{"id":243947,"date":"2026-03-30T21:38:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T21:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/243947\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:38:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T21:38:12","slug":"labora-cafe-brings-ceremonial-grade-matcha-to-north-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/243947\/","title":{"rendered":"Labora Cafe Brings Ceremonial-Grade Matcha to North Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

San Diego matcha craze initially sparked when San Diego\u2019s first dedicated matcha cafe<\/a>, Holy Matcha<\/a>, opened in North Park in 2017, followed by specialty retailers like Paru<\/a>, shops like Matcha Cafe Maiko<\/a> and Asa Bakery<\/a>, and pop-up concepts like Hey Midori<\/a>. But unlike specialty coffee shops, matcha is still far from hitting a saturation point in the local beverage market.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Lauren Thiemthath, Bao Doan, and Phat Lu launched Labora Cafe<\/a> last fall in Convoy District. \u201cWe saw a gap in the market,\u201d explains Thiemthath. The San Diego natives also operate Urban Bubble<\/a>, a cafe specializing in Taiwanese snacks and drinks, so they have a good sense of what people are thirsty for.<\/p>\n

\"\"Photo credit: @contentbylens<\/p>\n

Apparently, it\u2019s matcha, because after only having been open for around six months, Labora is already poised to open a second location in the heart of North Park this fall\u2014hopefully by September, if all goes well, says Thiemthath. \u201cNorth Park felt like a natural next step,\u201d she says, pointing to the plethora of cafes, but relative dearth of matcha-focused outlets (Holy Matcha excluded, of course), especially ceremonial-grade matcha.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 1,800-square-foot corner suite at 2899 University Avenue next to The Observatory will emulate the same minimalist-modern aesthetic as the Convoy location and offer the same core drinks like the signature Banana 53 matcha and Vienna latte, but will expand to include some new menu items, seasonal specials, some location-specific exclusives, and hopefully some collaborations with local pastry chefs. The North Park location may also focus more on espresso and Vietnamese coffee offerings, but it\u2019ll all depend on what the community asks for, says Thiemthath.<\/p>\n

But matcha fever is just getting hotter. Thiemthath says that ultimately, Labora hopes to open five more locations in San Diego before expanding to Orange County. It seems that matcha mania is just getting started.<\/p>\n

Labora Cafe<\/a> will open at 2899 University Avenue in fall 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s Bites<\/p>\n

Baseball is back, baby! And what is a baseball game without enjoying a cold one (or two) while watching our Padres trounce the visiting team? Stone Brewing<\/a>\u2019s new taproom inside Petco P<\/a>a<\/a>rk<\/a> is now open in the upper level bar next to section 309, making it easy for people who wanted to save money on seats to spend it on suds instead. I\u2019ll cheers to that.<\/p>\n

Yes, the pandas are back at the San Diego Zoo, but if you want to celebrate the cuddly Chinese treasures without waiting in a line of sweaty tourists, mark April 25 and 26 on your calendar. That\u2019s when Panda Fest<\/a>, the country\u2019s largest Asian food festival, is coming to San Diego for the first time. Waterfront Park will become a panda paradise with over 80 food and drink vendors and plenty of panda-themed fun for all ages. By complete coincidence, I happened to be in Tokyo during the Ueno de Panda Chinese New Year Festival this year, and I can confidently confirm that these panda folks take having a good time very seriously (but I encourage you to find out for yourself).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mama\u2019s Kitchen\u2019s 35th annual fundraiser Mama\u2019s Day<\/a> kicks off on Saturday, May 16, but you can save $50 on early bird tickets if you snag yours before April 5. Join vendors like Maya\u2019s Cookies, Athletic Brewing Company, Sally\u2019s Fish House & Bar, and more to help raise money for Mama\u2019s Kitchen to keep up their mission of delivering (to date) nearly million made-from-scratch, medically-tailored meals to San Diegans in need. This year, their goal is to raise $158,000 for 31,600 meals, so why not enjoy an evening at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront and do some good at the same time?<\/p>\n

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego\u2019s Food and Drink Scene<\/p>\n

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city\u2019s food scene? Send your pitches to\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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