Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko — Restaurant in Castle Hills

The hot matcha tea is bitter due to brewing at too high of a temperature. I tried asking the staff about this (not for a refund but because I was curious about the brewing), and they insisted that matcha is supposed to be bitter. Matcha is not supposed to be bitter if brewed correctly. This is concerning for a place that specializes in matcha. I could give somewhere like Starbucks a pass for this, as they are a coffee chain that doesn't specialize in matcha. However, "matcha" is literally in the name of this establishment, and although the tea itself may be premium, the staff burn it when brewing it. Most people order matcha desserts and lattes, so they don't notice the bitterness because the matcha (which I'm sure is high-quality) is either added to ice cream or milk.

I've had matcha numerous times, and it's supposed to have a slightly sweet, vegetal flavor. This is the first time I've had bitter matcha tea. The staff's insistence that matcha is supposed to be bitter indicates that they consistently burn their matcha, negating the importance of high-quality tea in the first place. I'd rather drink mediocre-quality matcha that was properly brewed than high-quality matcha that was burnt due to a lack of staff expertise in brewing.

A quick Google search will tell you that overheating matcha will cause the chlorophyll (what gives matcha its green hue) to break down, leading to a bitter taste. It's a shame because I'm sure their matcha is high-quality, but they burn it due to improper brewing practices that stem from a lack of matcha knowledge.

The person at the register offered to make me a latte instead. However, adding milk to the matcha tea wouldn't fix the matcha being burnt. If you have to add milk and sugar to matcha to make it palatable, it's too bitter and was not prepared properly. Still, I appreciated this offer, and the staff were overall friendly.

The rice hotdogs are delicious, however. I recommend the original, potato, and hot cheeto ones.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I expected more from a place that purportedly specializes in matcha. A matcha cafe should know how to properly brew the tea in which they specialize. I recommend this establishment if you enjoy fun matcha-flavored treats and corndogs, but don't come here if you are more of a tea aficionado who drinks...

After much anticipation, I finally visited Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko today, and the experience was nothing short of delightful. Stepping into the cafe on a bustling Sunday, the vibrant atmosphere was immediately infectious. The crowd, far from being a deterrent, added to the excitement, hinting at the popularity of the cafe as a weekend treat destination.

Adding to the charm was a quaint pop-up shop, offering a pleasant distraction as we awaited our order. The array of offerings we sampled was a testament to the cafe’s innovative and adventurous spirit. The rice hot dogs were a standout, with three intriguing “half and half” varieties: the classic sugar-coated original, a potato version, and one daringly dressed in hot Cheetos. Each bite into these freshly prepared delights was an explosion of flavors, with the mozzarella’s dreamy pull adding a delightful texture contrast that truly elevated the experience. The inclusion of dipping sauces, particularly the Korean honey mustard, was a masterstroke, adding an extra layer of flavor that had us hooked.

The culinary journey took an even more exciting turn with the mixed soft serve ice cream, a heavenly blend of ube and matcha. The combination of earthy matcha and sweet ube was an unexpected delight, offering a unique taste experience that left us craving more.

However, the true star of the show was the iced cheese matcha latte. This intriguing concoction, with its unspecified yet perfectly smooth cheese topping, struck an exquisite balance between sweetness and the robust flavors of matcha. It’s rare to find a beverage that surprises and delights in equal measure, but this latte managed just that, earning a resounding 10 out of 10 from us.

Premium Matcha Cafe Maiko has carved out a niche for itself, blending innovation with traditional flavors to create a menu that’s both familiar and thrilling. The bustling atmosphere, combined with the sheer quality and inventiveness of the food and drinks, makes it clear why this cafe is a beloved destination. For anyone looking to indulge their culinary curiosity, this cafe is...

Im not really the type of person to leave a review, but i would like to help someone maybe considering trying this place for the first time. i really enjoy matcha and so do my friends so after a long day, we decided to give this place a try. first off, the place smelled like straight weed. second, it was INSANELY crowded. there were a few tables but in the back there were vendors which made the place more crowded. the creativity in the decorating was thoughtful, but made the place feel a little over crowded. i got a matcha latte and a soft serve and i spent about 18 dollars. i was expecting the best matcha ever considering how much money i had spent. the soft serve was good but the matcha, oh my goodness, it was chunky, the flavor was all at the bottom and took like 15 minutes for a drink. i understand because there were busy, but overall, the drinks as mid. when i looked at the counter where they were making drinks, no one was wearing gloves, there were no hairnets, but they were wearing hats, which is better but not the best, and the worst part, they had their drinks on the counters they were making drinks on. i get it, you’re busy, but that’s kind of gross. also, one of my friends went to the bathroom and said it was very unclean. the trash cans in the main lobby were full and the place just looked unclean. not only were the drinks mid, the place was hot, overcrowded and unclean. i don’t mean to be ugly or mean, but truly, a place this expensive should have better drinks, be cleaner, and overall have enough seating. this place had the worst matcha...