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    Black Sugar

    4.4 (1k reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 6:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    BLACK SUGAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Black Sugar

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    one black sugar fresh milk with oat milk, one black sugar fresh milk with regular milk
    Thien H.

    Still my favorite boba place in SF. The boba have a nice bouncy chew. When this store first opened the boba was super bouncy which I loooved. It's still good overall though. The black sugar fresh milk has a nice caramelized sugar flavor hence the name of the shop "Black Sugar." They charge $0.50 for either oat or almond milk, so it's no longer free fyi. I can't drink caffeine often so I can't speak about the milk teas. I really appreciate how clear the menu is regarding dairy free and caffeine options. The taro milk is also good, they use real taro. They have a nice variety of fruit based fresh milks, fruit teas, matcha, black sesame, and ice blended drinks.

    Jasmine Green Tea
    Lani B.

    nestled in a small corner of the financial district, this boba shop is a decent spot to drop by in! the seating inside if minimal with only two barstool chairs in the corner with kind employees. the boba is sweetened and simmered in honey, giving it a more floral, molasses flavor. cooked well, albeit on the soft side, and the tea is a nice quality. a bit more bitter than i personally prefer, and the tea brand used could either be local or popular amongst boba shops as i've had this exact tea in the past. lovely area and worth a stop! thank you!

    Hong Kong milk tea
    Rini C.

    I was visiting since I saw they had Hong Kong Milk Tea! The place is pretty small, so it's more of a grab and go place. I haven't seen many places offer Hong Kong milk tea, so I was excited to try it. I ordered at the one kiosk and my drink was ready in less than 5 minutes. Staff was friendly and service was super quick. The drink itself was perfectly sweet since I set it to 50% and less ice was the perfect amount. It had a stronger tea flavor and wasn't very milky which I love about this drink. The boba was soft chewy too and stayed that way for the next hour while I sipped on the drink. I would get it again when I'm in the area!

    Sherman T.

    A veteran to the brown sugar boba scene and a longstanding favorite for me when it comes to milk tea and coffee. Black Sugar has a prime location within Union Square in the city and being just across the street from the Hilton hotel, has the opportunity to flourish with locals and visitors alike. The tiny storefront isn't much for a place to hang out but great for people on the go to work or site seeing. Despite the lean staff and small workplace, they make their drinks relatively quick and consistently good from its tea boldness to its boba texture. The boba, although not made from scratch here, are prepared with consistent quality. The balance between softness and chew is perfect and the proportion of boba to their drinks is ideal. The brown sugar content makes it sweet enough for me that I usually opt out of sugar completely in my drinks. The tea is organic and steeped to bring out its flavors. Whether you're getting the milk tea or matcha, you can rest easy knowing your cup is filled responsibly with good quality leaves. If you're looking for something more fruity, their fruit teas are made with fruit purees including strawberry, lychee, pear, and mango. And for those who are decaffeinated, you'll have a choice of whole milk, oat milk or almond milk flavored with strawberry, mango, black sesame or taro. The drinks are priced reasonably in comparison to other tea and coffee shops in the city and the portion renders a pretty good value. You do have to pay extra for toppings (boba, crystal boba, aloe, lychee jelly, red bean, herbal jelly) unless you get their signature black sugar milk or tea latte which both come with boba. Staff are also very welcoming and friendly. The open kitchen gives you full transparency to the drink preparation, which gives you reassurance of its cleanliness and efficiency. Overall, Black Sugar is the boba shop to conveniently get a delicious, well-priced boba milk tea, fruit tea, fresh milk or coffee. Its long-standing history here is a testament to its quality, value, and commitment to its customers. If you're looking for boba, Black Sugar will satisfy that craving and hopefully will be around the next time you're in the city again!

    Thai Tea & House Black Milk Tea
    Kayla L.

    I was visiting from the South Bay and not too familiar with San Francisco, but I stopped by Black Sugar since it was nearby and had great boba reviews. The ambiance is clean, minimalist, and gives off a "no frill, just good drinks" vibe, which I really liked. I tried the Thai tea and could really taste the spices in the blend as it had a nice depth of flavor that stood out from other spots. The house black milk tea was also solid and well-balanced. Overall, if you're in the area, Black Sugar is definitely a great alternative to the big-chain boba shops and worth a quick stop for a quality drink.

    Ginger milk tea
    Alice T.

    I was staying in Union Square and this was one of the boba shop options near my hotel. It's a small shop with barely any standing room, and no tables. It's a to-go shop. I ordered a milk tea drink. However, I didn't realize they got my order wrong until I walked away a couple blocks from the shop and started sipping my drink. By then I didn't want to walk all the way back for them to correct my drink. They gave me some seasonal ginger milk tea drink, which tasted fine. It was very gingery, and I wasn't feeling it. For someone who loves the strong ginger taste, this is probably the drink for them. I get that order mistake happens, so I just let it go. This place isn't bad. I just wish I got the drink I ordered.

    Grace C.

    Very close to Union Square. Very small spot indoors so it's mainly an order and go boba spot. I wanted a drink with boba already included so I ordered the black sugar latte ($5.95 before tax). The drink comes cold and I picked less ice, medium sweet, and in a paper cup (they offer this as the sustainable option). The straw is also compostable commercially so yay! My drink was sweeter than I anticipated, given I ordered medium sweet (which is the less sweet option), but still delicious. There's minimal interaction with the employees. You order at the self serve kiosk (unless you want to pay in cash. I didn't see a discount mentioned for paying cash) and then they bring out the drinks and call out the name of the order. Also didn't realize that SF has a healthy mandate of 6%, which looks to be separate than the SF city employer mandate of 5%, so my order was applicable for the 6% mandate, but not the 5% mandate.

    Order area
    Elise H.

    Strawberry Lychee Green Tea + Boba ($6.73) Rating: 5/10 - the boba itself was the perfect texture and sweet flavor! - The strawberry/lychee flavor was WAY too sweet (even at 75%) felt like I was drinking syrup ): - I think due to the sweetness I can barely taste the tea at all The worker was super nice and efficient! The store was small but super clean. Maybe will give it another try and see if their milk teas are better...

    Black sesame milk
    Sho R.

    This place is just one person operating behind in the kitching. Order taking is done by an electronic kiosk. Sesame milk was excellent. I also went for a mango matcha drink with bubble tea. That was an excellent drink as well. Bubbles were cooked nice. Mango flavor felt natural.

    Black Sesame Milk & Hojicha Latte
    Izzy T.

    Still my absolute favorite place for black sesame latte and they added a hojicha! Earthy and roasted and absolutely delicious still. Our drinks are out so quickly, and the flavor is always consistent! I will always come here whenever I'm in the city!

    Mango Sago
    Lanette L.

    Black Sugar was my go-to spot when I used to go to school in San Francisco! Got to try their mango sago and it was a 5/5! Not too sweet at all for 100% sugar which is perfect!

    Boba
    Mia R.

    Who knew matcha and mango would go well together? Black Sugar sure did! We had them cater a work conference for a lil snackie treat and it was the energy boost we all needed in the middle of our day. They had a lot of different flavors to choose from but of course I had to get a matcha. Deriving away from my usual, I got the mango matcha and was pleasantly surprised. I've heard of strawberry matcha before but mango matcha might be the combo I never knew I needed. The right amount of sweetness and had a great flavor profile. I'd love to visit their actual location the next time I'm in SF!

    Pear Green Tea (0% Sweet, No Ice) with boba

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    Page 1 of 26

    Ask the Community - Black Sugar

    Can you make your Spiced Ginger Latte hot? and can I make it with Oat milk? Thank-you.

    Hi Susana! It can be made hot and with oat milk. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks!

    Is the lychee jelly and grass jelly made out of agar? Also for milk teas and lattes can almond milk be used to replace dairy?

    Hi Amelia! Our lychee jelly and grass jelly do not contain any agar. We have almond milk and oat milk as dairy substitutes. Thanks!

    I've seen that the drinks themselves can be made Vegan but does anyone know if the boba pearls have gelatin?

    Hi Lexi! Our boba does not contain any gelatin. It is vegan-friendly.

    Where is the best place to park?

    The shop is located underneath a parking garage (15 minute grace period) but there is also limited street parking.

    Do they have Thai tea here?

    We don’t!

    Will they let you use your own tumbler/mason jar instead of using their plastic cups?

    Yes! We'd be happy to serve your drink in your own cup as long as it's cleaned!

    How is the seating here? I've looked through reviews and photos but can't seem to find a definite answer/number. Looks like there's a bar by the window with 4 seats, is that it?

    Hi Christy! Yes, we have four sets by the bar open!

    What are the non caffeinated bubble tea options here?

    Hi there! All of our drinks are caffeinated except for the Fresh Milk series, so the Black Sugar Fresh Milk, Taro Milk, Mango Milk, and Black Sesame are all decaf beverages.

    What drink has no milk included?

    Our fruit teas and cold brew have no milk! We also have almond milk as a substitute.

    View All 10 Questions

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    4.5
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    8.8 mi
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    Definitely a fun and VAST variety of Taiwan fresh brew tea experience! Clean, airy, happy space…read morethat has both self order kiosks. If you don't know what to pick or want recs don't be afraid to walk up and speak to one of the kind folks working the front cashier. Super organized, screen scares where you are in the cue and a steady pace of of people coming through and a few seating spots that you can hang out while you're enjoying your drink. They even have some games like Uno, Cards against Humanity and chess etc to play amongst friends/family. Came once before with my daughter that she insisted we come back before the end of summer and make sure we had her little brother with us this time (awww). So if you're into this tea and boba and more scene, stop by when you're in the Serramonte area. Prices are fair for what it is, ranges between $7.95-$9.95 depending on how many extras you want to include. Sweetness options go from perfect, light, to none and Ice options go from regular, light, none, or hot! Also just one size. They are in the strip mall where Sprouts and Sketcher's are.... Parking is plenty and time getting your drink is reasonable and worth the wait even if it seems crowded inside.

    They serve high quality tea here. I would pay a higher price in exchange for premium product…read more They even offer complimentary tea tasting on selected days and time of the week. I also liked this place- very clean.

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    Peach Green Tea w/ mousse 蜜桃松針奶蓋 ($8.75) + Bubble Milk Tea 國王珍珠奶茶 ($8.75)
    Peach Green Tea w/ mousse 蜜桃松針奶蓋 ($8.75) + Bubble Milk Tea 國王珍珠奶茶 ($8.75)
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    Urban Ritual

    Urban Ritual

    4.4
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $

    A local friend highly recommended the crème brûlée milk tea here. To make things even better, the…read moreparking gods were on my side and blessed me with a spot right around the corner, which meant I could enjoy my drink inside while giving my tired feet a much-needed break. I don't normally drink a lot of boba, but vacations are for treating yourself, right? The crème brûlée milk tea was basically dessert in a cup. You could actually taste and chew on little bits of torched caramelized sugar throughout the drink. The boba itself was perfectly cooked, soft and chewy. And then there was pudding in there too! Every sip had me going "ooh" and "ahh" as I discovered another delicious texture. The only downside was that the drink only comes in one size, and it was a bit too much for me. I was genuinely sad that I couldn't finish it. That's one of the reasons I don't order boba very often. I can eat way more food than I can drink liquid for some reason. But I'd happily return to Urban Ritual to work my way through more of their milk tea menu the next time I'm in San Francisco.

    My friend and I decided to take a break for tea since it was an unusually warm afternoon in SF, and…read morewe were exhausted from walking around all day. We didn't have to wait in line to order, but all of the tables inside were packed. I was in need of something light and refreshing, so I decided to try the lychee IPA (non-alc). My drink was prepared promptly, and it immediately quenched my thirst. The lychee flavor tasted fresh, and its sweetness was tempered by the subtle hops flavor. The drink was also lightly carbonated with just the right amount of fizz. The menu wasn't as extensive as those of the larger, more established boba shops, and I wish there had been more fruit-flavored teas - especially for the summer. Nevertheless, I can't wait to try other tea varieties on my next visit.

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    Inside
    Inside
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    Mew Tea

    Mew Tea

    4.5
    (23 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    I wanted a milk tea because the ones I was making at my father's house were not cutting it. I…read moredecided to check out Mew Tea. I walked about 30 minutes and arrived too early as the store did not open until noon. I walked out to Geary Blvd. and there was a lot of construction as I explored the area. I returned with only 14 minutes left before opening. The lady opening the store was raising the blinds on the windows facing the street. She unlocked the door shortly after noon and directed me to the kiosk to order. I knew I wanted the peach oolong milk tea at 75% sweet with no ice. It had been quite windy on the walk. Because of a coconut allergy in the family I had to ask if the popular mango pomelo sago had any coconut. Unfortunately, it has coconut (milk or oil?). As soon as I heard coconut, it was a no go. I wasn't familiar with pomelo and the lady told me it was like grapefruit. I still wanted to order a mango drink and went instead with the mango smoothie also 75% sweet with less ice. The customer following me asked about alternative milks which they do have. I overheard that they have oat and almond milk. Both drinks were excellent. The milk tea was not too sweet and I appreciated the peach bits in the drink. The mango smoothie was really creamy.

    Cute place. Can order from kiosk or call over an employee. We got a basic milk tea with boba, 75%…read moresugar and wanpee fruit tea, 0 sugar. The milk tea was good, not too much creamer and all around classic taste including the tea. Boba texture was perfect and didn't stick together. Wanpee fruit tea was perfect sweetness without any added sugar. Very refreshing. It took a while to get our drinks even though it didn't seem busy, but at least when our drinks were ready, the employee served them graciously.

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    Inside 8/20/25
    Inside 8/20/25
    Mew Tea
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    Junbi Matcha & Tea

    Junbi Matcha & Tea

    4.4
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    0.4 mi
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    Omg! I used to order their ceremonial matcha from Junbi online years ago. I didn't know they had…read morestores, so when I saw this one, I had to go in! I got the regular ice matcha with oat milk. I usually go for less sweet (50% for my drinks) but this time I didn't bc employee at the counter mentioned it isn't too sweet so I decided to take her word for it.. and it was perfect! Employee at the counter was very sweet and my drink came out quite fast :) I was running out of matcha back home so I decided to leave with a matcha tin because I had a great experience!

    TLDR; I don't usually like matcha, but Junbi's matcha is so good, it has made me a fan (of their…read morematcha). I will be visiting their storefront downtown for afternoon pick-me-ups going forward. Junbi Matcha was hired to come into our office today and serve us two matcha options over our lunch break, regular green matcha and strawberry matcha (with strawberry puree). First, I tried the strawberry matcha, and it tasted amazing. It took me a while to determine if the amazing flavor was coming from the strawberry puree or the matcha, and I assumed (incorrectly) it was solely from the strawberry puree. Remember, I don't normally like matcha.... But then, I went back for seconds and asked for the regular matcha, and it blew me away. Super flavorful, but not super sweet. They had non-dairy options for both that I tried, and the sweeeeet kick of caffeine is exactly what I need to get me through the rest of my afternoon. I will definitely be walking to their location downtown to power me through the afternoons!

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    Cold Guava Matcha Latte
    Cold Guava Matcha Latte
    Golden Peach Milk; Cold Guava Matcha Latte
    Golden Peach Milk; Cold Guava Matcha Latte
    Cold Guava Matcha Cold Brew**

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    Cold Guava Matcha Cold Brew**
    Little Sweet

    Little Sweet

    4.0
    (976 reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    I write this three years later, though I should've made it sooner. I actually tried Little Sweet on…read moremy first date with my now boyfriend and we got there an hour or so before closing. The lights outside really set for such a cute twilight mood and though that wasn't the main point of their shop, it was a cute detail. You order off an ipad and wait for your order, pretty typical of most shops nowadays. I remember there being a short line as well, so it seems they are a busy boba shop! The drinks themselves were delicious based on what I remember, I recall their boba being perfectly chewy and not soggy despite getting there so close to closing. The drinks were not heavily packed with sugar, just the perfect amount of tea, milk and sweetness. I'm not really in the area that often, but it's a boba shop that I'll remember forever!

    Little Sweet - 3836 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118…read more Little Sweet is one of my kids' favorite boba spots in San Francisco! Their go-to drink is the Jasmine Milk Tea with boba, and it never disappoints. Ordering is easy with either the self-service kiosk or a cashier, and they accept both credit cards and cash. Service is quick and efficient, making it the perfect place to grab a drink on the go. Keep in mind that there is no seating area, so it's strictly a grab-and-go spot. If you're craving a refreshing boba tea without a long wait, this is a great choice. Our family definitely recommends Little Sweet for a quick and delicious boba stop!

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    Matcha Cafe Maiko

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    4.5
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    1.2 mi
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    Matcha Cafe Maiko is a matcha specialty shop that first opened in Hawaii and currently has multiple…read morelocations across multiple states including California (two Los Angeles locations in Monterey Park and Rowland Heights), Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey, and Arizona. For this location, the shop is located inside the Kinokuniya Mall in Japantown in San Francisco. [Parking]: There are two parking garages - The Main Garage (1610 Geary Boulevard) and The Fillmore Annex Garage (1650 Fillmore Street). Parking rate = $5 per hour from 12 PM to 6 PM and $3 per hour outside of those hours. I got lucky and was able to find metered parking spots near the intersection of Buchanan St and Sutter St (free on Sunday). [Atmosphere]: Matcha Cafe Maiko is located on the first level of Kinokuniya Mall. This is mostly a takeout only spot with no indoor tables and limited chairs available. [Menu]: Most visitors come here for the matcha soft-serve ice cream. The shop also offers the Golden Sho-Gun 24K gold soft-serve ice cream. Other items include sundaes, parfaits, lattes, cream foam lattes, and teas. *** Soft Serve Ice Cream (Matcha, Cone - $6.95): Amazing ice cream - creamy and dense with a strong matcha flavor. *** This is a fantastic matcha ice cream shop - two big thumbs up. P.S. - If you are already at the shop, this is also a good opportunity to check out other shops in Kinokuniya Mall and the adjacent Japan Center Malls.

    Came here yesterday (Friday) a little before 2pm. There was no line. We ordered on the tablet…read morelocated near the entrance. I ordered a Matcha Cheese Foam. I upsized to a large, got half sugar, and subbed oat milk. The drink was really good. The matcha was strong, which I liked, and the cheese foam added a nice creaminess. Overall, solid matcha.

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    Matcha strawberry mix and vanilla
    Matcha strawberry mix and vanilla
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    Black Sugar - bubbletea - Updated August 2026

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