I usually don't like or drink matcha, but this drink was hella legit mayne! I enjoyed the taro flavor inside the drink, it blended well with the matcha! read more

Ryokucha Cafe - 40. Taro Latte / - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I saw this new matcha place pop up when I was in the Palo Alto area so I made an effort to try it out. It's a little bit out of the way from downtown and Stanford. It was hard to find as some others have mentioned. There is no sign on the outside you can see from the street. Google Maps also led us through the back into the parking lot so I had to recognize the outside from Yelp photos. I got the matcha fizz and was disappointed. In my photo, you can see that I got no ice and the matcha drink ended up being less than half of the cup. It was mostly foam, and unfortunately, the matcha wasn't very good. My husband got the hojicha latte and said the hojicha also didn't have a strong flavor. The area is quiet and has lots of seating, but I think it missed the mark on decor, vibe, and the drinks in general. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - 3. Matcha Fizz and 14. Hojicha Latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

My friends and I went here during Armyrang Vendor Market. The drinks were average. I had the Berry Go Round, which is a play on the BTS song Merry Go Round. The drink was cute, but I wish there were more strawberries. I also got the mocha cookie, and omg, I loved it. The mocha was not too strong, and the sweetness was just right. Definitely worth coming back, but parking is difficult since it is small. read more

Matcha color and flavor was promising. The banana cream was too chunky and it just tasted odd. Cute cafe to work from since parking lot is huge. read more

Trying out a new matcha spot in Palo Alto. I ordered mango matcha latte and blueberry matcha latte. It was pleasant surprise to find real fruit, wasn't expecting that. Though the matcha quality was not the best. It was a pretty decent place with a lot of space to hangout. Service was quick and friendly! read more

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My husband and I were in Palo Alto and decided to check this place out since I wanted matcha. There's a small parking lot in the back, but since there isn't a sign on that side of the building as well, it's a bit confusing. Once inside, I noticed it was pretty dark inside & it was a hot day but they didn't have a/c so all of the doors were propped open. Service was a bit lacking when I was there. I placed my order for a Mango Matcha, Crème Brûlée Matcha & Banana Cream Matcha (not pictured) & asked for the Banana Cream to not have ice since we were bringing that back home to my sister to drink. The guy ringing me up didn't seem to be listening since he was busy talking to his friend instead while taking my order. He ended up ringing up my drink to have no ice & no cream. I wish I noticed it before I left, but just grabbed the drinks and left since we were in a bit of a rush. We thought the drinks were good & good matcha is used for the drinks, but the matcha wasn't whisked very well since there were still small chunks in our drinks. My sister was also disappointed that she didn't get the banana she was hoping for with her drink. I'll probably come by to try it again one day, but right now it's not somewhere I'm rushing back to. read more

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Free shot of matcha no charge here! But the matcha is alright. My sister and I came around 2:30pm on a Saturday and it wasn't busy at all. Good amount of seats open and there's a small parking area outside but we got lucky. My sister got the blueberry matcha latte and the creme brûlée matcha both less sweet. However she said the blueberry matcha latte tasted sweeter but I'm guessing it's because of the blueberry flavoring they use. She said both her drinks were mid and did not like it. I got the banana cream matcha latter less sweet and it wasn't bad. I could taste the banana flavor alright but the drink overall was like a 6/10. The inside of this place is cute and seems to be a nice study area. Maybe the other drinks taste better but I love that they give a free shot of matcha! read more

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One of the few places that carries a blueberry matcha and it's done very well. Blueberry puree with little chunks of berries mixed with the bitter matcha is all you need. I tried the banana one but I'll have to get my own since the less sweet did not do it for me. The dirty matcha is not sweetened as it's just espresso with matcha, so if you like it sweet, add something else to it. Service is friendly. Inside is small, about 10ish seats. There is a small parking lot but also street parking. Both times I've gone, the rest of the businesses weren't open so it seems really vacant, but the drinks are great. Overall, the blueberry matcha is great, both size and taste. Go check them out! read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Banana, Blueberry - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I was looking for a boba or dessert place and stumbled upon Ryokucha Cafe. If I'm not mistaken, this spot used to be Te Amo which served boba and mochi donuts, so it was nice to see that another drink spot took its place. I went on a warm Sunday after having lunch nearby and was able to get a parking spot on the street right away. The shop is decently sized with a good amount of seating available, though all unoccupied during my visit. It was a bit weird that the inside of the shop was a bit dark, as if the business was trying to conserve energy, since it made the business look closed from outside even though the doors were kept open. Also, the inside was quite warm as well and I did have to step outside after placing my order to cool down a bit with whatever breeze was available outside. I ordered the strawberry matcha latte with almond milk and 100% sweetness. There was a sign saying an extra shot of matcha was available for no additional charge so I decided to add that as well. My drink was ready in about five minutes. Upon first glance, I liked the dark green matcha color on top but was confused with the pink strawberry color since it looked quite artificial, as if something along the lines of strawberry Nesquik powder was used, though I could see small bits of something and what looked like strawberry seeds at the bottom of the cup. I first tried the matcha on top and thought the taste was on par with what I was expecting. However, the strawberry did in fact taste artificially flavored with what felt like small strawberry jelly bits with strawberry seeds added in. I was expecting a house made strawberry puree with milk added on top and Ryokucha's strawberry latte tasted nothing like that. At least the drink wasn't overly sweet. Overall, I did like the matcha component of my strawberry matcha latte but did not care for the bottom strawberry layer. I also noticed quite a bit of ice added to the drink so I should've requested for less ice. I do want to return to try other drinks on the Ryokucha menu since I think there is a chance that I simply ordered the wrong thing on this visit. Since the business is fairly new, hopefully the recipe for this drink can be modified to make it taste and look less artificial. read more

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This lunch was delicious!! And I can't believe it was less than $15! I highly recommend this place for your go to lunch place in Palo Alto I had the chicken teriyaki bento with bubble milk tea The milk tea was good And the Japanese milk yogurt ice cream was delicious as well I had the salt bread and ate it too fast before taking a pic salt bread warmed up was very good 10/10 read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Chicken Teriyaki - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

A cute and bright new matcha spot in Palo Alto! Came by on a Friday afternoon with my sister and we tried the crème brûlée hojicha latte and the banana cream matcha latte. Both were delicious - the banana cream especially was so yummy and tasted like real banana, not the artificial flavor you sometimes get elsewhere. I love that they offer an extra matcha shot for free - would recommend for a stronger matcha flavor. Staff were friendly, and the café has free Wi-Fi and several tables, making it a nice spot to get some work done. We were planning to stay for a bit to get some work done, but around 3:30pm we were told they were closing early for the day (their usual hours go until 7pm). Parking: There's a small lot out front and street parking read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Hojicha crème brûlée latte, banana cream matcha latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Stopped by Ryokucha after hearing about a new matcha cafe that opened up in town and decided to check it out! It has a very tiny lot out front but street parking is available around (side street is easier). There is plenty of seating inside with big open windows that would be good for studying or working. We wanted to try the creme brûlée hojicha latte, but were informed that they were out of creme brulee. We opted for a mango matcha with 30% sugar and a matcha soft serve. They then mentioned that they were out of cones for the soft serve. We were quite surprised at how so many things were unavailable as it wasn't very busy and it was 2:30pm on a Tuesday. The mango matcha was quite sweet even with the sugar adjustment, and I wish that the mango flavor didn't overpower the matcha as much. Because of that, the matcha flavor didn't stand out (even with the free extra shot of matcha!) The soft serve was good - matcha flavor was there and it was quite creamy. Overall, I think there is potential here and I'd like to give it another shot in a few months after they've been in business for longer. I do really like the free matcha shot that they offer and the huge variety on the menu. Looking forward to trying it again soon! read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Came by on a Wednesday morning to pick up a mango lover and taro latte to try something different. Was looking to pick up a gift certificate as a gift but they do not offer that yet. *hint- would be great to help spread the word* Place was clean and employee was busy with a couple of customers. Wait time was not long and the employee was super fast. Parking can be a problem but street parking was fine and easy when I arrived. Mango lover (no boba per my request) had great flavor and I loved the chunks of fresh mangoes. A tad too sweet for my taste but was not overly so. Taro latte (no boba per my request) was just alright. Next time I will stick with my oat milk matcha latte. read more

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Came here on Saturday with two friends. I tried Ryokucha's cold blueberry matcha latte before and liked it a lot. Since it's getting colder, I got a hot blueberry matcha latte (less sweet) this time. It's just as delicious as the cold one. Perfect balance between matcha and fresh blueberry! The shop is bright and clean with a lot of tables both indoors and outdoors. It's very spacious compared to other matcha shops. We ended up staying there for a long time catching up. My friends enjoyed their strawberry matcha latte and blueberry matcha latte as well. Will be back again! read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Hot blueberry matcha latte (less sweet) - you can see the blueberry puree inside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Ordered banana cream hojicha with almond milk crystal boba and no sugar. It was good...would have been better with sugar lol. Hojicha had a nice roasty flavor. Cream was light - could have been heavier. Spot was empty around 11:30 on a Friday but big and clean. Staff was friendly. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Hojicha banana creme - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This place is a little tucked away and parking is a bit small. There was a good amount of people and service was fast. Ordered the banana creme matcha latte and it tasted just right. It had the right amount of sweetness and the banana flavor didn't overpower too much of the matcha. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Banana creme matcha latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I was at Ryokucha cafe this morning and ordered a hot banana matcha. The drink was excellent - good value at $7 for a decent sized latte. I also like the ambience with tall ceilings - however the temperature was too cold inside. It would have been great if they had turned on the heater. When I attended the Yelp Elite event, the service was excellent. This time around, the server did not help when I asked if they had a loyalty program. A little customer service training program will go a long way in elevating customer experience and repeat customers. A great spot for matcha and meeting friends if you are in Palo Alto. read more

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Came for their soft opening. Employees were really friendly and let us know that they could make adjustments to our drinks if we wished. Asked for samples of the matcha soft serve and they were happy to let us try. Matcha soft serve was solid, no complaints. I ordered a mango matcha latte which was pretty good. Not my drink but tried some of the blueberry matcha latte which was quite sweet, even at 50% sweetness level. Store gets a lot of natural light. A handful of tables inside. Small parking lot but better off parking in the neighborhood if busy. read more

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A new matcha shop is in it's soft opening in the area! And speaking of soft... The matcha soft serve was perfect here! No complaints: creamy, smooth, and sweet, with a clear matcha flavor. The Hojicha was my favorite! Smoky and perfect amount of milk to highlight the roasted tea flavors. I tried the hojicha lattes with the banana cream and creme brulee. Both options are so yummy. The Yuzu tea was very refreshing! A citrus contrast to other menu items. I loved it. However, the more I drank this, the more it became SWEET. You might want to ask for less sweetness if you order this! High quality ingredients! All of their matcha and hojicha is sourced directly from Japan. They also STRICTLY use Strauss Milk in all of their menu items! Though they are still is soft opening, the menu is simple. Expect a majority of the menu to be matcha and hojicha! I am excited to see how this little matcha cafe develops! A great addition to Palo Alto :-) read more

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Went during a midweek day and time and place was empty besides a guy hanging out in the back .ordered two drinks and both were just kind of slapped together. Super excited to finally try this place on reviews. Disappointed and won't be back. Flavor was watered down and no craftsmanship or enthusiasm in the drink assembly. Hope it was just an off day. read more

Came here right at open. Wasn't busy with plenty of parking in this plaza. Kind server. Decent amount of seats. Nice wallpaper on ceilings and walls. Soft opening right now and they offer free extra matcha shot. I got the mango matcha latte. Mango was ok. Some sweet mango chunks in there. Matcha was strong but average quality. Not too sweet for 100% sweetness. Didn't really mix well with mango and matcha. Also got the crème brûlée hojicha latte. Crème brûlée toasted bit too long. It was burnt. Good hojicha flavor but on the sweeter side due to the cream. New matcha store in Palo Alto. Average quality matcha. 2 private restrooms available. Would not come back here anytime soon. read more

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Final thoughts: 4.09/5 New place that we found that's a little farther upward of the bay area for us. Solid 4 stars for me today. This place appears to be within the soft opening phase perhaps? There was a paper sign at the front counter, but no one quote me on that. Quite the nice experience for a matcha run. Drinks: Blueberry Matcha Latte, extra shot of matcha: 4.0/5 This was the drink I chose today. Still on the matcha craze and I love my fruits. They actually have multiple matcha latte options, which I love. Flavor wise, this is very fruit forward and almost masks the flavor of the matcha. Blueberry compotes, jams, and that mascaraed fruit typically has a pretty strong flavor. I'm not really complaining, but my preference would be to lower the amount of blueberry added to this drink. The flavor of this fruit comes out really well, so it's not really a concern. Matcha is lighter in flavor, so it can get overpowered more. Sweetness for my drink was good. Banana Cream Matcha Latte: 4.0/5 This one was my friend's drink and I tried some of it for review purposes. The flavor of the matcha comes out nicely with this one. Because of the banana mixed in, it's more difficult to assess if this one was grainy or not. Flavor wise, banana was super natural. Something to note though is that I wished the banana was more ripe. My personal preference is to eat a slightly underripe banana because I don't like that soft texture and overwhelming flavor/scent of the banana. For the banana cream, a ripe banana would add additional natural sweetness and help with that smooth texture. Sweetness level was good here, but perhaps to be adjusted with the type of banana used. Matcha Bubble Latte: 3.9/5 My friend's drink today was alright. Not my favorite of the three today, but not bad. The matcha felt a little bit grainy to me. It's not as smooth as other matcha drinks that I've tried before. This concern does resolve itself if you mix it all the way in. Not quite 100%, but the mouthfeel does improve. Flavor wise, it was alright. Slightly grassy, but I'm not as sensitive to that taste as my friend. The flavor comes through nicely, which I appreciate. Again, sweetness for this drink was good. Looking at the boba, there is a fair amount; no skimping here. Textures were alright. Main concern was the flavor of the boba itself. It felt a little lacking on the flavor to it. Perhaps letting the flavor absorb into it more would do it. Side Note: Not sure if this is just for the soft opening, but they allow an extra shot of matcha without the upcharge. I haven't seen this at other shops yet, but definitely something that will attract me. -------- Quality: Made to order, lovely scents around With what I observed, it seems like they use high quality ingredients. The scents around their shop lead me to believe this. They were brewing this tea and it just smelled amazing. That's when I smelled this really sweet aroma of tea. I can't actually pinpoint the type of tea, but incredibly floral and sweet scent. Color of their matcha is always very nice and vibrant, which is always a plus to see. Another item that stood out to me about this place is that they use organic milk. It's clearly stated on their menu that they use Straus Organic milk. Quite the expensive milk choice that you'll typically find it in a glass milk bottle. Personally, I love that they take pride in this and I appreciate the quality. Price: Fair Their pricing is fair for their drinks. Dpending on what you get, the price will range between $5 to $8. This does include the soft serve. Something to note is that they do have an upcharge for the milk alternative. Oatmilk is the preferred choice for us as we prefer the flavor and consistency over whole milk, however, there is an upcharge of $1 for this option. With that said though, they did prove the free extra shot of matcha. My priority was 100% the matcha shot, so it'll depend on how you view this. Service: Lovely The service was quite nice. We ordered the drinks and picked them up. At the pick up counter, we were asked about the sweetness of the drink and to let them know if it was to our liking. I appreciate this gesture because it shows they care and are working to improve their drinks and really cater to their customers. Ambiance: Quaint This place appears very quaint and tranquil. There's a lot of sunlight and natural lighting that comes in, which is nice. They have a tree placed in the corner right when you enter, so there are some picture opportunities there. Location/Parking: 9 spots This spot is located right in between El Camino Real and El Camino Way. Quite a small little shop. If I'm counting this correctly, there are only 9 parking spots available, which is so little. Perhaps we got lucky or this place is just not crowded in general, but we did not have any concerns with getting a spot. There were actually 3 spots available during the time we came. They were quickly filled up, but I digress. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - 10/2025 Menu - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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A recent article said that 20-somethings aren't drinking and partying much. IF they do drink, a group will share a cocktail. Instead, they're drinking lattes. And, I'm guessing matcha lattes because most matcha places are poppin' in the bay! In fact, there was a matcha pop-up in SJ we tried to go to until we saw the line of 80-100 Gen Zs. Two to three hours standing under the sun for matcha... my geriatric millennial knees could never but props for their dedication and stamina! Luckily, we were able to get our matcha fix the next day at Ryokucha Café (with no line)! Soft opening last week, this new matcha focused café took over the Te'Amo space. Indoor and outdoor seating. M E N U Array of pure Japanese teas, matcha lattes, hōjicha (roasted green tea) lattes, frappes, boba milk tea, coffee, and non-caffeinated drinks. Dairy alternatives: oat, almond, or coconut milk (no charge). They also have soft serve and sundaes. Two flavors: matcha and flavor of the week. It would be helpful to have the menu on the screen or taped to the counter surface so you don't need to scooch to the side to view it on the plexiglass. Unlike matcha chains: Matcha Cafe Maiko, Izumi, Maruwu Seicha, etc. that uses batched matcha, I believe Ryokucha Café hand whisks their matcha and hōjicha to order. Someone correct me if I'm wrong tho. D R I N K S * Strawberry Matcha Latte ($7): https://tinyurl.com/mpr8ke65 - 50% sweet Sourced from Shizuoka, the matcha itself was smooth with a good vegetal bitterness but once incorporated to the strawberry milk, the flavor mellowed out quite a bit. Would ask if I can pay for an extra shot of matcha next time. 50% was sweet but not too sweet. * Banana Cream Hōjicha Latte w/ oat milk ($7) - 25% sweet - low caffeine Banana cream drinks have been trending and tastes like banana bread or banana cream pie. The ratio of tea and milk didn't match the business pics. Both the roasty tea and banana flavor was too subtle so it bland, and more like iced milk. 25% sweet was very lightly sweet. S E R V I C E Cordial. With no line, our drinks took about 7-8 minutes. A M B I A N C E Casual 20-something hangout with 8-10 tables and a claw machine. Three tables outside. P A R K I N G Limited parking in the micro-plaza so may need to find street parking. Overall, Ryokucha Café has potential once they work out the kinks with their ratios. It's less chaotic than Maruwu Seicha in DT PA so will def return when going to Stanford Shopping Center. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Strawberry Matcha Latte ($7) + Banana Cream Hōjicha Latte w/ oat milk ($7) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I heard about Ryokucha on Instagram and dropped by with the bestie for drinks. They currently have Soft Opening and we went on a Tuesday about an hour before closing. The employees here are so nice! Need a recommendation? They'll help you out. The menu is extensive with many matcha options, coffee, and specialty drinks like Lychee Blossom Oolong, Creme Brûlée, Honey Lavender Shaken Espresso, etc. There's something for everyone! They even have poke bowls if you're hungry. Super chill environment and they've got plenty of indoor seating to catch up with friends. There's a cool pink tree serving as a focal point. Only issue is parking. Small lot so look for street parking if you can. I got a classic hojicha latte with oat milk, less sweet. This was a treat for me because I aim for no added sweetener. I was hooked and finished the whole cup within 30 min! Bestie got a strawberry matcha latte, no added sugar. She almost finished it too. I would come back for the hojicha and try a specialty drink creation from the awesome staff! read more

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My BF and I came to Ryokucha after a friend's recommendation. They specialize in matcha and hojicha drinks. We tried the Banana Cream Matcha Latte and Honey Hojicha Latte. Both were pretty good! The drinks are on the lighter, milkier side, so I'd suggest adding the FREE matcha shot if you prefer a stronger flavor. I also like that they use real banana cream in their drinks! Their matcha soft serve is also a must get. I will definitely be back to try their other soft serves and the banana cream hojicha latte! Ryokucha Cafe is currently in their soft opening so check them out before they get popular!! read more

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Cute spot. Tip: Parking is challenging; the lot is tiny so you need to park on the street. Service was quick. Ordered: Strawberry matcha 7/10 The ratio of matcha to strawberry needed to be more even. Taro bubble 3/10 Sadly, it wasn't anything special. It lacked flavor. I did like the boba because it was warm. Mango flamingo 9/10 Too sweet. Maaaybe we'll be back. read more

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Bright and airy new matcha cafe in Palo Alto! I loved the layout of the shop and I think it would be great to do work in. The workers were very quick and friendly helping answer questions I had about the menu. I thought it was amazing all the specialty drinks were around the same price. There is no extra charge for alternative milks. They also let you add an extra shot of matcha for free! My friend and I got the Crème Brulee Hojicha Latte (3.8/5) and Creme Brulee Matcha Latte (4.5/5). I preferred the matcha because of the stronger flavor (maybe it was because of the extra shot) but the hojicha was also nice and nutty. I went with 25% sweetness but I might do 50% next time. Overall cool place to check out if you like matcha and want to try something new! They have poke bowls too but it seemed like they were running out of things because they are still in their soft opening phase. I would love to come back and try their soft serve to see how it compares to other shops. read more

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Came here around 4 pm, not packed at all, still in their soft opening phase, but still amazing, you can place your order through the cashier. We got the honey matchas with oatmilk, I got one of them with an extra shot (it's free), also the alternative milks are free to change I am pretty sure. The drinks were awesome. They rotate the soft serves, and we got the hojicha and it was so good. They also have poke bowls for $15. Will try sometime. The place is very good to study, chill, or hangout, very lowkey so it's awesome. read more

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I got a strawberry hojicha latte. The hojicha part was not bad; however, the strawberry part was a bit overpowering. The strawberry syrup they use reminds me of the one I got from a shop in Japan. It has real strawberry pieces, but it's very sweet. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Strawberry hojicha - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I loved Ryokucha Cafe! Not busy at all so far on a weekend when I visited recently as I suspect the location is a bit more out of the way compared to those on University or California Ave which are busier locations in Palo Alto. There was a steady stream of customers but there was never really any sort of line which I thought was nice. Service was great. We were greeted when we entered and in this day and age, it's nice to be acknowledged when you walk into a cafe now! I tried the hot honey matcha latte and added an extra shot of matcha for free, which I hope they keep around! The drink was fantastic except I didn't get much of a honey taste. Not sure if it was because I added the extra shot of matcha which could have thrown off the ratio. Regardless, the extra matcha made the drink very strong which is my personal preference and best of all, it wasn't overly sweet either. In fact, it erred on the side of bitter (probably also because of the extra matcha) but I did not mind it at all! The drink size is actually quite big for only $7 compared to many other cafés these days so I thought it was worth it. Best of all, they made the drink so incredibly hot which was MUCH appreciated as I find that many places give you lukewarm matcha latte these days. Somehow, even after 30 minutes in the 50° weather, my drink was still hot! We also tried the Matcha and Taro soft serves. I found both to be on the sweeter side though they both had a good flavor. The matcha was strong. The taro tastes more like the powder flavoring. I will definitely be back next time for matcha latte when I am in Palo Alto! read more

Came here on April 29,2026. I had high expectations for this place since I saw their matcha drinks had a vibrant green color but it was the opposite with my order. The staff is REALLY nice!! 5 stars to them. They even brought my drink out which was super kind so it's much appreciated +he asked if my dog wanted water!! things like that really make a business stand out. However my rating is 2 stars since my matcha was just so bad. There was no color and no matcha and I even got an extra shot. I got a regular matcha latte. I'm willing to try this place again but I'm disappointed in the matcha. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Got a honey matcha latte and a hojicha latte I don't know if it's because they are new or I went in closer to closing but my Hojicha latte was just milky. The service and atmosphere was nice but the drinks didn't feel worth the drive. read more

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Was craving matcha on a Sunday afternoon, but most places were either closed or closing. My only two options were Maruwu Seicha or Ryokucha. Since I've had Maruwu several times (in the city), I decided to take a chance on Ryokucha. It's located away from the hustle and bustle of University Ave/Stanford Mall, which is kind of nice. There's also a small plaza where parking was plentiful late Sunday. I ordered the honey matcha latte with 0% sugar ($7). I could definitely taste the honey, but unfortunately can't say the same about the matcha. The drink severely lacked matcha flavor... It was much too milky! I went home and mixed in leftover baking grade matcha to give it more of that matcha taste. Saved the drink and helped me dispose of my stash of old matcha, win-win. My fiancé got the matcha fizz ($7) with 30% sweetness. His drink was much stronger with the matcha. The employee must have been more generous with his portion. There's a few small tables inside and outdoors as well. I also saw a claw machine in the store. Overall, cute concept, but not sure I'd go back for weak matcha. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Ryokucha has soft opened next to Malawah Bar (one of my PA faves) and we were excited to try it out. Unfortunately they only had the taro soft serve (only limited flavors during the soft opening) so we opted for a mango matcha latte and the Hojicha banana cream. The mango matcha was a bit too sweet for my liking despite asking for less sweetness but the Hojicha banana was perfectly balanced (you better drink it quick if it's a hot day or the melted ice will disrupt the ratio!) We'll be back after they are fully open! read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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After seeing the photos and reviews, I had high expectations for this spot. We're seldom in the South Bay, but thought we'd stop by on our way back up the Peninsula. The cafe had friendly service, however the matcha didn't have much taste - I ordered the banana matcha latte. It unfortunately didn't have much banana flavor, either. It was odd, because it didn't taste overly sweet, but tasted bland. The cafe was cute, with Pokemon cards in the display case and a small crane machine in the corner. I'm not sure what went awry with my particular drink, but I seemed to have a wildly different experience than most other patrons. read more

Solid spot kind of hidden away. There's a small parking lot but some street parking on neighboring streets could be easier. Went during their soft opening. The drinks are solid if a little sweet but it's a cute spot to catch up with a friend or grab a drink to go. Quick service during their soft opening. Might return to try the poke! read more

My first time trying matcha and Ryokucha Cafe did NOT play fair by offering matcha soft serve ice cream. Parking was slightly difficult, but we can blame that on the cafe's popularity. The ladies room was super clean. I know that's not why you select which matcha spot you'll visit, but it can definitely be a reason you don't come back. I enjoyed the blueberry flavored matcha. It was full of flavor that lingered and urged you to want to sip again. Which is what I did. There customer service was awesome! Our server was full of energy, extremely polite, and offered education around match and it's origin. As a first-time matcha girl, I was very happy. Good product! Clean restroom! Great service! Excellent vibes! If you go, try the outdoor seating. It's a perfect spot for people watching. read more

The matcha latte and matcha soft serve brought me back to my memories of being in Japan! Both have a strong matcha taste (in the best way) without being overly sweet. There are also a variety of matcha fruit drinks and hojicha drinks available as well as some unique speciality drinks. The ambience of the restaurants is nice with seating options both indoors and outdoors and a couple customer restrooms. The staff seemed quite knowledgeable about their matcha and happy to talk about their leaves and process if that's of interest to you. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Matcha latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Really decent matcha located in Palo Alto! They give an extra shot of matcha for free. They also sell food here as well. read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Strawberry matcha latte (LEFT) Regular Matcha Latte (RIGHT) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

The matcha here is so good and high quality! They apparently get the matcha from Shizuoka, Japan. I really liked the matcha soft serve and the banana matcha latte, the banana cream was fresh bananas and so refreshing on a hot day. The owner Stuart was so nice and accomodating, he even gave us a free sample of the strawberry soft serve too! I even heard they do matcha catering, so it would be perfect for your office events! The ambiance of the shop is quiet and sunny, with a lot of seating for you to hang out with your friends. I highly recommend this matcha spot! read more

Ryokucha Cafe - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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