Dandelion Chocolate, established in 2012, is a popular spot on Valencia Street known for its unique combination of a working chocolate factory and a cozy café. Visitors can watch chocolate makers sort, roast, refine, and temper cocoa beans right onsite, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the craft. The café offers a variety of hot and iced chocolate drinks, including spicy hot chocolates and the Mission Mocha, which features a flavorful mixture of spices. Guests can enjoy homemade marshmallows, whipped cream, and seasonal pastries made in-house, all served in a welcoming atmosphere with ample seating. The shop also features a retail area with single-origin, two-ingredient chocolate bars, tasting sets, gift boxes wrapped in distinctive patterned paper, and confections created in collaboration with local chocolatiers. The space exudes a modern yet warm vibe, with an open kitchen, shiny machinery, and the inviting aroma of cacao. Despite occasional long lines, visitors find it worth the wait, especially for treats like high-quality chocolate chip cookies with large chunks of dark chocolate and rare chocolate canelés, which are highly appreciated for their rich flavor and craftsmanship. Many customers praise the friendly staff and the variety of options suitable for gifts or personal indulgence. The hot cocoa is noted for its delicate aroma and exceptional taste, making it a favorite comfort spot. Overall, Dandelion Chocolate is recognized for its dedication to quality, craft, and a welcoming environment, making it a must-visit destination for chocolate lovers and those seeking a special treat.
Chocolate heaven. The place to get your chocolate craving fixed. It has a variety of milk, dark chocolate drinks both in hot / frozen (iced) Limited number of pastries available ; indoor and outdoor seatings available.
January 2026
Ordered a Mission hot chocolate and it was super chocolatey and spicy and sooooo good. Also got a piece of carrot cake which might be the most decadent I've ever had. Can't wait to come back!
January 2026
Yummy. I got the smore and it was good. Nice service too.
The aroma of chocolate fills the air of this Mission café with an open-kitchen-style factory behind the counter: bags of cacao waiting to be roasted are piled in the back, pickers hand-sort beans on a stainless steel table, a converted coffee roaster spins and heats beans while five large bowls (actually stone-grinders and conching machines) stir a dark brown viscous liquid. Try the European-style thick hot chocolate or Dandelion's version of a Mexican hot chocolate called The Mission, rich with spice and a lingering heat; house-made marshmallows are offered like sugar cubes to add as you like. Chilled chocolate water with a strong note of lemon provides a hot-day alternative. Treats from the in-house chef change daily, and favorites like the chocolate caramel tart are available until they sell out. If you want to take a treat home, there's (almost) always a signature chocolate bar wrapped in gold foil available from the most recent batch.
When you think of a chocolate factory, a hip and airy space in the heart of one of the city's hottest neighborhoods may not spring to mind. But therein lies the surprise that is Dandelion Chocolate: part factory, part café, part boutique, and located in the heart of the Mission. Like beans for coffee and grapes for wine, Dandelion brings the idea of single-origin sourcing to each bar it creates. Rather than add strange ingredients to alter the flavor of the chocolate, Dandelion uses just two ingredients-cocoa beans and sugar-which allows each bean's unique flavor and terroir to shine. Drop in for hot chocolate (with handmade marshmallows) or a chocolate dessert created by Dandelion's pastry chef, shop for gifts, and take a twirl through the factory, where beans are roasted, cracked, sorted, winnowed, ground, and tempered before being molded. Each bar is wrapped by hand in gorgeous paper and ribbon and affixed with a label that tells a story about the cocoa bean's origin. For a deeper dive into chocolate, Dandelion has a schedule of classes for adults and kids, and even leads trips to cocoa farms.
