Munch and Match is tucked into a corner of Downtown Mclean, making it a convenient place for drinks and an afterschool bite. Upon arriving at the cafe, the first thing we noticed was the enchanting exterior highlighted by the decorative lights, plants, and outdoor seating. However, as we walked in, we were met with a slightly blander and less detailed interior that was still rather inviting. It simply didn’t match the inviting exterior we saw earlier. The ordering system was quite efficient as they utilize a touchscreen that lets you place an order with any accommodations you may want to make.
The service was incredible, every one of the staff members were so kind and helpful improving the overall enjoyability of our experience. We ordered a variety of drinks including the mango slush, MM matcha bubble tea, and the taro bubble tea. For food we ordered the classic fried rice, pasta bowl with meatball, and the chicken veggie dumplings.
Mango slush – 4/5
Upon taking the first sip of the drink, we were slightly underwhelmed by the flavor that the slush had. After we continued to drink it, the flavor of the actual mango started to shine through. The flavor was very refreshing and you could tell that there was no artificial flavor or coloring in the drink.
MM matcha bubble tea – 5/5
As soon as we took the first sip we were met with the perfectly balanced taste of the earthy matcha and sweet milk. The tea had a very nice mixture of milk and tea; neither were overpowering the other. Additionally, the boba pearls had a perfect texture. They weren’t too hard and they were perfectly chewy. This was by far the best drink we had out of the three we had ordered.
Taro – 3.5/5
This bubble tea was way too sweet for our liking and overpowered all the other flavors in the drink. However, the ratio of tea and milk was very good and the bubbles had a very nice soft and chewy texture that was quite enjoyable. The drinks were served in very cute cups that had a nice design and added to the aesthetic of the whole cafe.
Classic Fried Rice – 2.5/5
This fried rice was served with avocado slices, a seaweed salad, and a soy sauce marinated hard boiled egg. The fried rice itself was pretty good; the rice had a nice texture and the bits of egg mixed with the rice were well seasoned. Additionally, the seaweed salad had a good flavor but we would have preferred it to be served on the side so that it could’ve stayed cool. The boiled egg on the other hand was extremely over cooked, had a very rubbery texture and a sour taste that made the egg unenjoyable.
Pasta Bowl with Meatball – 1.5/5
The pasta bowl was extremely underwhelming as it was served with overcooked rotini, a generic red sauce and a single meatball. The pasta sauce was very watery and also sweet, which made it off-putting and not enjoyable. Additionally, the meatball was very standard with an overly soft texture and an average taste. Altogether, for the price of $8.55, the portion was extremely small and the dish itself was mediocre at best
Chicken and Veggie Dumplings – 3.5/5
They served us three dumplings with no sauce, but they had an assortment of options at their sauce bar. The dumplings themselves were on the undercooked side. The dumpling wrapper was quite hard and almost stiff. On the other hand, the flavor of the filling was really good, everything was seasoned to perfection. They were on the oily side which made them less enjoyable but not a bad dish overall.
Overall, Munch and Match is definitely worth returning to for one of the refreshing drinks that Munch and Match has to offer. However, they fall short in their food options that are simply overpriced and not worth the money.
