DIY Tea Lab - Ballard

If you're in Ballard and you want boba, DIY is pretty much the only place to get it. That's actually the reason why we stopped by here on a Saturday afternoon. We got one drink:Classic Ruby Black Milk Tea, 50% Sugar, Less Ice w/ Boba ($6.25) - Interesting preparation here - the milk tea is presweetened, prebrewed, premixed with non-dairy creamer, and placed in the tea dispensers (I wonder how often the dispensers get cleaned). For the black tea, they have one dispenser with 100% sweet and one with no sweet. If you change the sweetness level, like I did, they mix the two together appropriately to get your desired sweetness level. In terms of the drink itself, the tea taste isn't particularly fragrant, but has a good black tea taste. Not the best tea, but good for a shop that doesn't brew tea to order. 50% sweet is not too sweet in this drink (probably around 25-30% sweet vs other places), and it allows the tea taste to come through. The boba is only very slightly harder than I prefer so it has a pretty good chew.DIY Tea Lab shares the same storefront with a poke place and the employees work on both sides. The store wasn't staffed that well when we visited - only two people combined for both the poke and the boba. The boba half actually wasn't staffed at all when we came in - we had to order at the self serve kiosk, and then someone walked over from the other side to make the drink. It wasn't a problem since we visited in a less busy time, but if they don't have more people at peak hours, I could see things taking much longer.I would definitely stop by again if in the area. This location is good enough for me to want to go to their other branches around Seattle.

Throughout all the Matcha Strawberry fresh milks I've tried so far, this has got to be the best one by far. The sweetness was perfect and the strawberry wasn't overpowering like in other places! The service by Sonyee was amazing. She was very kind and offered recommendations. The place itself is very clean and nice. Definitely would come back for their Rainbow bowl again.

New location!! Same delicious flavors. I love that they pair up with Just poke too. 2 stops in 1!I like their fruit, matcha teas with fruit syrups in. Layers of pretty with real fruit. Tried the white ones peach oolong and it was delicious as well! Parking is a bit challenging in this area/ market street but nothing you couldn't find down the blocks. Place is bright and new. Good stop if you're in the area since they have several locations!

Delicious bubble tea for any occasion! I stopped by DIY Tea Lab while in the neighborhood with a few friends and had a good experience. We ordered off the touch screen at the counter, which was self explanatory. I did notice that some drinks were more customizable than others, for example "less sugar" vs "25% or 50%", but overall the usual options were present. There were a couple employees around to help and make our drinks, which came out super fast! The boba was still warm and soft in the drinks, so make sure to give it a good shake!

We first noticed there are two establishments through the same door. One side is poke the other side serves Boba. The eat in area is shared. One neat thing is if you order a pole bowl a regular size Boba drink comes free with your order! We had dinner already so we went with a drink only. Both drinks were delightful, and we found it interesting that drinks come without Boba or jellies adder, which at first seemed atypical, bit we learned that each drink is more customizable this way. The establishment is very clean and aesthetic while the service is top notch. Will definitely come again while in Ballard.

**Yelp Elite Experience**I got Thai ice tea with no sugar and no ice. This is typically something most places say no to - as their Thai ice mix is premixed with sugar. I am happy to report mine had 0 sugar!! I also really like the boba cup. The lid has plastic cover for closing the mouth making it easier to carry it to go. On the whole - definitely recommend and very excited that Ballard finally has a boba place!!!

Two of the things I enjoy are milk tea and musubi's and how exciting that I can have both at the same time at the same location.I popped in here after work from South Lake Union, which was a short drive to Ballard. No parking lot, so find parking on the street.When you enter one side has DIY Tea Lab and across the other side is Just Poke.I felt kind of bad for the gal working at DIY because she was so adorable and friendly and it was so busy, she had to do everything alone and I can feel and see she got a smidge flustered, but she powered through. I ordered the Lychee smoothie with Lychee jelly and it was delicious and refreshing. If you are in the area, come here and get your drink on.

*Yelp Elite Experience Review*What a great Elite experience! The staff at DIY Tea Lab was very friendly and welcoming, and the menu was pretty vast. I typically go for traditional boba but tried something new in the Life is Peachy boba and it was delicious! I also appreciated that I was asked about ice and sweetness level, so that made the drink even better. The added Just Poke musubi was also fresh and tasty. All around, clean interior, friendly/welcoming staff, and tasty food! Can't go wrong! If I'm ever up in the Ballard neighborhood again, I'd definitely stop by again. Thanks DIY Tea Lab!

Stumbled upon here while at the Sunday Ballard Farmers Market. Initially was looking for a place to use the restroom but didn't want to come in and not order anything. They have poke and boba in one location. Poke bowls are good portions and the spam mush I was yummy. Ended up getting the brown sugar milk tea and it was near perfection.

Came to DIY Tea Lab as part of the Elite Experience and definitely glad I was invited! When you walk in, there are two different counters to order at. The first is the Boba counter, where you can order from their menu and customize your drink with the sweetness level and types of popping pearls or jellies. I ordered a Lovely Lychee with lychee and rainbow jellies. The first one I got was overly sweet, as I forgot to ask for half the sweetness level. The employee was extremely kind and offered to make me another one... which tasted perfect! The lychee flavor was prominent and spot on.The second counter is the Poke station, where you can customize poke bowls. They also have freshly made Musubi, which is a piece of spam and white rice wrapped in seaweed! You could clearly taste how fresh it was... the rice was t cooked perfectly and the spam was as well. Overall, I definitely recommend and will be back to try other Boba tea flavors!