Tea, Tahitian Vanilla Bean... aaaaand that's about all I can name off the top of my head. Oh! They do shakes too!
There are a few benches for seating and it is located pretty much in the middle of all those lovely Mission and Valencia foodie places. You can also pick up saffron spice and vanilla beans to take home. Check it out, you won't be sorry. -
Review from Kevin J.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Such a random little location for an ice cream shop. It fits in perfectly with the vibe and flow of the Mission on Valencia street. I just wish more people new about it - instead I feel as if most people are unaware of it's existence and just continue walking by.
the ice cream is good. I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had and with tough competitors in the field located just a few blocks away, it's hard to compete. This is a nice little spot to wet your mouth after wandering back from a nice dinner somewhere along the way. -
Review from Rose A.
9/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
SF has a lot of organic ice cream shops, but Xanath is one of the top places. They have a lot of unique flavors which are really tasty. The people there are friendly (and patient while you sample practically every flavor they have).
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Review from Laurel P.
San Francisco, CA
3/19/2011
Ok I'll have to admit, Bi-Rite was just too darn long of a wait so I came here. And it was really good! I had a big craving for ice cream ( when don't I?) that I was frantically roaming the city for some. And it was here that I found myself happy with a scoop of huckleberry ice cream in a cone. One scoop will do it. Yup, all those endorphins were released and I was a happy camper, with a huge smile, bearing all those pearly whites.
Other flavors that were just equally awesome were: Saffron, Saffron-Ginger, Mexican Chocolate, Brown Sugar Banana, and Coconut.
So boys and girls, the moral of the story is: if you can't go to your favorite ice creamy, then there's always one around the block (ok I lied, maybe 5 blocks) that will satisfy that craving.Listed in: Sweets and Delights
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Review from Cory B.
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
We happened upon this place in San Francisco while I had a hankering for some ice cream...what a nice find! Interesting flavors, organic milk and oh so fresh!
Their was a bit of a wait, but it was well worth it. The saffron ice cream was delicious. I went with vanilla, a standard way to try new ice cream places, and I was so happy. The flavor was BIG and really got Vanilla down! My husband went for the caramel and it was oh soooo good. We also tasted the egg cream and saffron and they were nice.
Definitely wishing there was one of these in Vegas. -
Review from Tiffany C.
Los Altos, CA
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came by here after driving Mitchell's and Bi-rite and seeing the ridiculous lines. I sampled the ginger saffron, but didn't care for it much. I ended up ordering the toffee ice cream. I really like the creaminess of it, but It was a bit too sweet. One thing I didn't care for is that I ordered ice cream on a cone and shortly after receiving it it started to drip down the bottom of the cone. The tip of the cone was slightly chipped off which made it drip as I was eating. I felt like I had to rush to finish it or it would end up all over my hand! At first I Thought it was just me, but my friend's also appeared to be dripping through.
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Review from Jennifer M.
San Francisco, CA
8/2/2011
Bright and sunny day and in the mood for ice cream; walking through Valencia when a ha I spotted this small shop. What a pleasant surprise, I ordered their Mango flavor ice cream. Yum yum, sat down in one of their benches outside letting the world pass me by; enjoying life's guilty pleasures ice cream. For a minute I thought I was eating the real thing. Great natural flavor no added sugar, this is good stuff. Give it a try small store with organic flavors. Coming back for more, next time raspberry.
Listed in: Love to eat check these out
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Review from Susan L.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011
First off, what I love about this place is that it's CLEAN and the employees have to wear a hat or hairnet.. to me, other places fall short and are too dirty. .not this place.. clean clean .. now on to the product.. I have tried this place about 7 times now and all 7 times were wonderful................. we have tried various flavors and have loved each of them.. To me, this is good ice cream and you can taste the fact that they use great ingredients.. What's also great about this place, you won't see any of those old looking cardboard containers with old ice cream heaped on top of the new.... I think in this place's case, it's because they don't make a ton, but rather make just enough to sell and therefore, it keeps the quality up... I recommend this place if you want something fresh, organic and unique..
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Review from Nick F.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011
As I write this review I am craving Xanath's saffron ice cream. Damn, it's good. Subtle and unique, Xanath is an understated ice cream shop and I appreciate humbleness; even in my ice cream.
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Review from Christine L.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2011
Xanath is named after Princess Xanat of the Totonac people (in Mazatlan Valley on the Gulf Coast of Mexico) who were the first to cultivate vanilla. Legend has it that the princess wasn't allowed to marry her mortal lover. The two fled but were captured and beheaded. When their blood touched the ground, the vine of the tropical vanilla orchid grew (from Wikipedia).
This is a dual review for Xanath's ice cream and for their incredible store of vanilla beans.
I needed vanilla beans for baking eclairs. Normal supermarkets/grocery stores/specialty food stores ask for an arm and a leg for a single vanilla bean so the Fiance did some research and up popped Xanath.
Xanath is a small, clean store that sells ice cream flavors like saffron, huckleberry, Mexican vanilla and fig as well as whole vanilla beans. We decided that some ice cream would help us decide After trying a few flavors, the Fiance and I decided on Saffron. It was so creamy and delicious with a nice little kick of saffron at the end of the bite. I also loved the Madagascar Vanilla (tastes like fresh vanilla bean ice cream) and the Banana Cream.
Xanath also sells whole vanilla beans. These are known as chef quality because they're not pretty but they taste just the same as the pretty ones. They have two types: Tahitian vanilla beans and Planifolia (Madagascar) vanilla beans. I bought some Tahitian beans and they were fabulous. We also got a sample of a Madagascar bean (a single bean). -
Review from Tassamai s.
Brooklyn, NY
1/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
On a rainy but warm night I stumbled upon Xanath. I thought hey why not. after asking what are the most popular flavors and going with someone that was not suggested... espresso (fighting the jetlag) I ate my ice cream.
It wasn't bad. Not too sweet but not as much espresso flavor. I didn't feel guilty eating it. It was more than what I wanted to pay for ice cream but the portion was pretty big.Listed in: I left my heart in San…
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Review from Stu S.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
This simple, straight forward Ice Cream Parlor may be the best one in the City, outdoing Bi-Rite, Joe's and Humphry Slocombe for reason's way beyond price, crowds or hip and slick reviews. I was across the Street at some of the wonderful, unique stores when I noticed three Ice Cream Cones painted in the window and walked over to check it out. I took a look at the flavors and colors, the sweet, polite young girl behind the counter, the metal spoons for tasting and the steady flow of smiling locals streaming in and out and I just had to try this place. I taste their Peach and Cherry, and just had to buy a scoop of each in a cup for about half the price of Bi-Rite and Humphry Slocombe, and even tastier in my opinion. If you get a craving for truly delicious, unusual Ice Creams, you must try this newcomer, you'll consider switching your allegiance. Great Ice Cream.
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Review from Jana S.
8/27/2010 3 photos
Visited the day that SF actually sported 99F weather.. just a few days back.
SHA NATH is how they would like to be called, I do recall.. meaning vanilla. Cute little business idea.... cute shop. Clerk was a bit ambivalent about offering customer service. Not a very 'organic' disposition, if you catch my drift.
Yes on the fig
No on the saffron
The former was creamy and held a great fresh fig taste. Saffron was way too diluted and muted. Could hardly detect the flavor.
$3 for a very small portion. Yes, i've frequented Ici, Bi-Rite, Bombay, Slocombe....
I'm a little "EHH" about this place. We'll see how it does in the future.
PS Additional kiosk selling their sweets just outside of the Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park -
Review from Ed U.
Despite its good intentions in serving all things organic, I just don't view Xanath as having destination ice cream. Know what I mean? Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous? Looks promising. Humphry Slocombe? Sure. Mitchell's? No argument. Bi-Rite Creamery? Absolutely. But Xanath? Hmmm, not quite. And there's the name. I'm sure it has a deeper symbolic meaning - but it sounds like a cross between Zantac and Xanadu, a kitschy roller-disco musical that gives you ulcers, I guess.
I think it's the texture that's lacking even more than the flavor. I tried a $1.50 scoop of their Tahitian Coconut Vanilla (see photo) on their anniversary weekend last month, and while it had a nice tropical taste to it, there was a milky meltiness I just didn't care for. Vanilla is their thing, so much so that they give free vanilla beans away. What am I supposed to do with this thing? Anyhow, with so many choices in the Mission for quality lactose overloads of all varieties, I think I have to give Xanath the subtle shrug. It's not a gesture I'm proud of, but I do it so well.
ICE CREAM - 3 stars...middling and milky
AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...nice enough inside, a bit generic
SERVICE - 2.5 stars...fine from what I recall
TOTAL - 3 stars...if I'm walking on Valencia on a bright sunny day, sure, why not? -
Review from Kinjal S.
12/29/2010
I am not a huge ice cream fan, but the ice cream here!!!! OMG, I love it!!! Even on an overstuffed tummy, I can still find space for some super delicious Xanath's...
they have some really neat flavors! I love the saffron one!
If you're in the neighborhood, I recommend trying out this place. -
Review from Shira H.
San Francisco, CA
Creative, cute and friendly.
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Review from Scott L.
6/23/2011
This was a stop on a Yapsie Pupcrawl and they had some very good and unusual flavors of ice cream and sorbet. They are really well known for Safron and Vanilla (in fact they give you a Vanilla Bean to take with you) flavored ice creams. They had a few different varieties of Vanilla and I can say after trying a few they are different. They are very good about letting you try all they different flavors. After trying a few I went with the Red Walnut and Chocolate which was wonderful. The flavors are not as unusual as Humphrey Sloecome, but the lines weren't as long either and the ice cream was very good here. It's was great to be able to eat some ice cream with our dog. I'll definitely be back and I'll have to bring out of town guests here too to try all the good ice cream.
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Review from Ayyeng P.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2010 4 Check-ins Here
So the Boo & I happen to park in front of this place on our way to dinner and decided to check it out for dessert. The pleasant essence and array of vanilla pods tickle your senses. I started off with the strawberry lemon sorbet and the Boo had the caramel toffee, not bad. I also decided to try the .99 cent vanilla and pomegranate combo froyo cone. We were pleasantly satisfied.
You also get a complimentary vanilla pod. I used mine to kick up a southern gooey cake recipe. -
Review from Fannie S.
6/14/2010
I'm a bad child. :)
I tried samples of their ice cream...saffon, dry cherry and fig. Fig was totally odd, overpowering and delicious. Although it reminded me of a cabernet wine ice cream... heady. Omnomnom
I ended up getting their 99 cent cone special on froyo... they had a vanilla and a blueberry pomegranate...yep, I did the swirl. The blueberry-pom was tart, icy and delicious..and the vanilla was soothing.
Plus: this place has samples of vanilla bean to give away. And they have a reasonable price on their dried vanilla bean too....and saffon.
Prices are reasonable and they are generous in portion! -
Review from Jimmy G.
9/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Mexican vanilla bean served as a cool, celebratory cap on a hot but productive day. And no wait!
Had a nice conservation on the benches outside.
Will be back for saffron ginger. -
Review from Jessica I.
San Francisco, CA
9/13/2010
Perfect on a warm day. Tried the carmel toffee, very good.
The customer service was good and attentive, perhaps a change since some of these prior reviews. Will go again. -
Review from Tasha D.
San Francisco, CA
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good icecream. Close to my apartment. Yay!
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Review from Melanie R.
San Jose, CA
Updated - 7/12/2010
50 cents for a frozen yogurt cone? It must have been a really special Sunday!
I got a swirl of vanilla with the pomegranate blueberry flavor. Hella good. Props to this shop.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/27/2010
Open until 11!
We actually found parking!
Red walnut chocolate ice cream! Huckleberry flavor?!
Mmmmmm… Read more »
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Review from Kenny L.
4/26/2010
Saffron ginger or not, it's not worth going here.
I'd rather be in a Bi-Rite or Mitchell's line.
P.S. Marissa secretly loves this place with her frequent visitors card even though she says that she won't be back.Listed in: We scream for frozen…
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Review from Jennifer L.
San Bruno, CA
7/28/2011
They have good huckleberry icecream but when i came, i found out it was seasonal.. very disappointed because i came to the store to buy a pint of it. i will be coming back but only after calling in to see if they have my favorite ice cream...
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