Highest-rated dessert shops in the San Jose area by diners

There's no denying that Americans have a sweet tooth—nearly 41% say they enjoy a sweet treat at least once a day, according to a November 2024 YouGov survey.

One of the most popular desserts to dig into is ice cream. An International Dairy Foods Association survey from May 2024 found that just about all Americans (97%) love or like ice cream. The frozen confection has held a special place in the U.S. since the turn of the 19th century with the invention of insulated ice houses. By the mid-1800s, ice cream was manufactured and sold to the masses. Soon, old-fashioned soda fountains started selling sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream sodas, becoming a gathering place for young people. Today, more than 150 years later, those dessert options not only remain perennial top choices but also evoke a sense of nostalgia and community.

Over the years, Americans' dessert tastes have led to some other tasty trends, from the cupcake craze of the early 2000s thanks to bakeries like Magnolia, Sprinkles, and Crumbs, to the self-serve frozen yogurt frenzy that followed in the early 2010s via Pinkberry, 16 Handles, and Red Mango. Most recently, the 2020s have seen cookies sweep the nation, with chains like Insomnia and Crumbl stoking childhood memories, launching TikTok trends, and growing exponentially.

Today's desserts also go far beyond ice cream, cupcakes, and cookies. Many modern dessert shops are redefining the experience by fusing timeless recipes with multicultural flavors, offering creative twists such as matcha-infused cupcakes, horchata ice cream, and Basque cheesecakes that celebrate both tradition and innovation.

To keep up with the ever-evolving dessert trends, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated dessert shops in the San Jose area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Restaurants tagged as "desserts" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of San Jose were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may primarily serve other food items.

Whether indulging in a time-honored pie or exploring a fusion delight, the world of desserts remains as vibrant and diverse as the communities that enjoy them. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list or to find your next sweet treat!

Icing on the Cake

1 / 30

#30. Icing on the Cake

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1717 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 50 West Main St. Los Gatos, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp

Salt & Straw

2 / 30

#29. Salt & Straw

- Rating: 4.4/5 (429 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Ste 1846 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp

Co Ba Dessert Tea & Coffee

3 / 30

#28. Co Ba Dessert Tea & Coffee

- Rating: 4.4/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3730 North 1st St. Ste 110 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

whaT's More cake studio

4 / 30

#27. whaT's More cake studio

- Rating: 4.4/5 (183 reviews)
- Address: 500 Lawrence Expy Ste g Sunnyvale, California
- Categories: Custom Cakes, Desserts, Patisserie/Cake Shop
- Read more on Yelp

Matcha Cafe Maiko

5 / 30

#26. Matcha Cafe Maiko

- Rating: 4.5/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Ste 9254 Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Desserts, Bubble Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp

Tong Sui

6 / 30

#25. Tong Sui

- Rating: 4.5/5 (114 reviews)
- Address: 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Ste 2337 Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Desserts, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Hui Lau Shan

7 / 30

#24. Hui Lau Shan

- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 288 Barber Court Milpitas, California
- Categories: Desserts, Bubble Tea, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Aroma

8 / 30

#23. Aroma

- Rating: 4.5/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3005 Silver Creek Road Ste 150 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

Tong Sui

9 / 30

#22. Tong Sui

- Rating: 4.5/5 (347 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 265 West Calaveras Blvd. Milpitas, California
- Categories: Desserts, Bubble Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

The Giving Pies

10 / 30

#21. The Giving Pies

- Rating: 4.6/5 (287 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 569 West Alma Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream

11 / 30

#20. Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream

- Rating: 4.6/5 (569 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 999 Story Road Ste 9072 San Jose, California
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Gelato, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

US Soypresso Oakland

12 / 30

#19. US Soypresso Oakland

- Rating: 4.6/5 (90 reviews)
- Address: 1510 Oakland Road Ste 140 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Specialty Food, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Choc Cookies

13 / 30

#18. Choc Cookies

- Rating: 4.6/5 (586 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1614 Pomeroy Ave. Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Food Delivery Services
- Read more on Yelp

Anton

14 / 30

#17. Anton

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1304 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1969 Otoole Way San Jose, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Snowtime

15 / 30

#16. Snowtime

- Rating: 4.6/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 715 West Hamilton Ave. Ste 1130 Campbell, California
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Shaved Snow
- Read more on Yelp

43 & Company

16 / 30

#15. 43 & Company

- Rating: 4.6/5 (113 reviews)
- Address: 1658 South Milpitas Blvd. Milpitas, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Somisomi

17 / 30

#14. Somisomi

- Rating: 4.7/5 (384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1477 Berryessa Road Ste 20 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Korean
- Read more on Yelp

Paleta Planeta

18 / 30

#13. Paleta Planeta

- Rating: 4.7/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 150 East Santa Clara St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp

Dessert Lounge

19 / 30

#12. Dessert Lounge

- Rating: 4.7/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 3129 Meridian Ave. Ste 10 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Shaved Snow, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

Cafe Dolce Sicilia

20 / 30

#11. Cafe Dolce Sicilia

- Rating: 4.7/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1165 Lincoln Ave. Ste 110 San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Italian, Pasta Shops
- Read more on Yelp

Churros La Guadalupana 2

21 / 30

#10. Churros La Guadalupana 2

- Rating: 4.7/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 1141 South King Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Jane Ellen Bakery

22 / 30

#9. Jane Ellen Bakery

- Rating: 4.7/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2686 Union Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Patisserie/Cake Shop
- Read more on Yelp

Churros El Guero

23 / 30

#8. Churros El Guero

- Rating: 4.8/5 (361 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2217 Quimby Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp

MCourse

24 / 30

#7. MCourse

- Rating: 4.8/5 (105 reviews)
- Address: Campbell, California
- Categories: Patisserie/Cake Shop, Desserts, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp

Charlie's Cheesecake Works

25 / 30

#6. Charlie's Cheesecake Works

- Rating: 4.8/5 (823 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1179 Redmond Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp

Bakenstein

26 / 30

#5. Bakenstein

- Rating: 4.8/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 1370 Homestead Road Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp

Sweetdragon Baking Company

27 / 30

#4. Sweetdragon Baking Company

- Rating: 4.8/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 898 Lincoln Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Portuguese Tasty Desserts

28 / 30

#3. Portuguese Tasty Desserts

- Rating: 4.9/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1085 El Camino Real Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Sugar Rush Mania

29 / 30

#2. Sugar Rush Mania

- Rating: 4.9/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp

Kick Ass Cupcakes

30 / 30

#1. Kick Ass Cupcakes

- Rating: 5.0/5 (107 reviews)
- Address: 1491 De Rose Way San Jose, California
- Categories: Cupcakes, Bakeries, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 241 metros.