Boba Koala

4.5 (33 reviews)

Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies

Closed • 9:00 am - 6:30 pm

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Boba Koala - Thai Milk Tea (Left) and Pineapple Smoothie with Green Apple Popping Pearls (Right) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Boba Koala - Thai Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Andrew T.

A cute little spot with accessible parking off to the side. There's a cute storefront vibe coming in. There's a variety of options to choose from. I can't go wrong with a thai milk tea as a judgment on boba tea places. The thai milk tea was decent and I can see myself getting it again.

John B.

This place is in a fancy complex with limited parking; two spaces are reserved for 15-minute pickups at this place but otherwise you're taking a chance. It is walkable from downtown. The inside is very kitschy Their fruit tea options already include some diced fruit and seeds mixed in, and the option is available to order up to three toppings. Even ordering two was quite excessive. My green apple boba were perhaps the best part of this drink, but the grass jelly I ordered was a single blob of jelly which had to be broken up with the straw; I was expecting a bunch of little jellies but I guess this worked. If I'd gotten a third topping, I don't know that there would have been any space for actual tea. The little fruit bits added some nice flavor and texture. It was an interesting beverage. Only an occasional indulgence for me with the price. If I came back, I'd order differently, but I think I could do well.

Rose E.

I felt compelled to check out this new Boba joint...and honestly, I felt it was time and money wasted. Here's why. I simply asked for their Matcha Milk Tea with Boba. Simple enough? Well, for some odd reason, they added this super-sweet Caramel/Chocolately mix into my tea...which basically diluted the Matcha flavor! Just WAY too sweet...almost sickening! I mean, what happened to my MATCHA Milk Tea? I could barely taste the Matcha! Not sure why it didn't register right away that they got the drink wrong...adding this random flavor into my simply Matcha Milk Tea. But I realized how wrong it was as soon as I took it out of the bar and drank it in my car, already driving away. I wish I stayed put..so that I could just have them redo the drink right. As it was, the place was way farther than I had thought...so never should have bothered. Plus, the place was small, compact, and WAY too busy with one too many TOO-cute, juvenile merchandise. Definitely not my kinda place. So yeah, a total waste for me. Waste of gas...and 7 bucks for a drink I could barely sip. Never again will I return to this "Toyland" version of a tea bar.

Myiah H.

I cant wait to come back. My gripe has NOTHING TO DO with Boba Koala. My gripe: parking! You have to park across the street in a parking spot in the parking deck. You have to pay for an hour, and it's $5.50. So my advise is to combine cars before driving out here. The owner is so sweet here. The store is adorable with plush toys and small containers of baked goods. Perfect for the students on campus. There are also cheeze it's and other traditional candy. Our drinks were the passion fruit tea with rainbow jellies and the Oreo milk tea (with oat milk) and brown sugar jellies. The passion fruit tea is not that sweet, but it's delicious, has real fruit in it and the jellies added sweetness. The Oreo gives a traditional Oreo milkshake flavor, but as a drink. The brown sugar jellies are a great addition in this drink. I believe we paid about $14 for both, so not bad at all. Kinda like the prices of Starbucks drinks. I'd definitely return! I saw on Google that it was Boba Tea Celebration day, or something like that; and I'm glad that I gave this place a try.

Stephanie L.

Okay, first of all.... Why is this place so cute!! I was in the mood for some boba and decided to try this place since I was in the area. Such a cute Cafe, they have so many options it took me a while to decide what I wanted, they also had some snacks and other treat offerings which looked so yummy. The employee was very patient with me and answered all my questions and even offered some recommendations! I went with the Aloe juice with jelly - Passion Fruit flavor and omg it was delicious and refreshing! I also ordered the Pineapple tea refresher (not pictured) for later, I'm sure it will be just as delicious! If you've been considering this place, don't walk - RUN and get you some boba!

Tim B.

wow~ this local family business is giga cute! Tasteful colouring, plenty of snacks, cute plushies, and most importantly yummy refreshments from a kind inviting lady. Two Koala Boba reserved parking spots available and nearby light rail!

I stopped in last week for a treat. I passed the owner while walking to the store but needed to use the bathroom first (down the hall, behind the security desk). I got my order and was walking back to my car and there was a security guard taking a picture of my license plate. I said "what the hell?" while waiving my purchase in my hand. She responded that they have had problems with people parking in the Boba Koala spots all day. I said that I understood that, but the sign says 15 MINUTES and I was only in that spot for 5. We both walked back into the store where the woman who rang me up verified I had purchased something. I felt like a criminal! You can see in the picture it's 15 MINUTES!! I am NEVER going back to a shop that treats PAYING customers like this.

Hailey L.

This boba spot is so underrated! It is so good and the service is great. The inside is very cute and has a bunch of plushies that you can buy as well as snacks. Had to go 2 days in a row because it was that good

Amanda P.

Love this little shop! Can't believe I didn't know it was not only right beside my office.....but they open at 9am!!! I've always wanted morning boba instead of morning coffee and now I can and not only that, but the boba and milk teas are also actually really good!! And very fairly priced!! They also have cute plushies and snacks for sale! Will be coming here lots!

Elizabeth M.

I got the Vietnamese iced coffee and red bean dumplings. Both were great. Staff was very friendly and I love how it's beside the hotel.

Jess M.

Cute interior full of life, love, color, and happiness!!! The mango smoothie I got was refreshing especially with the chunks of mango in my straw! They have a lot of Adorable plush items to purchase! Inside there is seating, it's air conditioned, and just a great local spot to hang and get some quality drinks and snacks! We also got the red bean bao which stayed warm for 30min!!!!

Teryl R.

I love that the shop was right next to my hotel, so I was able to pick it up right as I was checking out. I do believe that they only have one size which was fine with me. The bigger the better. A great amount of boba was used, and it was sweet to my liking. The customer service was sweet, and simple. Prices were fine with me, and might I add since it is right next to a hotel I think that it is dope that part of the shop is like a Convenience shop. If I ever come back to this location I would for back to this shop and try a new flavor.

Jon M.

Overall a pretty good boba spot, nothing super crazy about it. I could say it was the best but I can for sure say it's not the worst I've had. However if you're looking for a quick boba fix in Charlotte and you happen to also need some tooth paste and a toothed brush. Yup, you got it, this is that spot. Boba + convenience store. I would say it's worth a try.

Won't last long because it's that delicious

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Lauren L.

Elite 26

105

58

172

7 months ago

Boba Koala is a great place to drop by while you're in Charlotte. It's located on the Johnson and Wales campus, and is such a cute spot with lots of decorations. There's a large variety of customizable drinks (milk tea, boba, etc) and several well-priced food options (dumplings for $4) The Jasmine Milk Tea was DELICIOUS. It had just the right amount of sweetness. My sister ordered a Strawberry Matcha drink that was just as good! The staff was fast, extremely warm and friendly, and there's a small parking lot next to the building. I'll be coming back! read more

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Brenda V.

0

18

2

4 months ago

There is parking if you go around the corner on w trade street making a right from Johnson and Wales way. The store is very clean and smells amazing. They have so many cute Japanese plushies. We ordered the matcha and boba coffee with boba. Both were delicious. Staff was friendly. read more

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Cyndi K.

Elite 26

40

226

663

1 year ago

Not far from the Charlotte Convention Center, located in the Johnson and Wales University Charlotte campus, Boba Koala offers a variety of drinks and snacks. Fast and friendly staff to help you get your boba fix and be on your way! The store front also offers some cute gifts, plushies as well as convenient items needed for students. Great stop while in the city. read more

Boba Koala - Exterior - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Fruit tea with Boba and fruit bits - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Plushies - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Andrew T.

Elite 26

5

77

130

1 year ago

A cute little spot with accessible parking off to the side. There's a cute storefront vibe coming in. There's a variety of options to choose from. I can't go wrong with a thai milk tea as a judgment on boba tea places. The thai milk tea was decent and I can see myself getting it again. read more

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Yaretzi G.

0

2

0

1 month ago

everything here is delicious and everythings so vibrant! but the server could use a better attitude, ruined my whole experience. left with a good drink though. read more

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John B.

Elite 26 All-Star

540

4918

14891

3 years ago

This place is in a fancy complex with limited parking; two spaces are reserved for 15-minute pickups at this place but otherwise you're taking a chance. It is walkable from downtown. The inside is very kitschy Their fruit tea options already include some diced fruit and seeds mixed in, and the option is available to order up to three toppings. Even ordering two was quite excessive. My green apple boba were perhaps the best part of this drink, but the grass jelly I ordered was a single blob of jelly which had to be broken up with the straw; I was expecting a bunch of little jellies but I guess this worked. If I'd gotten a third topping, I don't know that there would have been any space for actual tea. The little fruit bits added some nice flavor and texture. It was an interesting beverage. Only an occasional indulgence for me with the price. If I came back, I'd order differently, but I think I could do well. read more

Helpful 3

Thanks 0

Love this 3

Oh no 0

Rose E.

Elite 26 All-Star

250

990

6736

3 years ago

I felt compelled to check out this new Boba joint...and honestly, I felt it was time and money wasted. Here's why. I simply asked for their Matcha Milk Tea with Boba. Simple enough? Well, for some odd reason, they added this super-sweet Caramel/Chocolately mix into my tea...which basically diluted the Matcha flavor! Just WAY too sweet...almost sickening! I mean, what happened to my MATCHA Milk Tea? I could barely taste the Matcha! Not sure why it didn't register right away that they got the drink wrong...adding this random flavor into my simply Matcha Milk Tea. But I realized how wrong it was as soon as I took it out of the bar and drank it in my car, already driving away. I wish I stayed put..so that I could just have them redo the drink right. As it was, the place was way farther than I had thought...so never should have bothered. Plus, the place was small, compact, and WAY too busy with one too many TOO-cute, juvenile merchandise. Definitely not my kinda place. So yeah, a total waste for me. Waste of gas...and 7 bucks for a drink I could barely sip. Never again will I return to this "Toyland" version of a tea bar. read more

Boba Koala - I asked for Matcha Milk Tea with Boba...and THIS is what I got! HUH!?! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Helpful 3

Thanks 1

Love this 3

Oh no 2

Myiah H.

Elite 26

106

229

1019

3 years ago

I cant wait to come back. My gripe has NOTHING TO DO with Boba Koala. My gripe: parking! You have to park across the street in a parking spot in the parking deck. You have to pay for an hour, and it's $5.50. So my advise is to combine cars before driving out here. The owner is so sweet here. The store is adorable with plush toys and small containers of baked goods. Perfect for the students on campus. There are also cheeze it's and other traditional candy. Our drinks were the passion fruit tea with rainbow jellies and the Oreo milk tea (with oat milk) and brown sugar jellies. The passion fruit tea is not that sweet, but it's delicious, has real fruit in it and the jellies added sweetness. The Oreo gives a traditional Oreo milkshake flavor, but as a drink. The brown sugar jellies are a great addition in this drink. I believe we paid about $14 for both, so not bad at all. Kinda like the prices of Starbucks drinks. I'd definitely return! I saw on Google that it was Boba Tea Celebration day, or something like that; and I'm glad that I gave this place a try. read more

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Helpful 4

Thanks 3

Love this 4

Oh no 0

Stephanie L.

Elite 26 All-Star

307

289

1474

4 years ago

Okay, first of all.... Why is this place so cute!! I was in the mood for some boba and decided to try this place since I was in the area. Such a cute Cafe, they have so many options it took me a while to decide what I wanted, they also had some snacks and other treat offerings which looked so yummy. The employee was very patient with me and answered all my questions and even offered some recommendations! I went with the Aloe juice with jelly - Passion Fruit flavor and omg it was delicious and refreshing! I also ordered the Pineapple tea refresher (not pictured) for later, I'm sure it will be just as delicious! If you've been considering this place, don't walk - RUN and get you some boba! read more

Boba Koala - Menu! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Yummy.. - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Snacks and cuteness! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Almost missed it! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - How cute! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Passion Fruit Aloe juice with jelly! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Tim B.

38

13

14

3 years ago

wow~ this local family business is giga cute! Tasteful colouring, plenty of snacks, cute plushies, and most importantly yummy refreshments from a kind inviting lady. Two Koala Boba reserved parking spots available and nearby light rail! read more

Boba Koala - Giga cute plushies and snacky snacks! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Bubble Teas: brown sugar, coffee, and thai + (2x) Ca phe sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Andrew M.

1

47

30

2 years ago

I stopped in last week for a treat. I passed the owner while walking to the store but needed to use the bathroom first (down the hall, behind the security desk). I got my order and was walking back to my car and there was a security guard taking a picture of my license plate. I said "what the hell?" while waiving my purchase in my hand. She responded that they have had problems with people parking in the Boba Koala spots all day. I said that I understood that, but the sign says 15 MINUTES and I was only in that spot for 5. We both walked back into the store where the woman who rang me up verified I had purchased something. I felt like a criminal! You can see in the picture it's 15 MINUTES!! I am NEVER going back to a shop that treats PAYING customers like this. read more

Helpful 0

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Hailey L.

134

22

3 years ago

This boba spot is so underrated! It is so good and the service is great. The inside is very cute and has a bunch of plushies that you can buy as well as snacks. Had to go 2 days in a row because it was that good read more

Boba Koala - Matcha and Thai Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Boba Koala - Brown Sugar Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Helpful 0

Thanks 0

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Amanda P.

4

21

9

2 years ago

Love this little shop! Can't believe I didn't know it was not only right beside my office.....but they open at 9am!!! I've always wanted morning boba instead of morning coffee and now I can and not only that, but the boba and milk teas are also actually really good!! And very fairly priced!! They also have cute plushies and snacks for sale! Will be coming here lots! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Elizabeth M.

Elite 24

244

311

1424

3 years ago

I got the Vietnamese iced coffee and red bean dumplings. Both were great. Staff was very friendly and I love how it's beside the hotel. read more

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Jess M.

Elite 26

178

415

561

4 years ago

Cute interior full of life, love, color, and happiness!!! The mango smoothie I got was refreshing especially with the chunks of mango in my straw! They have a lot of Adorable plush items to purchase! Inside there is seating, it's air conditioned, and just a great local spot to hang and get some quality drinks and snacks! We also got the red bean bao which stayed warm for 30min!!!! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

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Rajeev L.

Elite 26

17

319

428

3 years ago

Nice, helpful staff. There's a large variety of drinks to choose from and they are good with suggestions.

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Teryl R.

Elite 26

186

127

401

5 years ago

I love that the shop was right next to my hotel, so I was able to pick it up right as I was checking out. I do believe that they only have one size which was fine with me. The bigger the better. A great amount of boba was used, and it was sweet to my liking. The customer service was sweet, and simple. Prices were fine with me, and might I add since it is right next to a hotel I think that it is dope that part of the shop is like a Convenience shop. If I ever come back to this location I would for back to this shop and try a new flavor. read more

Boba Koala - Thai boba tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Business owner information

Hung N.

Thank you so much for the awesome review and your business. We hope…

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Jon M.

Elite 24

497

158

570

5 years ago

Overall a pretty good boba spot, nothing super crazy about it. I could say it was the best but I can for sure say it's not the worst I've had. However if you're looking for a quick boba fix in Charlotte and you happen to also need some tooth paste and a toothed brush. Yup, you got it, this is that spot. Boba + convenience store. I would say it's worth a try. read more

Business owner information

Hung N.

Thanks for sharing your review and your business. Any suggestions are…

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Vanessa H.

34

89

12

3 years ago

Boba, quick small eats, and plushies. Cute place with good veggie bao, and strong but tasty dragon fruit boba. They made it without extra sugar for me as the rainbow jellies/fruit brought its own sweetness. read more

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Lea R.

0

2

1

4 years ago

Amazingly good boba tea with friendly, quick service. Ordered brown sugar milk tea with half the sugar, and it's sweetened just right. We're so glad we stopped in! read more

Boba Koala - Won't last long because it's that delicious - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Drew J.

82

3

1

3 years ago

Best boba tea! Great service and great snacks. Very quick & friendly customer service :)

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Alaysia S.

0

6

1

2 years ago

My favorite boba spot!! the staff are so friendly and the drinks are fair price!!! the decorations and setting is so cute and just nice to be in!! i always go here when i'm in charlotte read more

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Chastity M.

5

0

4 years ago

Best and nicest place in Charlotte! Cute toys, tasty teas, and kind to people during events

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Olivia M.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Great drinks with lots of selections to choose from, friendly staff, the coffee boba is especially good. If you go to JWU then its the best place nearby for a snack. I recommend the pork boa:) read more

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Libby H.

0

3

1

4 years ago

This place is great! Everyone is very friendly and helpful. I got a matcha milk tea with boba and It was very delicious. The have dairy free milk alternatives so I chose oat milk. Very refreshing read more

Boba Koala - Matcha milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Business owner information

Hung N.

Thank you very much for the awesome review and your business. We hope…

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Rehina L.

98

9

3

4 years ago

Best Boba in Charlotte!! I search cities for the best boba and they are the absolute best!! The boba is a perfect texture and taste!!! They also have amazing pork dumplings and bbq buns!!! I live in Ballantyne and will drive all the way to this location for amazing boba!!! The owners are so adorable and willing to fix it exactly how you like it!!! Love y'all!!! Rehina read more

Business owner information

Hung N.

Thank you very much for your kind review and your business. We hope…

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Karen R.

21

4

7

4 years ago

Best boba we've ever had!!! Love the matcha and brown sugar teas with tapioca good customer service too read more

Boba Koala - Brown sugar tea with tapioca - Bubble Tea Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Kenny R.

0

1

0

3 years ago

Absolutely delicious and have non dairy options too. I got the coconut milk tea and asked if they could blend it and they were so nice and totally did! It came out perfect. Also it feels like walking into a hello kitty vibe and is so cute. This is for sure going to be a regular spot for me now. read more

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Erin C.

0

15

2

3 years ago

Amazing shop! The best boba menu in Charlotte in my opinion. Can't wait to go back and try everything! Drinks and snacks. Also a super cute collection of plushies to fall in love with. Love that there are two reserved parking spots in case you want to swing by while on the road. The staff of super nice and helpful too. Love love love Boba Koala! read more

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Amanda O.

0

9

0

4 years ago

Good boba tea, definitely recommends I got the brown sugar tea, it was a little on the sweeter side but all around very good

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Corey B.

0

2

0

4 years ago

Excellent tasting boba with a wide range of flavors! I love the location and the decorations in the store are so cute.

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Noe R.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Very cute little shop with delicious boba tea! The service was very nice and made the drinks quickly. I had brown sugar milk tea and it was great! Some of the best i've ever had. Also, the shop sells lots of other little things which is very convenient. Great experience and would come back again! read more

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Shaina E.

0

5

0

3 years ago

we come here all the time and the drinks are always tasty! the owners are so friendly! they also have squishmallows, a fridge with snacks, and they also sell hot snacks like pork buns. 100% recommended! we come here at least once a week! read more

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More info about Boba Koala

901 W Trade St
Ste 160
Charlotte, NC 28202
Third Ward, Uptown
Directions
(980) 224-9764
Call Now
Visit Website
http://bobakoalaclt.com

Hours

What time does Boba Koala open?

Boba Koala opens at 9:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Boba Koala opens at 10:00 AM on Friday.Boba Koala opens at 11:00 AM on Saturday.

What time does Boba Koala close?

Boba Koala closes at 6:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Boba Koala closes at 7:00 PM on Saturday.Boba Koala is closed on Sunday.

Mon-Thu 9:00 AM - 6:30 PMFri 10:00 AM - 6:30 PMSat 11:00 AM - 7:00 PMSun Closed

Payment methods

Does Boba Koala take credit cards?

Yes, Boba Koala takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Boba Koala have catering options?

Yes, Boba Koala does have catering options.

Does Boba Koala have a drive thru?

No, Boba Koala does not have a drive thru.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Boba Koala have bike parking?

Yes, Boba Koala has bike parking.

Does Boba Koala have outdoor seating?

Yes, Boba Koala has outdoor seating options.

Does Boba Koala have parking?

Yes, Boba Koala has parking options.

Other Amenities

Is Boba Koala wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Boba Koala is wheelchair accessible.

Does Boba Koala have free WiFi?

No, Boba Koala does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

At Boba Koala, we take pride in creating the freshest and tastiest Taiwanese Milk Teas and Bubble Teas of all flavors imaginable.

More Info

Health Score

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Thousand Hills Coffee

Love their coffee flavors. I also appreciate that it's homemade syrups. It does get busy often but…read morethe staff moves the line quickly.

Came by on Sunday, it was pretty busy but I love the matcha here! So delicious and worth every…read morepenny. Dylan and Avery were so sweet and kind, we instantly felt like best friends!

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Qahwah House

4.9

(53 reviews)

2.4 mi

Qahwah House was such a cool coffee shop! As a history and coffee nerd, I can honestly say that I…read morethink that this was the first time that a coffee shop made me smarter. That's because they had a huge map outlining the historical trade routes that coffee beans were transported on, as well as an homage to some of the patrons of coffee cultivation. They backed up these historical displays with great customer service, a solid cup of coffee, and a truly mesmerizing ambiance. I've been to so many coffee shops in my life, and Qahwah House was the first time, if not ever, then definitely in a long time, that I felt like I experienced something unique. I loved it. Overall, I loved Qahwah House, and I'll assuredly be back as soon as I can. I'd also recommend it to anybody looking for something new to experience!

Really liked this place and would definitely recommend it. The Yemeni honeycomb pastry was…read moredelicious, served warm with honey drizzled on top. I also tried the Spanish iced coffee with condensed milk, and I'd come back just for that coffee. It was smooth and felt good quality coffee, absolutely worth ordering. The refresher was good too, though a little on the sweeter side. Gabriel did an excellent job explaining the menu and provided friendly, genuine service. The ambiance is cozy, with nice décor and Yemeni touches around the dining area.

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CocoBean Coffee

4.6

(25 reviews)

7.9 mi

I stopped by this coffee shop expecting caffeine, and instead got... an experience? The coffee was…read moresomehow both exactly what I needed and not at all what I thought I ordered. It tasted like focus, with subtle notes of questioning my life choices--in a good way. The atmosphere felt like a place where time either slows down or speeds up depending on how long you stare at your cup. The barista seemed to understand my order before I said it, which was comforting and mildly unsettling. I left more awake than when I arrived, but not entirely sure if it was because of the coffee or the existential clarity it provided. Either way, I'll definitely be back, unless I already am.

Kept seeing this place pop up on yelp for Matcha so me and the wife decided to stop in. Man were…read morewe happy to try this place out. The staff was friendly and the place was small and cozy. We ordered an Ube Matcha and a Banana Pudding Matcha. Man and it didn't disappoint. The matcha flavor were stronger than most place but blend very well with the sweetness. The milk and ice cream gave it a smooth texture, which makes drinking it very pleasurable. They also have Vietnamese banh mi and egg waffle. The matcha menu consist of at least 10 different drink. If you like Matcha definitely come here and get a drink

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Outside

Banana Pudding Matcha

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Outside in Strip Mall

The Grounds Bookstore and Cafe

Love this place!!! Decided to meet up with a friend for coffee (well tea for me) and she suggested…read morethis place as 'the perfect spot'. And it was. I read through some of the other reviews and I want to set the record straight. Yes, it's inside a church but there is a separate entrance. Yes, there are Christian books but also other genres. Yes, the coffee is very affordable BECAUSE all the staff are volunteers. No one is getting paid and they LOVE what they do. All smiles and great service. The proceeds go to local and global missions of the church. Win, win all the way around. The place itself is very spacious. Two levels. The seating areas are comfortable and far enough apart you can have some semiprivacy if you need it. My friend who brought me says she comes here all the time to study (she's in college). All of the staff knew her by name. (love places like that) I'm not a coffee drinker so I can't really speak to the coffee (although my friend says it's pretty good). I am a tea drinker though and they have a variety of flavors, some refresher juice drinks, a few pastries. Please support. Every now and again if you're thinking of getting coffee or a pastry, choose them. Why not? Do some good for the community through others who are committed to giving back.

I love this place! This is my go to spot to grab a comfy place to sit get my work done in peace and…read moregrab a delicious blueberry Matcha. Hidden gem!

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Littl Madeleine

4.8

(100 reviews)

12.3 mi

Really great, local café that I will absolutely be adding to my regular coffee shop + bakery…read morerotation. Plentiful parking out front. Good amount of seating inside (mostly 2-seaters; one larger table reserved for bigger groups). Helpful and friendly staff who were amazing with my little one. You have to try a slice of the basque cheesecake. The plain slice (with no whipped cream or fruit topping) is not overly sweet and the perfect amount of "burnt" & creamy. We also tried the madeleines, which - as the café's name suggests - were on point. And the garlic bagel is a garlic + cream cheese lover's dream. The iced dalgona latte was such a treat. Sweet with a creamy foam and topped with crunchy cookies - very well balanced and delightful to drink. The prices reflect the care and high quality of the products. Come support this amazing local spot and enjoy their unique, thoughtful offerings!

I brought my daughter to Littl Madeleine's for breakfast, and we had a really nice experience. I…read morehad the most beautiful lavender blue matcha, and my daughter enjoyed the honey passion fruit ade. She got their garlic bagel--the only type of bagel they offer - and it was generously stuffed with delicious, aromatic garlic. She enjoyed it! The café is decorated charmingly, with little Madeleine cookie designs stamped throughout the space. They have a small section with some gift items for sale. They also sell Madeleine cookies, of course, though we didn't get any. The service was given with genuine smiles. The prices were normal - not a deal but not over-the-top. We enjoyed our breakfast and will happily come back!

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Inside

Basque Cheesecakes

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Lottie's Cafe

4.4

(106 reviews)

0.8 mi

Staff was very friendly and the service was fire, place is lit. Latte's and matcha were really good…read moreand the food was also splendid. It's also women owned!!! Shoutout women

TLDR: Cafe vibes that are good for if you are planning on hanging out in the cafe, bad if you are…read moretrying to get your food and go. The atmosphere was nice, it has the "work on your laptop or catch up with friends" cafe vibe. Somewhere you can hang for several hours and sip and coffee as you work/talk. I don't think I was the target demographic for this cafe sadly. I ordered a BE&C on a bagel. I originally had planned to go to a more "bagel-focused" shop, but they were closed. That's where I feel I was not the target demographic; I was looking to just order a bagel on my morning commute. I should have noticed the atmosphere/vibe of the cafe and realized that this was not going to be fast. It ended up taking over 30 minutes from the time I paid to the time I got my food (genuinely, I looked at the time my credit card was swiped and compared it to the time it was when I got my food). Now, I will say, if I had ordered coffee and brought a book, the wait probably wouldn't have been too much of a bother. The staff was really friendly, and the bathrooms were also very clean! The bagel was not my favorite bagel, but it was on par for a non-bagel-focused coffee shop. It wasn't bad by any means, but I would not order it if you were wanting "real" bagel. Edit: owner made a good point regarding the wait and was correct that I did not notice the disclaimer regarding the wait! I updated the rating to reflect my newer perspective.

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Shrimp and Grits (coming soon)

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Biscoff latte

Vavela Cafe

Was visiting family during Memorial Day weekend, and we met up with a friend in town at this lovely…read moreTurkish Cafe in the university area of Charlotte, NC. Loved the vibe and the decor. It's a very happening spot for young and old, families and friends, people looking to work, and others just there to chill and relax. The line was out the door for the duration of my time there, but do not let that deter you. They have ample space to handle the crowd and it's well staffed with people constantly walking around helping and answering questions. Service is fast and everyone is so nice. They have a variety of seating arrangements which makes it great for large or small groups. This may sound like a lot is going on, and it is...but at the same time it's very relaxing and chill. You place your order at the counter and I'm telling you, they have a great variety to choose from. My party shared some chicken flatbread, a Caprese style appetizer(not its name), and sweet potato cheesecake. Whe all enjoyed some coffee made to order for our liking. We even ordered some pistachio and dubai chocolate desserts to go. Everything was superb! We sat and talked for hours and just soaked in the environment. I had such a great experience and I'm really looking forward to dining here again.

This is my "GO-TO" spot whenever I'm entertaining out of town guests or just a meetup with local…read morefriends. I've been for morning coffee when it's not as busy and late at night weekends during it's busiest times. Finding a parking space is challenging, especially on weekends. But once you step inside Vavela's you forget all about that because the vibe catches you instantly. The music, upbeat yet relaxing, transports you to another place and time. As soon as the doors open it's impressive! Seating is welcoming and abundant, be it at a table, on sofas or a grouping of comfortable chairs. When you walk up to the counter to order they have all of their drinks and deserts chilling and on display. And there are a lot of them! I don't know if they are made from scratch or premade, but I've had about 6 different kinds and each one was better than the next. All delicious! On my last visit we got our coffees, shared chicken flatbread, a tomatoe/cheese appetizer and sweet potato cheesecake and EVERYTHING was delicious!!!! They always have a lot of servers and they bring your order to your table. Because it stays busy I notice they have to constantly be on top of cleaning the tables and floors and often people will grab a seat before the staff has a chance to clean the area. But they overall do a good job staying on top of it. I highly recommend Vavela for a group meeting, or if alone, bring your laptop, your studies and get some work done while grabbing a bite to eat...and a Latte.

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Cozy seating area.

Matcha with oatmilk, vanilla and honey and key lime pie.

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Yummy pastries before you order

Midwood Smokehouse

Excellent BBQ. We had the well fed combo plate with chopped pork, beef brisket, pork ribs and…read morejalapeño cheddar sausage. Ribs were tender and fall off the bone. Brisket was moist with beautiful smoke ring. The restaurant was clean and the staff was very friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back when I am in the neighborhood

Went to Charlotte for work and heard so many amazing things about Midwood Smokehouse, so I had to…read moregrab a solo lunch to start my trip off right and I'm so glad I did! I ordered the burnt ends and brisket, and both were absolutely delicious. The burnt ends were rich, flavorful, and had that perfect smoky BBQ taste, while the brisket was tender and cooked beautifully. Definitely a spot I'd come back to next time I'm in Charlotte!

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maman

I picked up a Too Good to Go bag from Maman. Pickup was easy--I just waited in the regular line and…read morethe girl at the cash register pulled the items for my bag. I received a chocolate chip cookie, a pistachio croissant, and a strawberry filled croissant muffin. The cookie was overloaded with chocolate chunks. It was good but I wouldn't order again because it was too chocolatey. The pistachio croissant was amazing. Would definitely order again. The strawberry croissant muffin had too much strawberry filling inside so just not for me. I enjoyed the croissant part but not the filling. All items were fresh so I was happy with the bag. I heated everything up before I ate it but other reviewers said the cafe doesn't heat up the pastries for dine in customers. I would have a problem with that because everything was better warmed up. There is a fair amount of parallel street parking nearby for 10 minute pickups. You can also park in the attached parking deck. I think the first 15 minutes are free. Not sure if Maman validates but I hope they do!

Gorgeous inside, incredible staff & to die for food. 10/10 would recommend when in Charlotte. *they…read morealso have outdoor seating* I would say this place gets pretty busy, so while you're waiting in line you can check out the menu and pick what you want. The line did more quicker than I expected. We will definitely be back to try more.

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More seating down this hallway in the back room.

Andrea's smoked salmon croissant sandwich*

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Bella's ham & cheese croissant sandwich

Biscuit Belly - Charlotte

Locally owned & operated

Family-owned & operated

Amazing place!!!! Definitely returning!…read more Food 5 stars Customer service 5 stars Super clean establishment. Food was outstanding. Employees were very upbeat, friendly and genuinely happy to be there. Not used to that, but I'll take it! We ordered the following: Loaded breakfast tots - yummy goodness Smokeshow- amazingly Flavorful and delicious. Almost decadent. Short stack pancakes - very good No complaints

Really disappointed with this restaurant. The fundamental issue is that I thought the biscuits were…read moretoo dense and not light and fluffy like I prefer. The entire meal was disappointing. I know I made it look very pretty in my photos, but don't be fooled. Here is the complete review. We found the green tomatoes bland and appeared to have been frozen before being prepared. The "Gravy Train" with the mini biscuit was inedible. The gravy itself was OK. Nothing special, not one of the three were "great." But the mini biscuits were terrible, hard, dense chunks of dough. I ate one of them and discarded the rest. The "Chicken Ditch the Waffle" was equally terrible. Whatever they did to turn the biscuit into "fake" French toast is a 100% fail. They were as dense and unappealing as the mini biscuits. The chicken itself was fine. If I was only rating the chicken I'd probably give it a 3.5. The best dish was actually the "GOAT." It was served with a Standard biscuit which we thought was still too dense and dry. I recommend finding an independent restaurant that serves real, "from scratch" food. I should point out that the service crew in the dining room who delivered the food as well as provided cleanup and assistance, were exceptional. They were friendly, courteous, and focused on customer service. I'm sure they deserve more than they are being paid. It was obvious many of them were spanish-speaking immigrants. Not everyone in the restaurant treated them with the respect and gratitude they deserve. Here's the detail of our order from their menu. GRAVY TRAIN mini biscuits with samples of our gravies: sausage, mushroom, and smoked gouda mornay 9.25 FRIED GREEN TOMATOES O hand-breaded and served with ranch or pimento cheese (+1) 8.5 CHICK 'N DITCH THE WAFFLE we've ditched the waffle and replaced it with our biscuit-style french toast with a buttermilk fried chicken breast and Mike's Hot Honey 13.25 THE G.O.A.T. buttermilk fried chicken breast, sweet pepper jelly, goat cheese 12.25 DARK & SPICY BLOODY MARY poblano-tomato mix, vodka, garnish 11.25 (Overpriced and underwhelming)

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Nathan S.

0

1

0

4 years ago

I don't write a lot of reviews but I feel like I have to write one because of something I witnessed and was amazed by the staffs at Boba Koala. I have been going to Boba Koala for a few weeks now and really loved my experience here: great selection of Boba Drinks and top notch customer service. The managers/staffs are always kind and very patient. Couple weeks ago, I came to get my boba drink as usual, there was a young lady customer who suddenly turned very pale and was about to pass out while she waited for her drink to be made. The staff and one other customers were really worried for this young lady and called 911, the medic crews came but had trouble locating the store so the staff asked the other customer to stay and take care of the young lady while he left his business and went outside to help direct the ambulance to the store quickly. The staff also made sure to give one of the medic crew members the young lady her order and cleaned up the big mess on the floor afterward. I was amazed by the staff effort and his patience. With all that and he still managed to get my order done within the reasonable wait time. That is called "going an extra mile". I highly recommend this business. read more

Maria N.

0

1

0

4 years ago

My friends kept telling me to go try Boba Koala uptown so I went. What a great experience I had at Boba Koala!!! best Tapioca Bobas I have tried so far. My favorite drinks here is the Brown Sugar Milk Tea with tapioca boba and Taro Milk Tea with extra bobas :). They also have a good variety of fruit teas, slushies, aloe juices and many more. They are also have some quick bite food items in case you are hungry. Staffs here are extremely friendly and very helpful. I will definitely come back again!!! read more

Brandon P.

0

10

2

4 years ago

Very rude staff, overpriced drinks. You might as well go to Sharetea or Uptown's tea fusion. Bought a regular boba tea from this place that's $10, without anything else added to it, just milk tea and boba. I got the same Zoe's boba milk tea at Tea fusion for a little over $5, huge difference. Either way, the rip off wasn't what got to me, it's how the staff dismissed me and some other people from what I've seen, l'm not going to keep trying to grab your attention. read more

Tony C.

0

3

0

4 years ago

The store is inconsiderate and opens/closes at whatever time they please, despite their hours of business labeled on their door. It says they're open 9am Monday-Friday, they are sometimes open, other times they don't open until 11am. Also, you often have to get their attention when you walk into the store or prepare to be ignored for an hour like how my friends and I were ignored for an hour. read more

Stacee P.

0

4

1

2 years ago

The drinks are super delicious and fresh. The couple is super sweet and helpful, a small shop with a lot of options and flavors. Also have small bites as well! read more

Boba Koala - bubbletea - Updated July 2026

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Biscuit Belly - Charlotte

5 Boba Koala reviews that are not currently recommended

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

5 reviews that are not currently recommended

Boba Koala - bubbletea - Updated July 2026

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