Ambiance inside is definitely cute and part of the experience, however, the matcha was extremely mild in flavor. I got Hoshinotsuyu and Seiho as a matcha latte to try and honestly they both tasted very similar but the Seiho was significantly more expensive. You get to watch them make your drink while you wait which was a unique experience but this was definitely a hype over taste spot. The color of the matcha was vibrant, however, was extremely disappointed with the taste. They also don't add any sweeteners so it pretty much tasted like I was drinking green oat milk. I've definitely had much better matcha elsewhere and the matcha latte here does not even compare to the taste of the ones I've had in Japan.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Sheila Grant
Found this tea shop through a search on Google and we were not disappointed. You can only do take-out orders. We walked in and it is a very small space with about 10 seats. We sat at the small counter where we could watch the drinks being made which was a treat. An employee showed us a menu, what drinks we could get and which matchas they had. We got the Seiho matcha which was described as smooth and it was, I highly recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fish sticks
NGL, they had me in the first half, the staff is sweet and the place is cute but when I tasted the matcha I could not believe it. I drink a ridiculous amount of matcha lattes and other matcha drinks, I make them myself daily, and I’ve been to Japan and had them there many times, I’ve been to uji and kyoto just for the matcha: this is the worst matcha latte I’ve ever had. It tastes like water, and watching them make it, that’s because it is all water. I can’t taste a drop of matcha in this drink, just a bit of oat milk and water. I’m actually baffled that I paid $20 for water. If you don’t trust my opinion, my partner who also loves matcha lattes, has been to Japan multiple times and so on and so fourth agrees, and could not even finish their drink. I see many reviews saying that the matcha is rich and flavorful, maybe today was an off day, but I can assure you that it was the opposite of flavorful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Alexa Lara
The matcha is of good quality, but the preparation of the matcha latte was not the best and was lumpy. For the price, I expected a perfect matcha.
Maria F
The matcha was rich and was subtly sweet. It’s made right in front of you, tea ceremony style. It was enjoyable to watch since I have never seen matcha prepared like this before. However, I wished the employee spoke more about the process and the matcha. Service were kind of cold, not welcoming, and made the atmosphere uncomfortable. Not sure if I would come back.Note that this is a to go places with signs all over saying that. It is very small place with limited seating.Vegetarian options: All the matcha latte drinks are prepared with oat milk.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Tasting
Ann Kim
Definately get here ~1hour before closing due to the line/wait time. The place is very small but the service has a quick turn around. There were two baristas and one person taking the orders on line which made it a smooth transition for picking up our drinks/affogatos.First time visiting I ordered a hot matcha latte that comes with oat milk only.(My lactose intolerant body thanks you!)You have the option of choosing from 3 types of matcha. Starting off from of a grassy bitter note to a more velvety sweet flavor. There are 2 menus with given to you before ordering which made choosing what you want faster.The hot matcha latte was lovely. Definately very smooth and velvety but was not overly sweet which made you appreciate the matcha flavor. The oat milk was a nice touch for that milky aspect that didnt overshadow the matcha flavor.I would love to go back to try the affogato next time it looks delicious!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Alex xtz
This was such a gemthe barista moved so elegantly and she was so cute and welcomingAsk before you choose the Matcha so it suits your tastesIt is a very soothing practice to watch them make matchaEven if there is a line you can watch them prepare drinks and time passes
G
Is it worth standing in line at this place on a cold and rainy day to get a matcha drink? Probably not. The quality of their matcha doesn't differ much from other places. Considering that matcha drinks should not exceed 70 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the drink purchased was not hot enough. The cup didn't come full, only 3/4 of the cup's capacity if you didn't order it with milk. There is no place to sit inside, just buy and leave. A little pricy. Skip the trouble.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Kelly H.
I was walking in east village and walked by this matcha place that my friends wanted you to try. When I walked in there were just a few stools right by the table with the matcha setup. They were playing relaxing music and the space was warm since the day I visited was pretty chilly outside. I was given a menu of the matchas that are available to try that day. I ordered an iced matcha latte with oat milk and chose the matcha type that was medium bodies and low in bitterness. I personally enjoy matcha that is finely milled but I felt that it was pretty grainy. The taste wasn't bad, but I was a little disappointed. I really enjoyed the experience of watching the matcha getting whisked and watching it get made, so I would recommend this for the experience. However, I wouldn't say it is the best matcha I have ever had.
Paige Yam
amazing experience and great quality matcha. the shop is super tiny but all employees were so kind and helpful even though it was very busy. i really enjoyed watching the matcha be prepared in the traditional fashion. definitely give this shop a try if you want delicious, high quality matcha.
Ambience- 8/10 beautiful traditional Japanese style interior. There's not much seating so you have to make sure you go there when it opens or be prepared to take out. There was space so we were able to sit on the Japanese style bench. Drinks 10/10 my drink was more on the earthy side and whereas my friend's was more on the sweet, nutty side. I believe mine was made in the bowl. It was such a wonderful experience seeing it being made in front of us. I was able to learn so much about a new culture and method of tea making. Service 10/10- There are two ladies who run the shop. I believe one is the owner and the other is her protégé. they are absolutely amazing. You can tell they genuinely care so much about their teas and work with your tastes to find something off the menu. We also asked the owner about the pottery exhibit to which the owner explained to us the meaning behind it. Lovely people! Over all: 10/10 An amazing experience and very affordable! Would definitely go again!
Bonnie T.
This is a great place for Artisanal high quality matcha. I wouldn't really say this is a great place for somebody who's generally casual and likes Matcha latte that are more on the milder and common side. This place is generally more pricey just because it's more of an intimate experience, just because the barista or tea ceremony staff person is making the drink right in front of you. It isn't even necessarily like a barista experience, I would say by simplifying it into that it's almost disrespecting the place because the process and experience itself is more, formal, traditional, and a quaint and peaceful process. The experience transports you into a Japan-like ceremonial tea experience. my boyfriend, who isn't necessarily a huge Matcha Phan ordered the more basic tea, and couldn't really tell how the quality was, but this might be due to the watering down of the TV, the oat milk that they used to subsidize the latte with. The setting is generally very intimate with not much seating at all, you're also gently asked to either leave or move over when new guests arrive, so this isn't at all place that you can sit down and catch up with your friends. It's more so a quick In-N-Out stop to take a pause, and be present while enjoying a cup of tea served beautifully and moving on. they also sell of tools, regarding and relating to the Curation and preparation of Matcha, and those things that they sell happen to be very beautiful. I'm sure the price range matches the price of the tea, so if you're an average Matcha collector, then this might be right up your alley.
Amber C.
excellent service, very mid matcha. i enjoyed being able to watch the lady make the matcha drink , and matcha affogato. it was a little show in a very serene establishment. i really enjoyed the teahouse atmosphere. the matcha affogato was very good, the matcha paired well with the vanilla ice cream. however, the matcha latte i received felt extremely watered down. i tasted the matcha and it wasn't powdery but there was definitely too much liquid that was added when mixing the powder. there are better matcha places in nyc
Peggy L.
Amazing matcha affogato (thick yamenohana matcha topped on gelato) - very rich and thick but it was a great combination of matcha and gelato! Who would ever think that it would be equally good like a regular affogato. To each, it's good in their own way. Can't compare apple and orange when it comes down to affogato and matcha affogato. Overall it's a fun fusion found in a cup! Excellent matcha-ppuccino (yamenohana matcha with hot milk and milk foam) - very rich and matcha-y flavor as you take a sip. Very warming in cold weather and great way for a little pick up from a long day in city and just right before dinner! Great to watch them making your drinks. Nice little show.
Anna PJ
Setsugekka is a cute, private, popular matcha café, where the matcha is made in front of you, following traditional techniques with traditional instruments (Japanese bamboo ladle, whisk, 'spoon' to scoop the matcha etc.). The selection of matcha varies on the day, and while it was good, it was nothing mind blowing. I was personally disappointed by the affogato, but my friend enjoyed it, and liked the bitterness of the matcha they pour over the vanilla ice cream. I recommend getting the matcha not too diluted, even if you finish it more quickly, as the flavor will be more concentrated. The hot matcha latte is very creamy, as they use warm oat milk to top off the drink.I would definitely recommend this address if you have time. The waiting time varies, but the line is pretty long. The staff will take your order and then a line forms while you wait for your personal matcha to be prepared in front of you at the counter. I wish they had more seating space and an area for people to sip their tea, as it is only to-go.The matcha is fresh and good quality, the staff is really nice, friendly and welcoming, which encourages me to go back, even with the price of their drinks. I would go back to try their other matchas taste a variety from their evolving selection. I ordered the Yamenohana hot premium shot and imo it was better than the highest grade matcha, which my friend ordered as a latte.
Ambiance inside is definitely cute and part of the experience, however, the matcha was extremely mild in flavor. I got Hoshinotsuyu and Seiho as a matcha latte to try and honestly they both tasted very similar but the Seiho was significantly more expensive. You get to watch them make your drink while you wait which was a unique experience but this was definitely a hype over taste spot. The color of the matcha was vibrant, however, was extremely disappointed with the taste. They also don't add any sweeteners so it pretty much tasted like I was drinking green oat milk. I've definitely had much better matcha elsewhere and the matcha latte here does not even compare to the taste of the ones I've had in Japan.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Found this tea shop through a search on Google and we were not disappointed. You can only do take-out orders. We walked in and it is a very small space with about 10 seats. We sat at the small counter where we could watch the drinks being made which was a treat. An employee showed us a menu, what drinks we could get and which matchas they had. We got the Seiho matcha which was described as smooth and it was, I highly recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
NGL, they had me in the first half, the staff is sweet and the place is cute but when I tasted the matcha I could not believe it. I drink a ridiculous amount of matcha lattes and other matcha drinks, I make them myself daily, and I’ve been to Japan and had them there many times, I’ve been to uji and kyoto just for the matcha: this is the worst matcha latte I’ve ever had. It tastes like water, and watching them make it, that’s because it is all water. I can’t taste a drop of matcha in this drink, just a bit of oat milk and water. I’m actually baffled that I paid $20 for water. If you don’t trust my opinion, my partner who also loves matcha lattes, has been to Japan multiple times and so on and so fourth agrees, and could not even finish their drink. I see many reviews saying that the matcha is rich and flavorful, maybe today was an off day, but I can assure you that it was the opposite of flavorful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
The matcha is of good quality, but the preparation of the matcha latte was not the best and was lumpy. For the price, I expected a perfect matcha.
The matcha was rich and was subtly sweet. It’s made right in front of you, tea ceremony style. It was enjoyable to watch since I have never seen matcha prepared like this before. However, I wished the employee spoke more about the process and the matcha. Service were kind of cold, not welcoming, and made the atmosphere uncomfortable. Not sure if I would come back.Note that this is a to go places with signs all over saying that. It is very small place with limited seating.Vegetarian options: All the matcha latte drinks are prepared with oat milk.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Tasting
Definately get here ~1hour before closing due to the line/wait time. The place is very small but the service has a quick turn around. There were two baristas and one person taking the orders on line which made it a smooth transition for picking up our drinks/affogatos.First time visiting I ordered a hot matcha latte that comes with oat milk only.(My lactose intolerant body thanks you!)You have the option of choosing from 3 types of matcha. Starting off from of a grassy bitter note to a more velvety sweet flavor. There are 2 menus with given to you before ordering which made choosing what you want faster.The hot matcha latte was lovely. Definately very smooth and velvety but was not overly sweet which made you appreciate the matcha flavor. The oat milk was a nice touch for that milky aspect that didnt overshadow the matcha flavor.I would love to go back to try the affogato next time it looks delicious!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
This was such a gemthe barista moved so elegantly and she was so cute and welcomingAsk before you choose the Matcha so it suits your tastesIt is a very soothing practice to watch them make matchaEven if there is a line you can watch them prepare drinks and time passes
Is it worth standing in line at this place on a cold and rainy day to get a matcha drink? Probably not. The quality of their matcha doesn't differ much from other places. Considering that matcha drinks should not exceed 70 degrees Celsius, the temperature of the drink purchased was not hot enough. The cup didn't come full, only 3/4 of the cup's capacity if you didn't order it with milk. There is no place to sit inside, just buy and leave. A little pricy. Skip the trouble.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
I was walking in east village and walked by this matcha place that my friends wanted you to try. When I walked in there were just a few stools right by the table with the matcha setup. They were playing relaxing music and the space was warm since the day I visited was pretty chilly outside. I was given a menu of the matchas that are available to try that day. I ordered an iced matcha latte with oat milk and chose the matcha type that was medium bodies and low in bitterness. I personally enjoy matcha that is finely milled but I felt that it was pretty grainy. The taste wasn't bad, but I was a little disappointed. I really enjoyed the experience of watching the matcha getting whisked and watching it get made, so I would recommend this for the experience. However, I wouldn't say it is the best matcha I have ever had.
amazing experience and great quality matcha. the shop is super tiny but all employees were so kind and helpful even though it was very busy. i really enjoyed watching the matcha be prepared in the traditional fashion. definitely give this shop a try if you want delicious, high quality matcha.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Ambience- 8/10 beautiful traditional Japanese style interior. There's not much seating so you have to make sure you go there when it opens or be prepared to take out. There was space so we were able to sit on the Japanese style bench. Drinks 10/10 my drink was more on the earthy side and whereas my friend's was more on the sweet, nutty side. I believe mine was made in the bowl. It was such a wonderful experience seeing it being made in front of us. I was able to learn so much about a new culture and method of tea making. Service 10/10- There are two ladies who run the shop. I believe one is the owner and the other is her protégé. they are absolutely amazing. You can tell they genuinely care so much about their teas and work with your tastes to find something off the menu. We also asked the owner about the pottery exhibit to which the owner explained to us the meaning behind it. Lovely people! Over all: 10/10 An amazing experience and very affordable! Would definitely go again!
This is a great place for Artisanal high quality matcha. I wouldn't really say this is a great place for somebody who's generally casual and likes Matcha latte that are more on the milder and common side. This place is generally more pricey just because it's more of an intimate experience, just because the barista or tea ceremony staff person is making the drink right in front of you. It isn't even necessarily like a barista experience, I would say by simplifying it into that it's almost disrespecting the place because the process and experience itself is more, formal, traditional, and a quaint and peaceful process. The experience transports you into a Japan-like ceremonial tea experience. my boyfriend, who isn't necessarily a huge Matcha Phan ordered the more basic tea, and couldn't really tell how the quality was, but this might be due to the watering down of the TV, the oat milk that they used to subsidize the latte with. The setting is generally very intimate with not much seating at all, you're also gently asked to either leave or move over when new guests arrive, so this isn't at all place that you can sit down and catch up with your friends. It's more so a quick In-N-Out stop to take a pause, and be present while enjoying a cup of tea served beautifully and moving on. they also sell of tools, regarding and relating to the Curation and preparation of Matcha, and those things that they sell happen to be very beautiful. I'm sure the price range matches the price of the tea, so if you're an average Matcha collector, then this might be right up your alley.
excellent service, very mid matcha. i enjoyed being able to watch the lady make the matcha drink , and matcha affogato. it was a little show in a very serene establishment. i really enjoyed the teahouse atmosphere. the matcha affogato was very good, the matcha paired well with the vanilla ice cream. however, the matcha latte i received felt extremely watered down. i tasted the matcha and it wasn't powdery but there was definitely too much liquid that was added when mixing the powder. there are better matcha places in nyc
Amazing matcha affogato (thick yamenohana matcha topped on gelato) - very rich and thick but it was a great combination of matcha and gelato! Who would ever think that it would be equally good like a regular affogato. To each, it's good in their own way. Can't compare apple and orange when it comes down to affogato and matcha affogato. Overall it's a fun fusion found in a cup! Excellent matcha-ppuccino (yamenohana matcha with hot milk and milk foam) - very rich and matcha-y flavor as you take a sip. Very warming in cold weather and great way for a little pick up from a long day in city and just right before dinner! Great to watch them making your drinks. Nice little show.
Setsugekka is a cute, private, popular matcha café, where the matcha is made in front of you, following traditional techniques with traditional instruments (Japanese bamboo ladle, whisk, 'spoon' to scoop the matcha etc.). The selection of matcha varies on the day, and while it was good, it was nothing mind blowing. I was personally disappointed by the affogato, but my friend enjoyed it, and liked the bitterness of the matcha they pour over the vanilla ice cream. I recommend getting the matcha not too diluted, even if you finish it more quickly, as the flavor will be more concentrated. The hot matcha latte is very creamy, as they use warm oat milk to top off the drink.I would definitely recommend this address if you have time. The waiting time varies, but the line is pretty long. The staff will take your order and then a line forms while you wait for your personal matcha to be prepared in front of you at the counter. I wish they had more seating space and an area for people to sip their tea, as it is only to-go.The matcha is fresh and good quality, the staff is really nice, friendly and welcoming, which encourages me to go back, even with the price of their drinks. I would go back to try their other matchas taste a variety from their evolving selection. I ordered the Yamenohana hot premium shot and imo it was better than the highest grade matcha, which my friend ordered as a latte.