Matcha Cafe Maiko

Maiko Matcha is a must-visit for any matcha lover in NYC! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with the rich aroma of premium Uji matcha and a calming, modern vibe. I tried their signature matcha soft serve and it was incredibly smooth, earthy, and not too sweet—exactly how matcha should be. The matcha float and houjicha drinks are also amazing if you’re looking to try something different. Everything is beautifully presented, and you can tell they take their craft seriously. It’s a perfect stop whether you’re a matcha fanatic or just looking for a delicious Japanese-inspired dessert.

I had swirl soft serve, muscat grape with matcha, I know this place is quite popular, but I am little disappointed with the taste. Both flavors taste watery and bland, muscat grape I understand, and you can taste little bit of the grape, but matcha flavor also light. Some other matcha soft serve definitely more tasty.

I had the pleasure of visiting Matcha Cafe Maiko ,and it was an absolute delight! The moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and exceptional hospitality. The staff went above and beyond to make my experience memorable, patiently answering all my questions and offering great recommendations. 10/10

Going to start with the shockers. First, my friend says she doesn’t want ice. They say they’re not allowed to not give ice in the drink. Mind you she got an ice cream x matcha drink from the menu, and I got the banana pudding drink so both drinks have a sort of solidified food. So when we finished the drink and the food a lot of was sticking to the ice making it hard to really even eat most of it: we don’t care if you give us less product (since ice gives illusion of more matcha drink) we just didn’t want ice. Second, they overfilled the drink and when my friend just moved it ever so slightly from the stand it spilled and the workers just watched and went on about their day lol, just thought it was funny. Second there’s no seating which is fine but they could utilize their space better. The drinks were alright, when it comes to taste alone. There are better matcha spots for sure. Mind u in the pic the seat is from the connecting restaurant of the building.

I’ve had this matcha ice cream spot on my list for a while, and last Tuesday, I finally got the chance to check it out with a friend. Tucked away in a quiet corner, Café Maiko had a warm, inviting glow that instantly made it feel like a hidden gem. Despite the snow falling outside, the promise of rich, creamy matcha was too tempting to resist. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by Haley and Sidney, who were not only super friendly but also really knew their flavors. The space itself had a laid-back, cozy vibe—perfect for catching up over a cold treat. The menu had an impressive variety, from matcha frappés to shaved ice and lattes, making it a tough choice. We decided to try both the soft serve and the pints, going with Milo Chocolate and Calpico. The soft serve had this perfectly smooth texture that melted in your mouth, and personally, I liked it even more than the pints. But my friend had a different take, finding them both on the sweeter side. Either way, the flavors were bold, rich, and well-balanced. The matcha itself had that deep, earthy bitterness balanced beautifully with just the right amount of sweetness, creating an indulgent yet refined taste that stayed with us long after we’d finished. One surprising discovery was Calpico, Japan’s take on frozen yogurt. We never knew Japan had its own version, and it turned out to be a delightful contrast to the matcha—light, refreshing, and slightly tangy. It offered a unique twist to the usual frozen treats, proving that there’s always something new to learn and taste. Even with the cold weather outside, the experience was well worth it, proving that good dessert knows no season. Something about this spot just felt right. Maybe it was the atmosphere, maybe it was the ice cream, or maybe it was just one of those nights where everything aligned perfectly. Whatever it was, I know I’ll be back. If you’re a fan of unique flavors and a relaxed, welcoming space, this place is definitely worth a visit—snow or shine.

Love the place! I have been coming here for more than 1 year!!! 🫶🏼🫶🏼favorite place to get a fresh and nutty matcha! 🥰 try the maiko special ! if you like the combination of matcha ice cream and the delicious mochi!

Maiko has some of my favorite matcha ice cream, its definitely on the rich side but isnt too sweet and had a substantial matcha taste. This location is quite small inside, so its only really for taking to go or sitting outside. The soft serve is fairly large so very shareable. The hojicha latte was good, I dont like it too sweet so id go 25 or 50% sugar. The staff were nice, and they had a bogo soft serve sale.

This place is very good! They even have matcha and ube! It is very hard to find these flavors! The free magnets are also very good-looking! Would come back again. We all go there very often.

Delicious ice cream! We got the ube matcha soft serve on a cone. Service was quick and prices were fair

Amazing strawberry matcha latte! Will definitely be coming back soon! I need to try their other drinks as well!

Great ice cream in Chinatown. Came here with a friend. Loved the lavender and matcha! Would come here again.

This place was packed when I got there. Many young people standing there and sitting down on tables outside of the place. It is a very tiny shop and you need to sit outside. There are 2 self serve kiosks to place your order and the staff is very busy behind the counter. I love the floor a lot! The floor has small green tiles and MATCHA is written on the middle of the floor! So cute! I saw that lavender was a new flavor that just came out and only for a limited time so I decided to go for the lavender soft serve in a cone and it was so good. Too bad the staff asked if I wanted it with another flavor and I decided to get it with matcha. After receiving it, I saw that there was too much matcha and not enough lavender. The lavender was sitting on the top and it tasted so good! I love it so much more than the matcha. The matcha however consumed and took over the cone. Cone was soft and fresh and easy to bite it. I also got an iced matcha latte and it was separating the whole I was carrying it in the bag. The milk and matcha couldn't mix it until I used a straw. Tasted really good and nice strong matcha aroma flavor!

We stopped by to try their new seasonal Banana Pudding Matcha parfait cup, and it exceeded expectations. The cup is beautifully layered, with a creamy banana pudding base, ube, and their signature-grade matcha at the bottom. The banana pudding adds a nostalgic, comforting sweetness without overpowering the earthiness of the matcha. The ube contributes a subtle nuttiness and richness, rounding everything out for a well-composed and unique combination. Texture-wise, it's smooth and indulgent--definitely hits the spot. The service is quick on a Saturday afternoon. The space is small, not enough room to sit.

Treated myself to an iced matcha latte here recently and was a bit disappointed. Firstly, there's a fee at the kiosk (why do I have to pay extra to use a machine instead of talking to a person, especially when there isn't really a choice?) that isn't actually pointed out and is bundled in with the tax. I hate those types of hidden fees, so that's minus a star. I got mine with 50% sugar, which was the perfect level of sweetness. The matcha flavor was pretty good, but I did find my drink a bit grainy. Service was pretty quick. I just expected better from all the great reviews and wasn't expecting extra fees for no reason.

Delicious spot! Very creamy soft serve and the matcha flavor is perfect. Definitely a bit pricey.

Came in for the matcha soft serve and wasn't disappointed! The texture was super creamy and smooth -- definitely high-quality matcha. Personally, I would've liked it just a bit sweeter, but my husband thought it was perfect as-is, so if you're into that bold, earthy matcha flavor, this is the spot for you. The shop itself is tiny -- more of a grab-and-go kind of vibe. It gets crowded fast and there's no real seating, so don't expect to hang out inside or outside as there's just 2 benches outside, no tables. That said, the service was quick, and the quality of the soft serve makes it worth the stop if you're in the area and if you are a latte fan, my friend said hers was fantastic! You order through tablets, so there is not much interaction with the staff.

Small store, but great selection of deserts. Soft serve sizing was great and our order came out quick despite it being a little busy. The workers were nice and helped call out our order efficiently.

My husband and I stopped by here for matcha ice cream after dinner. I love mattress is super excited to try this place. They have a lot of variety, between featured matcha tease soft skirt ice cream and Cones or cups and options to mix and lavender and ube. Highly recommend this please for any matcha cravings!

Everything I've tried from here has been delicious. Most recently I got the Ube/matcha soft serve which is a huge portion and so delicious. It wasn't overly sweet and the flavors blended well together. I also tried my friend's jasmine/muscat grape soft serve. The jasmine was delicious and would definitely get that alone next time although my friend loved both. Can't wait to come back to try more of their menu

4 words. Green. Tea. Soft. Serve. When it comes to soft serve - I usually kept it vanilla since I feel like other flavors doesn't hold up the soft serve as well. It usually ends up in a melting disaster. I'm glad that this ice cream holds up well and creamy to boot! Eventhough I asked for a small - their cups are HUGE! They also rotate flavors such as mango, horicha, ube, taro, black sesame. Also in my rotation for dessert :)

Came for grand opening. Line was long, moved fast. Get to try the flavors before deciding. Prob due to grand opening, humid inside & crowded.

It's been awhile since i've visited, but the matcha ube swirl was delicious on a hot day. While service was friendly and nice, they should check the hall to clean up bc it was a mess. The women's bathroom was out of service and their signs were all over the floor. There's free parking right in front but we parked in the plaza right next to the store.

Amazing matcha!!! It's a very small shop and it gets crowded especially on warm days. But there are 3 ways to order (large terminal on the right, small screen at the front, or directly with the cashier). And they will call out your name/order # when it's ready. The presentation of each dessert is beautiful and the preparation isn't that slow. The Maiko Special was soooo good! My favorite part was the cornflakes at the bottom. But I could've done without the jellys (just my personal preference though). It was also a lot so I wish I would've shared it with someone. It can be expensive but the quality is very good. Definitely a nice treat!

I've passed this place so many times and finally got a chance to try it. The matcha soft serve lives up to its reputation. I wished there was more seating at the Bowery location but it's really just a small storefront in front of Kyuramen. It was windy the day I went and I wasn't looking forward to my hair having a taste of my soft serve. The girl working in the front was quick but looked like she didn't want to be there. I guess it doesn't matter much since most people just purchase and leave with their dessert. I got the Maiko special which was a parfait of matcha soft serve on top of azuki beans, corn flakes, aiyu jelly, green tea chiffon cake, and mochi. The matcha soft serve is a burst of concentrated matcha flavor and isn't too sweet. I liked the contrasting textures of the corn flakes and the pleasantly chewy mochi balls. I can see myself coming back for the matcha soft serve and I would probably try the hojicha soft serve next time too.

My favorite spot for a sweet treat! The service was quick despite the line and this time I decided to try the new banana parfait treats. I tried the banana pudding parfait (with ube ice cream) and the banana pudding matcha latte. I will say I liked it paired with the matcha latte more since it wasn't as sweet. It's a great spot for socializing or even if you're in a study/working mood too!

Regular customer. Love their ice cream. Lavender and Matcha delicious. Excellent customer service

Quality matcha Best for summer! Very strong and you can change sweetness I did 50% and it was so good not too sweet Great service too Will come back soon

Not the best I've ever had, but very good matcha desserts, drinks, and ice cream. I will definitely visit Matcha Maiko cafe again ... but will seek a different location next time. This one does not have an inside (or even outside) tables and chairs to sit down to eat / drink and the wait time for your order is very long (at least 10 minutes).

Tiny shop inside a ramen restaurant. Fast service and friendly staff. I got the matcha ube swirl soft serve, the strong ube or taro flavor that overpowers the matcha flavor. It is also very melt-y, started to drip within 10s. It can get very messy if you get it in a cone like me. Would like to try the matcha flavor alone since they are known for that.

The best matcha ive ever had!!! And the ice cream was incredibly delicious The service was great as well

I have been to a few different Matcha Cafe Maiko locations, and they all are absolutely wonderful. The quality is the same, and it is just a wonderful sweet treat. I really love the decorations and interior of this place. It is a small shop with outdoor seating. The portion size are quite large, or at least it was for me. I got quite a few things and just shared them with my friends. The soft serve is always a hit, we got the black sesame soft serve, the Maiko special, and the black sesame latte. Everything was delicious. The Maiko special just had a bit of everything. It offers a new experience as it has some soft chewy from the mochi, and just some crunchy bits from the corn flakes, to help balance out all the sweetness from the soft serve and the cakes and mochi parts, there are some agar jelly and red beans that helps cut down on the richness and sweetness. It really offers a wonderful balance of flavors. I'm a huge fan of black sesame drinks, and the latte hit the spot, it wasn't too overpowering, and was just the right sesame-y flavor I was looking for. The black sesame soft serve was also equally delicious, I would say it wasn't quite sesame-y for me, but it was still wonderful. Overall I loved everything!

Stopped by to try the soft serve (got a matcha/ube swirl in a cone) and it was really good. Would try the mango/peach next time (or whatever fruity flavors they have in rotation)! Soft Swerve does a better ube but this place is still worth a stop.

I was meeting up with friends nearby and Matcha Cafe Maiko happened to be around the corner, so I decided to drop by and get a soft serve. The mango soft serve was the limited flavor of the month, so I had ordered the soft serve in a cup instead of a cone. The spot is still a small storefront right next to the Kyuramen ramen shop. What's different, there're several benches for customers to sit down and enjoy the desserts. I thought that's a smart, thoughtful move on MCM's end. Fast service from friendly staff. Accepted forms of payment are cash and credit/debit card. I had started eating the ice cream on the side from bottom to top and noticed that there wasn't a huge gap in the middle like how it was a year ago. So rather this time since there wasn't a huge gap, I think I'd gotten a lot more ice cream compared to last time. The mango flavor was also very noticeable, refreshing, and delicious. I would totally get this mango flavor again next time and I hope to see the mango flavor will stay for another month or two. ~ Until next time! ~

I love the matcha sparkling hojicha, matcha soft serve is ridiculous amazing .... Yummy !!!

Good everywhere Was surprised to find that they opened up shop in NYC. Crowded as always but was able to get my matcha after a 10 min wait. Same high quality ice cream I know and love

The store is located in Bowery next to Kyuramen, there's seating outside on a nice sunny day. Staffs were friendly. Ordered soft serve with their newest limited edition of lavender with Japanese melon swirl on a cup. They also have new lavender special which includes Sparkling Melon & Lavender Latte which cost $7 each. Would recommend trying it out! Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5

A quaint spot located next door to Kyuramen, Matcha Cafe Maiko has some of the best soft serve I've ever had. I've been a bit obsessed with their soft serve ever since I tried it at the Tangram location. The service was really good and very fast. I got my favorite flavor, which is the twist - a fusion of ube and matcha. What I love about their soft serve is that it's not sweet. It's very rich and you can taste the matcha in every bite. There are some seats outside where you can relax and enjoy your treat. Overall, this is a wonderful spot with a great selection of items. I recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

I walked in on a Monday night close to closing. I had the matcha and hojicha swirl with a cone in a cup. There were cute Halloween decorations. There is no seating here and it is a small place so it can get crowded quickly. I was served my ice cream quickly after paying. The serving was a generous portion. I enjoyed the deep hojicha flavor in the ice cream. The matcha was sweeter and a favorite amongst friends.

Great little cafe for all things matcha! They currently have a seasonal Calpico and Strawberry soft serve for December and it was the perfect creamy, tangy, and sweet treat. I also tried their hojicha latte, which you can adjust the sweetness. It was earthy and not too sweet, perfect for a cold winter day. We also enjoyed their Maiko special which comes layered with a number of ingredients topped with your choice of soft serve. Definitely recommend checking this spot out if you like matcha!

I was on a Matcha tour this last visit to the city and this one was def the creamiest/smoothest one! Absolutely delicious

Great ice cream and kind staff. We got the lavendar grape swirl soft serve cone and it was good!!!

The Maiko Special was great. The matcha ice cream is AMAZING. Also have tried the matcha latte with strawberry.. A

Matcha Cafe Maiko is my favorite spot for desserts! This spot is my go-to, especially when I'm craving matcha or hojicha flavors. The Maiko Special is always one of my favorites to order and share with a friend, but this month's specials were black sesame which I knew I had to try as well! I ordered the black sesame soft serve and my friend ordered the black sesame latte, and both were incredible! I'm a huge fan of black sesame flavored desserts, and these really hit the spot. Also loved how the shop was decorated beautifully for Halloween! Amazing quality desserts, service, and vibes. I also appreciate how this location has a few benches outside, so when I visit with friends, we're able to sit together right outside the shop and enjoy our desserts. I've been here several times and will definitely will keep coming back!

Another amazing Matcha Cafe Maiko spot in NYC. This particular spot is takeout only with very limited seating (benches outside). Def a good snack in the summer heat, where you can grab a matcha soft serve and head out. I love their seasonal flavors and always get the strawberry when that's offered but recently tried the lychee and also found that amazing. Would recommend getting a half and half situation with matcha as one half and another flavor to provide variety! The staff are also very nice and have always let me try small samples of the new flavors to determine whether I want to get a larger size. Will definitely be back!

matcha jasmine latte!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love this place. my favorite go to satisfy my sweet cravings.

I tried Matcha Cafe Maiko down in Orlando some time last year and didn't realize they opened one right on Bowery in Chinatown! I was very excited since I had a good experience and this time didn't disappoint! This isn't much of a place to sit down and eat at, but most dessert cafe's in Chinatown aren't. Lines move relatively quickly overall. There were a good amount of menu items but we kept it simple as we were craving soft serve ice cream. The matcha ice cream was creamy with a hint of bitterness as expected, but the Peach Oolong softserve was my hands down favorite!!! You repeatedly get hints of oolong tea, milk tea, and peach and none of them overpower each other. We even went back the next day to order pints to go! Pro tip: When ordering pints to-go, they'll give you prepackaged hard ice cream. Its essentially the same softserve packed and frozen ahead of time. I personally prefer the soft serven!

Best matcha in the city! Highly recommend the banana pudding matcha, such a unique drink and the taste is amazing!

Absolutely love this spot. It's not always easy to find good matcha in the city, but the matcha here is rich and earthy and authentic. Their desserts are well balanced with strong tea flavor that's also not too overpowering. We also loved trying the seasonal Sakura soft serve! Got the Sakura x Peach Oolong swirl and oh my goodness, this was so delicious. The oolong flavor was strong but balanced well with the light sweetness of the peach and Sakura. So refreshing! Staff were very knowledgeable and helpful in selecting what to order. Would love to come back and try more!

This is quite possibly the best matcha soft serve in NYC. So smooth, creamy, matcha heavy, and not too sweet, truly the pinnacle of Asian desserts. Ube and hojicha are also MVP flavors. Their toppings on the Maiko special are delicious, and their monthly flavor hits every time. If I am within 0.5 miles of this place, I will stop by. The only thing about this location is limited seating, so be prepared to feast on the outdoors benches.

Great high quality tea and ice cream shop. I had the hojicha tea and the matcha tea. This store is known specialty for their high quality matcha. The matcha tea has a deep tea refreshing flavor. Hojicha tea was creamy and rich in tea flavor. Service was quick and prompt. The space is compact next to the kyuramen place. The ice cream is smooth and rich the matcha is rich without being overly sweet. This place always has seasonal special flavors so you always keep your eyes peeled for a new flavors.

Best matcha in NYC!! I first tried this chain back in Hawaii and the matcha in NYC location is very consistent! The matcha here is packed with flavor and perfect ratio of milk and sugar. I honestly can't have matcha anywhere else. I also recently tried the hojicha latte here (my new obsession is hojicha now lol). The hojicha was out of this world - nutty, roasty, and hints of chocolate. So good!! Please please please sell your hojicha powder to customers :')

this spot has easily became one of my favorite dessert spots. they have a huge menu whether you're craving soft swerve or a beverage. I tried their black sesame and it was so good. it's sadly only here for a limited time so you have to get it while you can! literally can't go wrong with anything here.

RATING: 9.1/10 First of all you just can't go wrong here. I have loved this place ever since I first discovered it on the west coast, and always made it a point to revisit it when I visited SF subsequent times. Starting from Japan, this place is pumping out amazing, quality matcha soft serve with rotating seasonal flavors (think ichigo strawberry, hojicha, yuzu, etc., some of which seem like they're here to stay and I love to hear it). The matcha soft serve itself is the best I've ever had. They have different types of cones to suit your fancy. It's a strong matcha flavor, with a nice creamy smooth texture and not too sweet. I got the parfait which includes jelly, mochi, chestnut, corn flakes, red bean, and is just a wonderful blend of textures all around with really high quality, fresh-tasting ingredients. ICHIGO - this is nice and light strawberry flavor, a bit tart compared to normal, and has a nice sweetness at the end of it. Really great, and not like other strawberry flavored ice cream you'll typically find, esp in america. FINAL CATEGORY : EXCELLENT (terrible / bad / ok / good / great/ EXCELLENT)

The February soft serve flavors were strawberry and yuzu and I'm not super partial to either but was meeting a friend that I know liked yuzu. I got just a regular cone with the yuzu flavor and a hot Hojicha latte with oat milk. Surprisingly I really liked it but after my friend tried it, she said it didn't have much yuzu flavor so maybe that's why haha. I thought it might have something to do with sipping the latte first but on second thought it wouldn't really have impacted it because it wasn't that sweet. The Hojicha latte was a little grainy and strong for my taste - it wasn't bad otherwise. I'd definitely try it iced next time.

Delicious refreshing shaved matcha green tea ice with adzuki beans and condensed milk. It was a very big portion and so nice to have on a hot day. It's a small space part of the ramen spot next door and only seating outside, can get packed easily. Staff were friendly and the order came out quickly, the shaved ice was good but took a while to eat & little messy, I will try the ice cream next time!

I love the soft serve ice cream at matcha cafe! The standard matcha flavors are good but what keeps me coming back are the seasonal flavors. I especially love the lychee one! This location is pretty generous with the portion as well.

I love the latte here with sugar free and oatmilk options. My favorite is Lavender Latte and Matcha Latte with Sakura Foam The staffs are always so lovely and respectful - Tangram, Flushing location