The Tastiest Bubble Tea in Oakland

UMI Tea & Ramen

★★★★☆ 4 (64) • $$

"I'm still dreaming of getting another Vietnamese Coffee w Boba here. They made me like boba. Quiet little spot tucked away that we found when I was looking for the closest Vietnamese coffee spot. This is definitely the place to get one."

ONCE Tea

★★★★☆ 3.8 (124) • $$

"Hidden gems in Hayward! We ordered 7 different drinks. F5. Passion Fruit Green Tea Lemonade with Crystal Boba (Large)A1. Brown Sugar Boba Milk TeaA2. Classic Boba Milk Tea A5. Taro & Boba Milk TeaB5. Strawberry Blizzard with SagoA2. Classic Boba Milk Tea A7. Mochi & Boba Milk TeaAll of them are very delicious. My favorite is the less sweet mochi & boba milk tea. Boba are super chewy and mochi texture goes really well with the milk tea. Will definitely be back often."

Teaspoon - Berkeley

★★★★☆ 4 (34) • $$

"Berkeley is not shy of boba shops. My friend and I were seeking boba after our meal and Teaspoon was nearby and open later than other spots.This tea shop is on the smaller end with only two tables. Most customers take their drinks to go. Ordering is a breeze which you do at the kiosk and wait for your name to be called. Our drinks took less than five minutes to be made by the sweet staff which was appreciated!There's a variety of milk and fruit teas, some are caffeinated and others aren't. Adjustments for ice and sweetness can be made plus fairly alternatives are available. Since it was late at night, the non-caffeinated Silky Mango, Light Ice, and Oat Milk called to me. I found the Silky Mango to be extremely sweet, and creamy, with nicely cooked boba. My friend had the Dirty Ube with Oat Milk. The drinks are a little pricey but a good size! Teaspoon is a small yet reasonable spot for drinks in Downtown Berkeley. They have locations all over the nation, with this one tucked away off University Ave. It's easily accessible by foot with street parking around."

TOMO Tea House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (53)

"Quality/Quantity - Drinks were good. Actually my daughter said this might be her new favorite tea place on the island!We also got 2 mochi donuts which I can skip in the future.Matcha Oreo and Lemon flavored. The lemon was the better one of the two. I barely could taste the matcha.In summary, come for the tea.Atmosphere - Small local business.Cool decor, a kids play area.Too bad my daughter did not take any pics.Open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm.Plenty of mall parking. Service - Okay. They supported/followed store policy of no cash unless it is exact change. And did not let my daughter get away with 20 cents. This is good and bad.Price - $20.20.NO cash, cards only. Well except if you have exact change.My daughter was short twenty cents... Luckily the customer behind her gave her twenty cents. Thank you to the customer behind her. My daughter gave her the two hole punch card.Owner Comment - Congrats on your success (Tomo) since September of 2024 and your previous success (or not) with Bober since April of 2023."

Te'Amo Boba Tea x Mochi Donut

★★★★☆ 3.8 (443) • $$

"Came in the morning to get a box of mochi donuts to go. Just about one of my favorite types of donuts. Fresh, chewy, delightful. Would be better if there were more flavor options, as every time I've come, only about half appeal to me. Overall, if you've never had mochi donuts, worth trying at least once, and you won't go wrong with trying them from Te'Amo."

Plentea

★★★★☆ 3.9 (213) • $

"A solid boba shop that uses fresh ingredients.The Caramel Smoothie with boba was our family's repeated favorite. I could see why. It could easily become too sweet, but it tread the line perfectly well, being tasty, creamy, and not too sweet. I ordered the Grapefruit bubble tea, and I LOVED that it was made with real grapefruit juice where you could feel the texture of the pulp. This boba tea could easily fall into the syrupy sweet trap, but, no, it emerged victorious!When we came in, it was a bit later. There was no one else in the shop, but the employees moved quickly and made sure our orders were made well and quickly. I appreciate the business' commitment to reusable cups and more boba shops should be similarly proactive."

Dim Sum Best Of Taste

★★★★★ 4.5 (42) • $$

"Came here for a quick but delicious dinner solo. First off the food is FRESH & QUICK. I ordered the Siu Mai, BBQ Pork Buns and steam chive dumplings. The Siu Mai and dumplings were outstanding. They came out hot and steaming. Pork buns were good but nothing impressive. For the 3 orders of food and a sparkling water it was around $24, which now a days seems rather cheap. The inside is small with a few tables and chairs. It is not a fancy sit down place, more so like a casual eatery with options to-go. Overall, if I am craving dim sum in the Alameda area I'll be coming back here for an affordable, quick and fresh meal!"

Sweet Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (25) • $$

"I visited Sweet Bar on a Sunday afternoon it was not busy, the service was quick and the staff was nice.Unfortunately the waffle machine was broken so I was unable to try the waffle bubble. I got a few ice cream cones and milk tea. The kids loved the ice cream and the milk tea was good. The shop is cute and was a nice experience definitely recommend trying."

R&B Tea - Fremont

★★★★☆ 3.6 (124) • $$

"This place is cool if you want to grab a quick drink. I came here and got the Creme burlee coffee, iced. It was so good! I like how they have this thing where your drink is sealed in a aluminum style container. My drink tasted great! Not too sweet and not too strong. The service was good, they were fast and got my order right. I ordered through Yelp because I was curious about them and saw how you can conveniently order here. When I saw you can put in your order online I did it right away. There was plenty of parking when I showed up and by the time I got there my order was ready. The place looked clean and the pricing is reasonable. I would try this place if you haven't."

Boba Birds

★★★★★ 4.8 (157) • $$

"Had a serious craving for some wings and after the place I usually go to was unexpectedly closed for maintenance, I hopped onto Yelp and found this place.The person who answered was very helpful and cheerful! Didn't realize how much I missed a friendly voice taking my food order! Anyways, that already made me feel like I made the right choice.Food was ready at the 20 minute estimate they gave. I ordered the Mango Habanero and Honey Garlic Parm wings and a side of fried. First off the wings are big, fresh and crispy. They LOAD the sauces and dry rubs on these wings which I loveeee.The fries were seasoned well, but I actually was just expecting plain fries with salt. These ones had a seasoning I can't quite put my fingers on. It wasn't bad, just wasn't what I wanted at the time. I'll know for next time to get a different fry. The Mango habanero topping looked fresh. Like they had just made the sauce in a blender, kind of fresh. It was chunky and not what I'm used to. Still very tasty! The Honey Garlic Parm was LOADED with Parm and garlic and the wings coated in Honey. Superb.Overall, I'll definitely be coming here to try their other wing flavors and teas. I ordered to go, but the place is located in the shopping strip where the Tara Hills Safeway is. I don't think it'd be a place I'd come to dine in, but they did try to make the place cute inside. It had a couple game machines and a Cutesy instagrammable wall."

Cha Thai Tea

★★★★★ 4.7 (68) • $

"I love Thai tea, imma just put that out there. The fact that Cha Thai Tea specializes in it and is close to my home? Dangerous!I came here with my best friend and we enjoyed sipping in their shop. The inside is pretty minimalistic and quiet. There's a few tables inside and a couple outside. Since we were one of the only customers, my drink came out fast.When you come to a place with Thai tea as their name, best believe I'm going to try it! I had the Oat Milk Thai Tea. Initially I asked for no sugar but it was definitely too bitter for me so they were kind enough to add some sweet syrup. You can taste the pureness of the tea. It was high quality for sure and I recommend it for those seeking authentic Thai tea.After my experience at Cha Thai Tea, I will continue to bring other friends who also love Thai tea. The shop is small but easy to find off Shattuck Ave. with street parking around. Can't wait to come back to try their other drinks!"

Tao's Fresh

★★★★☆ 4.4 (297) • $$

"Great place to go for hot plate sizzling food! We came on a weekday night and they were pretty crowded at around 6 pm. You order on QR code, and they bring the food out to you. I highly recommend you to not wear something that is hard to wash because the smell will permeate into your clothing. I ordered the curry rice with beef and added kimchi on top. We also ordered the calamari to share, the calamari took awhile to come out, about 15 min, they make it fresh! I really enjoyed my dish! It came with a good portion of meat and rice."

Truewin Tea Shoppe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (154) • $$

"I've been eyeing this new boba shop since it landed on IG. I've missed the soufflé pancakes from Gram Cafe and the ones from Hanabusa seemed too eggy for me. Truewin takes it out of the park-- soufflé pancakes were so fluffy and soft without any overly eggy taste! My favorite was the chocolate cream filling sprinkled with crushed Oreos. I also tried the matcha cream with pistachios, which was sweeter. Only downside is price ~$9-10 each. Steep but I would get the chocolate one again. They currently have a promotion of 2 for $16 and 4 for $30 until 12/31!I've been here twice and both times I greatly enjoyed the drinks I ordered. First visit was the lychee oolong fruit tea with tea jelly. Soo refreshing and I was able to get no sweet. Last time I got the iron goddess milk tea no sweet with both golden boba and qq noodle. While the latter was a bit overcooked, I loved the golden boba! Texture was spot on chewy/bouncy and it reminded me of Sunright's honey boba. This brand took over Ume and before that it was T4. Seating is still on the left side but they have fewer seats than before, about 5 low round tables and 3 chairs each. Comfy though. Order at the kiosk and they'll text when the order's ready. They have snacks like popcorn chicken, takoyaki, calamari, and sweet potato fries."

Bayleaf Tea

★★★★★ 4.5 (352) • $$

"This shop is connected to a gas station, but once inside you'd never know it. There's plenty of seating inside and a decent amount of parking available outside. There was wifi so I stuck around to do some work and had a fun time listening to the music play on the speakers. The cashier was sweet and patient with me as I decided what to order. She recommended the bacon & cheese mochi waffle and I'm happy she did because it was the perfect little pick me up and only $3. It is small so I'd recommend getting 2 if you want a treat (it's also so cute, shaped like a corgi!). I ordered the honeycomb latte at 75% sweet - I have a sweet tooth so at first I didn't think it was sweet enough, but once the honeycomb dissolved it was perfect. This place is definitely a hidden gem."

Tay Tah Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (194) • $

"Where do I begin with Tay Tah? I've been going here ever since I was a child. It was the first place that elementary school me ever tried boba, thanks to my friends 15 years ago. Tay Tah was the hot spot for my friends and me to walk to for boba, snacks, and smoothies after elementary and middle school. This is a nostalgia review on my end.I haven't been back since I graduated high school, the reason being that there are many better boba shops. But, my best friend and I chose to meet here for a trip down memory lane. Most things have stayed the same aside from new furniture and the interior rearranged. The menu is practically the same lol. Inside they have high tables and chairs for families plus outdoor dining. We always enjoyed the service here, sweet, memorable, and efficient.So with all this boba talk, I had to get a boba drink. As a child, I loved their boba smoothies and it was an obsession of mine to try each flavor. Nowadays, I can't have the majority of the drinks due to them including dairy. For this visit, I got a Thai Iced Tea with Oat Milk and added Boba. It was standard and tasted typical of what you'd expect. That's the one thing about Tay Tah that I've always found, the food and drinks are reasonably priced but the food isn't the most noteworthy. For those in Albany, chances are you've probably heard of or been to Tay Tah for it being a staple since 2004. Due to quality and taste, I don't crave the food or drinks here anymore but it's nice knowing business is still well! They're easy to spot on the corner of Cornell Ave. with neighborhood and free parking on Solano!"

Yokee Milk Tea

★★★★☆ 4.3 (524) • $$

"As of today, order online here: https://pos.chowbus.com/online-ordering/store/14826.New online system for ordering and sudden pretty cups for hot drinks!"

Toco Tea

★★★★☆ 3.9 (170) • $$

"Got to give this place a second chance, encouraged by the owner. Got to meet him, very nice guy! He kindly remade our orders from last time since the food lacked. Glad I got to give this place another chance; waffle was made nice and evenly & popcorn chicken had more flavor and better serving size. There was no rice to remake the burnt spam musubis but it's ok. Drinks were good as well! Thanks so much to May"

Finas Pizza

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (225) • $$

"I don't know why this place has low reviews we came here and this place is freaking good... we got carne asada pizza it's the bomb!! And also the pineapple one delicious!! Recommend it!! And the milk teas and boba drinks are amazing not super sweet like other places that make it too sweet, it's just perfect!! Totally worth it!!! And it has games!! While waiting for pizza!! And we aren't from around!! Also across the street they have churros if you want dessert we stop to grab churros and we found this place they let you come with the churros."

Rose Tea Lounge - Fremont

★★★★☆ 4.2 (465) • $$

"This was such a pretty cafe! I was in dire need of a matcha anything in the area and chose to stop by here! They have kiosks at the front for you to place your order and then your number is called.It would have been nice to see someone and order, BUT also after traveling, it was nice to just get in and get out.I ordered their Dirty Matcha Latte with boba. I ordered with just 75% sweetness, but I probably could have gone down to 50%. This was still VERY good and even though it's very chilly and windy, it was still refreshing."

Mochinut Berkeley

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (54)

"Good mochinut! Wish the mochi donuts were gluten-free, so more people could enjoy them.Pass on the boba, it's underwhelming. Can't wait for the soft serve options :)"

Gong Cha Hayward

★★★★☆ 4.1 (74) • $$

"You can't go wrong with a Wintermelon Drink from Gong Cha! Fresh milk, half sweet, and less ice is my perfect order. A medium size for less than $5? Pretty good! This is also a decaffeinated drink, which is great for kids and late-night boba runs (they close at 9 PM). This was my go-to boba chain while in college, so I'm happy to see this location open up. Their prices are fair and the baristas work quickly. My order was prepared in just a minute!"

Binge Coffee House

★★★★★ 4.6 (70) • $

"As a matcha lover, I knew I had to visit Binge after seeing posts on IG and looking at their menu. My companion and I came on a weekend afternoon for a caffeine pick-me-up. We enjoyed our experience!Binge Coffee House is located in the former Ucha space. The cafe is on the smaller end with several small tables inside (for pairs). Bright, cozy, and popular--a hot spot for Cal students to hang out or take drinks to go. Saw a few people with their laptops, but not a good place to work in my opinion. Ordering is efficient, you order on the tablets and wait for your name to be called. We had a few questions regarding the ingredients in the drink. The worker was extremely helpful and went above and beyond for me. I don't drink dairy but wanted to try drinks that didn't have a non-dairy option. He kindly told staff to omit the dairy and use non-dairy milk (free of charge, even though I insisted)! If you have any restrictions, I encourage you to talk to staff vs ordering on the tablet.I got a Pandan Matcha, and my companion had a Banana Matcha, both with Oat Milk and less sweetness. We agreed that the drinks are heavy on flavoring versus matcha. The pandan was prevalent and the same with the banana. Even with less sweetness, it was still pretty sweet. We found the drinks to be filling. For matcha and coffee lovers looking for a flavorful drink, Binge is a nice addition to the area. The cafe is located on the corner of Bancroft, and easily accessible by foot. Parking is limited to the street (metered or residential). The drinks were good and I wouldn't mind coming back to try their other offerings."

T% Coffee + Tea - Santa Clara

★★★★☆ 4.1 (296) • $$

"I've been enjoying black sesame lately so I had to try their black sesame drink here. One reviewer said they opted for 50% sweetness, but it was still sweet for them so I went a tad lower.HEY SESAME: The black sesame flavor shines as it should! I liked the oat whipped cream on top, but it doesn't add much since the drink is already creamy and dessert-like. It's a blended milk that's has a nutty and smooth mouthfeel. The drink description notes that there's both black sesame and peanuts fyi. Got it at 30% sweetness, but will get 0% next time!"

Poke Xpress

★★★★★ 4.5 (297) • $$

"The portions here were so big and the fish tasted very fresh! I definitely recommend a mix of spicy salmon and regular salmon. The service was very friendly and the ambiance was very casual. Great quick place for delicious poke!!"

3Catea

★★★★☆ 3.7 (96) • $$

"This place has been my current obsession! My favorites are the mochi Oreo and the avomango. The drinks are pricey, $7-$8. Service is slow as well, but the drinks are so good that I keep coming back. They also have an online ordering system if you prefer not to wait in store."

Teaspoon - Newark

★★★★★ 4.6 (54)

"Teaspoon opened recently in Gong cha's space. Obviously redecorated with a soft, whimsical sign & mural. Just 8ish tables inside for seating. Hip hop music in background.T is an American boba shop making unique boba and tea creations. No "me too" menu. Toppings are on the front counter. They use bobas created in California. Drinks made in plain sight, not behind curtains or a door.Offerings: Signature (boba) drinks, hot teas with unique profiles. Ordered at counter, pd, drink ready in minutes. No other patrons present.Sips: Liquid Gold (6.50) 24 oz. 25%sugar, reg. Ice-sweetness/ice just right. Honey slightly subtle.-none of the ice, honey, tea, cream or sugar overpowered each other. Subtle Tea felt but not tastable. Better than bland versions at other boba shops. 4ish starsNote: very active parking lot. Watch for cars when backing out to space or when walking..."

Pink Cloud Tea & More

★★★★★ 4.5 (82)

"My companion wanted to try a new spot and chose Pink Cloud for us to visit. The shop is on the smaller end but boasts a drink and food menu which drew us in.The inside of the shop has four bar stools and one table outside--most take it to go. The decorations are cute including some pink clouds, a crepe station, and other fun items. Service was very friendly and kind but it did take a little longer for our food to come out so be mindful of that.We chose to share the Sunset Lover and Classic Jianbing. I felt that the drink was just okay in terms of flavor. I also felt like the toppings included were minimal such as the basil seeds and mango. I preferred the food over the drink. The jianbing was made to order and cut in half which was perfect for us to share. My companion has had it before but it was my first time and I enjoyed it! The crepe part was soft yet crispy while the filling was a balance of sweet and savory. I'd want to try their other foods.For those interested in a boba shop selling something to sip and eat, I'd recommend Pink Cloud Tea & More for their food over their drinks. Located off of Addison Street, there's metered and street parking in the neighborhood."

Gong Cha

★★★★☆ 3.5 (195) • $$

"The staff is always so polite and quick. It gets pretty full and loud in the evenings so I don't consider it an ideal work/studying place, but it's always good for a quick drink & bite. They do however have plenty of outlets available to connect your charger to. Can't say much about the food cause i've only tried the fries, but the fries are always fresh and crispy and well seasoned! My fave spot for brown sugar boba!"

Boba Queen

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (207) • $

"I know the other reviews said that it took forever but it only took 10 minute for me. Ordered the original black tea and Thai tea with boba. I would definitely be back for sure."

Tala Coffee & Tea

★★★★☆ 3.7 (269) • $

"I recently tried the Strawberry Smoothie, Mango Coconut Pudding Drink, and Chocolate Banana Smoothie with Salted Cheese Foam at Tala Coffee and Tea, and each sip was a taste of paradise! The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the presentation was beautiful. In addition to these delightful creations, I have also sampled other flavors from their menu, and they are all absolutely delicious. Tala Coffee and Tea offers a diverse menu that caters to every palate, whether you're in the mood for something fruity, creamy, or decadent.Tala Coffee and Tea provides a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with ample seating for sitting and studying. It's the perfect spot to enjoy your favorite beverage while getting some work done or catching up with friends. Additionally, they have some food options available, making it a great one-stop shop for both delicious drinks and snacks."

Le Dessert Lab

★★★★☆ 4 (128) • $$

"Cute little place. My son ordered the Oreo brûlée milk tea. I think it was good since he gobbled up the drink with asking if we wanted to try. We also ordered the Oreo mochi, which tasted fresh the mochi. Need to come back and try some other drinks and mochi."

K On The Go

★★★★☆ 4.3 (146) • $$

"So good I had to go back. Trish is professional and very nice. I am making this my new go to place for an afternoon coffee."

Bay Bridge Coffee and Tea

★★★☆☆ 3 (4)

"Bay Bridge Coffee and Tea, I gotta say probably one of my favorite jobs. I got the best crew of people to work with and David is one of the best bosses I've ever had! We are pretty accommodating to your drink requests. Just ask. The worst we could say is no and that's very rare. So come on by and say hi! I think if you check in on fb or yelp you may receive a percentage off your final purchase. Cheers!"

Boba Guys

★★★★☆ 3.9 (159) • $$

"Very cute location! Staff are friendly too. Might be difficult to park here though... My drink recommendations are the Hong Kong Milk Tea, Matcha Latte, and the Strawberry Jasmine Fresca.I got the Tie Guan Yin Oolong Milk Tea with Boba this visit and it was just okay. Too much milk and not enough tea flavor. I really loved the texture of the boba though! Perfect QQ."

Hey Tea

★★★★★ 4.6 (78)

"Boba milk tea snob here. I never go out of my way to get those sugary drinks made from artificially flavored powder tea. We were looking for a caffeine fix much needed for our drive to Sacramento and chanced upon this newly opened tea place. This clean and small shop in the Milpitas Square along Barber Lane was packed which surprised us. My wife asked me what the emanating peculiar smell was. I simply told her. "That's the aroma of real tea".Turns out that they opened a week ago which explains the promos that were on-going. We got a canvas bag with purchase of two drinks and a tagged social media photo posting.Now for the tea review. I ordered a Cloud Jasmine Tea and my wife got the Supreme Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea. After figuring out how to drink from the twist-to-open lids, I took a big 45° angle sip and enjoyed the layers of flavor from my jasmine tea. You read that correctly, my original jasmine tea had a salty layer of cheese foam on top which impressed me. Honestly, I didn't get to taste my wife's Supreme Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea as she inhaled it. Her less-iced drink came with a biodegradable PLA straw. Our consensus was unanimous though, our drinks tasted like tea. Talk about unexpected pleasures.We'll surely be back!"