5:50 pm on a sunday and the lineup wasn't nearly as bad as i was expecting. it moved at a steady pace, and within a few minutes i was placing my order.
there's a large self serve ordering kiosk as soon as you walk in, but if technology isn't your thing, the cashier is more than happy to take your order as well.
the space itself is fairly compact with limited seating, making it more of a grab and go spot than somewhere to linger. i couldn't help but notice the adorable pale yellow and baby blue mugs with the thick handles and tote bags on display, although they're only available during special promotional giveaways. another interesting detail is that the shop is expected to transform from a bubble tea café during the day into a bar at night, with food and liquor launching in july. definitely not something you see every day.
one thing that immediately caught my eye was the mountain of boxes stacked near the front of the shop, each one filled with fresh mangoes. it's a reassuring sign that they go through a lot of fruit, and you can taste the difference.
i ordered the original blended mango pomelo sago and was told to give it a good shake before taking my first sip. whoa, that first sip, total brain freeze.
cold, thick, and incredibly refreshing, it tasted like summer in a cup. while the original isn't customizable, i honestly wouldn't change a thing. every sip was packed with sweet fresh mango, silky pudding, chewy sago, and juicy bits of pomelo, all blended together into the perfect balance of creamy and icy. it was almost substantial enough to count as a light meal.
this is the kind of drink that makes you slow down, even if only because your brain needs a few seconds to recover from that first icy sip. i'd happily order it again. read more