You may have noticed the new storefront for Cha-an Bonbon over at 238 E. Ninth St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue at the site of the former take-out hotspot Yonekichi.
This location will serve as a to-go outpost for Cha-an Teahouse, which Japanese restauranteur Bon Yagi opened on the second floor of 230 E. Ninth St. in 2004.
Sakura Yagi, who helps run her father’s restaurant group, shared more about Cha-an Bonbon with Food & Wine:
"Tea and sweets go hand-in-hand in the Japanese tea world. As Japanese teas, like matcha, have gained traction … New Yorkers are starting to look for places that have wagashi and wagashi-inspired desserts." Hence, her family’s decision to expand.
And...
Fans of the teahouse’s original matcha latte — made from a pre-mixed blend of milk plus In Pursuit of Tea matcha powder — will be able to order the drink at Bonbon, with the option to add other ingredients like red bean, soft-serve ice cream, and shiratama, a type of soft mochi.
Cha-an Bonbon, set to open May 1, will also reportedly offer several beverages exclusive to this space.
