New York · Izakaya · casual
Cha-An Tea House
Japanese TeahouseMatcha DessertsJapanese TeaSeasonal Sweets
East Village's beloved second-floor Japanese teahouse, established in 2004 by Bon Yagi, offering matcha shaved ice, homemade mochi, and world teas.
- Price
- ¥¥
- Area
- East Village
- Since
- 2004
- Chef
- Norie Uematsu
- Owner
- Bon Yagi
Plate № 1760
About
Cha-An Tea House opened in 2004 under restaurateur Bon Yagi, the Japanese entrepreneur behind a cluster of East Village Japanese establishments, with the guiding philosophy of omotenashi — wholehearted hospitality. The second-floor teahouse is accessed via a narrow staircase and reveals a serene room of wooden tables, tatami benches, washi-paper lamps, and seasonal floral arrangements that transport guests to a traditional machiya tea shop in Kyoto. Pastry chef Norie Uematsu creates the signature desserts: matcha affogato, hojicha shaved ice, dango, black sesame crème brûlée, and seasonally rotating confections. Traditional white, green, black, and pu-erh teas are prepared with care, and a small savory menu of Japanese lunch sets and smoked salmon toast completes the offering. Lines form daily on weekends, attesting to its status as a beloved NYC institution.
Neighborhood & visiting
Cha-An Tea House sits in East Village, one of New York's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Reservations are available online — for a focused izakaya counter this is strongly recommended. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional izakaya restaurants often close between service periods.
Why it's on Washoku Guide
- Entering through a narrow staircase into a candlelit room of lacquered wood and washi lamps, Cha-An delivers one of the most transporting atmospheres in New York.
- Pastry chef Norie Uematsu's matcha desserts — including a legendary matcha tiramisu and hojicha shaved ice — are among the finest Japanese sweets in the city.
- Established in 2004, Cha-An has been a pioneer in NYC's Japanese teahouse culture, predating the current matcha café trend by two decades.
- A curated selection of traditional Japanese teas — white, green, pu-erh, and herbal — prepared with authentic precision.
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Frequently asked
About Cha-An Tea House
- Is Cha-An Tea House an authentic japanese teahouse restaurant in New York?
- Yes — Cha-An Tea House is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese teahouse in New York: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused izakaya format.
- Where is Cha-An Tea House located?
- Cha-An Tea House is located at 230 E 9th St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10003, New York, United States in the East Village neighborhood.
- Do I need a reservation at Cha-An Tea House?
- Cha-An Tea House accepts reservations online. For an authentic izakaya experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
- What is the price range at Cha-An Tea House?
- Cha-An Tea House sits in the ¥¥ price range — typical for japanese teahouse of this format in New York.
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