Ooika — Restaurant in Princeton

I’ve been visiting Ooika often since they opened their first location in Lawrenceville, NJ around when it opened in March 2024, and I can confidently say there is currently no other place like it. Having traveled to Japan multiple times, Ooika captures the spirit and taste of Japan better than anywhere else I’ve found in New Jersey. Unlike the overly sugary matcha often found in American cafes, the menu here is carefully made, and honors the traditional taste of the food.

But what truly sets Ooika apart is not only the food and drinks. It’s the culture, atmosphere, and the care behind every detail. The owner, Marc, shows a great passion for matcha and a genuine dedication to sharing that passion with others. From the beginning, when Ooika had only their Lawrenceville location, Marc would always be working tirelessly, preparing drinks behind the counter, editing videos to promote and educate about matcha, and making supply runs to keep the shop running smoothly. If he ever saw his staff getting overloaded, he would immediately step in to help without question.

If you ask Marc anything about matcha, he lights up; happy to talk about it in detail and clearly enjoying the opportunity to share the depth and beauty of it with others. The staff reflect this same level of commitment and precision. Every drink is prepared with careful measurement. They use scales to make sure there is an exact amount of matcha, adjusting even if the weight is off by a single gram.

Marc also shows a strong sense of cultural responsibility. Reflecting the same values seen in Japan, Ooika encourages customers to bring reusable cups, and the cafe has clearly labeled trashcans with easy-to-read pictures to help with proper sorting. It's small, but a meaningful touch that shows Ooika’s approach to everything they do.

One moment that captured it all was today, during their Sakura Festival. The Princeton location was packed beyond capacity, and the line stretched out the door and into the parking lot. For Marc, you could see the subtle pride of a man who started with offering tea samples and teaching small classes, and grew that passion into two beloved locations. That pride has been earned, and it radiates through every aspect of Ooika.

A lot of people describe places as "authentic" mainly because the food tastes good. But at Ooika, it's not only the food; the atmosphere and the people all come together to create a truly authentic experience just like being...

As close to as perfect a matcha cafe as you can get :) Their preparation and sourcing is the best of the best- you can even see the matcha grounding machines which they use to make drinks! I'm a huge fan of the strawberry matcha latte. I tried the sesame latte with a shot of matcha added, and I honestly wouldn't recommend it because the sesame flavor overpowers the matcha. I look forward to coming back to try more of the seasonal flavors. All drinks are made with oat milk, which I love the justification for, and there is also the option to bring your own milk for them to you. There are also appetizer items like onigiri, tempura, and katsu which are freshly made and delicious, just note they close at 6pm. They have guest wi-fi and it is pretty fast and reliable! My only criticisms are the long wait times for both ordering and getting food/drink (they are hiring currently which should alleviate that) and the drinks are a pretty high price point (the cups are filled with a LOT of ice). You can ask for less ice, but they will also give you less...

PLEASE LOWER YOUR PRICING!! $7.95 FOR A ONE SIZE CUP AND AFTER TAX ITS ALMOST $9- it goes to around $8.60 per cup of strawberry matcha latte. And then after Tip it equals more than $10. I adore this place and love its origin story along with all of the employees and owner. I want this to be a chain store and grow as big as possible. I’ve been a long time customer since the location first opened in Lawrenceville- but almost $9 for ONE drink? That’s not even parallel with United States inflation, it seems to just be cockiness. $9 is nearly an entire meal bowl at Chipotle. A drink is priced at A MEAL pricing. Just seems unfair. I hate to say it but I can’t come to Ooika as often as I used to with all of my friends because of this pricing. A cup of Matcha is something to buy without the thought of it being the cost of a meal. Please take this into consideration- your customers will thank you. A fair price is $6-6.95 for a strawberry...