Ooika

New favorite matcha moment unlocked! Popped into this matcha spot and instantly felt like I’d discovered a hidden gem straight out of Kyoto—but with WiFi and cuter signage. The matcha is next-level (rich, earthy, and soul-soothing), but the real surprise? The onigiri. We tried a few, and each one was a perfect little flavor bomb—simple, yet somehow elevated. You can tell they’re serious about honoring tradition, but they also know how to make the experience fresh and inviting. Can’t wait to go back and try everything on the menu twice!

Ooika in Princeton is truly a hidden gem. The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and incredibly authentic—it instantly transports you. But what really sets this place apart is the matcha. It’s hands-down the purest, cleanest matcha I’ve ever had—not just in New Jersey, but anywhere in the country. The owner sources it directly from Japan, and you can taste the difference in every sip. Their snacks are always fresh and flavorful, and the onigiri? Absolutely delicioso. We visit Ooika at least two to three times a week, and every time, we’re greeted with kindness. The entire staff is lovely, but Ryoko, in particular, always makes us feel like family. She greets us with a smile and remembers us every time. Ooika isn’t just a café—it’s an experience. Highly recommend.

A hidden gem! Their matcha products, process, and design all come together to make the drinks stand out. They grind their own matcha and put delicate time into preparing each and every drink. We ordered the matcha, strawberry matcha, and black sesame lattes. They all were extremely fresh and could taste the natural flavors. I will note that there is no added sugar in these drinks (which went over my head), but they still taste great. I will be coming back!

Honestly the matcha was good! It does come unsweetened but they do have syrup as well, so it’s not bad. There was no wait and they have parking. It was a bit on the pricey side, but i understand since they make the matcha in house. It wasn’t anything completely unique or special but the denim matcha was good. Definitely a unique experience to see the matcha being made.

We come all the way from Rockland County, NY to taste some of the best matcha. All of the drinks never disappoint. It’s my #1 matcha cafe for sure. We love the time spent at the shop when we get to travel to Ooika and love our teatime chat with Marc. I always recommend Ooika to my friends. I’m looking forward to joining the matcha mill club and tasting the best single origin matcha’s.

A must for all matcha & hojicha lovers! The original one is on Main St in Lawrenceville. Very happy this one opened in Princeton. Love that they just added onigiri on their menu. The stewed shitake and the miso salmon ones are a must try! I botched opening the onigiri wrap my first time. Oops! Best to ask for instructions.

The matcha here is amazing—smooth, not too sweet, and really high quality. The staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was relaxing. Definitely my new favorite spot for a matcha latte!”

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 of the drink.