Order Rikyu Takeout or Delivery
Rikyu Photos
Business Info
Rikyu Popular Dishes
RIKYU ATMOSPHERE
What's the vibe?
You might also consider
More like Rikyu
Recommended Reviews - Rikyu
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Easy to order/no wait. Items came out fairly quickly. We got the banana bread matcha. Different from other banana matcha tried as theirs has banana bread sauce instead of a cream on top. It's good, I def taste a good balance of matcha and banana bread and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. We also tried the ebi katsu (3 sauce options - we went with yuzu mayo). Also good. Def tasted the yuzu but wasn't really getting mayo... also a lot of the veggies fell out as we ate it/can get messy. I would be interested in trying other sandos next time. Seating avail inside and out. Overall, it's a nice cafe to grab some drinks/food.
Rikyu is a relatively new spot in Palo Alto, and I really like how chill and easygoing the space feels. It's a nice option for a quick bite, especially if you're looking for something casual but still fresh. I first tried their matcha latte, ebi katsu sando, and yuzu chicken sando, then went back another time for their chirashi. The chirashi was pretty good value and tasted fresh. Overall, I do think their food leans a little on the sweeter side, and the matcha latte was a bit light for my personal preference.
Tried the ebi katsu and chicken katsu sandos! The yuzu flavor is lovely and I enjoyed the ebi (shrimp) katsu, but the chicken katsu texture was strange/gelatinous in a few spots...potentially a bit undercooked. Glad I tried, but it was also remarkably expensive for the amount of food. Maybe the ebi katsu sando is worth a try if you love yuzu? I appreciate that it's located so close to the Palo Alto Caltrain so you can grab it as a snack for the train! And you can order ahead for pickup.
Cafe serving Japanese ceremonial Matcha and light meal, run by the chef of Michelin restaurant in Los Altos. They've done effort to make the matcha even better now after my third visit. Highly recommend the matcha latte or matcha yuzu drink. Sandos (Japanese sandwiches) are the must try, personally love fried shrimp and Wagyu. The entire store is also minimalist style with chill vibes!
I stopped by Rikyu after spending an afternoon at Stanford Shopping Mall and needing a pick me up matcha. The inside is small but still feels airy and open with the warm natural wood accents throughout, a few seats available to enjoy your drink at. I ordered a small blueberry matcha latte with whole milk, and the service was kind and efficient, hand whisking and making my drink to order in just a few minutes. I'm so glad Rikyu has blueberry matcha lattes - theyre not common to see on menus in the area and often are made with artificial or very sugary syrups, and the one here is clearly made with a nice thick blueberry jam of sorts. It brings a great flavor without being too sweet to the matcha latte. The matcha itself isn't too strong but you can still appreciate the light fresh almost sencha flavor without it getting lost in the milk and blueberry. The drink was creamy and almost had a thick mouthfeel thanks to the whole milk and blueberry and I really enjoyed it! A great fruity light matcha latte that isn't watered down :) I'll be back to try some of their other offerings and maybe a sandwich if I'm hungry next time!
For a store that's still relatively new, it's not bad! I think the matcha leans more towards the bitter side, so you may not like it if you like sweet matcha! I ordered the banana bread one which comes with a banana puree at the bottom - I do wish there was some more! The red bean hojicha has a blended red bean paste at the bottom too, same thing where I wish there was a bit more, once mixed in, the hojicha overwhelms it. Our drinks came out quickly though! There's some limited seating inside with tables for 2-4 and some outside as well! Not my favorite but I think I would give it another shot.
$9.88 for my drink. Matcha was offputting and it's so small for the price. You're better off somewhere else in downtown Palo Alto
Came here on a Sunday afternoon. It was very nice sitting outside! It is very convenient off the Palo Alto Cal train stop. My husband and I ordered two matcha drinks and one ebi sando for my son. The matcha used here is more on the grassier side. Matcha latte - no sweetener or anything. Just matcha and milk. This is definitely not everyone's typical cup of matcha. My matcha was not water down and actually was very pleasant. I can tell that those who enjoy matcha as is, will definitely enjoy it. If you're looking for a more sweeter matcha taste, I would definitely take a look at the other flavors. Banana bread matcha - my husband enjoyed his drink. He said it was very unique and not too sweet. My favorite! The ebi sando! Very refreshing! My son gobbled it down. I am not a cold slaw kind of person but the hint of yuzu really made it nice. I would definitely come here again if I'm in the area! Note that this is downtown Palo Alto. There is street parking around. We didn't have any issue finding one. Also, it can get pretty crowded inside! We noticed all the tables indoor for taken while we were enjoying our drink and sandwich outside.
Located right across the street from the Downtown Palo Alto Caltrain Starion, this little storefront cafe next to the corner of Alma and Lytton Avenue in downtown PA is more than just Matcha! To me, their highlight are the great Sandos and Ekiben Chirashi here! Affordably priced and perfect for take-away or just sit down at the pleasant little tables along the windows or out in front. Friendly service. The owner even brought our order right out to us! Hojicha Latte - asked for half sweet, still a tiny bit too sweet, still very strong and enjoyable. (4.1/5) Rikyu Chirashi - thin slices of fresh Toro (tuna) and Salmon artfully presented over a soft moist bed of rice with bits of Tsukemono that really put this chirashi lunch over the top in terms of flavor and enjoyment. ( 4.85/5!) Yuzu Chicken Sando - Served on a soft almost brioche-like burger-like bun, the sando is presented in two halves in a little box. The centerpiece of this fried chicken sandwich was the moist and juicy white chicken breast with a delightfully thin yet crunchy and flavorful crust. The Yuzu dressing made the shredded cabbage on top the PERFECT Yang to the Yin for this Sando. Easy 5+/5! Both of our meal selections strongly reminded us of the Ekibens we ate in Japan, especially with the PA Caltrain Station right across the street! Ekiben??? What's that??? If you've been to Japan, you buy your own prepared box lunches at little storefronts in the train station before boarding the bullet trains. These compact little meals are called "Ekibens" - direct translation "Train Station Boxed Lunch". So.. Bento Box with Train Station? This is the closest thing to an Ekiben Shop that I've ever seen in the US. Next time, instead of driving, I'll take Caltrain down here to the Downtown Palo Alto Caltrain station, walk across the street to Rikyu, order up my lunch, and go home on the train! Ahh.. Japannn.. Almost! =)
After seeing so many viral videos, I had such high hopes. I wish I could give a better review, but unfortunately I think there's still work to be done. The service was not friendly, and had a hard time explaining the menu to me. I don't know if it was a new staff member, so I tried to give some grace, but the experience didn't make me feel welcomed or excited to try something new. The matcha drink itself was a nice color but left something to be desired for flavor. I just got a regular latte so no fruit syrups or add-ons, but the matcha flavor itself was barely there. I really just tasted sweet milk. At a hefty tab of $10 with tax + tip, I was really disappointed in what I received. Interior is cute for working/studying but not much else that I would come back here specifically for.
![Ebi [Shrimp] Katsu Sando ($16) - GET THIS!](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/_3FcnAIMdBzNytajN3OY1g/258s.jpg "Ebi [Shrimp] Katsu Sando ($16) - GET THIS!")
3.5 STARS Matcha fatigue. As much as I love matcha and hōjicha, I'm phuckin' tired of all the new matcha shops popping up and paying $10+ for watery green or mud milk. I'm sure many of you are too! But with my toxic trait, I want to try it anyways cuz you never know. Not only is Rikyu Japanese-owned, the owner has two fine dining omakase restos: Hiroshi and Daiji Yacht Club (omakase on a yacht). Seems promising, yea? I visited during their soft opening on a weekday and they were severely understaffed. With about 7 people in front of me in line, it took close to 30 minutes to order and 40 minutes to receive my order. Not sure how they're going to handle the weekend crowds when they grand open Tomorrow, 5/30/26. Current Hours: 8 am - 3 pm. M E N U The menu has typos, wasn't clear, and lacked price transparency. Drinks come in three sizes but only the prices for the small size are listed. - Drinks: Matcha, hōjicha, and coffee: $5.50-$10+. Alt milks: +$1.50 (price not listed), cold foams: +$2 (price not listed), and syrups: ? (price not listed). Matcha + hōjicha are hand-whisked to order. Culinary grade matcha is used for their drinks but ceremonial grade is available for $21...yes, twenty-one dollars - is THIS rage bait?! - Food: Sandos ($15-$39), Chirashi ($19), and Desserts ($7-$8) (Note: Chirashi is filled with broccoli and cauliflower.) D R I N K S // 2 Stars * Iced Banana Bread Matcha Latte (S-$7.50) - Fixed sweetness (sweetness is from the fruit purée, they do not add additional sugar). I heard this runs sweet but my matcha was watery and bitter, and there was nothing to cut through it as the bananas tasted unripen. Also, it didn't look like the ones on socials and other pics. There's no banana foam and banana bread/banana chips...are these add-ons? If so, this needs to be specified. * Iced Hōjicha Latte (S-$6.50) - Sub oat milk ($1.50) - Unsweetened Tasted like straight oat milk, lacking roasty notes. Ended up tossing it. F O O D * Ebi Katsu Sando ($16) // 4.5 Stars Props to the solo chef in the back because this was BOMB! The panko-crusted shrimp patty was delicately crunchy with a satisfyingly tender, bouncy texture. They didn't over-process the shrimp so you still get fresh, sweet chunks in every bite. Paired with a creamy, tangy yuzu mayo, crisp cabbage slaw, and a pillowy soft brioche bun, it came together perfectly - delicious without feeling heavy. S E R V I C E The poor cashier was doing the work of 3+ staff - taking orders, expo, and delivering orders to customers who kept following up. It was claustrophobic inside with no room to wait and you cannot hear your name being called outside. Hope they activate Toast POS notifications. A M B I A N C E Sleek, minimalist with seven two-tops indoors and two tables outdoors. Free WiFi. Restroom available. Overall, great ebi sando and not so great lattes. With the stiff competition in PA and in Silicon Valley, they need to improve their matcha and hōjicha lattes. Giving them grace for the soft opening, 3.5 stars rounded up.
I should have read the Yelp reviews before I came but the Tik Tok video I saw about this new matcha cafe made it look so nice and aesthetic so I immediately came to try the matcha here. First off, their menu offers some unique flavors for their matcha. We ordered the strawberry, yuzu, and banana bread matcha because we had trouble deciding which one to get. Unfortunately, my friend and I didn't like any of the drinks we ordered. If I had to choose one, I'd say the strawberry was the best out of the three. However, the matcha flavor was pretty much nonexistent and the puree that they used was chunky and did not mix well with the drink. The banana matcha was the worst; we decided to toss that drink. Somehow the drink was bitter and the banana flavor came as a bad aftertaste. As for the yuzu matcha, it's made with yuzu tonic and I feel like that's basically all you taste in the drink. I would not recommend the matcha here, especially when there is maruwu seicha literally down the street, but maybe their sandos and sushi bento box is good. Apparently this cafe was opened up by Chef Daiji who is a well known omakase chef so I would be willing to try the food here if I come back. To end on a positive note, this cafe is very nice, clean, and aesthetically pleasing.
I had high expectations for this spot because of Chef Daiji, but unfortunately this matcha wasn't my favorite. It was super milky, and the matcha color was already telling. I just could not taste the matcha at all. I also wasn't a fan of the blueberry bits at the bottom. Every sip felt like I was getting a big gulp of blueberry, 80% blueberry and 20% of the actual drink...I wish the blueberry was a puree. I also wish the foam was thicker. I like sipping my drinks slowly and having the foam mix into the drink throughout, but it mixed into the matcha pretty quickly since it was super thin. The store itself is pretty nice! I love the ambiance. Perfect for studying or catching up with friends. They also have WiFi! Overall, I do want to give it another try for the banana bread matcha and strawberry or yuzu matcha, so maybe I'll be back one more time to give this place another chance!
Came late in the afternoon specifically to try out the ebi katsu sando (shrimp sandwich). Hands down, delicious! I opted for the yuzu-mayo which I highly recommend; it has that tang to it which elevates the sandwich. I ordered a Hojicha Latte as well and was not impressed. It wasn't smooth but rather thick and a little on the gritty side. I ended up walking over to grab a coffee elsewhere to satisfy by caffeine craving. Lastly, I wanted to mention the bathroom was super clean and spacious. But now after having a baby, I realized it was missing a changing table... which I really needed that day. All in all, I recommend this spot for the sandos. Drinks were a pass. Cheers! read more
19 days ago
5g of latte-grade matcha mix in a 12 oz cup served with de-iced cold drink tasted pretty good! I love the convenience of the location and interior design. The order queue could be improved to facilitate the speed though. read more
Easy to order/no wait. Items came out fairly quickly. We got the banana bread matcha. Different from other banana matcha tried as theirs has banana bread sauce instead of a cream on top. It's good, I def taste a good balance of matcha and banana bread and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. We also tried the ebi katsu (3 sauce options - we went with yuzu mayo). Also good. Def tasted the yuzu but wasn't really getting mayo... also a lot of the veggies fell out as we ate it/can get messy. I would be interested in trying other sandos next time. Seating avail inside and out. Overall, it's a nice cafe to grab some drinks/food. read more
Rikyu is a relatively new spot in Palo Alto, and I really like how chill and easygoing the space feels. It's a nice option for a quick bite, especially if you're looking for something casual but still fresh. I first tried their matcha latte, ebi katsu sando, and yuzu chicken sando, then went back another time for their chirashi. The chirashi was pretty good value and tasted fresh. Overall, I do think their food leans a little on the sweeter side, and the matcha latte was a bit light for my personal preference. read more
Tried the ebi katsu and chicken katsu sandos! The yuzu flavor is lovely and I enjoyed the ebi (shrimp) katsu, but the chicken katsu texture was strange/gelatinous in a few spots...potentially a bit undercooked. Glad I tried, but it was also remarkably expensive for the amount of food. Maybe the ebi katsu sando is worth a try if you love yuzu? I appreciate that it's located so close to the Palo Alto Caltrain so you can grab it as a snack for the train! And you can order ahead for pickup. read more
Cafe serving Japanese ceremonial Matcha and light meal, run by the chef of Michelin restaurant in Los Altos. They've done effort to make the matcha even better now after my third visit. Highly recommend the matcha latte or matcha yuzu drink. Sandos (Japanese sandwiches) are the must try, personally love fried shrimp and Wagyu. The entire store is also minimalist style with chill vibes! read more
I stopped by Rikyu after spending an afternoon at Stanford Shopping Mall and needing a pick me up matcha. The inside is small but still feels airy and open with the warm natural wood accents throughout, a few seats available to enjoy your drink at. I ordered a small blueberry matcha latte with whole milk, and the service was kind and efficient, hand whisking and making my drink to order in just a few minutes. I'm so glad Rikyu has blueberry matcha lattes - theyre not common to see on menus in the area and often are made with artificial or very sugary syrups, and the one here is clearly made with a nice thick blueberry jam of sorts. It brings a great flavor without being too sweet to the matcha latte. The matcha itself isn't too strong but you can still appreciate the light fresh almost sencha flavor without it getting lost in the milk and blueberry. The drink was creamy and almost had a thick mouthfeel thanks to the whole milk and blueberry and I really enjoyed it! A great fruity light matcha latte that isn't watered down :) I'll be back to try some of their other offerings and maybe a sandwich if I'm hungry next time! read more
For a store that's still relatively new, it's not bad! I think the matcha leans more towards the bitter side, so you may not like it if you like sweet matcha! I ordered the banana bread one which comes with a banana puree at the bottom - I do wish there was some more! The red bean hojicha has a blended red bean paste at the bottom too, same thing where I wish there was a bit more, once mixed in, the hojicha overwhelms it. Our drinks came out quickly though! There's some limited seating inside with tables for 2-4 and some outside as well! Not my favorite but I think I would give it another shot. read more
1 month ago
Came here on a Sunday afternoon. It was very nice sitting outside! It is very convenient off the Palo Alto Cal train stop. My husband and I ordered two matcha drinks and one ebi sando for my son. The matcha used here is more on the grassier side. Matcha latte - no sweetener or anything. Just matcha and milk. This is definitely not everyone's typical cup of matcha. My matcha was not water down and actually was very pleasant. I can tell that those who enjoy matcha as is, will definitely enjoy it. If you're looking for a more sweeter matcha taste, I would definitely take a look at the other flavors. Banana bread matcha - my husband enjoyed his drink. He said it was very unique and not too sweet. My favorite! The ebi sando! Very refreshing! My son gobbled it down. I am not a cold slaw kind of person but the hint of yuzu really made it nice. I would definitely come here again if I'm in the area! Note that this is downtown Palo Alto. There is street parking around. We didn't have any issue finding one. Also, it can get pretty crowded inside! We noticed all the tables indoor for taken while we were enjoying our drink and sandwich outside. read more
Located right across the street from the Downtown Palo Alto Caltrain Starion, this little storefront cafe next to the corner of Alma and Lytton Avenue in downtown PA is more than just Matcha! To me, their highlight are the great Sandos and Ekiben Chirashi here! Affordably priced and perfect for take-away or just sit down at the pleasant little tables along the windows or out in front. Friendly service. The owner even brought our order right out to us! Hojicha Latte - asked for half sweet, still a tiny bit too sweet, still very strong and enjoyable. (4.1/5) Rikyu Chirashi - thin slices of fresh Toro (tuna) and Salmon artfully presented over a soft moist bed of rice with bits of Tsukemono that really put this chirashi lunch over the top in terms of flavor and enjoyment. ( 4.85/5!) Yuzu Chicken Sando - Served on a soft almost brioche-like burger-like bun, the sando is presented in two halves in a little box. The centerpiece of this fried chicken sandwich was the moist and juicy white chicken breast with a delightfully thin yet crunchy and flavorful crust. The Yuzu dressing made the shredded cabbage on top the PERFECT Yang to the Yin for this Sando. Easy 5+/5! Both of our meal selections strongly reminded us of the Ekibens we ate in Japan, especially with the PA Caltrain Station right across the street! Ekiben??? What's that??? If you've been to Japan, you buy your own prepared box lunches at little storefronts in the train station before boarding the bullet trains. These compact little meals are called "Ekibens" - direct translation "Train Station Boxed Lunch". So.. Bento Box with Train Station? This is the closest thing to an Ekiben Shop that I've ever seen in the US. Next time, instead of driving, I'll take Caltrain down here to the Downtown Palo Alto Caltrain station, walk across the street to Rikyu, order up my lunch, and go home on the train! Ahh.. Japannn.. Almost! =) read more
After seeing so many viral videos, I had such high hopes. I wish I could give a better review, but unfortunately I think there's still work to be done. The service was not friendly, and had a hard time explaining the menu to me. I don't know if it was a new staff member, so I tried to give some grace, but the experience didn't make me feel welcomed or excited to try something new. The matcha drink itself was a nice color but left something to be desired for flavor. I just got a regular latte so no fruit syrups or add-ons, but the matcha flavor itself was barely there. I really just tasted sweet milk. At a hefty tab of $10 with tax + tip, I was really disappointed in what I received. Interior is cute for working/studying but not much else that I would come back here specifically for. read more
5 months ago
3.5 STARS Matcha fatigue. As much as I love matcha and hōjicha, I'm phuckin' tired of all the new matcha shops popping up and paying $10+ for watery green or mud milk. I'm sure many of you are too! But with my toxic trait, I want to try it anyways cuz you never know. Not only is Rikyu Japanese-owned, the owner has two fine dining omakase restos: Hiroshi and Daiji Yacht Club (omakase on a yacht). Seems promising, yea? I visited during their soft opening on a weekday and they were severely understaffed. With about 7 people in front of me in line, it took close to 30 minutes to order and 40 minutes to receive my order. Not sure how they're going to handle the weekend crowds when they grand open Tomorrow, 5/30/26. Current Hours: 8 am - 3 pm. M E N U The menu has typos, wasn't clear, and lacked price transparency. Drinks come in three sizes but only the prices for the small size are listed. - Drinks: Matcha, hōjicha, and coffee: $5.50-$10+. Alt milks: +$1.50 (price not listed), cold foams: +$2 (price not listed), and syrups: ? (price not listed). Matcha + hōjicha are hand-whisked to order. Culinary grade matcha is used for their drinks but ceremonial grade is available for $21...yes, twenty-one dollars - is THIS rage bait?! - Food: Sandos ($15-$39), Chirashi ($19), and Desserts ($7-$8) (Note: Chirashi is filled with broccoli and cauliflower.) D R I N K S // 2 Stars * Iced Banana Bread Matcha Latte (S-$7.50) - Fixed sweetness (sweetness is from the fruit purée, they do not add additional sugar). I heard this runs sweet but my matcha was watery and bitter, and there was nothing to cut through it as the bananas tasted unripen. Also, it didn't look like the ones on socials and other pics. There's no banana foam and banana bread/banana chips...are these add-ons? If so, this needs to be specified. * Iced Hōjicha Latte (S-$6.50) - Sub oat milk ($1.50) - Unsweetened Tasted like straight oat milk, lacking roasty notes. Ended up tossing it. F O O D * Ebi Katsu Sando ($16) // 4.5 Stars Props to the solo chef in the back because this was BOMB! The panko-crusted shrimp patty was delicately crunchy with a satisfyingly tender, bouncy texture. They didn't over-process the shrimp so you still get fresh, sweet chunks in every bite. Paired with a creamy, tangy yuzu mayo, crisp cabbage slaw, and a pillowy soft brioche bun, it came together perfectly - delicious without feeling heavy. S E R V I C E The poor cashier was doing the work of 3+ staff - taking orders, expo, and delivering orders to customers who kept following up. It was claustrophobic inside with no room to wait and you cannot hear your name being called outside. Hope they activate Toast POS notifications. A M B I A N C E Sleek, minimalist with seven two-tops indoors and two tables outdoors. Free WiFi. Restroom available. Overall, great ebi sando and not so great lattes. With the stiff competition in PA and in Silicon Valley, they need to improve their matcha and hōjicha lattes. Giving them grace for the soft opening, 3.5 stars rounded up. read more
![Rikyu - Ebi [Shrimp] Katsu Sando ($16) - GET THIS! - Cafes Near Me - Palo Alto, California](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/_3FcnAIMdBzNytajN3OY1g/348s.jpg "Rikyu - Ebi [Shrimp] Katsu Sando ($16) - GET THIS! - Cafes Near Me - Palo Alto, California")
4 months ago
I should have read the Yelp reviews before I came but the Tik Tok video I saw about this new matcha cafe made it look so nice and aesthetic so I immediately came to try the matcha here. First off, their menu offers some unique flavors for their matcha. We ordered the strawberry, yuzu, and banana bread matcha because we had trouble deciding which one to get. Unfortunately, my friend and I didn't like any of the drinks we ordered. If I had to choose one, I'd say the strawberry was the best out of the three. However, the matcha flavor was pretty much nonexistent and the puree that they used was chunky and did not mix well with the drink. The banana matcha was the worst; we decided to toss that drink. Somehow the drink was bitter and the banana flavor came as a bad aftertaste. As for the yuzu matcha, it's made with yuzu tonic and I feel like that's basically all you taste in the drink. I would not recommend the matcha here, especially when there is maruwu seicha literally down the street, but maybe their sandos and sushi bento box is good. Apparently this cafe was opened up by Chef Daiji who is a well known omakase chef so I would be willing to try the food here if I come back. To end on a positive note, this cafe is very nice, clean, and aesthetically pleasing. read more
4 months ago
I had high expectations for this spot because of Chef Daiji, but unfortunately this matcha wasn't my favorite. It was super milky, and the matcha color was already telling. I just could not taste the matcha at all. I also wasn't a fan of the blueberry bits at the bottom. Every sip felt like I was getting a big gulp of blueberry, 80% blueberry and 20% of the actual drink...I wish the blueberry was a puree. I also wish the foam was thicker. I like sipping my drinks slowly and having the foam mix into the drink throughout, but it mixed into the matcha pretty quickly since it was super thin. The store itself is pretty nice! I love the ambiance. Perfect for studying or catching up with friends. They also have WiFi! Overall, I do want to give it another try for the banana bread matcha and strawberry or yuzu matcha, so maybe I'll be back one more time to give this place another chance! read more
4 months ago
Oh it seems this trend of new cute Japanese themed cafes is a thing now in the Bay Area! We tried Rikyu recently and I was shocked that they had wagyu sando that were $30 and $40. Like how. Who is paying for this. I like wagyu too but $30 to $40 for A SANDWICH with nothing else (no other sides) seems criminal. I may try it once because I'm really curious but paying that much for a lunch sandwich does not seem like a good use of money! I decided to try the Yuzu chicken sando for $15 and thought it was decent. The chicken is not super oily. The yuzu flavor is fairly strong if you like that flavor. The bread thank goodness is not Brioche which I often see for fried chicken sandwiches (that bread is insanely buttery). For this sando you can get either yuzu mayo or yuzu chili sauce. I like mayo a lot on chicken sandwiches so I opted for that. My first half had a good mayo spread but the second half had like no mayo. I got the hojicha latte and honestly it was one of the worst ones I've ever had in my life. There was very little to no hojicha flavor and also zero sweetness whatsoever. It tasted like I was drinking milk. I'm definitely not trying this one again. It was also like $7. read more
1 month ago
Tried Rikyu in Palo Alto and had mixed feelings. The matcha strawberry was very light and not sweet. The strawberry purée tasted fresh, which I liked. The $18 ebi katsu sando with yuzu sauce was delicious. We also got the $38 wagyu sando, and surprisingly the beef was fully cooked with no option for medium rare. The portion was also small, and my husband was still hungry afterward. Good quality, but not for the price and portions. read more
The Peninsula definitely needs more dedicated matcha spots, so Rikyu is a welcome addition to Downtown Palo Alto. The storefront is cute and aesthetic, with a few tables out front that make for a nice place to sit and enjoy your drink. Since it's located in a busy area of downtown, I can imagine it gets pretty packed throughout the day, but we came right when they opened around 8 AM and there was no line. I ordered the iced Banana Bread Matcha with banana cold foam, and my husband got the iced Hojicha Latte. We also got the Ebi Katsu Sando and Chicken Katsu Sando. One thing I really appreciate is the variety of matcha options available. The matcha comes unsweetened, which lets you customize it to your liking. I also loved that they offer three different drink sizes. Most matcha cafes only offer a standard size, so having options is a nice touch and something I wish more places would do. The Banana Bread Matcha was interesting, but it did not fully come together for me. The banana bread puree did not mix well into the drink, so I found myself tasting the matcha and banana separately rather than as one cohesive flavor. The puree also settled at the bottom pretty quickly, requiring a lot of stirring throughout. The banana cold foam is an additional charge, but I think it is almost necessary. It added some richness and sweetness that the drink otherwise lacked, as the overall flavor profile felt a little flat without it. The Hojicha Latte, on the other hand, was excellent. It had a rich roasted flavor and was probably our favorite drink of the two. I would definitely order it again. The sandos were also a highlight. Both the Ebi Katsu and Chicken Katsu were freshly made, crispy, and satisfying. The bread was soft, the fillings were generous, and they made for a great breakfast alongside the drinks. It is nice to see a matcha-focused cafe offering substantial food options rather than just pastries. One thing to keep in mind is that the bill adds up quickly. Between two drinks, the cold foam add-ons, and two sandos, we spent about $68 including tip. The quality was there, but it is definitely easy for the total to climb once you start adding extras. Overall, Rikyu is a great addition to the Palo Alto coffee and matcha scene. The drinks are thoughtfully crafted, the food is delicious, and the space is inviting. While I would love to see some improvements to how the specialty matcha flavors are incorporated, I am excited to come back and work my way through more of the menu. read more
Been wanting to try this new spot and ended up coming twice in one day: 10am to pick up a matcha (no line), then during lunch time to try their sandwich (very long line). If you come, would recommend ordering online to skip the line. What I got: - Banana Bread Matcha (4/5): I thought this would be like a regular banana matcha but it actually does have a more unique banana bread flavor. Not too sweet, which I like, but the banana layer at the bottom is hard to fully mix in so it's likely you'll be drinking clumps of sauce with your matcha if you don't mix well - Yuzu Chicken Sando (2/5): The chicken was quite juicy, but other than that nothing special. Definitely not worth the $17 price tag. Another note is that the workers here work extremely slow. I understand the shop is new so they're are still learning. But watching them look around or slowly bag my sandwich while a long line was waiting to order made me kind of antsy haha.. Overall, I wouldn't be completely opposed to coming back and trying out some other drinks, since they have some unique flavors, but so far I wouldn't say their quality or flavor or service lives up to the hype. read more
5 months ago
Came during their soft opening, so I want to give them some grace... but the other reviews were not lying. :( Starting off with the positives, they did a great job with the interior. There's not a ton of seating like other cafes in the area, but it's aesthetic and clean. Service was friendly, but you can tell that the staff was still learning their flow. The Yuzu Chicken Sandwich was the highlight of our visit (fyi, it's on the sweeter side and is very saucy). Definitely enjoy it fresh! As for the drinks, they were not great. We ordered the Iced Banana Bread Matcha and Iced Strawberry Matcha with oat milk and let's just say we had a hard time finishing them (we got smalls). They were watery, the purées were not mixing well with the latte, and while the dried fruit on top was a nice touch, I would completely remove it. It was SO sour and it gets soggy and clumps together after some time (they use larger chunks). If you're deciding between the two, I would say go for the Strawberry Matcha. Also if you have a dairy allergy, my jaw dropped when I saw that oat milk was an extra $1.50. On the bright side, I think their matcha is hand whisked, so if that's important to you, this might be worth a try. Total: ~$38 read more
Came here around 12:35 pm on a Tuesday, wasn't really packed at all. PARKING: kind of hard to find parking if it's pretty busy but for a weekday on a mid day it was kind of tough to find parking anywhere. PLACE: pretty small and you can just order through the cashier, you can pick up at the counter and sometimes the worker will bring you the drinks if you are already sitting down. FOOD AND DRINK: Blueberry matcha (hot) - really good, hints of blueberry, probably would have been better iced but it was cold outside. Hojicha Latte - super good, no flavor and honestly really good blend. Ebi Katsu Sando - super good, the vegetables, buns, and the ebi was super fresh, tasted just how the McDonald's one in Japan is but better and I love the one in Japan, so nostalgic. A5 Wagyu Burg - So good, tastes very fresh and honestly the meat tasted great and was well cooked and seasoned. OVERALL: so good, highly recommend if you want to try a new cafe out with food! read more
5 months ago
I've been eagerly waiting for this cafe to open ever since I saw the announcement from Chef Daiji so I immediately made my way over once I saw that they were having their pre-soft opening today! Upon entering, the cafe is super cute with a trendy, minimal, and clean aesthetic. There are a few seats inside with charging ports so I'm looking forward to coming back to study here. I ordered the hojicha latte with whole milk and agave sweetener and the ebi shrimp sando. The employees were really friendly and service was very fast. The hojicha latte was smooth and the flavor was as expected. I do wish that the flavor were a bit stronger but overall, the hojicha latte was solid. The sando was definitely the star though! The shrimp patty was crispy and succulent and had chunks of shrimp throughout which added to the texture. The slaw and dressing was tangy and sweet and helped to cut through fried shrimp patty. The bread felt similar to a hawaiian style bun - super soft and fluffy and soaked up all the sauce without compromising structural integrity. Ever since trying an ebi katsu sando from one of my favorite cafes in LA, I've been searching for a good option here in the Bay Area, and I think this one may be even better. Overall, I'm so glad that Rikyu is now open. I'm excited to come back to try the matcha and the other sandos! :) read more
cute cafe in downtown that seems pretty popular? it was quite packed on a friday afternoon. the space isn't the biggest but they make a lot of seating fit inside the cafe. the service was pretty good - they even noticed that we sat down outside and brought the drink out to us. the prices are a bit high - i think $1.50 for alternative milk is kind of crazy, so i'm hoping they will change it in the future! we tried a medium hojicha latte with oat milk, unsweetened. hojicha flavor was strong without being too bitter and the color looked nice. the ratio of ice to liquid was on point as well! im interested to see if their matcha is good as well. overall good vibes, solid quality beverage, but prices can be high. read more
they gave us free nigiris for spending more than $30 which is nics. they served pretty fresh and good fish, and thd yuzu chicken sando was decent but kind of expensive. the banana matcha had real banana real and the matcha wasn't lost. the matcha notes are slight bitter and floral! read more
Our group stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and encountered a short line. I ordered first, but the cashier didn't ask for my size preference, so I assumed I was getting a small. I ended up receiving a medium instead. I chose light agave for the matcha latte, but unfortunately, it was still overwhelmingly sweet and masked the matcha flavor, so it was not my favorite matcha. On the other hand, the ebi sando was amazing! The coleslaw had the perfect amount of citrus to balance out the rich shrimp patty. read more
10 days ago
5 months ago
I heard about this spot through a friend and had to check it out! We came around 3 pm on a Wednesday and it was not busy. There is no parking lot, it is street parking only. We ordered the banana bread matcha and yuzu chicken sando. The banana bread matcha is so good and tastes exactly like banana bread! It is not too sweet and the banana flavor is not artificial at all. They give you the option to choose your sweetener flavor, milk, and ice level. I also got the yuzu chicken sando with chili sauce and it was savory with a bit of sweetness. The bun was soft and not too much, and the chicken was crispy. The sando was so good and filling. I would come here again! read more
5 months ago
It was a calm Wednesday afternoon. My partner and I heard about this new matcha cafe and had to give it a try. Though this cafe is tucked away in a small space, it has a nice green, minimalist aesthetic. We excitedly ordered the Ebi Katsu Sando, the Banana Bread Matcha Latte and the Strawberry Matcha Latte with Strawberry Foam added on top. First off, the ebi katsu sando(added yuzu aioli) was so good. Great flavor and textures. However, the drinks did not live up to the hype. The flavor was solid, but not as much depth as I expected. When I hear banana bread, I'm thinking of a ripe banana caramel flavor with some cinnamon and some nuttiness. However, this was just a banana matcha with cinnamon on top. The strawberry also had a nice flavor but both drinks were just watery. They lacked a rich mouthfeel. Overall, I would not get drinks here again, but I would totally come back for a sando. read more
14 days ago
Avoided the matcha based on the other reviews on this page and got the hojicha with blueberry foam and the ebi (shrimp) katsu sando. The sando was delicious with a crunchy shrimp punch. The yuzu mayo wasn't perfectly with it. The hojicha was also awesome although the blueberry foam could have been more flavorful. Will try the matcha next time based on this generally positive experience read more
Got the regular matcha latte with whole milk and vanilla syrup. There was visible clumping in the matcha (picture), and the drink had no matcha taste; the vanilla actually tasted stronger than the tea. The seating area is super cute, love the wooden furniture and plants! Service was super fast. read more
4 months ago
From the moment you walk in, the attention to detail is evident. The thoughtfully designed space, complete with a hand-picked marble counter, creates a warm and elevated atmosphere that reflects the care put into every aspect of the café. We ordered the banana bread matcha latte and a houjicha latte with oat milk, and it was immediately apparent that they use high-quality tea. Both the matcha and houjicha had rich, complex flavors with none of the bitterness or burnt notes that lower-quality powders often have. I especially appreciated that the lattes are served unsweetened. It allows the natural character of the tea to shine through, and the subtle sweetness and aroma of both the matcha and houjicha were more than enough on their own. The banana bread flavor in the matcha latte was perfectly balanced--not overpowering or artificial--and complemented the tea beautifully. We also tried the ebi sando and A5 Wagyu-burg sando, both crafted with the same attention to detail and high-quality ingredients. Knowing that Chef Daiji also owns a high-end omakase restaurant and an omakase-on-a-yacht experience, it's easy to see how that level of culinary expertise carries over into every bite. read more
5 months ago
I think my expectations were too high. Chicken sandwich was flavorful but chirashi was such a disappointment. A few small blocks of tuna with bunch of broccoli - please don't put broccoli in chirashi; it's so incongruous with the overall flavor and texture. If the price point was not achievable with proper chirashi, put something else like sanshoku soboro on the menu instead. Also offering decent but regular Sencha for $5.5 by calling it umami green felt like a rip-off. Cafe drinks like matcha latte looked good though. read more
3 months ago
5 months ago
Came here in Wednesday and Friday around 11 both days. Unfortunately the matcha flavor was too light, and the syrups were too strong. I honestly feel they weren't 100% ready for opening as there were only a few people making drinks which caused a big cue to form. The sandwiches we ordered at 11:25 came out around 12:26 so be mindful of that when ordering too. I love the aesthetic though, and would love to come back soon! read more
5 months ago
Stopped by to try a new matcha place and left heavily disappointed. $12.50 for a blueberry matcha with "blueberry foam" is insane even for Bay Area prices. $8.50 for a medium price matcha is normal but $1.50 extra for OATMILK and $2 extra for FOAM. Prices on their menu are only for small sizes and extra prices are not listed. We ordered a strawberry matcha with foam, a blueberry matcha with foam, and a red bean matcha. The prices do not match in quality. All three drinks lacked any real matcha and only tasted like flavored milk. The cafe is beautiful and service was good so maybe they're still figuring things out with opening week? read more
Page 1 of 2
