Our Matcha Is Now at Pillow Talk Cafe in Pasadena — Master Japanese-Inspired Cake Makers

We are so excited to announce that our matcha is now available at Pillow Talk Cafe (@pillowtalk_pasadena) in Pasadena, CA! 

If you've been reading our stories, you might remember that we wrote about Pillow Talk in our LA Guide last year. Their Egg Heaven sandwich and Matchamisu blew us away, and the owners — Nancy and Elaine — were so passionate about their craft that I just knew we wanted to work together someday.

Well, that day is here!

We recently visited the cafe and sat down with Nancy and Elaine to hear more about their story. Please see the details below about Pillow Talk, how this partnership happened, and everything you need to know about visiting.

Elaine (Right), Miki, and Nancy (Left)

How We Met Nancy & Elaine

An Event at Common Space Brewery

The first time we met Pillow Talk was at an event held at Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne, CA — one of our favorite breweries around here. (If you haven't been, it's a great spot — spacious taproom, beer garden, food trucks, family-friendly. Highly recommend.)

My personal favorite at Common Space Brewery is their West Coast IPA

Pillow Talk had a food booth at the event, and I tried their Egg Heaven sandwich.

Let me tell you — this is my personal favorite egg sandwich in the world.

I've said this in our LA Guide story, in our OC Japan Fair recap, and I will probably say it again. It's a soft-boiled egg with egg salad and chives on lightly toasted bread. The egg is perfectly half-raw, and the seasoning is just right. My jaw dropped. (And honestly, Miki's did too.)

After eating, I went back to their booth to tell them how much I loved it.

That's when we met Nancy and Elaine, the two women behind Pillow Talk.

They invited us to visit their cafe in Pasadena.

Visiting Pillow Talk in Pasadena

We took them up on the invitation and visited their shop on South Lake Avenue during the holiday season.

The moment we walked in, you could feel the care that went into everything. The space is clean, bright, and has a cozy Japanese cafe feeling.

We tried the Matcha with Strawberry drink and the Matchamisu — their matcha take on tiramisu made with chiffon cake. Layers of matcha chiffon, raspberry jelly, matcha mascarpone cream, dusted with ceremonial-grade matcha powder, and topped with raspberries.

The Matchamisu was a dessert to die for. I'm not exaggerating.

But what really made an impression was chatting with Nancy and Elaine.

Their eyes were different when we talked about various recipes. They were particularly curious about our hojicha recipes and asked lots of questions. (Check out all the hojicha recipes we've been building here: Everything You Need to Know About Japanese Hojicha Tea)

I love people who are passionate about what they do, and Nancy and Elaine love what they do.

You can taste it in their food.

Kei is eating Pillow Talk's Egg Heaven 

OC Japan Fair — Coming Full Circle

We kept running into each other throughout 2025.

We were both at the OC Japan Fair twice — the spring event and the fall event.

This is the largest Japan-related event in Southern California (52,000 visitors at the April 2025 event alone!).

Pillow Talk had Booth at the fall event, and we were there too.

Here's something I want to mention: Pillow Talk is the one who referred us to participate in the OC Japan Fair. They introduced us and helped us connect with the event. We are so grateful for that.

Being at the same events, seeing how much we share a love for authentic Japanese food and culture — it felt natural to take our connection further.

And that's how this matcha partnership came to be!

About Pillow Talk Cafe

Pillow Talk is a women-owned, AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Japanese-inspired cafe established in 2019 on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena.

They specialize in three things: Japanese-style egg sandwiches (tamago sandos), handcrafted chiffon cakes, and specialty matcha and coffee drinks.

In 2024, Pillow Talk was awarded the Recommendation Badge by Restaurant Guru, recognized for their Japanese-inspired egg sandwiches, delicate chiffon cakes, and creative lattes.

Nancy & Elaine — The Duo Behind Pillow Talk

When we visited, we finally got to hear the full story behind Pillow Talk — and honestly, it's a great one.

Nancy (Tran) and Elaine (Yeung) are sisters-in-law. (Elaine is Nancy's husband's younger sister.) They're the same age, and people often assume they're sisters. Nancy laughed about it: "Sure, make it simple. We fight and argue like sisters, so it fits."

Both Nancy and Elaine came to the US at a young age — Nancy arrived when she was three, Elaine when she was ten.

Elaine is the cake chef, specializing in making cakes. She studied architecture and exterior design in college, but couldn't find work in LA without relocating to New York or Asia. She ended up doing accounting — but her real passion was always in the kitchen. She's also an artist on the side, running an online craft shop where she makes dollhouse miniatures. (How cool is that?) She designed Pillow Talk's logo, banners, and all the artwork you see at their events.

Nancy is the people person. She had a nine-to-five corporate job but got tired of company politics. When Elaine needed help with the cafe, Nancy quit her job to join full-time.

Nancy is explaining to us the story of Pillow Talk Cafe

Here's what I love about their dynamic: they complement each other perfectly. Nancy told us, "She likes to make cakes and drinks, and I like to eat. She likes the kitchen, and I like talking to customers. Whatever she likes, I don't like. Whatever I like, she doesn't like. It's like yin and yang."

It's true. When they're at events, Nancy handles orders and chats with customers, while Elaine works behind the scenes. Elaine gets nervous when lines get long — Nancy keeps things calm by chatting with people in line. "How's your day? How's everything?" she'll say, slowing the line naturally so nobody feels rushed. (You know me, being so introverted, I can totally understand how Elaine feels!)

That warmth is exactly what you feel when you walk into Pillow Talk.

Why "Pillow Talk"?

So why the name?

Nancy explained it to us. Their cakes are very soft and spongy, especially the sponge cake they often use, like a pillow. And when you sleep on a pillow, you're comfortable and relaxed, maybe you're talking in your dreams. Pillow talk.

That's it. Simple and sweet, just like the cafe.

Fun fact: the name has led to some unexpected collaborations. A lingerie and sleepwear brand reached out because the name fit their marketing. They ordered Pillow Talk's cakes for a photo shoot — customers in sleepwear, sitting on lounge chairs, eating cake by candlelight. Nancy said, "I was like, oh, we're pillow talking!"

They've also worked with Glossier, the beauty brand, on the launch of its Coffee Espresso Balm. Glossier ordered 300 tiramisu cakes with their logo stenciled and dusted on top.

 Nancy and Elaine made and delivered all of them. Three hundred!

Why Japanese?

Both Nancy and Elaine love Japan and have traveled there many times.

When they looked around the San Gabriel Valley, they noticed something: lots of Korean restaurants and Taiwanese-style bakeries with mango and lychee cakes — but not many places serving Japanese-style sandwiches and snacks.

They wanted to do something different.

Not ramen, not sushi — but Japanese egg sandos and Japanese-inspired cakes.

There was also a practical reason. Japanese food tends to be more kid-friendly than spicy Korean dishes, and Pasadena's South Lake Avenue neighborhood has a lot of families — including many Asian and Japanese families.

Elaine told us that families come in together, and then the grandkids bring their grandparents back to try the sandwiches.

That family feeling is a big part of what makes Pillow Talk special.

What Makes Pillow Talk Special?

Here's the thing about Pillow Talk — they care about quality in a way you can actually taste.

Everything is made from scratch.

They cook their own jam from fresh fruit, make their own honeycomb, and use real ingredients — no artificial coloring, no artificial flavoring. When they make the peach cake, Elaine personally goes to pick out white peaches. They have to smell fragrant, she says — if they're not ripe enough, she won't use them.

Nancy told us that consistency is something they take very seriously. "A lot of return customers go elsewhere to try matcha latte and coffee, and they come back and say, 'Your matcha is not diluted like other places.'" She said, "If you come today and the tea is very good, but tomorrow you come, and it's not — that's not consistency. Customers know."

Here's something that really stuck with me: when egg prices shot up in early 2025 (you probably remember — prices hit record highs due to the bird flu outbreak, reaching over $8 per dozen wholesale), many restaurants raised their menu prices or added surcharges. Pillow Talk's egg sandwiches use a lot of eggs. Nancy and Elaine didn't raise their prices. Their customers noticed and appreciated it.

That tells you a lot about what kind of people they are.

One more thing: they can't teach their staff to make the cakes at the same level. Nancy said they've tried, but the cakes come out too thin, not fluffy enough. So Nancy and Elaine still make everything themselves. Customers from the Bay Area, San Diego, and even Ventura County keep asking when they'll open a new location. Nancy's answer: "No time, no energy."

I think that's actually what makes the place so special. Everything really does come from their own hands.

Elaine and Miki

Their cakes come in these adorable tin cans — the signature Pillow Talk look.

They're perfect for carrying around or taking home. (I actually reuse the tins to store accessories at home.)

Nancy told us one customer uses them to organize kitchen spices — peppercorns, star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks — all labeled and neatly racked.

That's commitment!

One detail I appreciate: they don't charge extra for milk substitutes. If you're a plant-milk person, you know how nice that is.

The Space — Always Evolving

If you visited Pillow Talk before, you might notice the space feels different.

They remodeled, and many customers have said it feels very homey now.

Elaine mentioned that people walk in, feel comfortable, and just want to sit and stay.

They have students who come in and study for hours. Free Wi-Fi is available (a plus for anyone working remotely).

The space is still evolving, too.

They built a counter area for people who want to work or study, but found that customers prefer tables. So they're planning to swap the counter for high bar tables.

Nancy told us, "We will continue to remodel until it's good."

These days, a lot of cafes seem to frown upon you when you sit with a laptop for too long. Being a digital nomad, a cafe like this — where they actually welcome you to stay — is so nice to be around and makes me want to support them even more.

I love that attitude. Always improving.

Must-Try Items at Pillow Talk

If you've never been to Pillow Talk, let me give you some recommendations.

We asked Nancy and Elaine about their top sellers and personal favorites — here's what they told us.

The Cakes

Cakes are really Pillow Talk's specialty. Elaine is the cake creator — she comes up with all the flavors and recipes.

• Tiramisu — This is their overall top seller, and for good reason. Most places use ladyfinger biscuits for tiramisu — Pillow Talk doesn't. They roll out their own cake base made with coffee mocha and cocoa powder, layer it with mascarpone cream, and add an espresso jelly shot pulled from their machine. Nancy told us that even Italian customers keep coming back for this one. One regular told them, "You are so awful. I cannot find other tiramisu cakes anymore. I'm addicted." Coming from an Italian, that's a serious compliment!
  
  
• Matchamisu — Their matcha take on tiramisu. The cake is matcha, the cream is matcha mascarpone (not just matcha cream — there's a difference), and there's a layer of raspberry jelly that balances all the matcha so it doesn't overwhelm your palate. Nancy said, "If it's only matcha, all you taste is matcha. I need something to cleanse my palate too." That raspberry jelly is why it works so well. This is Nancy's personal favorite cake — and ours too.
  
  
  

• Sunny Side Up — This one is so fun. It's a coconut mousse and mango jelly chiffon cake designed to look like a real sunny-side-up egg. Nancy said customers walk in and ask, "Is that a real egg?" The "yolk" is made from mango puree — no artificial coloring. It's light and refreshing, perfect for warmer days.
  
  
• Pink Lover — Raspberry jelly, lychee mousse, and rose mousse on chiffon cake, topped with fresh raspberries. Tart, fruity, and refreshing. Nancy recommends this one for summer — not too sweet, just right.

• Salted Oreo — Cream made with Oreo cookies and a pinch of salt to bring out the sweetness, on a fluffy cocoa powder cake base. Here's a hack from Nancy: put it in the freezer for a few minutes and eat it like an ice cream cake. Trust me on this.
  
  
• Black Sesame — Black sesame powder in the cake, osmanthus honey brushed on top to bring out the sesame flavor, black sesame cream, and a layer of black sesame ganache. Everything balances.
  

Elaine's personal favorites lean more fruity — the White Peach cake and the Strawberry cake. Both are seasonal and made with real fruit. The strawberry jam is cooked in-house, and the peach cake is made only with white peach (momo / 桃 in Japanese). When white peach season ends, the cake goes away — they won't substitute with nectarine or yellow peach.

They also have seasonal specials: Basque cheesecakes (strawberry, matcha, pumpkin, blueberry, mocha) during winter, and new pastries like cookies, muffin tops, and melon pan (a collaboration with a licensed Japanese home maker).

For special occasions, they offer 6-inch cakes for pre-order (2 days in advance). Flavors include Matcha, Matcha Yuzu, Tiramisu, Pink Lover, Black Sesame, Grape Earl Grey, and more. 

The Egg Sandwiches

• Egg Heaven — I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this is my personal favorite egg sandwich in the world. A soft-boiled egg with egg salad and chives on lightly toasted bread. The egg is perfectly half-raw, and the seasoning is spot on.
  
  Every time we go, this is the first thing I order. Every single time.
  
  
  

• Mentaiko Yaki — Miki's favorite. A warm egg sandwich with mentaiko (明太子 — spicy cod roe). Great for cooler weather when you want something warm and comforting.

They also have other creative sandwiches that rotate — always worth checking what's on the menu when you visit.

The Drinks

• Matcha Latte — Now made with our matcha! More on that below.
  
  
• Dirty Matcha Latte — Espresso meets matcha. If you want that extra caffeine kick, this is the one.
  
  
• Iced Honeycomb Latte — This one has real honeycomb in it (they make their own). It melts into the drink as you go — starts smooth and gets sweeter. Really unique.

Coming Soon

While we were visiting, Elaine told us about a new sandwich she's working on: the Kamabokki — a crab meat sandwich with cheese and tamago egg, inspired by kamaboko (蒲鉾 — Japanese fish cake). She's planning to launch it this spring.

For summer, they're experimenting with boba tea-inspired cake flavors — think passion fruit, oolong passion fruit, and jasmine passion fruit. Elaine loves trying different ingredients, and honestly, I can't wait to see what they come up with.

Our Matcha at Pillow Talk

We are so honored that Pillow Talk now uses our matcha — and that customers can buy it there too!

How It Happened

Here's the story Nancy told us.

Their previous matcha supplier went out of business. Just... gone. Nancy and Elaine kept trying to reach them but couldn't find them. So they started testing other brands — and couldn't find anything that matched the quality.

(This actually happened to a lot of cafes last year. Many companies had trouble importing matcha. If you're a cafe owner in a similar situation, read about it here: The Truth About the Difficulty in Obtaining Organic Matcha in 2025. If that's you, please reach out to our wholesale team — we'd love to help: Wholesale Contact)

They tried brand after brand. Nancy even had her kids taste-test, because her son and daughter both love matcha. They went through five samples from a single supplier.

Then Nancy gave them our ceremonial grade matcha. Her son's response? "This one's not bad." Nancy pushed — "Are you sure?" He said yeah. Then she made it again without sugar. He said, "Okay, this one's good." Nancy told us that less sugar brought out the matcha's natural sweetness.

That actually makes a lot of sense. Our matcha is grown in sugarcane soil using the traditional Chagusaba (茶草場) method — which naturally brings out the sweetness. (You can read more about the Chagusaba method here.)

Her son's friends, who also love matcha, came over and tried it too.

Everyone approved.

So happy to see our Matcha is on their shelf now! (Thank you!)

So that's how it happened — we passed the taste test from Nancy's kids. (Honestly, kids are the toughest critics, so I'm pretty proud of that.)

Now, Pillow Talk uses our matcha for their matcha drinks and their matcha cakes. And when customers try a matcha latte and ask, "Do you guys sell this matcha?" — yes, they do!

Our matcha is available for purchase right at the cafe now!

Visiting Pillow Talk Cafe

Location & the South Lake Avenue Area

Pillow Talk is located at 526 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101 — right on the well-known South Lake Avenue shopping and dining corridor.

South Lake Avenue is a 12-block stretch of shops, restaurants, and boutiques in Pasadena. It's a really nice area to walk around.

Nancy and Elaine love this neighborhood because it's family-oriented. You'll see families, students, elderly couples — the kind of community where regulars know each other by name. Elaine told us, "I know everybody. People come in and I say hi to them. I remember their name."

The official Visit Pasadena neighborhood guide mentions Pillow Talk as a spot to "Instagram your sweet treats" — though honestly, the treats taste much better than they photograph. (And they photograph really well!)

Nearby Spots Worth Checking Out

If you're making a trip to Pillow Talk, here are some nearby places worth exploring:

• Old Pasadena (Old Town) — The historic shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Just a short drive or walk from South Lake Avenue.
• Norton Simon Museum — A world-class art museum with an amazing collection. A Pasadena must-visit.
• Colorado Boulevard — Yes, THE Rose Parade route! Fun to walk any time of year.
• Pasadena City Hall — A beautiful landmark building and popular photo spot.
• Green Street Restaurant — A local all-day dining favorite that's been around for over 40 years.

If you're into Japanese food in the greater LA area, check out the other spots in our LA Guide story.

Getting There — Parking & Transit Tips

By Car:

Street parking is available right on Lake Avenue and the surrounding streets. Meters are around $1 per hour.

Nancy told us that weekday parking is easy — you should have no problem finding a spot. Weekends are busier, so you might need to walk a bit. There are also parking lots nearby — down the street near Macy's and the Erewhon area.

Pro tip from a TripAdvisor reviewer: Buy your food at Pillow Talk, then drive over to Arlington Garden (free parking, shade, and plenty of seats) for a mini picnic. It's a short drive and a lovely spot.

By Metro:

You can take the Metro A Line (formerly the Gold Line) to Lake Station at 340 N Lake Avenue. From there, it's about a 10-minute walk south to Pillow Talk.

The A Line connects to Downtown LA at Union Station. From Union Station you can transfer to the Red Line (Hollywood), Purple Line (Koreatown), or the LAX FlyAway bus. Metro fare is $1.75.

Tips for Visiting

• Online Ordering: You can order ahead for delivery or pickup on their website: pillowtalk-pasadena.com. They deliver within a 15-mile radius.
  
  
• Their Own App: Pillow Talk has their own app! 

  
  You can download from here: Apple Android

  I was honestly impressed by the quality of the app.  (You may know that I was a software engineer before, so I am quite picky about the quality of apps.) 
  
  I recorded the whole session on my iPhone, ordering my favorite Egg Sandwich here (^^).    Pardon my choppy video editing to cover my personal info, but you get the idea. I can easily track the points and receive good notifications. 
  
  
  videoid="NNZb-KlGC2k"
  
  
  
• Delivery Apps: Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and more. They include a discount code with every delivery order, which is a nice touch.
  
  
• Pre-order Cakes: 6-inch cakes need 2 days advance notice. Holiday cakes are phone-only. Call (626) 345-5545.
  
  
• Catering: They offer catering for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, and more. The menu can be customized — contact them directly!
  
  
• Milk Substitutes: No extra charge.
  
  
• Seating: The space is cozy with some indoor seating and outdoor spots. If it's busy, the counter area is great for solo visits. They're also adding high bar tables soon.
  
  
• Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi available — good for getting some work done.
  
  
• Best Time to Visit: Weekdays are less crowded than weekends.

Conclusion

We are so honored and excited to partner with Pillow Talk.

What makes this partnership special to us is how it started — not as a business deal, but as a genuine connection between people who love Japanese food and culture. From meeting Nancy and Elaine at an event, to visiting their cafe, to being at OC Japan Fair together twice — it all happened naturally.

Sitting down with Nancy and Elaine during our visit, hearing them talk about their cakes with so much detail and passion — from how the raspberry jelly balances the matcha mascarpone, to how the white peach has to smell just right before Elaine will use it — you can tell that everything at Pillow Talk is made with real love and care.

And we're so proud that our matcha is now part of that.

We're also planning a pop-up event at Pillow Talk — possibly in March or May! We'll announce the dates on both our Instagram and Pillow Talk's. Follow us to stay updated.

Next time you're in Pasadena, please stop by Pillow Talk and try their amazing food — and I hope you'll taste our matcha there too!

Pillow Talk Instagram: @pillowtalk_pasadena

Quick Reference: Pillow Talk Cafe

Related Stories:

• Japanese Green Tea & Los Angeles — Green Tea Sommelier's Selfish Guide
• OC Japan Fair Fall 2025 Recap
• OC Japan Fair Spring 2025
• Everything You Need to Know About Japanese Hojicha Tea
• The Ancient Chagusaba Method

Related products

80 reviews

Matcha - Ceremonial Japanese Powdered Green Tea

$39.00 /

Quick view

This ceremonial matcha is crafted from the finest Japanese green tea, grown in nutrient-rich soil enhanced with compostable grasses and sugarcane through the Chagusaba method, which gives the tea a natural sweetness and exceptional flavor. In collaboration with researchers from Shizuoka University, farmers ensure that the soil quality consistently produces tea of the highest standard.

Renowned among top Japanese chefs for its unmatched aroma, this matcha is made by carefully shading the plants before harvest to boost caffeine and amino acids, then meticulously drying, de-stemming, and grinding the leaves into a fine powder. Made from the Yabukita cultivar, this 1.8 oz (50g) matcha comes in a high-quality, air-tight paper tube canister, providing a luxurious and authentic Japanese tea experience.

View Product

Hojicha Powder - Roasted Green Tea Powder

$25.00 /

Quick view

Our roasted green tea, known as hojicha (ほうじ茶), is crafted from freshly harvested premium green tea carefully roasted in porcelain over charcoal to maximize flavor while retaining more catechins than typical hojicha on the market. With lower caffeine and a smoother, less bitter taste compared to steamed green tea, it is an ideal choice for evening relaxation and is gentle enough for kids and pregnant women. Cultivated using the Chagusaba method in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil, this loose-leaf authentic Japanese roasted green tea, made from the Yabukita cultivar, also pairs beautifully with oily foods. Each eco-friendly resealable package contains 3.5 oz (100g) of tea, enough to steep 30–40 comforting cups.

View Product

View video in different languages: Spanish | French | German | Italian | Chinese

97 reviews

Gyokuro - Shaded Imperial Premium Green Tea

$65.00 /

Quick view

Gyokuro, also known as "jade dew" or "jewel dew tea," is a premium Japanese green tea shaded from the sun for 20 days using specially made mats, a method that boosts caffeine levels and strengthens amino acids to create a sweeter, richer flavor. This extended shading process results in dark, mossy green leaves with an unmistakable aroma and a complex taste that is layered yet balanced. Cultivated by the Chagusaba method in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil and made from the Yabukita cultivar, this loose-leaf authentic Gyokuro is offered in a high-quality, air-tight paper tube canister (chyazutsu) to preserve its exceptional freshness and flavor. Each 3.5 oz (100g) full-size package steeps 30–40 cups, and a convenient single-serve sample is also available.

View Product

22 reviews

Matcha - Japanese Limited Reserve Ceremonial Green Tea - (Global Tea Champion 2018, 2025)

$300.00 /

Quick view

This Premium Ceremonial Grade Matcha is one of the most luxurious matcha teas available, crafted from carefully cultivated Japanese green tea grown in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil using the Chagusaba method. Traditionally reserved for high-end tea ceremonies in Japan and loved by many tea masters, this matcha was once unavailable outside of Japan and is now finally accessible to U.S. consumers. Every step of its production, from shading the tea plants to increase caffeine and amino acid levels to the meticulous removal of stems and veins before grinding into a fine powder, is handled with a blend of advanced technology and time-honored tradition. Made from the Yabukita cultivar, this 30g (1.05 oz) ceremonial matcha offers a vivid color, unforgettable aroma, and the highest standard of flavor, earning recognition as a Global Tea Champion in 2018 and 2025.

View Product

4 reviews

The Covered Trio Gift Set - Ceremonial Matcha, Gyokuro, and Nozomi Japanese Green Tea Set Package

$143.00 $128.00 /

Quick view

This tea set features three premium Japanese green teas, all cultivated in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil to enhance their flavor and natural sweetness. Gyokuro, a prized shaded green tea, is grown under special mats for 20 days to increase caffeine and amino acid levels, resulting in a rich, sweet taste and deep mossy green color. The set also includes a luxurious matcha, crafted from carefully shaded, hand-processed leaves and renowned for its smooth, aromatic flavor, developed in collaboration with researchers from Shizuoka University to maximize the benefits of the enriched soil. Completing the collection is Nozomi, a fine Kabuse-cha or "Covered Green Tea," where young tea leaves are gently shaded just before sprouting, producing a soft, refined flavor perfect for tea enthusiasts.

View Product