Taigu De Pijp — Restaurant in Amsterdam

I was pretty disappointed. Two weeks ago I enjoyed a matcha Frappuccino with a scoop of genmaicha ice cream here. The consistency of the ice cream was a bit weird. Maybe it had been melted and refrozen? The quantity of the Frappuccino was rather small. But the place is charming and it was nice to sit here. So we went back yesterday. I asked for a genmaicha Frappuccino with a scoop of matcha ice cream. This was not possible. Frappuccinos can’t be ordered with a topping of ice cream, unlike two weeks ago. I asked if I could order the Frappuccino and the topping separately. It was not possible. I ended up ordering an Iced genmaicha latte. Since I could not order it with a scoop of matcha ice cream - only matcha with matcha and genmaicha with genmaicha also unlike the previous time I was here - I got the iced genmaicha latte with Genmaicha ice cream. The ice cream again had the weird consistency. So I guess it’s meant to be this way. The latte was not very cold, the ice cubed looked poorly, the quantity was small and the taste average (very mild). Because of all the confusion I had forgotten to ask for plant based milk, being vegan since 10 years. The genmaicha ice cream however was served separately (!). Why not serve a Frappuccino then? I re-ordered the same drink with plant based milk. The guy behind the counter got my order. He thought it was sad a genmaicha latte wasn’t going to be consumed and gave me a discount on my re-order. That was very nice. The discount however was €0,50 cents. Afterwards I thought I could have ordered a Frappuccino now since I already had a scoop of ice cream. I didn’t think of it. I sucked away my plantbased iced genmaicha latte, not impressed by the taste nor the quantity nor the temperature. Japanese culinary endeavors never fall short surprising me in beautiful ways. Maybe because of all the beautiful experiences I’ve had if it comes to anything Japanese, the experience here, because of my expectations, is a disappointment. I ended up paying €12 something for a small drink I didn’t really fancied. I don’t think I’ll be back here

After reading your reply I understand much better why I was confronted with several unexpected ‘no’s’. Thank you for taking the effort to explain where the no’s come from.

I reckon if either the menu or the staff could give some insight into the policies, the experience could be different. Currently on the menu it doesn’t say specific toppings go with specific drinks. To the contrary, the toppings are listed in a way that suggests they go with all the mentioned drinks.

The ice cubes policy sounds really sympathetic but also here managing expectations could make a big difference.

Once again, I like your place and I wish you well. Genmaicha tea is beautiful and to create a Genmaicha latte is an interesting idea. Thank you for exploring this. Last but not least, thank you for pointing out that the ice creams...

I don't like to write bad reviews, but I don't like to feel tricked either. We went to this place for dessert after having lunch in a nearby restaurant. I love Japan, matcha, cakes, etc and judging by the reviews and the photos, it looked like the perfect place to me. Well, it wasn't. It was very dissapointing. The place that was supposed to be japanese style, clean, fresh, minimalist, but it was all the opposite. It was dark, dirty floors, dead plants, tables that were not cleared, tacky decoration details, boxes of supplies and food leaning against the counter... and if all this seems little, I was shocked when I peeped into the open kitchen... it was a complete mess. Plates, food, packages and kitchen stuff all pilled and scattered everywhere. I had to look twice cause I could not believe my eyes. You would think I left... well no, I stayed. I ordered a matcha with three rice balls. One of the drinks that was highlighted in the menu. They didn't have the balls. How can you not have the essentials of your advertised products? Still I decided to have a matcha (I love matcha too much) and some cake. The drink was ok and the cake was a minimum slice for 6 euros which made me feel stupid. I paid more than 12 euros for... that experience. But wait, there's more. On the counter they have two panels saying that if you rate them with 5 stars on google, u get a free coffee. Well, this should be the red flag of all the red flags of cafés and restaurants. Getting good (fake) reviews in exchange for a coffee. Still... as I said... I stayed... and wasted my money.... I have been in Japan twice, and believe me, this place doesnt live up to the Japaneses standards and the way they do things. This is a cheap place disguised (not in a very professional way) for a cool hipster japaneses café. Well, it it not and now you know....

Walking into this establishment was like stepping into a poorly rehearsed play where everyone forgot their lines. I ordered a matcha latte, expecting the subtle, earthy flavor matcha is known for. Instead, what I received was an insult to my taste buds—an overly sweet concoction drenched in artificial sweetener, something that wasn’t disclosed on the menu. When I brought this up to the lady behind the counter, her response was shockingly dismissive: “It always comes sweet; you should’ve ordered it without sweetener.” How am I supposed to order something I wasn’t informed about? The lack of transparency is infuriating.

To add insult to injury, she flatly refused to correct the mistake unless I paid for a new one. This isn’t customer service; it’s extortion. Her attitude was as bitter as the matcha should have been, but tragically wasn’t.

The unprofessionalism doesn’t end there. The place is chaotic and filthy, a true health inspector’s nightmare. From the counter, you can see the kitchen—a disaster zone where matcha containers share shelf space with cleaning products. Yes, cleaning products. The irony is staggering, considering the rest of the café looks as though it hasn’t been properly cleaned in months.

The interior itself is a reflection of their service: sloppy, careless, and unfinished. It feels like they opened the doors before they were ready, and judging by the rudeness of the staff, they’ve also decided to skip any training in hospitality.

Save your time, money, and patience—this place is not worth it. If they can’t get something as simple as a matcha latte right, they shouldn’t be in...