Chocolate Covered

We flew through San Francisco on our way in to Napa for my birthday weekend. I had read about Chocolate Covered online and it was “on the way” so my husband kindly agreed to make a pit stop for me. The sheer quantity of options was pretty overwhelming but I told the owner what I liked and didn’t like and he happily made some quick suggestions for me. I left with a tidy little haul and am looking forward to trying all of these new to me artisan chocolate brands.

If you're a chocolate lover, you must visit this haven.This incredible chocolate store truly stands out with its wide selection of treats that cater to every palate.The moment you walk in, you're greeted by the rich aroma of high-quality chocolate, and the welcoming atmosphere makes you feel right at home.The staff —super knowledgeable and eager to share their expertise, guiding you through the extensive collection of artisanal chocolates, truffles, and unique flavor combinations.Make sure to ask for recommendations; you’re in for a delightful experience that will satisfy all your chocolate cravings!

This is a true San Francisco treasure in so many ways. It simultaneously celebrates the beauty of the city and it's incredible chocolate makers while also welcoming diversity and culture represented by chocolate from around the world. This is what makes SF great and this little 30-year old store, owned by a beautiful couple embodies it all.

Fantastic little chocolate shop in the heart of Noe Valley with a good selection of hard to find vegan chocolates (such as J Street chocolate bars). Jack (owner) is wonderful; kind and very knowledgeable about the products. They can custom make chocolate boxes with photos of your choosing, making gifting easy. Every time I’ve visited, they’ve had a 50% off bin with an assortment of options. A must visit for locals and visitors.

My partner and I visited today and had a great time shopping. The shop owner is very knowledgeable and eager to help. Huge variety of products from all over the world.

Best chocolate shop in SF. The owner has an encyclopedic knowledge of chocolate and they have a fabulous selection of high end chocolates. I usually come once a month to find new chocolates. Love this place!

The best chocolate shop I've ever been too. I was able to find every bar of chocolate that I've ever tried, as well as huge variety of new chocolates that I'm eager to try. The man behind the counter was extremely knowledgeable and was willing to dedicate some time to helping me find what I was looking for and how to branch out. I'm excited to return.

This place feels like it is straight out of Diagon Alley. I think that the aged, cantankerous owner may very well be a wizard. But he and the other staff are part of this tiny shop’s charm. I don’t know how they fit so many interesting bars of artisan chocolate in such a blink of a space. But they do, spanning across many shapes, textures, and flavors, to truly have something for everyone, from Easter rabbits for the smallest child, to fancy bon bons fit for a picky sommelier. If you want to make a holiday or occasion special with some memorable treats, this is the place to do it. And, it’s right next to a bakery, which is perfect for grabbing a scone or loaf of bread while you’re there.

OMG! One of the highlights of our trip.... Such a wonderful place. Selection of chocolates were amazing - hard to choose. Of course, we had to purchase a tin box with the street that links us to SF.

Absolutely no argument that this is the best chocolate retailer in San Francisco. Jack Epstein is an encyclopedia of cacao and chocolate knowledge. If you want to discuss origin sources to conching, this is your place. And if you are not that chocolate nerd and just want to buy some mind blowing yumminess, this is also your place. Extra star for the custom printed gift tins they make featuring San Francisco streets and storefronts.

I was delighted to find this little shop open on New Year's Eve during my time in the city. As soon as I stepped inside, I was captivated by the endless variety of chocolate bars and treats lining the walls, so many unique brands and origins, delectable combinations of flavors, and playful themes and wrappers. We purchased several different pieces... dark chocolate pecan turtles, bourbon barrel aged ritual chocolate, odd society wallflower gin & juniper kasama chocolate, siamaya durian milk chocolate bar, soma chocolatemaker minty bar (with dark milk chocolate), mooncake limited edition milk chocolate bar (with bunnies!), and the friendly and knowledgeable staff threw in a free bumblebee wrapped milk chocolate candy too. He also offered free samples while we were there, and gave great recommendations. The quality of these chocolates was noticeable as we indulged in the bourbon ritual bar and enjoyed the crunch of those pecan turtles. Can't eat them all at once, but I'm especially looking forward to trying the mint chocolate bar I got. Definitely an awesome spot for gourmet chocolate and gifts!

Chocolate you can't easily find and have to get shipped internationally is found in SF! I was able to find my favorite brand at this shop and spent hundreds of dollars getting every flavor...eep. The price is comparable to ordering online and getting it shipped, but gotta support small businesses, right? I was also recommended a few other brands to try to expand my chocolate palette. Will def be back to try more!

If you're not careful you'll miss a chocolate treasure trove. They carry a bar for any occasion and taste. We picked up a few bars that piqued our interest like durian and gin infused. It was the smoked lamb spice that convinced me that this place was run by a mad man.

Stumbled upon this place while walking around and it turned out to be such a wonderful find! It's filled to the brim with amazing chocolates from all over the world with exciting flavors. It took so much willpower to only buy two bars! The walls are decorated with tin boxes (made by the owner!) that have streets of the city on them. The staff are very helpful and love how you can sample if they have a bar open. Can't wait to come back!

Best chocolate shop in SF. The owner has an encyclopedic knowledge of chocolate and they have a fabulous selection of high end chocolates. I usually come once a month to find new chocolates. Love this place!

Have I died and gone to Heaven?! Chocolate Covered is a craft chocolate lover's dream! A huge selection from all over the world. There's something for everyone. The owner, Jack, was knowledgeable and passionate and even shared a sample of a delicious 100% chocolate bar with me. I bought a bar from Hungary and will 100% be back for more. A total gem of a shop---hope it'll be around forever.

Such a cute store! I went in on a Wednesday evening to pick up a gift for a friend moving out of town and the workers were so sweet! They were telling me the process of making the tins and how each one is handmade :) I ended up purchasing a time with the Golden Gate Bridge on it ($32 not including tax) and some toffee candy ($8.50 not including tax) and the total price was around $44 including tax. I would definitely recommend stopping by here as it's such a great place for getting gifts and chocolate for yourself or for friends!

Great little shop where you can get all the artisan craft chocolate your taste buds could ever dream of. Fabulous selection of 3 ingredient chocolate bars from around the world are waiting for you behind that blue Dutch door. Worth the trip. If quality is what you're looking for, look no further.

I bookmarked this place on Yelp because I read about some chocolate that I wanted to try and after Googling it, the only place in the Bay Area that carried it was Chocolate Covered. I went there on a Saturday and was overwhelmed by their choices in chocolate. I didn't write down the chocolate I was interested in. I thought when I got to the shop I would recognize what I wanted. The selection was so large I wasn't able to look at every thing. I did leave with $146 dollars worth of chocolate. Everyone who works there was knowledgeable and friendly.

Great (actually AMAZING!) selection of high quality chocolate...with owners who are knowledgeable about it all...and who are happy to help customers select something that is a perfect fit for their tastes. Two thumbs up!!

What an absolute delight. This store has chocolate to satisfy anyone's tastes. The collection is the largest in the US and is impressive to peruse. The owner is also extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and can tell you anything about chocolate, from the worldwide cocoa bean market to proper storage to the quirks of his many chocolatiers. After being in business for over 30 years, he knows his stuff. His distinct personality was half the fun of being in this sweet shop :) Great place to get a gift for someone else or treat yourself to something new!

My friend and I just finished making candles across the street and needed to kill time while we waited for our candles to set. I saw this place and thought it would be cool to take a look around. My goodness, it was so awesome in there. From the tins on the walls that featured SF street names, to the various types of chocolate from literally all over the world, I didn't even know where to be begin! Let me start by saying, I am not a chocolate fan, but the owner put us on to this spicy chocolate nut mix that I had to buy two bags of. The only down side, there aren't samples readily displayed, so it's kind of if you know you know kind of place. Maybe if you ask the owner may supply a taste, we just didn't want to be a bother since we were casually browsing. If you need any type of chocolate I'm sure you can find it here. Experience 9/10!

These people really know their chocolate! Anything you want-you'll find here. The owner, Jack, also converts photos to cover chocolate tins. He has ready made tins for every street in SF. He also does custom for photos you bring in. An overall delightful experience

This Noe Valley gem is the best shop in the US to find bean-to-bar chocolate. Owner is very knowledgeable and they carry a ton of award winners and interesting new makers. This is the only store in the Bay Area where I can find Bonnat bars in stock, except for online or going to France. Prices are competitive and products are fresh and well kept. Store is very compact but well stocked and free street parking if you are willing to walk a few blocks from the main street.

Amazing selection of chocolates and chocolate boxes . Service was amazing and the worker helped me find the best chocolates for my palate . He was very knowledgeable

This is the place to go for a large and unique selection of chocolate from all over the world. They manage to pack in a lot of product for such a small store. Do not come here expecting "supermarket" chocolate. I come here for high quality chocolates that I can't easily find elsewhere locally, such as Compartes chocolates. Compartes used to have an Aztec Jungle flavor I loved, but has been discontinued for years. But there's always something new to discover. That's why it's always fun to browse in this store, you never know what you will find. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=EQTaxi34okL9-BCvJwzJ-w&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ

Stumbled upon this gem. If you like chocolates, you HAVE TO visit this place! Jack the owner is extremely knowledgeable about chocolate around the world! I walked in with a friend and asked for Hazelnut chocolate recommendations. Jack showed us what he have in the store and explained when're they're produced, dark/ milk chocolate, richness, sweetness...He was kind and sweet! Apparently I walked out with a bag of yummy chocolate. Oh! He also CUSTOMIZE chocolate tins! He has 2 different sizes. $24 for small, $30 for large. You can bring in an image and he can have it printed on the tin! Such a fun store! I'll for sure come back and order some holiday gifts!

Love this store, such a gem. Not only do they have a superb selection of chocolates, Jack - the owner - creates personalized tin boxes for them. They're most known for their selection of tin boxes reflecting all the fabulous San Francisco street names, but you can also have your favorite image pasted on one of the boxes. I had our family picture "engraved" on a box and my mom kept this as her medicine box for many years. Go make someone happy!

Once upon a time my job was on 24th street upper DOLO. While dodging and avoiding the abundance of stroller moms in the neighborhood I discovered Chocolate Covered. The awesome SF street name tins and the A-Z selection of premier chocolates is unique. My favorite chocolate are the SPICY dark chocolate PISTACHIOS. $6 only for 3 oz + Jack , Is sweeter and is Chocolate covered too I walked in and bought $12 worth told to keep the $8 change. The person wouldn't accept my tip. Said to give it to someone else that needed it more. Tbh it's been a while since I heard that. I freaking melted inside Much respect and love for humanity Thank you Jack for keeping it real And for them good memories! Thank you for leading by example !

The world of bean-to-bar will truly be neverending! There are thousands of chocolate brands from different chocolatiers around the world, including the local brands across the big city, such as L'Amourette Chocolate and Dandelion Chocolate; all in one place called Chocolate Covered. This hidden gem in Noe Valley has us covered. But not all chocolate brands can be found here. The brands like To'ak and The Conscious Bar can be bought online, while Hershey's and Nestle's were in Walgreens. As for other ethical chocolate brands like Choquiro Chocolate, either you buy their bars in Rainbow Grocery Co-op, or take an hour long trip or two to its magical café in Nevada City. Here in Chocolate Covered, I only find chocolate bars whose cacao beans had been roasted to human consumption. I wouldn't mind though, since I found ones that are ethical and vegan. First time I went in, I saw a moody female owner and a loyal female customer. It's great to spend time with the lovely ladies who're knowledgeable of chocolate. Will definitely be back for another good chocolate brand since Fog City News!

One of the best places to go to if you're a chocolate lover/want to try something new/hear dinner great stories. It's a little hole-in-the-wall place that reminded me a lot of Olivanders from Harry Potter! It's dimly lit, has an eccentric owner who feels strongly about his chocolate, and he has the perfect one for each person, depending on their taste. The store has everything - from the usual milk chocolate to chocolate with quail eggs in it - they've got it all! There's something for everyone. They have various tin boxes that they hand print themselves from their own photographs and the tins are adorable. One can curate a box and choose whatever chocolate they'd like in it. For someone who loves meeting new people and hearing their stories, I loved meeting them! It was a great experience and I've been there multiple times since. Only thing to remember - carry cash or a physical card because they don't take Apple Pay.

Stopped by this store to get some treats for Valentine's Day. Was pleasantly surprised to see that they had an excellent selection of vegan chocolates! I asked someone for help and they had a whole box full of different kinds. They also have some on their sale floor! The employees were super sweet and the stock was so impressive! Will definitely stop by again.

This place has so much goodies. They have great selection of amazing chocolates. This Noe Valley institution has lots of unique items. I was happy to see my old San Francisco middle school and high school have its own containers. I also like the Holiday chocolates available. This is a great place for gifts. Must visit and at least buy a container with the San Francisco street name in which you reside on or around in the city.

Please make sure you have a mask! If not, you can grab one by the door. Afterwards get ready for a chocoholic's fantasy, or nightmare if you so... This tiny Wonka-esq shop is adorned with amazing tins with covered with pictures of virtually every street sign within city limits which can be filled with the things dreams are made of... or something like that. You can also have any picture of your own turned into a keepsake or what it's intended to be, a chocolate treasure chest. Did I mention the incredible assortment of chocolates? Goodness, it seems as if Jack the owner, has scoured the earth looking for exotic chocolate bars and bites, from Spain, to Mexico, and beyond. Oh and the maltball selection is second to none if that's your jam. From mint, to pumpkin, they've got you covered. If you are in the neighborhood, please do yourself a favor and stop in at least to sample one of the delectable treats, however if you do, you may end up with $50 worth of chocolates on the way out like I did.

I love this little shop! An amazing collection of local and international chocolates. It's my go-to reason to head to Noe Valley. Choosing my favorites (New Mexican dark chocolate with pistachios lightly coated in chile powder or dreamy dark chocolate toffee with black sesame seeds); it's my favorite contribution to dinner parties. But wait, that's not all... Jack designs these cool tins (that you can buy your choice of chocolates to fill) as gifts. He's got an array of choices (up to the ceiling) both iconic and local, or you can bring in your own image for a custom job.

Wow I've seen chocolate bars in this fancy store that I've never seen elsewhere. It's truly world class. It's better and has more variety than any store I've seen in the US. Amazing and super high quality chocolate bars.

Holy choco-moley! Tucked onto the streets in Noe Valley, you'll find this cute little chocolate shop with enough of a selection you'll have a hard time not walking out with more than $20 worth. The shop owner, a Manhattan native, is well knowledgeable and kind to answer any questions you have. He also makes and sells the tins that line the walls, and will make custom ones if you bring in the image.

Thanks Jack so much, you did an AMAZING job. My sister absolutely loves it and thinks it's "freakin cute". I recommend getting anything from here if you want to surprise your loved ones with something special and sentimental (beats a gift card hehe) Jack is super knowledgeable and has been doing this for a while (ask him about his spiel, super interesting story). Anyways, this is one of the many hidden gems of SF and am super glad I found it. Noe Valley is so LUCKY. I will be back for my own custom tin and chocolates

Stopped in here today. The owner is wonderful! So helpful and can totally tell he loves what he does and wants everyone to enjoy it too. Great chocolate selection from all over the world with all types of flavors. Highly recommend for a special treat for yourself or someone special

Best place to buy your chocolate from! This chocolate shop has a great selection of chocolate and a cool owner. The owner really knows his stuff and always gives great recommendations. On my most recent visit I requested Lavender Chocolate. What I received was chocolate from Hummingbird Chocolate and Car Artisan Chocolate. Tasting the bars was a good experience! I always enjoy my visits to this chocolate shop whenever I'm in the city with my family. Definitely a hidden gem in San Francisco! A must try spot!

3/9/2019: My mouth expediently drops, "GEEZ! EEEEK~WOT IS DIS PLACE, EH?????!!!!! Wot's wid all dose tins???? WAAAAAAH!!!!" My first-born daughter gleefully squeals, "That man MADE all of these tins, Mom!" The owner proudly quips, "Yes! All those tins have every San Francisco City Streets' names! You won't find a SF street name missing . . . I checked and recheck daily!" "Waaaaah~I never visited a chocolate shop like this one-ever! So, you buy a tin and fill the tin with your chocolate?" The owner smiles, "Yes, you may buy a tin of your choosing filling it with chocolate or just buy the chocolate! The chocolate I have here consists of a deep, haunting flavor you won't forget." The owner hands a few chocolate samples to my daughter for me. Waaaah~The chocolate the owner gave me was a hard, dark chocolate nib: The sample was hauntingly delicious; meanwhile, my daughter loads up filling her tin with chocolate!

How does anyone give owner Jack Epstein anything less than five stars for his chocolate boutique? A true chocolatier, he knows pretty much anything and everything about chocolate, and you will never see a larger collection in the city. It's a small, dimly lit shop that makes a big first impression with a huge wall of San Francisco street sign candy tins (photo: http://bit.ly/2FIeORS). There are shelves upon shelves of chocolates from locations close by and abroad with unusual flavor notes offered and unexpected ingredients like blue cheese, brandied figs, and hibiscus. Predictably I ended up getting a bar of The Good Chocolate, a sugar-free alternative that helps keep my butt within human proportions (photo: http://bit.ly/2P6dRlX). RELATED - Looking for place to patronize in Noe Valley? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2SMmO6Y

This store is definitely worth driving across town for. It's small but filled with an impressively diverse selection of chocolate from all over the world. The owner is quite knowledgeable about all the products and can give good recommendations if you are looking for something specific. My favorite is the chocolate covered orange slices from the Spanish company Mittica. It's like $9 and I can eat them all in one setting. I also like the bars with added flavors such as Rose or Jasmine. The chocolate here is definitely pricer but it depends what you like to spend your money on. Some people buy a new iPhone every year but I prefer to buy high quality chocolate.

All the chocolates you can possibly want. They have some weird and interesting stuff in here. I got something with black sesame in it and wild chocolate don't know what that is. There's something's with whiskey in it and I saw this other bar with durian. Will be back if I'm in the neighborhood. Owner is very friendly and seems knowledgeable.

An adorable little shop with an amazing variety of chocolate. A helpful and knowledgeable staff. One of a kind tins created by local artists.

A gold mine of chocolate in Noe Valley! They have an unbelievable selection of chocolates from around the world and locally sourced. The owner is very knowledgeable and helpful. He has a terrific assortment of tins with cyanotype photos of San Francisco street signs and local landmarks. He can also make a custom tin with a photo of your own. This is my go-to place for gifts!

Chocolate Covered is good reminder to myself to not judge a book by its cover. After a disappointing dinner at the sushi down the street, we decided to take a walk along the nearby shops. From the street, Chocolate Covered's window is filled with funky, antique-looking, blue tin/boxes. I wasn't into it. I've been to a lot of "old timey" candy stores and they're usually not that great. My husband persuaded me to give the store a try. My mind was blown. It's small inside, but the shelves are packed with so many chocolate bars and other chocolate products. I like trying small batch bean to bar chocolate, and I was impressed with Chocolate Covered's selection of high-end companies. They have local, U.S., and international brands. We wandered up and down the aisles multiple times, each time grabbing an additional chocolate bar to buy. We saw the owner guy, but he kinda ignored us and at other times he was busy with other customers. I got overwhelmed with all the choices (especially since there were no samples out.) Eventually, I walked up to the counter and asked Fontaine if she had any recommendations. She asked what our preferences were and made some suggestions. Then she asked if we wanted to try samples. Samples? Yeahhh! The samples were fun to try and helped narrow down what we were looking for. It was great talking to her. She knew her stuff and was very friendly. Our experience at the store was greatly improved by asking for help.

Every kind of fancy chocolate bar is here. None of that truffle nonsense, either. Just chocolate bars. I don't live to close, so when I go, I hit a bag full of choices from every corner of the globe.

I love the concept of this shop - it feels like a bookstore but for chocolates. Super cute and tons of chocolate varieties from all over the world - ask the owner if you're lost for what to get (you might even get some samples!).

I saw the sign and made a beeline from across the street because I have a serious weakness for anything chocolate. And I'm so glad we stopped in because the owner, Jack, was such a pleasure to talk to. The man obviously knows his chocolate and was a walking encyclopedia of really anything - you tell him what you like (such as cinnamon or peanut butter) and he'll pull things off the shelves and run through all the details. Jack was also wonderfully generous with the samples. On our first visit there, we mentioned we liked spiciness, so he immediately pulled out a few pieces of chile-flecked for us to try, plus these praline truffles. And, as we were walking out on our second visit, the customer behind us mentioned one particular brand and Jack handed him his last few pieces for free. The walls are covered floor to ceiling with chocolate from all over the world, as well as these cool tin boxes made from scratch. Would definitely love to come back and try to even make a dent in that crazy chocolate selection. Definitely introduce yourself to Jack and ask for his recommendations for whatever you're in the mood for, you really cannot go wrong.

This is a wonderful place for chocolate and the owner will help you find what you like. Check the small "sale" shelf to the right of the cash register. I just love this place and love wowing out of towners with a visit here. Looking for the perfect gift for a San Franciscan? How about a tin with the street name of the street they lived on growing up - or all the streets they lived on! And yes, you can fill the tin with chocolate.

Getting to go to Chocolate Covered is truly one of the best things about living in San Francisco. Whether you love chocolate, love the design of artisanal chocolate packaging, or simply love talking to Jack, stepping in to this small but mighty store will inspire and delight you every time.

By this shop, Jack is giving a gift to everyone who has ever loved San Francisco. His tins depict so many restaurants, bars, and shops that no longer exist. I moved out of the city in 1996 and looking at his tins today was a walk down memory lane. I could have bought 10 of them to chronicle my life there (including Will Clark) but settled on just one. The chocolate selection is extensive. Bars from all over the world. Very impressive.

Favorite place to get chocolate in San Francisco. I go for the handmade selection--it's the best. I like the kind service too! Been coming here for 17 years since I moved to SF. With Noe Valley changing so much over the years, I hope this place never goes away.

Best chocolate shop in S.F.! The owner, a native New Yorker, is always present to help you navigate his shop filled with chocolate from around the world & with all flavors. My favorite are the soft raspberry cremes. Treat yourself.

Chocolate covered is king of quality chocolate bars. The store is unique, and even though we cannot go into the store, the owner still is great at providing a wonderful purchasing experience.

Chocolate covered has a huge variety of artisan chocolates! The manager does a great job of helping you find the perfect chocolate for you :) It's a great place to get a present too! They do hand made tin boxes and you can place personalized orders of photos.