La Matcha Cafe - Burlingame

The sandwiches here are fantastic! Overall, it's a great place. My absolute favorite is the Spicy BBQ sandwich, along with their Strawberry matcha latte! If you're in Burlingame and craving a delicious sandwich or a boba drink, I highly recommend checking it out!

The texture of the mochi wasn't as chewy as I had expected; it resembled a regular muffin to me. The drinks were fairly decent. However, the highlight for me was the croissant with egg and bacon, which I really enjoyed.

This cozy little spot is somewhat tucked away; you have to enter through the lobby of the life sciences building. We enjoyed a Thai iced tea, a matcha latte, a breakfast sandwich with egg and cheese, and a matcha strawberry muffin. Everything tasted fantastic. The muffin was freshly baked and delightful—not overly sweet, with chunks of fresh strawberry. I highly recommend this café over a typical coffee shop for drinks and a light meal. The only downside is that seating is limited.

The location was somewhat tricky to find since it's situated within a medical building. The only way I knew where to go was due to a sign outside. The shop itself is charming, though it seems relatively new? The decor is nice, but I did feel it was a bit cramped. I arrived shortly after they opened, and one of the ladies who took my order was incredibly friendly. I didn’t catch her name, but I suspect she might be one of the owners. She was very helpful in guiding me through the menu. Here’s what I ordered: 1. **Mango Matcha Latte** - I was pleasantly surprised to find real mango bits in it. When mixed, the distinct flavors of mango and matcha shone through, creating a perfect blend. It's not overly sweet, but you can definitely enjoy both the mango and matcha flavors. 2. **Mochi Muffins** (ranked by my preference): - **#1 Strawberry Matcha** - This had pieces of fresh strawberry and was the ideal balance of tart and sweet. The muffin’s texture was light and I couldn’t get enough of it. - **#2 Pandan** - This was lightly sweet but lacked a strong flavor. - **#3 Almond Sesame** - This had a pronounced almond flavor that I wasn't particularly fond of. 3. **Macarons** (ranked by my preference): - **#1 Matcha Strawberry** - This is my new favorite! I regretted only ordering one. It was light and not too sweet, unlike many other places. - **#2 Strawberry** - Normally, I pick chocolate first, but this strawberry flavor stood out. It tasted authentic, not like the artificial Nesquik strawberry flavor. - **#3 Chocolate** - Creamy and just the right amount of rich. - **#4 Oreo** - To be honest, it was just okay. I feel like the Oreo flavor is overdone these days, and I couldn’t really taste it. - **#5** - I can't remember the flavor. - **#6 Almond** - Similar to the mochi muffins, it had a strong flavor that wasn’t for me. I definitely plan to return to try their sandwiches and other dessert options. I was pleasantly surprised to find Utz chips here, as I've only seen them on the East Coast!

La Matcha is a hidden gem! I hadn't visited in a long time due to the lockdown from the COVID outbreak, but I returned this morning and it felt wonderful to be back. I ordered my usual small latte and a pesto turkey sandwich, both of which were absolutely delicious! The latte was smooth and full-bodied, with the perfect amount of sweetness and just the right level of acidity—5/5. The turkey pesto sandwich was fantastic, featuring a generous portion of tender turkey slices, along with fresh lettuce, perfectly sliced tomatoes, avocado, mayonnaise, pesto, and a light salad garnish—also 5/5. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and very accommodating—5/5. The café itself is clean, cozy, and inviting, located on the first floor of a large medical building—5/5. There’s a parking lot available in the front and back, plus WiFi and indoor seating.