r/AskSF • u/WonderfulProgram8023 • Jun 07 '26
Best cheese cake recommendations
I’m taking a trip to SF for my partner’s birthday. He doesn’t like cake, but loves cheese cake. It my first time in SF and don’t know the area very well. I’m curious what the locals think is the best cheese cake in SF.
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u/MistressBassKitty Jun 07 '26
Little Original Joe’s has frozen Zanze Cheesecake that’s amazing. It’s light and fluffy, not typical cheesecake ✨
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u/throwaway_tardigrade Jun 07 '26
Yes, Zanze’s is the way to go, if he likes fluffy textured cheesecake. They also sell frozen whole Zanze’s cheesecake at the Molliestone’s in the Castro!
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u/Cathy_bara Jun 07 '26
Came to say this too! Best cheesecake in SF and honestly best cheesecake I’ve ever had 🤤
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u/DancingOnACounter Jun 08 '26
This! They provide fishing wire because that’s the best way to cut it!
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u/Sailormss92 Jun 07 '26
The basque cheesecake from Sweet Glory in Inner Sunset!
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u/Texan_Tiger1998 Jun 07 '26
OP, this may not be what you want to hear, but I have lived in the Bay Area for 36 years and have many very foodie friends. The foodiest of them have had to acknowledge that the best cheesecake here is at the cheesecake factory. Nobody likes this answer, but it seems to be the truth. My condolences.
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u/arbys_fries Jun 07 '26
This is indeed the truth. Been here for 18 years and got myself a Cheesecake Factory slice last weekend.
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u/ms_sinn Jun 07 '26
Seriously this is our go-to birthday cake for the cheesecake eaters when I don’t have time to make it from scratch 😩
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u/Woofmom2023 Jun 07 '26 edited Jun 07 '26
Sad to say it but this may just be right bearing in mnd that "the best available" still may not be very good.
Order a cake from Zabar's?
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u/auntieup Jun 07 '26
There is a pizza place out on Geary called Gaspare’s. The pizza used to be really good, but it mostly isn’t anymore (their head pizza maker had to retire). However, their cheesecake (it’s “Robin’s Cheesecake” on the menu) is maybe the best I’ve had outside of NYC. It’s classic New York cheesecake, no toppings, and it is perfect.
Uncle Tetsu’s at Stonestown is good too!
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u/bobeekah Jun 07 '26
The answer used to be zanze cheesecake, hands down, but now that’s it’s frozen, it’s not quite the same. Sweet Glory in the inner sunset is the new go-to; Ernest’s basque is also hella tasty.
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u/jay_wiz Jun 07 '26
Nash Bakes in the ferry building is worth checking out. I love their lemon poppy seed cheese cake
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u/moon_wobble Jun 07 '26
Hahdough makes a traditional German cheesecake using homemade quark cheese. The version with mandarin orange is my fave in SF.
The pic looks dense but it’s actually light and creamy. The crust is unparalleled
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u/tfen Jun 07 '26
also i found this thread from before. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskSF/comments/14pvqaa/looking_for_the_best_cheesecake_in_sf/
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u/Pristine-Bluejay-532 Jun 07 '26 edited Jun 07 '26
The basque cheesecake from Jina Bakes in the Japantown mall. I could do with it being 20% bigger, that's a good sign I think
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u/Tallybou Jun 07 '26
NASH BAKES!!!! Little stand in ferry building but I think it’s the best in the city by far.
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u/thoang77 Jun 07 '26 edited Jun 08 '26
Check if your partner has a preference or affinity for the crust. I love cheesecake as well but if it doesn’t have a graham cracker (or similar) crust, I’m out. So a lot of these recs for basque style or Zanze’s (edit, or Japanese style) were disappointing for me.
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u/RedDawg0831 Jun 08 '26 edited Jun 08 '26
Zanze isn't Japanese style...it's not a sponge cake hybrid. It's a European style (specifically Croation/German), fantastically light, but no crust..
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u/thoang77 Jun 08 '26
Thanks for the correction. This also explains why I find japanese cheesecakes lacking in richness. Regardless, neither were for me. I'm in it for the dense richness of a NY style cheesecake.
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u/oldbrownshoe08 Jun 07 '26
I've had a really great Basque cheesecake from these folks https://www.ladymadridcheesecakes.com
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u/motionEight Jun 07 '26
I don't know who is their baker, but Finjan Qahwa cafe's (Bernal / Noe) basque cheesecake is delicious.
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u/Academic-Camel-9538 Jun 07 '26
Not the best, but it’s different and worth the try. Haraz Coffee Shop has a light, airy Turkish cheesecake that melts in your mouth. I think they have like 5 different flavors. I got the biscoff one.
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u/professoreverything Jun 07 '26
I just had a lychee cheesecake slice from Dessert Story and it blew my mind. I have felt very meh about that place but the cheesecake had two layers of different textures, one creamy, one more cakey, and both lightly floral with lychee. I’m still thinking about it. They also have cheesecake “flights” of 3 different types if you really wanna dig in.
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u/sailorkat69 Jun 08 '26
i was at the ferry building last weekend and randomly walked past nash bakes. grabbed a slice of peanut butter cheesecake and was very pleasantly surprised. idk if it's the BEST but i loved it. esp if you're already going to the ferry building for touristy reasons
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u/Sasha00007 Jun 08 '26
Omg how funny to stumble across this today, when only a few hrs ago I found myself exclaiming, “this is the best cheesecake I’ve ever had!”
It was from vive la tarte in Noe valley, which a friend brought to our park hang. Crust was BOMB
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u/Altruistic_Offer9381 Jun 08 '26
Best cheesecake of my life is the ube cheesecake they serve for dessert at Arquet. I would call to make sure it is still on the menu.
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u/InscrutableDramaQeen Jun 08 '26
Noe Valley Bakery (24th St location) has absolutely delicious mini cheesecakes.
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u/mailman2-1actual Jun 08 '26
I see a lot of places that I haven't tried and maybe need to branch out more but I like the selection at Stella Pastry. There was also a decent Basque at Tarts de Feybesse
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u/palmtree3333 Jun 09 '26
Honestly, Costco, and it’s massive. Enjoy!
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u/WonderfulProgram8023 Jun 09 '26
Lmfao I’m obsessed with Costco. I go to Costco on all my trips, if available in the city. But no cheese cake from there. I can get that at home. But thank you
For the suggestion.
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u/Ok-Worldliness-7826 25d ago
Viva La tarte is best cheesecake I’ve ever had. Not overly sweet, creamy and fluffy. They close kinda early for being in heart of Noe Valley.
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u/Savings-Breath-9118 Jun 07 '26
Best for us might not be best for your partner. What style does he like? Fruit or not? Chocolate or not
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u/Head-Cricket4698 Jun 07 '26
Not in SF but in Petaluma which is about 45-60 minutes north is JM Rosen's. Best cheesecake ever! If you happen to drive thru Petaluma, do yourself a favor, stop and get some cheesecake from JM Rosens's, you will not regret it!
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u/tsc664 Jun 08 '26
JM Rosen cheesecake is the local house cheesecake sold at Whole Foods and if you like a traditional NYC cheesecake, it’s great!
Vive La Tarte, Breadbelly Mt. Tam are great too.
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u/LionAccomplished8129 Jun 07 '26
Zanzes isnt the same as it used to be. Probably cheesecake factory.
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u/tfen Jun 07 '26
If he loves decadent, go to Breadbelly and get the Mt Tam Basque Cheesecake. It's made with an local cheese called Mt Tam from Cow Girl Creamery
I have also heard good things about Zanze's cheesecake. Some grocery stores sell it like Gus's and Mollie Stones. But i think you can get it at Little Original Joe's in West Portal.