Delicious Must-Try Desserts In San Mateo, California

Rachael Wan

In a city known for its Taiwanese milk tea craze, San Mateo has a lot to offer in the desserts department. There are plenty of great stores to stop by for delicious frozen treats. Here are our favorites.

Clear Optometry

Clear Optometry

The sign on the outside may read ‘Clear Optometry‘ and promote its extensive selection of high-end glasses, but don’t be fooled, because glasses aren’t the only things available here. Upon walking in, customers are greeted with shelves of glasses and an impressive dessert menu. The Refresh Bar offers coffee, frozen yogurt, cupcakes, and much more to be consumed while customers wait for the main service. The frozen yogurt is exactly what anyone would hope for on a hot day (refreshing and creamy) with your choice of topping to bring it all together. A different way to enjoy frozen yogurt, Clear Optometry has the best in the area.
Clear Optometry, 138 East 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA, USA +1 650 348 8818

Vampire Penguin

Sharona’s Chocolate Shop is a go-to destination for anyone with a sweet tooth. This unique shop in San Mateo specializes in all kinds of chocolate from chocolate tulips to chocolate-covered s’mores. Not only does it have basically anything you could ever want covered in chocolate, Sharona’s also has gelato that tastes like no other. The generous servings and very reasonable price for a scoop of the creamy salted caramel or a taste of the coconut pineapple gelato make the trip to Sharona’s well worth it.
Sharona’s Chocolate Shop, 128 Est 3rd Avenue, San Mateo, CA, USA +1 650 348 3128

Vampire Penguin

Taking a step away from the creamier side of desserts to the icier options, Vampire Penguin gives its customers shaved ice like they have never had before. The shaved ice, with unique flavor options like strawberry cheesecake or Halo-halo, a Filipino dessert, melts in your mouth like snow; clean, delicious snow. Since its recent opening in San Mateo, Vampire Penguin has been gaining popularity, and rightfully so. Vampire Penguin is unlike any other dessert option in San Mateo and is perfect for thinking back to the days of warmer weather.
Vampire Penguin, 856 North Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA, USA +1 650 235 9149

Yumi Yogurt

Yumi Yogurt

A creamier take on frozen yogurt, Yumi Yogurt is far from stingy, piling its yogurt high for every order. Ribbons of flavor swirl around the yogurt, adding the right amount of sticky sweetness to such a simple treat. Not only does Yumi Yogurt serve yogurt, but it also has smoothies and ice cream. Sitting down with a cold dessert on the beautiful patio outside is the perfect way to enjoy a warm day in San Mateo.
Yumi Yogurt, 3955 South El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA, USA +1 650 341 0939

Romolo’s Cannoli

Romolo’s Cannoli

A different dessert experience, Romolo’s makes its customers feel like they are in a little cannoli shop in Italy. Its cannoli, available in three different flavors, is a hidden gem in the food-filled city of San Mateo. Not only are the flavors and toppings customizable, but the cannoli also comes in ice cream form. A unique twist on the traditional cannoli, Romolo’s ice cream cannolis are the perfect way to cool down from the hot weather.
Romolo’s Cannoli, 81 37th Avenue, San Mateo, CA, USA +1 650 574 0625

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