Rintaro
G Floor, Empshere, Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok 10110
The matcha soft-serve is the reason Rintaro has a following and it earns that with good ingredient quality. Houjicha is the best alternative if matcha is not your preference and it performs at the same level. Pricing is fair for the soft-serve calibre available in this part of Khlong Toei near the Thong Lo strip. The shop is one of the more focused operations on a corridor that has no shortage of competing cafes.
Rintaro is an ice cream shop in the Khlong Tan area of Khlong Toei. The shop serves the Ekkamai BTS to Thong Lo market strip that runs through one of Bangkok's most active dining districts. Rintaro takes a Japanese-influenced approach to ice cream using soft-serve technique and flavour sensibility from that tradition. Matcha is a central part of the selection and the source ingredient quality shows in the depth of flavour delivered. Houjicha and black sesame each appear as separate options in the permanent menu alongside the matcha. Soft-serve is the primary format rather than scooped, and the machines maintain consistent texture output throughout the day. Seasonal specials cycle through the year and often feature Thai-grown ingredients applied to the Japanese soft-serve format. A steady following has developed among the cafe-culture crowd concentrated in the Khlong Tan area.
Khlong Toei is one of Bangkok's most active dining districts and Khlong Tan benefits from that energy directly. The location draws local residents from the neighbourhood alongside visitors exploring the area's cafe scene. Weekends attract heavier foot traffic as the Thong Lo and Ekkamai strip draws visitors from across the city. Counter service is the format and wait times during peak hours remain manageable without long queues forming. Seating is limited but the neighbourhood layout allows easy street-level consumption outside. Pricing is mid-range for Bangkok artisan ice cream and represents fair value for the format quality available. First-time visitors should start with the matcha soft-serve before exploring the seasonal specials. The Japanese flavour discipline here produces results that hold up alongside the best dessert cafes in the district.