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You Can Whisk Your Own Matcha at The Matcha Tokyo's New South Branch
This is the green tea shop's biggest branch yet!
by Bea Faicol
Published on Jul 11, 2025
The Matcha Tokyo (MOA)
3/F Main Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
Facebook: www.facebook.com/the.matcha.tokyo.ph
Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday to Sunday
(SPOT.ph) Everyone seems to be in their matcha phase (including us), and the matcha scene in the Metro is sure trying to keep up with the demand, one green drink at a time. But while new matcha spots keep sprouting up, you’ve probably noticed The Matcha Tokyo pulling ahead in numbers. In just under three years, they’ve planted 13 branches in the Philippines that are now open, and it seems they're not done yet.
One of their newest—and biggest—outposts is now open at SM Mall of Asia. This one’s not just about size, for a little teaser: The Matcha Tokyo's Mall of Asia branch comes with branch-exclusive menu items that are savory, sweet, tangy, and... hands-on. This branch even has its own zen garden evoking a sense of serenity—even if it is inside one of the busiest, crowded malls in the Metro.
Also read: Top 10 Matcha Lattes in Manila
Here’s a look inside The Matcha Tokyo branch at SM Mall of Asia:
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The Matcha Tokyo is on the 3rd floor of the main mall, right beside Gashapon. Photo from The Matcha Tokyo.
Of all the branches we've visited, The Matcha Tokyo at SM Mall of Asia is easily the most expansive—it's their biggest space with the biggest seating capacity. Unlike some of their other locations, this one is an open, doorless space with soaring ceilings that makes it feel less contained and less stuffy. It helps that the interiors are easy on the eyes: light colors, natural elements, and a sunroof that bathes the space in soft, warm light.
Stepping inside, you're greeted with a display of The Matcha Tokyo merchandise and perishable items: drinkware, tinned snacks, chasen (matcha whisk), chawan (matcha bowls), and packets of their signature matcha powder (Japan Premium and Tokyo Rich). On the other side is the long metal counter where you can place your order and check out the display of desserts and pastries. This is also where you'll see the matcha magic happen—that is, where they hold their traditional tea ceremony.
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Interiors of The Matcha Tokyo - SM Mall of Asia. Photos from The Matcha Tokyo.
The pièce de résistance? Of course, it's the Zen rock garden in the center. It's a stylized miniature landscape with white gravel with a raked pattern of sorts—one intended to create movement and flow. Surrounded by faux trees, it’s less about realism and more about creating a visual atmosphere, a moment of calm in the bustling chaos of the mall. And before you get any ideas: no, you can’t step on the garden. Please attain your zen from a respectful distance.
There’s plenty of seating at the MOA branch, but the best seats in the house are the ones bordering the garden—it's perfect for sipping your matcha in peace. Pro tip: swing by during off-peak hours if you want higher chances of securing a seat... just keep in mind the long tables are communal, so hopefully, whoever sits beside you is no zen-blocking yapper.
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The Matcha Tokyo's SM Mall of Asia Branch-Exclusives
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Vegetarian Panini, Strawberry Banana Yogurt Bowl, Blueberry Mango Yogurt Bowl, and Smoked Salmon Panini. (Photos from The Matcha Tokyo)
ICYDK, each location of The Matcha Tokyo has its own branch exclusives, apart from the core menu of course. The range of exclusives at the SM Mall of Asia branch include filling savory items—panini sandwiches to be exact. You can go for the Chicken Teriyaki (P295), Tuna (P295), Turkey Ham Avocado (P395), Smoked Salmon (P395), Pastrami (P395), and for a meatless option with stuffed with grilled vegetables, Vegetarian (P295). There are also yogurt bowls in Blueberry Mango (P395) and Strawberry Banana (P395) variations, in case you're looking for a light snack that just about crosses over to dessert territory.
Ensaymatcha
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Mont Blanc Toast
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Steamed Bread with Butter
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It wouldn't be The Matcha Tokyo without their matcha-fied eats. Also exclusive to the SM Mall of Asia branch are the Ensaymatcha (P280), or matcha-hued ensaymada with a matcha mousse core; Mont Blanc Toast (P395), thick slices of toast toast with soft-serve and matcha sweet potato "noodles"; and the Steamed Bread with Butter (P380), a basket of bread rolls served with three types of butter (matcha, shoyu, and sweet potato).
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The Matcha Experience (Photo from The Matcha Tokyo).
For those who are still on the fence about putting up their own matcha bar at home, let this be your deciding factor: The Matcha Tokyo's Matcha Experience (P595). It's essentially a DIY matcha latte activity exclusively available at this branch—you get to whisk your own matcha with the guidance of the staff, then pour it over the glass of ice and milk (you can upgrade to oat, almond, or soy), and see the layers of the foamy whisked matcha slowly merge with the milk.
Prefer a sweet, roasted beverage instead? You can go for the Hojicha Experience (also P595), which follows the same format but uses hojicha, a kind of roasted green tea with a deeper, nuttier flavor.
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The Hojicha Experience (Photo from The Matcha Tokyo).
Both sets come with a curated sampler of bite-sized Tokyo Matcha desserts: Cookie Butter Basque Cheesecake, Matcha Madeleine, Warabi Mochi, and a Butter Cookie. Each one is designed to pair beautifully with either their matcha or hojicha latte.
Sure, there are several The Matcha Tokyo branches scattered across Metro Manila and beyond—each with their branch-exclusive offerings—but the SM Mall of Asia store is a multisensory ride that sets itself apart. Because where else can you whisk your own matcha, sip it beside a sunlit Zen garden, and feel like you’ve stepped into a Kyoto cafe?
Bea Faicol runs on questionable amounts of coffee.
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