Maybe you thought Bombay Ice Cream was gone—deposed from the spot on Valencia where lines often stretched out the door. Not so. A longtime Mission favorite, the market reopened on South Van Ness this past spring. It’s a bit tough to find, and the windowless location under florescent lighting lacks any Bollywood charm, but at least now there’s parking. Part Indian grocery store, part ice creamery, Bombay Ice Cream puts a sexy spin on the usual with flavors like rich and heady fig, exotic cardamom, and others you’ve probably never heard of like the tropical fruit chiku and raja rani with dried fruits and nuts. Don’t miss the falooda, which is like a cross between bubble tea and an ice cream float. The pretty-in-pink-drink combines ice cream, milk, aromatic rose syrup, squishy vermicelli, and juicy basil seeds. Sure there’s rocky road and vanilla ice cream too, but try the saffron rose, close your eyes, and imagine you’re visiting the Taj Mahal.

Fig ice cream
Rose petal ice cream
Falooda
view full menu here

Right smack dab in the middle of the store are two metal tables and chairs. You’ll get a view of the shopping aisles and Bollywood flicks on the television. Takeaway is also a fine option.

When soaked in water, sweet basil seeds (also known as tukmalanga) change texture, becoming gelatinous and tapioca-like on the outside retaining a crisp middle. The seeds have no flavor of their own, but add body to drinks and ice cream desserts and are used in both Indian and Thai cuisine.

daily 10:30 AM–7 PM

$1.25 (samosas) to $5.95 (falooda)