April and I had lunch at Hanoi House in East Village and felt like having something sweet afterward, so April suggested we head over to Cha-An, a cozy Japanese tea house tucked away upstairs on 9th Street.
April first discovered Cha-An when she was studying in New York City. It has remained one of her favorite cafes in the city, and she still comes back regularly.
Cha-An serves a range of Japanese treats, but sweet and savory, but it’s the desserts that tend to draw people in. There were plenty of tempting options on the menu, but we ended up sharing a Yuzu Kakigori and a pot of hojicha.
If you’ve never had kakigori before, think shaved ice, but much better. The ice is shaved so finely that it almost feels like eating freshly fallen snow.
Our kakigori was with yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit with a bright, slightly tart flavor that worked really well with the fluffy ice. It was light and refreshing, and exactly the kind of dessert you want after a big lunch.
The kakigori also came with little pieces of mochi. April didn’t feel like mochi that day, so I got them all to myself. Yum! Fresh mochi is one of my favorite things, and these were really good. The hojicha was excellent too. I love the warm, slightly roasted flavor, and it paired perfectly with the yuzu.
Another great cafe in New York City.
Cha-An, 230 E 9th St 2nd FL, New York, NY 10003, United States
