The Matcha Tokyo Omotesando: a preview of what Toronto might get

There is something about Omotesando that just feels effortlessly cool.

It has that polished, fashion-forward energy that makes you want to walk around wearing your best outfit, even if you are technically just there to get a drink. My current self appreciates it, but my teenage self who was very deep in the Harajuku fashion rabbit hole would have absolutely lived for it.

Omotesando feels stylish without trying too hard. It is hip, a little edgy, and full of interesting cafés tucked between designer storefronts and small boutiques.

One of the cafés I really wanted to visit there was The Matcha Tokyo Omotesando.

And interestingly enough, this café is opening a location in Toronto on Ossington, which makes this review feel like a little preview for my fellow Torontonians.

If you are wondering whether the Toronto location will be worth visiting, consider this a small introduction.

The aesthetic of The Matcha Tokyo

The Omotesando location is instantly recognizable. It sits inside a small white house style building, which feels charming and minimalist at the same time. There is even a vending machine beside the building, which somehow makes the whole scene feel very Tokyo.

Inside, the space is clean and modern with a strong focus on matcha branding. Everything revolves around matcha here.

Not just drinks. Everything. They sell matcha cookies, matcha jam, matcha protein powder, matcha sweets, and even matcha soy cookies. It is very clear that The Matcha Tokyo is building a full lifestyle brand around matcha.

Whether you want to drink it, eat it, or apparently bake with it later at home, they have something for you.

Watching the matcha being prepared

One thing I really appreciated was that the matcha is whisked in front of you, just like many cafés in Japan.

That process alone makes the experience feel more intentional. You see the powder being measured, the whisking technique, and the care that goes into preparing the drink.

I really hope they keep this tradition when the Toronto location opens, because it is something we rarely see here.

The vibe inside the Omotesando café felt slightly more westernized compared to some traditional tea houses, but it still respected the preparation process.

There was seating inside where people were working on laptops, which gave the space a relaxed café energy rather than a quick grab-and-go spot.

There was also a small outdoor area where people could sit right outside the shop.

Trying both hot and iced matcha

During my trip I actually visited The Matcha Tokyo twice, once in Omotesando and another time near Shinjuku Station. That meant I had the chance to try both the hot matcha and the iced matcha.

The hot matcha was my favourite. It was perfectly balanced. Not overly sweet, not bitter, and not overly milky. It simply tasted like what a well-made matcha should taste like.

The iced version was also good, though slightly less memorable for me. Slightly less balanced and more bitter. Still very solid though.

And honestly, the portion sizes were perfect for me. They are on the smaller side, which some people might find surprising, but I actually prefer that when it comes to caffeine.

What else is on the menu

Beyond traditional matcha drinks, the menu includes quite a few creative options.

They offer things like:

• matcha lemonade
• hojicha drinks
• matcha protein beverages
• matcha soft cream
• seasonal drinks like sakura matcha lattes

I did not get to try the sakura drink because I visited outside of cherry blossom season, but I would love to see something like that appear on the Toronto menu in spring.

Toronto already celebrates cherry blossom season beautifully, so a seasonal sakura matcha drink would actually make a lot of sense here.

How it compares to other matcha in Japan

Now for the honest comparison. Was The Matcha Tokyo good? Yes. Was it the best matcha I had in Japan? No.

That title still belongs to Hatoya Matcha in my opinion. But The Matcha Tokyo still delivers something important: consistency. It tastes exactly like what matcha should taste like.

Which, strangely, is still rare in many North American cafés.

Final thoughts

Overall, The Matcha Tokyo Omotesando is a great stop for matcha lovers visiting Tokyo. The drinks are balanced, the aesthetic is clean and modern, and the focus on matcha as a full brand experience is actually pretty interesting.

For my Toronto readers especially, it will be fascinating to see how closely the upcoming Ossington location follows the original Japanese concept. If they keep the quality and the preparation style intact, it could easily become one of the best matcha spots in the city.

And yes, I will absolutely be there comparing the two.

For research purposes, of course.