Matcha Cafe Maiko

The matcha soft serve here is so delicious that I often come back for it — it’s honestly one of my favorites. However, there’s one short, chubby man who serves it, and he’s quite unhygienic. He also tries to give very small portions. I honestly prefer not to get my ice cream from him.

I've been going to the Japantown location for years, and now the Chinatown and Stonestown locations if I'm in the area. Stonestown is the most convenient location because there's mall parking. I usually go with a matcha/hojicha tea latte or matcha float depending on the mood, and Maiko consistently has the best balance of matcha sand creaminess to it. I still liked it back then when they used to have a "less creamy" option where the matcha was a bit stronger, but no more. Still, I always tell others that Matcha Cafe Maiko is my standard in the Bay Area. They really ought to have a rewards system! Esp since prices have increased the past few years. So if you follow them on IG they will announce their "flavor of the month" and for this September, it's Thai Tea and Black Tea! I've been waiting for this all year since having the thai tea soft serve last year. I repeat! THAI TEA soft serve is awesome! Maiko staff, please read this and serve it more than once per year 😆.

While known for their matcha, their seasonal flavor (ends August) of Ube and Jasmine Tea are quite delicious. I was also pleasantly surprised by how chewy their boba is, but they are also quite syrupy

You get a smaller portion if you don’t tip? The Ube flavor one was bought from last week. The matcha one I just bought today, the portion is significantly smaller than the one from last week. I thought there is a standard portion that they have to follow when they train their staff. I wouldn’t be making the same purchase if I see this staff on shift.

I knew of this brand in San Jose. So glad to find one branch here in Stonestown. Their matcha is to die for. The matcha ice cream is definitely the best one I’ve had. Their matcha latte and float are very good as well. Not too sweet and strong matcha flavor. Next time I will try their other famous- hojicha!

There are 2 other locations I believe in SF, chinatown and japantown. Although this is the most convenient for me, and still providing the utmost matcha quality and variety, the service is sometimes slow, and inefficient. Nevertheless, it is one of my favorite drink and ice cream places throughout this mall, it it's just one of the few that adds to the abundent amount of asian cuisine and footraffic within Stonestown.

Great, fast service every time I visit. I've been trying almost everything on the menu and I think the boba sundae is my favorite. The pearls are fresh and gooey.

Loved the matcha ice cream, not too sweet and matcha is absolutely delicious 😋

I've been going to the Japantown location for years, and now the Chinatown and Stonestown locations if I'm in the area. Stonestown is the most convenient location because there's mall parking. I usually go with a matcha/hojicha tea latte or matcha float depending on the mood, and Maiko consistently has the best balance of matcha sand creaminess to it. I still liked it back then when they used to have a "less creamy" option where the matcha was a bit stronger, but no more. Still, I always tell others that Matcha Cafe Maiko is my standard in the Bay Area. They really ought to have a rewards system! Esp since prices have increased the past few years. So if you follow them on IG they will announce their "flavor of the month" and for this September, it's Thai Tea and Black Tea! I've been waiting for this all year since having the thai tea soft serve last year. I repeat! THAI TEA soft serve is awesome! Maiko staff, please read this and serve it more than once per year .

One of my favorite matcha places. Unlike many other matcha spots, their matcha lattes are sweetened. That's a big plus. They also will give you a free taste of one of their soft-serve flavors if you ask....I just haven't had a chance to ask for one yet because every time I go, when it's my turn to order, the kiosk tablet opens up. The only negative is that the line to order can get pretty long. But they turn around orders pretty quickly. One comment/suggestion...they need to dust their signage. The picture in my review is hanging over the waffle cone station.

Came here for the first time and decided to try their hojicha latte and my god it was amazing. I loved it so much, I decided to buy my own hojicha to try and recreate it at home.

Was craving something sweet while at the mall, and decided to get some matcha ice cream. Located right on the outskirts of the food court, there was a pretty long line when we stopped by at around 3-4pm. The wait is a bit of a drag, and that seems to be a theme for many of these restaurants that opt for tablet ordering + less human staff as a result. We waited at least 15-20 minutes after ordering for a simple soft serve with strawberry puree and found some seating in the chaos of the other food court patrons. The ice cream itself is pretty high quality, with a matcha-forward taste and smooth texture all around. This specific topping of strawberry puree may not be the most popular after scrolling through the reviews, but we were hoping for a taste reminiscent to the strawberry matcha latte's that have become popularized in many boba shops, but it fell a little short of that. The puree maybe needed a bit more sweetness to offset the earthiness of the matcha. Overall a solid choice though in the hustle and bustle of Stonestown when you are needing a little pick-me-up.

Have passed this place a dozen times but having taste buds tainted by butter matcha..have always been off put. But finally decided to try it after many have told me this place is not bitter. Went with the Matcha latte iced with Kurimoto Kunatso which the server told me gives a nutty flavor and encouraged me to try it. So I did! And it was soooo good. Not bitter at all. Appreciated the nuttiness and slightly sweet drink. Def still dream about this matcha and will whole heartedly come here for this everytime I'm in the mall. Also got the soft serve bc...how can you not?! Matcha was matchaing and vanilla was standard. The house made cone is what makes it! Def coming back! Def get the hype now.

Been looking forward to trying Matcha Cafe Maiko! This location is in the food court of the Stonestown Galleria. There was a long line when we walked past but it got a bit shorter later. Ordering was mostly done via the iPad, which really made the line move slower. It was much faster when the person was working the register. Service was not friendly but the workers were probably exhausted from how crazy busy they were. Got a small matcha tea float ($6.70), with matcha-vanilla soft serve. It was refreshing, especially given how warm the mall seemed to be with all the people. Wish there was one closer to me so I could try the soft serve in a cone!

Got here before closing on a weekday evening and they were accommodating! There was still a line of people a few minutes before closing, and they were still welcoming of orders. My friend and I got their Hojicha Frappe and Matcha Latte. When I forgot to add oat milk to my drink, they were easily able to change it for me. I loved the earthy taste of their Hojicha Frappe, and it was not too sweet. The Matcha Latte had a slightly stronger taste than how I remembered (at the Japantown location), but was still delicious. We finished our drinks pretty quickly, giving us energy for the rest of the night. Service is fast and friendly; another great Matcha Cafe Maiko location in SF!

Order at the cashier or the tablet. Have been going since it's been open in 2019 and get their soft serve! There used not to be line, but Stonestown has gotten more popular, but the line somewhat slow for drinks. Line is only to order and they employees call by name. For soft serve flavors ($6.40 w/out tax and fees), there is always vanilla milk, matcha, half vanilla matcha, and 2/3 rotating or new flavors. Soft serve is not too sweet and great sencha flavor. Waffle cone is lovely too, buttery and crunchy. Hojicha latte ($4.30 large without tax/fee) had tasted watery, but still had the tea flavor. The menu has great variety, from matcha drink with soft serve, shaved ice with red bean & matcha soft serve to gold leaf soft serve. Don't want tea flavor items, get yuzu sparkler! All is delicious besides a few items that tend to be watery. Solid option for desert!

The hojicha banana latte was GAS that was so good. I loved the drink, enough said. It's in the mall!

Was checking out some stores like Zara, Pop Mart and Miniso and afterwards, we ended up getting a snack upstairs at the Food Court. I am in my Matcha Fandom Phase and after having the Matcha Soft Serve last week in Japantown, I ordered another one! My SIL got a Matcha Latte with Almond Milk. She really enjoyed it as it wasn't too sweet and very Matcha-y. I told her it's not like Starbucks as they use Ceremonial Grade Matcha here and you can taste the difference and authenticity. We ordered from the Kiosk again and sat down by the seats within the Food Court. Using the kiosk makes it easy as you can read the ingredients, customize your order & pay. The clerk was willing to help us but we were already in the midst of placing our order so no biggy.

MATCHA SOFT SERVE Cone is delicate and tasty Matcha strong and sweet, do not dilute it with a vanilla swirl as my friend regretted it Strawberry syrup was a tasty addition You can't go wrong with the matcha here, perhaps next time I'll order a drink

I just got back from Kyoto, Japan, so naturally I was craving some good matcha. I figured I shouldn't compare anything here to the cream of the crop over there, but this spot is probably as close as I'll get for a while. I ordered the Matcha Frappe, which came out to $6.52. Honestly, it hit the spot--refreshing, not overly sweet, and the kind of drink that would be perfect on a hot day. Plus, it's conveniently located right in the Stonestown food court, so it's easy to grab while shopping or passing through.

I love getting soft serve / ice cream from places like these! The line was pretty long, but it moved efficiently. This Matcha Cafe Maiko is within the food court of this mall, so the tables and chairs are shared with the other establishments around here. The daughter and I both got soft serve in their waffle cones. The cones are freshly made (saw them make them while in line lol) and aren't too thick. They had 6 different types of soft serve when we were there- matcha, vanilla, matcha vanilla swirl, kinako (roasted soy bean flour), Ube, and Ube-kinako swirl. I asked if they can do half matcha and half Ube, and they said no- only the 6 options. Do they each spit out a set amount or something so that they can't manually do half matcha and half Ube? Oh well... settled with the matcha. We both enjoyed the flavors and textures of the soft serve and the cone. Yum! The husband got a boba sundae with the matcha soft serve and he enjoyed that as well. The son got the matcha lemonade and he said it was just alright. Guess he didn't like it enough to finish it unfortunately.

4.25 stars. Being a certified matcha hater, I never gave Matcha Cafe Maiko a second thought, assuming that was all they offered. A friend mentioned I might like their boba sundae, & they were correct; I was an instant fan. I ordered a mix of Ube & Earl Grey soft serve & added on mochi balls. The swirl of sweet & earthy ube complemented the strong tea flavor deliciously. The boba were soft & soaked in kuromitsu, a Japanese syrup resembling the taste of black sugar or molasses. My only complaint was the thick & sticky texture of their mochi balls. Not pillowy in the least so even the smallest bite was difficult to swallow. I basically paid extra to choke so I'm leaving off those tiny death traps next time. My bf ordered their Strawberry Sundae & thought the overall flavor was weak. Since he isn't keen on returning, I'll just have to go without him, & hope I don't get the server with a RBF who barked at us on our first visit!

Absolutely love this place -- it's hands-down one of the best spots for real, high-quality matcha. You can taste the difference in the richness and smoothness. I love the matcha soft serve and matcha latte. Not too sweet, super creamy, and the matcha flavor is bold and earthy in the best way. The aesthetic is clean and cute, and the staff is always friendly. If you're a matcha purist or just curious to try something legit, Matcha Maiko is 100% worth the visit. I keep coming back!

I love that it a self-serve kiosk! Easily accessible as soon as you get off the escalators. Front staff weren't really welcoming but I account that to being super busy. Majority of them wore masks so I couldn't tell if they were happy which is huge to me when it comes to customer service.

Best banana cream matcha if you're looking for one that's creamy. Worth waiting in the long line on weekends, hardly ever a line on weekdays before 5pm! I love the iced matcha, but my go-to is the black sesame latte, which is delicious both iced and hot(depending on the weather). You can't go wrong with either. Earthy, sweet, creamy. This is where you need to be to satisfy that drink craving you've been having!

This matcha stand is on the second floor on the inside of the mall. They make decent matcha, but I feel like the quality of the drinks has gone down recently. The matcha flavor is less strong in the latte, but the soft serve quality is still good. My main issue here is that you are asked to order on the tablet when it is busy (which it always is), and there is no option to adjust the ice or sweetness. Milk substitutes are also an additional 80 cents.

Stonestown's Matcha Cafe Maiko is a solid matcha treat and dessert place with WAY less crowds than Japantown's location. I'd almost rate this five stars just for the lack of crowds alone, though I'm not as big of a matcha fan as I think I should be. They specialize in matcha drinks and soft-serve made with dairy, and have seasonal flavors. I think I'm not too big on them just because of the dairy aspect. Yes, they have non-dairy options for drinks, but it's an extra 80 cents. I rather eat something in its original form and hurt my stomach than spend 80 cents for an alternative. Their soft-serve is creamy, and I've balled out and got the golden sho-gun with 24k gold foil! It's cute and only for the gram, yeah. I've had stronger matcha flavor elsewhere, but Matcha Cafe Maiko is definitely bolder than the generic matcha flavors you encounter. The vanilla soft-serve tastes fluffy, creamy, and kind of eggy. The homemade waffle cone is hard and crunchy like a chip. The middle of the soft-serves are hollow, since they swirl them... in a swirl. Their hojicha latte is a very solid hojicha flavor and popular option; it's nutty, gritty, and tastes like a deep roasted tea. I'd try more things here but it's hard for me to find the motivation as a non-dairy enjoyer.

Oh my goodness. Their banana matcha was absolutely delicious! I ordered this with oat milk + half sweet. Service was helpful and quick even with the long queues. I think it could've been a little less sweet but overall really enjoyed this drink. It's located at the Stonestown Galleria food court so it'll be easy for you to find seating.

I never thought I would be able to enjoy matcha, but their soft serve single handily changed my mind. Since this was my first time being able to enjoy matcha, I can't speak on the quality but I really enjoyed it. Very easy to order, and although a popular spot there's not a long wait.

Was craving something refreshing in the mall, so wanted to try this place out. Green tea latte (3/5): very plain and the quality of the matcha was okay. Vanilla soft serve (4/5): Very creamy, but the taste is very standard.

Whenever I come here, it is such a treat rotating soft serve flavors. Always has the matcha which is super. Then there are 2 seasonal flavors. Recently I tried the chocolate and banana swirled together on an ice cream cone. This one is not as good as their other flavors. Good banana flavor but did not really taste the chocolate or it is too subtle to me If you want the soft serve in a cup then toppings can be added like mochi balls and red beans. Matcha Drinks available too Besides the occasional line, service is quick to order and get your item

I've been a loyal Matcha Maiko fan since they opened - their matcha latte is the best I've found in the SF Bay Area: a sweetness paired with the slight bitterness of their pure matcha powder, produces a uniquely satisfying drink. However in the past month, I've noticed a significant change in the taste of their latte - their distinct taste of matcha is gone. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me the first time, so I tried it twice again over the last 2 weeks, in both their full sugar and half sugar versions. And I'm now convinced that they've changed how their matcha latte is made -- for the worse. I can taste the sweetness, but the distinctive bittersweet aftertaste of their Matcha Maiko's matcha is now missing from every sip, replaced by a bland 'milky' taste. I know that there seems to be a global matcha shortage at the moment, so I wonder if this is what caused Matcha Maiko to either (1) dilute the matcha powder they use, or (2) change to a cheaper matcha powder, but either way, they've lost what made their product unique in the first place. I'm a serious matcha drinker - I spend 30 mins trekking to their Stonestown branch to line up, just so I can get a drink to recover from a long workday. I hope this store rediscovers how to make their matcha latte good again, like they were making 2 months ago. I'd hate to break up my several times a week ritual of lining up for their matcha latte, a drink I used to recommend to friends and coworkers. If this store keeps making bland milky matchas like they do now, that shrinking line of customers at their store won't be there forever. I'm already looking for a better matcha latte store.

Came here during a holiday week and this spot had the longest line, but it moved fairly fast. We ordered: 1. Strawberry matcha latte with boba: solid drink and the boba consistency was good. 2. Black sesame latte: I'm not a fan of black sesame but when I tried it, the sweetness level made the drink pretty sweet; however, it didn't have an overpowering or strong black sesame flavor. Overall, I'd come back again to try their soft serve and to get the strawberry matcha latte again.

Big fan of Matcha Maiko so I was super excited to see a location inside Stonestown mall in the food court area. The monthly flavors for Jan 2025 were Ube and Hojicha, two classics. I ordered the swirl soft serve in a cup and also asked for a cup of water, which they nicely let me have! Service was quick and the staff were great. Soft serve tasted yummy as expected, in line with what my experience at other locations are!

Quick service, authentic matcha flavor! Place is tiny but next to many other restaurants and stores.

Always a line for this place on a weekend but for a good reason - their matcha ice cream is the best. Very filling and a good treat on a warm day. Their asian sundaes with mochi/red bean/cornflakes is also excellent.

Located right in the food court, this is the perfect spot for dessert after dinner. I ordered the sundae parfait, but honestly, I only really appreciated the cornflakes, not so much the rest. Next time, I'll probably just stick with the soft serve. However, I love how they change their flavors every month! So far, my favorites have been white sesame and honeydew. I hope they bring those flavors back! Service was quick and easy, but keep in mind you'll need to find your own seating in the food court.

Worth the wait in line, which actually moves decently quickly. Nice variety of match drinks that can be made hot or cold. They also have soft serve matcha ice cream desserts and freshly made waffle cones. Other choices are teas & sparklers, blended frappes, and floats. We had the cold matcha tea without any sweetener, and it was well-done with just the right amount of matcha that stayed blended to the last drop. The black sesame latte was delicious, rich, and not too sweet. The strawberry matcha latte was also good. They offer a couple of sizes for drinks. I suggest ordering the large size since it doesn't cost too much more and the drinks are so good that you will want more.

This is my favorite matcha spot in the Bay Area!! I only order their matcha ice cream since it never disappoints. I always stop by every time I pass by the food court. They have seasonal flavors, so I decided to try their hojicha and black sesame mix. I also ordered the matcha and vanilla mix for my parents. Hojicha is roasted green tea and it was just ok since it didn't have much flavor. I really liked the black sesame since it was not too sweet and I really like the flavor. My go to is still the matcha and vanilla mix. I also love their cones since they are always super crunchy, although this time was on the softer side. Also, the staff here were fast and efficient!

Went for Beverage Food - 5/5. Their matcha has a beautiful shade of grassy green with a rich flavor that is befitting of its color. It has a light taste with a hint of astringency and a clean finish. Their matcha drink kept it simple with a bit of sweetness letting you taste the matcha in its purest form. It had a viscosity that was slightly thicker than water, creating a nice mouthfeel. Matcha latte had the rich creaminess of milk with a sweet flavor. You could still taste the matcha and I enjoyed the more decadent sweetness and creamy finish. Service - 4/5. Cashier was professional and beverages came out quickly. Value - 5/5. I always appreciate when an establishment specializes specifically in matcha and Cafe Maiko reliably hits the spot. Beverage prices are standard with a large matcha being $4.80 and matcha latte $6.00. They do add sales tax after the price, which is unusual for beverages. Parking - Mall Lot/Garage (Free)

Great, fast service every time I visit. I've been trying almost everything on the menu and I think the boba sundae is my favorite. The pearls are fresh and gooey.

I tried the banana cream matcha latte and it was so yummy! I really liked the combination of flavors. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and the banana wasn't too overpowering. I would definitely get this drink again!

I really enjoy the consistency that I get from Matcha Cafe Maiko! I usually get the Iced Matcha Latte or the Iced Hojicha Latte! Even though ordering when there's a line can take a while, I know that what I get will be the same as before! When I'm not feeling a drink, I would get the matcha soft serve. Soooo good!

My go-to is the azuki bean sundae with matcha and vanilla swirl for a sweet treat. Pretty consistent and delicious. Service is fast. Located inside Stonestown's opem space food court, ambiance is just ok since it's always busy and loud inside.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! Their matcha soft serve is sooo good but this time, I decided to try their Banana Matcha cream latte and it was AMAZZINGG!!! The banana wasn't overpowering the matcha flavor and it was so refreshing! Probably the best banana matcha i've had yet! There was a long line and the service was amazing, they were all so kind! I got my drink super quick as well! I LOVE THIS and i'm super excited to try their other drinks next time!

I had one off interaction here with an employee who was a bit rude, but on my recent visit the service was much better and I really appreciated the improvement. The matcha is always great, consistently delicious and worth coming back for.

We got the black seasame and kinako soft serve in a cup. It's a good balance of nuttiness and savory

Not a matcha expert but taste good and service was quick. Definitely need to try the ice cream next time. I just ordered an iced matcha tea and the employee was super kind in immediately making my drink despite having a ton of other orders that seemed like they took more time.

Be so fr. My bananas are gray and dusty and there's no pudding?? What's the point of me ordering a banana PUDDING matcha latte?

Stopped here for a beverage after going to a movie and what's better than something green after watching "Wicked"?? I ordered a large matcha latte ($6.50, I think) and it was good, but a bit on the sweet side for me; a tad less sweet would've been my preference. I could taste the matcha in it, so that's a plus since some places don't use enough to give drinks much flavor at all. Have to say, though, it didn't last very long with all the ice in it, so the over $7.50 (with tax and tip) for the large was not a good budget friendly expenditure for me. I'll probably get the soft serve next time!

The service here is absolutely terrible. They make you order on a tablet while standing there staring at you. It's loud crowded and the employees are in no rush.. The drinks themselves were actually OK. Very mediocre..

Great matcha, terrible customer service. You can order by either cashier of kiosk right next to cashier. I was ordering on the kiosk since no one helped me then as I was ordering a person came to the cashier and took two orders and fulfilled them before I finished entering all the info on the kiosk. They need to periodizoe people by order of waiting and not have some order on kiosk only to be passed up once someone decides to take orders at the cashier.

The soft serve was really good. Especially the matcha. However, the wait times were pretty long, and the customer service is kind of non existent at the register and only one single tablet for self ordering. Could be better, but the dessert itself was good.

Me and my daughter love a good sweeet boba drink and this isn't where you get it. So, I ordered her drink elsewhere and got myself and my niece something here as she raved about it being her absolute favorite boba spot. I wanted to try it so I got the black sesame latte w cheese foam & boba. It was 7/10, the boba was cooked perfectly but, the drink itself didn't have a strong black sesame taste and wasn't overly sweet. I liked it but didn't love it. The service was pretty straightforward and our drinks came out quickly. I may or may not come back to try some of their soft serve.

I was in stonestown and was really craving a matcha drink. I saw that they had hojicha which I like even more than matcha, the roasted nutty flavor is so delicious to me. I got an iced hojicha latte and it was ready in less than 5 minutes , they must be premade ! When I make them at home it always takes more than 5 min. This is a great spot if you need your matcha fix and are in the area

I discovered this place in Japantown, and was grateful that they opened one in Stonestown which is closer for me to access. Their consistency and quality are immaculate, it's a staple for me to always get it whenever I'm at the mall. I like that there's different variations of matcha you can order, it doesn't consist of just ice cream in a cone/cup. I also like that they have a rotation of special flavors every month, my friend and I always look forward to the flavor of the month. Our favorite so far is Jasmine. Depending on what I'm feeling for the day, I will either get a Matcha Tea Float, Strawberry Sundae, or just the soft serve in a cone. I never get disappointed with my choices, and I also enjoy the experience when ordering. You can tell the business strives for quality in their products & their atmosphere. The workers are very nice & serve orders pretty quick. I will always be a big fan!

If you need a bit of soft serve ice cream in Stonestown, look no further. The service is quick in a no frills stall. The matcha is delicious, and they also offer samples if you need to try some things out! Highly recommend, no notes!