This hidden gem of a Japanese matcha shop near MFA has a history evident in its decor. It's definitely run by Japanese (not Chinese), which is quite rare. They offer four types of ice cream: matcha, hojicha, ube, and yuzu. There are flavor restrictions (see menu) for mixes, but you can have any combination. A cup costs $7.75 and is enough for two people. Matcha Soft Served Ice Cream: It looked ordinary, but the taste was authentic and pure, with a rich, bitter and fragrant aroma. For most palates, it might even be a bit too bitter. According to the shop, they use matcha from Harima Garden播磨園, Uji宇治. The texture was also very smooth. Ube Soft Served Ice Cream: After seeing the annual "Art in Bloom", I felt the taro flavor was more suitable for the blooming flowers of spring. Spring should be sweet, not bitter! It also had a very pure and natural flavor, not too sweet, but very fragrant. Its texture was a bit smoother than the matcha one. I'd love to try the parfait and drinks next time! However, you need to pick up your food at the counter yourself, and it gets crowded and chaotic on weekends. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - 1. Soft-Serve Ice Cream - Matcha, Ube - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My go to for matcha! Whenever I'm in the area, I come by here after for dessert. I've tried the Matcha Maiko parfait and other drinks they've offered but I think they do the matcha soft serve best and that's the only thing worth getting. Everything else always feel like a bit of a let down (hence the one star off). Sometimes they have the hojicha and it's a grainier version of the matcha green tea which might not be everyone's cup of tea but I personally really enjoy it! TLDR: Get the matcha soft serve and skip the parfait read more

Matcha Café Maiko - 1. Soft-Serve Ice Cream - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Never had good matcha until I came here!! If you go please try their croffles, I've tried other places and none are as soft and good as this. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Croffle - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Cute spot with great soft serv! We really loved the Ube and Matcha. I wish they offered different portion sizes as the one they have is good for 3 people. Minus one star because my earl grey boba was totally flavorless after I asked them to cut the sugar. read more

I have seen photos of these amazing soft serves for YEARS and I finally had the chance to stop by. I had a matcha soft serve in an ube cone and it was SO GOOD. If you're looking for something super sweet I would go with a different flavor. This was not very sweet and tasted like pure matcha, I loved it. The prices are high but its a great treat once in a while. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Yummy and sweet matcha flavor with whipped cream on top. Clean and quit restaurant right on the Emerald Necklace Public Park. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Matcha Cream Latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This might be the best Matcha Cafe Maiko location I've visited. As always, I was overwhelmed with the menu and decided to be basic with a matcha latte. Soft serve at this chain is always a good option as well. Anyways, great service and very efficient. Music was a bit loud inside, but there are a few seats for work and felt like a nice environment for productivity. Matcha Latte - strong matcha flavor but a bit too sweet, so the matcha was overpowered. Could have a better umami flavor with the grassy roots exposed, but the matcha is definitely present. I greatly appreciated that they didn't fill the cup with ice without me asking. There was just enough to keep the drink cold. Powder could have been sifted more or whisked longer as there were some small clumps, but overall very solid. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Matcha Latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

We had a craving for a sweet treat after brunch and decided to stop here. Parking was brutal and after 10 mins circling the area, we gave up. We decided to get something to go while the other person would take the car around the block once again. Thankfully the cafe was quiet on a Saturday afternoon and I could get my order in just a minute. The menu is big and can make you contemplate what you want to get but we went with a soft serve ice cream and got two flavors, Ube and Thai tea. The ube was our favorite while the Thai tea had a strong flavor which would've been perfect as milk tea but wasn't the best as an ice cream flavor. We will definitely come back to try the matcha but probably park a mile away and walk! read more

Matcha Café Maiko - 1. Soft-Serve Ice Cream ube and Thai tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

Super yummy ice cream, I thoroughly enjoyed it even on a chilly night! I got thai tea and matcha ice cream, half/half in a cone. They also have other flavors- ube and black sesame. Some flavor combos you can get as a swirl instead of half/half. The size of the cone/cup is very large as well. By the time I got through the thai tea to the matcha part, the cone had already started to lose its structural integrity (still tasted good, though). The matcha tasted super rich, even in soft serve ice cream form. I do wish the thai tea flavor had been a bit stronger, but it still tasted great. Highly recommend this place for a sweet treat, and I hope to return to try their matcha drinks! read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Thai tea and matcha ice cream (half/half) (I licked the top already) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Came here for a drink and snack. The place was crowded with limited seating. The drinks we for were okay nothing special about it. The ice cream was good very creamy. The flavor was good. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I've had matcha cafe maiko in other cities before and this is consistent. Solid quality matcha softserve. Friend liked his matcha latte. Matcha bubble waffle tasted plain. No issues with service. Decent amount of seating for small groups inside. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I can't believe it took me this long to try out this spot. I got the Maiko Special with matcha and strawberry ice cream and it was so satisfying. The ice cream is creamy and smooth with a good level of matcha/sweetness. There were so many layers to the cup with makes it not so heavy to indulge in. The large size was plenty for two to share but I think even the med would be enough for two. We went pretty close to closing time so seating was put away. They were super speedy with getting our order ready within a few minutes. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

The ice cream was good, but the matcha flavor overpowered the ube. Although, the matcha drink was delcious! Friendly service and fun ambiance. I go to the Orlando location frequently since I moved away from Boston. I will say, Boston's location is better for Matcha. read more

See all

Came here after getting brunch with my friend and my son. It was a short walk. When we arrived it wasn't busy so we were able to order right away. The people are very accommodating and nice. There's so much matcha selection on the menu so it was hard for us to choose. We got the matcha cream and matcha soft serve with ube cone for my son. The service was pretty quick so we got the ice cream so quickly. Seating area is pretty clean and they have spaces for us to sit. It's moderate for the loudness and they have some music playing. Would Love to come back and try other matcha deserts from the menu. read more

See all

Love this location of matcha maiko for the quick service and lots of seating options. I love all their hojicha options in tea, parfait or ice cream form. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place is so cute! Extremely clean inside including the bathroom. We arrived 1-2 min before they opened and as soon as they opened the door, ordered ube, matcha, hojicha and yuzu ice creams and frappes. I LOVED the yuzu frappe so much, the weekend I was in Boston we went twice and I got it both times. The ube is sweet but not sickly sweet. Perfectly balanced. I am not a fan of matcha, but my friend who orders the matcha ice cream said it was perfect. The Hojicha flavor was new to me, but it was pleasant and I would have that again for sure. I highly recommend going here for a cold sweet treat! read more

See all

The matcha is the bomb! Super strong and creamy. I love the broad selection and the vibes. Staff is very kind. Large seating area. Bubble waffles are bomb also. read more

The matcha here is really quite delicious. I have been here a couple of times and really enjoyed it always. They are quick to get your order out too! Nice spot to relax and try a variety of different matcha items. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

My favorite spot for matcha based desserts in Boston! Cute cozy cafe with around 8 tables that are normally filled with students studying on the weekend. I have been there so many times to get their matcha soft serve and matcha strawberry lattes and they never disappoint. I also tried their Maiko special with matcha, hojicha and ube soft serve combo and it hit all the notes. All three soft serves have their own distinct flavors but do not overwhelm each other. It is accompanied by a matcha syrup, some mochi, matcha cake and jellies. Best of both (all) worlds! It is also a perfect serving to share between two people. -8.9/10 read more

Matcha Café Maiko - 02. Maiko Special - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

It was highly busy at this location being in a college area, but the line moved very quickly. A bit loud inside as there were so many people. Most of the seating area was already taken up so had to take our treats to go. Everything we ordered came out picture perfect and was delicious. It was so good we actually came back the next day! read more

See all

Dont under estimate this matcha kiosk! Its small but got potent matcha drinks and desserts. If you like matcha and the flavor this place makes their matcha latte packed w great aromatic matcha and they dont hold back.. the shaved ice matcha was also sweet but bitter-in a matcha good way w lots of toppings to enjoy. Would totally recommend this place and its bookmarked for the future! Its inside the mall by the shake shack entrance but its quiet w few bar stool seating and separate table seating available as well. read more

Updated review. I went for the first time in a little bit to get an iced Matcha. A 12 ounce iced Matcha with almond milk was $8 without the tip and they didn't even fill the cup all the way. Definitely a little disappointing and very overpriced. On top of that, the drink seemed like it was just a Matcha concentrate with almond milk on top that they threw together. I had to vigorously stir the drink for two minutes to get it to mix together. It overall just did not feel like it was worth the cost for a very average tasting matcha latte. My previous experiences has been better here. read more

See all

" OMG who invented this " We got the matcha parfaits absolutely delicious . No after taste of powder just delicious perfection . No wait time , service was friendly. The vibe was welcoming. This place is a great addition to the neighborhood. Parking is limited but manageable. Price is reasonable. I definitely recommend this place . I hope you have an opportunity to stop in . read more

Really tasty, good flavors. I got the hojicha float with ube soft serve and I think the flavors paired well together. Jasmine boba float is also yum! Just a bit expensive and I think the portion size varies depending on who makes it too. Space is pretty small so might be hard to find seating. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - hojicha float - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I'm so excited to revisit this place after three years and am thrilled to see they're still doing well! The atmosphere is fantastic, and the service remains top-notch. The staff is friendly, and their customer service is wonderful. The Maiko Special and everything we ordered exceeded our expectations. It was not sweet and we thoroughly enjoyed every bite. This Boston location offers more options compared to others I've visited in different states. I appreciate the unique selections at each location, which makes each visit special. Overall, I will definitely be coming back for more and highly recommend it to anyone who loves matcha! read more

See all

If you are reading this: you need to try the croffle. TRUST ME. My bf and I have been coming to this cafe ever since we moved to boston. For anyone who loves matcha flavored things, this place is for you! The cafe is quite spacious, they have lots of places to sit and a restroom. They have so many options of ice creams and drinks, including boba. They also have flavors like ube, sakura, and hojicha. My favorites include: matcha latte float: a matcha latte with soft serve of your choice! Croffle: this is a croissant waffle, its insanely delicious! You can choose the cream flavor and two toppings. I always go for the matcha soft cream, strawberry crumbles, and nutella syrup. The light texture of the cream together with the soft flakey croffle makes my mouth water when I think about it. Soft serve: the matcha soft serve specifically is so tasty and a great dessert! It's not super sweet which I love. TL;DR: CROFFLE!!!!! read more

See all

I'm going to start this review by making it clear that I am a total matcha snob. I'd like to say I loved matcha before everyone else loved matcha enough to make it trending. However, I don't love matcha enough that I'm willing to eat/drink low grade matcha - especially lattes. The after taste is just no bueno for me. I'm also actually not a fan of matcha lattes, matcha americanos over lattes any day. I like the pure stuff! With that said, Matcha Cafe Maiko is the real deal. It doesn't just taste like grass and soil mixed with milk because well, its not how it should be! Matcha Cafe Maiko has the high grade matcha that is not bitter at all! It's got the earthy vibes that matcha should have and a smooth after taste. The softserve is thick and lucious, it's always hard to choose which flavor I want because they're all so good. Thinking about it, I think it'd be really cool for them to sell soft serve "flights" with waffle chips so you could get a little taste of all their rotating and original flavors. Anyway, getting off track here. All I'm saying is, if you LOVE matcha or want to love matcha like your friend counterparts do, this is the place to go! Staff is always friendly and helpful. They all deserve a hardworking raise to be honest because every time I go it's always a full house and they're all hyper focused in the back trying to crank out as many fresh waffle cones, drinks, and soft-serves as fast as they can. I have yet to try their bubble waffle because I love a good fresh pressed cone but they do smell really good coming off the hot iron. Drinks are great - my favorite is the yuzu matcha sparkling drink, refreshing and caffeine-ating! The store is cute and instagrammable if you can find a seat to hang. Super clean and inviting. Would be a cute date spot or a friend catch up spot. The only problem I have is their location - there is literally never any parking. I have definitely craved it enough that I double park my car with emergency lights so that I can go get some... yeah, it's good enough that I'm risking getting a parking ticket! read more

See all

Absolutely loved this place! I came on a weeknight and it was pretty busy, so be warned. They have a decent amount of seating, but since the shop is located in a nice area, you could always take it to go, maybe even to the rose garden nearby. So many fun choices for ice cream. We decided we wanted to try all 4 main flavors so we got swirls for both! Everything was delicious, including the cones. Highly recommend stopping by if you're into matcha or hojicha! read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Soft 01. Soft-Serve Ice Cream - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This chain never misses. There's one in Hawai'i where I had first tried their matcha and the quality of the matcha is top tier. They do not skimp on their matcha. The cafe is decently sized with a couple of inside seating and is ac'd (perfect because it was humid outside). I got their iced matcha latte and it was 11/10 perfect!! Creamy, refreshing and deep matcha flavor. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Matcha Iced Latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This matcha coconut pudding is new to me. I had their matcha ice cream before it was great. This pudding is very creamy with the intense matcha flavor. Very delicious Service is quick as I came when it opens. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Matcha coconut pudding - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I love anything matcha, so I decided to give this place a try. I ordered a classic matcha latte and matcha pudding and both were really good! The latte was sweetened (I usually prefer unsweetened), but it was still enjoyable. The woman working there was super friendly and helpful. I asked for recommendations, and she suggested some popular items. Parking can be tricky -- there's 2-hour parking in front, but it was full, and most other spots are for residents. I had to double park. Inside, the shop is clean, bright with lots of natural light, and has a few tables for indoor seating. I'll definitely be back! read more

See all

Service was good, the drink was good but could have been just a little sweeter, the cheesecake was OK was a little small for the proce but the batcha flavor was there from the drizzle. read more

See all

Everyone who knows me is aware of my matcha obsession. Naturally, Matcha Cafe Maiko was a must-try spot for me when my friend and I visited Boston. This spot is a significantly better experience than their Flushing NYC location. I opted for their matcha ice cream with matcha waffle (obviously!), while my friend chose the Sakura flavor (which she described as having a pleasant floral vanilla taste) paired with their normal waffle. The matcha ice cream was quite good, though I found that the waffle lacked matcha flavor, which was a bit disappointing. Wished the matcha flavor was bolder there. However, the ice cream itself was excellent and fulfilled my matcha craving. Overall, I highly recommend visiting Matcha Cafe Maiko if you're a matcha enthusiast like me. It's a delightful experience and certainly worth a visit! read more

See all

Anytime I am in Boston I will walk out of my way to come try this place. The flavor of the matcha pairs very nicely with the milk and strawberry. I can never resist Ube, and adding chocolate chips to the waffle makes it a 10/10. There's seating inside and the staff is friendly! read more

Matcha Café Maiko - exterior - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

I've been to this chain in multiple cities, it's always cute inside, has good seating, and a variety of matcha/ube/black sesame flavored desserts. They're usually all pretty good. Tried the puddings this time, would recommend the matcha pudding (mostly for the coconut base) but would not get the black sesame pudding again. The texture is too starchy for my liking, and it's paired with red bean paste which is even more starchy and sweet. The black sesame also wasn't very sweet, almost a little savory to me. The desserts are on the pricier side though. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Matcha Pudding Black Sesame Pudding - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Omg new favorite place in Fenway! I love all things matcha, and if you're like me, you will be thrilled to know that they have all sorts of matcha drinks and other tea drinks as well. Along with drinks, they sell ice cream and desserts, like croffles and waffles. I came inside when it was bustling with lots of people, but there was no air conditioning so the place felt stuffy and hot. Service was fast though, and I was able to get my matcha drink fairly quickly. They have a few tables but overall it's a small location. read more

See all

Every few weeks, I get a craving for Matcha Cafe Maiko and I simply cannot help it. Their matcha ice cream is perfection, but my ultimate favorite flavor is Ube! My usual order is either the matcha special with half ube and half matcha OR if I am not as hungry, I will get simply a cone with ube topped with condensed milk! The workers are always super nice and helpful. Finding parking can be tricky but Matcha Cafe Maiko is super worth it. read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Ube soft serve with condensed milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Wonderful place! My Sakura matcha latte was delish and they had many non dairy milks to pick from. I will be back for the kinoko matcha dessert!! read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Sakura matcha latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Nice ambiance, delicious food, machta varieties, and amazing service. We got a matcha latte float, strawberry matcha latte, nuttela/caramel croffle with strawberries and matcha cheesecake. They were absolutely delicious! read more

Matcha Café Maiko - Nutella/caramel Croffle with strawberries - Bubble Tea Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

See all

It was interesting seeing Cafe Maiko opened shop in a quiet part of Fenway area. Definitely more of a reason to go off of Boylston Street. The matcha is quality, with the soft serve being smooth, not icy, but flavorful, without being too sweet. The other flavors are pretty solid too, with the ube in particular. I last went with the matcha soft serve with an egg waffle (雞蛋仔) and it's definitely a two-person dessert. The waffle was pretty decent and the included topping and sauce (went for a pocky and then hazelnut sauce) was a nice bonus. It's always rather busy here, demonstrating its quality. Service is pretty decent and the staff is relatively friendly. read more