Hey, Charming!
If you're a matcha fan living around the Petaling or Kuala Lumpur area, you'd definitely have heard of the contemporary artisan brand, Niko Neko, have tried it at least once before and loved it.
Well, good news, this homegrown brand has now opened its second branch in the heart of KL Chinatown, only minutes away from the train station. So convenient leh!
Keeping as close to the look and feel of the original concept store in Bangsar (now closed for renovations), the brand new Niko Neko is almost a direct reflection of its first shop, albeit with a larger space this time.
Niko Neko 2.0's store front
Inside the cafe/concept store
The opening of Niko Neko 2.0 comes with exciting new additions to the food menu, including Matcha Roulades (essentially, swiss rolls) and other choux (cream puff) pastries. Sadly, the crowds were overflowing the day we visited, which happened to be the day of the grand opening, and all baked goods were sold out before we could have a chance to taste it or review it. Better luck next time?
Niko Neko's beverage menu
Rest assured, the drinks menu was kept the same as the Bangsar outlet so there was no let down there.
We ordered a cup of KIKU Matcha latte (80% Umami and 20% bitterness) and YURI Matcha latte (65% Umami and 35% bitterness) for sharing. YURI tasted slightly lighter and more refreshing compared to KIKU, which had a deeper, more savory taste, but they were both equally good.
For first-timers to the store trying out matcha latte, the tearista will suggest serving it "less sweet." At this point, please don't turn them down as it really does taste amazing.
While at the store, don't forget to also.check out some of the beautifully made bamboo tea-making tools, matcha powders, tea bags, and other cute Niko the cat merchandise.
Rating: 4/5.
That's it for today. Until next time! :)
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