CHICHA San Chen

Verdict: now that the hype has finally died down (and there are more worthy competitors around), this place is worth recommending (with 1+ hour wait times to order, it wasn't worth it back then). As of June 2024, it's still more expensive than the rest of the field, but it's still made to order, and they always have provided samples and a smile when I order (unless it's on the self service kiosk in which case there's no smile, but you at least get a sample). In my own words (now that I've actually been to Taiwan): Definitely the best quality of tea & extraction (lion teaspresso - you can't buy these for home use!) - but expensive - more than any other bubble tea place in town ($18 for two drinks, before tip, after tax). There is no "large", and the standard cup size is around 8-10oz. Given that it's a hot drink, even with the lowest ice level, you're still going to be getting mostly a cup of ice, and an espresso-shot-amount worth of tea. Lastly, since they only make drinks to order - service takes a while to make it - I don't think the wait time for a drink has been less than 20 minutes. Even if there's a small line to order (as in, it doesn't go out the door), you're going to be waiting a while for them to clear the existing order backlog before you get your order. That being said, it smells like tea in here - definitely has the vibe of a high-end tea place. They leave the fresh tea leaves in open containers so you can smell them - I'm particular to the Oolong or High Mountain Pouchang Tea..I'd say, if you're a tea fan, and/or a Taiwan fan (vibe wise), it's worth a visit. Would I be a regular here even if I lived in Bellevue? Ehh, probably not.But if I'm in the area, and feeling like I could drink some tea, I'll drop by for a visit.

The milk team here is always delicious! I like that the milk tea isn't as sweet as other places and that you can really taste the tea flavor. It's nice that the staff also always has some sort of sample.I've never gone at a time or day where it isn't busy so I wouldn't stop by if you're in a rush. You'll definitely be in the line for a decent amount of time or maybe even stuck looking for parking if both parking lots are full.The place is beautiful but I do wish it was bigger so there was more room inside to wait and maybe a spot where you could sit without worrying that you're gonna bump into anyone.

Perfect every time.Their boba never disappoints and I'm super happy that they're able to maintain the consistency of the drinks. The menu has a decent range of flavors and types of teas to choose from. Considering they have a couple of Michelin stars, the price is a bit higher than your average boba shop. However, you're definitely paying for the quality of your drink and I've never come across anyone that has regretted getting a drink here.* Osmanthus Oolong w/ Honey: 9/10 - subtle sweetness* Green Tea w/ Mango: 9/10 - nice mango flavor* Bubbles (Topping): 10/10 - super chewy and perfectly cookedThe shop is relatively small without any tables or chairs to sit at other than the bar, but way more spacious than the other locations in CA. There's always a line out the door, but it moves pretty quickly. It's located in a small plaza with other shops and there's a couple of parking spots as well. We didn't have many interactions with the staff, but the worker that took our order was very nice and friendly.Highly recommend giving them a try!

Super crowded outside and inside when we arrived. Luckily we took public transportation, because the parking was very limited. When we stepped inside, we were immediately hit with an amazing aroma of freshly brewed tea. The machines they use are like coffee machines where the leaves are pressed/packed and water is run through to produce the tea. We waited ~30 minutes for our drinks, which was due to the limited machines they had to make the drinks. The process wasnt rushed to ensure the quality of the tea. I ordered the Dong Ding Tea with Mousse and it was absolutely delicious. The mousse was silky and creamy and the tea was so refreshing. I also love how they have samples to try while you are ordering. If you dont want to wait, they have mobile order/pickup!

You can smell the aroma of fresh tea brewing as you walk in. There is definitely a line even on a weekday but it moves rather fast. It did not disappoint. The bubble /boba is the best I have had in Washington- perfectly soft and chewy with taste of brown sugar. Love that they have non dairy milk substitute, although not all drinks have that option. Love my basic, black tea with oat milk. My only 'complaint' is the specials are only offered at the register. If you are like me, gets overwhelmed with choices because you want to try everything, it didn't help to have more options at the register. Hope they organize their menu and specials so they are visible and can be considered by all the patrons.

We came at 4 pm on a Monday expecting a long wait. Even though the inside was packed, it cleared out quickly and we were able to sit down to wait. The place smelled like fragrant tea leaves. We were beckoned to the counter to receive our free samples. We could have given our order to an employee, but we opted to use the self serve kiosk. 4 drinks, all "perfect" and less ice came out in 15-20 minutes. My Lemon Mango sweetened with condensed milk was lovely. Slightly tart, mellowed by the creamy dairy. A bit pricey, but still plan to come back to try other flavors.

It was a super nice, warm day in the PNW, perfect for grabbing boba to cool you down! There is limited parking where the actual boba shop is and it is a shared lot with other businesses. My friend and I decided to park next door, where Chipotle shares a lot with other businesses in that lot. Once you enter, it is so brightly lit and very simple, clean aesthetics inside. It wasn't too busy when we arrived, but soon after we ordered, it definitely became busier. There is limited seating inside as well and is pretty small, so I wouldn't linger around too long after receiving my order. I ordered the Taro Boba Milk Tea. My friend ordered the Green Tea + Passionfruit with boba. Both drinks were yummy and the texture of the boba was perfect! The way the drinks are presented is super cute and unlike any other place. The pricing is a bit munch in comparison to other boba shops, but it is technically a Michelin-starred boba shop, which probably explains the pricing.

Ambiance : 10/10 Service : 10/10 No food serviced. Overall, top tea place I like. Tea is brew in front of you. Tea is very refreshing. My overall pick from their menu is High Tea Pouchong Tea. It is light and not too strong. Sometimes it get crowded when it's the holidays or weekends. Definitely recommend place if you like tea.

As good as my favorite ~non Michelin star~ spots in the area, so the label feels like a good marketing flex more than anything, but it is truly good! Prices are similar to Seattle for a full size, but they're just in the smaller cups instead.But every part was good, and my vegan pal appreciated the non-dairy options for everything! The mousse (cream foam) had a great texture, the tea had a strong flavor, and boba/jellies were perfectly cooked. Went at 3 pm on a Wednesday and waited less than 10 minutes from ordering to leaving - so that probably helped too. Too small of a space to hang there, but would be cute if ya could! Maybe when it's super dead, but idk how often that happens. In sum: for sure give it a try if you can go at slow times, but i don't know if any boba is worth an hour long wait! Rating 5 stars tho bc thankfully my experience was the former :)

The "bubble volcano" (5/5 stars) was honestly the best tea I've ever had in my life! They make the tea after you order (using fresh tea leaves, no syrups), so service is not fast, especially because they usually have a long line. The price is reasonable, but the portions are small. Nevertheless, I am sure I will go back again! But probably not regularly. When I say busy, I mean busy! There were 28 customers in the store when I placed my order and only two of them had their drinks - everyone else was in line or waiting for their order! That being said, I got in line at 2:50pm, ordered at 2:59pm And got my "bubble volcano" at 2:17pm - so pretty fast considering how long the line was, I think! There were no empty parking spots in front of the store, but you can park for free at the sushi restaurant across the street (the restaurant is currently fenced off, so you cannot miss it).