San Francisco's ice cream scene has a problem: prices that'll make you choke on your cone. The average single scoop now costs $5.67 (up 24% since 2022), and premium shops routinely charge $6-8 for portions that disappear in four bites. But here's the thing—some of the city's best ice cream actually comes from its most reasonably priced shops. These four spots prove you don't need to drain your wallet for genuinely excellent ice cream.

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Mitchell's Ice Cream: SF's Value Champion

At Mitchell's, a single scoop runs $6.50 and a double costs $8.50—which sounds standard until you realize they've been named "2025 Best In The Bay" twice (by SF Gate and San Francisco Magazine) while maintaining prices below most competitors. The family-owned operation has occupied the same corner at 29th and San Jose since 1953, churning out nearly 200 recipes with about 40 flavors available daily.

What sets Mitchell's apart isn't just the price—it's the Filipino and tropical flavors you won't find elsewhere. Ube, macapuno (coconut), avocado, lychee sherbet, and black sesame appear alongside American classics. The portions are generous enough that locals recommend buying a pint to share rather than individual scoops. Lines can stretch down the block on weekends, but they move quickly, and there's a parking lot out back.

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Polly Ann Ice Cream: 49 Flavors and a Spin Wheel

Polly Ann has been scooping ice cream in the Outer Sunset since 1955, maintaining the neighborhood ice cream parlor vibe that's disappeared from most of the city. They rotate through 500+ recipes, keeping 49 flavors available each day. Can't decide? Spin their flavor wheel. Still can't decide? They'll split a single scoop between two flavors at no extra charge.

The prices stay reasonable because this is an actual neighborhood spot, not a tourist destination (though Anthony Bourdain did feature them on TV). You'll find unusual options like Turkish coffee, jasmine tea, and ginger alongside classics, all made in-house. Free samples are standard, and the staff will patiently let you try half the case. Located near Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park, it's a solid stop after a day at the beach when you're already questioning your life choices.

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Garden Creamery: Free Cones Are the Hook

Here's Garden Creamery's genius move: they don't charge for cones. Sugar cones and cake cones are both free, which immediately saves you $1-2 compared to shops that tack on cone fees. The scoops themselves are generous—reviewers consistently mention getting more ice cream than they expected—and the quality matches Mission District standards.

The owner's Hawaiian heritage shows up in the flavor selection: ube pandan, Thai tea, black sesame, mango sticky rice, and multiple matcha variations rotate through alongside seasonal specials. They make everything in small batches on-site with Straus organic dairy, so you're watching your ice cream get made while you wait. The shop only opens Wednesday through Sunday (hours vary by day), and lines can get long on weekends, but they move fast because the staff actually knows what they're doing.

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Miyako Old Fashioned Ice Cream: Under $7 for Everything

Miyako keeps most items under $7, making it one of the city's most affordable options. The Fillmore District shop has been Black-owned since 1993, operating as a neighborhood spot long before "artisanal" became an ice cream marketing term. Their bestseller is a Belgian chocolate hot fudge sundae made with Mitchell's ice cream, which tells you something about both their standards and their lack of pretension.

The vintage candy store vibe sets it apart—you're getting ice cream alongside old-school candy in a space that feels deliberately stuck in time. It's not trying to be Instagram-famous or push avant-garde flavors. It's just solid ice cream at prices that reflect what ice cream actually cost before everyone decided frozen cream needed to be a luxury product.