We came to Madison looking for Bambū and made it in before closing. The variety of drinks and fruit concoctions with or without ice cream or boba is vast. Spoiled for choice... for real. There's also waffles and mochi ice cream. I was so pleased with the strawberry fruit tea that I got - perfect sweetness at 50%. The man who took our order was on top of everything and got our order perfectly. It's a small shop with about five little tables and a few counter seats at the window. Cool place to meet up with friends. read more

BAMBU - 3 Mochi Ice Cream Sign - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Whenever we go back to Madison to visit, we always make sure to come here! This vibe is our favorite and the staff make it feel like home! The drinks themselves are amazing! We recommend the Halo Halo most of all! read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

From my friends' perspectives the boba is great, but the high price point threw me off. I ended up splitting a Pandan waffle with a friend but it really did not taste like anything. So color me disappointed! read more

BAMBU - Pandan Waffle - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I went with a build your own che and supplemented with my own boba and lychee. Since I added some stuff, my assessment of portion size might be a bit unreliable but there was more than enough for dessert for 2 with that. The red beans look like they could be kidney beans but are very soft and sweetened. With the less sugar option, they were the sweetest part of the drink. The various gelatinous textures from the pandan jelly, palm seed, red beans, basil seeds, and my own lychee and boba made it a fun dish to eat. It's definitely meant for hot summer days with its lightness. At $9 it is on the higher end but as mentioned you can stretch it out a bit. read more

The drinks in this place are very interesting and colorful. I was walking down the street holding it, and everbody out there was curiously looking at my cup. Ube halo halo and coconut combo were my items. Both were really good items. May be I liked ube halo halo a little bit more. It was defenetely more photogenic. I also wanted to try their pandan waffle. Unfortunately they were out of waffles. So I was offered a complementary strawberry mochi. That was good. The shop was small, but the crowd was college going and vibrant. read more

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The owner is so nice and the smoothies are consistently good! You never get a smoothie that's half melted and the ché is top notch. The wait for your drinks is never too long. Best boba spot in Madison for sure. read more

My family and I love Bambu, especially my 14 year old daughter! She would live there if she could and drink bobas 3 times a day. Haha! Everything on the menu is refreshing, and I love that we can customize and adjust sugar level in all the drinks. The owners are so friendly too! read more

From the seasonal menu, I knew I had to order this: Sea salt foam oolong tea with egg custard, added boba! Love the idea of this and they seem to have expanded their menu from last time I came, drinks come out so quickly from their tiny but mighty kitchen On first sip I thought it was bland/watery but fragrant, which I didn't mind bc I don't love sugary drinks anyway, though was hoping for a thicker consistency! Also drinking this from a straw was not the best experience, sipping would've been yummier. I ended mixing it all in --the more I drank it the better it was! Definitely a 9/10 if not 10, strong oolong flavor, good light summer tea but not too heavy like a classic milktea Friends tried the lychee rose and dragonfruit fruit tea, both great! Another great experience at Bambu! Stayed for quite a bit chatting, enjoying the beautiful orchids. read more

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I ordered the BAMBU favorite because it had all of my faves in it: grass jelly, pan Dan jelly, coconut milk. I've never had che before and it was so delicious! What a weirdly rich yet fresh dessert. I know this place goes off on boba but don't forget the rest of the menu! It gets busy sometimes, but you never have to wait too long. read more

BAMBU - 10. Bambu Favorite - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is wonderful, with a delicious menu and consistently quick and friendly service! I like how it is very clean and tastefully decorated. I go here several times every week, and have never had a bad experience here! Highly recommend! read more

BAMBU - Guava Smoothie - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My first review of 2022 and I couldn't be happier to review this one. I have had tons of bubble tea in my life and I am grateful for it. However, I have never had a Vietnamese version until now and...dare I say it...it might be my favorite! Here's my take on the experience: Quality of bubble tea:  amazing. Most of us have probably had a Chinese or a Taiwanese version of the bubble tea which is great. However, Vietnamese style is completely different. It is much thicker in comparison and I feel that you can taste the tea even more. I don't know how they make it thicker but but I just know that going forward, I will try to seek out the Vietnamese version of bubble tea. We tried their Taro flavor with Lychee bursting Boba as an add-on and I highly recommend this combination. Decor: nice and pleasant. Bambu had a nice Zen vibe to it with windows facing the busy pedestrian walkway of the outdoor mall but, at the same time, providing a nice calming feeling inside. Cleanliness: good. The tables and the floor were kept nice is clean. Service: good. The cashier who I think was also the owner was friendly and answered our questions nicely. Price: reasonable. Our large Bubble tea was around $7. If  you're in Madison and are in the mood of a different kind of Bubble tea then definitely checkout Bambu. read more

BAMBU - Taro and Jasmine - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

BEST BOBA PLACE IN MADISON! SIMPLY AMAZING!!!! First time here and I loved it!! This is going to be my go to place for bubble tea, smoothies, and authentic Che (Vietnamese dessert drinks) Bambu has a great selection of signature Vietnamese coffee, dessert drinks, blended teas,juices, smoothies, yogurts and mochi ice cream. I ordered the combo yogurt with Kiwi, Mango, and Strawberry and it was delicious. It only comes in size large so you can share or have it all for yourself. Must must try!! Also got the Pina colada smoothie with Boba and that was so refreshing and tasty. They have a nice selection of mochi ice creams as well. I love how they are individually packaged. Tried the passion fruit and strawberry flavor and both were exquisite. Service was excellent. The owner was really kind and accommodating. Gave us an extra cup and spoons to share without us having to. Great addition to Hilldale. Go check it out NOW!!!! read more

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Such a cute place! And smelt so nice. Came on a random afternoon and there were a few people sitting outside or working on computers inside. My smoothie came out quick and there were quite a few people in and out as I waited! read more

BAMBU - Strawberry Banana Smoothie - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

First timer at Bambú and we tried the -avacado bambu -mangonada -chai tea The avacado was surprisingly like a good replacement meal shake. It was good initially then my daughter got sick of it (she ordered a large ) & then she wound up eating some of it again. The mangonada was displayed like a traditional mangonada but didn't necessarily taste the same. It didn't taste like straight mangoes like I'm used to but instead tasted as if there was a cream base or something blended with it. It was really good and beautifully presented! The chai tea was exactly what was expected. The decor was so regal and unique in this place, loved the apsara statues and all the tiny little details. Definitely a place I could go to to relax and send out some emails. read more

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This place has a great vibe, it's warm with plants and nice things to look at. My family got the Honeydew smoothie and chocolate banana, both were delicious and great size for a medium. The lady serving us was very sweet and our order came out quick being about 5 minutes. Absolutely loved it, definitely recommend. read more

I love Bambu and this is the only location where I've had bad drinks. Ordered 3 drinks, and all 3 tasted sour, the coconut milk has gone bad. read more

If you are looking for a sweet treat you should definitely check this place out. They have tasty desserts and yummy bubble teas. For dessert drinks #10 Bambu Favorite is my favorite. I like the coconut milk which gives it a rich flavor. If you want a light refreshing drink I would do one with coconut water. Another good pick is the iced coffee. It's located in the Hilldale area. Pick up a drink and do some shopping. read more

Bambu is our favorite boba place in Madison. Located at Hilldale mall, they have a very cute vibe with lots of nice plants and decorations and calming music playing in the background. The store is clean and well maintained. Service is fast and accurate. Their menu selection is huge, with lots of coffees, teas, and smoothies to choose from. We typically go for simple Thai teas with boba, but there are so many ways to customize your drinks here. They also have Mochi ice cream and other snacks for purchase too! If you're going to go more than once, we highly recommend signing up for their rewards program. We get a free drink or upgrade every third or fourth time we go. Thai Tea with Boba: 10/10 read more

BAMBU - Thai Milk Tea - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Excellent drinks. Fantastic friendly service. Worth the trip. Been going there since they have opened.

TWO HELPFUL TIP TO OTHER YELPERS: 1) I have seen a lot of people look very confused when they receive their orders with how to open their drink/dessert. Simply take a straw (a larger one for if you have tapioca pearls, a smaller one for iced coffee) and puncture it through the middle of the sealed drink (start from a couple of inches away and use the pointy end of the straw). 2) I've had some recent conversations with people who did not like bubble tea and have figured out a potential misunderstanding. Please CHEW the tapioca balls. They are not meant to be swallowed whole on purpose! :) I've been here a bunch of times since it has opened. It reminds me of my roots though it is a franchise. The place is clean and beautiful and the owners put a lot of care into it (nice soaps in the bathroom, nice flowers and decorations). For those who have never tried "che" before, it is a Vietnamese drink-like dessert. It is sweet but not overwhelmingly so. There are a lot of different types of gelatins in there (from tapioca, to pandan jelly, etc.) which I love. I know that the prices are a little bit higher here than a regular bubble tea shop, but for all of the ingredients (and no extra charge for tapioca pearls!) it's well worth it. I have tried: bambu combo, bambu favorite, passionfruit drink and taro bubble tea here. The combo is very filling so definitely get it as almost a snack since there are a couple of nice types of beans that give it a creamy flavor. I enjoy all of the jellies in the bambu favorite but I feel that there's not as much texture that the combo offers. The passionfruit drink here is DELICIOUS. It has real passionfruit in it and I love it. The one thing I did not enjoy, is that I would stay away from the taro bubble tea. It was very thick and powdery, and I was extremely disappointed with it. I have studied here before so I love watching people's reactions to trying new things, and people seem to LOVE the smoothies, teas, and other drinks here. read more

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Great new spot in Hilldale that brings a new twist to the area with these southeast Asian desserts. The space is really cute. Small boutique style with fresh flowers on the table. During all Vietnamese holiday celebrations and at temple, they serve you these Vietnamese desserts or you purchase. This place hits the spot for me and even with all the ingredients, it's authentic and has a bring many textures and flavors together. I don't think this is overpriced as I've bought cups half this size for $4 and so $6 is reasonably priced. The ice is only piled from the top of the cup to the top of the lid so the entire cup is filled with content. The ice is really needed to help mix all the ingredients together and to make the dessert easier to 'drink.' I'll definitely be coming back! read more

BAMBU - Summer Delight (L) and Smash Avocado (R) - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Best boba place i've been too!!! If you love coconut you need to get fruit addict. It only toke about 2 minutes for us to get it, very relaxing and soothing place soo gooodddd. The lady there was very nice. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The interior is very cute and the staff is friendly. Love the fresh ingredients which makes this drink/dessert more smooth. Will come again if I visit Madison! read more

BAMBU - 7. Taro Lover - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

They practice great social distancing and protocols. Max of two ppl are allowed to come in at a time to order with masks on and we go outside to wait. So far, from any BAMBU, we've only tried combo yogurt and I'm so glad that this has come to rescue on a 90 degree weather. It's a little more expensive than what we usually pay at where we live but it's totally worth it. The yogurt is packed and very well blended. read more

BAMBU - Combo Yogurt large only! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The Bambu Special drink is so tasty and refreshing! I love all the goodies inside (pandan jelly, coconut, basil seeds, lychee). The only thing is that it is quite pricey for a drink. It was about 8 or 9 dollars for one drink!! A boba would usually be half that. I don't think I'd come here often just because of the price. However, once in a while it is definitely a tasty treat :) read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The taro and coconut flavors are good but when I tried to order a Oreo MILK tea they gave me a Oreo GREEN tea and when I tried to get a new one with milk in it and they said that they didn't mess up at all and that all of the milk tea have green but keep in mind I've tried three of the other milk teas and they were only milk tea read more

BAMBU - My Oreo "Milk" tea - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

A bit on the pricier side but it is so good. Recommend the red tapioca topping. It's chewy and crunchy at the same time. The strawberry banana smoothie is tart and sweet and tastes freshly made. Not artificial. You order inside and wait outside for it to be brought to you. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Disclaimer: This is just a review of their classic milk teas. If you are a traditionalist with boba and go for the classic teas, Bambu is not the place for you. They have a wide array of options to choose from but I believe if you can't get the basics right, it's hard to get the fancy stuff right. I had the oolong milk tea and my friend got the jasmine. Both were watery even without ice and while the boba was a good size and consistency, there wasn't enough of it to make up for the lack of flavor. As for the items that don't have tea (taro), the drink was a powdery, gluey mess. I saw a review that said they blend actual taro into the drink but they must have run out because I just got a mouthful of powder and pasty liquid w/ every sip and it was disgusting. I gave Bambu multiple tries with high hopes but don't think I'll be back. read more

BAMBU - Oolong milk tea with pearls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Pure joy. I'm so glad Madison finally got a Bambu! This is a chain I'm used to in Texas and I missed it so much! All of the amazing Vietnamese coffee and drinks. Drink of choice: Taro Lover or the Avocado Smoothie. I can't do Milk Teas because I'm Lactose Intolerant but there are so many other options. I love pandan jelly. They also have desserts! Every choice is great! Enjoy! read more

This is one of my favorite places in get bubble tea. They also have a large selection of Mochi ice cream. The inside is small, but very clean and modern. It can be a fun place for a date or getting milk tea with a friend. read more

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Think bubble teas...but beyond! I didn't think you could make bubble teas so basic, but mung beans, jellies, basil seeds, and shave ice. I got the Bambu Combo with red, white, mung beans; taro, boba, pandan jelly & combo jelly, coconut milk. It was interesting to have the shave ice soaked in coconut milk, melting slowly and creating a cascade of timely milky goodness that syncs with how fast you down the other toppings. Be sure to sign up for their text club to get discounts. I got one the other day for 20% off my next visit! read more

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I heard about a new bubble tea place opening up in Hilldale and decided to try the place out while getting my laptop repaired (Apple store is just across the street). This place is really cute and has just a few small tables for small groups. I think this place would be ideal for catching up with a friend on a Sunday afternoon. They have an extensive menu of drinks and a small slection of desserts (mochi and waffles were listed on the menu, and they had a small display of lotus blossom cookies and moon cakes next to the cash register). I wasn't feeling very adventurous, so I ordered a black milk tea. It tasted good, but you can't really mess up milk tea. I'd come back here to try out the che, since that seems to be their specialty at Bambu. I just wish the drinks were a little cheaper. read more

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I love bambu! I've been twice now and have tried both fruity and coffee drinks and they were both great.

Very fast service, great ambience, and best of all, absolutely delicious drinks! Been here multiple times and Iove all of their signature drinks! Definitely recommend trying 10. Bambu Favorite, you won't regret it read more

I got the Taro Bubble Milk Tea and absolutely loved it. Tasted very authentic and very delicious. I was just downing it, I almost had it gone by the time we left the cafe. The mochi are a bit small, but still delicious. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

can bubble tea be healthy yet delicious? Yes! Yes, it can! I couldn't myself from getting all the kinds of jellies and boba and fruit based bubble teas. My favorite and a must order: The awesome foursome - BAMBU combo with boba, jackfruit, longan fruit, basil seeds, pandas jelly and coconut flesh. Absolute flavor explosion. So refreshing! read more

BAMBU - The awesome foursome - BAMBU combo with boba, jackfruit, longan fruit, basil seeds, pandas jelly and coconut flesh. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Caution: first time having Che. I'm not even sure how I'd rate this place on what I tried for the first time. I ordered the BAMBU favorite half knowingly what to expect because I figured this would be similar to some other dessert the Hmong culture makes. I was slightly wrong and right. I would say this was a very textural thing so it didn't bother me, I enjoyed it. I figured out I don't like the red tapioca but I did like the pandan/green jelly. Just give it a shot...or stick with their tea? I'd come back and check out their bubble tea. read more

I was excited that a new Boba place opened up in Madison and in such a convenient location. It can be difficult to get quality drinks outside of downtown, so BAMBU is certainly a welcome addition. I was a little disappointed with their drinks though; I've been twice and gotten the Thai tea and the Lychee milk tea, both with boba. The lychee milk tea was really strong, almost overwhelmingly so; there were moments where I felt that the drink was almost bitterly sweet. The Thai tea was solid and a classic rendition of what it should be. I thought their boba was okay, but the consistency was off with some, as I got an occasional deformed or lumpy, hard-to-chew one. It seems that a lot of new drink shops that open up have this issue though, so I assume that the issues might solve themselves over time. I felt that the price was fair for the sizes. I usually have to ask for reduced ice but I don't think that was an issue for me at BAMBU. I do want to return and perhaps try some of their signature Vietnamese drinks. read more

Bambu serves some of the best quality bubble tea. I feel like they don't skimp out on the ingredients. My go to boba drink is a Taro Milk tea and Bambu's delivers. That said, I found it one of the more expensive bubble tea places in town. $6 for a bubble tea is not an every week treat. read more

Ordered a variety of bubble teas in our Madison adventures! Located within an outdoor mall complex, the price is slightly above what I would expect to pay in an average boba shop. However, upon tasting my red bean milk tea with bubbles + no ice + 25% sugar, I was surprisingly impressed! The red bean tasted fresh and authentic, and the bubbles were added with a perfect consistency and ratio. At 25% sugar, the sweetness was at a level that left me feeling good and not jittery. A stellar drink, even on a blistering cold day! Overall, a great experience in the heat of COVID--will definitely be back again if waves of life take me back to Madison! read more

BAMBU - Red Bean, Taro, Matcha Green Tea - all with bubbles! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin