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Nice clean place to come and get a dessert. It was good variety of toppings to choose from. One thing I recommend getting more ice option because regular I thought it was going to be full but it wasn't.
I attempted to order via DoorDash on a Sunday around 5pm and got a message that they were not accepting any orders until 5:30pm. Since I was in the area I decided to order in person. When I arrived, there was a short line but it was clear they were being swamped with phone orders and in person orders. (It was a very hot day.) I stood by the cashier a good 5 minutes before I was told to order at the kiosk by the 1 staff that took the previous customer's order at the cashier who then went off attending the waffle maker and other orders. There was no one stationed at the cashier and more customers came in and I had to tell them to use the kiosk otherwise who knows how long they would be waiting. Bambu is the only shop in SF that offers a variety of Che combos. It's perfect on a hot day. Prices are fair. A scoop of ice cream is only $1 to add in. My go to drinks is the Summer Delight, Fruit Addict and Avocado Smash.
My daughter raved about Bambu in Stonestown, so she had to try this one on Geary Blvd... On a warm day, it felt familiar like we were transported into a city in Asia. Order at kiosk and a nice lady will call you out to pick up. My passion fruit jelly tea was quite sweet at 50% sugar because I didn't shake the cup before inserting the straw! (Amateur move!) The basil seeds inside the drink was fun to sip through the straw. Very solid tea drinks here w/ a large variety!
Absolutely great place for Vietnamese Chè. There are many varieties of Chè. Anything from traditional Vietnamese sweet beverages, puddings, or dessert soups served hot, warm, or cold with ice, depending on the variety and region. Bambu serves them cold with ice and very colorful. I personally prefer them cold with pandan. We also like their pandan waffles. The service here is super friendly and the ambiance really welcoming. Located on Geary and 25th Ave.
Walked here for dessert after a late lunch at nearby An Chi. I could smell coconut and pandan from a block away, so even though I was pretty full from lunch, I still wanted to try the dessert here. The ordering process is convenient with an in-store kiosk, and the service was surprisingly fast even with multiple orders for both dine in and take out in the queue. We got the coconut combo dessert, which was super yummy, refreshing, and not too sweet. The coconut jello strands at the bottom of the cup were a bit difficult to scoop up with a spoon so had to use a straw to slurp up the remnants.
Awesome! The Che is good. I felt like it was better than socal. I ordered the #3. Awesome Trio - 绝妙三重奏 and it was a nice amount of sweetness at 0%. Is it a drink or dessert? Both! It's delicious!
This review is long overdue (and I should have written it much sooner because YUM but I forget some details whoops!) The most important thing to me was that this place, this delightful delicious unicorn, offers pandan waffles, my greatest love! And there aren't many places that do (I have found; please direct me to them all!!). Hot, tasty, perfectly crunchy/chewy pandan waffles. Well, they only have one waffle maker and they are made to order, which takes some time. So maybe pandan waffle singular unless you love them as much as I do! I also had a tasty drink, and got great advice when I was having trouble deciding on that part. So many drinks to choose from! I am not an expert on these so I can't compare but...it was delicious and perfectly sweet at 25%. They were out of coconut pudding (around 5 pmish) when I visited so I still need to try that. Super friendly patient service. There was a line that didn't move all that quickly but a really hot day (so likely not always the case?). I haven't been back only because of travel/time/why can't this place be next to my apartment? Pretty please?
#13 Coconut combo regular size. Remember, you can adjust the sweet level. I almost forgot. Mine was no sweet. The amazing thing, I got real coconut meat. 6 lychee. Green pandan jelly in coconut water and shaved ice. It was good. My friend got #10 halo halo with ube ice cream. Expecting real taro, it was not found. Red bean yes. Coconut Milk yes. Oh well.
Walked in on a weekday afternoon and no line was present. Inside has some tables but it is a bit dark. Quick and easy to order. Got the #1 and it definitely hit the spot as a refresher. Pieces of coconut, pandan jelly, longan, and basil seeds in coconut water with shaved ice at the top. It could be seen as a bit pricey for a drink/dessert but it's worth it when you're craving something not too sweet but satisfying!
Drive from Oakland because I wanted a Vietnamese bean dessert cup (Che ba mau). 10/10. The menu has many options and it was very fun exploring.
Tried the summer delight drink. Really good. Interesting red tapioca which is crunchy like chestnut pieces. Panda waffle was very good. Crunchy on the outside, chewy inside.
#10 Bambu Favorite w/ Red beans, taro, coconut jelly, and coconut milk was a fantastic order for my girlfriend. Presentation is great! I also go the thai iced tea with boba, both adequate. Friendly and quick staff.
Best Ché and the freshest smoothies! I would love to try everything on the menu if I could. This would be such a cute place to do homework, there's a bunch of space to sit. We came right before closing I felt so bad, they were out out Smashed Avocado :,) but thats our fault. They were still super nice besides that, and our stuff still came out relatively fast. My Order: Smashed Avocado - They were sold out when I came but that's literally the best thing on their menu I swear. Strawberry Smoothie - Super fresh tasting, especially since it's strawberry season! Pandan waffle - I almost can't leave without getting at least half a waffle, it's so chewy and crunchy at the same time.
An okay boba stop which had some interesting flavors. Borderline on artificially sweet to the point where it was like drinking a liquified jolly rancher. It's a nice spot to chill with lots of seating but the boba leaves something to be desired. The smoothies are excellent though. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
Very cozy and warm place to hang out. With new management, Drink and services is greatly improved. Recommended to try their waffle if you have time and not in rush, fresh and tasty. Will come back again when I'm in town. read more
6 years ago
I'm glad that they are still open due to the pandemic. I visited the other day and was pleased with their service. I ordered two waffles, a number 5 & 10 and they were outstanding in taste. It really filled my stomach up and satisfied my two kids. To add on their overall customer service and wait time was quick and efficient. I would recommend to anyone to come try it out for themselves. read more
5 years ago
Delicious! Got the bambu special #1 with no sugar and it was so refreshing. My husband got the passion fruit with jelly half sweet and it was great read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
I had order two durian smoothies add pearls. BUT when I got my order is was two different kind of drinks. Bad services!!!!! ;( read more
Business owner information
Paul Y.
U pick up someone else’s order
8 years ago
Decent Vietnamese desserts, teas, and smoothies for around $5. You can order chè, which is a sweet dessert that is mixed with assorted toppings like basil seeds, longan, pandan jelly, lychee, taro, or red bean and splashed with a dash of coconut milk or juice. I typically order the Bambu Special or Summer Delight because the toppings balance each other out very well. I love that it's not too heavy and very refreshing. I also usually order an Avocado Smoothie here, which can be a hit or miss. The ratio of avocado to condensed milk can sometimes be lacking so all I taste is just ice and milk. Disappointing! I hope that it's not like this for another fruit juices/smoothies. There's usually not a lot of people here, so I would come if I'm around the area or want a place to sit down and chat with friends. Street and metered parking are available around the area, but can be difficult especially during dinner time. read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
Thankfully there wasn't a line crowd when I came to try this place the other night. I had the Bambu special and I just thought it was okay. I think may have enjoyed it more if the stuff in my cup would fit through the straw or if the contents would come out of the lid hole with my spoon. In other words, gotta take the lid off the cup if I wanted to consume anything else other than ice, liquid and eyeball like tapioca. I may come back and try something simpler like the milk tea and tapioca. read more
I ordered a #17. Which was pandan jelly, coconut milk and taro paste. I wish I just ordered it without the taro paste. The taro paste took up half the cup and there was just a little coconut milk to spare/sip on. I thought the proportions were way to off and I even needed to get a spoon since there was nothing else I would sip thru the straw. I like how there is alot of spacing. i do like the variety of the menu. i will have to order something else when I come back. read more
My first time having Bambu is in Nor Cal... The irony... I thought Bambu was ok. But personally I'm not a fan of adding in jelly or its equivalent in my drinks. I love my standard teas so I'm probably not the best person to review this place. I would give it a 3 and probably not want to come back here for their drinks. My friend and I also got their Pan Dan Waffle and it was actually pretty good. Lightly sweet and super soft and a bit chewy. I would give it a 4. Service was ok. The girl behind the counter actually forgot about our waffle and ended up giving us an extra waffle for free. And we love free food! Yay! I think if you're wondering what Bambu's like... you should definitely check it out. Don't let my personal taste drive you away. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
Affordable, free toppings, the way you like it, fresh, made to order, friendly, custom sweetness, takes credit cards. Oh yeah, and they have REAL taro smoothies. Brother and I'd go to spot for taro smoothies. Extra taro for me please!! read more
4 years ago
Cute little cafe in outer Richmond with nice staff. Had the fresh coconut water with coconut chunks inside the drink. They were freshly peeled and the water was fresh out of the coconut. You can really taste the difference. It simply hit the spot after a long walk along the beach and back to the waterfront district. One drink was over five dollars so it is a bit pricey. But they've got cool large tables inside along with nostalgic board games. It was really nice to see families having a drink and enjoying themselves. So your really paying for more than just the drink. It's a cute little atmosphere. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
I love Bambu!. My go-to drink is the Avocado Shake. They use to add whip cream with the avocado shake but no longer does it anymore =(. My parents enjoyed the Bambu special and the Awesome trio. The Awesome trio is a good choice if you like beans. Will definitely be back soon. read more
4 years ago
Amazing service and such good coffee! Came here with my mom from out of town and she also loved it. Highly recommend read more
I came in today on a whim during lunch time to order #2 Bambu Combo which consisted of red, white mung beans, taro, pearls, jelly and coconut milk. I enjoyed the concept of having a drink filled with toppings on the bottom, coconut milk in between and piles of shaved iced on top. I was told to mix the drink up with a spoon before drinking. Turns out my drink had very little topping with a majority of the cup filled with large amounts of shaved iced. Hence it was a super cold, watered down iced drink. Not my type of dessert. They also sell milk teas, smoothies and juice..maybe those are better but not the che dessert drinks. read more
6 years ago
9 years ago
-Delicious coconut boba drink! -A lot of other really cool drinks -Delicious looking waffle -Cute decor, seating and ambiance -Free Wifi -Big Windows -Have games to play Only thing I would change would be to have music instead of a TV but maybe If they play sports games then it would be nice read more
3 years ago
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8 years ago
I have ordered the taro and coconut milk teas. It's so nice that boba can be added at no extra charge! Drinks are made very quickly. Taro milk tea: 5/5 Very tasty and not too sweet (at the regular sweetness level). It's got a strong and real taro flavor. I get mine with light ice and coconut milk. Coconut milk tea + shot of coffee: 3/5 Not as flavorful as the taro milk tea, but I like that you can add coffee to the drink. Service could improve... I asked some questions about the menu the first time I came in and got very short, almost dismissive replies as if I shouldn't be asking anything. I asked about dairy-free options which I think would be a pretty common thing for someone to ask. read more
6 years ago
7 years ago
Business owner information
Mandy H.
Hi Michelle!…
I'm not the biggest Viet dessert connoisseur, but I like the drinks at Bambu. I usually get the Taro Lover and add some mung beans. The service is always really great and it's always pretty quiet during the night time. You can also add extra toppings for free. read more
14 years ago
New is good. New home. New friends. New relationships. It keeps life exciting especially the latter one since you know what happens when you're in a new relationship. Straight wabbit status! Tired of the same old balls, I'm always in search for the next best thing so Bambu is a welcome addition to San Francisco. Finally something new other than sickeningly sweet milk pudding drinks (*ahemPurpleKowahem*), played out boba drinks (I still love you Wonderful Foods), froyos, crepes, and cupcakes. I know these are classics but new is good remember? The first of its kind in SF, Bambu serves an array of Vietnamese Che (sweet dessert drinks) and Dao (pudding) desserts along with your usual coffee drinks and smoothies in a bright contemporary lounge-like setting. The #6: Che Trai Cay ($3.75) was my pick and I was not disappointed: http://bit.ly/124dBsx. A mélange of lychee, longan, red tapioca (water chestnuts), palm seed, jello, pandan jelly and fresh coconut in coconut milk topped with shaved ice, the Che Trai Cay was super refreshing yet wonderfully satisfying. The dessert itself is not sweet (I hate super sweet desserts) but the syrup soaked lychee, longan and jackfruit provided just the right of sweetness. I also added taro (mashed) which gave an additional creaminess to the dessert drink. My only gripe is the plastic bubble cover's hole was too small to fit the spoon in so you need to remove the cover to enjoy your che (more chances of an UH-OH in the car). Beware of the coffee drinks though. They're no joke. One sip of the Vietnamese Iced Latte and I was ready to throw it down like the table top dancing girls at Cafe Quyen. If you're a Vietnamese coffee shop goer, you know what's up! ;) OTHER NOTES: *Bambu is a franchise that started in Manjose and currently has 6 locations in the South Bay. *An extensive menu with 17 Milk Teas w/ Boba, nearly 30 coffee drinks (cold, hot & blended), over 20 smoothies (even durian), and 24 Vietnamese Che and Dao dessert drinks. *Everything is priced at $2.95-$4.25 and you can customize your drink at no charge. Add balls. Add taro. Add basil seeds. Add pandan jelly. Hell, add the whole damn kitchen sink, it's all free! *Their most popular dessert drinks are the #1 Bambu Special and the #6 Che Trai Cay. *Friendly staff. Diem, one of the owners walked around to each waiting customer and was very apologetic as it took 30+ minutes to get a drink on opening day because they didn't anticipate such a large crowd. *Lounge-like setting with bamboo décor and 3 high tables, 3 standard tables, and 3 sofas: http://bit.ly/14ogeFl. *CCs taken through Square App on their iPad. read more
Home of Vietnamese che (desserts) and drinks, Bambu emphasizes freshness and customization. Additional add ins like jellies, tapioca pearls, basil seeds and red beans are free of charge. There are 72 types of drinks (milk tea, coffee, smoothies) and 24 kinds of che. It's best to order by menu item number. They have interesting items like durian, soursop, and avocado smoothies. Everyone in line was Asian and many seemed to know each other. It smells comforting inside, like cooked red beans. The line was slow moving but the drinks were made quickly once the order was placed. * Red bean smoothie with tapioca pearls & pandan jelly ($3.75): A generous amount. The tapioca pearls at the very bottom were fresh, soft, chewy and sweet. The pandan jelly was firm, chewy, sweet and mildly flavored. The chewy add ins were very satisfying. They combined red beans, ice, milk and sugar in a blender. The end result wasn't too sweet and tasted good but didn't have enough red beans. When I ordered this smoothie at their San Jose location, they used a lot more red beans. This used to be LOL Café and they kept the same tables, chairs and black couch. Plus there's still free wi-fi. Laptop camper may return here with the laptop. read more
3 years ago
Highlights: - Once I saw the coming soon sign, I was jumping for joy inside. I no longer have to venture all the way to the South Bay to get my che (Vietnamese dessert) and drinks fix. - Soft opening today for friends and family, but open to public to cater to everyone. :) - Plenty of seating, cool decor with bambu plants on each table, a TV, and music. - Favs are Bambu special #1 and #4 Che Suong Sao Hat Luu. The pink waterchestnut jellies are my favorite. - Grab your own spoons and straws - Credit cards accepted, yay! - There is a bus stop right in front, need I say more? How perfect is it for those horrible days when you need a picker upper (Let's hope I have enough self control to not come here everyday) - Opened at 7am, say what?! Coffee in the morning, smoothie at lunch, and che for dessert after dinner. Set for life! Improvements: - They ran out of pandan jelly. I can't complain though, it's their first day and I came late. P.S. Customization of your drinks at no additional charge. read more
More info about BAMBU
6050 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94121
Outer Richmond
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(415) 379-4683
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