JENKI Matcha Spitalfields — Restaurant in London

I’ve come here a couple of times. I would definitely come more if I liked the vibe of the team. They are all very cute and youthful but i always sensed an underlying energy of idgaf and I’m too good for you. Guess it rather resembles the vibe you get at Cha cha Matcha in New York, which you cannot deny they’re inspired by? I just witnessed something today that confirmed I was right about the energy. A lady ordered a collagen iced matcha and had a good happy joyful energy. Came back a minute later. “I’m sorry I Just want to let you know I spilled my entire drink outside.” They barely thanked her for warning them of a health hazard. She walked out “sorry! Such a shame” it seemed like she was giving them (2 with empty hands and no customers occupying them) a second to maybe offer to make another drink for her. But nope they didn’t take that chance. Lady left. The shorter girl who’s not the manager asked “should we make her another one?” Curly hair taller girl said “no she ….” She mumbled so I couldn’t catch it. But the expression and gesture did not look like she said something positive about the lady. Oh meanwhile no one had gone out to clean up. While I’m typing this I observe them whispering comments about what they are observing outside the store. I would not doubt they’re throwing shade left right and centre. Giggling. Yawning without covering her mouth on top of the match whisks and bowls.

My conclusion… Maybe no one is paid enough to have a decent morale ? This has been consistent since day 1 is my visit. This is what keeps me from coming in EVERY time I pass by. I feel like I’m here indebted to the team. This has been consistent hence this incident was the last draw for me to leave a constructive criticism.

As a matcha company that rides on the narrative of matcha being the more pleasant and calming and well balanced energy drink, I definitely cannot derive such energy from the team. I hope this is some food for thought and space for reflection. This really upset me to witness.

But then again if the energy was so consistent since I first visited, maybe this is enabled by the owner? The same energy is trickled down from above ? Maybe that curly hair manager IS the owner? Who knows… I will give good matcha a pass if it means dodging bad negative energy. Literally cancelled out all the calm from the matcha.

looking at past reviews, it seems like this is a culture carried through unchanged as far as two years back. Seems like the owner just gives template replies. Yes I have high standards and I’m from Hong Kong so I’m not too polite to not voice my dissatisfaction. I am aware having lived in london for 15 years that the average Londoner is very tolerant and also too polite or too busy to voice their dissatisfaction hence lots of bad customer service and poor attitudes in hospitality...

JENKI Matcha – Spitalfields, London Review

Price vs. Product (2.5/5) Let’s start with the obvious: £4.50 for an iced matcha latte. That’s a steep ask for a drink that’s mostly milk and ice, whether dairy or alternative. The justification? “Ceremonial grade matcha.” Honestly, that’s a bit of a joke—because when you drown it in milk and throw in flavoured syrups (like the currently trending strawberry), any nuance is long gone. Most people couldn’t tell ceremonial from culinary grade in this format—especially when the experience is about aesthetic over taste.

Flavour (3.5/5) I went with full-fat milk, and of course, it tasted pleasant—but let’s be real, the deliciousness is largely thanks to the fat content in the milk, not the tea. There was nothing complex, earthy, or refined about the matcha that would make it stand out. It was fine. Nothing more.

Vibe & Cultural Impact (4/5) To its credit, JENKI has done more to promote matcha in London than most, bringing it into the mainstream. The branding is strong, the Spitalfields location is always buzzing, and it’s clear they’ve tapped into a new generation. But therein lies the issue—this feels more like a well-branded experience for the Instagram generation than a genuine celebration of matcha.

Value for Money (2.5/5) Yes, it’s only matcha, milk, and ice. For £4.50, it should be balanced, smooth, and transportive. Instead, it feels like a branding exercise wrapped around a basic beverage.

Overall Rating: 3/5 JENKI is fine. The drink was pleasant, the setup slick, but the hype and pricing far outweigh the substance. If you’re new to matcha and love a insta moment with your drink, you’ll enjoy it. If you’re actually into matcha, you’ll likely feel underwhelmed—and maybe a bit fleeced.

Will I return? Probably—but not anytime soon. Frankly, the matcha I make at home is far superior, and I don’t have to queue behind a TikToker filming a “serene...

Couldn’t care less about food safety. Loved JENKI Covent Garden it’s small and can watch your drink be made. This week I went for the first time to Shoreditch Branch. I was given the wrong drink which has made me sick. I double checked with the staff to make sure the drink I was give was mine (I am always cautious after having had other experiences) and unfortunately turn out later I was given the wrong drink which had dairy (I am both vegan/dairy intolerant so have been poorly since with really and stomach issues).

The item was thrown away after tasting then looking on social media at what the drink should have looked like, confirming this wasn’t my order. I couldn’t return to the shop so contacted the email/socials.

No response from either so obviously don’t care about staff clearly not being trained properly in food safety! Such a shame because the Covent Garden branch is brilliant and I love the matcha/drinks.

It wasn’t busy, there wasn’t a huge amount of orders and this drink after looking at social media was clearly not what I ordered. The staff need retraining for safety reasons, not only should they have know before giving the wrong one out originally but 100% should have know when I rechecked with them.

Edit: I have got an initial response from the social team which was reassuring however I have now been ghosted since after saying it’s important to them. A week later and no response to confirm the team on the ground have taken it...