Aoko Matcha is a small Chinatown dessert shop centered entirely around matcha and Japanese style soft serve. I found the space compact and easy to miss, with a setup focused more on quick ordering and pickup rather than staying inside for long periods. It felt very much like a grab and go specialty counter tucked into the neighborhood. The main highlight for me was the matcha ice cream system, where you can choose different intensity levels depending on how strong or bitter you want the flavor to be. I tried a higher level and it leaned noticeably more intense and earthy, while a friend's lower level was smoother and more approachable. Alongside matcha, there were also flavors like hojicha, taro, and yuzu, plus items like soft serve, gelato, and occasional mochi based desserts that added texture variety. Service was generally quick and casual. The staff let me sample a few flavors before ordering, which helped me decide. Even with a short line, the turnover was fast since most orders are simple and meant to be eaten right away. The shop itself is minimal and tight, with limited space to stand around, especially during peak hours. It is not really designed for sitting or lingering, but more for a quick dessert stop in between walking around Chinatown. read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

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Get your matcha-cha-cha on and discover this high-grade tea in every shade of green... Aoko Matcha is NYC's first matcha gelato specialty shop, offering guests a unique tasting experience! The first location opened in the West Village in August 2025, and it quickly became a hit. They now have four locations--two in NYC (Chinatown & Bayside) and two in South Jersey. Matcha madness is REAL! I visited the Chinatown location, which opened in April. The interior is simple and minimalistic, but the space is tiny. It only fits about 4-5 people at a time. No seating available. Order at the kiosk or at the register and then you can track your order status on the screen. So what makes this shop so special? Their signature gelato comes in six different intensity levels, ranging from light & sweet to bold & bitter. As the concentration increases, so does the vibrant green color and earthy flavor. Choose from: Level 1 (2.9%) Level 2 (5.9%) Level 3 (7.1%) Level 4 (11.9%) Level 5 (17.9%) Level 8 (the richest concentration in the United States) Whether you prefer your matcha earthy, sweet, or somewhere in between... there's a level for you. The staff allows you to sample up to three flavors before deciding. While matcha is the star of the show, they also have other flavors like black sesame, taro, yuzu, and hojicha. If you're looking for something other than gelato, there's matcha and hojicha drinks (lattes & frappes), parfaits, soft serve, coffee, cake, and traditional Japanese tea. I've already visited the original location and tried levels 1-5, but I never tried their newest addition--*LEVEL 8 *--and that's exactly what I came for. I'm excited to report that the intensity levels live up to the percentages! I am 100% the kind of gal who loves a BOLD, INTENSELY BITTER, EARTHY, VEGETAL, CEREMONIAL-GRADE MATCHA!!! Level 8 is by far the strongest--very potent and for the true matcha purists. It's less creamy than the lower levels with a slightly grainier texture, but it's still dense and smooth. I ordered one scoop ($7) in a cup and I'd happily get it again! I haven't tried any of the drinks yet, but I'd love to work my way through the menu eventually. If you're a matcha fanatic, this spot is definitely worth checking out. And even if you're not, why not sample a few different levels? You might just discover your perfect MATCH-a ;) read more

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Aoko Matcha is a new matcha drink and dessert spot that opened fairly recently in NYC, they now have three locations in the city, West Village, Chinatown and Bell Blvd in Bayside. This one is tiny, barely room for more than 4-5 people to stand inside. On their grand opening days the lines were apparently more than 100 people long. Their signature is the different intensity levels of matcha that they serve in their ice cream, from levels 1-5, then it skips to 8. They allow 3 samples and I tried the 3 and 5, then decided to go with a single scoop ($5.95) of the 4, which I found to be an enjoyable blend of sweet and grassy bitterness. In my excitement to eat this I forgot my camera needs to eat first! :( though hojicha and yuzu are two of my favorite flavors so I will be back to try these next time! A few friends got a Aoko Special Parfait $12.25, a scoop of the level 2 matcha, and a scoop of the yuzu. All enjoyed their desserts! They carry soft serve matcha and hojicha flavors, sparkling matcha and cold brew ujicha or hojicha, hot genmaicha, matcha lattes, coffee and a couple cake slices (mille crepe and cheesecake). I hope they do well bc it'd be terrific to have more high quality matcha dessert spots in the city! read more

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The Hojicha flavor was indeed really good i just read one of the reviews. The levels of matcha were all intense starting from 3! the Yuzu flavor was a very refreshing kumquat lemon peel vibe I enjoyed it! Friendly workers and the scoops are big and generous. Cute cat stickers inside hahahahah. Very small place next door to a ramen place? read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Yuzu - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

This tiny gem of a spot has I think 8 different levels of matcha ice cream and some of the best hojicha ice cream I've had to date! It rivals the hojicha in Japan, and if you've been there to experience it, you know that is high praise. The service was quick and friendly. You get a few free tastings before you lock in your selection. Everything I had was delicious and I would definitely come back! read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Hojicha ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

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Very kind and helpful staff patiently letting our group sample 3 different flavors. Sad that the parfait and soft serve was out of order in June but understandable. Delicious Hojicha latte. Easy to miss this store on the street but glad to have it! read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

They have level 8 matcha and you are able to sample up to 3 flavors! I tried yuzu soft serve here. Light and tart flavor with the PERFECT amount of sweetness. Worth a visit for sure. read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Yuzu soft serve - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

We came here for dessert, and I am glad we tried! Aoko just opened a new location in Chinatown, and we gave it a go. The server let us try samples, and I liked the Level 5 and Hojicha flavors. Inside is small, and you can order at either the kiosk or the front. I got a mixed soft serve, and my sister got a gelato scoop. Ours were around the same price, but the soft serve is the best bang for your buck. The gelato scoop is honestly small for $7. However, the matcha flavor is very prominent and good! The soft serve is pretty sweet---I still have the sugar aftertaste, so keep that in mind too. We enjoyed our bites, and glad we tried! read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Swirl Soft Serve Level 5 Scoop - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

Only 2 parties on line when I passed by, so I decided to try. It's the grand opening weekend. First 100 got totes with purchase. It's a very small, cramped space to order and stand. Hopefully they can alleviate that somehow. The ice cream level 3 is still good and has a sweet flavor. Frappe wasn't that strong or sweet either. Nice touch with the whipped cream. Good location, convenient to transportation. Congratulations on another grand opening! read more

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I came for the Grand Opening of this Chinatown location. First of all, the location is really tiny. It's more of a take-out place as opposed to a sit down and enjoy kind of location. Luckily, it's located near the Sara Roosevelt Park, so you can enjoy it out there on a nice day. This was my first time trying Aoko matcha. I haven't had several different levels of matcha since my last visit to Japan, so I was interested to try it here. The matcha ice cream goes from level 1-5 & skips to level 8. Level 8 was truly very bitter. Level 5 was still kind of bitter, but could appease a true matcha fan. I personally chose to go with level 5 matcha and hojicha to balance out the sweetness. read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Level 5 Matcha - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

Ice cream is super solid - we recommend the hojicha, yuzu, taro, and matcha #4 (strong). However, skip the matcha latte. I didn't see them whisk anything and it came out suspiciously fast so it's probably some type of concentrate or latte blend. I did not enjoy it at all. There's nowhere to sit inside, it's pretty much just a storefront. A plus is that they let you try up to three flavors. read more

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Solid Matcha ice cream spot! We came here as they were closing and thankfully, they still let us order. We got the Level 4 Matcha and it was very yummy like depth of bitterness but still sweet after taste was good. I would come here again! Their matcha taste was strong! read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Matcha Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

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New-ish matcha spot in Chinatown. Love this spot bc they have different levels of matcha going from weakest to strongest. Unfortunately, it is a small spot and there's no seating. We got the matcha parfait with mochi and two scoops of the matcha ice cream. They were both great and authentic! Plenty of matcha flavor and definitely worth the visit. read more

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Seems like matcha is the trend now in NYC because there are so many matcha spots opening up. I love desserts so I decided to give this place a try. I opted for the matcha gelato & it did not disappoint. I liked how you are able to sample the different levels of matcha "taste" so the higher the number, the less sweet it is. I chose level 4 & I think it was perfect! Not too sweet & not too bitter. You can definitely taste the authenticity of the matcha! I only got one scoop and after finishing, I regret not getting more LOL. They have other desserts and drinks which sound really good as well so I'll definitely be back to try them! read more

I was already a fan of Aoko's matcha latte and ice cream from their West Village location. I went grand opening weekend to their newest location in Chinatown to try their level 8 matcha ice cream. The line was very long. Plus they had a promo to get a tote with purchase. For L8, you can really taste the graininess and some bitterness, but I still liked it in small amounts. One scoop was enough. Although I think if you want it on the little bit sweeter and slightly smoother side L5 is pretty good. L4 is getting sweet for me, but it's even smoother. This location is mainly take-out. No seatings. It's a very small shop and it's connected through to the restaurant next door. It's a different ambience than their WV location, which is a cozy cafe with seatings. read more

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Love all the new businesses in this area, aoko is a nice addiction. Try all different level of matcha, I got level 3 and level 5. I'm so glad I didn't get the level 8, cause level 5 is already enough bitterness for me . Must visit for matcha lover. $8 something for 2 scoops for quality ice cream is totally worth it . Sometime there's a line, and cause the place is small, line could be long. read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

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Pros: - you can sample every single gelato flavor, including the different levels of matcha (from 1-5 and then 8) - personally I like the level 5, it is more on the bitter side but I believe that's how matcha should be enjoyed (to each their own) - the hojicha gelato is soooooo goood. I love hojicha and I'm glad they have a gelato version because I love gelato too. - the matcha parfait is chef's kiss, soooo delicious, ingredients I love in a cup; matcha pudding, matcha soft serve, rice krispies, red bean paste, and warabimochi?! I absolutely love warabimochi, it was a pleasant surprise to see they even have that - they also have a yuzu gelato?! That was so nice to see as a yuzu lover, there aren't many places that carry yuzu flavored anything - the staff are nice and hospitable, there was one female in particular [I should've asked for her name :')], she was very friendly and made the experience even better (assisted me a lot on the day of grand opening) Cons: - small, tight space but don't let that deter you from trying this place ! Comments: - went on a grand opening day at a later time and there were a couple of customers inside. Then went on a Friday night around 8:30PM and there were also a couple of customers inside. Usually when I pass by the store, there's at least 2-3 customers inside - the space is very tiny, no seating, barely enough space for 10 people to fit comfortably but that's okay because there's a park right across the street (for the warmer days) - I really hope this place stays for a long time, definitely would recommend to matcha lovers read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Matcha Parfait. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

they have matcha gelato levels 1-5 then 8, which gets really bitter in a good way. you have to +$ for level 5 and 8. you can sample the flavors too, and they have non-matcha like taro and yuzu! they have other things like soft serve and drinks and desserts. heads up there's no seating and a pretty small space. we tried a double scoop of level 4 matcha and hojicha ($8.17 post-tax), both were pretty good and not icy at all! level 4 was a perfect balance of strong matcha and sweetness read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - hojicha, matcha level 4 - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

I've been to many different matcha spots throughout New York and this is definitely one of the best ones. I will say, the strawberry matcha was alright... but diluted especially with the whip cream. However, the matcha gelato was authentic and tasted akin to the ones I've had in Uji and Kyoto. They also had different levels of matcha strength, ranging from 1-5, then 8. This one was a 5 and it had a deep, authentic taste. It is a small shop in Chinatown so there was no seating, but there's the playground/park nearby. read more

I am currently standing in a long line to get in. Today's is the first grand opening day for Aoko Matcha. I cannot believe the long line outside the place! There is more than 100 people just standing outside. I know this line is to get the free canvas tote bag for the first 100 customers who make a purchase with Aoko Matcha. They are doing this promotion of giving out 100 tote bags to the first 100 customers from 4/3/2026 to 4/5/2026. I know I'm placed after 100th place today so I'm going to probably go back tomorrow. They just opened at 11am and it's now 11:15am and the line is still that long stretching the whole block! Luckily the whole block on Chrystie Street is very long! There are many girls behind me too waiting for the matcha and tote bags obviously. Freebies and matcha! What better way to enjoy matcha when you can get free swag! I'll update more about the drinks in my next review. read more

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Tried their taro ice cream and it was so good and creamy !! Just the store a bit tiny and no table stand read more

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Such a great casual dessert spot for matcha loves! I really appreciate how they offer free samples - I ended up getting a scoop of their level 3 (admittedly I like my matcha on the sweeter side!) as well as a scoop of their hojicha - which I liked way more than I expected, would definitely recommend! The size of their gelato scoops are on the smaller side for the price ($7.50) though I still think it's worth at least a try given the quality and creaminess! My friend ended up getting the soft serve parfait (~$12), which looked absolutely divine and honestly was a really large portion size - she definitely wasn't able to finish the whole thing in one sitting! My only gripe is that the location is super small and when we stopped by on a weekday evening, it felt incredibly crowded as people tried to divide up either using the self-serving kiosk and trying to order at the tiny counter top. As long as the weather's nice, you can definitely enjoy your treat across the street on one of the many park benches. read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

My favorite matcha I have had in NYC. Not powdery, but smooth and the matcha is good quality. Got soy milk and unsweetened matcha latte. I recommend!! read more

Aoko Matcha - Chinatown - Matcha latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - New York, New York

Loveee their matcha gelato. Their matcha parfait is also so good. Highly recommend their level 3 matcha.

Love their matcha! Excited for this new location :) I love their hojicha ice cream, my go to order!