There's no doubt about it - Bay Area residents love their bubble tea. With such a wide range of tastes and flavors, this drink is popular year-round. The sweet teas mixed with chewy pearls make a brilliant combination and we can't stop drinking it. We couldn't decide on just one favorite spot, so we rounded up a list of the best boba places in the Bay!
SAN FRANCISCO
Boba Guys (Multiple SF Locations)
For a boba place that's only been open for a few years, Boba Guys has certainly made a long lasting impression with the city. Their quality boba and unique drinks are some of the best we've tried yet! Plus, their cute aardvark mascot just gets us. Don't let the lines scare you because it is well worth the wait. Trust us. We recommend trying the Jasmine Milk Tea or the Strawberry Matcha Latte.
Tpumps (Multiple Bay Area Locations)
So many flavors to choose from, where do we even begin? Besides their boba, the best thing about Tpumps is how easily you can customize your drink! Add up to 3 flavors of goodness to your tea to truly make it personalized. Did we mention that you can get a free size upgrade on Tuesdays? Thank you, Tpumps! We recommend getting a Lychee Passionfruit Black Milk Tea or Mango Peach Passion Green Tea.
Plentea (341 Kearny Street)
Nestled right between the Financial District and Chinatown is Plentea! This little milk tea stop is great for a midday pick-me-up. Served in a super cute glass milk bottle, we love the variety of drinks on their menu! Their fresh fruit slush and nutella milk tea has definitely caught our attention. We also recommend trying the Ice Milk or Sea Salt Crema tea.
Steep (240 Ritch Street)
For having just opened earlier this year, Steep has stepped up in the boba game. Their fruit and milk teas have caught our attention, and it doesn't hurt that their menu includes acai bowls, lemonade, coffee, and smoothies. Props to Steep for such an inclusive menu. We recommend trying the Taro Milk Tea or Thai Milk Tea.
Cool Tea Bar (Multiple Bay Area Locations)
You better keep your eyes peeled, because this boba stop is easy to miss! Though the location may be a little inconspicuous, their boba and teas speak for themselves. Like the name says, it's a pretty cool tea bar. We recommend trying the Roasted Oolong Milk Tea or Jasmine Milk Tea.
EAST BAY
Asha Tea House (2086 University Avenue | Berkley)
Not only are their teas top-notch, but the ambiance of Asha Tea House is noteworthy as well. Asha is all about the experience beyond just the drink; it's who you drink it with and where! This tea house looked so cozy, and sipping on one of their pearl milk teas made us feel right at home. We recommend trying the HK Coffee Milk Tea or the Matcha Latte.
U Cha (2199 Bancroft Way | Berkeley)
UC Berkeley students, you have it so lucky. Within walking distance to the Cal campus, U Cha is the place to be for your boba fix. Bring your friends, grab some drinks, order a few snacks and you're good to go. We recommend trying the Bomberman or Roasted Oolong Milk Tea.
i-Tea (Multiple Bay Area Locations)
No, this is not another Apple product, but it is arguably better and definitely a lot tastier. The menu may seem a little overwhelming, but that's what we love about it: their variety! Just know that you've come to the right place to satisfy that sweet tooth. With so many toppings to choose from, we usually get their sweet boba or one of their flavorful jellies! We recommend trying the Mango Sago or Hokkaido Milk Tea.
Gong Cha (Multiple Bay Area Locations)
Founded only in 2006, Gong Cha has made a name for itself around the world and we are so, so grateful for it's East Bay location. Because their teas are brewed every 4 hours, you know you're going to get a quality drink. We recommend trying the Milk Foam Green Tea or the Earl Grey Milk Tea with 3J (pearl, pudding AND herbal jelly)!
Whoever you are, Mr. Green Bubble, please keep doing you and keep making that boba. In addition to delicious teas and pearls, they also serve snacks! We're drooling, I mean, looking at their bomb Popcorn Chicken. Pair that with a milk tea and you've got yourself a solid afternoon snack (or meal, we're not judging). We recommend trying the Milk Tea with Lychee Jelly and the Rose Green Milk Tea.
NORTH BAY
Aside from the regular milk teas, Sunny's specialized and uniquely named drink menu caught our attention. From Summer Buzz to Poke Slush to East Meets West, Sunny's word play keeps the fun going beyond the boba. We recommend trying their Magnificent Perfection and Earth Shake.
TeaRex (2475 Elk Grove Blvd | Elk Grove)
Remind us again why all restaurants don't serve boba? I think everyone should take a cue from TeaRex because yes, I would love a milk tea with my entree. Is that even a question? We recommend trying the Peach Green Tea or Nutella Milk Tea!
SOUTH BAY
Tiger Tea & Juice (1803 El Camino Real | Burlingame)
Tiger Tea's potted plant drink caught our eye so we had to give it a try. It was so good, we're making rhymes over here. Not only are their drinks superb, but the ambiance was on point. Great large space for a boba feast, because that's a thing...right? We recommend trying the Potted Plant Oolong Tea or the Jasmine Milk Tea!
T4 (Multiple Bay Area Locations)
Thank goodness for T4's multiple Bay Area locations because we can't get enough of their pearls. Bonus points to this boba spot for also having board games stocked! Come with a group of friends to get drinks and play games. It's a one stop spot for a guaranteed good time. We recommend trying the Passionfruit Royal Tea or the Grass Jelly Milk Tea!
Now get to poppin' (that boba, we mean). Still hungry? Check out our guide to the Bay's Best Pizza.
