Matcha Zanmai

What a gem!! I'm always on the hunt for a great matcha spot, so I was super excited when a Montreal local recommended this delightful Chinatown shop! The shop itself looks rather unassuming - tucked away in a little side alley with space for only a few small tables - but looks can absolutely be deceiving. They have a variety of great matcha dishes, ranging from classic ceremonial matcha to creative matcha lattes to some of the best matcha ice cream I've had in North America. It had been a pretty hot day (quite rare for Montreal in May), so I was craving something cold and sweet...the perfect mood to try out their matcha soft serve. They offer a variety of toppings, including matcha cake, mochi, red bean, and soybean powder; however, if you're as indecisive as I am, you can try them all with the Zanmai Signature. The ice cream was phenomenal - it was rich, creamy, and not overly sweet. You can absolutely taste the earthy, slightly bitter, slightly floral matcha, balanced out by just enough sugar. The toppings also helped make the parfait more interesting, with various pops of flavor and texture; you do have to eat the mochi pretty quickly, though, as the cold ice cream tends to make the mochi harden up and become less chewy or fun to eat. All in all, I was super impressed by this spot! The staff was friendly, the ice cream was outstanding, and the space was nice and cozy. I can't wait to come back and sample some of their drinks!

- Sonya Hu -

I really loved the matcha desserts at Matcha Zanmai! Every treat I tried (I ordered six!) was full of rich, authentic matcha flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. The desserts looked beautiful and tasted fresh soft and light without being too heavy or overly sweet. Even though I ordered quite a bit, the service was surprisingly quick, which I really appreciated. The staff seemed to know their stuff and handled the busy vibe well. They were polite, though it was a bit hectic in there. One thing to keep in mind is that seating is pretty limited, so it can get crowded during busy times. If you want a quieter experience, try to go during off-peak hours. Overall, if you’re a matcha fan like me, Matcha Zanmai is definitely worth a visit. Great desserts, good service, and a cozy little spot. I’ll be back for sure!

- kelly do -

Very good matcha latte! (And there is only one size), I also enjoyed the Matcha cranberry scone! I will definitely come back to try more things :)

- Khorshid Yaghmai -

If you’re a matcha lover, this place is a must-visit! Their matcha latte is smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced, with that authentic earthy flavor that real matcha should have. You can really taste the quality of the matcha they use. I also tried their matcha ice cream, and wow — absolutely delicious! Creamy, not overly sugary, and packed with real matcha flavor. It’s refreshing and satisfying without feeling heavy. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients and know what they’re doing. Definitely one of the best spots for real matcha in town. Highly recommend!

- Lütfiye Emğlu -

The service was friendly and welcoming. The waitresses were all smiling and cheerful which was even more remarkable. The food itself was pretty good. I especially liked their matcha millefeuille that was really strong in matcha flavours. The cake had a great balance of sweetness and the bitterness of matcha which was quite enjoyable. I do feel like their drinks are not as good however. Maybe it was because I was having their cake already, the matcha drink did not taste anything compared to the sweeter cakes. We tried a peach mochi which was also quite tasty. The texture and the sweetness was just right for me. We were lucky to have just made it into the restaurant before a long line up formed. The restaurant is pretty small so it does get crowded inside but overall, the wait time was not too bad.

- Kid JL -

Best matcha in Montreal! All the products are super high quality and incredibly delicious. The matcha latte is the best with a wide selection of desserts. Highly recommend!

- Kaylah Carruthers -

We love coming here whenever we go downtown for dessert! The matcha is the best, and whatever you take from the menu, especially if you’re a matcha lover— will be worth it! There’s usually a line outside whenever we go, and the menu outside the restaurant is much appreciated! There are also chairs you can sit on while waiting. Parking is tough, so we would usually walk to come here or have someone wait for us in the car while we order! Highly recommend their soft serve, it tastes heavenly!

- louise -

Phenomenal ice cream and customer service, we visited about x4 within 2 days. The ice cream ACTUALLY tastes like matcha, The flavour of the matcha is strong, rich and earthy, not too sweet. The ice cream is smooth and just melts in your mouth, and the toppings… I got the signature parfait everytime and the mochi, cake, jelly and red bean went together so well. The only thing is that seating is very limited and the location is very busy so beware, other than that we loved this place so much we would find every opportunity to hit it up during our short trip

- Bhavishya S -