Motto Tea Cafe - Pasadena | Cozy Spot for Tea & Sweet Moments

Inside Motto Tea Cafe - Pasadena

Motto Tea Cafe in Pasadena is a cozy spot that blends the casual café vibe with a focus on standout tea and dessert offerings. Situated on Green Street, it suits those afternoons when you want to savor something sweet alongside a carefully crafted drink. The atmosphere strikes a balance between indoor comfort and shaded outdoor seating, making it a good stop whether you’re catching up with a friend after an event or just unwinding from your day.

The café’s specialty revolves around freshly made soufflé pancakes, which naturally require a bit of waiting time—usually around 30 minutes—but the light, fluffy texture is worth it. Mango Sunshine Soufflé and Crème Brûlée Pancakes often come recommended, showcasing how the kitchen handles familiar flavors with a delicate touch. Drinks lean heavily into real ingredients, especially the taro-based boba teas that steer clear of artificial powders, presenting a richer and more authentic taste profile. This attention to detail in their bubble teas, from “Taro Storm” to berry-infused matcha lattes, appeals especially to those who appreciate artisanal takes on classic favorites.

Ordering here is done through self-service kiosks, which some visitors find a bit cumbersome, especially with the pre-payment and tip process before getting their food. Despite this, the flow tends to work steadily, and staff call out orders by number distinct from table numbers, so settling in with a drink or book while waiting feels natural.

Motto Tea Cafe caters well to a crowd that’s looking for a relaxed brunch, mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or a light dessert experience. Locals who pop in often enjoy the cool, refreshing range of iced teas and playful milk tea variations, making it a comfortable spot during Pasadena’s hotter months. The outdoor seating especially fills up under the sun, where neighbors and visitors alike tend to linger, enjoying both the sweet treats and casual people-watching.

Overall, this café fits best for those who don’t mind a little wait for quality handmade pancakes and bubbling boba drinks, appreciate real ingredients in their tea, and enjoy a laid-back, unpretentious setting in the heart of Pasadena. It’s a place where the nuances of texture and flavor take priority over speed, inviting you to slow down and savor the experience.

Highlights & Local Essentials

Highlights

Has great tea selection

Accessibility

Has wheelchair-accessible entrance

Has wheelchair-accessible toilet

Parking

Paid street parking

Local Moments in Photos

Find It on the Map

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

12:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Wednesday

12:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Thursday

12:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Friday

12:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Saturday

12:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Sunday

12:00 PM - 07:00 PM

What Locals & Travelers Say

540 Reviews

Raven “Raven” M

05 Jan 2026

My friend and I just finished Catcon and found this delicious place to go for brunch. I got the mango soufflé pancake and my friend got the crème brûlée pancake. Very light and fluffy. I recommend trying the white peach lemon jasmine bliss.

Jacob Patrick

02 Jan 2026

The ordering from a screen is a little annoying. Having to pay a tip before getting and experiencing your meal etc is annoying. When it asks you what is your table number, there is a tray for them in between the order machines. Your order number they call out is different than your table number. Nice quality cups, the taro milk tastes just like milk and isn't mixing as I rotate the cup, had to open and stir it, still not too flavorful and just okay The Oolong Tea was very good. The cake was good. The pancakes were AMAZING.

Juan Barillas

06 Nov 2025

Tasty souffle pancakes and delicious drinks We got it during their happy hour, so we got a few dollars off Also, keep in mind that the souffle takes a while to get it served. Since it is fleshy made, it takes a bit. The wait didn't disappoint, though, They do have a really good variety of drinks with boba, so I definitely recommend it specially during a hot summer

Sasha M

04 Nov 2025

So soft and delicious! It takes a bit of time to prepare, but it’s definitely worth the wait. I had the cream pancakes and they were absolutely amazing. Highly recommended!

JoeyAp

01 Nov 2025

Finally had the opportunity to try Motto Tea Cafe. We had the mango matcha drink and mango Souffle Pancakes. The place has nice covered outdoor seating as well as indoor seating. You have to use the kiosks to place your order which was pretty easy and had plenty of options. They made our drink pretty fast. The Souffle Pancakes took about 30 minutes since they are freshly made which is typical for this dish. I appreciate that they had a sign advising of the wait time. The cups used at many of these types of places for these drinks are cleverly designed to be tall and concaved to make it look like you are getting a really huge drink...which you are not. I added an entire tiny cup of water when we were about 75% done and it filled it up more than half way. Don't get me wrong, the drink was absolutely delicious and looked amazing! The Mango Souffle Pancakes were delicious as well. The white sauce was not sweet but creamy. The mango sauce and fruit added the right amount of sweetness and the drink more than satisfied our sweetness cravings. Overall great experience.

Motto Tea Cafe - Pasadena

Inside Motto Tea Cafe - Pasadena

Highlights & Local Essentials

Local Moments in Photos

Find It on the Map

Openings Hours

What Locals & Travelers Say

540 Reviews

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