See's Candy: The San Francisco candy brand specializing in great chocolate

See's Candy

When writing about the best places to grab a bite in the Bay Area, perhaps you should not neglect to consider See’s Candy, as their stores command a large and loyal following. See’s Candy is a luxury California chocolate brand that offers premium treats by the box or individually, sold by weight, which can be made into custom boxes according to your preference. Freshly made here in the Bay Area at a factory in South San Francisco, it’s perfect for gifts and for treating yourself.

The chocolates here are rich and creamy, and they encase pretty much every type of filling you can think of. The store has white, milk, and dark chocolate, and they are all sweet and soft to the bite, even if they are stuffed with salty nuts or crispy pralines. The dark chocolate here is great; it’s not too bitter, and it pairs nicely with the fillings. The milk chocolate is even better, as it’s sweeter and milkier. But I have a real weakness for the white chocolate, which is as sweet and also milky but, in my opinion, has a real depth to it that isn’t just less chocolatey but is also mesmerizing, blissful, and innocent.

Depending on your price range, you can find numerous options. For $5 and under, you can usually get a treat for one person, whether you select something from the shelves in the middle of the store or pick a truffle (or maybe two) from under the glass. For $10-20, you can get one of the smaller set boxes or create a custom box of your own. And if you care to shell more than that, bigger, more impressive boxes become available.

The best part about visiting See’s Candy is that everyone is entitled to at least one free sample per visit. By the pound, this is close to a $1-1.5 value and is an opportunity not to miss, as sampling the chocolate is not only fun but also gives you a feel for your preferences. Free samples from See’s are how I discovered my love for the cashew brittle, the milk chocolate caramel, the polar bear claw, and the California brittle, some of my very favorites.  But it’s also nice that you can sample before you buy because I have discovered that I have certain flavors that I also would not like to buy or take home without having to go through the ordeal of having to pay for them first. Thus, the samples are a great safety net that stops you from wasting your money, and they make it enjoyable to stop by the shop, even if you’re just passing by.

See’s Candy is thus one of the coolest places to explore, shop for gifts, or select a self-indulgent treat. You’ve got to give them the chance to wow you, as the stores are always stocked with so many delicious items. Particularly with free samples, it can be a lot of fun deciding which of the chocolates really speak to you. For me, it’s the white chocolate, particularly the cashew brittle, the polar bear claw, and the birthday cake. But I also have a real thing for their milk chocolate (especially if it has a caramel or crunchy interior) and have been known to enjoy a sample of the dark chocolate. If you start trying See’s Candy, you’ll be bound to find favorites of your own, and pretty soon, I think you’ll want to share them with your friends and family!