Sora Cafe Brings Tokyo-Style Dirty Coffee to Bethel Road Dining Corridor
Owners David Mei and Sarah Cai expand their northwest Columbus footprint alongside sister restaurant Hunan Bistro and the revamped Enchantea 2.0.
A Japanese-inspired beverage and dessert shop has joined northwest Columbus's bustling culinary corridor along Bethel Road. Sora Cafe soft-opened Oct. 2 at 1462 Bethel Road in the Bethel Center Mall, taking over the suite previously occupied by Cha Sha & Coffee between Hokkaido Revolving Sushi Bar and Fiery Sky Asian Kitchen.
Husband-and-wife owners David Mei and Sarah Cai created the concept to share Japanese drink and culinary culture with Central Ohio, Mei told NBC4. While delays pushed the cafe's opening back from late August, Mei noted that early customer traffic has remained strong as seating arrives. During the soft-launch phase, Sora Cafe operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The owners plan to expand to daily service following a formal grand opening, which has not yet been scheduled.
Tokyo Inspirations and Ultra-Frozen Brews
A centerpiece of the cafe's upcoming menu is "dirty coffee," a beverage style that Cai spent a month studying in Tokyo. The drink format originated in 2010 when barista Katsuyuki Tanaka introduced it at Bear Pond Espresso in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa neighborhood, pouring hot espresso directly over chilled milk in an un-iced glass to create distinct contrasts of temperature and viscosity.
Sora Cafe intends to introduce an ultra-frozen variation where a deeply chilled glass freezes milk against its inner surface before hot espresso is poured in, producing a rich, slushy texture without ice cubes. Mei said the preparation will also be adapted for matcha drinks once required equipment arrives. For now, the soft-opening lineup features espresso beverages, fruit and milk teas, mango, ube and pistachio matcha lattes, and traditional Chinese dessert bowls combining sago, taro, grass jelly and fermented rice.
Expanding Footprint at Bethel Center Mall
Sora Cafe represents the second dining project Cai and Mei have launched in the shopping center this autumn. On Sept. 4, the couple opened Hunan Bistro at 5230 Bethel Center Mall in the former K House storefront. Both Cai and Mei hail from China's southeastern Hunan province and previously operated restaurants in Cincinnati, Middletown and Chicago before bringing their recipes to Columbus.
At Hunan Bistro, Cai crafts regional specialties such as braised beef noodles, pork belly, vegetable dry pots and General Tso's chicken, alongside late-night grilled skewers served over tabletop warmers. Mei emphasized that the kitchen avoids premade sauces, developing flavors fresh in the wok for each order alongside homemade spicy hot oil. Hunan Bistro is open Wednesday through Monday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. and is closed on Tuesdays.
Enchantea 2.0 and an Evolving Corridor
The additions arrive amid broader momentum along Bethel Road, an established destination for East Asian groceries, ramen shops, bakeries and noodle houses. Just east of Bethel Center Mall, Enchantea 2.0 reopened Sept. 25 at 811 Bethel Road in Olentangy Plaza following a three-month remodeling closure that began June 30.
The revamped tea lounge operates daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., serving pastries, financiers, multi-layer cakes and gelato. The cafe's drinks feature tea harvested from a 6,270-acre farm developed in Yunnan, China, which yielded its first harvest in spring 2026. Starting at 5 p.m. daily, the space transitions into its "Tea After Dark" program, pouring tea-infused cocktails such as the Fire Flower matcha martini and Gaea's Cradle, which balances gin, matcha foam and carrot cordial.
Together, the newly opened storefronts bring specialized brewing techniques, late-night dining and regional Asian traditions to Bethel Road's evolving retail district.
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A Japanese-inspired beverage and dessert shop has joined northwest Columbus's bustling culinary corridor along Bethel Road. Sora Cafe soft-opened Oct. 2 at 1462 Bethel Road in the Bethel Center Mall, taking over the suite previously occupied by Cha Sha & Coffee between Hokkaido Revolving Sushi Bar and Fiery Sky Asian Kitchen.
Husband-and-wife owners David Mei and Sarah Cai created the concept to share Japanese drink and culinary culture with Central Ohio, Mei told NBC4. While delays pushed the cafe's opening back from late August, Mei noted that early customer traffic has remained strong as seating arrives. During the soft-launch phase, Sora Cafe operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The owners plan to expand to daily service following a formal grand opening, which has not yet been scheduled.
Tokyo Inspirations and Ultra-Frozen Brews
A centerpiece of the cafe's upcoming menu is "dirty coffee," a beverage style that Cai spent a month studying in Tokyo. The drink format originated in 2010 when barista Katsuyuki Tanaka introduced it at Bear Pond Espresso in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa neighborhood, pouring hot espresso directly over chilled milk in an un-iced glass to create distinct contrasts of temperature and viscosity.
Sora Cafe intends to introduce an ultra-frozen variation where a deeply chilled glass freezes milk against its inner surface before hot espresso is poured in, producing a rich, slushy texture without ice cubes. Mei said the preparation will also be adapted for matcha drinks once required equipment arrives. For now, the soft-opening lineup features espresso beverages, fruit and milk teas, mango, ube and pistachio matcha lattes, and traditional Chinese dessert bowls combining sago, taro, grass jelly and fermented rice.
Expanding Footprint at Bethel Center Mall
Sora Cafe represents the second dining project Cai and Mei have launched in the shopping center this autumn. On Sept. 4, the couple opened Hunan Bistro at 5230 Bethel Center Mall in the former K House storefront. Both Cai and Mei hail from China's southeastern Hunan province and previously operated restaurants in Cincinnati, Middletown and Chicago before bringing their recipes to Columbus.
At Hunan Bistro, Cai crafts regional specialties such as braised beef noodles, pork belly, vegetable dry pots and General Tso's chicken, alongside late-night grilled skewers served over tabletop warmers. Mei emphasized that the kitchen avoids premade sauces, developing flavors fresh in the wok for each order alongside homemade spicy hot oil. Hunan Bistro is open Wednesday through Monday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. and is closed on Tuesdays.
Enchantea 2.0 and an Evolving Corridor
The additions arrive amid broader momentum along Bethel Road, an established destination for East Asian groceries, ramen shops, bakeries and noodle houses. Just east of Bethel Center Mall, Enchantea 2.0 reopened Sept. 25 at 811 Bethel Road in Olentangy Plaza following a three-month remodeling closure that began June 30.
The revamped tea lounge operates daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., serving pastries, financiers, multi-layer cakes and gelato. The cafe's drinks feature tea harvested from a 6,270-acre farm developed in Yunnan, China, which yielded its first harvest in spring 2026. Starting at 5 p.m. daily, the space transitions into its "Tea After Dark" program, pouring tea-infused cocktails such as the Fire Flower matcha martini and Gaea's Cradle, which balances gin, matcha foam and carrot cordial.
Together, the newly opened storefronts bring specialized brewing techniques, late-night dining and regional Asian traditions to Bethel Road's evolving retail district.
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The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/japanese-inspired-cafe-now-open-143000242.html
Supporting evidence (7)
Sora Cafe soft-opened Oct. 2 at 1462 Bethel Road in the Bethel Center Mall, taking over the suite previously occupied by Cha Sha & Coffee between Hokkaido Revolving Sushi Bar and Fiery Sky Asian Kitchen.
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A Japanese-inspired cafe has opened in the Bethel Center Mall in northwest Columbus, serving matcha, coffee, tea and desserts during its soft opening. Sora Cafe now occupies the former Cha Sha & Coffee space, located at 1462 Bethel Road, between Hokkaido Revolving Sushi Bar and Fiery Sky Asian Kitchen. Owners David Mei and his wife, Sarah Cai, plan to operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for roughly the next month, then open seven days a week after a grand opening that has not been scheduled. Mei said they created Sora to share Japanese food, drinks and culture with the Columbus community.
Husband-and-wife owners David Mei and Sarah Cai created the concept to share Japanese drink and culinary culture with Central Ohio, Mei told NBC4.
Read supporting passage
A Japanese-inspired cafe has opened in the Bethel Center Mall in northwest Columbus, serving matcha, coffee, tea and desserts during its soft opening. Sora Cafe now occupies the former Cha Sha & Coffee space, located at 1462 Bethel Road, between Hokkaido Revolving Sushi Bar and Fiery Sky Asian Kitchen. Owners David Mei and his wife, Sarah Cai, plan to operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for roughly the next month, then open seven days a week after a grand opening that has not been scheduled. Mei said they created Sora to share Japanese food, drinks and culture with the Columbus community.
A centerpiece of the cafe's upcoming menu is "dirty coffee," a beverage style that Cai spent a month studying in Tokyo.
Read supporting passage
Cai spent a month in Tokyo learning "dirty" coffee recipes. The couple plans to make the drink a centerpiece of Sora's menu.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLegendary Japanese barista Katsuyuki Tanaka invented dirty coffee in 2010 at Bear Pond Espresso in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa neighborhood. The drink, which has many variations, layers hot espresso over cold milk in a chilled glass without ice. The layers create contrasts in temperature and texture.
The drink format originated in 2010 when barista Katsuyuki Tanaka introduced it at Bear Pond Espresso in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa neighborhood, pouring hot espresso directly over chilled milk in an un-iced glass to create distinct contrasts of temperature and viscosity.
Read supporting passage
Cai spent a month in Tokyo learning "dirty" coffee recipes. The couple plans to make the drink a centerpiece of Sora's menu.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLegendary Japanese barista Katsuyuki Tanaka invented dirty coffee in 2010 at Bear Pond Espresso in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa neighborhood. The drink, which has many variations, layers hot espresso over cold milk in a chilled glass without ice. The layers create contrasts in temperature and texture.
Sora Cafe intends to introduce an ultra-frozen variation where a deeply chilled glass freezes milk against its inner surface before hot espresso is poured in, producing a rich, slushy texture without ice cubes.
Read supporting passage
Sora plans to serve a newer, ultra-frozen variation of dirty coffee that has attracted lots of attention on social media and in cafes worldwide. A deeply chilled glass freezes some of the milk along its sides before hot espresso is added, creating a creamy, partly frozen texture without ice. When Ohio State plays Indiana: Kickoff time is announced for Oct. 17, 2026, game The drinks are not yet available; the store is waiting on the required equipment. Mei said the technique could also be used with matcha.
For now, the soft-opening lineup features espresso beverages, fruit and milk teas, mango, ube and pistachio matcha lattes, and traditional Chinese dessert bowls combining sago, taro, grass jelly and fermented rice.
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The current menu includes mango, ube and pistachio matcha lattes; milk and fruit teas; espresso drinks; and Chinese dessert bowls with sago, taro, grass jelly and fermented rice. The owners also plan to expand the dessert selection.
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Supporting evidence (4)
On Sept. 4, the couple opened Hunan Bistro at 5230 Bethel Center Mall in the former K House storefront.
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Hunan Bistro, located at 5230 Bethel Center Mall, moved into a space formerly occupied by K House. After finding success in cities like Cincinnati, Middletown and Chicago, the restaurant has now moved into Central Ohio.
At Hunan Bistro, Cai crafts regional specialties such as braised beef noodles, pork belly, vegetable dry pots and General Tso's chicken, alongside late-night grilled skewers served over tabletop warmers.
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Authentic Hunan-style cooking is the focus of the restaurant, with a menu complemented by grilled skewers, braised beef over noodles, pork belly and vegetable dry pot and American-Chinese dishes like General Tso's chicken.
Mei emphasized that the kitchen avoids premade sauces, developing flavors fresh in the wok for each order alongside homemade spicy hot oil.
Read supporting passage
Mei says Hunan Bistro is special because aside from their spicy hot oil, they do not make sauces in advance and instead develop flavors in the wok, made-to-order style.
Retained video evidence
https://hoodline.com/2026/09/enchantea-reopens-on-bethel-road-with-yunnan-matcha-and-tea-cocktails/
Supporting evidence (4)
Just east of Bethel Center Mall, Enchantea 2.0 reopened Sept. 25 at 811 Bethel Road in Olentangy Plaza following a three-month remodeling closure that began June 30.
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The matcha cafe formerly known simply as Enchantea reopened its doors Friday at 811 Bethel Road in Columbus, relaunching as Enchantea 2.0. The shop is now open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and its Tea After Dark cocktail collection begins at 5 p.m. The reopening caps a closure that began in late June, when the cafe announced on Instagram that it would pause operations to prepare for what it called its next chapter
The cafe's drinks feature tea harvested from a 6,270-acre farm developed in Yunnan, China, which yielded its first harvest in spring 2026.
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Much of that expanded lineup traces back to a 6,270-acre matcha farm the company began developing in Yunnan, China, four years ago, per the same account, with the first harvest completed this spring. The matcha is grown in Yunnan, and the process includes shading and stone grinding.
Starting at 5 p.m. daily, the space transitions into its "Tea After Dark" program, pouring tea-infused cocktails such as the Fire Flower matcha martini and Gaea's Cradle, which balances gin, matcha foam and carrot cordial.
Read supporting passage
Signature options include the spicy, floral matcha martini known as Fire Flower and Gaea's Cradle, which combines gin and a housemade carrot cordial beneath matcha foam.
Retained video evidence