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We got the matcha soufflé pancake, and it was so delicious. My only regret is not ordering another one because I could've finished the whole thing by myself lol
Jiggly, eggy, luscious, fluffy Japanese pancakes. Order and pay at the kiosk, grab a number on the tray to the left if getting pancake and find a table to chill. Listen for your receipt number to retrieve beverages while pancakes are served to the table. Tried 3 pancakes, a matcha and milky beverage. The crème brulee-themed items were my favorite. On the fruity pancakes, the flavors were balanced with nice ripe fruit.
The soufflé pancakes never fail to impress, and it's nice that they have new variations seasonally. I don't know why they retired the No. 5 Milk Tea long ago but the No. 9 has been good so far. Finally tried the Uji Matcha Latte, which tasted as it should. Underground parking is always convenient here, and the atmosphere is great for just hanging out with a drink, nice and bright with comfortable tables. Just wish they were on Hungry Panda!
I had a lovely experience at Motto Tea Cafe (San Gabriel). I ordered the Creme Brûlée Soufflé Pancake ($17.50). It's a fluffy, jiggly pancake topped with creme brûlée and glazed sugar. WOW! Each bite felt like a warm, decadent cloud. (Important Note: These Pancakes have a LONG wait. Each Jiggly Pancake had an expected 20 to 30 minute preparation time. Also, I recommend eating it dine-in. If you wait too long, these fluffy treats promptly get mushy.) I arrived at Motto Tea Cafe (San Gabriel) on Wednesday (11AM - Opening Time). Parking is easy. There's an underground lot for extra parking. Customers primarily order at the self-service kiosk. Customers must pay with card and insert phone number in the kiosk, but Customers can pay cash at the counter. Dine in customers grab a metal number that's stacked between the kiosks. Staff spoke limited English, but Staff is professional, diligent, and accommodating. My order took 24 minutes. As mentioned, I love the Creme Brûlée Soufflé Pancake ($17.50). It's plated and presented lovingly and seductively. It's memorable. With each motion, I bit hard onto its fluffy, lightly sweetened body. I savored how the creme brûlée's creamy sauce dribbled. It's layered, supple, and thick. I shake the plate. It dances. On ambiance, Motto Tea Cafe (San Gabriel) is comfortable. There's about seven interior tables and two counters. The music is slow-tempo and gentle. And it's clean. There's also a gender neutral restroom for customers. Overall, I created lovely memories at Motto Tea Cafe (San Gabriel). The wait is extremely long, but I found contentment at this journey's end. If you love wiggly pancakes & have plenty of time to spare, this is an easy recommendation. 4.8 out of 5
Ordered a taro soufflé pancake Togo and found out the order was missing the taro cream after we got home. Tried calling several times but couldn't get in contact. Check your orders.
Sure you can order a bubble tea here, but at Motto Tea Cafe, I think the big question is how long does it take to make a souffle pancake from scratch? When I visited, they were taking about 20 minutes. Mango Sunshine Soufflé Pancake: This really is a triple stack of golden sunshine. Like many have said, it's jiggly and fluffy. When they set the plate on the table, the stack wobbles for a moment. The cake is soft and squishy, definitely entering the classification of a souffle or pudding. The pancake melts in your mouth. Is it a cloud? It's so light and airy. Does it contain meringue? It's also a bit spongy. The stack is topped with a sweet cream and mango sauce. Sweet pineapples, strawberries, and blueberries form a perimeter around the pancakes. Parking: The u-shaped lot is big and it also has underground parking.
Saw this somewhere on social media and wanted to check out their Japanese style soufflé pancakes - very light and fluffy. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, but they do have underground parking at the complex. Once inside, there are a few tables, but they fill up quickly when it gets busy. Luckily we can there at a slow time, but it didn't take long for it to get busy - some had to wait outside before ordering. For ordering, you use a kiosk and they bring the food to your table - if eating there. Our drink came quickly but the soufflé took a little while. The soufflé itself was very good. Definitely light and fluffy, with good flavor. Sweet but not overly sweet. Paired well with the strawberries. It's also a decent size - enough for two people. It is a little on the high side in terms of cost - iMO. However it's well made with fresh ingredients. I'm sure the process the make them fluffy and light is delicate. I'm glad I had a chance to try it.
Been to Motto multiple times and the items here from drinks to food items have all been pretty solid! Quality to aesthetics get high marks but sometimes taste is lacking. Souffle pancakes in different occasions always look so pretty, are the best everyone's ever had, some some flavor profiles don't work. Maybe that's why the menu sometimes changes. For example the yuzu grape was completely bland because the yuzu drizzle on top was a thin line i couldn't taste at all. At least put a spread between each layer or pour a lot on top like the others (eg berry or mango). The mint leaves was the most potent flavor in this dish. Over the grapes, blueberries, matcha powder, yuzu. Got the mango triple layer drink this time and if you drink it carefully, you can appreciate the contrast from the mango puree, the milk, the creamy salted matcha. If you just mix it up completely you won't get that affect. One thing that bothers me is because the menu changes I seem to always be unable to get something I'm thinking of from the previous visit. I recall last time I had some mochi and rice ball I added to a drink that was so damn good and I couldn't add it this time. Though I recall that drink being $11.50 from the add ons. The souffle pancake was $21... so place is $$ but again the quality is there. Service wise, never interacted with staff really. Kiosk to order. Drinks just sit at counter when done. Didn't call numbers. Oh they did bring the pancake, no words spoken.
Tried the strawberry soufflé and it was really soft and yummy with real strawberries and a tasty yogurt (?) cream. It's pretty pricey ($16-$17), but worth trying at least once. There are various flavors to try and the drinks are the same - variety of flavors. We ordered a brown sugar boba milk tea before realizing how many other choices there were. It's not a very big place and the decor is typical of a drink/dessert place. It got really busy -probably because it was Friday night and people like to hang out. There was a line out the door, but it moved surprisingly quickly. Drink orders came out fast but you have to wait a bit for the soufflé. If it's busy, finding a table might be a challenge, but getting things to go seemed fine. It's in a plaza so there's parking, but it's a busy plaza so you might have to park underground.
It's surprising how busy this place is especially for women/girls (maybe souffle is more popular among girls?) The only guys you see mostly liley are those who come as part of a family. However I personally think souffle is a glorified version of pancake. It's slightly thicker and more fluffy and if you like pancakes there is no reason why you wouldn't like this (other than the price?). The location is in a strip mall next to the bigger 99 Ranch plaza and parking can be difficult to find especially top side but there is a underground parking lot next door. It can still get busy so you may have to park in that plaza and walk over on busy weekends. Just note this place is busy even in the weekday evenings. There are very few tables so if you are coming as a date/family, you may not find a table. The tables are also small so I wouldn't recommend a large group of more than 4. You order via a kiosk and for drinks they will call your order number. For souffle if you dine in, you can take a number stand and place on your table just like some McDonald's. Souffle is not bad and not too sweet especially with the original flavor.
An amazing eating experience! I've seen these Japanese souffle pancakes all over social media and decided to try them.....THEY WERE AMAZING!!! I never really rate anything a 10 but I tell you, this was a 10. First the parking- there's parking located in the lower level tunnel and there's also parking in the back of the business center. Once you're in, you place your order through the kiosk. Orders usually take about 20 minutes. We ordered the creme brulee and Nutella pancakes, they were light, fluffy, great portion size and just the right amount of sweetness. Very cool relaxing vibe inside. Treat yourself to Motto tea cafés Japanese souffle pancakes, you'll be glad you did
Great soufflé pancakes as usual with the cheese cream topping. Took about 20 mins+ on a Tuesday afternoon. I asked the guy if the cookies are good and he nodded and recommended the mixed cookies; they taste like shit. Wish I could get my $9 back. Anyway, would only return for the pancakes.
Sometimes all you want is a small cake and this is the perfect place to get it. Sometimes they might be sold out of flavors so you can call in advance to check. The best part of these cakes are their fillings! My favorite cake shop is still what's more cakes in the Bay Area but this is a close second if you enjoy chiffon cakes.
My brother and sister-in-law recommended Motto Tea Cafe this past Labor Day. I have never been at this tea spot so it was a good opportunity to try it out. There were 17 of us. Each of us ordered one drink via the self-ordering kiosk. Imagine how long we were standing at the kiosk LOL. It was my brother's treat. Thank you Bro! Besides milk and tea drinks, they also serve souffle pancakes, crepes, and specialty cakes. I got a regular White Peach Moonlight Oolong Milk Tea with no topping and no ice. My eldest daughter got a large White Peach Lemon Jasmine Bliss with crystal agar and no ice. My youngest daughter got a large Tiger Boba Milk Tea with creme brulee and less ice. My Mom got a regular Motto Milk Tea with boba and no ice. We all loved our drinks. Very smooth! Great tea flavor all around! Staff was doing their best on getting the drinks and desserts out. They were super busy. They do have some inside seating and outside patio seating. Ambiance was nice. We'll have to come back here to try more of their different drinks and check out their souffle pancakes and crepes. Thanks Motto! Btw, the shopping center where Motto Tea Cafe is located has limited above ground parking. They do have underground parking. read more
2 years ago
I have been wanting to try this place for over a year!!! So glad I made it up there. The soufflé pancakes are just as fluffy and delicious as they look. I have had these soufflé pancakes before in Japan and wasn't that impressed, but these were other-worldly. They were light and airy and the crème over the top was perfectly rich and complemented the pancakes well. I just wish there was even more topping!!! I also got the gardenia green tea which was amazing. The cafe was quit small with a couple tables. You order at a screen and bring a table number to your table or can order to go. Will definitely be back to try some more flavors! read more
The cake my girlfriend got me for my birthday was nice and fluffy and was made with a sugar substitute to lower the sugar content. The flavor was nice and wasn't overly sweet. The cake alone is the reason for the 3 stars. The service and the amount of nonsense in communications is the main reason for the drop in score. She ordered the cake roughly a month in advance with the option to use the sugar substitute and to have it delivered to our hotel in Irvine. Two weeks before the date of delivery, they contacted her and told her that they can no longer deliver the cake and we would have to come down to either the San Gabriel or Pasadena location to pick it up. She really wanted me to try their cake as she's a huge fan of Japanese baked cakes, so we agreed to pick it up at the San Gabriel location. Fast forward to 4ish days before the pick up date and someone on their social accounts told her they all moved to the Pasadena location and we would have to go there for the pick up. So the expectancy is for us to now drive all the way to Pasadena to pick up this order on my birthday/Halloween from Irvine. Fast forward 2 days before the pick up date and they inform her that we can pick up the cake at the San Gabriel location again, and that the person who told her we would have to go to Pasadena was not correct. As you can tell, this got super annoying real quick. We decided to have dinner in San Gabriel that evening after having to change our plans in order to pick up this order. There were no other hiccups after that, but there is definitely an issue with the service received from their staff. This review is to let them know that this is not acceptable service, especially for an advance order, with the hopes that they improve how they handle these orders in the future. Another thing to note is the parking lot is tiny and you might have to park under ground to find a spot. If you are doing a pick up, it might be easier to have two people so that someone can drive the car around the lot while another goes in. read more
This was my first time trying a Motto Tea Cafe and I went with this location since many reviews mentioned parking is free and there's more seating compared to the Pasadena one. My husband and I arrived a little after 12pm on a Sunday. We were able to find parking in the underground parking structure. There were two electronic kiosks available to order from. I'd recommend looking at their menu online beforehand especially for drinks. I didn't realize how many drink options they had and spent some time trying to decide what to order while a small line formed behind us. We ordered the Fruit Melody with boba and the White Peach Fresh Oolong Tea for drinks. Our drinks came out within 10 minutes. The fruit melody was delicious! The worker forgot to put boba in it but she was able to add it on top after we let her know. The boba had the best texture and flavor I've had compared to lots of the boba I've tried. It was soft but had a nice chew to it while also having a tiny bit of sweetness. The White Peach Oolong was also good and was very refreshing. The caffeine in both drinks were surprisingly strong! I was bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day. The soufflé pancakes were soooo good! Because they're freshly made to order, they came out about 35 minutes after placing our order. The pancakes are light and fluffy. It didn't taste eggy to me. I had the creme brûlée and it was delicious. The crystallized sugar on top truly gave that creme brûlée quality. The cream was very sweet though. I much preferred what my husband got which was the Momo peach. I tried some of it and I loved the peach bits on top and the fresh peaches. It was so pretty like straight out of an anime! I think it is a seasonal item but I would definitely would love to come back to try more! read more
4 months ago
2 years ago
The black tofu tea with less sugar was AMAZING !!!! I could drink that all day. It feels like a meal onto itself it was really filling. I got the Nutella pancake and the sauce was so creamy and delicious. It was sweet but not too sweet. The fruit served with it was fresh and good quality. Service was great too super nice too. When they brought out the pancake it was jiggling already. It felt like being a kid again. Every time you cut into the pancake it would wiggle. It was a fun experience. Would definitely come here again. Parking is a little difficult even though it seemed like there wasn't that many people in the plaza. 1 star off because the store could be a little cleaner. I would come here again though because the food was just that good read more
2 years ago
Came after eating at TK92 located in the same plaza as we were craving something sweet for dessert. It was my first time trying Motto and the drinks were solid. They have so many options to choose from! You order at kiosks, which is convenient as each item had pictures to help me decide. I ordered the Mango in Kyoto which was a fresh mango puree with sweetened milk topped with a matcha foam. The drink was super refreshing and I loved how fresh the mango was. It was perfectly sweet at 100% and the boba had a nice chew to it. I was shocked that this location was so busy the whole time we were there - people were consistently coming in and tables were always full. Great place to hang out with friends. We really wanted to try their famous Japanese soufflé pancakes, but we were too full after KBBQ. Definitely will need to come back and give it a try next time! read more
I didn't order pancake or crepe because the one cake I wanted was sold out at 2pm on Sunday. The drinks were disgusting though. I couldn't finish my drink. I threw half away. I ordered osmanthus tea with 25%. It was sour for some reason. The tea didn't taste high quality. I may come back for pancake but I like regular pancake more anyway. read more
1 year ago
BEST TEA HOUSE IN LA i always get the matcha brûlée slush w cheese foam and my bf gets the mango yuki....we're here almost weekly lol The cakes r so yummy too! read more
2 years ago
This is a pretty decent spot if you wanna have fun and chitchat with some friends after dinner! It gets pretty crowded but there are plenty of seating it seems. Lots of dessert and drink options too. I thought it was cute that they have candles to purchase up at the front for special occasions (or just cause you know). It can get a bit loud in there due to the chitchat and laughter around. But hey, if the tea is hot, sometimes it be like that! They're known for their souffle pancakes, but I wasn't too much of a fan. It tasted a bit too "eggy" for my palette. We had gotten the matcha one. They're super generous with the matcha custard, which helped it go down. I also got their Uji Matcha Mochi drink. It was quite an experience because I was expecting mochi balls if you guys know what I'm talking about? Instead it seemed to be more of a mochi paste that was slapped onto the side. The drink itself was good, but keep that in mind, since it did throw me off! I'll have to come back to try the other pastries and drinks! read more
1 year ago
I've been super craving for a soufflé lately. I was satisfied by this place in the San Gabriel area. mango in kyoto was so good, with matcha mousse at the top that wasn't too bitter or cloying, and mango pulp at the bottom! The soufflé was very tasty, fluffy and full of egg flavor. The fruit was fresh and the service was very friendly！ By the way, my friend's pistachio crepe cake was also delicious, so delicious that we forgot to take pictures. Must try if you like pistachio flavor! read more
1 year ago
very good cakes and milky drinks, very busy and crowded lots of options and flavors hard to choose I got the mango crepe cake, it was pretty good but got a little sweet near the end They messed up our order and gave us two of the same cakes instead of one matcha basque and got two coconut latte basques cheesecakes read more
Ambiance: it's located at the corner spot of the plaza, and it has replaced the old hui lau shan desserts place Service: friendly and patient with questions Food & Drink: variety choices of drinks and cakes, as good as the their other location in Pasadena Coconut Mango Mini Cake - ***** creamy texture and balanced flavors of sweetness and acidity, highly recommend Matcha Nama Chocolate Basques Cheese Cake - **** very dense texture on the chocolate layer, and slightly salty matcha flavor, recommend Mango In Uji - **** Less Sweetness, Milk, Less ice, great combination of flavors, recommend White Peach Fresh Oolong - **** Cheese Mousse 50% Sweetness, Regular Size, No Ice, light and refreshing taste, recommend Price: standard prices for desserts and drinks, solid quality, expect $15+ per person read more
Love coming here! They have some classic drinks and unique drinks like King Grape and Mango Yuki. They also have yummy cakes and fluffy pancakes. I haven't tried anything I don't like yet! The plaza gets pretty busy but there's a basement parking. The cafe is pretty cute but it does get busy. Hard to get a seat sometimes. You order from the kiosk machines and wait for either the number or your name to get called. If you're ordering the pancakes, it'll take a little longer. read more
11 months ago
10 months ago
Parking is terrible in this plaza, service was great! Everyone is nice and professional. The food was just not as expected, but that could just be me. read more
10 months ago
Love Motto tea . Every drink I've tried is delicious but I usually stick to their Uji matcha latte . Best matcha in town . read more
Mid afternoon bbt pick me up! Parking was super easy for us this visit! The additional parking through the ramp is ample, but I can only imagine how busy this plaza gets during dinner time. Walking in, you can immediately smell the delicious smell of baked goods. Fresh and heavenly! Self service kiosk on the side to order which makes the process super quick. The display casd had a ton of different sweet treats, but we garnered for just bubble tea! King Grape Tea -($7) - less sweet with cheese foam added! SO GOOD! First time trying grape bubble tea and I can't get enough of it! Must try! read more
I am a sucker for black sesame anything, so of course then I was picking up drinks for the office, I had to grab a slice of the black sesame roll. Fluffy, not too sweet and has the black sesame flavor. I ordered at the kiosk and it still took about 15-20 minutes to get my order. It's located in a plaza, plenty of parking and the staff was very nice. read more
The desserts and drinks here definitely taste as good as they look! Motto Tea Cafe is one of my favorite dessert spots in SGV. One of the best mango matcha drinks I ever had! There were real pieces of mango, the drink was creamy and had the perfect ratio of mango and matcha. The cakes are delicious too. Perfect for gifts or indulging in a sweet treat by yourself. read more
5 months ago
Got the original soufflé pancakes and they were good! Very soft, fluffy and didn't deflate for pretty long. Liked that they weren't too sweet or too eggy. The cafe had a nice interior and was great for socialising and chatting with friends. read more
11 months ago
Ordered these cute Halloween-themed soufflé pancakes in 2024. Not even 30mins afterwards, felt my bowels churning and rushed home. Haven't returned for their pancakes since... their drinks are average, there are better options along Valley Blvd. read more
2 years ago
I've been to their Pasadena location before, so I am glad to see them expand to San Gabriel! This location is in a busy plaza on Valley Blvd, there is plenty of parking, although it can get packed on weekends. The shop is quite spacious with a good amount of tables to dine at. I met up with a friend here and ordered the Mango in Kyoto, my favorite drink here. It's a delicious blend of matcha, milk, and mango that's super flavorful. I was happy to see that the quality of the drink remained excellent. I certainly recommend this drink! read more
2 years ago
Decided to try it out since I was in the area and I was pleasantly surprised. Motto tea cafe is pretty popular so expect a wait on the weekends. Inside was pretty busy and the kiosk machine was available for you to order. I added up getting the white peach moonlight milk tea with less sweetness and the peach oolong crepe cake. First, I loved the white peach moonlight milk tea. You can definitely taste the white peach flavor and the less sugar made the drink light. It's a perfect drink for a sunny hot day. The oolong peach crepe cake is so pretty! I love how it looks and the little daisy on top goes so well with the design. The cake itself is not too sweet which is a plus if you're not into overly sweet desserts. The top layer is actually peach jello to add more of a peach flavor. I also love how there's tiny bits of peach in between the crepe layers as well. The oolong flavor is there but the peach overwhelms it just a little bit. I still love these dessert though and definitely would get it again. read more
I recommend to come in early to beat the crowd. We visited 20 mins after they opened and some of the small cakes were already sold out. You order at a kiosk so the line is easy to form if people take long to order. Limited seating. The souffle we ordered were extremely delicious that we savored every bite. Free parking with an underground parking lot. read more
2 years ago
Came here with my lovely girlfriend and ordered the Creme Brulee Pancake. Super delicious, creamy, with a great texture! Really like the presentation of the pancakes along with the complimentary mangos, strawberries, and grapes. The amount of sweetness was just right! The drinks are usually traditional to a Hong Kong style tea, with a perfect consistency and portion size. The only problem was that the tables were a bit dirty on the outside, and the bustling crowd doesn't make it any cleaner. Service wise was amazing: the waiter brought the pancakes to us! read more
I've been to this place twice now and both times this cafe is BUSY. Maybe it's because lately it's gotten more exposure for its soufflé pancakes. Maybe it's because their ordering kiosk consists of just two digital touchscreens and no one knows what they want to order quickly. Maybe it's the lack of seating even though the size of the cafe is a normal cafe size. It could be all of those things, but what I will say is that what the cafe has in spades is hype. Lots of it. No surprise either because everything you see here looks beautiful. Take a look at the many photos taken of the soufflé pancakes or colorful drinks and you'll see there isn't an ugly item of food being served here. But how does it fare when it comes to taste? Honestly, the taste is mid to mid-high. Though the atmosphere, staff, and location would make one think they are a Chinese/Taiwanese cafe you would start to reconsider if it is a Japanese cafe seeing the soufflé pancakes and use of matcha from Uji (considered the best place to get matcha in all of Japan). I've had a few of their drinks and they are highly customizable, from the % of sweetness to what add ons you can have. So far, none of the drinks have disappointed. As far as the soufflé pancakes go, I think they are tasty but they live and die from the toppings you get on them. As a pancake alone, they taste eggy and no natural sweetness to it. The light texture is nice but you can't get away from tasting what feels like whipped eggs. Perhaps that is the trade off of having soufflé pancakes but it's not something I enjoy. For service, it is quick since the servers do not have to worry about taking orders and only have to get the orders out. It's a good way of getting food out quickly. Overall, if you plan on coming to this location it might be better to get the food to go and take pictures elsewhere instead of trying to fight and scour for seating. But, if you like to let your camera eat first Motto Tea Cafe is a visual buffet. read more
3 years ago
I've passed by several times but never had a chance to stop by. I was about to stop by the Pasadena location but this one is closer with free parking. I ordered the original soufflé pancake and an unsweetened iced green tea at the kiosk. My friend and I stopped by right when they open, but we did wait a long time for both drinks and the pancake. I'd like to try other flavors next time. I thought they had a black sesame one but I don't see it on the menu. Fluffy. Jiggly. And soft! I'll be back! read more
(IG: @foodwithdeni) #dEATs *Good morning matcha lovers! I found the cutest tea shop in the 626 for your matcha fix. We ordered our Uji matcha from @mottoteacafe in San Gabriel! *We got the Uji Matcha Latte and Mango in Uji w/Agar Pearl We saw they had Japanese Souffle Pancakes & crepe cakes on their menu but we were still full from lunch so we'll have to try them next time. *Make sure to order from the kiosk because we did not know so we were waiting at the counter for a good minute *Seating inside & parking structure available FEATURING-- Uji Matcha Latte (One of our most popular drinks, authentic Japanese matcha with milk, slightly sweetened. Mild and smooth matcha taste in every sip) Mango in Uji (fresh mango puree with slightly sweetened milk and topped with Uji matcha) read more
This is my go to souffle pancake spot! The pancakes are made to order and the flavors are always unique! The place does get busy but they try their best to get your orders out as soon as they can. Place is clean and bright, goods vibes all around :) read more
Not too sweet soufflé pancakes that are consistently fluffy. This place is fun to bring out of town friends to cause of the ooo factor. The flavors are not too sweet and there is a good variety of desserts here (cakes, drinks, or soufflés) so there's something for everyone. The line does get long with limited seating. People like to hang out for quite some time just chit chatting. Soufflés take 20-30min so plan accordingly! read more
The pancakes are delicious here. The vanilla to egg ratio is perfect and the flavor is well balanced. It doesnt take overly eggy. It is light and airy and not heavy on the stomach. I feel like I could eat 3 orders of the souffle pancakes. This time we tried the creme brulee flavor and it did not disappoint. It was a nice generous later of brulee custard sauce on top with small pieces of fruit on the side. I cant wait for peach season I hope they bring back that flavor this year. 5 out of 5 for the pancakes. We tried their new mochi milk tea drinks but I cant say I like it. It was definitely interesting. But it didnt taste like their "mochi layers" mixed well with milk tea. It didnt have the texture of mochi. It just tasted like disintegrated flour floating around in the milk tea with the reminiscent flavor of mochi to it. I wouldve even preferred the usual mochi balls you might find at other places. I think for the drinks it would be 2 out of 5 for me. It just didnt seem to fit the milk tea drink. I think from now on I will just stick to the regular drinks of fruit tea or milk tea here. read more
3.5 stars! I had this place bookmarked for the giggly Japanese Souffle Pancakes and was looking forward to it after traveling 300 miles to LA. First, they do not accept counter orders. You have to order and pay at the kiosks. It wasn't super busy on a Saturday at around 4pm. We got a nice table to sit down to wait for our desserts. We thought 10-15 min wait, right! It took 25 minutes for the souffle pancakes. I didn't mind waiting for worthy food but I wish they would have a sign or warning for the extra wait because I had to be somewhere at a certain time. If I knew, I would come back at another time! Also, they forgot to make my matcha latte and had to wait another 5-10 min on top. No reason. It was on the same order with the Souffle. They just forgot! Even with the stressful and unpleasant experience. The Creme Brulee Souffle deserved to be recognized. It was a solid 5 stars! It was airy, lightly sweeten and the creme/sauce was devine. The powered sugar berries and nuts/granola gave it a nice texture. It was freaking amazing! I wish I didn't have to scarf down two bites and packed the rest to go! The matcha latte was alright. Nothing out of the ordinary. It was consumed and forgotten. read more
3 years ago
This was a super tasty cafe with delicious soufflé pancakes! We got the ceremonial green milk tea, nutellamisu pancakes, and matcha green tea latte. Everything was the perfect level of sweetness (not TOO sweet), including the soufflé pancakes. I loved the eggy flavor and jiggly soft texture. All the fruits were sweet too, which was a nice touch that complemented the sugar from the pancakes. The interior is very cute, with ample seating and bright yellow lights. It's a very minimalist but cozy design. Ordering kiosks are to the right of the door, which I think helps avoid big crowds. There weren't too many people when I got there but there was a nice flow of customers that added to the cozy ambience. Great place overall to hang out with friends and grab some cute desserts! read more
The weekend line can be crazy. Getting seat is close to impossible. But the wait is definitely less than Chicha San Chen. The matcha mochi tea I had tastes amazing. The matcha was so aromatic with perfect the sweetness. The tiramisu was not bad, not mind blowing as well. My husband said their chestnut earl grey cake was just a bunch of whipped cream, can't be consider a cake. He said the taro drink he had was delicious. I didn't feel sugar overload. They were too busy to clean the dining area. So our table was dirty. Typical parking in the area, small. read more
Was really intrigued about some menu offerings after seeing some reels on their instagram. After 3 visits to the cafe, I can say this place may be my current favorite boba spot for the SGV area. Upon arrival, I was honestly a bit overwhelmed by how many options they had on their menu as they utilize two large, touch-screen self-serve kiosks in which guests place their order and pay. I felt bad trying to scroll through their extensive offerings as many drinks begin to sound very similar but it seemed like many customers felt the same way so I would take your time to make sure you know (and enjoy) what you're ordering as the customization can get very long (see below). This cafe not only serves boba and drinks but also really adorable desserts. They offer single slice/roll and full cakes, crepe cakes, cheesecake, as well as freshly made Japanese souffle pancakes which you can watch the entire process behind their glass screen. I think there is something for everyone. What I've tried: -Uji Matcha Latte w/Matcha Mochi, No Mousse, Milk, @75% Sweetness: I have gotten this drink twice now and really enjoyed it both times. I think the sweetness level here was perfect and the drinkable mochi was unique though I'm not sure how much of the matcha taste I could discern from the mochi itself. I wanted most of the taste to come from the drink so this was fine and why I also opted for no mousse. It is a pricier drink than some of the other menu offerings but I enjoyed the matcha quality. -Mochi Taro Milk Tea w/ Gardenia Jasminoides Green Tea Base, @Regular Sweetness, No Mousse, Milk: I actually enjoyed this drink more than I thought I would and even my friend said it was her favorite taro drink she has ever had. My bf got this the first time with the Gardenia tea and I was afraid it would be TOO floral but it's actually very fragrant and complements the drink perfectly. We once again opted for no mousse and the drink already comes with the taro mochi. You gotta mix it a little, otherwise you will get a giant strawful of mochi haha. Also enjoyed this drink but subbed with the matcha mochi instead and with boba. Their boba texture has been on point all the times I have been there. Perfectly qq. *Sugar level*: In my opinion, this cafe offers better sugar levels than your typical cheap drink spots. I didn't get any cloying tastes the way that some shops prepare their drinks. I have tried both 75% sweetness and regular sweetness (depending on the drink) and both worked well for me even though I absolutely hate too-sweet drinks. Price range: I felt was standard for this area given the quality and type of offerings. It's cheaper than the spot across the street, but more expensive than the spots I'm used to in OC. Still, I found this place more satisfying than the cheaper boba spots around that only taste like sugar and awful syrups. The cafe and parking: I have never had an issue finding parking directly in front of the cafe, even on busier days, though that may not be the case for everyone. The cafe itself is larger than most with a good amount of seating, both indoor and outdoor. However, it may be difficult to snag a spot if you are coming in a large group or it is particularly busy that day and they have not gotten the chance to clean up the tables. I have seen many people bring their laptops to study/get work done so it's a nice environment for that. For the holidays, it was well decorated and even the desserts were adorable! The service was slower than other boba shops but it seems they get slammed with online orders as well. On one visit, we had to ask if our order was ready yet after 15-20 minutes, and the girl behind the counter said she would make them immediately. That was the only issue we had. Overall: I enjoyed all my drinks and the friends I have taken here have agreed. I would try some of their desserts next time. read more
So good!!! Matcha cake roll 10/10 - love everything about this fluffy and creamy cake - matcha is not too strong but subtle - the pretzel on top is soft lol and there's a jelly in the middle Earl grey cake roll 9/10 - fluffy and nice earl grey flavor - very creamy! - not used to the middle jelly thing still Black sesame cake roll 9/10 - nutty and savory - fluffy and creamy Mango motto uji 10/10 - wow I love this drink SO much the mango adds such a subtle and natural sweetness to the earthy matcha Yuki uji matcha 10/10 - creamy and perfect sweetness - matcha is earthy but soooo smooth Overall, this place is not too sweet and soooo good for a little dessert date with your significant other or tea time gossip with besties. It's hard to snag a table because some people study here but there's outdoor seating too. I'd definitely come back again! read more
This is a very trendy and popular tea-cake-dessert shop. It gets very crowded during peak meal hours and weekends. It was not too bad on about 6:30-7:00 on a Fri. There is adequate parking in their lot, but it can get crowded. It was not too noisy on our visit but can probably get loud when they are busy. There is indoor and outdoor patio uncovered seating. The people who worked here gave ok service. The souffels take 20-30 min or more just like they say. We got the Nutellamisu Mousse Souffle Pancake and the Motto No.5 Milk Tea [Nutellamisu Mousse]. We also got a pear tea with guava. The drinks took almost as long to get as the souffel even though it was not that crowded. The ordering is through a kiosk like at McDonalds and some other tea places. The Nutellamisu Mousse Souffle Pancake was just ok. It was super fluffy and not overly sweet. You definitely needed the topping, chocolate syrup on the side, and fruit for added flavor. The pancakes themselves had a similar consistency to super fluffy eggs. My wife did not care for the Motto No.5 Milk Tea [Nutellamisu Mousse], but I did. She thought it was like watered down chocolate milk and did not like the foam mousse topping favored. I like chocolate milk and also liked the foam topping. The pear tea was also just ok. Everything was a bit pricey, but probably comparable to other tea-cake places. We liked the drinks better at other specialty tea places that make dessert style tea drinks. The souffel is worth a try, but we would probably not get it again. We want to go back and try the crepe cake. If you have not been here it is worth a try to see if you like it. read more
![Motto Tea Cafe - Motto No.5 Milk Tea [Nutellamisu Mousse] - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/pZnH0NFZv2SDkL0aOD4AOQ/348s.jpg "Motto Tea Cafe - Motto No.5 Milk Tea [Nutellamisu Mousse] - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California")
More info about Motto Tea Cafe
250 W Valley Blvd
Unit A
San Gabriel, CA 91776
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(626) 656-6500
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https://www.mottoteacafe.com
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Ask the Community - Motto Tea Cafe
Do they take orders for custom cakes?
They do not custom cakes; you are limited to selecting from the available flavors and designs they provide. Moreover, you are not allowed to select any of the cake flavors that were specially created for a holiday within the past 10 days for your…
Are there any gluten free options? I don't see any notes on the menu.
No not that I noticed. Just the teas but no food items.
Has anyone ordered the soufflé to-go? Is this still as good?
Personally, I think it is better when it is fresh and in person. When you take it to go, it is still tasty but it's not as fresh or as pretty.
Do you need reservations?
No reservation is needed. It's a Cafe like Boba shop. They use (touchless) online order onsite.
Are you doing soufflé pancakes regularly now or still just weekend?
They serve everyday but cutoff for souffle pancake order is 8pm
Soufflé pancakes are only on weekends?
I'm here on Tuesday night at 8:22pm and they serve it at this time
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
28 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Motto Tea Cafe - bubbletea - Updated September 2026
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