Sophie's Crepes
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street, Garage
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Late Night, Dessert
- Alcohol: None
225 reviews
Neighborhood: Cole Valley
"Sorry, Gil, but I love this place. It's got your San Francisco-crepery essentials: chalkboard menus, savory and sweet crepes, woodsy…" read more »
382 Reviews for Sophie's Crepes
If you get gelato in your crepe, you better eat it fast! The gelato melts fast and then starts pooling at the bottom of your paper cone. Be careful cuz they use Scotch tape to seal the bottom of the paper cone. You're gonna get sticky melted gelato all over you if that tape gives way!
Also, the red bean gelato wasn't very strong in flavor. The green tea and vanilla bean were much better.
I wish I could still go for a crepe beurre-sucre because Sophie's crepes look delicious... actually, according to my daughter they are!
On the bad side: looooooooooong wait time!
This is the only reason I go to Japantown! I brought 2 groups of friends here while they were visiting in the city. Very cute place to grab dessert. A bit overpriced (a small strip of whipped cream was another dollar more) but Im a fan of #17 the Japanese dessert.
I havent tried any of the salty crepes, only the sweet ones, the gelato is really good.
It does drip if you dont eat it fast enough. So minus a star for that because im a fast eater. And it does get crowded so hurry up and order first!
This is, in my oppinion, the best place to get a sweet crepe in the bay area. Most other places have chewy crepes skimp on the toppings, but not here. Crispy crepes stuffed with awesomeness. The gelatos are great, and the crepes with fresh fruit are my personal favorite. They're cash only, so be sure to have some with you or you'll have to use their ATM and get charged a couple bucks. And speaking of cash, they are a bit on the expensive side, but totally worth it. One of the nicest things about them is that the crepes are wrapped in paper in a style reminiscent of an ice cream cone so you can take them with you as you enjoy the rest of Japantown.
San Fran, I heart you! Wow, the crepes here are just way too Yummy to pass up! = ) They make them perfectly! Don't miss a chance to try these while you are in Japantown!!
i still love this place.. i go here almost everyday...
the thing is..
i always get the same things..
egg melt
the strawberries w/ ice cream whipped cream && choco syrup
the bananas w/ ice cream whipped cream && choco syrup
and i love gelato.. so sometimes i switch the vanilla ice cream for various gelato flavors..
the adzuki is my favorite :)
i've tried some of their other crepes..
like their chicken salad..
the california crepe..
the tuna salad..
the egg salad.. --not as good as the egg MELT..
but i don't really like any of these..
the egg melt is the best..
THE best.. :D
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/03/2008
the crepes are gooood!
i dont know what it is.. but i love the eggmelt one.. and the bananas with… Read more »
I have been here quite a few times... this place is always crowded so get in line while you're still deciding on what to order. The staff is friendly. The crepes and their gelatos are good but the price is quite high... Nevertheless, you will still enjoy the food.
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The crepes here are SO good! You have a really good selection of what you want in them and the crepe itself is great. It holds up pretty well and the edges are crispy. I love the batter. I have a hard time deciding between sweet or savory crepe, as both sound so good. I wish I had room in my tummy to eat two.
It's a popular place, but they keep the line moving and the crepes cooking fast. Oh how I miss nutella! Woe is me.
Best crepes in San Fran, I love hows its in the Jtown plaza too since they got neat stores. The place gets crowded fast so be prepared to squeeze in tight when ordering. If you speak spanish or look Mexican; you can ask the cooks to hook you up with extra toppings.
I recommend the regular crepe with nutella, bananas and strawberries; thats all you need. If you put ice cream in it then be prepared to have a mess on your hands as the warm crepe prematurely melts the ice cream and then it drips through the little hole on the bottom.
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Pro: The best damn crepes this side of the Mississippi.
Cons: The most expensive crepes this side of the Mississippi.
If you're looking to splurge on something sweet, this is the place to go. This place is always packed because crepes are like a delicious gift from God. I usually get the caramel gelato with Nutella (best invention since toilet paper, I tells ya). If you're more adventurous you can choose a salty crepe with ham and cheese. There's plenty of gelato flavors to choose from, and many more toppings. There's always fresh fruit that pairs well with crepes, and you can mix and match.
The worst part... crepes run around $12 and they accept cash only. But I suggest you try one of Sophie's Crepes at some point before you die. You won't regret it.
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This place is really close to a 5 star place if it had better crowd control, but with the quality of their dessert crepes and fast service, it gets the full 4 stars!
I love fresh fruits with healthier tasting ice creams, so this is a definite treat whenever I visit Japantown. The crepes are absolutely delicious with it's crispy and smooth texture. You can already smell chocolate and vanilla coming from the shop as you're walking in. Other smells such as fresh fruits and Nutella would excite anyone's senses. If you plan to spoil yourself or a friend, this would be a great place to visit.
Not too pricey and I would recommend any of the dessert crepes. They come in paper cones on the outside to prevent any messes. I'd love to try the savory (meal-type) crepes when I get the chance. Stop by and try Sophie's Crepes!
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Looking to get fatter? Head here.
I made a lactose free crepe: raspberry sorbet, strawberries, strawberry jam. This was a very berry crepe. It was pretty damn good.
I was surprised they close at 10pm, I would imagine there would be plenty of demand for this place till at least 11-11:30.
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Date & Time: Sunday July 20, 2008 @ 3pm
Company: Michael
Crowd: Mixed Young People & Families
Vibe: Cheery
Decor: Minimalist. Three Tables for Deux. Ice Cream Counter. Watch them Make Crepes in Front of the Window.
Service: Nice
Imbibe: Rootbeer Float
Devour: Fruity Crepes w/ Nutella & Whipped Cream & Gelato
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Had the gelato crepe. The gelato itself was very tasty but the crepe was a bit tough and bland. Still, the whole package works.
I came here right after lunch at Juban (I usually like to eat something sweet after a good meal). I figured it had to be good because everyone in the mall was eating one. This was the first time I've seen a crepe wrapped up in a cone shape. I'm use to getting it folded on a plate but I have to admit that the cone shaped allowed me to eat on the go. I had the nutella and kiwi. I'm simple....I think nutella with anything is good.
Definitely recommend if your in vacinity.
Tried the place based on the Yelp iPhone app telling me there was some good food near me. You lied! I don't know if I can ever forgive you.
When I first saw the shop, it was crowded as expected. I thought this place was going to be as good as people said and considering the crowded line I was excited to get a crepe from there. The price was pretty expensive ranging from $4- $6 and additional toppings cost from $1- I don't know ( it depends). I don't think their crepe was that good...I've experienced better. I had a little bit of raw dough ( or whatever that gooey paste they used to make the skin of it) so I had to throw that part away..
*sigh* Looks like Sophie's Crepes are no more....stopped by 7/14/08 and it appeared they were dismantling the joint.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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07/07/2008
Wow, the LAST time I had a crepe like these was in Tajima, Japan, where my mom's cousin owned a… Read more »
The first crepe I ever had was from Sophie's. The man behind the counter sang "Puff the Magic Dragon," which led me to believe he was puffing the magic dragon.. This was years ago in high school, when Japantown was the place to go after school. Unfortunately they tore down the bowling alley and the theater, but that's a rant for a different site. Ok, crepes. Crepes! These crepes are delicious. The options seem endless and will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth. It can take a while to get your crepe though but it's worth it. It's not a place I usually think of when I have a craving for crepes, but I always consider indulging in the empty (surplus) calories everytime I visit Japantown.
I am really picky when it comes to crepes because I used to eat crepes all the time when I stayed in Paris with my family. In Paris its typical to just get a crepe with butter and some sugar, so when I saw the large selection at Sophies, I was a little overwhelmed. So me and my friend decided to share one savory crepe and one sweet so we can try two different crepes. The first one had chicken, tomatos, and avocados. It was pretty good the hot crepe combined with the buttery avocados was a nice change from the typical sweet crepes. But the avocado was soo slippery that it kept sliding to the bottom of the cone, so it was hard to get the perfect bite of chicken, avocado, tomato and crepe. We also got a sweet crepe with whipped cream and berry jam. It was real simple, but I love the combination of whipped cream and berries, and the blackberrie jam was really good. But again, the toppings kept falling to the bottom so it was almost like eating a pastry bag and all the cream and jam would squirt out of the bottom. Next time, I will just take it out of the cone and refold it so stuff doesn't leak out the bottom. A pretty good crepe, but a bit expensive for what it is.
Delicious. We waited twenty minutes for our Crepes and I felt that was too long of a wait to warrant a 5 star rating.
I ordered a strawberry, banana, nutella and whip cream cream. Hubby had vanilla ice cream and whip cream. The crepe was crisp, tasty and light. It was also stuffed in a little paper crepe holder. Very smart.
The crowd outside Sophie's caught my eye. They were all watching a lady through the window making freshly made crepes. I'm sold. I had to have one. There are so many choices to fill your crepe with. I had time to choose since the line was hella long on a Saturday night. The 15 minute wait for my nutella, banana, and whipped cream filled crepe was worth it. Going to Sophie's is a must whenever I find myself in Japantown.
I went to Sophie's Crepes last thursday by recommendation from a friend. I decided to stop by since I was visiting the Bay Area and had some extra free time. I haven't had too many crepes in my life but I do enjoy eating them when I do get a chance.
We headed to Japantown to try them out. We parked in the parking garage below and headed up. It's a pretty small place to eat at as there is probably 3 tables inside. I heard that this place gets pretty packed and queues can stack up. We got there at an off time so we just walked right up to the front. There's an assortment of different types of crepes that you can order. They also have a full sized gelato parlour in house. I went with the banana crepe with vanilla gelato. I was a bit bummed because if you want a different flavor gelato, it cost an extra $2, which is a ripoff. Anyhow, the unique thing about this place is they serve their crepes in a cone-like shape. It looks delicious. The only problem is that it's quite hard to eat. It also gets pretty messy. I had the gelato melt and drip as I tried to maneuver it out of the paper dispenser to eat more. As far as flavor, it taste really good. The combination of freshly diced bananas with the vanilla gelato and outer crusted crepe is a perfect combination.
My only gripe about this place was how messy my crepe got when eating. It literally started to drip off the paper dispenser that they wrap the crepe around (think like how an ice cream cone has a paper wrapped around the cone). It could just be bad luck by my part that I got a flawed crepe. I'm down to try it again and probably would do so if I'm back in the area.
I had my first crepe here... and it was All-right.... i mean there is probably better tasting crepe out there.. This place is not expensive but its not cheap.. So if your in Jtown and your craving some crepes.. just go to sophies crepes!
-x3 shells
This place is always packed. When I use to live 2 blocks from Jtown I ate one of these everyday. Today I have 50 strawberry kiwi with ice cream crepes on my back as fat. Excellent. I think this place is better than that crepe place on the lower level in jtown. I forgot the name. I need to look it up. This place broke my crepe cherry. Damn you. I hope my cherry was sweet.
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These are my all-time favorite crepes ever. They are the BEST! After wandering around Japantown and eating some yummy sushi or ramen, a stop by Sophie's Crepes is a requirement.
Their crepes are just the perfect mix of crunchy and soft wrapped around delectable treats. (I've never had savory crepes from them). My favorite is banana, nutella, and whipped cream. Oh so good!
Don't bother with putting ice cream in it. Ice cream is too cold and overpowers the delicate flavor of the crepe itself, in my opinion. I only did it once and I'll never do it again.
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I call this place LIFE CHANGING. Eat a crepe, CHANGE YO LIFE. I always get the gelato filled ones, and while the gelato Sophie's serves is especially nice, what really makes a difference is the crepe they produce. Slightly crunchy but tender, all wound up in a handy cone shape for consumption, it's a marvel of engineering.
I'll never find a crepe this amazing again in my life, I've resigned to the fact.
I have yet made my return to this famous crepe place. It brought memories back for sure - good and bad. This crepe place is real awesome and very delicious too!
It does get packed but only because they know how to make a real tasty crepe. I always get a dessert crepe and it is damn good!
Price is not bad at all and you will enjoy yourself with whatever you choose to get.
Strawberry crepe with Nutella and ice cream is my way to go.
Sometimes I just want to take a picture of Sophie's crepe making process and see what the punishment really is. They make delicious crepes, although I've noticed that any crepe that has meat in it will be cooked inconsistently. The meat that's at the top will be cooked just right, while everything underneath will be lukewarm and taste sorta weird. I've learned to deal with it though. Crepes + Stewart's Soda go together like Japantown and awkward teenagers.
It was really great how people here milled about in waves. You could mill about the next door bookstore and watch the crowds so that your time would better be spent browsing rather than waiting in line. Most customers ate their crepes in the sitting space right in front of the store. It looked like they were very satisfied with the product.
I had the crepe with ice cream (lychee) which pleasantly surprised me. They had a range of dessert crepes as well as the savoury ones. I would come back again - it is slightly expensive - my ice cream crepe came out to be about $4+. I would say it was worth it - loved the texture of the chewy crepe with a hint of a crunch at the edges. I would recommend it.
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**4.5 stars**
I'm a big fan of this crepe place. A trip to Japantown, no matter which restaurant we go to, is not complete until we stop here. Although I have to say, I've never had a savory crepe because I can't pass up a chance to have dinner or lunch at one of the many delicious Japanese restaurants -- if I'm going to make the trek all the way to JTown. So, knowing we only have desserts, my favorites are the ones with ice cream: mandarin oranges, whipped cream, ice cream OR the one with strawberry/ice cream OR the one with KIWI/ice cream in a nice warm slightly crispy crepe. Yum. I think I have to plan another trip to the city, ending the day here of course.
The last time I was here in Japantown, I have to say that I was a little disappointed at the skill of the crepe-cooker. He messed up a crepe, but still gave it to the crepe-assembler (yeah, very technical job titles, I know). I'm taking off a half star (4.5 stars) for that technical error. He should have tossed that one and started a new one.
This place must make bank, though, if you see how many people are always waiting for crepes.
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Nutella with Whip cream really hit the spot. One of the more resonably priced restaurants in japantown. we have had the gelato as well but the crepes are what you come here for. the portion size is huge, big enough to share with someone, in my case, my lovely wife. :)
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Now THIS is what you call a freaken crepe (unlike the overly talked about crepes at Genki)! I only ate here once but will never forget the goodness of the texture of the crepes and the filling. I forgot what I had, but I think I had ice cream and nutella and strawberries in mine. I remember everything just blended in well together and the service was very nice. The crepes especially were not over cooked and crispy and salty as hell, they were what a crepe should normally be, that soft and tasty texture. It's conveniently placed in J-Town which is a nice place to visit from time to time. Highly Recommend this place, ESPECIALLY OVER GENKI's salty Fortune Cookies...I mean CREPES!
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I've been here plenty of times with friends. The most memorable experience is when I had $30 worth of gift certificates for this place so I grabbed 2 good friends and decided to create the ultimate crepes. Lord almighty our crepes were bursting like an overstuffed fat kid. It was a mess to eat. WORTH IT
The only reason this place doesn't get a 5* rating is because I like the other place in japantown more. This place exploits latin labor. The other place has Japanese men in headbands. badass.
OH YEAH and another time they made my crepe but it had a hair in it.. They threw it away and made me another one. I'm sad cus I would have accepted the offer for a new crepe AND have eaten my hairful crepe. =[
I love this place!!! when I get a chance I try to make it out there for the mandarin orange w/ ice cream crepe. I recently discovered the Japantown Special crepe (I think that's what its called) is sooo yummy too. It's filled with red bean paste, green tea ice cream, a drizzle of green tea sauce, and whipped cream. Ohhh soo good. The only thing that drives me nuts is that there can be quite a wait and very little seating, but I can say it's worth it =)
I heart crepes and this place lived up to its reviews! Yummmmmy to ice cream and chocolate. I'm a simple girl ;)
You know, for as simple as the ingredients are... these are irresistible! You can't help loving these crepes! They have the largest selection of ingredients I've ever seen, and even though the wait is sometimes long, it's always worth it in the end... we never mind when it's our turn and we get ours! Worth the money, and worth the wait!
What is it about Japanese crepe shops being run by eccentric bordering on Soup Nazi like personalities? (See Crepe-To-Go in West Los Angeles).
Found myself in Japan center over the weekend and the 3 deep crowd outside this creperie told me that I definitely needed to check this out. Walked in and just like my favorite joint in LA, signs abound. "NO PHOTOGRAPHY". "NO TICKET NO CREPE". "NO SUBSTITUTIONS". You'd think the proprietors grew up doing business only with a leper colony or something.
Taking a glance around, the place offered your standard variety of sweet and savory crepes with toppings ranging from hams, mixed berries, and of course, nutella. The twist however was that the crepes could also be served a little bit crisper than normal, rolled up into an approximation of a waffle cone, and stuffed with ice cream or sorbet, along with a wide mixture of fruits and other toppings.
Got myself a crepe cone with nutella, fresh strawberries, and vanilla ice cream. Damn. Freaking. Good. Totally worth the chocolate stains on my shirt. And Jeans. And um, my face. Whatevers, one must sacrifice for good food at times.
Wouldn't hesitate to recommend to a friend. However, leave the cameras outside. I hear if you try to snap a picture ninjas descend from the ceiling and eviscerate you.
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I've been to France and the crepes in America are waay better! You can smell the sweet deliciousness of these crepes wafting through the air, beckoning you to take a bite into its tantalizing outer layer.
You can watch them make the crepes right in front of you and you can choose whatever ice cream and topping you want in your crepe. The crispiness of the thin crepe complements the texture of the creamy ice cream really well! They wrap it into a circular cone-like shape for you.
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I just happened to spot the place when one of my Japanese friends took me to Japantown since I had never been there. When I saw it, I had to try it due to the hypes and raves about the place. I'm always a fan of crepes and I must say that this place has good sweet crepes! Love them.. so good and the price is decent, too. I got the strawberry, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup ($4.95). YUUMMM!!!
The place was kind of empty since we went there around 2 pm. I need to come again and try the savory crepes. But, I hope this time around, the crepes maker would be friendlier!
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