Matcha Cafe Maiko

I like this place is an understatement. The matcha ice cream is just tasty and well balanced. The smell of the place is wonderful. The assortment and variety is well thought out and executed. I came here two days in a row and was not disappointed at all . I admit, I was skeptical so it makes it all the bit better that I have just found my new favorite place for dessert in Chinatown.

Delicious and great services as always! The matcha ice cream is great... Some people does not luke the strong flavor so select the mix option. The frappe matcha was great too as the pudding. Love the decoration. You can take great/cute pictures! This time was takeout so not pictures in :/ only the drink and matcha ice cream. The place was clean and great service. Also I love the concept they have (board games) you go there to enjoy a delicious ice cream or drink and play games with your friends/family if you are want. Love this place. If far far from where a live and work but when I have a chance I go because is delicious! No complaints until know.

Stopped by here during lunch time and it was very quiet. Service was friendly and the decor was so cute! Got the matcha soft serve which was good, they give you a good amount, but I wish the matcha flavor is stronger! Also got the iced hojicha tea which was also good, but the mixture was pre-made so there's no way to control the sugar level, I would have preferred it less sweet.

Their matcha is rich and creamy, clean and friendly staff, quick service. Great place to hang out, their menu is simple and easy to order. Matcha’s fan could fixed their craving here🍵

Very nice soft ice cream 🍦 matcha, taro and vanilla are all good! I don’t eat sweet all the time but it great once in awhile! 🙂 Come and visit for those sweets lovers 🙂 Cheers 🥂

Delicious Matcha based dessert cafe, we had the Matcha Tiramisu and the Matcha-Vanilla Maiko Special. Love the quaint space with a small cherry blossom branch and small pieces of Japan displayed on the walls. My only complaint is the Maiko Special has wonderful elements of matcha chiffon cake, chestnuts, mocha, cornflakes, red bean, and an agar jelly, but it was all below the soft serve, so we ate the soft serve on top and realize the rest of the cup was just the dry elements. I would have liked the cup to have the toppings layered with the soft serve.

I recently went to Uji in Japan, considered the World Capital of matcha tea production. There I sampled the green powdered tea in ice cream, cookies, floats, pasta, you name it! And it was all delish... So when I spotted this joint in one of my forays into Houston’s Chinatown I could not resist the siren song of the wonderful green powder. The place is tastefully decorated and relaxing jazz music was playing. I had the matcha Soft serve ice cream 🍦 and it did NOT disappoint! Premium taste! Of course matcha tea 🍵 for us non-Japanese is an acquired taste- and this place is a good place to acquire it 😀

I never knew how close it was to all of the other shopping centers in Bellaire. The no location is great but the parking isn't the best. When you walk in, you are welcomed by the front. They inform you with the different options and what are the most popular. I ordered the Shogun and the matcha latte. If you love matcha that much, this place is for you. If you're okay with it like me, you'll enjoy it to a point. The Shogun was a swirl of vanilla and matcha ice cream in a cone, topped off with a gold thin paper. I ordered the mochi with it, but it came on the side. Mochi was not sweet. I expected a little more flavor. I wouldn't get that again. The ice cream was great. A mild matcha flavor from the vanilla mixed into it. The the cone was light and crispy. I didn't care for it much. The gold is great for presentation. There's no flavor to it. Maybe a TMI fun fact: you poop gold when you eat this!! 4/5 The matcha latte is great for a cold gloomy day. This is very strong in matcha. It's not very sweet at all, mostly bitter. My BF enjoyed this, but I wouldn't get this again. 3/5 Overall, the service was wonderful and the prices were average. Not cheap for the gold. It's an additional 3-4 bucks for it. I'd skip it. Looking forward to trying other things, much as the float or the shaved ice next time!

service was phenomenal however the ice cream left much much room for improvement it was super grainy and and very bitter not my personal cup of matcha tea

The drinks were mid. The soft serve is amazing. Service was good and we got our order quickly. The place kinda smelled dank, but the decor was cool.

If you can't already tell by the name, this is the spot to go to for your matcha fix lolol. Their desserts are refreshing and never too sweet. The matcha ice cream was pretty strong though, so I had a hard time finishing it but it was still good. This place has great selection and great service. Parking can be tough since the lot is relatively small and there are many other businesses nearby, but that's Bellaire for ya. Also, the vibes were super chill and relaxing! Definitely serves as a nice study or work spot for people.

I loveee the ube ice cream here is really gooddd. I would say is a 10/10. This is such a great place to study especially because of how nice this place is decorated.

Got the hojicha latte and it was very mediocre. It was not as earthy as I would like it to be, and tasted more milky than anything else. As for the space itself there's space in the back thats great for studying! It's pretty quiet and theres plenty of plugs. Also the staff is nice and drinks come out quick.

Such an underrated dessert spot! It's not as busy anymore at night when I came, very cute decorated cafe with board games and plenty seats, but I hope they are still getting good businesses. My go to is the special combo (Match Coconut 11/10 and Matcha Ube 10/10) the cereal adds extra texture and makes me feel like eating crispy ice cream sandwich. The red bean makes the ice cream even sweeter, but good thing they got some clear jelly on the very bottom of the cup that can cleanse the sweetness in your mouth a little. Even though the dessert is really sweet for me but I still keep coming back for them because they just make the ice cream combo so well.

Great tasting dessert shop in Bellaire. They offer snacks, soft serve ice cream and ube drinks. Young lady who was working here was sweet. It's pretty quiet in here and doesn't seem to attract much of a crowd. Soft serve has great taste and texture. Boba drink tasted decent and comes it a big cup. Not too pricy either so it's worth!

I'm something of a matcha addict (and snob) so my friends and I came out with the intention of getting some really good matcha. The three of us got the hojicha latte, the matcha latte, and a coconut coffee. Unfortunately, the hojicha and matcha did not hit (the hojicha had a weird/funky aftertaste and the matcha was too sweet and tasted like those unauthentic powder packets you can get from the grocery store) but the coconut coffee ended up being the surprise star of the show. The coconut coffee was the perfect balance between bitter and sweet, and the coconut didn't taste artificial. It was SO! GOOD!!

Decent coffee shop in the area. It looks small from the outside, but if you head towards the back of the cafe, there's two tables tucked there, which is quite cozy. They have cute decorations around the shop. Drinks are okay, and can't exactly compete against the boba all around Chinatown but they do have a stronger focus on matcha as well as desserts and ice cream if that's what you're looking for! Wifi is good, not particularly loud, and restrooms are pretty clean. Workers are very nice.

We came here to silence our sweet tooth and were pleasantly surprised! This is such a cute cafe in an unsuspecting strip mall. I imagine if you go early-ish you could also grab a treat from the next door bakery. The staff were quick and kind which is always a plus. We ordered the shave ice with ice cream and chose an ube matcha swirl (you can swirl any two flavors). Holy heck it was delicious. The ice cream itself was creamy, not overly sweet. The mochi and matcha cake complemented the ice and ice cream very well. The matcha syrup they use in the ice is a well balanced matcha flavor. My only dislikes were the red bean topping and the shave ice texture. I love red bean, but this one was not sweet and a little too starchy. The ice was more like that in a snow cone than shave ice texture. Did either of those deter me from eating the whole thing though? No, because the ice cream and flavor in the shave ice were satisfactory. I would definitely return here to try the ice cream cones, coffee, and or other desserts! Worth a visit if you're in the area.

For a matcha place, I expected the matcha latte to be better. It wasn't mixed very well and I can taste the individual powder. The matcha didn't taste as good either. I also tried their cheese stick mochi. It was interesting and not bad. It took a long time though. The place itself is great for studying with wifi. Next time I'll try their soft serve since that is what they are known for and I'll probably update my review if it is good.

This place is popular. I can see what. I love Matcha. This place has lots of matcha. Therefore I pretty much love this place. They have matcha ice cream, matcha frappes, matcha tea... It's so good. They also have the warm waffle snacks too. If you're like me, visit here for some matcha!

The ice cream here is delicious! Service is fast and friendly. I specifically like the flavors of ice cream and the waffle cone that they have. I have yet to try their drinks, but they have plenty of options to choose from. Definitely recommend checking them out!

Even though the previous business here (#1) was super popular, I suspect nothing has changed in terms of management or even what they offer. Currently Saigon Arts Matcha Cafe is a slept on, underrated, and solid biz that probably doesn't get enough shine. Seating is limited. However, there are tables inside for small groups as well as a small table on the outside. The parking lot is always full, but I always manage to find a space even during their peak hours. I really love the arts theme, which is evident on their walls with all the local paintings and decor pieces that are certainly an upgrade from their predecessor. It serves as a very good dessert option, especially during hot summer months. Their soft serve could probably rival many other places, but I appreciate the fact they serve it in ube, matcha, and classic flavors like vanilla and strawberry. They also have pretty tasty drinks and the matcha swirl and or ube matcha swirl are my go-to's. Service has always been pretty good and the staff usually is bilingual in Viet and English. This isn't just a place for a dessert or drinks, I like the vibe as a potential spot for a little Wi-Fi working and occasional date. ___________ (#1) Matcha Cafe Maiko: https://www.yelp.com/biz/matcha-cafe-maiko-houston-3

The matcha ice cream is light, slightly sweet, and fragrant. However it is lacking the bitter taste which matcha should have. The ube flavor is sweet, and has a good hint of ube. Somehow there will be a pressure to finish the ice cream fast because of the limited seating at the front and at the back. If you get a seat, look at the walls which have beautiful art pieces displayed on them, while enjoying your dessert.

I got the Saigon Special (without the agar jelly) which comes with your choice of soft serve ice-cream. Pictured we got the matcha and vanilla mix. Included in the saigon special are various toppings like frosted flakes, rice balls, red bean, matcha sponge cake, and a bear jelly. The combination of textures actually works surprisingly well. My only complaint is the red bean at the bottom was not the form and texture I was expecting. As an avid fan of red bean, I feel as if I would have liked it on its own or in a combination with a different item, but not in a dessert like this. However, I did still enjoy the red bean. The staff was very friendly and quick to make your order and have no complaints about customer service.

Good study spot with 2 more tables tucked in the back with lots of outlets! Drinks were also good. I liked the hojicha latte which had a warm toasty tea flavor. The matcha tea was also good! Parking can be hard to find during lunch/dinner hours though.

First time trying Saigon Art Matcha Cafe. I am a bit disappointed. Firstly, the menu has no descriptions of what the different "specials" consist of. Which would be helpful for people to make a decision rather than having to ask about each one. Secondly, I will say the ice cream is very good (and I would only come back for the ice cream), but the specials like the "Saigon Special" and "Saigon Cone" are not worth it. The toppings have no flavor like the mochi and jellies at the bottom, so you're basically just getting ice cream and cereal for $8...

Cute cafe with art on the walls - the matcha tea is great and the matcha orange tea is great too. We were disappointed that they didn't have any desserts today. Recommended for any matcha cravings

Great matcha lattes! The cafe is really cute and quaint with seating in the front and towards the back.

My friend pointed out this place so we decided to go try it out. We went later at night and they were out of all the ice cream flavors except for vanilla which was disappointing. We ordered the matcha shaved iced with ice cream which came with red bean, mochi, and panna cotta. For the amount we got, the prices are fair. The matcha taste was strong and paired well with the ice cream. My friends ordered the Saigon special which they enjoyed as well. Only wished that they had the other flavors since they are known for their matcha ice cream.

I came here for matcha soft serve before the change of ownership. First time here with the new name. Had the shaved ice with ice cream for $7.50. You can pick from vanilla, ube, matcha flavor ice cream and it came with 2 mochi balls and mashes red beans. The shaved ice isn't the bingsu kind but rather coarse. Matcha soft cream tasted ok but wasn't as creamy as before. The ube ice cream was too icy and couldn't taste much ube. The bear pudding was also ube flavor. Cute decor but I won't come back as I can get matcha elsewhere.

The aesthetic inside is warm and cozy. There's more seating if you go down the hall. Very clean. A lot of space in parking. Near by many amazing restaurants. Overall amazing customer service and quick! It's a cute delightful dessert!

Saigon rebranded from Maiko but has a similar, if not the same menu. They showcase original art from local artists all over the walls. My friend and I got the matcha soft serve (one plain and one with ube panna cotta shaped like a teddy bear and mochi balls). This place is cute and their matcha is strong. Nothing has changed in taste (I was a big fan of Maiko) so I'll glad for that.

I went for the BOGO Hokkaido Cheese soft-serve! It was very good, creamy and rich. Not too sweet. The cheese flavor was there. I also tried the macaron coffee cake, that was a little too sweet for me but still fun to eat.

A good place to go if you're a matcha lover! I always get their Saigon special, with matcha ice cream, the dessert is so yummy it comes with cereal for crunch, cute little bear jellies, cake, red bean and mochi balls! I've tried their ube ice cream and it's ok, I think their strong point is definitely their matcha flavor. The atmosphere is really calm too, it's a good study spot, and the people are really nice and polite.

Pros: Great tasting ice cream -- Ube, vanilla, and matcha Nice atmosphere Cons: Service -- our server got our order wrong, but she was able to correct it The store did not honor buy-1-get-1 free that was advertised for June 26 - July 2 (not a 100% on starting date ). We were there on July 2. I took it as It could be a miscommunication

Ube ice cream and shaved green tea ice were good and the presentation is very pretty. Love how clean the place is.

I had been meaning to try matcha cafe maiko but they switched ownership (& menu?). My friends and I got: Saigon special ($7.75) - ice cream (matcha), cereal, some red bean, sponge cake, and jelly; I thought the proportions were off, I wish the ice cream was through out the whole cup but it's only at the top. Too much cereal (corn flakes) that really only contributed texture. Sponge cake had no flavor. Red bean was a really nice contrast but there wasn't enough. And jelly was ok. Overall, proportions were off, I wouldn't repurchase. Matcha ice cream soft serve ($5.25) - my friend really enjoyed it, pretty strong matcha flavor not as strong as the original matcha cafe maiko. Decent portion size too. Matcha mochi waffle ($4) - this was really tasty, definitely enjoyed how I could still taste the matcha. I also loved the texture - anything mochi is game for me. Definitely overpriced though. They didn't have any customers on Saturday night which is a shame. They have ample seating with board games (we played guess who) and I've heard a lot of people like to study there during the day too! The chairs aren't comfortable for long term sitting though.

I love the matcha soft serve here. perfectly rich, with a great depth and balance of flavor, I think it's perfectly sweet (not too sweet!). I like their drinks as well but the matcha soft serve is what you must come for. love their matcha float and hojicha/matcha drinks as well. best matcha soft serve in chinatown, definitely. customer service is kind and incredibly efficient. a shame this place isn't more busy.

I got the matcha & ube mix. Very yummy, I realized I'm not really a fan on matcha in general but the ube was soooooooo good. The waffle cone was fresh & delicious. Nice little dessert shop in China town.

The place smelled like sewage.. I couldn't stand being in there and had to take my dessert outside the eat. I got the Saigon special. The cake pieces inside tasted old and dry.

I came here during Lunar New Year and the interior decorations were impeccable! I've been meaning to stop by since I love anything green tea, and plus seeing the bear in the photos-- totally won my heart. While the bear was the main thing that got me intrigued, it was actually the let down. I think I imagined it being a flavorful cookie or any pastry really, but the thing actually had no flavor whatsoever. It was just like a bland piece of dough. The dessert itself however was good! From the whole presentation to the taste, I enjoyed it.

Staff was helpful with recommendations. They provided my friend with a small sample to try matcha tea and taro tea. Matcha ice cream was good, not too sweet. The ambiance is great. They have board games and it is a very laid back.

NOTICE: This restaurant rebranded from Matcha Cafe. Same exact location and the vibes are still the exact same. This place still has the best matcha that I know of and now they have a couple more selection like ube! For those who freaked out that matcha cafe disappeared, don't fret this place is just as good! Would highly recommend!

Delicious matcha ice cream! We enjoyed it - although a tad pricey for the area. Nothing to do outside. Interior is nice and clean with plenty of students on their laptops. They need to redo their tables to fit in more seatings for both interior and exterior. This place can really be the spot if there's other activities in the plaza. A few games to play with others. There was a cute photograph area for young kids but not a place where adults or teenagers can take photos as a background drop.

Rating: 4/5 The matcha/vanilla soft serve ice cream here is so good! I do think that their special items (like the shaved ice or special) aren't as good as they could be. The toppings don't really go well together (like cereal and red bean) and the mochi toppings are very bland in flavor. Next time, I would probably just get the soft serve.

I'm not happy about the problem that sometimes when we come to eat and see an adult (seems to be an employee or manager) messing around with things (seems to be paintings or decorative items). They should prepare before opening or after closing, they SHOULD NOT do those things while opening

not a big matcha girl but I really enjoyed it! Drink was nice and sweet. A nice and quiet place to sit down and enjoy the paintings on the wall.

Came here following the request of my matcha-enthusiast sister. It is a very cute shop! The ambience and decorations were very cozy and suitable for a date or friend reunion. They also have board games which always earn extra points from me :)) we ordered the Saigon Special and the Mochi Waffle. The Saigon special was $7.75 and the portion was definitely worth it for the size (it took two to finish)! Although I thought the individual components doesn't really go together and didn't really do much for the matcha, my sister and I thought the matcha itself was really good. Therefore, I'd recommend just ordering a matcha cone and judge the matcha flavor for yourself rather than be distracted by all these extra flavors and textures from the toppings. The mochi waffle, on the other hand, was a hit! It was my first time trying matcha mochi waffle and I couldn't get enough of it. The texture was so soft but also sticky enough because of the mochi; the fact that they served it hot also made the dish extra tasty! Sitting at $4.50, the portion was also shareable for 2-3 people. All in all, I'd come back for a cone-full of matcha and a few pieces of those mochi waffle!

The place is cozy and clean , we asked for sample ice creams and they're generous with their tester , loved the coconut ice coffee , they have a free coffee ice cream offer available until March 18th , however I refuse to take it as we're unable to consume it , also ordered Saigon special and it was yummy , would love to come back and try other options .

Nice tea/ice cream place with nice add-on options such as flavored mochi and panna cotta. Love that they have multiple flavors of soft serve and ice cream to-go, and the matcha flavor is pretty good. Perfect for a hot day or if you just want to have a treat ;)

Ok so the brown is beans. Umm. Not my favorite but it's also cold. Umm. The white is Rice ball. Yeah. Ok I should've started with MATCHA is not my thing. the Matcha ice cream. Yummmmmy. The matcha shaved ice. Oooooh delicious. Overall. Delicious. It's just textures that I'm not comfortable with. Call me Uncultured. I'm fine with it.

So disappointed in what they give you. I ordered a matcha latte with vanilla ice cream - light on the ice- and it totals to be $9+ plus I tipped only to receive barely any actual drink. I had 5 sips of liquid and that was it. See the pic.

Ambiance is nice. Quiet and accessible. The food and beverages are great. Parking is easy.

A beautifully decorated, fresh and artsy little nook! Super delicious ice cream, I love matcha but my sister isn't much of a fan but she still enjoyed her cone! Will definitely come back to enjoy the tea set or a parfait! Can't wait to show this gem to more of my friends and family

I really love visiting this cafe because it's one of the few that offers the Japanese soft serve parfait in Houston. I have been to this location when it was still a part of the Maiko Matcha chain but now with more ice cream flavors & desserts since the shop is no longer a part of the franchise. The cafe looks to be small from the front but there are additional sitting areas in the back. I would say the only cons of this shop is the location that is tucked in a little plaza away from the major strip of Bellaire or I would visit more often.

This used to be Matcha Cafe Maiko, but I guess they changed ownership/management so now it's Saigon Arts Matcha Cafe. They still have all of the desserts/drinks that were previously offered under Matcha Cafe Maiko, and then there's a couple new things like additional soft serve flavors that I don't remember seeing before. The quality of the desserts/drinks is still up to par from before (can't beat their Hoijicha tea float with mix soft serve; the Hoijicha cheese tea is also amazing), but the prices have gone up a lot in the last few years. Pre-COVID, drinks/ice cream usually averaged around $4-5 each, but now they're closer to $6-7 each. Nonetheless, I still come by at least once a month because this place is the best spot for matcha (and hoijicha) desserts in Houston.

This cafe is very nicely decorated with a lot of art prints of Vietnam, has an old Hanoi vibe and great for pictures. I'm giving it 4 stars for the decor. The drinks here to me were below average compared with other drink shops in Chinatown. We got a matcha ice tea and a coconut coffee, the matcha powder kinda sinked to the bottom and I can't really taste any matcha in the drink. The coconut coffee was all coconut and a little gritty.