Happytime Tea

Tucked away in a remote corner of a Rolando neighborhood strip mall across from Horace Mann Middle School is where you will find this boba tea shop. The owners of Happytime Tea were doing some internal renovation when I visited with all of the inside chairs and tables pushed off to one side of the room. Electric saws were in action as the outdoor patio was also under construction. It seemed to be a lot of space for a business that focused on beverages, sweet crepes, and an acai bowl.Two menu screens hung from behind the service counter. There were close to 70 different offerings of drinks. What struck me was how affordable the prices were at $4.75 (small) and $5.50 (large) for the milk and flavored teas. The toppings were $0.75 each except for crystal boba which cost $1. I picked the first flavored tea on the list which was Pineapple along with the addition of regular boba pearls. That flavor isn't as common as you would think at a place like this. There was no pulp in the tea, however the pearl quality was very soft which I appreciated.The business hours are not as late as the nearby competition with a closing time of 7 pm (even 5 pm on Saturday and Monday), but they do open early at either 7 or 8 am. That's good for the early birds who may want coffee and not so much for a student who wants to study and hang out at night.

It's a little hit and miss in terms of the crowd (busy or quiet). I typically only get the avocado smoothie with boba and maybe a Vietnamese coffee. Which they use real avocado, which is why I love this place so much. Always go there for it. I actually haven't ever tried their food. They have a karaoke set up, and a scratch ticket machine. If you're looking for a real avocado blended smoothie this is the place to go!

Randomly stumbled upon this spot when picking up some dinner, and I am very glad I did! This place is pretty hidden away in a shopping center, and I believe you have to park a bit far away from it, but I can be wrong. They have a bunch of flavors to choose from which is super cool and there is a lot of seating which is perfect if you are going with a big group. The people running the shop were very sweet and helped accommodate my drink since I don't drink whole milk. I tried the Coconut Ice Blend with Almond Milk and Boba, and it was very yummy. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and I love the creamy coconut flavor. I can't wait to go back and try more drinks!

Quick service but just don't go there on a Sunday about 11ish. They may have a mating ritual going down. I felt like I crashed an event like I'm not supposed to. Well, luckily the counter has a fast track and got me out of there with no min wasted. The boba was great! Very scrumptious and chewy texture.It has a pho smell when I walk in. Overall a decent place. & a nice patio as others review it.

I really like this place. Plenty of parking . There is indoor sitting as well as outdoor. This feels like a little hole in the wall type of place. Orders are made quickly and are supper yummy. I loved their coffee. Prices are super affordable.

I love this place!!!! I think the best part is the vibe and the service. The owner is super nice and generous.

2022 review update:Great place to get some work done as there's tons of seating and hidden in a corner. With the karaoke stage and lottery ticket signs, this is your classic Vietnamese joint.I will definitely keep coming back for the workspace, drinks, and WiFi!The Vietnamese coffee ($6.25) was pretty on the pricey side and not your traditional drip coffee with condense milk. It is mixed with added creamer I believe, I couldn't finish the drink lol. It could be because I came in at 2pm.I hope it stays this empty, a quiet non-packed coffee location is hard to find nowadays. Lots of parking!!

Was really craving milk tea so decided to come here and try somewhere new. I always get a taro milk tea smoothie whenever I try a new place so I can compare. However, the taro from here wasn't my favorite. The flavor just wasn't strong enough for me. My friend got a melon milk tea smoothie and it was delicious! Seems like this place is either a hit or miss depending on what flavor you get. Worth trying again, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

Such a cute little shop run by a small family. There's plenty of space in the parking lot and in the restaurant. A perfect place to get work done or even sit and chill with friends. We got the thai tea with boba and it did not disappoint. We didn't want it too sweet and the owner said it was pre-sweetened but they tried to make adjustments for us! Super awesome customer service!! Please support them! Their drinks are good too

Hidden away in the back of the shopping center, but a great spot for boba. It hasn't been busy when I went there but there is plenty of seating and looks like it has karaoke.