“ FAV PORTLAND MATCHA PLACE [ bonus: this place is actually run by japanese people and you can feel the authenticity in the drinks and food, as well as ambiance and other goodies sold in the store] I grew up in portland but currently live in new york. every time I'm back in town, this is one of my first stops. you can't go wrong with anything on the menu and if you're lucky...you'll run into the bear latte it's like a lil goodluck symbol whenever I get one! Aside from the food, the woman who runs the cafe wears traditional japanese clothes and you feel like you're being transported to japan. all the goodies they sell in the store are authentic japanese items too (certified by yours truly). Such a calming ambiance!! perfect for a date, catching up with friends, or even getting some work done. ”

“ For me, they have the best matcha in the city. It's a cozy space with multiple tables. In the summer, there are outdoor tables too. Love the authentic Japanese aesthetic here! However, the area of town isn't the best but it's a bit tucked away so still feels safe. I typically order a matcha tea latte with regular sweetness and oat milk, and I can't help but drink it all in under 10 mins. It's delicious! I'm also a fan of the salmon mayo onigiri, which comes with your choice of either edamame or Napa salad. The service is always pleasant. ”

“ Food was amazing, service was incredibly nice and down to earth. the cafe was quiet, charming, and calming. The decor is fantastic as well. ”

“ My friend wanted to treat me to lunch. She asked if I had ever been to Behind the Museum Cafe, and I never have. We were able to find street parking nearby, I paid for 2 hours so that we wouldn't have to rush. We were greeted at the counter where you place your order. The person taking our order was great and helping us to make decisions on what to order. Once you place your order, you find a spot and they bring your order out to you. She and I are both vegan, and there were vegan options enough that we certainly did not leave hungry. There were 4 vegan onigiri, and we got 1 of each. Ume pickles, seaweed mushroom, teriyaki mushroom, pickled tea leaves. It came with a side of edamame or Japanese style napa cabbage or half and half, which we went with half and half. We also got an appetizer of cucumber with miso dip. I got Hojicha, a roasted green tea and she got an expresso soy latte. The rice is a nutritious blend of brown rice with quinoa, millet, Bhutanese red rice, black rice. I thought it was pretty delicious. It was a fun adventure with a lovely friend! ”

“ On a recent visit to Portland with girlfriends, we decided on a place to hangout and enjoy afternoon hot drinks. Locked up option and behind the museum definitely stood out... The restaurant is airy with tall ceilings, glass walls and ample seating area. Loved the authentic Japanese decor as well as items for sale. What drew me here was the matcha latte which is my favorite and the menu definitely had great options. We tried the matcha lattes as well as some mochi brownie and one other sweet option (don't remember the name, my bad). Everything was perfect!! The quality of matcha is up there, I don't like my matcha sweetened and can tell the quality really well without the sweetness taking over the flavor. Really enjoyed it and the relaxed atmosphere was perfect for an afternoon girls hangout spot. ”

“ I spent a delightful afternoon exploring the Portland Art Museum on Free First Thursday. After all that artistic inspiration, I needed a pick-me-up. I stumbled upon Behind the Museum Cafe and wasn't sure what to expect, but wow, was I surprised! This cafe has a unique Japanese tea house vibe. Since I'd recently developed a love for matcha lattes, I had to try theirs. It did not disappoint! It was perfectly balanced, not too sweet or bitter. For a snack, I ordered the onigiri with salmon mayo. The portion size was just right - it held me over until dinner without being too heavy. If you're looking for a unique and delicious experience after exploring the museum (or anytime!), Behind the Museum Cafe is a must-visit. The atmosphere is cool, the food is good, and it's the perfect spot to refuel and recharge. ”

“ WHEN: Sat @2:45pm Came here after checking out the Art Museum, and it is peak time of the day so I am feeling that heat. Since I had lunch just before that, I am hankering for some cold sweets! I was surprise to see how busy it was at this hour. I managed to snag up the last table for my partner and I. There are tables outside too but no thank you with this heat. There was a line but not terribly long, and I ended up ordering: SOFT SERVE - $4 I decided on a swirl of both flavors they had: MATCHA and HOJICHA, and it was such a great combo. Imagine the matcha flavor you love, but also with that nutty and toasty tones. It was a portion big enough to share, and it was only $4! Having soft serve was probably the best choice I made today cuz it sure hit the spot! This cafe is so cute. Plenty of lighting and well decorated, filled with merch to buy. I like that they serve a variety of eats and drinks, both sweets and savory. I was hoping to come back here to do work but I suppose it will have to be when I visit Portland again in a few years. See you soon! ”

“ I love always love to try any cafe that serve hojicha, which is not many. Since we are walking around downtown portland, saw this, why not try it. It has a line but not too long. Cafe: small one has indoor and outdoor seating. We ordered: Matcha brownie Hojicha brownie Rooibos tea Iced yuzu sencha Almond crumble matcha brownie hojicha soft serve Overall is good. Slow service. Clean up after yourself. ”

“ Quick Summary: - This cafe is close to the museum - Tall ceilings, a good amount of seats - Indoor and outdoor seating - Some of the staff can speak in Japanese We visited here on a hot, summer day, so the seats were mostly packed with guests. There was indoor and outdoor seating, but while the seats had some shade from the building, the seating popularity was inside. Fortunately, there was a seat enough for us along the wall, so we claimed it. If I recall, there were more bench seats, so sitting with different people is expected. Since it was a hot day, ours eyes were only focused on cold drinks. Maybe when we visited when the weather was cooler, I'll try their hot drinks. Speaking with the staff, we decided to make our own parfait and ordered an iced green tea and coffee. The drinks were a delight. First, it was refreshing and it quenched our thirst. Next, even the drinks contains ice, the flavor stood out strong, and it didn't water down as much. The parfait was delicious too. The matcha ice cream was creamy and I tasted the gentle and earthy matcha flavor. I think we did pretty well with the topping choices because it paired well with it. My favorite from the toppings we chose was the tiny cookies. They were as soft as though they were like cookie dough. ”

“ This is a cute cafe right behind the Portland Art Museum. They have Japanese drinks, treats and food available. I got their hojicha soft serve and a sencha yuzu drink. This was perfect for hot weather when I went. The hojicha soft serve had a nice, nutty roasted flavor. The sencha yuzu drink was okay, nothing too special. Tasted like ice tea and I had it with no sugar. Everything came out decent quick. You bus your own table after you're done. There's things around the cafe you can purchase too. No on site parking, just street parking. ”