Matcha Time Cafe
3785 Hamilton St, Ellicott City, MD, 21043
Matcha Time Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ellicott City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ellicott City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
3785 Hamilton St
Ellicott City, MD, 21043 - Phone (410) 418-4832
- Website https://www.matchatimecafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 7:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Melanie R.
This place has some killer Chai tea! Probably the very best I have had in life! I am addicted now and may switch to tea verses coffee. I needed a change. Free parking spots for patrons. That's a big plus for Historic Ellicott City.
(4)George T.
Perhaps one of the most if not THE MOST CHARMING cafe I've been to.... Although I've never set foot outside of an airport in Japan, stepping inside Matcha Time made me like I had been transported within a Miyazki film (I provided my own Miyazaki soundtrack via youtube). So serene.... The inside decor is clean to perfection. Wooden tables, elegant lighting, pastoral countryside feel but superimposed with newest, fanciest cafe machines, dispensers, ipad, etc. The best part was the service. From what I could tell, run and owned by a very nice japanese lady, her half japanese daughter, and Caucasian husband. As my friend and I sat down for our meal, we saw several local families and regulars come in and were greeted by the owner. One mother was proud to announce that her son had remembered to bring his own japanese chopsticks cause he knew he was coming to Matcha... As for the drinks: pretty solid. As soon as we walked up to the counter, we were given samples of their spiced apple cider and one of their specialty teas. Both were excellent and we decided to get a serving of each. 5 stars so far. As for the food, not as good as the decor, service, and drinks, but not bad and definitely good value. We didn't get any of the rolls this visit, but instead got the special which included rice balls (salmon) wrapped in seasweed, edemame, egg, sausage. Everything as pretty good and simple as Japanese cuisine should be. Flavors could have been stronger though. I would go back and try some of the rolls. OVERALL: so damn charming. Great to stop by for a snack/drink if you're in the area. DON'T forget to walk through the gift shop and look/buy the Japanese paraphernalia
(5)Joanna S.
Very cute cafe! First time here, had two different pots of tea which were both delicious and received free refills on the water for the tea. Tried the Philadelphia roll, ebi tempura roll, and California roll - all which were delicious! Very friendly and helpful staff, would recommend to friends.
(5)Jessica S.
What a treat! Walking into the cafe, I immediately felt a sense of pride and "hominess". I was greeted right away, even though other customers were being helped as well. I chose to order two iced rooibus teas to go. They took about 4 minutes to brew, but I enjoyed perusing the gift shop while I waited. The teas were so fresh and flavorful; you can really tell they use fine ingredients and know what they are doing! I was offered to add my own milk to my liking and I really didn't need a sweetener for the flavors of the tea stood without it. I can't say enough about how important quality and good customer service are. If you want to see these qualities at their finest, stop by this place!
(5)Nicole B.
I was exploring Ellicott City for the first time and saw this cute place nestled in lot D. The woman working at the counter was extremely friendly and helpful. I tried out their Sweet Matcha Latte. After walking around in the hot sun it was very refreshing. I bought some snacks to take home with me as well. Mochi, matcha pocky, and melon pan! I'll definitely be coming back in the future!
(5)Deb L.
I went here last weekend with some friends. It is located right off the main parking lot in Ellicott City. The cafe itself is very small - only two rooms - with very little seating. There are four small tables that can be pushed together to make two larger tables. The owner and her daughter were in that day and were extremely nice. The food was excellent, as was the tea. I got one of the specials of the day, the inarizushi combination - 3 inari, 4 cucumber rolls, a side, and an ice cream. I also ordered some matcha, which came with a little sweet pastry as a side. We got a pot of hojicha to share. There was a nice selection of teas that included traditional Japanese tea, herbals, and some non-Japanese tea (I remember seeing Assam on the menu). There is a cute shop off of the second room of the cafe that is full of neat little Japanese gifts and treats, all very reasonably priced. I'll definitely be back. Highly recommended.
(5)Kyo K.
Very nice and calming place hidden in Ellicott City. These folks take their tea very seriously and they go very out of the way to make sure you get a perfect cup of tea. Asides from the cafe (along with its tasty small foods), is a nice little shop where you can purchase tea and wonderful little treats. The whole atmosphere is great and the owner makes you feel very welcome. Oh, and the Inarizushi? Incredible.
(5)Jessica S.
Matcha time cafe is one of its kind in the Baltimore area- we came for lunch and had the unagi donburi and onigiri set. The food was very authentic and delicious. The drink menu is quite impressive - I really liked my iced sweet matcha latte (not too sweet) and my husband ordered the japanese ice cream soda and they were both wonderful. It's a very soothing and laid back environment and they take their time in making your food and drinks so I would not recommend it if you are in a rush.
(5)Leah S.
The sushi was recommended by a friend. It was so nice to walk in from the cold and be greeted by the wonderful staff who offered us a tasting of their delicious hot apple cider. The sushi was delicious. We were also given a complimentary cupcake. We will definitely be back.
(5)Claudia M.
Sushi wasn't super great, but I don't come here for sushi. Usually for tea or ramen (only on certain times of the month will they offer it, if you message them they can probably tell you the next time they will do it.) I love the atmosphere and everything about this place. It's great for a date, foodie adventure, or just to hang out with friends (but seating is very limited, especially if it's busy.) The lady who owns the store is super cute and super nice as well! Customer service is fast and attentive. One of my top places to take out of town visitors!
(5)A L.
came here because of all the good reviews on yelp! Friday afternoon, but it was pretty empty, which I liked! the owner was very sweet, she explained anything we asked, and even split our check (which was very small) very good customer service! I had takoyaki and crepe with matcha- which were very good. it was my first time trying takoyaki- apparently it could be more fried but I think I liked the way it was which was a little softer. matcha was very good, not too sweet. you can think of the green tea icecream you can get without the overwhelming sweetness. the crepe was very thin (which I love). they're supposed to have ramen pretty soon so I will be coming back for that:)
(5)Jude T.
I really enjoyed our meal here. I had a gigantic piece of unagidon (eel) with some really perfectly cooked white rice beneath it. My girlfriend got some delicious sushi rolls and some tea. The tea comes with a cute little timer on it so you know when it's perfectly steeped. They will also steep your tea again if you want, free of charge. Overall this was a good experience with delicious food, decent prices, and friendly staff! Parking is, of course, a problem like it is anywhere in the Ellicott City main street area, but they do have two of their own parking spaces out front (we lucked out and got one!).
(4)Sarah B.
I don't know how I missed out on this sweet little cafe for so long, and I really wish I had found it sooner! Cozy cafe, nice location (I love old Ellicott City), good tea selection, aaaand I can get onigiri! My friend and I visited on our lunch break. You order at the counter, and seat yourself - at least that's how it worked for our visit when it was pretty busy. The woman at the counter explained that service would be a little delayed due to the lunch crowd, so we did a quick visit to the gift shop after putting in our order. It didn't feel like much time has passed when we were invited back to our table because our teas were ready. Food came out soon after the tea, including my onigiri. As someone who has only ever made my own onigiri, getting them at the Matcha Cafe is such a treat. You get two per order, and you can mix the varieties. I chose the pickled plum (a single savory/salty umeboshi hidden in the middle of the rice ball), and the veggie flakes (tasty seasoning mixed throughout the rice). You get a sheet of nori seaweed for each to pickup and eat the onigiri with the seaweed. Just the coolest, and so tasty. I should note that I also got a spicy tuna roll and a pot of oolong tea, which were also terrific. Is it clear I was super excited about the onigiri? I look forward to visiting again!
(5)Ann P.
This place is a hidden gem in the historic district of Ellicott city. It's such a cozy and homey little cafe that lies on a hill. There are loads of free parking right in front of the cafe so no need to worry about meters. Just look for the "LOT D" parking lot sign. It is a large blue sign on the Main Street. I recommend their dragon ball with black sesame ice cream. The ice cream has a fresh, nutty yet creamy flavor and texture. The mochi are huge and I love the bouncy texture the mochi has. The owner is so friendly and so sweet. She kept telling me of different events that they hold at the shop. she invited me to a tea tasting event and a ramen tasting event. She is seriously so easy going and so personable. The service was quick. I do have to say that I was the only person along with a man at their shop. But I think it's because I went close to their closing time. Also beware of the hours! They close earlier every Sunday to Wednesday.
(5)Marilyn K.
Underrated jem of HoCo. It's a tiny little place which I think ends up being super cozy and has a bunch of cute and tiny little gift items that you won't find a lot of places (even with all the asian markets like lotte, hanoori town, hmart). I think the food and drink has always been pretty good though sushi isn't really their strong point. The sushi isn't bad but it isn't amazing, which to be honest most places don't have good sushi to me. Their selection in actual authentic japanese cuisine and their tea is what pulls it all together for me. The owner has also never been anything but super nice to me.
(5)Vincent D.
Good food. Great staff. Nice atmosphere/area. The matcha ice cream is perfect for hot days- light and not too sweet. The bara sushi was filling.
(5)Jenny H.
This is a really cute tea house in Ellicott City, somewhat hard to find because the front faces the parking lot, but you can enter through Hamilton Street, park, and you will see it. It's pretty small, there's a counter when you first walk in with a few seats, then an adjoining section with more tables. There was a large party so they put some tables together for the four of us. Their ramen was pretty good. They had to cook it outside, but everything was flavorful and not too salty, from the broth, to the seasoned pork belly, to the seasoned soft-boiled egg. The noodles themselves were chewy and good. You could get full off a bowl of it, I would order this again! Their tea was good too, they have a large variety and give you a large pot of steaming hot water with it, and they serve it as the perfect temperature. Through the 3-4 cups I had, it was just hot enough. They have various shaved ice and a Japanese store where they sell Japanese trinkets, bags, erasers, etc. Cute place, I would come back!
(4)Yan L.
I read the reviews online so I wanted to check this place out in person. The owner was very nice and friendly. We ended up getting the ujikintoki which was great! She used real matcha in the snow cream which made it delicious. It was a cute, quiet spot and I totally would've used it as a study spot in high school/college had I known about it. We didn't try any of the teas or food but will definitely be back. The gift shop is super adorable too.
(4)Lauren S.
Oh the food here is so good! I had the pickled plum onigiri, and it was fantastic! We also had peach tea which was also good. Prices are reasonable, and the food is made fresh. It's tucked away in the back of the parking lot D so I got lost finding it the first time.
(5)Rob N.
Matcha Time's owner cares. She cares, and it shows. This little cafe tucked away in the back of historic Ellicott City's parking lot D is a tiny sanctuary with tasty home-made Japanese food, great tea, and friendly staff. There's a rotating list of lunch specials on any given day: bara sushi (a more informal version of chirashi-don), octopus salad, and various other seasonal items complement the regular printed menu. A favorite is the DIY te-make (sushi hand-roll) kit, where you can pick from a list of fillings and literally roll your own with supplied sushi rice and nori sheets. For tea lovers, this is the place. The lady who runs the cafe is aces when it comes to brewing tea. It will be served at the proper temperature, and brewed perfectly, in a small one-person or large two-person pot. It's obvious that tea service receives a lot of attention to being done properly. If you have any questions about the menu, the tea, the food, or even how to roll your te-make, don't be afraid to ask. Help and information are always graciously provided. Matcha Time deserves a visit if you're in the area. You'll soon be hooked, too.
(5)Sherry F.
Such a quaint little cafe tucked in historic Ellicott City! Honestly, I never would've thought about checking this area out if it wasn't for some coupons to this place that our friend picked up from Otakon (an annual anime convention in Baltimore around late July/early August). So of course, attracted to a nice deal and some free stuff, the bf and I made the small trek up to check this cafe out. It's pretttty small, about 6 or so tables of varying sizes and there's a little gift shop tucked in the back (omg insta-kudos points from me + if you're into Japanese cute crafts and figurines, you HAVE to check it out!). And the Japanese owner is so friendly, polite, and knowledgeable - full of smiles and eager to answer the questions we had about the menu! We ordered the onigiri set, the sashimi bowl special, and with our coupons, we got a 10 oz (individual size) of the Silver Needle white tea for free! The cafe wasn't super full so we managed to claim a table and had just enough time to check out the little gift shop while waiting for our order to come out, which took maybe 15-20 mins. I ended up getting an adorably-tiny maneki neko meant to bring good luck (mine in particular is supposed to ward off danger, I think) to add to my never-ending collection of cute things. :] Onigiri set comes with two rice balls, dried nori, a little plate of edamame, some Japanese sausage, and a few slices of tamago. Nothing particularly special, but it was simple and tasted as I expected. To me, the sashimi bowl was more worth it - filled with a decent portion/selection of fish/other goodies - salmon, imitation crab, tuna, mackerel, eel, mushrooms,etc...that actually filled the two of us up, thank goodness. The silver needle tea was lightly pungent - steeped perfectly, which wrapped up our meal nicely! It's worth checking out if you're in the area and craving something simple/Japanese, since there's not really a huge selection around...but not extraordinary enough for me to make a trip here often. Note: this was around the end of August, and the owner also mentioned a tea-tasting for September - didn't end up checking it out though
(4)Yaofu Z.
I live in Ellicott City and I just found out about this place. It is perfect to combine with a walk around the old town. We ordered a green tea, a smoothie, eel rice and salmon rice triangle. Nothing is fancy or outstanding. But everything is just right. When combined together, the meal is well balanced and very pleasant. I particularly like the miso soup coming with the eel rice bowl. It is light and flavorful. I think I will come back.
(5)Karis K.
This is a authentic Japanese restaurant. The lady here is so friendly and welcoming. We tried the traditional matcha, dragon ball ice cream, and melon pan. They were all good even after I had a big dinner. If you like unsweet, you would love the matcha. The melon pan is sweet, and they warm it up for you. The dragon ball ice cream was good. I'm gonna try it with black saseme next time. They have a cute little gift shop on the side.
(5)Ashly M.
Great chai lattes and sushi! All very fresh and very kind workers. They have cute authentic gadgets and gift shop while you are waiting for your drink or food.
(5)B'Thy N.
Adorable little café! I came here to catch up with a friend and we left very satisfied with the food, service and overall experience we received. You must order at the counter once you enter. My friend had ordered the Philadelphia roll while I ordered the 3x3 handrolls with the spicy tuna, cucumber and avocado. We ordered two small pots of tea which were Peach Blossom and Chai Tea. After we ordered, we ventured to the open tables at the end of the hallway and to our surprise, there was a mini gift shop to the right stocked with assorted authentic Japanese items like chopsticks, school supplies, tea sets, and etc. Aaah, my inner child rejoiced as we rummaged through the shop. The food came quickly and we devoured it completely! I recommend the handrolls because they were so much to make and of course, to eat. I would like to add that the wasabi they serve was REAL wasabi freshly grated from the root and It's 10x better than the common wasabi paste that most sushi restaurants use. But my favorite part of the Matcha Time experience was tasting the tea! They were all served in mini white teapots and little ceramic cups and serving yourself really adds to the Japanese experience you get from this tea house. The teas we ordered were steeped perfectly and were robust and bright in their unique flavor. Not only that, I think the majority of the tea they offer is organic which is always great to know! One thing I have to mention is that the portion you get is relatively small for the price you are paying for but I can't complain because of the superior quality of food I received. The lady in the front counter, who I assume is the owner, was very attentive to us and made sure if we wanted refills of the tea we ordered (by refills I mean making making a pot from a new batch of tea). Definitely looking forward to comeback here again to try more of their food and TEA!
(5)Nhu P.
Very cute little café with the sweetest owner ever! Place is small with only about 7 tables, little gift shop to the left with the additional 4 tables. Came here really excited after seeing reviews of them having ramen but was sadly disappointed when she told me they no longer had it. It was just a specialty thing they did for a bit. Would really like if that became a permanent item on their menu! The lack of ramen in EC is shocking! So ended up getting the temaki sushi with spicy tuna, salmon, and avacado. It was fun making our own little rolls and the rice was fantastic! Sushi experts know good rice is as important as fresh fish! Hubs got the udon, and the broth was on point! Second best udon I've ever had after the most famous udon shop in wakiki. Was too full for dessert which was one of the reasons I wanted to come, so I'll be back! Oh! And the tea was delish! The peach blossom!
(5)Joy B.
We lucked out with their Ramen weekend! Just ordered spicy miso ramen and it is delish. Wish they'd do it more often and the portion was slightly bigger but the spot was right on.. Their sushi is always fresh and onifiri set is also highly recommended. they also offer brown rice for any sushi roll! A hidden jem in old Ellicott City.
(5)Kristy F.
Sushi is very good. Service is excellent. Had the California rolls which were fresh and good with the black sesame ice cream for dessert. Cozy setting.
(5)Chantelle A.
Exactly what I imagined. This little peaceful cafe is tucked away in a quiet corner of Parking Lot D in Historical Ellicott City. As we walked in, we noticed that every table in the cafe was in use but, we used our time wisely to view the cool items in the gift shop area. The gift shop offered everything from sushi shaped erasers for children to rice cookers. I had to stop myself from purchasing everything because I really wanted to try the food and the Matcha Tea. So my boyfriend was interested in how to prepare Matcha tea so we watched a few Youtube videos together. It is a long process to measure and scoop the tea, add the right amount of water, whisk the tea til its frothy and swirl....so I wanted to surprise him with his first Matcha tea exprerience and what an experience it was. We decided to grab something to eat after walking through the beautiful Historic Ellicott City. We tried the Ramen (it was a special for that weekend but, they will be adding it to their menu soon) which was amazing and soooo tasty! We also had the Spicy Tuna roll which was pretty good. Next up....the Matcha. The tea came out in a huge bowl and served with a chewy Strawberry flavored cookie that complemented the bitterness of the tea. For dessert, we tried the Matcha Ice Cream with shaved ice and blackberry jam. We liked the Matcha Ice Cream very much...we could have done without the shaved ice on top though. Overall, service was great. The food was well prepared and tasted very good. The atmosphere was calming and the restaurant was very clean. I cannot wait to return!
(5)Toby D.
Love this place! Always delicious and fun! This time was the 4th time I had been there, first time I visited that had a free tea tasting, and they had special summer items with shaved ice desserts. All good, my favorite items are the hand sushi and the apple ginseng tea, see the pics!
(5)Kellie J.
Absolutely love this place. Nestled behind main street in Ellicott city's historic district, this place is a real gem. They offer an assortment of tasty teas, sushi, soup, matcha treats, ice cream and more. The manager here is such a doll. I've never encountered this kind of service- they're extremely sweet and polite and go out of their way to ensure your comfort and happiness while you're there. It also has a cute little gift shop where you can browse pretty hair clips, ornate mugs, adorable coin purses and tons of cute what nots while you wait for your food. My personal favorite thing here is the Ujikintoki (Matcha shaved ice with red bean) it's delish!
(5)Ella L.
Ugh this place is so cute...I love it when I stumble upon this kind of place in Old Ellicott City. This cafe is pretty unique..there's a small gift shop that you can browse around before your food comes out. The service was good and the atmosphere was cozy. However, the food was okay. This place definitely does not have the best sushi but it was really cool to try the Onigiri Set for the first time! The taste of veggie flakes reminded me of my childhood lol. I love this cafe and I will definitely be back to try out more of their menu items!
(5)Heidi F.
This is a small tea shop in Ellicott city. Came here just as the snow started to snow! Had the best pot of Chai Latte and enjoyed the gift shop. Additionally got to try the fantastic ramen! Great broth, amazing pork belly and fabulous miso instead of seaweed. Perfect for a snowy day!
(5)Jennifer C.
This place is a great shop for Japanese gifts and knick knacks. The food/beverages can be pricey. The staff are actually Japanese, which is great because they converse in Japanese all the time. It is an immersive experience. I wished they had tea ceremonies and a stronger matcha tea.
(4)Marisa L.
I love when food is so good it puts you in a great mood. The white tea was perfect. The unagi rolls were the absolute best we have ever had. The onigiri rice didn't stay together well, but tasted fabulous. The place itself is very small and simple, but still feels cozy. We left very happy :)
(5)Tara L.
This was my first time at this cute tea and gift shop. The pot of chai latte was excellent and the Udon bowl was delicious. Had a spicy tuna roll as well and enjoyed it. The atmosphere was nice with lots if cute gifts and trinkets for sale. We went right after Midnight Madness and everything was 10% off. My friend had shaved ice and shared- so refreshing! It is a tiny space, but adorable with great family style service. Employees were friendly and approachable. Glad my friend told me about it! Will surely return!
(5)Jennifer Y.
Great service! Great desserts! My favorite is the black sesame ice cream with red bean.
(5)Wayne H.
Hard to find. Pleasant service. Only open for one year. I really enjoyed the unagi donbori. That stood out to me. It was eel and rice. Very well flavored. Short staff this weekend due to the Otakon but the weight was not long and the service was great. DECORE: 3 FOOD: 3 SERVICE: 5
(4)Emily K.
I went into this cafe for the first time and was impressed. Everyone inside at the time was Japanese and speaking Japanese so that was a good sign of authenticity for me. My impression of Matcha Time Cafe is that it is a sweet little authentic Japanese shop/restaurant. I did not eat here but plan to sometime in the future. I just bought some matcha supplies and some random Japanese gifts from the gift shop on this visit. The owner and her male employee were both very friendly and polite. I will be back some day soon :) Note: It is located in the parking lot behind La Palapas off of Main Street in Old Ellicott City...a little weird to find but don't be discouraged from finding it.
(4)Tunaidi A.
Matcha Time Cafe is a great additional to historic Ellicott City. It's a quaint and homey cafe, with few seating indoors, chairs outside, and an adjacent Japanese gift shop. I love the tea varieties offered at Matcha Time Cafe, the tea pots used, and the timer provided that lets you know when the brew is ready to drink. Free hot water refills are available as well. In addition to tea, there are other drinks offered here such as smoothies and lattes, Japanese sweets/snacks, ice cream, and food such as simple sushi and rice bowls. There's a mixed clientele at Matcha Time Cafe and it's great to see the diversity here. Parking is free in Parking Lot D.
(4)William W.
Best kept secret in old Ellicott City. Really nice little place (right behind La Palaba). Sushi was good. I liked the spicy tuna. I REALLY like that the restaurant is BYOB. The owner is delightful. It's a good place to check out.
(4)Laura P.
Sometimes they're open on Tuesdays. Once I went on a Tuesday and they were closed and revelry I went and they were open. Last time my friend and I got the mint hot chocolate (wouldn't recommend, I've made better with a powder packet and a candy cane). I also got to green tea ice cream w/red bean, that was yummy! Definitely recommend the ice creams and teas that they have. The workers/owners are suuuuper nice and tentative, bathroom is cute too (clean and homey). Overall I really like this place (atmosphere, ice cream, and tea) and come by time to time.
(4)Shiehan C.
It's a tiny little cafe/gift shop in the back of Parking Lot D in historic Ellicott City that serves mostly tea with some Japanese snacks, and a separate gift shop. There's a pretty good variety of herbal and other sorts of teas, but Starbucks this is not (a plus in my book for a tea shop). The prices might seem a little high but it is freshly brewed and the owners will let you smell the teas before you buy. There's some Japanese snacks & sushi, but this is a cafe, not a full-service restaurant, so don't expect any fancy rolls. They do serve more traditional items like DIY hand rolls and onigiri that I rarely see outside of Asia. During one visit, my friend ordered the matcha tea, and it was served in the traditional style with a whisk. The gift shop on the other side of the cafe is full of Japanese curios/toys, and while I haven't bought anything there yet, I eventually will. I like coming here for various teas, sometimes they have special iced teas, but the only downside is that there are only 3 two top tables in there.
(4)Sara A.
I love this place! The herbal teas are carefully prepared with ultra-pure water, so they are healthful and have a wonderful taste and aroma (be sure to try the Bergamot Sage and the Lemongrass) and the sushi is super-fresh, made to order. The food is delicious and the owner is a delightful, sweet Japanese lady who makes everyone feel welcome. The gift shop has so many cute and colorful things- rice-paper covered pencils, stationery, lovely teapots and mugs, beautiful chopsticks, and high quality chocolates. There is always something new. A very clean, quiet and cozy atmosphere makes this a perfect place to relax and recharge yourself.
(5)Brook H.
Wow, I saw a post about them on a local Patch and decided it would be cool to try them out. My daughter was being treated and given the choice between here or a Japanese eatery, and she decided that tea sounded excellent. So off to historic Ellicott City, where we had to battle with confusing streets and full parking lots just to get in. Upon entering, you're going to notice that it's small. I mean ~very~ small. They have three small tables in the main area by the door (seating 2 people each) and a back area with a larger table (4 people) and one or two more small tables. I'd say that if a dozen people tried to eat in at once, they'd be at capacity. Luckily, most of the customers just want to order tea to go, so eventually a seat will open up. As for menu, this is a tea cafe and that is their specialty. They must have a dozen different teas, from green to black to herbal, Asian to Western, etc. They prepare your tea traditionally, which means using steeped, loose leaves rather than tea bags. Luckily they provide you with to-go cups that have filters in the lids, so you're not picking plants out of your teeth. All of their tea is ~excellent~ and they'll work with you on extra water for steeping, sugar, cream, etc. For food, this is a small cafe with minimal dishes. They have a small variety of Asian snacks, such as muffins or sweet breads, that may not be favorable to Western pallets. They also serve onigiri with a variety of fillings and a small sushi list. The sushi is decent, although I have more favorite places, but their onigiri platter is well worth the $10. It comes with two onigiri, edamame, and sausages and is great for a nice lunch. Better yet, get dessert here as they have vanilla, black sesame, and matcha ice cream and the ever-so-tasty red beans to go with them! Their name and specialty is traditionally served matcha, which is a green tea powder known for its health benefits and energizing nature. You receive a small amount of the tea in a traditional bowl along with an accompanying sweet confection. For those that have never had matcha, you're to take bites of the confection for the sweetness to counter (and enhance) the extreme bitter flavor of the tea. I love matcha and, even though it had been 15 years since I'd last partaken, it all came back to me once here. So, despite the small size, limited fare, and hidden location of this cafe, I am ranking this one of my top stops of the DC area. The woman who runs it is a wonderful Japanese lady, who still believes in traditional preparation and style, that has been great every time we've visited. This is a great stop for a mid-day lunch, afternoon tea, or those interested in traditional Japanese fare. Even better, if it's a nice day out you can combine it with a walk around historic Ellicott City! Totemo oishii!
(5)David M.
This was a fun little place to stop for dinner. Incredibly clean, lots of wood, and an awesome set up of tea and coffee making machinery behind the counter. The place is really lacking in seating however- there are just a handful of tables available. The feel of a modern tea house is a bit jarringly spoiled by the feeling that your're sitting in a Japanese kitsch shop. However, the tea we got was very pleasant, the sushi was tasty. We also opted for Onigri (sort of a do-it hourself ball of rice with a filling and a seaweed wrapper. It was great rice - but I would not choose the roe again (too bland) - but still a fun experience. Despite friendly staff, reasonable prices, and great food - I can't give Matcaha Time five star. If they increased the seating, provided some more ambiance and added some outdoor seating - it quickly could be a five star stable of Historic Ellicott City.
(4)Joanne B.
Matcha Time is like a tiny piece of Japan. It's not a big menu, but the food is just like the food we enjoyed in Japan. The onigiri set is really nice--2 onigiri in your choice of 4 flavors, several small chunks of sausage, some rolled egg omelet slices and edamame. They have good sushi and many teas. Plenty of desserts, too, including shaved ice. There's a little gift shop with imported items--chopsticks, tea cups, lots of cute things. We've been going to the historic district more since they opened!
(5)Aileen L.
Very authentic teas and snacks. The mentaiko onigiri is delicious. Cute gift shop as well. The owner is a very nice lady and it makes the stay very welcoming. The tea comes in an insulated cup with a filter lid so you don't ingest any of the tea leaves. If you want a free refill of hot water for your tea, just ask. I'll definitely be coming here again!
(5)Katrina H.
Finally ate the food here and it. was. amazing. Came with The Boyfriend on a Saturday. It was pretty packed but they still showed impeccable service even though the main manager wasn't there. We ordered the salmon onigiri, miso soup, and Unagi don (eel bowl) as well as the smoked salmon avocado roll. For tea we tried a Pu-Erh (1985 I think) and an iced sweet matcha tea latte. The good: The Unagi don was out of this world. At $16.99, it was a bit pricey and The Boyfriend was reluctant to get it. "I've been to Japan, I don't see how this could be better." It was a one bite KO, As soon as he started chewing, his face morphed into one full of surprise and satisfaction. He closed his eyes and said, "This is the best eel bowl I have ever tasted." I immediately took a bite. I teared up. It was that good. The eel melted into your mouth with the sweet sauce and steamy rice, and every subsequent bite was just as satisfying as the last. If you had to get one dish, get this one. The miso soup surprised me. I wasn't really looking forward to it. I like miso soup but I treat it like the side dish it is. I think the water quality really plays into all the food because this miso soup was really, really good. The Boyfriend really liked it and he doesn't care for miso soup at all. It was a touch sweet and seasoned very well. The okay: The salmon onigiri and smoked salmon avocado roll were okay. They weren't spectacular and I probably wouldn't order it again. Also, I didn't really care for the iced sweet matcha tea latte because it was too milky and bland to me, but The Boyfriend liked it. The bad: Unfortunately, I did not like the Pu-Erh. It was bitter and gritty, and I did not enjoy it at all. It was a struggle to finish a pot and I basically cringed with every sip. I'm not sure whether it's because I personally dislike Pu-Erh tea but suffice to say, I will not order that again. TIp: They have customer loyalty cards, so they write the cost of your purchases down. After ten visits they take the average value of the ten and give you the value of the purchases for free!
(5)Theresa N.
We have been here twice already and the food is very fresh. The second time hubby ordered the kit where you can make your own hand rolls and it was a lot of fun. We ended up with a lot of dishes on our table, but the staff is very good about removing the dishes when they are empty. There is also an attached gift shop with lots of fun little Japanese items, including school supplies like pencil caps, lunch boxes, stickers and fun shaped erasers. I bought the prettiest pink flowered "silk" fan. They are located off of the main drag. Look for them near the back entrance to La Palapa.
(5)Teddy B.
Simple sushi selection with the staple rolls. Great tea-- peach blossom is great. Prices normal. Sushi is tasty, and was set in a simple, homemade style. Space is homey, small, with very few tables which made it feel like a lunch-only place-- but for a lunch with small parties, it's a nice treat in downtown Ellicott City. One issue, perhaps since it was a cold day, we were cold enough to wear coats inside so some more heat would be perfect. Service kind and subdued. Wifi. Was worth our time and money! Recommended for small afternoon outings.
(4)Karissa E.
I finally visited this cafe today despite parking In lot D all the time. It was definitely worth the visit. The cafe is very small, only seating for 10-12, but when I went in this afternoon, there were only two other patrons so it wasn't a problem. I was immediately greeted by the owner and the young waitress. The cafe was very clean though slightly empty. The background music was barely noticeable over the occasional sound of food prep. I spent most of the visit as the only person seated inside, so it was quiet, but not in a super awkward way. I ordered a small pot of white tea some seaweed salad, and two sushi rolls. The tea was steeped at the perfect time and temperature for silver needle and I was provided with an extra cup to place the used leaves to prevent bitterness, which is something a lot of places overlook. Adding hot water to re steep the leaves was free, and they served high quality teas that lend themselves well to multiple uses. The seaweed salad was standard of any place, not too sour and refreshing on a hot day. The first roll served was the shrimp tempura. The shrimp was nice and warm, and cooked to a satisfying crunch where even the tail shells were easily edible. The second roll was the spicy tuna. It was spicier than I'm used to but was otherwise seasoned well. The shrimp was my favorite of the two. For dessert I had the traditional Japanese shaved ice. I got strawberry ice over black sesame ice cream, with condensed milk and strawberry preserves. From the first bite, the combination of condensed milk with cold sweetened strawberry was beautiful. I'm typically a soft spoken customer but when the owner asked if I liked it, I had to respond with "this is soooooo good." The imported black sesame ice cream was very true to flavor with the perfect mix of sweet and bitter you don't see often in western cuisine. I think I might have liked it better if I dug in and mashed the ice cream and flavored ice together, but it was so pretty as is, and the transition from top layer to bottom layer was perfect. All in all, this is definitely a place I'll be back to. The sushi is limited standard fare, but very authentic and good for a quick fix without breaking the bank. The dessert and tea are the real winners here and worth a try.
(5)Dennis G.
Love this place! There's absolutely no better place in Howard County for sushi. Tacked in Old Ellicott City this place exudes greatness with superb sushi an array of teas and excellent service. Prices are very affordable. Overall, this is sushi/tea narvana!!
(5)Katie S.
Ok first I have to say THIER CHAI LATTE GETS 100 GOLD STARS! I am a chia aficionado and have to say this is the only chai tea I will purchase! SOOO GOOD! So authentic!! Not that powdered crap everyone else sells. However, I did purchase the tempura shrimp roll and I was not too impressed. I have gotten a much better tempura shrimp roll in Eldersburg at J&Y. That's why I give this place four stars, because to me the sushi (and the ambience) was around 3 stars, but the chai knocked it out of the park!
(4)Bryony B.
WOW. I love this place so much already..... They have shave ice with ice cream, green tea and red bean delights GALORE, sushi, pocki sticks, all kinds of tea, tea sets, unique japanese gifts and MORE. When I first walked in, I was thinking - hmmmm, I don't see where all the food is. But trust me, its all there - check out the menu - awesome!! Not to mention - their gift shop is in the back and it is pretty extensive. I would love the food and drink by itself AND the gift shop by itself. But put them together - and WOAH. Also, they are in the cutest freaking little town (Ellicott City) that I have been to in a while. It is like a little historic trendy, but relaxed place. I actually kind of want to live there now, and go to Matcha Time and be a regular. Oh DREAMS...... I also found a pile of 10% off coupons in the back where the gift shop was - handy much? I had the salmon roll, yellowtail roll, melon creme soda, and the black sesame ice cream - MMMMMMMMM. I need to have my lunch over again! And I wanted to try so many other things I saw - green tea pound cake with ice cream? Yes, please!!
(5)Yu H.
The food is super good and the owner is super nice!!!! Love the place. Definitely will come again!!!!!
(5)Mary M.
Cute little place - pretty authentic. Lots of Japanese sweets and dishes. A good place to get sushi if you aren't expecting anything too fancy and just want to get in and out. They also have green tea ice cream and other Japanese sweets. There is a cute little gift shop attached with lots of items for sale.
(5)Annie O.
Cute little cafe! Service is attentive and friendly. I ordered the rice ball set that comes with hot dog and edamame. My husband ordered sushi set. Hot peach green tea is mild and delicious. Sesame ice cream is a must try! FYI Tako salad is raw octopus. The waitress was nice enough to cook it for me. :)
(4)S N.
Friendly owners and staff. Delicious food. Good tea. Space is limited, so this would not work for large parties.
(4)Ayumi C.
I love this little cafe in old town ellicott city. The onigiri is tasty, sushi is good. In love with the gift shop in the back - they have cute stationary and small gifts. Will definitely be coming back here regularly !
(5)SynderSoot L.
Matcha Time Cafe is a unique place with a quaint ambiance, great tea(s) and good sushi. We asked the sushi chef / owner, Hatsumi, to be creative; she made us three rolls with tuna, salmon/avocado and shrimp. The wasabi was excellent. Just the right "bite", flavor and enhanced the sushi. The inside -albeit small -is very clean, has a Japanese gift shop with reasonable prices and overall ambience is Euro-Asian.
(4)Clare S.
Intimate cafe with sweet hospitality and excellent sushi and tea.
(5)Eric G.
I had been here many times to look at the gift area and to try their teas, but i'd never eaten at the food part. I saw their specials that they posted and they looked good, so I thought I'd try it. I honestly wasn't expecting much because it doesn't seem like a regular restaurant if you go in there. Well, that was one of the best sushi meals I've ever had and I've been all around the US at some of the top rated sushi restaurants. The presentation and the taste were amazing. They charged $16 for what I got and in any other sushi restaurant, that would have probably been around $30. I hesitate to write all this because If the word gets out, there will be a constant line outside the door, but this business deserves the recognition.
(5)Ma-e M.
If I have to get Matcha Green Tea Latte, I would rather go to Starbucks. The owner/operator said she does not make sweet so my drink just tasted milk and color green. If I have to get sushi, I'll go to Yama. I don't need to travel to steep hilly, narrow roads in the small city of Ellicott. No need to get into the danger zone, because it's nothing special.
(3)Chad P.
A perfect cup of tea! We stop at Matcha Time every time we come to Ellicott City! As soon as you walk in you are greeted by the owner who is very warm, helpful, informative and great at what she does which is make the perfect cup of tea. I love to get a cup to go and sit by the nearby beautiful park benches that overlook the creek and savor every drop and day dream. Don't forget to try the green tea ice cream which has a very natural, delicious and palate cleansing taste. Overall a perfect little business that offers a unique experience.
(5)Tracy S.
Absolutely the best tea I've ever had - and I've been to China, Japan and the Indian Spice Island of Zanzibar. The Sweet Matcha Latte was so good that five minutes after I left, I considered driving back for another one. And the Masala Chai is perfect on a cold, rainy day. Though the view of the hilly historic streets of Ellicott City is wonderful from the window of the cafe, the dining area is tiny and as another poster mentioned, the ambiance is not quite there yet. Don't go with more than two friends or you probably will not be able to find seating. The sushi was very good but limited in selection and rather expensive compared to full scale Japanese restaurants in the area. We dropped over $70 for a lunch consisting of miso soup, salad, three rolls of maki sushi, mochi ice cream and a large pot of tea. The owner and servers are super friendly and attentive. This will definitely be one of our go-to places for tea in the future.
(4)Syaoran L.
Delicious food and very well made. Recommended to anyone who wants good authentic Japanese food. Don't forget the gift shop too (^_^)
(5)Karen N.
I'm a huge fan of tea, so I was very excited to try this place out. It's pretty much like what other reviewers have said so far. It's small, but when my friend and I went, there was only one other customer there who seemed like a regular and was chatting with the owners up front so we had the whole back area to ourselves. It was a Friday night, so maybe normal 20-somethings were hopping at other places, but us old souls were catching up with tea - and let me tell you, this is a perfect place for that. It's very homey, and the gift shop that's part of the cafe is great to browse around and just have something cute to look at while we're getting settled and waiting for our orders. So, onto the edibles, the tea is great. I got white peony, and my friend got wuyi oolong tea and we both enjoyed ours. The owner was very nice and let us know we could have refills and re-steeps if we wanted to. I'm looking forward to coming back to try their other teas! There's quite a big selection. The food, like others have said, is simple and edible but not something I'd go crazy over. I got the onigiri set (2 onigiri, sausage which is really just heated hot dogs I think, temago aka eggs, and edamame), and my friend got the inarizushi set with 3 inarizushi (fried tofu filled with sushi rice), and cucumber rolls. I think their emphasis is on their drinks, so that's fine to keep the food simple, but personally, I'm much more of a foodie and I like to have drinks play second fiddle (unless I'm full and only want a drink), so it wasn't really hitting all the right notes for me around dinner time when I was ready for a scrumptious meal. That's part of why I'm giving Matcha Time Cafe a 4/5 stars. However, that didn't take away from the experience as much as it could have because I had read the reviews before going and was expecting it. If I had not and was expecting more, I could see how that would make someone rate it lower. Expectations are so important. Anyway, another reason I'm giving it a 4/5 is because I was hoping to get the teas in nice cute ceramic cups since we were dining in, but that was not the case. We were served in the to-go paper cups. I get the feeling that they started the cafe with the idea that this would be like a Japanese tea version of Starbucks - people getting their teas to-go on their way to other things, but I'm hoping they will consider getting a couple nice ceramic cups for those customers who do want to have the full experience dining in. Otherwise, it was a wonderful experience, and I'd recommend this to anyone who loves tea!
(4)Shannon C.
This past time visiting Matcha Time I got some salmon sushi to go. While I was waiting for it to be made I talked to the husband of the owner for a little bit and he was really nice, and explained how some of the teapots / tea infusers work. I also wandered around the gift shop and it was really cute. They had a lot of inexpensive gifts for children (pencils, erasers, notebooks, figurines, etc). They also had a lot of tea themed things, and other japanese gifts like nice chopsticks and hair accessories. I was really interested in little candles that were shaped like fruit. The sushi was delicious. It's great for a light meal / snack, and it's not too pricey.
(5)Tig O.
I went to Matcha Time last weekend with a group of friends because we had bought the LivingSocial deal they offered last month. I had no expectations going in, but I was determined to try new things, and I ended up being very impressed by the food, which was fresh and delicious. I ordered the inarizushi lunch set combo, which was a special for the month. It came with inarizushi, a cucumber roll, a choice of "companions" (edamame, onigiri, miso soup, seaweed salad, or tako wasabi - I chose onigiri), and a choice of ice cream - I had black sesame. I also got a pot of houjicha tea. The only thing I had eaten before was a cucumber roll, but everything I ate here was delicious, I would definitely come back again for any of it. I had never seen black sesame ice cream anywhere else, and it was amazing. The atmosphere was very calm and relaxing. The store and restaurant are in a small location, but this only adds to the peaceful atmosphere. They do include a warning on their menu - "Drinking tea may result in a changed attitude and improved outlook on life." :)
(5)Em O.
I really love matcha time cafe! I've been here a couple of times in the past few months. I will review both the cafe and the small adjoining store: Store: At first, it was only a small store, but for a small store they have a large variety of knick knacks to choose from. Their truffle pig chocolates is very delicious, as well as the breads that you can buy and eat on the go. They also have lots of different stationary, Japanese tea, earrings, small toys, Japanese postcards, and small little items like a Japanese cutting board in the shape of a fish. It is definitely worth going to look! They also have beverages like tea and ramune, as well as Japanese treats like daifuku in their refrigerated section. Cafe: The cafe has ice cream, which comes in match and black sesame and really worth the price. They also have different types of sushi. I've tried the tempura sushi and the philadelphia roll and they were both good. I've also tried the temaki sushi. Temaki sushi is when they deliver all of the ingredients to your table and you can make your own sushi. The fish ingredients tasted very fresh and while I was there, the shop owner let us taste their ginger and tumeric tea. You should definitely have a chat with the shop owner while you are there- she is very friendly!
(5)Kaela B.
I live close to Ellicott City and to my surprise I learned recently that there was a little tea shop that had been up for almost 5 months. I knew I needed to go, and I'm glad I did! The shop was small, but comfortable, and had a great view of Ellicott City that I'm not used to seeing. I got the Sweet Matte Latte, and although it was different from teas and lattes I've tasted before in the past, it was enjoyable. They have lots of other drink options on the menu, and I know that I will be back sometime to try more! They also have small sushi rolls, I saw one hand rolled myself. I wasn't hungry at the time, but if I was I definitely would have gotten a fresh roll. I recommend stopping by, but probably not with a huge group due to the small amount of tables.
(4)Tara U.
Although I work right down the street, I went to Matcha Time Cafe for the first time today and I loved it. I had some strawberry tea and a red bean dessert. I didn't have time to try the sushi but will definitely be back. The owner Hatsumi is so so nice! Check out the gift shop too. So cute!
(5)