From the tea farming lands of Kyoto to the bustling metropolis of Metro Manila, Nomi Matcha Restaurant brings the authentic Japanese Matcha experience with a modern twist through an uncanny amalgamation of healthy food and drinks with two polar opposite spaces.

Established within the busy city streets of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) just last August, this modern Japanese café and restaurant is both a relaxing haven for those who simply want to take a breather from their daily grind and a simple exciting place for those who wants to let loose a little.

Despite coming from completely foreign backgrounds, owners Asuka Hosokawa, Také Hosomi, and Mike Jiang decided to bring the Japanese Matcha experience here in the Philippines after seeing its potential with the Filipino market.

As Jiang explained in an interview with The Benildean, the restaurant reflects an aspect of each of their individual personalities they would like to share with their customers. Together, they share a collective passion to “cover the world with good food and good vibes” through Nomi’s healthy platter of dishes, drinks, and desserts while providing a welcoming space for guests.

Evident in the bright spacious interior treatment of the restaurant that forgo the traditional rustic and wooden look of Japanese tea shops, Nomi goes for a more modern and bubbly ambiance through its green and pink pastel color motif and inspiring nooks and walls sprawling with “I want…” statements that reflect our desires.

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

“We want to provide food that is delicious, healthy, fun, and vibrant, [while] good vibes is all around us…So [we] want this café to be more than just, ‘Here’s your food,’ and ‘Here’s your money.’ I want this café to be more than food and [just] feeding people, but I want it where people can feel alive…People can be creative and do their plans, make their blueprints, do their essays and do their artworks. We want this place to become a house where they can feel alive,” Jiang explained.

While taking a breather and appreciating the calming mood inside the restaurant, Matcha lovers can go crazy with the restaurant’s wide selection of desserts and drinks after taking a bite off of Nomi’s own take on Japanese cuisine that customers may order. However, unlike other restaurants and establishments that excessively sweeten their Matcha flavor, Nomi’s matcha-based menu keeps the tea leaf’s slight bitter taste keeping it close to the authentic Japanese Matcha flavor profile.

Nomi’s bestsellers

Some of these deserts include their decadent Legendary Greenies (Php 90), the Green Cookie Monster (Php 80), and Matcha Churros (Php 150); all of which combine the distinct flavor of Matcha to elevate and compliment the sweetness and known unique flavors of each desert.

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

Another tasty treat for the Matcha-obsessed is their Tea-ramisu Dream (Php 180), which infuses the flavor of Matcha with the creamy texture of the traditional tiramisu.

However, the must-try for any first-timer is Nomi’s Frozen S’mores (Php 250). It may seem to be your run-off-the-mill classic s’more (marshmallow and chocolate) but lurking beneath its sweet exterior is the Matcha green ice cream that blends perfectly with the torched marshmallow—creating a bittersweet explosion of flavors in your mouth. Customers may order these deserts ala carte, but may opt to choose the Matcha Mix Platter (Php 470) instead, which includes all of these tasty desserts sans the delectable Frozen S’mores.

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

For those who want to quench their thirst for something Matcha-flavored, customers may try their Matcha Surprise (Php 170) and for those who are looking for a Matcha twist in their coffee, Nomi’s Matcha Latte (Php 160) can help you get your regular caffeine fix while getting an additional kick from the tea leaf flavor. And as a bonus, each drink is served with a bamboo straw that matches the tranquil vibe that the space induces.

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

The other side of Nomi

Disguised as a plain door, visitors might assume the said door leads to Nomi’s kitchen; but alas, it’s Nomu, the restaurant’s “hidden” bar, which delivers a stark contrast to the bright, pastel open space Nomi provides.

With Nomu’s dark interiors and dimly lit lights, the bar maintains a similar fusion of traditional and modern Japanese elements in its interiors while still providing an intimate space for guests who prefer a slow burn on Friday nights.

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

Nomu serves alcoholic beverages to guests ranging from beers, wine, and even Japanese whiskey. The bar’s highlight is the incredibly unique concoctions such as “Unexpected,” a pleasant surprise of a cocktail drink that leaves a floral garden taste with various notes of alcoholic flavor in the mouth, and the yin to the yang of the lighter Matcha drinks of Nomi, “Matchka,” which gives off herbal notes of Matcha flavors swirling around the alcohol mix. Cocktails and other drinks range from Php 350 to Php 500.

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

Photos by Kel Santos and Anne Valmeo

Whether you’re itching to satisfy your Matcha craving or just looking for a place where you can calm your senses and hit the pause button, Nomi (and Nomu) is an adventure worth taking.