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    Boba Life

    4.3 (38 reviews)
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    The menu doesn't include drink sizes or prices
    Angelina C.

    I had a feeling recently that I should give this place another try. I'm glad I came in again. The shop has made a lot of changes since I last visited, including updating their menu to include clear pricing, and changing the size of their drinks to a more standard boba drink size (16 oz). Their sealer is also working well now- I didn't have any issues with my drink leaking. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also included a new mural on their wall, some live plants, and lots of new lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This time, I ordered a simple mango green tea with aloe vera as the topping. I enjoyed the tea- it wasn't too sweet, and it was fresh. The drink was $6 and the extra topping was $1. Their prices are more similar to other shops now. I got to speak with the owner this time as well, and she is super personable. She said she makes fresh boba about every three hours and she brews tea everyday. She also mentioned that when she makes Thai tea, she steeps it for 24 hours. I can tell they've put a lot of time and effort into their business. I'm glad I tried it again.

    Glenn M.

    As a boba connoisseur, I was stoked to see La Mesa Blvd finally get a boba shop! I went in early December to check it out, and although there were a few sparse menu offerings, it was okay. The service was top-notch, especially from the owner who served me, but I'll give them a few more months to spruce up the menu. My go-to is usually a Taro smoothie or tea, but this particular tea did not feel as original--original in my eyes, there are no hints of made from syrup or was not made from powder. The boba was overcooked, but it might get better with time. They need a few tweaks to get the flavor and consistency right. In the meantime, I'll come back and will continue to support this small local business! As of this writing in the winter, I'm sure they will be up and running on all cylinders by summer

    Suite front
    Emmett T.

    Boba Life has opened in the historic area of downtown La Mesa. The presence of this business was not prominent with only a small window sign and a placard on the sidewalk. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor inside the suite was also minimal with bare walls and a few round tables with chairs. It made the ambiance very industrial and not inviting to hang around.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A menu board hung on the wall behind the service counter. Milk teas, fruit teas, regular teas, and slushies were the drink categories. Based on some early feedback, it appeared that prices have been adjusted to $6 for each of the teas. Toppings cost $1 apiece. Of the four fruit teas, I chose the Mango variety with boba added. A few moments later, a plastic sealed 16 oz cup was handed to me. The fruit flavor was strong but not so much for the tea. Maybe it's because there are no other alternatives nearby, but I found it difficult to believe all of the highly rated reviews. I rounded my rating up to three stars as there was lots of room for improvement at Boba Life.

    Nilofar M.

    Had the best boba ever here! Stopped by because I was craving some boba. I was helped by Darav and the owner Chrissy who were both so helpful and sweet. I love matcha and they had an option to get a matcha drink with boba! Darav told me about a new drink she was making (matcha, honey, and strawberry) and I couldn't resist! I added normal boba. It was the perfect drink! I can't wait to come back and try other flavors! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance inside was nice too, the store itself is so cute.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great addition to La Mesa!

    Cup size
    Yuo W.

    So... was super excited to see that they were open since they had been trying to open up for a couple of years now. There aren't any immediate locations in The Village that have Boba Milk Tea. They are still working on the decor and bathroom was not available yet. Seemed more like they were just trying to get open in time for Oktoberfest. Came in and got a Taro Milk Tea with Boba. We asked for half sweetener and half ice. It took a min to get the order placed and then for the milk tea to be made. We were fine since we know they just opened and are getting this up and running. When we came back for the tea, I was a bit shocked!! The milk tea was in the smallest cup I had ever seen. Especially since we had just paid $8 for this tea and then tipped them the rest of the $10. Yikes!!! After trying the tea, it tasted good, the boba had a good texture but not enough tea or boba for that price. I just want to make it clear that I am Taiwanese and very familiar with milk tea. I have been to many well established and known cafes that have a ton of other toppings and flavors and have never paid that kind of price. Even if they were charging Oktoberfest pricing, it was unreasonable. I even stepped outside to the Asian vendor selling a LARGE taro boba milk tea for $8 which was at least twice the amount that we got. Unless they figure out their pricing or get much larger cups, we unfortunately will not be back and will not recommend others to come. I hope that they can take a look at their menu again and hope that I can update my review.

    Packaging's so cute!
    Shezal B.

    I don't know why there are some really negative reviews on here - just got two milk teas (one with whole milk, one with oat - love that they have the oat milk option bc not all boba shops do!) and both are so delicious. I asked for half sweet and they have the perfect amount of sweetness. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is so cute, and has a dog bowl laid out too which I always love.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will be back soon!

    Left: Large Jasmine milk tea with boba and light ice Right: Large Assam milk tea with boba and light ice

    The workers were suuuper nice and kind. The drinks were very good and boba was fresh. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside was very pretty and decorations were very cool.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Shout to the tiny cactus on the receipt printer![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Thai Tea and Boba!
    Ebbie D.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Such an adorable location, Brooke and Christina were a joy and the service was quick and accurate![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't go wrong with the Thai Tea if you need a sweet treat.

    taro, milk tea, and thai

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not only was our drinks absolutely delicious but the ambiance was amazing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We bought taro, milk tea, and thai. Alllll was out of this world. 10/10

    Tai and milk tea
    Tara S.

    Yum! Boba in the village! We ordered the tai tea and a milk tea with boba! Both were so good! The lady in the front was super nice and had great customer service!

    Super authentic tasting! Had their milk tea too and it's reallly good. Found my new go to spot!

    Suzy C.

    So excited to have boba in downtown La Mesa!! I had the Chamango Slushie and it was delicious! My mom had the jasmine green tea and she loved it as well. The prices are actually cheaper than most boba places as well. I will definitely be back!

    Taro Milk Tea

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    Review Insights

    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Helpful 39
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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Great service and delicious drinks! My personal favorites are the strawberry fruit tea and peach fruit tea. My new favorite local boba spot!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    She accidentally made the wrong order, but remade it free of charge! Let me keep both

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Found this gem while visiting, the drinks are tasty and the customer service was AMAZING! Will definitely visit again!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Really recommend this new family owned boba shop. The drinks were amazing and everything is freshly made:)

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    The Thai Tea is so yummy! Love the fact that it is so close to my work and quick service.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    We've tried their Thai tea and Taro tea with boba, and it's been delicious every time! Will be coming back!

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    1 year ago

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    Sayaka Tea

    Sayaka Tea

    4.4
    (96 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Top tier! We've had…read moreboba and drinks from LA and all through San Diego. We love a nice treat after church. This place is set apart The drinks are perfect, The Oreo is actually really good. My go to is the Thai tea, but now I'm conflicted as the manganada is probably my new favorite! Pricey but once in a while it's ok.

    3-4 stars. I wouldn't say it's particularly charming as the interior was quite dark and the front…read moreof the space was riddled with AI posters of drinks. Compared to the name of the spot, the interior felt like it belonged to a night time sushi spot. I'm not sure if they are allowed to repaint the interior, but changing the black/dark blue walls to something more bright would open up the space a little more-- it is a small place, but felt even smaller with the design choice. The menu was organized, but it seems like they were out of a few items in the morning as they didn't have mini pearls--only regular. And for some reason, you couldn't change the sweetness level on the drink...or maybe it just related to the drink I chose? Not sure, it was my first time there. The worker was nice & patient. Although for not having many people in the shop, I hope they could take the time to perfect their boba. It was VERY clumpy and not good-- texturally and taste wise. It didn't have that rich brown sugar taste and it was very gooey and chewy (not in a good way). They did give a good amount of boba, but I feel most people would toss it out because of the bad quality. Which would be a waste of money. To drink, I chose the Hokkaido Milk Tea with Pearls. I wanted to do 50 or 75% sweet but I guess since this is a caramel noted milk tea, it isn't possible. I think the tea was ok. I would order something else next time. My friend had the Okinawa Milk Tea with Pearls, I'm unsure if they asked for a certain sweetness level or not. They said the tea was good, but the pearls weren't good. Something to note, I charged the drinks on my card and rather than saying Sayaka Tea, it said Sharetea...interesting. I wonder if they rebranded themselves or ?? Each drinks were around ~$7-8 ish! I'll give them another try, I hope the boba will be better the next time around and I'll be allowed to change the sweetness. If not, I'll be heading a little further down the street as this tea spot may not be for me!

    Photos
    Hawaiian fruit tea with lychee jelly
    Hawaiian fruit tea with lychee jelly
    Sayaka Tea
    Sayaka Tea

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    A Tea 7

    A Tea 7

    4.6
    (229 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Service is amazing! The baristas are super sweet and accommodating! The drinks are always great!!read more

    A Tea 7 has a really extensive menu, which was the first thing that stood out to me. They have a…read moreSpecialteas section where every drink comes in one preset size (large) with the toppings already picked out. There's also a Limited Series, a coffee series, plus all the classic milk teas, fruit teas, and milk based drinks. You still have all the usual customization options for sugar, ice, and toppings. The staff was warm and welcoming from the moment I walked in. Parking was another pleasant surprise. I originally drove past thinking I'd have to search for street parking, but they actually have a shared lot. It made stopping in a lot easier than I expected. I ordered the On Cloud 9, which is a jasmine green milk tea with cheese foam and brown sugar boba. The drink itself was enjoyable. The jasmine wasn't overpowering, which let the cheese foam stand out without completely taking over the drink. I also liked that the sweetness of the brown sugar boba balanced the slight saltiness from the foam. Flavor-wise, I'd say it held its own against other boba shops in San Diego. The only thing that held it back was the boba. It had almost no chew left. Instead of adding texture, it kind of disappeared after one bite because it was so soft. Boba is one of those toppings that can completely change a drink. Even with that, I'd still come back. The menu has way too many interesting drinks to judge the shop off one order. If the boba had been fresher, this easily could've been one of those drinks I'd order again. I think next time I'd branch out and try something from their Limited Series instead.

    Photos
    Lotus milk tea & On Cloud9
    Lotus milk tea & On Cloud9
    Beautiful and interesting new years nod.
    Beautiful and interesting new years nod.
    Oolong milk tea with boba

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    Oolong milk tea with boba
    Trinitea Tea

    Trinitea Tea

    4.2
    (501 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    Some boba places (in rancho specifically) have great reviews and I'm not sure how, because they…read moredon't have the quality nor the customer service. Now, Trinitea is a place that truly deserves 5 stars. Between the quality of their tea (not watered down like many places tend to be) and their great customer service (issues are resolved quickly and with grace). This is our new favorite spot

    I arrived at Trinitea Tea right when they opened to get some work done on my laptop. There was…read morealready a pair of customers at the register, so I used the restroom before ordering and settling in. The restroom was fairly clean and spacious. Afterward, I was greeted by the employee and ordered a taro milk tea with honey boba. I've been to this location a few times before and have always liked the chewiness and sweetness of their boba. I figured coming right at opening would mean I'd get the freshest batch, but that wasn't the case this time. The boba was mushy and not bouncy at all. It felt like it had been sitting for a while, possibly from the night before and kept warm. Considering boba is an extra $0.75, it was disappointing and didn't feel worth the add-on. Taro milk tea ($4.59 + 0.75 for boba) The milk tea itself was standard. It tasted like a typical taro milk tea made from a powdered mix. There were still some powder clumps at the bottom, but it wasn't a huge deal. A quick stir helped, and the flavor itself was fine. Service and ambiance The employee was very kind, and the ordering process was quick and smooth. I got my drink pretty fast. There's free WiFi, plenty of open tables, and outlets at some of them, which makes it a good spot to work or stay for a while. Music was playing overhead, but at a level where it was not distracting.

    Photos
    Counter
    Counter
    Royal Milk Tea w/ honey boba & Thai Tea w/honey boba & rainbow jelly
    Royal Milk Tea w/ honey boba & Thai Tea w/honey boba & rainbow jelly
    Taro milk tea

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    Taro milk tea
    Daboba

    Daboba

    4.5
    (202 reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$

    I love it here. The inside is so quaint! They make the most of the space they have. It smells…read moredelish inside. They offer roasted brown sugar boba, milk teas, coffees fruit teas, smoothies and yogurt series bobas. Everything I've tried is delish and I've tried at least one menu item in each category. You can't go wrong! Shhhhh... I think it's my fave boba spot in Santee! Stop in!

    FYI, if you order the Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk with sugar-free sweetness, you're essentially…read morejust ordering a cup of milk. I was really disappointed when I got my drink because there was absolutely no tea flavor, just a big cup of sweet milk (see photo). I ended up ordering another drink because I didn't come here to drink a glass of milk, but the woman at the counter wouldn't let me swap the drink out at no charge. She wasn't rude, but she also wasn't particularly empathetic or apologetic about the situation. I had to pay for an entirely new drink, which also wasn't made at the 25% sugar level I had originally requested. I ended up throwing the milk drink away. :( That said, the new drink brown sugar Pearl milk tea was much closer to what I wanted, and the boba pearls had a great texture and came in a good portion. I just wish the first drink had been explained better and that there had been some willingness to replace it, since I definitely wasn't expecting to receive an entire cup of milk instead of a milk tea. The ambiance of the place is cute.

    Photos
    Strawberry smoothie with brown sugar pearls, Thai tea with honey pearls and Taro smoothie with brown sugar pearls. So yummy!!!
    Strawberry smoothie with brown sugar pearls, Thai tea with honey pearls and Taro smoothie with brown sugar pearls. So yummy!!!
    Mango Kumquat Green Tea
    Mango Kumquat Green Tea
    Strawberry Yogurt with Boba and Creme Brulee

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    Strawberry Yogurt with Boba and Creme Brulee

    Boba Life - bubbletea - Updated August 2026

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