If you've been to any of the Bambu's, then you know they are franchised so the drinks aren't always consistent from one location to the next. This Bambu is the original one and run by the founders. The drinks are the best of all the locations of course so I make the effort to drive a bit further to get the quality and freshness. My favorite is the Bambu Special (#1) which comes with Pandan jelly, basil seeds, longan, fresh coconut in coconut juice. It is refreshing and not too heavy or overwhelming. The taro smoothie is pretty good along with their milk teas. I don't go here for the latter though. Parking is a pain in the butt during peak hours (Thanks a lot Gen Korean BBQ). Credit cards accepted if more than $10. The ladies working here are nice and happy substitute items in the drink you might not like. Closed on Mondays unless it's a national holiday, then they are open. read more

I don't understand how I didn't visit this place sooner. I'm Vietnamese so I should have known this place existed. Authentic as it could get. I'm not sure if the other franchises are as authentic, but here's hoping they are. My favorite Viet dessert (che) is anything with green beans. The Dau xanh suong sáo (the green bean with grass jelly) was right up my alley. Now I don't have to spend a few hours at home making the stuff in big batches. I can just go down the street when I'm in town to get my fix. This place is cash only and their drinks are large. I couldn't finish mine. Sharing is caring! read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Customer service sucks! The girl in front look mad and was irritated when I asked that she Took the wrong order. We cant asked what we want with our order!!!! To hell with you guys! You guys are so expensive too. Not coming back!!!! read more

As Sweet Cup has been under construction for a time now, I've been having to get my che fixes elsewhere. This time we went to Bambu. I would have to say, it's as good, but the lines are longer, but the turn around time is not too bad. It is definitely cheaper by 75 cents than Sweet Cup, but you don't get to design your own drinks. I would highly recommed the avocado che. It's fresh avocados. So good! Also if you've never had Soursop (Guayabano) smoothie with boba, it's just utterly delish. It's like drinking custard apple in a cup. The place is small, so big groups should stay away or just take it to go. Also don't go during a hot day...it might take a while to get to the register and get a drink. Also the parking lot's horrid as it's in the plaza with a 99 Ranch. read more

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#2: Chè thap cam (combination) - Red bean, white bean, green/mung bean, taro, pandan jelly, pearl, combo jelly. The difference between #2 and #3: #2 has boba and #3 does not. Other than that, they're exactly the same. #6 (I think!): Chè trái cây - Lychee, longan, red tapioca, jackfruit, palm seed, pandan jelly, jello, young coconut. I liked #2 much more, it was sweeter. The long black jelly in the other made the drink more bitter. Opens late (until 10pm). Offers super colorful Vietnamese desserts that taste amazing. Plays music videos of YouTube stars on the flat screen TV - who wouldn't want to see Joseph Vincent on big screen??! ;) Small place with little seating, but other than that, it's a great place. There's so much packed into each cup, it's hard to mix everything, but it's delicious. I'd definitely come back! Simply excellent. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

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I wrote a review for the one on Park Victoria so I might as well write a review for this one. The first time I came in here was to use their bathroom. Pretty clean. But they do not have toilet seat covers. Months and months later I came here again but this time to try their drinks. I saw that my friend got drinks here so that made me want to try it. The cashier told me everything was fresh and that they use real fruits. Long story short, everything is actually pretty good! They have a million things on their menu but I always get the same thing--jasmine milk tea, thai milk tea, lychee smoothie, mango smoothie, peach smoothie, caramel frappe, etc. Their boba are usually fresh and chewy. They have poppers too. The pro about this place is that they are very fast at making their drinks. The one on Park Victoria takes a bit longer. The con about this place is that THERE ARE NO STAMP CARDS!!!! =( The one on Park Victoria has stamp cards therefore I always go to that one instead. I already have three cards filled up and you can redeem it for any drinks so I am saving it for the most expensive drink of course the dessert number 1 which is almost $5 so my cards alone easily equal to $15!!! I like this one and if I am in the neighborhood doing groceries at Ranch99 I will come here for drinks. But I rather go to the one on Park Victoria simply because they have stamp cards. Some people will mind the gas and some won't. I think the one on Park Victoria has bigger cups for a regular. Regular cups here have logos. The regulars there have no logos. But the large here looks like regular over there. You know what I am saying? Lol. Overall, I like Bambu way more than TapEx, Quickly, Sweetheart, and Fantasia. But if you are a cheapo like me go to the one on Park Victoria to accumulate stamp cards. Dear Bambu on Hostetter...if you guys decide to get stamp cards, I will probably no longer go to the one on Park Victoria and bring all my business here. I drink BAMBU A LOT and so do a lot of people who will read this review. P.S. It would be nice if they had toilet seat covers in the restroom. They use nice toilet paper though. I think Quilted Northern? read more

BAMBU - #1, honeydew, taro, mango - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Sua da lover coming through! As a Vietnamese coffee lover, bambu made it right! Coffee had looked strong as I like but didn't taste too sweet. The portion they gave me for each cup was perfect for someone who hates going to the Vietnamese coffee shop and ordering for Togo because those cafes, 1 sip and I'm done with my coffee. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

The even during rush hour the service here is top notch, I like ordering their che', I try to come here at least once a month, I would say this place is better than Cupertino in terms of quality but both places are good, I will recommend this to new people who want to try Vietnamese che' or hazel nut house coffee read more

It's been awhile since i got back to this store. I heard they changed the owner, i think because of that the drink is not as good as it used to be. My custom drink coconut juice with mung bean and pandan jelly is very watery, i didn't taste the coconut juice, and mung bean has a thicker texture, not as soft as before. I'm not sure about the quality of other drinks, but this one is no longer my favorite. read more

They do not pick up the phone. I got really pissed that they picked it up once and did not say anything at all and made me wait for 5 mins and hung up without saying anything. read more

I luv the Viet "che" dessert here. I especially like #6 drink on the menu. The ingredients in these drinks are probably not healthy but the drinks are delicious. It's probably be OK to have them once in a while but not daily or even weekly. The drinks reminded me of home when I go there with friendz. Isn't this really all that matters? read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

This is second time we found something inside there drinks.... first time it was a hair so we got a new drink... now it's a fly inside.... they need to get there safety rating to F read more

BAMBU - Fly inside the drink - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Star 1: love their drinks Star 2: will most likely return Star 3: usually good service -2 stars: bad experience and ruined morning. I normally order their number 1 or number 5 (smashed avocado). To me this doubles as a treat and a light meal. I always get it with extra condensed milk for the sweetness. This morning, I go in and order exactly that; a #5 with EXTRA condensed milk... what did I get? Avocado with NO milk. Imagine guac with jelly and pearls. Horrible! I knew the associate that took my order was a bit confused when I said extra condensed milk she responded "less milk?" I then repeated myself, followed by saying "more" in place of extra. She said ok, but that clearly did not happen. Anyway I ended up having to add sugar to my drink, but then found myself crunching on sugar bits... ended up throwing it away. Nonetheless & sadly, I will still return bc again, I actually like their drinks/desserts. My advice, is really clarify yourself at time of order and try your drink before you walk out. I called to let them know my order was messed up and they were accommodating and understanding, offered me a drink to make up for today's mess up (not sure that I will take them up on this offer, but at least they offered). read more

Drinks are delicious, must try number 10. Good customer service, definitely come back.

I have been going there for #smashed avocado without ice for many years. I went there today and ordered exact the same thing. It was only half cup for $5.50. I mentioned to the staff and she said it wouldn't be filled. It was ridiculous. If you changed the policy to pay extra for no ice, it would be better than reduce the portion or notify the customer that if they paid 5.50, they would be able to get only half cup. read more

BAMBU - Ridiculous of half cup of dessert # 5 (Smash avocado) for $5.50 - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

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Prices have risen significantly in the past years. I remember the first stores charged about $3.50 per cup. Now it's double in price. I only come to this place for the more 'traditional' Vietnamese Che with coconut juice + variety. I'd make more frequent visits to other tapioca places. read more

First time here because I was desperate for some coffee. I didn't know what to order so I asked for a recommendation and the lady recommended the hazelnut coffee, and because it wasn't a bad recommendation, I have it a two star instead of one. I loved the hazelnut coffee but when the entire drink disappeared in less than a minute, I was so shocked, and realized they put 75-80% ice in my cup....mad disappointed... Probably won't come back anymore. read more

BAMBU - After I finished the drink, I looked at my cup with a blank face like what just happened. *tears - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

I have been to this Bambu a few times, the experience is pretty good, and the dessert tasted excellent, especially the Taro Lover. I love taro and I am loving the flavor of this dessert. Moreover, the service here is the best, the cashier is very helpful and friendly to everyone. I remember a small little girl, I don't know her name but she is the one that I have the best experience with, she was so kind and very active to help me choose the drink. Overall, great experience, with good customer service, and excellent quality drinks and desserts. read more

This place has the best desert .bad customer service this girl working tonight 07/03/19 had a negative attitude really bad manner .. Make you feel like you do not want to return there .aufull read more

Good customer service and the drinks here are AWESOME!! They have a lot of different options on the menu. Highly recommend this place if you're craving for some sweets or dessert! read more

I know prices of everything has gone up..but if I'm going to pay $8.50 for an avocado smoothie with boba I expect it to be good. I should of known when I got the drink when it was barely green I was like oh no..either too much ice or not enough avocado. I tasted it and knew I was right..barely and avocado taste barely sweet..mostly ice. To be fair I took a couple more sips but it didn't get any better. I went back inside to see if they can remake..mind u I didn't say make another one. They took it back and came back to me saying 3 people tried it and it was fine to them. I said that's fine just throw it away. WTH. Horrible service. read more

Came here with some friends for desert. I never been here so they ordered me #4, not bad for an Asian desert cup. I will be back to try other stuff on their menu. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Normally I don't write reviews, but this place is bussin and definitely deserves 5 stars. My mom has always been eating Vietnamese desserts at Bambu Hostetter for years! We lived around the area before and had walked to the plaza just for Bambu's refreshing drinks. Even on holidays we'd come to buy. Recently, they have been adding new drinks to the menu and I must say their Mango Sago is the best! I am in love with it!! I also love how they added the aesthetic background in the shop, perfect for selfies:D read more

Omg I really really like the customer service and friendly cashier here !! Also the Vietnamese coffee tastes really good

Not sure if it's because I was the only black person and clearly not Asian but the girl in front of me ordered the same exact thing, Che #6, yet hers came out full of toppings and mine was literally half coconut milk with more ice than toppings. Never coming to this location again. read more

BAMBU - This is how the usually should look - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

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Positives: fresh-tasting ingredients and fast service Negatives: tough to find good parking in this plaza, crowded and congested, the drink was excessively sweet, price was a little high for every item read more

Drove 10 miles to get to this location. Great customer service and love their drinks. Tried the #6 Fruit addict and #5 smash avocado with my fiance and it was so delicious. Definitely will come back soon. read more

I've never had chè before so after having dinner at Boiling Point, I stopped by here to get dessert. My boyfriend and I got #7 to share, chè with basil seed and longan. It had an interesting taste! I'm not actually sure what chè is, but it tasted like the liquid part could be coconut juice? It was really refreshing but I don't think it's the taste for me. I'm glad I tried it and I enjoyed it, but I probably wouldn't get it again. The service was quick though, and the shop itself is clean! read more

BAMBU - #7 chè: basil seed, longan - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Super Asian! I wonder if the loud Asian music videos are meant to keep people from lingering there for too long (the place is small with limited seating) or because the staff/customers enjoy them. For me and my laptop, the noise was just too much (which is a shame because they have free wi-fi and power outlets). The inside has coffee posters, mirrors, hanging lanterns, magazines and a cozy coffeehouse feel. The menu is all drinks and desserts - boba drinks, smoothies, and Vietnamese che. They have all types of things that they can add to your drink, like jellies and basil seeds. * Red bean smoothie with pearls ($3.75): This was really good and filling. They use real red beans and the red bean flavor is delicious. The icy drink is creamy and sweet (but not super sweet). The tapioca pearls were chewy, sweet and fresh (not soggy at all). I like to see some bean chunks in my drink but their version is smooth and the beans are too finely pureed to add texture. I could have used a savory snack but they didn't have any...Dong Tien is a few steps away and they have savory Asian buns and banh mi. Cash only. read more

BAMBU - Red bean smoothie with pearls - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

I can't believe I overlooked Bambu when I have been living 5 minutes away from it for years! I am a big fan of this Vietnamese dessert called "Che" Its basically a mixture of jello, mung bean, sweat beans, etc. with sweet coconut milk. The best I ever had are the home-made ones my mom or aunt make until I tried Bambus' My older brother recommended this place after we had our parents anniversary dinner because my dad was craving it. I ordered the #2 "Che Thap Cam" Basically the whole sha-bang, I loved their take on it because they also include taro, pudding, pearls, and pandan jelly. It is served with shaved ice and the portions are enormous. This is the best Che I have ever had and I have been hooked on it since! read more

BAMBU - The #2 Combination "Che Thap Cam" - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

One of the better Che "Bambu" around San Jose area. The ingredients are made fresh, Red Boba, regular Boba, Pandan Jelly, Jack Fruit all swimming in the creamy cocount juice. All prices are 3.25-4.25 and $1.00 extra for 24 oz cup instead of the usual 18oz. I'm not saying other Bambu locations are bad. I just enjoy this place and find it the best out of all of them. read more

Came by for the Coconut Milk Tea the other night and was pleasantly surprised. Located in the same plaza as Hello Desserts. The coconut milk tea consisted of real coconut and the drink left me wide awake at night...so I guess their tea is strong?!? The pearls were slightly sweet and very chewy, the perfect consistency! :D ...service was friendly too! :D read more

My favorite drink to get, ever! Nothing have I ever tried in my drinking career has topped the Che #10 dessert here, it is absolutely amazing! The #10 dessert consists of: red tapioca, grass jelly, pandan jelly, and my favorite part of the dessert itself is the pandan jelly. Once you chew on it, it just doesn't disappoint, there's just something about it that you hoped that the drink itself only consisted of pandan jelly, but of course, some contrast is needed. The service is not so consistent since the workers do feel rushed and the pressure from a long line, so do be patient with them. Not everyone is perfect, and they could make mistakes here and there. If an order is ever messed up, feel free to tell them and they will be sure to right the wrong. I have tried their other desserts which had jack fruit and durian in it and it was alright, but I will stick with getting the Che #10 whenever I come here. Come here with your friends if they have yet to try it and I guarantee they will like it. Cash only and there should be parking since it is a decently sized plaza (Ranch 99 nearby). read more

BAMBU - #10 Che - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Bambu; I have never loved such a drink place as this. Does TapEx put fresh sweet mangoes on their milk tea, or Quickly on theirs? What about lychees? Naw, not at all. You can see their boxes upon boxes of fresh fruits and other items that they stack against the wall. Back when I first heard of Bambu, tried it, didn't like it very much. My friends who I've talked to that had tried it didn't seem to have a taste for it either. However, after my mom visited and brought a cup of che thap cam (#2!) home, it was love at first scoop. I could argue to some extent about the freshness of the ingredients, but they never seem to disappoint. This past summer, I've visited Bambu at least every other day, (an entire week once, except for Monday because it's closed :[ ) and then some days in between. The women at the counter are very friendly and helpful. -story- My friends and I dropped by on a Sunday to satisfy our craving for milk tea and che. We asked for her popular favorite milk teas, to which she replied mango, thai, almond, and a few others. Lately we had been seeing kpop music videos playing on their telly, and we asked about it. The lady behind the counter told us that one of their workers really loves kpop, and she burned some DVDs and Bambu plays them. She asked us if we wanted to borrow one to burn and then return, so we excitedly accepted. Monday passed, the store was closed, as always. Tuesday came, and when we arrived we saw that a different girl was working the register, and gave her the DVD, and she smiled when we handed them to her. We asked if they were hers, and she said yes, and we continued to talk about kpop and Hollywood Bowl and other things. We sat finishing our drinks and then stayed to watch another music video or two, and then left, extremely satisfied. +2.5 for delicious goodness and great variety! +2.5 for great personable, fast, and friendly service! I can't get enough of this place. T^T read more

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I am a very big che person and when I first found out about this place I had to check it out. The # 11 without jello substituted with dark brick is my absolutely fave. It comes with the perfect amount of everything, but sugar. I wish their che was just a tad bit sweeter. The ice they use compliments the whole dessert. As for ambiance if you come during the day they usually play hip hop and at night they play PBN and Asia videos. Pricing wise $3.75 is a tad too much, but their quality and freshness makes up for it. read more

BAMBU - #11 - Hat Luu suong sao banh lot with no thach substituted with dark brick - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Beware when they mix your Che dessert!!! I come here regularly to by Che which has jelly red beans and milk. I've ordered this before and it comes with the beans and jelly separated in the cup (put in but not mixed as can be seen by other pictures). This time when I ordered, I saw that the beans were mixed with the jelly...which I thought was weird. When I got home, I realized that the milk had clump and it was sour. They had pour in expired milk and they tried to hide it by mixing. This is REALLY SHADY and unethical. You can see my photo for proof. -------------------------------------------------------- They have done a great job and haven't had any similar incident since this review. read more

BAMBU - Expired milk clumps. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Summer is officially here and what better place to cool down from the scorching sun, than at Bambuuu!? Bambu is a tiny little snack and coffee shop tucked in the corner of the Ranch 99 plaza. They serve a huge variety of refreshing drinks and Vietnamese desserts called 'che.' Che is ideally served with shaved ice and eaten with a spoon. I've tried the #1 Bambu Special, which includes basil seeds, logan, pieces of fresh coconut, and I think coconut juice. It was really refreshing and not too sweet, but my favorite has got to be #7! I forgot what it was called, but it's basically like a suong sa hot luu (which is my all-time favorite Vietnamese che!). It includes pink water chestnut tapioca pearls, grass jelly, and this other green jelly. I'm really picky when it comes to suong sa hot luu, but Bambu makes it just right! I've been here a couple of times and I've become a huge fan already. The only gripe I have about this place is the size--I wish it was a little bigger as seating runs out quick. read more

BAMBU - Dessert #7! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

I discovered Che years ago when I first came to this location's Bambu. Ever since my first Che, it became one of my new favorite desserts. I came back again recently since I was in the area. I ordered several items from their dessert menu, and nothing has ever disappointed me. The portions are huge and it is big enough to serve as a whole meal! Their milk tea is pretty good as well. The workers are quick. The line may seem long, but they already have some ingredients prepared in their cups so it makes their assembly line more efficient What I like about Bambu compared to other Che places is that they give less ice, which means we get more ingredients in our cup. Other places give too much crushed ice which makes it unable to taste the ingredients and makes it super watery. read more

It's amazing how I'm always in the area but manage to always forget to review this place. Now, I'm not a huge fan of Bambu due to one simple reason: their drinks are too sweet and there is no way for them to make it sweeter because apparently, everything is already pre packaged in airtight containers and is not fresh. Aside from that, why do I keep coming here? Simple. My mom loves che and there really isn't an alternative place to hit up unless your willing to drive to Milpitas's Sweet Cup. My first experience here was with the number 1 that everyone has been raving about. First sip: Meh. its alright. Yes, it was refreshing but my entire drink was frozen. The palm seeds were actually an entire chunk of stuck together ice! It was sad trying to drink this =(. By the time it thawed, the drink turned watery. The milk teas are all artificial, meaning, everything is powder based and nothing tastes fresh. if they claim that everything is made fresh, i'm not buying it. I make milk tea for a living and I know the companies that supply the powder very well. Its powder. If you do come here, expect che that is very sugary. If you're not into sugar, stay away from the coffee jelly. The number 10 (suong sa hat luu bank lot) is ok. The che trai cay tastes weird. Try it without panda jelly. It is nowhere comparable to che thai (what this drink is made to taste like). The smashed avocado is wayyyyyyyy too sweet. Its so sweet that your throat hurts trying to swallow it. To combat this, tell them to add a scoop of coconut milk in the mix. It makes it sooo much better. Overall, if they can somehow manage to make things less diabetic, I would give it more stars. Otherwise for now, if you do manage to come here, the smashed avocado with coconut milk is pretty safe. read more

BAMBU - The store - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Jose, California

Brokaw becomes Murphy becomes Hostetter...leads to 99Ranch plaza....further leading me to lovely che place!!!! oh yes..... So great, their dessert drinks. Tried the avocado with dark brick coffee jelly inside. It's decidedly more thick and less sweet than other orders, so I'm warning you now, it will fill you up! Smashed and chunky in texture, I wouldn't opt for it on a very hot day. Che trai cay always a winner. Great quality che. I too heart Bambu..forever. read more