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Such a solid spot! Only took a star off because prices were high for small ish portions and the menu was kinda confusing. But overall both our treats were very good. Would come back again if I was in the area. Ordering was easy once we made a choice, and it was bumping inside which made for a lively atmosphere. Food came fast!
The matcha float was very good! Strong flavors and I enjoyed the different textures. The sakura jelly was also nice the sauce it's in gets messy and I wasn't the biggest fan of the mild savory sauce flavor with the slight sweet jelly. My boyfriend seemed to like it. The service was ok.
Kari's Rating 9/10 TLDR: -Ube soft serve is to die for -Taiyaki seemed like a good idea, but the hot fish bread melted the soft serve so fast it turned into a giant mess -ice cream portion size is good enough for two people This is the second time I've been here and I came on a Thursday around 8 PM and then was it crowded. There are tons of people ordering at the counter as well as a line outside the door. They were really busy and I think they might've needed a few more workers. Orders were piling in from the kiosk as well as the counter. We ended up ordering the Ube taiyaki fish as well as an Ube ice cream soft serve in a cup. Man, I remember last time I came here. I got the Ube Matcha float and my friend got the Matcha milk tea with tapioca and those two desserts didn't seem like too much, however, this time when I came, these desserts are a lot. I kind of wish we'd ordered just one of them, but we live like we're rich #yolo. I think the Ube is the best Ubisoft server ever had in my life as it's not overly sweet, but is incredibly creamy and rich meaning they probably made it with whole milk. The taiyaki was warm when he first had gotten it, but the ice cream has started to melt inside and now it's become slightly gooey mess. This is our exact conversation while eating the taiyaki. " Fish bread, sweet ice cream. I don't know they made it hot. so sweet. Oh no it's exploding-that's why I got in a cup. It's melting I'm getting more ice cream next time. Yeah it's amazing. Oh no I'm so being recorded. I am."
They have some new menu items. Everything is so good here. It does get packed and it does get loud with... children. Service is doing their best.
Wanted something tasty for dessert and came upon this place from IG. I ordered the cream soufflé and the matcha float. Both came out in pretty quick time even though it was a busy Saturday evening. Loved the cream soufflé! It was something different that I wanted to try and it wasn't too sweet which was amazing. The soufflé was so fluffy and hot and fresh. The cream inside was sooo good! Everything was well balanced together and the float was also great. Only downside is that it's a really small place. So inside felt very cramped and crowded.
I don't know much about Chinese desserts, I ordered a towel cake of mochis. They were delicious and unique. Price point is reasonable, staff was helpful, and it's a quaint little dessert spot for post dinner sweet tooth. Thank you!
I loved the concept, but not the execution. After we ordered, it was a literal 25 minute wait to get a drink to go. Insane if not made aware ahead of time. When I got my drink, the matcha was delicious but I ordered a banana pudding matcha. There was barely any and so it had no real banana flavor. TLDR: order the delicious matcha but go on a weekday.
I really liked this place! They have so many matcha options since it's a dessert cafe specializing in matcha and ube treats. I tried the soft serve with half vanilla and half matcha, and it was so good. I'll definitely be coming back to try more of their matcha desserts!
Delicious sweet treat at Matcha En! What a fun presentation. The matcha and vanilla ice cream was creamy and delicious! Fish cone had a nice doughy texture. Kind staff.
Cozy dessert spot in Chinatown closely connected to so many more dessert and dinner spots. There's a tablet available to order from but I missed it on entry. It's located opposite of the cash register and menu. Service was friendly. Washroom (restroom, bathroom search terms) available. Decent amount of seating, serving as a solid space to study or get work done. Black Sesame Matcha Latte - while the black sesame graininess settled at the bottom expectedly, the matcha was clearly whisked well. There were no clumps of bitterness to be found. Despite sugar adjustments, this was still very sweet so I'd classify the spot as more desserty rather than strong matcha or a cafe. Though I'm happy to be proven wrong with their regular matcha in the future.
The drinks were good. It was very spacious and not too busy considering I went on a Wednesday around 5:30. The service was good. The card reader on the machine didnt work, so the staff had to take the order.
Came for the matcha souffle pancakes ($12) that appeared so enticing on their Instagram, and it ended up being a dud. The ordering kiosk said it would take 15-20 minutes to make. Instead, it came out in 2 minutes in a plastic box and was cold. I was shocked as this indicated the souffle was not fresh. They also left off the fruits shown on Instagram and the menu photo. They did accommodate my request for a real plate and fruits, but it should have come out with those already included. When I ate it, the matcha cream was good but it wasn't a souffle pancake. It was just a regular, bready pancake. This place was really crowded. I think they benefit from the matcha hype, but they do not really care about quality. They can get away with it due to all the foot traffic through Chinatown. You can skip this spot when you visit Chinatown because they do not live up to what they post online.
Matcha En was located in a Chinatown plaza! I'm not sure if there was a parking lot but we just found street parking. The plaza had a lot of other businesses that would make a fun side quest day. There were a lot of options here but I was excited to try the pancakes. I would try it again if someone else wants to come. Staff: (3/5) Sanitation: (3/5) Brown Sugar Boba Crème Brûlée Pancake (4/5) The pancake was pretty good. It was fluffy for sure and the crème brûlée sauce was good, I would definitely say the more sauce the better. The brûléed sugar on top was a nice texture change as well.
Ube Soft Serve (5/5): Amazing consistency--thick and whipped. Many others have similar texture to yogurt, not this. It tastes different from the magnolia Ube which I expect. The taste is similar to matcha? There's a bitter taste. Pineapple Passion Fruit Tea (5/5): If you're looking for a fruit tea that is more ambiguous tasting tropical fruit, get this! Wasn't asked about cup size or sugar levels, but the best fruit tea I've ever had. Wish I knew the sugar info. Pineapple flavor is so faint, I was able to suck up some of the pineapple fruit itself, but it was old? Almost rotten, but it actually makes it better. There are bits of seed at the bottom which was weird but it wasn't many. The lemon was subtle thankfully. Mom liked it too, was surprised how good it was. Service was super quick considering it was Christmas. It's was also very crowded when we went, all the seats were taken. read more
Matcha En is a cute little dessert spot tucked in Chicago's Chinatown with a vibe that immediately draws you in. The interior has that calm, minimalist aesthetic that's perfect for snapping pics while sipping matcha - definitely a place that looks good on your feed. Now let's talk dessert - presentation is the star here. Everything that comes out looks like it was made for Instagram. From matcha parfaits to creamy soft serves, the visuals really elevate the experience. In fact, I'd say the presentation makes the desserts taste better - they're not bad at all, just not as mind-blowing as they look. Still, it's a fun and unique dessert menu, especially if you're a fan of matcha. The space is small and can get crowded fast, especially on weekends. You order either via a QR code at your table or from a kiosk near the front, but there's no clear flow or greeting system, so you might find yourself standing around trying to figure it out. The young staff behind the counter are doing their thing, but a host or someone managing the room would go a long way in improving the customer experience.Parking Tip--11You can park at the Chinatown Visitor Center lot nearby for a lower fee, but you'll need to spend a minimum of $30 at Matcha En to qualify for the discounted rate - and that's something they should mention up front. Honestly, for a solo guest, spending $30 on desserts can be a stretch. Despite some hiccups, it's a great little spot to try once or bring friends to for a unique treat. Just come with a little patience and maybe a sweet tooth (and a friend or two to help hit that parking minimum)! read more
Really disappointed, especially after seeing all the great reviews. It was pretty busy so we waited 15 minutes just for 2 drinks, and the inside was uncomfortably hot. When we finally got our drinks, they were both a letdown. The matcha latte tasted like watered-down matcha. It had no creaminess, no richness, just bland, but the astringency was strong? The black sesame matcha latte was slightly better thanks to the sesame flavor, but even then, the matcha was barely noticeable. For a place that specializes in matcha, this was really underwhelming. Definitely not worth the hype. read more
Stopped by Matcha En for the first time after lunch for some drinks/desserts. If you love matcha like me, they have a ton of different desserts to try out (I definitely want to try their towel cake). Since we were still full, we opted to get some drinks! I got the black sesame matcha latte with mochi and red bean and my brother got the super m (matcha with mango)! My drink was okay, however, the two mochi pieces in my drink were way too big for the straw. The super m was super delicious and the mangoes tasted fresh! I'll definitely have to come back and try their other drinks/desserts! read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
I've been here twice nice and love their matcha soft serve. The first time we tried the matcha roll and ube towel cake. Both were not too sweet and had good flavors. They both, however, are nothing I would crave in the future. The matcha soft serve definitely fills my matcha fix! They do have some crazy shakes on their menu that look delicious. The service is fine - when they're busy the employees are definitely hustling. There is seating and free wifi here. The decor around the place is super cute and on theme. read more
Favorite place in Chinatown for desserts! They have great matcha and taro options as well as hojicha, which is my favorite. Highly recommend the hojicha/ube basque cake. The matcha quality is pretty decent. The place is always super crowded in my experience, so service can be super slow at times. read more
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Jojo C.
Thank you for your continued support!
Got the matcha towel cake and the ube soft serve! the creaminess and texture of the soft serve were out of this world and the subtle ube flavor just elevated it even more think I might've found my new favorite dessert spot in the city! read more
1 year ago
Quick and easy order at the kiosk. The ambience is very casual for a chat with friends. There was loud music playing on a Saturday afternoon but you can still hear yourself talk. Hot matcha latte was delicious with additional sweetness (you can adjust the sweetness level when you order). read more
Food: a lot of really nice deserts. Although the ice cream flavor were too heavy on the cream side, didn't feel refreshing. Parfait is an interesting concept, love it if you like crunchy things and adzuki beans. Would definitely come back to try the rest of the menu and hopefully increase the review! Service: quick and friendly! You can order from computer as well. Ambiance: crowded, a lot of ppl buy to take out as an ice cream place. Has a nice outdoor terrace. read more
Super cute matcha cafe! It's matcha in almost every from you'd love to enjoy it in. They also have ube for a few items like soft serve and a towel cake. Speaking of towel cake, it was amazing! It was so cool to unravel it like a towel and then stick a fork on it and eat it. Fun food things haha The crepe cakes were good! Light and not too sweet. It was nicely constructed too. It didn't fall apart when I stuck my fork in. The matcha parfait was tasty! It was not too sweet and the vanilla was a nice break from full on matcha. The toppings inside were good. They got a little carried away on my parfait because it's tipping over but that just means more goodness. I definitely recommend this for a matcha lover or someone matcha curious. read more
Been here twice and it was so good that my husband was talking about wanting to go back for WEEKS on end! Their matcha soft serve really shines, we haven't tried anything else here because...why would we not get matcha at a place with "Matcha" in its name? I've had the soft serve in a cup, and while pricey, it's HUGE. I finished it all, but I was definitely pushing it haha. The next time, we both got the taiyaki with matcha ice cream. It's a little fish cake/bread filled with ice cream and topped with sprinkles, Pocky, and a skewer of mochi! Sooooo good. Again, very filling, but still delicious. Service is pretty fast if you're getting soft serve, but the wait can be a little longer for other items! read more
1 year ago
It was a super busy time when I came. I got the matcha soft serve in a cup. The flavor was surprisingly decent, given the color. I also ordered the matcha dango. I'm not gonna lie this was probably one of the more disappointing things I've tried. It looked a lot better than it tasted. The taste for the dango was virtually zero (no exaggeration). It also was like $10? I'd just go for their soft serve. read more
We made a quick stop here after having dinner in Chinatown. We ordered a couple of cream puffs for dessert. They tasted great and had a fun appearance. When you first walk in, you can order on this electronic menu. It first asks if you are dining in or ordering take out. It was our first time here so we just walked up to the display counter to see the actual desserts and order in person. It was busy, but not too bad considering it was a Saturday evening. Cute little place with friendly service. We ordered it "to go", so I'd like to come back again to sit down and enjoy my dessert right after it's been freshly made. read more
3 years ago
As a matcha lover, it is really hard for me to pass up on matcha desserts, especially matcha soft serve. I love how the bitterness of matcha balances out the sweetness of the soft serve here at Matcha En. What we ordered: Matcha soft serve with mochi (not pictured): If you enjoy tapioca in milk tea, you'd enjoy this soft serve and mochi combo. So good and adds texture. Matcha dango: I didn't love this as much. I was expecting it to be cold like the mochi, but it was served warm and did not hold its shape. I would try their other desserts instead. It seems like they are constantly updating their menu, so I cannot wait to see what else they'll have in the future. I will definitely try some of their other items, like the crepe cakes and drinks. read more
Matcha En is absolutely everything you want in a dessert shop (and more)! If you love matcha, this spot is heaven, but even if you're not a fan there are plenty of options for everyone. The interior is very cute and welcoming, and it was packed inside on a Saturday with people chatting over delicious treats. Everything really gave a "this is the place to be" vibe, which I don't often see from a dessert shop. Per a friend's recommendation, I opted for the matcha & vanilla swirl parfait and ube dango. Both were incredible, but I was so impressed by the parfait! The soft serve was not too sweet and very refreshing. It paired so well with the sweet red beans and pieces of fluffy matcha pound cake underneath, which soaked up the melty ice cream perfectly. The finishing touch was a layer of unsweetened corn flakes, which gave every bite a perfect crunch. Somehow, the whole dish was both decadent and light, and extremely addicting. A heads up that the dango is served warm with a delicious sweet and creamy topping, so plan to eat it in the shop. I attempted to take it to go, and although it didn't travel very well it was still delicious. The dango is so chewy and not too sweet, which allowed the delicate ube flavor to shine through. Highly recommend this shop, and can't wait to visit again! read more
3 years ago
Nice place for dessert. The service was quick - order at kiosk and pick up at the counter. Very casual and chill. The desserts are very visually appealing and unique looking. I was drawn to ordering the ube towel cake because it looked so cool. My wife got the hojicha soft serve. Ube towel cake - looks cooler than it tastes. There was not enough ube flavor at all, I could not taste it. It was creamy and crepe on the inside. Made well but flavor was not what I expected. Hojicha soft serve - strong flavor and good taste. I feel like the green tea flavors here are better than the ube flavors. My friend had the ube soft serve and it also didn't taste like ube. read more
Cut and pasted from their website: "In Japanese culture, the idea of "en" or "fate" is often tied to the idea of destiny and the notion that certain people are meant to cross paths in life. At Matcha En, it's almost as if the universe has brought together people who share a love for matcha, creating the perfect setting for discovering new connections and forging meaningful relationships." Quality/Quantity - Known obviously for their matcha and it did not disappoint. Today we got the soft serve and it was very flavorful and robust, so good. Also available - Matcha drinks, cakes, pudding, takiyaki, and other desserts. Atmosphere - Small cafe, but crazy busy! Not sure if it was due to the McDonald festival, see other Yelp. Or if it was because today is a Saturday or if this is normal? Anyways, congrats on such a great business. The line was out the door, and the line to the bathroom was also out the door. The bathroom line was so long that my daughter quit after waiting half an hour when only 2 people used it??? Service - The set up is just wrong, backwards! The line to order is right when you walk in, so it easily backs up out the front door. Then to pick up your order, you have to walk through everyone, like a hundred people (okay, I am exaggerating), and also walk through the bathroom line to the other side of the counter. Then you need to repeat backwards the whole process again to get out. I kid you NOT, by the time I left, my ice cream already started to melt. Wait, where is my melted ice cream pic? Found and uploaded the picture. The receipt actually says "wait in store in case ice cream melts" LOL. They also have a self service kiosk, but hidden in the body of people. We only noticed it on our way out. Sorry, I am missing that picture also. Price - $8. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since April of 2022. Please revisit your sales process as it can be significantly improved. read more
Being a big fan of matcha, this place caught my daughter's eye right away and she had the vanilla and matcha swirl on a taiyaki cone. I, being a coffee lover, had the ube Vietnamese coffee. It was a busy Saturday afternoon so took us about 10 minutes to get our order. Still, not too bad. When we got our order, we couldn't stop admiring how both orders are aesthetically pleasing. Taste-wise, both were equally good as they looked! The sweetness was just right for both. I love how my coffee was creamy and strong at the same time and this Filipina definitely tastes that distinct ube taste with their tasty ube foam. Though a bit pricey, I think the novelty of the drink and making my daughter happy with her matcha dessert makes it worth it. read more
Business owner information
Jojo C.
Thank you so much for visiting!
8 months ago
1 year ago
Went back to try the ube again and give it another chance. Ube was good this time, was sweet and you can taste the ube. read more
This cafe is so delicious and has the cutest desserts! I like how there's also a kiosk to order the desserts as it speeds up the service. We got the matcha mouse cake, mango towel cake and peach crepe cake. My favorite had to be the mango towel cake due to its presentation and taste. It tastes like the mango pancake from Hui Lau Shan as the exterior is chewy and the filling is so creamy and thick. The ambiance is cozy and a perfect place to hang with friends! read more
Business owner information
Jojo C.
Thanks for visiting, Jenny! We’re glad you found our desserts…
2 years ago
This place in the new Chinatown is really cute with some unique dessert options. I tried the matcha strawberry cheesecake and didn't love it. It was dense and I didn't taste any matcha either. I may have ordered something they're not known for so will have to try it out again. read more
We discovered this charming little dessert shop in Chinatown offering a delightful selection of boba, cakes, soufflés, and more. We tried the vanilla soft serve in a Taiyaki cone, and it was absolutely delicious! Ordering was easy at the self-service kiosk, and our treats were ready in no time. I can't wait to return and explore more of their desserts--the towel cake looks especially intriguing! read more
Got sucked in because I saw there was ube-flavored items here!!! And it was national boba day so of course I had to get some. The worker was nice and the boba was great! I was intrigued by the ube towel cake because I had never heard of it before, so we ordered that too. We loved the boba but we're not fans of the towel cake. It was pretty and interesting looking, but it didn't have much flavor and was dry. I'm glad I tried something new though, and not sure if this is how they all come. Would love to get the ube ice cream next time! read more
It's a so crowded in there on a Saturday night. It has a lot of desserts. It was the last stop on my food crawl with my friends. I ordered the black sesame smoothies with almond milk. It was delish. You can order at the kiosk or with a cashier. read more
IM IN LOVE because I love everything matcha. This cute little dessert shop offers matcha ice cream, drinks, pastries, etc. Hojicha x ube swirl: I think this combo is seasonal. I believe they rotate flavors like how they do at Kurimu too. Hojicha is japanese green tea (I had to look it up lol). It kind of tastes like a very subtle chocolate flavor to me. The overall ice cream is super creamy & silky. The flavor is not overly sweet or artificial tasting which made it really enjoyable to eat. In total, my ice cream was like $9 with the 2 toppings I chose. Pretty expensive but it was worth it to me. I'm determined to try everything off the menu! Their small cakes look divine read more
This place was interesting. The matcha ice cream is quite good. It was smooth and creamy. The amount you get for the price is where I find the problem. It was tiny for the price. The service was indifferent. They were also playing heavy rock and roll super loud. I'm not trying to be that guy, but it was awkwardly loud. There are a lot of choices in the area that serve this type of dessert and I'm not sure I'd be in a huge hurry to come back. read more
We ordered the match crepe layer cake for our friend's birthday. It was nicely decorated with multiple layers of crepe. I enjoyed the match powder on top of the cake. Although it brought out the matcha flavor, I wish the cake had a bit more flavor. read more
I tried their matcha soft serve and it did not disappoint. The matcha flavor is very potent and well balanced with the sweetness of the cream. For $7 it seems a bit pricey for a small dessert. The store front isn't too big and I'm sure can get very crowded during peak hours. I recommend eating the ice cream indoors if it's above 80 degrees outside otherwise you risk having a matcha milkshake mess in your hands. read more
More info about Matcha En
2167 S China Pl
Fl 1
Chicago, IL 60616
Chinatown
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(312) 877-5557
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http://www.matcha-en.com
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Ask the Community - Matcha En
Do you guys do whole cakes instead of just the slices? Wld like to get a matcha cake for a birthday
Yes we do! Just make sure to order 2 days before pick up date. Thank you.
Do you have milk alternatives for your drinks?
Yes, we do. We have soy, oat, almond and lactaid.
Do they have non-dairy milk or matcha softserve?
No, we do not. Our ice cream has dairy.
Do they have giftcards?
Hi Celina! Yes, we do. Feel free to come in and ask staff to help you get one.
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