I was eating next door on a Sunday afternoon and saw lots of people going in and coming out with…read moredelicious looking matcha drinks. I watched their reactions when taking the first sip, it was a lot of head nodding and thumbs upping to their friends so I felt like I had to go in and try for myself. Went in and ordered an earl gray matcha and my partner ordered a passion mango tea w boba. The matcha & the passion fruit was so good! The boba was chewy and sweet. I would definitely recommend coming and trying! I really wanted to try their strawberry matcha but I'm always so skeptical (I have trust issues w bad strawb matchas) but the earl gray was good, so maybe I'll try next visit. The interior was nice, menu was straight forward on the wall and on the check out table -- only thing is the description of the drinks weren't shown on the menus until you're on the self check out kiosk. I was curious about the sunny side up matcha thinking it was made with real egg yolk (which I thought kinda weird?) but the kiosk said that it was mango. You didn't really talk to staff at all & the drinks came out pretty fast! Would come back again.

I'll round up because I want this place to do well. This was my second time coming here. The first…read moretime, my husband ordered a hojicha einspanner. The second time, I ordered a matcha einspanner, and he got the hojicha einspanner again. Maybe I'm just not too familiar with how to drink einspanners, but the cream pretty much sat on top of the drink. At first, I was mostly just drinking the matcha, which was fine because it was flavorful and seemed to be good quality. Once I got toward the end of the drink, that's when I started tasting the cream. The cream was a little too thick for my liking and left a film-like texture in my mouth, which I didn't love. Since I enjoyed the overall flavor of the drink, I'll give it a 4! The ambiance is cute, and the service was easy. You just order from a kiosk, and they call your name once your drink is ready. The first time I went was on a weekend, and the line was out the door. This time, I went on a weekday, and it was pretty empty. If you're looking for a sweet, caffeinated drink as a pick-me-up, I'd recommend trying it at least once.

Sama Coffee Shop in San Mateo understands that a café can be more than a place to consume coffee;…read moreit can be an exercise in atmosphere and appetite. The room is quietly elegant, its Middle Eastern influences expressed through considered décor rather than theatrical excess. There is an appealing sense of decorum here; a place designed to encourage lingering rather than turnover. The coffee is similarly assured. Turkish coffee possesses the requisite depth and bitterness, while the rose-cardamom-honey latte introduces floral sweetness and spice with admirable restraint. The pastries and sweets--particularly the baklava and kunafeh--provide a luxurious counterpoint without descending entirely into confectionery excess. At roughly $10-$20 per person, Sama occupies a sensible price point for an experience that feels considerably more considered than the average neighborhood coffee shop. Sama is, ultimately, a café with a point of view and that is increasingly rare. The service was designed to provide you with a feeling that you're like a beloved family member. Eager to answer all questions asked and make you feel like you're at home.

We stopped by Sama Coffee Shop for a coffee and a quick dessert while we were in the area. It's a…read morecharming Turkish-style café with a nice selection of coffee drinks, creative lattes, teas, pastries, and desserts. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it a good place to sit for a bit and enjoy a drink and something sweet. Overall, I would say our experience was fine. The coffee and dessert were good, but nothing really stood out enough that I would make a special trip from the South Bay to San Mateo just to come here. That said, if you're already in the area and looking for a casual coffee spot with some Turkish-inspired treats and a relaxed atmosphere, it's definitely worth stopping by.

A long overdue review for my favorite coffee shop ever!…read more I go here religiously (literally any time I have a day off!) and get the same iced matcha order every single time, and it's always such a comfort to see the same friendly, welcoming faces behind the counter. They have great indoor seating if you want to hang out for a bit too. The strawberry matcha specialty chocolate is hands down my absolute favorite treat, and I make sure to snag one every single time they have it in stock. Parking can definitely be tricky, and you might have to circle around a couple of times on busier days, especially over the weekend. But just know it's so worth it!

The lattes here are so good that we decided this would be our coffee shop for the rest of the trip…read more My husband ordered a miso caramel, I ordered the sesame latte, and my sister got a cold brew. The two lattes came in identical-looking containers, but you could taste the difference in each, which isn't always the case. The miso was salty and sweet with an earthy flavor. Nothing was too sweet, and everything was exquisite and unique. Very much worth going out of the way for. Even the baristas were friendly. My sister ended up talking to one of the guys behind the counter about the shop's cold brew process for quite a while. One of my favorite coffee shops I've ever been to, period. Not just the best in the area. Find a better place? Ya can't.

This time we got some fruit teas and they were so good not overly sweet, and you can actually taste…read morethe tea (which I love). My friend got a fruit tea, and I tried the Toffee Matcha... omg, so thick, creamy, and just really satisfying. Service was also super sweet, the cashier guy was really friendly and helpful, which made the whole experience even better. Simple, solid, and always hits. Will definitely keep coming back

Came in here for some caffeine and was happy with the Hong Kong Milk Tea with drinkable mochi that…read moreI ordered. They didn't have their seasonal options displayed very well so I had to scramble and check their Instagram for descriptions/pictures but ultimately I'm happy I just went with a classic drink instead. The shop is super small and a little bit dark, could use some livening up! This location is a little hard to get to if you wanted to just pop in to pick up a drink but there is a parking garage about a block away. But otherwise loved my drink and haven't been disappointed with any visit to Urban Ritual.

I love their einspanners! Both their black sesame and pistachio are so creamy and packed with…read moreflavor. Parking is pretty easy since it's surrounded by not only street parking but also a parking garage and parking lot just across the street. Inside, the space has a lot of bright natural light and I love the assortment of tables, chairs, and benches. There's even a back area with more seating but there's usually enough spots to sit inside.

Nice guys working the bar. I ordered the matcha latte and…read moreadded vanilla. The good quality flavor was present but very subtle, I think they could have used a little more matcha. I also noticed they bulk their matcha, so no whisking, just pouring from a bottle. Small seating area but good vibes.

This has become my go to study spot whenever I'm waiting for the hubby to finish work…read more Great ambiance, good music that's not too loud, welcoming and courteous staff, good food (try the avocado toast!) and really good espresso drinks. Definitely a nice spot to get work done, study, or meet up with coworkers or friends.

Been here many times while working in the area. Great spot to hang out, great service. The food and…read morecoffee options are amazing.

Boba bless has not only some of my favorite drinks but the environment and community is so amazing…read more All the workers are always so welcoming, and strive to give each costumer an experience like no other. You can truly feel the Holy Spirit every time you walk in. There are so many ways to get connected to the church through boba bless and their mission to share the Lords love is so clear. Everything about boba bless is memorable!!

One of the best hojicha places I've found! I've been wanting to switch from matcha to hojicha, so…read moreI've been looking for good hojicha spots and this place popped up. Gave it a try and got the banana cold foam hojicha. It was perfectly sweetened, and the hojicha blended so well with the banana cold foam! Such a great spot to chat or get some work done. I especially love the window seats and how they open up wide, so on a nice day, you get such a nice breeze while sitting inside. Staff here are super nice too! Definitely coming back!

Finally had a chance to try Molly Tea, and I would agree that lives up to the hype…read more Citrus jasmine green tea. 50% sugar, was very refreshing, and I'll be back to try the other offerings.

Lovee Molly Tea for their flowery-Jasmine drinks. Super refreshing and unique tasting milk teas…read more For milk teas, I normally get the Apple Milk tea or Matcha Jasmine. When it's mango season, I always get their Jasmine Mango Smoothie. It's my favoritee thing here and I love the toppings in it. It's super light, not too heavy. Definitely worth trying.

bit of a line Saturday morning, but it moves fast. Very cute vibes, lots of families. We ordered…read moremilk bread, kouign amann, a ham and cheese croissant, an everything bowl, and a pistachio/raspberry croissant. Nothing missed, but I loved the pistachio/raspberry croissant the most. It was tangy and not too sweet, which can be the case for many raspberry and pistachio pastries. Rarer still is when both flavors come through and don't overpower each other. The only thing that I didn't love was the coffee but it's hard to be a barista and a pastry chef. I didn't come for coffee so I'm not going to knock them for it.

Went there on a Sunday morning, no long wait, hardly 5-7 minutes and we were in. Tried the Almond…read morecroissant, Chocolate and Hazelnut croissant, Everything Croissant bowl and Seasonal Danish (Tomato & Cheese). Everything was fresh and tasted good. Not overly sweet but rightly flavored. Missed the Raspberry Pistachio croissant as they ran out. They have a small space in the back, nice and cozy. Must try it if you're in the area.

Server was very helpful and approachable. The dessert is not too sweet and perfect for my taste!read more

Super great atmosphere, awesome spot to study! Employees very welcoming, and food was delicious.read more