Great Eats

Can NOMI Matcha please my matcha-loving heart?

I’ve been wanting to visit NOMI Matcha & Acai Modern Japanese Cafe since I started seeing photos on the accounts of the bloggers I follow. It’s not really because of the hype or anything– I just really LOVE matcha. Any cafe that specializes on matcha is automatically added to my list of must-try’s. I don’t come to BGC often enough, but I really made sure to visit when I finally did.

Even though they’re not exactly the first matcha-specializing cafe, the thing that drew me to NOMI was that they seem to be using matcha to make more modern types of dishes. And really, curiosity is the only reason I need to try something new.

The interiors of NOMI exude this “clean” vibe, while at the same time, the pastel touches add a bit of lively personality to the place. Somehow, the feel of being in here pulls between homey and zen. It really fits within their idea of focusing on healthy and wholesome food and drinks.

Even though most of the cafe is an open area, they do have these private nooks should you prefer. Underneath the glass of the tables lining up the middle portion of the cafe, they have these fake shrubs that really add aesthetic to any food photo a customer might decide to snap. I really love that they thought of that. You’ll see what I mean once you scroll down to the food review part of this post.

The three young entrepreneurs behind this cafe are all advocates of a healthy lifestyle, so I imagine there’s nothing on the menu that they themselves wouldn’t eat. They have stuff like post-workout power bowls and acai bowls alongside more familiar Japanese recipe adaptations. Looking through the menu, I can really feel how well thought out each section is. I was even sad that we were only here for merienda because I would’ve loved to try one of their power bowls.

How cute is their menu, by the way? I like the concept of the menu being like a letter placed inside this cute old stamped envelope. It really highlights the fun side to the cafe. Speaking of fun, let’s get on to the food!


Hot Simply Matcha (Php 120), Iced Matcha Latte (Php 160), Matcha Detox (Php 160), Berry Power Up (Php 180)

I didn’t get to try all the drinks we ordered so instead I’ll just mention what my family picked for themselves and what they generally thought. I personally found it really creative that they thought to mix matcha with cucumber, lemon, and even watermelon to create unique drinks. They even have this Matcha Weight Loss Smoothie that mixes matcha with bananas.

Anyway, the general consensus about NOMI’s drinks was that even though they were good, they weren’t exactly the kind of drinks that would turn into unforgettable favorites. The drinks are also not cheap, but you can certainly sense the quality.


Matcha Energize (Php 190)

A combination of espresso and matcha in one drink, for those who always can’t seem to decide which one to order. (I’m talking about myself here.)

I ordered this drink because I was craving for the only drink I ever order from Starbucks, which is their Matcha Espresso Fusion Teavana. That drink is one of my favorites in the world, so I had really high expectations with NOMI’s version, considering they are more focused on matcha drinks and such. The presentation looked perfect, and it even got me excited as I watched the espresso and matcha swirl inside my glass. I almost didn’t want to mix them together. Unfortunately, this neither tasted like matcha nor espresso. It tasted mostly of milk. 🙁


Pork Katsu Sando (Php 280)

I was surprised by how much I liked this sandwich! At a glance, it’s basically juicy tasty breaded pork inside a layer of veggies and toasted potato bread. The tonkatsu sauce bound all the flavors together and gave the tastebuds a little savory, sweet, and tangy experience. My only gripe is that for Php 280, the serving is just too small.


Matcha Platter (Php 470) 🌟

This magical platter of NOMI’s signature desserts is a sight to behold. You guys have no idea how badly I wished for this to be good after my disappointment with their Matcha Energize, to the point where I carefully tasted every component of this dish haha!

The Green Cookie Monster was the first one I tried. It’s a matcha cookie with nut toppings drizzled in white chocolate. It’s a soft type of cookie, yummy, sweet, with a pleasant matcha taste. It’s not quite as memorable as the other desserts though.

These Legendary Greenies are one of my faves from the platter. It’s dense and fudgy with a nice push and pull between sweet and earthy. I love this so much I went in search of a similar recipe right away so I can make some more here at home!

Another favorite of mine was the Matcha Churros. Crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. These were delightful to munch on. The matcha flavor isn’t super pronounced, but it is definitely there. The white chocolate adds a pleasant sweetness.

Saving what I thought was the most impressive for last, I tried the Tea-ramisu Dream. The cheese and the matcha work well together, but the flavor of the cheese is slightly more prominent. The matcha lingers as an aftertaste though. It’s actually something that I can imagine people would order on repeat when they visit. A nice variation from your usual tiramisu.

You know what? I think it’s more fair to say that everything on the Matcha Platter has inspired me to make my own versions of them here at home. That’s literally how much I enjoyed these desserts. If that isn’t enough of a compliment, I don’t know what is.


Final thoughts

It’s obvious from my review where my raves were given. I was really saddened about the Matcha Energize, because I was really expecting so much from it considering the circumstances. Fortunately, NOMI redeemed themselves big time in my eyes with their signature desserts. If there’s anything I remember fondly about my NOMI experience, it’s the taste of those desserts from the Matcha Platter! Maybe next time, I’ll order the Frozen S’mores.

I actually also quite enjoyed the pork katsu sando, and I’m going to use that as a preview of what to expect for the rest of the menu items. I’m just hoping the serving size of everything else isn’t as small as the one for the sando, because I have to say that’s an expensive tiny sandwich right there.

To be honest, the only thing that has kept me from coming back to NOMI to try other stuff is the distance from my house to BGC. I wish Manila traffic was easier to navigate. (Ang tamad ko lol.)

Another thing to note is that the prices are a bit up there, but if you think about the fact that NOMI is located in BGC, suddenly the higher price tag seems logical. I suppose the best thing to do is to pick your orders carefully. Definitely DO NOT miss the Matcha Platter.

My rating: 7 out of 10

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NOMI Matcha

Ground Floor, W City Center, 30th Street Corner 7th Avenue,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Hours: Mondays to Sundays, 11AM to 12 MIDNIGHT
Contact No.: (02) 246 9069 ext:104
Website | Facebook | Instagram

Full disclosure: This post is NOT sponsored in any way and I received no compensation for writing this review. All opinions stated above are my own.

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