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    Boba Island

    3.7 (115 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Boba Island Photos

    Business Info

    BOBA ISLAND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Boba Island

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    Reviews With Photos

    Taro smoothie
    Binaca S.

    The taro smoothie was very good. And the boba was nice and soft! I like it's a drive through

    Jun L.

    Very cool! I stopped in for a good study spot and really wasn't expecting much. Service was okay, but I did see some of the other workers come and help some other guests, and they were much friendlier, harboring a more welcoming experience. Perhaps the person who took my order was just a little shy. Oh well. As for the interior, it's quite nice. They provide outlets to work, bathrooms (only for guests- otherwise it remains locked), and a small claw game (which I loved watching people play). I ordered an avocado smoothie, a kiwi green tea with basil seeds, and popcorn chicken. The popcorn chicken was definitely worth it. The portion size was generous and came with sweet and spicy sauce, which I love! It's not everyday popcorn chicken comes with some Viet influence. The avocado smoothie was all ice, unfortunately. I really expected it to be an actual smoothie, so I'm a little disappointed with that. Other than that, it was great!

    Caught her looking at gymnastics porn
    Fox E.

    Highlander came from the Boba Highland STP came from Boba Scott Weiland One If By Sea, Two If Boba By Land And if you want Coffee, come to Boba Island! What. One of the best Boba shops in Houston, not so much for the boba, but perhaps for the coffee and the Yin Yang. They're great, largely because they make great Vietnamese coffee and they can mix it with the milk tea, and they're open late (11pm nightly and they don't kick you out early, sometimes not for awhile after closing), and they have a drive-thru and they usually have friendly service, and you can hang out in here or on the patio, and have been able to do so for a long time, almost since the start of coronavirus. So BI scores very high. Of course I don't like the way they add $0.50 to fill the cup up if you get no ice, but I don't really care because the products are great, and that's how it goes with Vietnamese drink spots usually. Top-notch all the way. If it were located in Hollywood in 1950, it'd be Bogart Island. If it were owned by generous lawyers, it'd be Pro Bono Island. When they put Xmas decorations up, it's Bauble Island. If it sold North African items, it'd be Berber Island. If it were in Dublin and was only open on Sunday (Bloody Sunday), it'd be Bono Island. And when I go there with Barbie, it's Boner Island. This, however, is one of the best Boba places on the island of Houston, TX. They have a drive thru. They have outside seating. Vietnamese, and it shows in the best way, when it comes to their coffees. They have a drive-thru too. Did I mention they have a drive thru. What to get: Yin Yang Milk Tea What not to get: Yin Yang Twins albums Why not: Because they're almost as bad as G-Easy Why do you write stupid reviews: G Easy on me please (Btw they have a drive thru) If it were near Tahiti, it'd be Borabora Island. If nobody ever came here, it'd be Boring Island. If it were between Alaska and Russia, it'd be Bering Island. If it were a bike shop, it'd be Ballbearing Island. If it were Barbie's Sub clients it'd be Ballgag Island. Boba Island is one of my favourite little places in the Houston area to get Vietnamese iced Coffee and also some good lemonades and some nice boba drinks. They have a half and half coffee/milk tea hybrid known as "yin yang" which is excellent and the straight-up be enemies coffee is strong and delicious as well. They make one of the best in town. It's a city with masses of the enemies stuff so for me to say this is one of the best Vietnamese coffees is a big deal. If Saget, Hope, Dole, Dylan, Marley and Evans (of restaurant fame) were trapped on Maui, that'd be "Bob Island." This is not that. Thank f***ing god. The disadvantages that it's way out in the middle of nowhere. Not nowhere but a good couple of miles west of Saigon Plaza and done playing along Bellaire. So it has a good location but doesn't get as much traffic. As a places a couple of miles east. It's cute and adorable really really friendly workers and good prices and they even have a drive-thru! You can't get much better than Boba Island. No Boba is an island, but Boba is a belly. Words to live by. Barbie says: "I love the coffee at Boba Island! Very fancy restroom." And I say I love the Barbie at Boba Island, and Barbie is very fancy so she would know. And if Barbie owned it, it'd be Booba Island. But she basically lives here, so it may as well be.

    Vietnamese Coffee
    Armand V.

    I am writing this review as I sip on a delicious boba filled drink on a dream island, perhaps it is, a Boba Island. Boba Island is a great boba shop, with good food, drinks, and drive-thru availability. My friend and I typically frequent this spot since they have wi-fi, and close at 11pm. The interior is small, but cozy, and they also have an outdoor patio with seating. They have plenty of options all around on the menu, I'm a sucker for the popcorn chicken whenever a snack is needed. When I need that pick me-up, I'd definitely go for a Vietnamese Coffee. Be warned, for card usage, they ask that you spend at least 8 bucks, or they charge you an extra fee on your tab! Good snacks, plenty of drink options, good service, and an overall great spot!

    Working on my tan
    Lou C.

    What a cute place called Boba Island. Especially during CoVid-19 pandemic, when people demanded outdoor dining. I always find myself sitting on the patio getting tanned. Boba Island is a standalone building situated across from Wells Fargo drive-thru ATM. I first noticed this place during nighttime hunting for food. I ended up at this strip mall called Santa Fe Shopping Center, where Pho Binh at Night and TeaTalk are located. My first time here, I ordered a Nuoc Mat (supposed to be artichoke drink but they called it Herbal Drink) with mongo boba. I was not impressed. But I like the mango flavored crystal boba. Then, toward the end, I found some real piece of lychee. What a surprise. I'm going to get more surprises next time when it's sunny again on a Saturday afternoon.

    How do I get to the boba now?
    Linda T.

    It's more like 4.5 but I'll bump it up. Boba Island is a cool cafe. Located sorta in the middle of the plaza parking lot, making it stand out from the rest. Smoothies are typically good and you can ask for sugar level. Bubble tea drinks are also good and well cooked boba. Egg puffs (they call it egg puffles here) are also delicious. Majority of the time, it's cooked the right amount of time making it soft on the inside and crispy on the outside but not too overwhelm waffle cone-like crispy. Depending on who makes it, you either love it or it's just ehh. Boba Island is always kept clean with a modern ambience and a cool chandelier. There's also a convenience of a drive thru for those who are ordering one to two drinks. If you're someone who is ordering a gazillion of things, please have courtesy for other people and just go order inside. The downside... I love hot tea/milk tea with boba on cold days so when I ordered, I assumed it's like the Northeast bubble tea cafes where you can stick a straw into the cup. Nope. They just use normal hot cups with a normal cap. It's usually different for hot bubble tea and this is the first that I got the regular hot topper. So you can only enjoy it hot with boba if you take the topper off. Not a big problem if you're sitting down but if you're walking around or driving... do you really want the topper to be just the normal sip hot topper? They have a buy ten, get one free reward card. What makes their reward stand out is that they actually imprint stamp onto it so you don't have to wait for the stamp to dry before putting it back in your wallet! Th downside is they have an expiration date on it so you better collect enough in time! Plenty of parking spaces around Boba Island but you may find it a little harder to find in the PM when the other restaurants in the plaza open for late night meals.

    Ice Cream Egg Puff
    Leanne C.

    Nice hidden gem! Boba Island is one of my favorite places in Houston for drinks & Egg Puffs! It's a small, nice & clean place. Sometimes the service takes a little while but it's definitely worth it! I highly suggest trying the Ice Cream Egg Puff and the Passion Fruit Punch! I love visiting for a nice night treat & drink!

    And that's her laughing after being disrespectful

    I just had the worst experience of my life at a place of business, The girl that called herself the manager and the boy that was working at the drive through both called me names and cussed me out. Go someplace else if you don't like disrespect. Never again Update! The girl stalked and found me on Facebook just to bully me, lol. The in person bullying was not enough, look at the screenshot I attached to see what she said. This is what I got for patronizing them. I didn't even know her name before! She just exposed herself!

    Spicy Watermelon
    Anna T.

    Dope they have a drive-thru for easiness and quickness. That was primarily why I stopped by to order a drink, but the lack of positive customer service will likely stop me from returning. My friend and I placed an order for a Spicy Mango and a Spicy Watermelon with tapioca Smoothie. Though they were out of tapioca, that wasn't the part what upset me-- it was my Spicy Watermelon did not taste like fresh watermelon at all but instead was met with saltiness and sourness like it was mixed with a chockfull of chamoy. I tried to sip slowly in hopes of growing acclimated to the tangy and salted flavor, but I could not. I decided to visit the drive-thru again to inquire if another drink could be made. The associate at the drive-thru also agreed she did not like the Spicy Watermelon but unfortunately stated she could not make another drink or offer a refund. I didn't wish for a refund but simply to make another drink that was palatable. This bad taste with my drink and their poor customer service will unappetizingly stay in my mouth.

    Garlic fries
    Alexis T.

    Very cute and nice vibe. Drinks come out fast and food is made to order so may take a second but definitely worth the wait.

    Catherine L.

    Drinks: I love their spicy mango and spicy watermelon drink. Especially the spicy watermelon because it is not too watered down-which can be a huge let down in other places. Parking: Plenty, since it is in a shopping center. They even have a designated areas only for the establishment or "island" because it truly is a small, little island building separate from the rest of the shops. Price: So I love getting mangonadas and always try to find the best in quality + reasonable in price and I'd say I found it in this little island with BOTH sizes being under $5 bucks.

    Otesia E.

    Strawberry Yogurt has a great flavor. I added Crystal Boba. I will be back. I wish they had Popcorn Chicken. Delicious!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Boba Island

    Is there a thing where i can get boba,food,etc. and a cup of sea salt foam or any other type of foam?

    Yes we do sell boba, snacks, sea salt, cheese or matcha milk foam.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Macu Tea - King of Mango Smoothie

    Macu Tea

    4.3(58 reviews)
    2.7 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown

    We stopped by and tried a milk tea and a fruit tea. The tiequanyin oolong milk tea was so fragrant…read morewith very qq boba! I had it at 50% sweet and thought it was still too sweet for me, will try lower next time! The mango orange tea has fresh fruit which very refreshing, though we couldn't taste the tea very much. The interior is modern and clean. The staff was patient and helpful to explain the different drinks!

    Macu Tea is located on Bellaire in Chinatown, on the south side, in the same shopping center as…read morePappaRich. I decided to check it out after a good friend raved about it--and I'm happy to report it absolutely lived up to the hype. I'll keep this short and sweet: I ordered the Ruby Grapefruit Li-Li Tea with green tea jelly, and it was legit. Incredibly flavorful, super fresh, and loaded with real grapefruit pulp. I went with 100% sugar (no regrets--just work out an extra hour afterward ). The balance of tart and sweet was spot on, and the quality really stands out compared to your average boba shop. Yes, the drinks aren't cheap, but they're worth every penny. You're paying for freshness and flavor, and it shows. The ambiance is clean, bright, and modern, and the service was solid. Drinks came out relatively quickly, even though it was busy. If you're tired of the same old average boba places, definitely give Macu Tea a try. Enjoy!

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    Macu Tea - King of mango.

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    CHICHA San Chen - Green tea + milk + boba

    CHICHA San Chen

    4.3(160 reviews)
    2.5 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown
    •$$

    Chi Cha San Chen is a Taiwanese boba chain that utilizes a patented "teapresso" machine to freshly…read morebrew premium teas for their drinks. I've visited many times and have been impressed with the consistency of both the tea and boba. My go-tos are the Cassia Black Tea, Dong Ding Oolong Tea, and Green Tea, all with Cream and Bubble. I typically order their drinks with less lce and light sugar, which have been perfect for me. Their fruit teas are also delicious, although I would definitely recommend reducing the sugar level to allow the tea flavor to shine through. The size of their drinks is also perfect for me; large enough to enjoy but small enough to not be overwhelming. At this location you can order at the kiosk or at the cashier, which helps to expedite the line especially when it gets busy. You could consider studying here, especially with its notably large tables, however seating is limited and it can get loud during rush hour. I would highly recommend Chi Cha San Chen, especially if you've never tried a high-quality, tea-forward milk or fruit tea.

    I'm a big fan of CHICHA San Chen, and I've had the chance to visit locations in Southern California…read moreas well as the headquarters in Taiwan, so I was really excited to try the Houston location. I'm happy to say that the quality did not disappoint! What I love about CHICHA San Chen is that each drink is freshly brewed to order. Rather than preparing large batches of tea ahead of time, the tea is brewed individually when you place your order using their signature tea-press technology. You can really taste the difference--the tea is fragrant, fresh, and flavorful. My absolute favorite is the King Bubble Black Tea with Cream. The combination of the rich black tea, creamy topping, and chewy king pearls is just SO good! I was also pleasantly surprised that the Houston location still offers the Taro Series. The taro drinks are another favorite of mine, and it's wonderful to see that Houston has kept this part of the menu. After visiting CHICHA San Chen in different places, I can honestly say that Houston holds up beautifully. The tea quality, fresh preparation, and overall experience are exactly what I have come to expect from the brand. CHICHA San Chen never fails to deliver! If you're a serious tea or boba lover, this is definitely worth a visit.

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    CHICHA San Chen - Green tea with milk and grass jelly.

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    The Bep Teahouse - R4 and it's super refreshing!

    The Bep Teahouse

    4.1(403 reviews)
    1.5 mi•Chinatown, Alief
    •$$

    I think this might be my second fav tea shop so far. I really love all of the varieties of drinks…read moreand especially the teas. What stands out about their teas is that they use real pieces of fruits in the tea and it makes it taste refreshing. They also have unique flavors like the magical lychee tea. The jellies that use also had good texture and flavor to them. The inside is very decorated to give you a nice cool trendy up to date vibe but also giving you an Asian inspired elements. The service was good too I have no complaints about that.

    This is absolutely ridiculous! Out of the four drinks I purchased, two of them were filled with an…read morecompletely unreasonable amount of ice--approximately 60% ice in one cup and an astonishing 90% ice in the other. The employee's attitude and customer service were even more unacceptable. I purchased four drinks from this store at the same time. I specifically ordered all four drinks with less sugar and regular ice. However, out of the four drinks, two of them had an absurdly excessive amount of ice. One cup was approximately 60% ice, while the other was even worse, with approximately 90% of the cup filled with ice. I understand that I ordered regular ice, but does that really mean an employee can fill almost the entire cup with ice and leave only a tiny amount of actual drink? Regular ice and an excessive amount of ice are two completely different things. What made me even more angry was the employee's attitude. When I questioned the drink that was approximately 90% ice, the employee did not acknowledge the problem or attempt to resolve it. Instead, the employee argued with me and insisted that I was the one who was wrong. Even more absurdly, the employee told me that if I wanted the excessive amount of ice removed, I would have to pay extra! Are you serious? I ordered a drink with regular ice--not a drink that was 90% ice! Why should I have to pay an additional fee just to have an unreasonable amount of ice removed from a drink that I have already paid for? You are running a beverage shop, not an ice shop! I paid for four drinks, not four cups of ice. Even though I clearly requested regular ice, two out of the four drinks were filled with an unreasonable and ridiculous amount of ice. One cup being approximately 60% ice is already unacceptable, but having another cup that is approximately 90% ice is simply outrageous. The worst part of this experience was not just the excessive amount of ice. It was the fact that the employee refused to handle a reasonable customer complaint appropriately and instead chose to argue with me, making me feel as though I had somehow done something wrong. Customers should not have to argue with employees over something as basic as receiving a reasonable amount of actual beverage in a cup. If a beverage shop cannot even provide a reasonable proportion of the product that customers are paying for, then why should customers be expected to return? This experience was extremely disappointing. I was disappointed not only by the ridiculous amount of ice, but also by the employee's unwillingness to listen to a reasonable concern and the unacceptable attitude toward a paying customer. I came here to buy drinks, not to pay for cups of ice! I will seriously reconsider whether I ever want to visit this store again. Management should take this matter seriously and review both the way drinks are being prepared and the way employees are trained to handle customer concerns. Finally, I ended up returning the drink that was approximately 90% ice. What made the situation even more disturbing was that the employee did not throw the returned drink away. Instead, they put it back into the refrigerator/freezer to be sold to another customer later. That is completely unacceptable and raises serious concerns about how returned beverages are being handled and resold.

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    Tea Top - Black milk tea with original foam

    Tea Top

    4.2(322 reviews)
    2.4 mi•Chinatown, Sharpstown
    •$

    There are so many boba places along Bellaire and I personally recognize how expensive of a habit…read morethese sugary drinks can be, so I generally avoid going. But when I'm in town I go out of my way to "eat all the things" to take advantage of being near the Vietnamese community. I decided on trying Tea Top over other -- seemingly indistinguishable boba shops -- simply because this shop participates in the Dining Rewards Program, which allows me to earn airline miles per dollar in addition to my standard credit card points per dollar. I will say, the tea here is very good. They actually sell tea, rather than just sugar water. You can taste it. And for that, I appreciate this place. I tried their Alpine Green Tea with boba. It was good. I came back a second time to try their Wintermelon Alpine Green Milk Tea and thought it was even better! Quality drinks and I can earn additional airline miles per order? I'll be coming back. I also like that their in-store rewards program keys to your credit card so it recognizes your account and you can instantly apply small discounts to future orders every time, or save up your points to get a buck or two off an order when you feel like it.

    My friend said this was his favorite boba place in Chinatown and it did not disappoint…read more Taro milk tea usually sucks with these giant taro chunks, but Tea Top's taro drink was well integrated into the milk tea and went down smooth! Good attention to detail and good drinks.

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    Boba Island - coffee - Updated October 2026

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