MATCHA ZANMAI focuses on high-quality ceremonial grade green tea incorporated into a variety of specialized desserts. The menu features signature soft serve ice cream, layered parfaits, and delicate crêpes that showcase the distinct earthy profile of premium matcha powder. Patrons select from various intensity levels of tea, allowing for a personalized culinary experience centered on traditional Japanese flavor profiles. Beyond the matcha offerings, the establishment provides a selection of complementary sweets designed to balance the natural bitterness of the tea with refined sweetness. The minimalist interior aesthetic serves as a functional backdrop for the vibrant green presentation of every dessert plate. Every item is prepared to order using authentic ingredients to maintain consistent flavor integrity across all dessert categories offered within this specialty space.
Matcha Zanmai is widely celebrated as a premier destination for high-quality matcha in Montreal, earning praise for its authentic, earthy, and rich flavor profiles that avoid being overly sweet. Visitors frequently recommend their signature matcha soft serve, varied parfaits, and diverse menu of lattes and pastries, often noting that the experience rivals those found in Japan. While the establishment is frequently noted for its small, cozy seating area and occasional queues, most guests find the friendly, professional service and the premium quality of the ingredients to be well worth the visit, making it a beloved spot for both long-time matcha enthusiasts and curious newcomers.
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 & sweet...the perfect mood to try out their matcha soft serve. They offer a variety of toppings, including matcha cake, mochi, red bean, & 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, & 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 & texture; you do have to eat the mochi pretty quickly, though, as the cold ice cream tends to make the mochi harden up & 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, & the space was nice & cozy. I can't wait to come back & sample some of their drinks!
Jun 25, 2025
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It is very good! The hokkaido frappe with matcha. Ice cream on top is awesome. Lineups but totally worth it.
I love that it is not overly sweet. Super refreshing on a hot day.
for the first time, I got iced matcha latte, & it was SOOO good. there was so much matcha flavoured, even after I shaked the latte to mix it properly. I did not add any additional syrup (it comes with two spoons of sugar), so for sweet-toothers, it might appear bitter. furthermore, my friends & I always get a matcha frappe with mixed ice cream on top to share, & it's one of the best desserts! yummy & filling :) if you are looking for quality matcha drinks & desserts, definitely recommend!
I had never tried matcha before, & I decided to go for a matcha latte & a mille crêpes cake. I personally preferred the cake over the drink, but that really comes down to individual taste.
I'll definitely be coming back! :)
You, yes you that clicked on matcha zanmai reviews. You probably wonder: Is this even a place worth checking? What if I don't like their products? Well, let me tell you something. I used to be a person who enjoyed matcha pretty rarely, because other companies selling matcha lattes just sweetenend them too much, & filled most of their drinks with water. However, this place is on another level!!! Their matcha drinks & desserts are delicious, especially if you're a matcha enthusiast & want to refine your taste. Their foods are concentrated with matcha, & you get the perfect amount of sweetness, creaminess & softness you can get in a drink, cake, mochi, ice cream... I swear, I am buying stuff from there so often that I had to buy my own matcha at home because otherwise all my money would go to the restaurant hahaha. 10000000% recommend, you WILL love it :)
Great place for matcha lovers. Inside the cafe it smelt really nice & the staff were very welcoming & happy to be there. Went like 20 minutes before closing, but despite that, me & my friends recieved our orders decently fast. We ordered a matcha drink & matcha ice cream which tasted pretty good. Would recommend this matcha spot!
