Came to Aoko Matcha for a nighttime dessert! I've been to their New York City location before and loved it, so I was really excited when I heard they were opening one in Philly, especially so close to where I live. They were also doing a buy-one-get-one scoop promotion this weekend, so I definitely had to stop by.
The shop is connected to Kyuramen, and if you're dining there, you can conveniently order dessert from Aoko Matcha right at your table. I came just for dessert and ended up waiting in line for about 10-15 minutes. The operation didn't seem as efficient as it could be yet. There were multiple employees working, but it seemed like everyone was focused on serving one customer at a time, so the line moved a little slowly.
Once I got to the front, I sampled a few of the matcha flavors. Since it was late at night, I asked how much caffeine was in each matcha level. The employee wasn't sure of the exact amount but explained that the higher numbers have a greater matcha concentration. I tried levels two and three, and both had a really nice matcha flavor.
I ended up getting one scoop of the level two matcha and one scoop of ube. This was actually my first time trying their gelato since, at the New York location, I had gotten a parfait with matcha soft serve. I was really impressed! The ube was very flavorful and had that distinct ube taste I was hoping for, and it paired really nicely with the matcha gelato.
Prices are definitely on the higher end, with a single scoop being close to $6, but I think it's worth trying if you're a matcha fan. There also isn't much seating inside--just a few chairs--which can be a little inconvenient if you want to sit and enjoy your dessert. However, the New York location I visited had a similar setup.
Overall, Aoko Matcha met my expectations, and I'm glad to have one in Philly! I think as the shop stays open longer, the employees will probably settle into a more efficient rhythm. I'll definitely be back to try more flavors and get another parfait! read more