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Cafe Green Tea
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
6 reviews for Cafe Green Tea
6 reviews in English
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Review from Elvis A.
This place has a lot of basic cafeteria style items done Japanese style. I went for omrice though a lot of other items were tempting.
Nothing fancy here just your regular goodness. Simple rice with a ketchup base and chicken chunks served wrapped in an omelette topped with ketchup and nori flakes. Such a simple dish yet tastes somehow combine well in a harmonious way no wonder this dish is popular with kids in japan. The udon dishes ordered by other people eating here looked good. I wish there were cafes like this in downtown but hey it gives another reason to visit J town.
3.5 stars overall. -
Review from Amy L.
9/28/2011 2 photos
3.5 stars*
When it comes to Cafe Green Tea, think western-style Japanese home cooking. Their menu consists of simple, homey, and comforting dishes such as omelette rice, deep-fried pork cutlet, soba, and u-don; definitely heart-warming and nostalgic for some. These menu items immediately make me think of small family-run restaurants in Asia. Although their dishes wouldn't be classified as sophisticated, there's something about them that gives us a very welcoming and happy feeling. Going through their online menu, the photos reminded me of Japanese Cooking magazines due to the bright, clean photos and the way the food is presented on the plates - so minimal.
Cafe Green Tea looks so unassuming, but their food is so comforting. Located right inside the Japanese Supermarket in J-Town, Cafe Green Tea is nothing fancy décor wise, with merely tables and chairs just so you have a place to sit down and eat. The menu is hung on top with random signs popping up all over the counter area with "Green Tea $2.50 and "Mango jelly" written on them. I couldn't help but to laugh out loud when I noticed them. I liked how casual and down-to-earth Cafe Green Tea is. The staff so extremely friendly and helpful as well. I was short two pennies, and the cashier just grabbed them from the tips jar; that shows how laid-back and genuine they are. I was already falling in love with the place ;D
After ordering your food at the counter, you pay right away. The staff will then hand you a wooden block with a number on it. Once your food is ready, it'll be brought over to your table. When you're done, you are to bring your empty bowls and tray to the rack by the counter. There's also a bucket beside it where you can throw in any left-overs you may have.
I had the Hot Soba with Shrimp Tempura ($7.98) that came with two pieces of fish cakes, a shiitake mushroom, and scallions. Although the "soup" by itself seemed bland at first, after a few more bites and sips, it turned out to be just right. Hot Soba served in a bowl of hot tsuyu, different from the tsuyu dipping sauce that comes with cold soba. The taste is not as strong, salty, or thick, because after all, you're drinking this ;) The shiitake was very sweet and delicious, just what was needed to add more flavour. The shrimp tempura became soggy after swimming in the hot tsuyu, but it was fully what I was expecting. The only problem I had with this dish was the soba; buckwheat noodles. They were too soft and were missing that bite and evident buckwheat texture that sets them apart from other types of noodles. Soba isn't supposed to be too smooth or fragile.
Jo ordered Curry with Breaded Chicken ($6.98). She really enjoyed it and surprisingly the portion was quite large as she wasn't able to finish it. I found the curry to be at the right level of thickness and mildly spicy, but it was desperately lacking in vegetables (you can even tell from the photo). The deep-friend chicken was crispy, but slightly too dry. The rice was fine so yay to that.
Honestly, the food at Cafe Green Tea isn't spectacular or anything, but I'm drawn to them. It must be the atmosphere and their menu selection that makes me want to go back. The fact that Cafe Green Tea has omurice on their menu is enough for me to make a second visit - it really reminds me of the times I spent in South Korea and Japan :) There's something about Cafe Green Tea that only some of us can relate to, and that's what keeps us coming back for more ;D -
Review from Vivien L.
4/15/2011
I really like this place! It's attached to JTown which is convenient because i like to pick up random japanese things haha.
The japanese curry here is really good, try the cutlets with curry and rice. Soba noodles are good here too but it's not that big of a serving.
There's also onigri and little snacky things like red bean inside a fish shaped pastry thing. BTW the onigri on weekends is significantly bigger than the ones on weekdays! They're so yummy =)
So after you order you take your number which is on a wooden block, find yourself a seat and grab some water (that you will need to pour yourself) and enjoy! -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
10/19/2010 3 photos
Home Style Japanese Cooking? Domo Arigato. I'm sure most of you J-Town fanatics have been here before in this semi Food Court setting in a serve-self dining area where you pour your own Water but at least you'll notice it's next to the tap with a Brita filter on it while when you finish the meal you put your own dishes and garbage away(think Ikea).
The Menu Board reads Home Style, which has always been successful to most patrons that has come over the years. From left to right, Soba items, Udon items, Curry items, Meal items, and Rice items. 31 items in all and if you don't feel comfortable ordering in Japanese or butchering the English term, then simply use the Numerical system. Ichi, ni, san, shi...
You pay up front and tip in the Jar as necessary and as I didn't have 2 pennies, the staff took it from the Jar. I knew there's a reason I never bring COINS with me. She gave me a wooden block #18 while she went to the back with 1 Male & 2 Female Cooks. I ordered an item that didn't have a "Takes Time" sign so my meal came out pretty quick.
#8 Udon with Tempura Shrimp($7.98) had a good Kombu stock, slurpy chewy Udon, a couple Fish Cake slices, Shrimp Tempura, and a Shitake. The Shrimp Tempura was a funny item as you know what to expect when Tempura gets wet but I ordered it knowing of this fact but the look of this Tempura was very good if I imagine it prior to the soaking.
Upon being impressed by the Udon, Broth, Fish Cake. I was additionally surprised by how perfectly cooked the Shrimp was inside the Tempura and had just the perfect bite that all Shrimp should have. Wait.... There's more, that unassuming Shitake that looks like a Shitake and you don't expect much from it? It had such good flavour as I believe it must have been marinaded in some sort of Shoyu sauce.
All things considered, this meal was very good for the price and this cool Fall weather as the broth came out steaming hot. Also on a sidenote, I believe this would be a good Vegetarian choice or just leave out the Shrimp and go for the Tofu($6.98) or Plain($5.98) options.Listed in: 4+ ****Stars****, Oishii, Pull my Noodles - Korea +…
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
I wish that there are more little Japanese places like Cafe Green Tea.
The Shrimp Tempura Soba noodle I ate here is a Foodie dream noodle. There are so many complex taste in every bite and each different items in the noodles give one different senses of adventure for your tastebuds.
BTW, this is the only place where I been to the actual orders are bigger and more appetitizing than the photos... I could not stop smiling when the 2 older ladies at the back was so excited when they saw their XXL shrimp tempura set they ordered.
Yes I will be back... Yes I will see more noodles
Yes I think the Japanese girl server has a nice and friendly smile!
They accepts Visa and Interac! -
Review from Christian P.
Toronto, ON
1/11/2012
been there. had curry udon (medium hot only, not that fabulous at all, nor generous). waitress not very friendly (but cookers bearing large friendly smiles). have been sick the following night. will never go back.
