SFoodie's 92: Langka Ice Cream from Mitchell's

Double plus good: Langka on a scoop of ube (sweet potato).

​ Number 75: Langka Ice Cream from Mitchell's

The line at Mitchell's began in 1953 and hasn't let up yet. The temperature can be a rainy 45 degrees, yet there will be a crowd standing around the door, shivering en masse, jockeying for a spot indoors the second someone leaves. "Oh," you think when you pull your number, "I'm only 10 away from getting served." Then you watch the crowd and realize that each time a number is called, a family of six rushes the counter, each asking for samples. 

By now, Mitchell's Filipino flavors are the familiar ones, while classics like grasshopper pie seem exotic. Macapuno, buko, ube, mango, avocado ― the "tropical favors," as the menu calls them, range from comfortingly bland to ripe and fragrant. And the best is the langka, or jackfruit. It has all the bright melon-mango-candy appeal of the fresh fruit, with none of its occasional gas-leak overtones. Here and there, as you scoop your way through your ball of langka ice cream, you encounter small nuggets of golden flesh. They're proof that it's made with real fruit, fresh cream, and a drop of the waters of the River Lethe, which magically erases any memory you have of the wait. Until it's time to line up once again.

Mitchell's Ice Cream 688 San Jose (at Valley), 648-2300

Hungry for more? The dishes in our countdown thus far are linked below:

No. 92: Cracked Half Dungeness from Swan Oyster Depot
No. 91: Pastrami Sandwich from Orson
No. 90: Coconut Bun from Out the Door on Bush
No. 89: Brown Sugar-Black Pepper Biscuits from Little Skillet
No. 87: Indian Pizza from Zante
No. 86: Tamales from All-Star
No. 85: Chilaquiles from Nopalito
No. 84: Poc Chuc from Poc-Chuc
No. 83: Chocolate Beignet from Arlequin Cafe
No. 82: Scallop Crêpe from Ti Couz
No. 81: Gin and Tonic from Pizzaiolo/Boot and Shoe Service
No. 80: Quesadilla from Rico Pan
No. 79: Turkey Kati Rolls from Kasa
No. 78: Emperor's Pancake from Suppenküche
No. 77: Lasagna from Zuppa
No. 76: Chicharrones from 4505 Meats