This is one of the very few times I want to give a place less than 0 stars. This place is TERRIBLE. Right after I got my drink (taro milk tea), I walked outside and started to drink it. After the first sip, in the garbage it went. My friend ordered regular milk tea and did the exact same thing before me. I know it's wasteful, but it was pretty funny throwing away the full cup of tasteless liquid. I guess it's more like a statement. I wish they could have seen this happen. When I ordered my drink, the girl working said that there was boba still being made. This was exciting to me but at the same time disappointing. Exciting because the boba would be fresh and have a good texture. Disappointing because it's a boba place and they need to have boba available at all times. If they don't, they're being managed poorly. When I finally got my drink, again, it was damn terrible. It had zero taste and the boba tasted old, even though I waited a few minutes extra for "fresh boba." Furthermore, my drink was room temperature. It wasn't even cold. Milk tea that's room temperature tastes stale and expired. This is one of the worst boba experience I've ever had, ever. Please do yourself a favor. See that the reviews to this place are bad and don't ever step foot in here. Let them go out of business because they're wasting your money and calories. Don't sit on the bacteria-ridden, dirty red couches either. Hope this place doesn't make your day worse. read more

Have you ever had a place that was your first love? Well, Boba Cafe was where I found my first love with boba. When I was in high school, my friends and I would always come here because it was the "Cool," thing to do. Plus, I had an addiction to their boba. I came here practically every day to get their Honeydew Milk Tea, Regular w/ Boba. After awhile, my addiction faded and I developed new addictions, hence sushi. Plus I had to move away for college. But back to the boba. I was in town and paid them a visit. And, hands down, this is still my favorite place to get Boba. The boba or tapioca balls are always just right: not too mushy and not too hard. The drinks are sweet, but not too sweet. And the options there are endless. Their food is also good, but I haven't had it for years. But back in the day, I'd always get their combination fried rice and I always loved it. Their popcorn chicken is alright, but that really didn't matter since I came for boba. As for service, there isn't anything special to say. They made the drinks fairly quickly, and made me my drinks the way I liked it. Make sure you bring cash, cause that's all they take. (Note: there is an ATM machine inside.) This small boba place in the middle of University Village gave me some good memories. And I'm glad the boba is just the same as I remembered. read more

Boba Cafe - Honeydew Milk tea Regular - Bubble Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

Food is terrible. It has no tastes and the meat is foul. They put really hot food in foam box which is really bad for customer's health. Regret spending $15 for nothing. read more

Okay - I am not really one who gets picky on food and drinks, however I have to say that this place needs to improve its standards and start making changes. I read the reviews before going to the place, but it was already past midnight (this was the only place open) and my boyfriend and I were craving boba. We couldn't help it :( But when we arrived there, we ordered rose milk tea and almond milk tea. It wasn't until we got our drinks when my boyfriend conveniently mentions the fact that he just remembered this was the place where his friend found a strand of pubic hair in his food. How...appetizing. It became evident that when we took a few sips of our drink that we realized that this place was not that great. My boyfriend's rose milk tea tasted diluted and also had a hint of sourness to it. He immediately discarded it. For me, I felt a little slight rumble in my stomach after drinking a quarter of it; and that was when I decided to stop. The drinks are of low quality. =( Sorry to say that. read more

Not really a place i fancy. It took them more than 8 minutes to take my order, so i was just standing there waiting and waiting... When i finally got to order i showed them their yelp page to try and get the free drink, but the lady just didn't want to give up that drink -.- (Apparently you have to print it out to get the drink...IT"S THE SAME THING!) It took another 15mins for my food to finally come out, while it took almost half that time for some other people that came after me to get their orders. The only reason i come here is for their spicy pork, but i don't think it's really worth the wait read more

The quality of the tea here surprised me. Normally it's so watered down you can hardly taste the tea, but it was actually really good here. Bubble tea is $2.69 for regular. I guess it helps to come here when it's not crowded. Parking in the University Village center is always a joke. read more

I go here with friends sorta often because it's so close to campus and to my apartment. I like the food and drinks here, they aren't the best but they satisfy those constant cravings for boba. A couple of nights ago my friend and I both got the lychee slush with boba and in our drinks some of the boba was hard and slightly frozen, which is a no go, but generally the drinks aren't bad. The wait here is usually pretty long though, from experience even if it is in the late afternoon and there are literally no other customers in the cafe, it takes a while for them to prepare your order, especially if you order a food dish. So just prepare to wait. Oh this place has these cute, unique heels (shoe) shaped plush chairs. But that's about it, I don't really like the tables area because it's so close to the counter at which people order. And it's so dark in there, I know that's probably the atmosphere they're going for, but it's weird for a boba cafe. Or the Boba Cafe. read more

I love coming here and getting any of their fried rice and their Singapore noodles. Soooo good and cheap in price too!!

Boba Cafe is always reliable for a late night feast. Being open till one, especially in the summer has been a beneficial for me. The food takes a while but I am willing to wait because thats what im usually there for. I'm glad boba cafe is still around. Whenever I order a drink here, it's usually the green apple yogurt. Bomb.com read more

I like this place because it opens late and has a variety of food: soup noodles, dry noodles, rice, desserts, teas, and smoothies. Popcorn chicken, rating 4/5 Deep fried tender chicken, soft and tender to the taste. The level of spiciness is adjustable, from, mild, medium, and very spicy. One of my favorite appetizers to get here. Sesame balls, rating 4/5 Freshly fried, soft and filled with red beans. Each order comes with about 8 medium balls. I love this snack, the chewy sesame balls are just so satisfying !! Fried calamari, rating 3/4 Similar to the popcorn chicken but with calamari instead. Boba milk tea 3/5 My usual favorite, I'm giving it a 3 because they decreased their boba amounts. It is no longer portionate to the drink. The tapioca is now filled about 1/4 or even less sometimes and you have to ask for extra if you want an even ratio. read more

Came here an hour before closing time, I was surprised this place closed late especially since it was a last minute hangout, "where we do go" scenario lol. Walked in, pretty cool environment with music playing from YouTube videos on the flat screen above where you go to order. Not a really big area so I assume when it gets pack, it gets packed. Luckily the shopping center is big and you can pretty much hangout anywhere The only thing that was kind of a bummer is that when we got there, they said we could only order off the dollar menu because that's all they had (seems reasonable since it was closing time) but they changed they're minds when my friend looked all sad hahaha (she milked it) I ended up getting the pineapple slush with boba and lychee which was really bomb to my surprised, really sweet and delicious. I would go back to this spot just to try new things read more

Boba Cafe - Pineapple and strawberry banana, friend got yogurt in hers to make it more creamy... Gotta try this out for myself lol - Bubble Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

Stopped by here on the way back from San Diego to drop off one of our friends in Riverside. It was alright. It was around lunch time and I was pretty hungry so I ordered the Combination Udon (Yaki Udon) for $5.99 and that was worth it. The portion was huge and it tasted pretty good. The honey green tea was alright though, I wished it was a bit sweeter but the bitterness of the tea wasn't horrible either. We didn't sit and eat/drink there, but the place was pretty big with enough seating but looks kind of run down... and not the cleanest place. $5 minimum to use card, but they have an atm in the store if you forget. read more

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On behalf of the customer who's order I had to cancel because your card reader isn't compatible with what I had....how rude!!!! Your food isn't great anyways. read more

Totally understand how it feels to work in a boba shop. And totally understand the vibe. Long lines on a Monday night, 12AM to be exact. Although it was super busy, I received 5 star service despite the crowd and despite my big order during the late night rush. Kitchen is open till 1AM, unlike other spots that close their kitchens super early. Drinks: Avocado slush, 2 milk teas, lychee green tea, taro slush. Drinks were def on the sweet side, except the milk tea. So adjust to your liking. Food: Squid balls, popcorn chicken fried rice, tofu, udon. -1 star because they don't answer phones and the music was somewhat loud so it was hard to hear. P.S. Expect ratchet vibes with the ratchet music. I'm not complaining about it either, haIf you bring children, bring ear muffs so they don't hear the bad words lol. read more

The food here is my go to comfort food and you get big portions for a good price. The boba is good but can sometimes taste artificial. The customer service is a hit or miss; most of the employees are friendly but there's this one asian lady (who might be the manager) and she's an absolute bitch. I come here often and EVERY time she's in a bad mood. I've seen her act downright rude towards not only the customers, but to the other employees as well. She needs to go bc her attitude is not appealing. read more

Price is fair. Paid $1 for a drink if you order any entree, Milk tea is so so but for $1, it's ok. Not worth it if have to pay full price. We like the beef / shrimp chow fun ( aka char keuy tiaw) but it was a bit greasy. Shrimp chow fun has 9 jumbo shrimp in it and taste quite fresh too. read more

Boba Cafe - Shrimp chow fun ( aka char kuey tiaw ). Come with 9 jumbo shrimp! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

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This cafe is good. But it's actually really dark so you would think this place is a bit suspicious. I have not tried the food but their boba and shaved ice is amazing :) read more

Ive only gotten boba from here and eaten once so if youre looking for a meal review skip this blurb. The boba is good, not particularly better than anyone else's. To be honest I went here alot my freshman year but then after other boba shops started popping up, this shop got pushed down on my list. read more

I was kind of scared to try it yesterday, but I did. It's dark and old inside, but I took it to-go. The boba milk tea was good and it's cheaper than lollicup! (It's like $2.65 for small and their medium is like lollicup's large) If you just want some boba, come here! read more

Since writing my initial review, I have come back 2-3 times to give this place another shot. Since it's so conveniently located in the UV, it's a great place to get your boba fix after a meal or after the movies. The prices are also not too bad given other competitors in the area. However, the tea itself lacks the freshly brewed taste and the tapioca balls weren't very chewy the times I have went (the most recent visit, there was a trainee so I will give them the benefit of the doubt). Boba Cafe isn't my top place for boba in Riverside, but given location, hours, and pricing, it's a decent option. read more

Haven't been here in years.... and it was exactly how I remember it. Large menu, full of many food options, snacks and plates. Tried their popcorn chicken, which I loved. Many drink options and flavors to choose from. Looking forward to going back and trying something new. read more

Boba Cafe - Popcorn Chicken (mild) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

We come to Boba Cafe for comfort food, for late night grabs, for quality food, and the variety. Their boba is excellent and so is their food. Very reasonably priced. read more

I love their teas and great selection on Asian foods! I highly recommend the snow vegetable pork fries rice. It's a must have whenever I come! Boba Cafe is welcoming and the workers are helpful and patient. read more

Boba Cafe - Tea is so bomb I ordered - Bubble Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

The staff here are always nice to me ! Drinks have gotten way better than how it was around 3-4 years ago. The food is pretty decent too. I usually get the popcorn chicken fried rice or combo udon. It's not heavy on the wallet either but don't get me wrong, like I said I actually like the food ! read more

Best crispy tofu I've ever eaten! Vegetable udon is also so yummy. There's Great selection and tons of food for vegetarians. Also they are open pretty late. read more

I went to Boba Cafe for the first time yesterday, and I don't know why I haven't gone any earlier! It's not as bad as people say it is. Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, so I couldn't eat meat and ordered their crispy tofu fried rice ($5.50) Actually really good! My friends ordered their shrimp fried rice ($5.95) and liked that as well. The prices are very affordable and for a small, it made me full. With every meal you buy, you have the choice of upgrading to a small drink for $1! I would go here again. UPDATE: prices have gone up a little! But not too expensive. My new go-to is the Beef Chow Fan ($7.88) a must-try!! read more

Absolutely love this place been coming to this spot for over 14 years. Popcorn chicken fried rice are my go to. But they offer a variety in food and drinks. 10/10 recommend this location. read more

Boba Cafe is decent option for UCR students or anyone looking for fairly cheap food after most other restaurants close. They have a lot of comfort foods that are pretty filling, as well as a large selection of drinks. I went here the other day and ordered a Teriyaki Fried Rice, Popcorn Chicken, and Fried Calamari. The service was pretty average/good and the price I had to pay was reasonable, however the food was pretty mediocre. Out of the items in my order, I believe the popcorn chicken was the best; the sweet and sour sauce that came with it complimented the spiciness of it (picked medium spice). The calamari was also decent but somewhat chewy; it wasn't the best but fulfilled my craving. The teriyaki fried rice, however, was pretty bad. The rice was a bit mushy and clumped together and looked nothing like the display pictures. It only consisted of rice and the chicken on top; there weren't any other vegetables or anything which made the rice pretty bland. I'm not sure if it was intentional but the rice also tasted like it was dipped in a sweet sauce; I'm not sure if it came from the teriyaki chicken since the chicken didn't taste like it had a lot of sauce either. It was pretty interesting to eat considering how one bite of rice would taste like other and the very next would would be overtly sweet. read more

Great place! Love the options for the fried rice. Would recommend to anyone in the riverside area

1)The friend wontons are just the skins fried. There's like a tiny ball of cheese inside but you can't tell so it's pretty much just the shell. 2) The squid rings are pretty good but a bit thinner than I'm used to. 3) The honey milk tea is alright. Warning, the cup is made if really thin flimsy plastic. It felt as if it was going to pop any second. read more

So I have only been to Boba Cafe once, and only once, and that was sometime last year around the time of UCR's Heat Festival. I rarely write bad reviews just because I'm not a picky person, but my overall experience at Boba Cafe was just disappointing. I was desperate and came here after Heat because it was the only place that was opened at the time since all the other boba shops around the area close around 11. THE DETAILS: Located in the University Village right next to Mad Platter and close to Denny's. It's a small little place and could easily be missed if you weren't looking for it. When I went it was very, very crowded from the people that just left Heat. I didn't mind waiting in line, but the line was moving terribly slow. When I got up to the front to order, the girl was very rude and wasn't even paying attention to me and was joking around. The workers were slow at making the drinks as well; I believe I waited around 25 mins for 1 drink. However, I did like that they offered the big cups like at Half & Half, but the drinks were not up to par. They would have so much more business if the customer service + drinks were good since they are opened until 1. THE DRINK: Here's the catch... I ordered a simple almond milk tea with boba. How could anyone mess up on such a simple drink? Well, Boba Cafe sure did or should I say the person making my drink did. The almond milk tea was bland, flavorless, and was terrible. It was also too sweet and was lacking the "almond" flavor. The boba was disgusting and it tasted like rubber. THE END? Yes. My experience here was not great. The customer service was terrible as was the boba. I will not be returning. read more

This was the first place I've been to when I came to UCR and I have to say, they're one of the best snack places in Riverside. I always get the side of kimchi, side of rice, and popcorn chicken snack and that's basically a meal within itself. They make the best popcorn chicken in the area, it's really good! As for the drinks, they're pretty average to me, nothing special. I do like the rose milk tea though. Atmosphere is okay, and the furniture is a bit run-down. I do love the music they always play though, the employees have great music taste. The service could be better because every time I go, 87% of the tables are either dirty or wet. All in all, I would only recommend this place for the popcorn chicken. read more

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Surprisingly, some of the best Chinese Food near UCR can be found here at Boba Cafe. The best fried rice I have ever had, and popcorn chicken was well seasoned and crispy. Everything is made to order, so plan ahead, it will likely be a 5-10 minute wait. Drinks are always on point. read more

Got a mild popcorn chicken and it was alright, had zero flavor by itself though so the sweet and sour sauce that I got with it helped a lot to make it eatable. Also, the chicken is way too crispy, you literally have to stab the piece of chicken just to stick it on and take a bite without it falling. The service was good, had zero complaints service wise. Overall would give the place a 3.5/5. read more

Crispy Tofu Fried Rice was decent although it was bland they added more chilli powder rather than proper seasoning to the tofu, fried rice was good though so I'll give them that. I also had the Thai milk tea with boba and that was good, would recommend for sure. read more

They will over-charge in small increments if you don't pay attention. This is my third time coming here and every time I'm at the register and the final price comes up I've felt like it is more expensive that I expected. Today I paid closer attend and noticed the cashier charged $7.25 for my vegetable Singapore noodles which should have been $6.25 according to the menu. My husband's small Jalapeño Beef fried rice was $5.80 on the menu and the cashier charged $5.95. That's an extra $1.25 charged in total plus more in taxes because the bill is higher. May be insignificant but it is not ethical. The receipt they give you is not itemized so you can't see the prices after leaving the register. They are usually very busy, and play loud music which makes it easy for you to feel rushed and not pay attention. Idk if the cashiers don't know the prices or if they intentionally up-charge. Otherwise the food is decent. Prices are good if charged correctly and they are open late. If it wasn't for being over charged several times I would give them 4 stars. read more

First of all, the fact that it's open for late hours is great. I can't quiet figure out if the food is Chinese, Korean, Japanese or others, but the flavor is surprisingly good. Popcorn Chicken is breaded lightly (can be ordered spicy, I did). Took a bite, made me wish I had a cold beer to go along with it. My buddy got the Teriyaki chicken with fried rice. The chicken was not the usual sugary teriyaki sauce. This chicken had a savory flavor with the right amount of sweetness. I was recommended the spicy pork combo. This is the spicy pork you would get in a Korean restaurant and I like spicy. It was good. I didn't really care for the veggies that accompanied the dinner. Friendly helpful staff. Will go back pho sho, wanna try the other items. read more

I give this place an A++++ the Costumer service is amazing. The tea is good and the food! Yes! This is a great place for a lunch run for college students! The music is chill plays a little of everything witch is good. read more

Boba Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - Riverside, California

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I've come here a handful of times and I always leave with a positive experience! I get the mapo tofu over rice every time and it's so amazing. Everything here is well priced and they give you generous portion sizes too. I've called in an order a few times and it was always ready by the time I came in, so I recommend that if you're in a hurry. Great place to check out and I love that it's open later than a lot of the nearby restaurants. Will be back again soon to try more of their food and drinks! read more

Was introduced to this place and I would prefer them over any Chinese food spot in riverside near this area! Their fried rice is definitely a must with any choice of meat, it's all guaranteed to be good. My mother in law tried the smoothies without boba and said it was definitely a great one! I'd recommend them if you're looking for something of that sort. read more