Taco Tuesday $12.50 for the three chicken street tacos. very fresh. worth the trip. Sad they didn't accept cash even refused cash tips. very different. i am staying to try their orange drink that is like a creamsicle they say and honey walnut shrimp burger. say what? read more

Bopomofo Cafe - honey walnut burger... - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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On my most recent visit, I placed an online order scheduled for 12:00 PM. I arrived on time, but stood at the front for 7 minutes before being acknowledged, even with a simple greeting. During that time, I could clearly see my completed order sitting on the pick-up counter. Employees passed by or chatted without checking on customers waiting at the counter. Ultimately, I received my food 10 minutes late, even though it had been sitting ready for most of that time. To top it off, when I got home, the extra sauce I paid for via the app was missing. While I should have checked the bag before leaving, the overall delay and lack of attention made for a frustrating experience. Suggestion for management: Implementing a designated self-serve rack for online pick-ups, like many other chains do, would streamline the process significantly. It would get customers out the door faster and take pressure off staff when they are busy. Note: I actually like the food here, I just dread knowing no matter what I do the service won't be good. I've visited this location multiple times, and unfortunately, the service consistency remains hit-or-miss. read more

Really disappointing experience. I walked in at 8:05 PM on a Sunday specifically to order food, either a chicken sandwich or popcorn chicken. Their posted closing time is 9 PM, but the cashier told me the kitchen was already closed. If the kitchen closes almost an hour before the actual store closes, that should be clearly posted somewhere so people know before making the trip. I understand stopping food service before closing, but 55 minutes early with no notice is pretty unreasonable. read more

Tried Bopomofo for the first time! The cafe is super spacious with lots of seating, & I noticed a lot of people getting work done there. The music isn't too loud either, so it seems like a nice spot to study or hang out. Service was great! Everyone was fast & attentive, which I really appreciated. The cashier also answered all of our questions without hesitation & was super helpful. We ordered the Churro Thai Tea, Strawberry Lychee Breeze, & Lychee Pear Blossom Bopo Pops. Unfortunately, every item we ordered was a bit of a letdown. The Churro Thai Tea tasted watered down even though I ordered it with light ice, & the cinnamon flavor was so overpowering that I could barely taste the Thai tea. The Strawberry Lychee Breeze didn't have much flavor either, so I ended up adding some peach syrup from home to give it more flavor. The Lychee Pear Blossom Bopo Pops had a really strong floral taste that was a little too fragrant for me. Maybe it was just the drinks we chose, so I'd be open to coming back & trying something different next time. The space & service were definitely the highlights of my visit! read more

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I've been here a few times and enjoy their drinks. They have a few unique ones with corn and seasonal flavors as well. Their spicy popcorn chicken is so yummy! The chicken is juicy and has lots of flavor and just the right amount of spice. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Good variety of drink options that are decently priced. They also have cool seasonal drinks! Plenty of indoor seating for those wanting to sit and chat or study! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been to Bopomofo Cafe twice now, and both times it was specifically for the Taiwanese popcorn chicken. I get cravings for it, and it's surprisingly hard to find that true Taiwanese popcorn chicken flavor in San Diego, but Bopomofo does a pretty good job. You can choose between dark or white meat. The dark meat chicken is juicy and flavorful, with a perfectly crispy coating. You can really taste the white pepper and Thai basil, which is exactly what I'm looking for when I'm craving Taiwanese popcorn chicken. My only complaint is the price. It's around $13 for what feels like maybe a cup of chicken, which is a little crazy for the portion size. But...when the craving hits, it definitely hits the spot! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Bopomofo Cafe is located in the same parking lot as the Costco and Target. Because it's smack dab in the middle, parking isn't too terrible. The cafe serves both drinks and food. However, we just came for a matcha. At this point, there are few matchas in San Diego I haven't tried. I'm constantly scouring and it's easy to rate a good one from a bad one. For me, it's about the matcha presence- does the deep and rich matcha flavor come through or is the milk or flavoring overpowering? The color is often a quick indicator. I ended up getting the matcha with sesame, which seems to be a seasonal item not always on the permanent menu. They went HEAVY on the sesame. It was so thick and pasty that it was pretty overpoweringly filling the straw in deep globs. The matcha itself was okay. Not my favorite, but still in the category of good. I think the bonus here is that they serve food so that if you'd like that option, it's available. read more

I appreciate that they use lactose-free milk AND no upcharge for oatmilk. I got the black sesame matcha latte with 25% sweetness and it was perfect! I love it hot vs cold. I've also tried the ba-la (guava) matcha and it's so delicious--tastes just like guava. I wish there were more seating options with outlets, it would be a great place to work or study! read more

The interior of Bopomofo was simple and clean. There was an abundance of parking in the front, and one could place an online order if needed. My group tried an assortment of items today, family-style. 4/5 Mapo Tofu Tots: This was pretty unique, a fusion of two worlds - eastern (mapo tofu) and western (tots and cheese). I personally did not care for the cheese, but the mapo tofu was quite tasty, a mild flavor not yet reaching a spicy level where I'd guzzle water. Others in my group favored this item amongst the 3 we tried, while I thought it was okay. 4.5/5 Scallion pancake with popcorn chicken, egg, and cheese. The scallion pancake was light, flaky, and layered, pretty authentic in flavor. It's probably my own bias, but I was also not a fan of the cheese in this dish, though it had a melty consistency others might like. They provided an umami sweet sauce to add. 4/5 Pineapple bun with popcorn chicken. This was a unique take on how one could combine snackable Chinese/Taiwanese food. The Pineapple Bun was somewhat sweet and buttery, tasty on its own, but raised question marks for me. It was an unexpected combo with the savory popcorn chicken. The chicken was crispy and we ordered it mild. 5/5 Strawberry Basil Lemonade: This drink was on the sweeter side at 100%, but very refreshing and not tart. I'd order it again. The strawberry flavors were somewhat strong in this one. 5/5 Guava Jinxuan Oolong Tea: I was a fan of Jinxuan oolong while touring Taiwan, so I was excited to see this authentic strain of tea on the menu. When unmixed, the guava syrup/purée was a bit sweet, but I did enjoy this drink. I didn't taste the unique milky oolong flavors though. The slightly bitter tea notes came out at the end, though I'd also reorder this. Bopomofo was an adventure for my and my group's taste buds, I would probably come back to try other drinks and dishes. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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For 14.50... smaller portion than what was online when I ordered to go through DoorDash and I see reviews, people have portions. Bit disappointing for my first time ordering here. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Popcorn Chicken - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

The menu is a good mix of drinks, snacks, and food. I'll come here if I'm craving a variety since there is a wide range of options on the menu. I wanted a caffeine-free drink and there were a few drinks to choose from. I'm always glad when boba shops have caffeine-free options. The strawberry corn milk was good. I love sweet corn flavor. I was able to adjust the sweetness. The boba was well made (cooked through) and sweetened nicely. The bento was solid, but I regret choosing spicy slaw. I usually like some spice, but I guess not with cabbage. You can choose from white meat or dark meat for the popcorn chicken. The white meat is still tender and moist though. My only complaint is how long it took for my order to get prepared. There was only one customer before me in line. I think it took 30-35 minutes. Or maybe my order was ready, but not placed on the counter... I was waiting patiently looking towards the counter. Ambiance is bright and there are people on their laptops studying or working. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Strawberry Corn Milk - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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I always like coming to Bopomofo for their popcorn chicken bento box and the orange wang. IMO, I do think Bopomofo makes some of the best-tasting popcorn chicken in San Diego. Quality always tastes flavorful and fresh. I also like coming here compared to most Convoy spots bc I can actually find parking nearby (that isn't a few blocks away lol). read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Bopomofo Cafe, a place with such amazing customer service that just falls short with their drinks that it almost pains me to give the place three stars. The obvious pros: the attentive waiters. Noticed my friend was wearing a shirt made for my birthday this past year, noticed my name matched with the shirt, wished me a happy birthday. Hilarious and unexpected! Wanted an adjustment on sweetness on a couple drinks, was gladly served. Free size upgrades with a valid student ID. How accomodating! The obvious cons: the lackluster drinks. This was my first time, but my friend's eighth. He said its always hit or miss, erring on the side of miss. Such a wide range of types, colors, and flavors. There is definitely variety and camera-appeal, but the guava matcha was way too sweet from the guava, the teas tasted watery, and the addition of the milk diluted the flavor. I would love to give a higher review to childhood superstars, fellow UCSD alumni, Asian American representation Wong Fu, and maybe we all ordered the wrong things, but I would love to see the food quality match that of the service and vibes! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Jasmine Milk Tea, Honey Roasted Oolong Milk Tea, Ba-La Matcha, Assam Milk Tea - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been a fan of Wong Fu for years and since we were visiting SD, I was excited to visit Bopomofo! I tried their Spring menu and got the High Mountain Paradise drink with tapioca. It featured fresh mango and peach. I really enjoyed how refreshing the drink was and how it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet (I opted for 0% sweetness level, so the fruit was the only source of sweetness). The staff was friendly. Lots of people were studying, but we found a spot on the counter and even had enough space for my baby in his stroller. We'd love to return when in town again! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Spring menu - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time at Bopomofo and I was impressed! Went here on a Tuesday evening and there wasn't any line! Most of the seats were taken inside from people studying but there was seating outdoors. (: Service was quick and friendly. Me and my friend ordered the spicy Taiwanese popcorn chicken and two drinks: the strawberry milk corn and the guava jin Xuan Oolong tea. Both drinks had a lot of flavor and extremely refreshing. The oolong tea was from their seasonal menu! They had a wide variety of different drinks from the regular menu and the seasonal drink menu! Their popcorn chicken was extremely juicy and the seasoning for the spicy chicken was so tasty. The chicken really was cooked to perfectly with the perfect crunch. It came with a spicy mayo dipping sauce which went so well with the popcorn chicken!! I am excited to come back soon to try their other food and drinks! Parking was also a plus. It had a huge parking lot unlike other spots in Convoy/Claremont! read more

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I came in today for lunch, and their menu looked good. The cashier up front was great and gave us lots of recommendations. I ordered the seasonal green onion pancake chicken wrap. Green onion pancakes are my favorite and it's been a while since I've made one at home. I thought it would be a nice treat to have this, but my pancake was very burnt and the chicken tenders inside the wrap were soggy. I also ordered the guava matcha and although the guava taste was nice, my drink was almost all guava and did not taste like matcha at all. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Guava matcha - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

We like the food here. The drink is regular size. Not large size. We ordered popcorn, chicken and Boba milk, tea and pudding brown sugar tea. We do 50% sugar 50%ice on both. Kids like it. read more

I had heard good things about Bopomofo and finally got to try it recently. We came for a late lunch and it was surprisingly busy on a weekday afternoon, we had to sit at the side table/counter (it seemed like most of the people sitting at the tables were studying). The restaurant was very modern and clean, and the staff was friendly for the most part. We ordered the mapo tots, honey walnut shrimp burger, and the weekday deal which included a regular milk tea and popcorn chicken. I really liked the popcorn chicken, it was very crispy (it's nice they give a choice of white or dark meat for the popcorn chicken). I also really enjoyed the mapo tots, it was a creative and tasty dish. The shrimp patty in the burger was also good/juicy, but it didn't seem to be anything special (and also seemed overpriced and a bit small). Otherwise we enjoyed the food/milk tea here! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Bopomofo feels like the restaurant equivalent of someone who discovered the hipster movement on a delay. Everyone else already did the reclaimed wood, the ironic merch, the "we're just a humble neighborhood spot with a PR team" aesthetic. Bopomofo rolls in like it just unlocked that level and wants you to notice. The Taiwanese chicken sandwich is good. It's fine. It's competent. But the buzz around it has that suspicious, slightly inflated quality, like people are praising it because they feel they're supposed to. The sandwich itself tastes like it's auditioning for a role in a trend that peaked three years ago. Crunchy chicken, aromatic seasoning, a bun that behaves itself. All respectable. None revolutionary. But this place isn't really about the food. It's about the adventure of documenting the food. You don't go to Bopomofo to eat. You go to curate. You go to capture the moment where the sandwich sits at a flattering angle in natural light. You go to prove you were there, participating in the cultural moment that everyone insists is happening even if the moment itself feels a little manufactured. The vibe inside is less "culinary destination" and more "content studio with a kitchen attached." Every corner looks designed for a soft‑focus portrait of your lunch. Every plate feels engineered to be held aloft for a photo before it ever touches your mouth. It's the kind of place where you can practically hear the ambient hum of influencers warming up their ring lights. And that's the thing. The sandwich is good enough, but the hype is doing the heavy lifting. People talk about it like it's a pilgrimage, but the experience lands closer to a field trip for your camera roll. You leave full, sure, but you also leave with the faint suspicion that the meal was secondary to the performance of having had it. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I followed Phil from Wongfu forever, so it was exciting to be able to stop by a Bopomofo for the first time on our trip! Impressive bubble teas and food. The drink wasn't to my taste - I think I'm just not used to fruit with matcha, but I could tell the matcha was high quality as was the lactose-free milk. The bubbles had a really nice QQ texture as well. The Taiwanese popcorn chicken blew me away - I've had lots of this dish but this one was unique. You can choose breast or thigh, spicy or mild. The thai basil aioli really put this chicken over the top! The walnut shrimp burger wasn't to my personal taste (I think it needed more sauce and the walnuts didn't really stay with the sandwich, kept falling off), but my husband loved it so to each their own! I wish I lived here and could try everything on their menu! What a creative menu. read more

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Absolutely love their bala matcha drink, strong matcha flavor and the guava complements it well. The food is also really good with crispy chicken and balanced flavors. A decent amount of indoor seating but can be difficult to grab a seat if you're planning on staying for a while. Can order ahead to save time with the line. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

This cafe sits in between a Costco & a Target. It has plenty of parking but traffic is busy. Interior is bright and clean. It looks spacious inside but doesn't have a ton of seating - understandably, because there were just as many people just ordering drinks to go, as there were dine-in food orders. The bar height table was kind of off. Either the table needed to be raised or the stools shortened. You kind of have to bend down too much unless you're a kid and there isn't much room for adult sized thighs. The gal taking the order was super nice and helpful. We ordered 4 drinks and 4 dishes (below). The total was $109. There was a lot of hype for this place so we were excited to try it out. Food took 25 minutes, looked good but overall, was just ok. For this cost of just ok food, we were disappointed. The kids would love the opportunity to say the name (IYKYK) but unfortunately, we won't be returning. Drinks: Jasmine Milk Tea w/ boba - Good Triple Strawberry Matcha w/ boba - did not care for this drink. It went in the trash. Oolong Milk Tea - Good Churro Thai Tea w/ boba - Yum Food: Fried Chicken Sandwich w/ tots. - sandwich was just ok. Tots were fresh and crispy but was like eating air, a waste of calories. Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger - sounded so good, tasted ok but did not remind me of what you'd think of honey walnut shrimp. Better to call it fried shrimp with walnuts. 2 Popcorn Chickens - good read more

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Let's go grab a fun and creative drink? I'm down! Bopomofo Cafe is known for creative Taiwanese-inspired drinks and snacks, offering milk teas, fruit teas, specialty coffee drinks, and fun combinations you don't usually see at typical boba shops. This location sits between two major retailers, Costco and Target, but their part of the parking lot is rarely packed which makes visiting pretty easy. There were already a good amount of people inside when we arrived. Some were sitting and working remotely, others chatting with friends, and a few waiting for their orders. The main drink menu is displayed on the back wall near the register. There's also a QR code posted along the line for ordering and laminated menus near the counter. They offer a wide range of drinks and a lot of them sounded interesting, but the one that stood out the most to me was the corn milk with strawberry sorbet. I also added egg pudding to my drink. My husband ordered the brown sugar buzz. The employee helping us was very kind and made sure to adjust sweetness and ice levels the way most cafes do. The next part is really the only reason this visit loses a star. Our drinks took quite a while to come out. I'm usually a patient person but it seemed like there was only one employee making drinks. We waited for a while and the cafe itself runs pretty warm. With the large windows letting in natural light, it heated up quickly. Eventually our name was called and we picked up our drinks. One thing I immediately noticed is how much they care about presentation. The drinks looked amazing and luckily they tasted just as good. My corn strawberry milk was incredible. It was perfectly sweet and definitely corn lover approved. The strawberry sorbet sits on top so you have to give it a minute to melt and mix into the drink. Once it does, the flavors come together really nicely. I honestly hope they make a corn matcha in the future because that would be a showstopper. The egg pudding topping I could have done without though. It lacked flavor and mostly added a mild sweet gelatinous texture. I was hoping it would add more creaminess. The brown sugar buzz was one of the better coffee drinks I've had and I'm normally more of a tea person. It was slightly sweet but the espresso still came through nicely so it didn't just taste like milk. Overall super tasty drinks! I hope they work on reducing wait times soon. read more

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Came here for some food recently and ordered the Taiwanese spicy chicken sandwich (regular and spicy) and the mapo tots. Everything tasted pretty good but the main thing that threw us off was that the bun on the Taiwanese spicy chicken sandwich was sweet. Inside the store was really nice and clean with a couple places to sit down and eat. The workers were also pretty nice and the food came out quickly! I'll be back to try some more of their menu items and drinks read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Mapo Tots (1), Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich (1), Spicy Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich (1) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Their meal deal plan gives you a free drink when you purchase food, which is an amazing incentive to come out when you really want to stay inside! There are plenty of parking spots as well as free WiFi. Table seating is pretty limited since many come here to study, but there are outdoor options as well. The music in the store makes dining in here feel lively. My friend and I got the spicy and regular popcorn chicken meals along with their assam milk tea. The baristas were super informative and provided great suggestions for sugar and ice levels on their drinks. Both chicken were juicy on the inside with light crisp outside. I was impressed by their thai basil and chili aioli, which paired well with the side salad and chicken. The creamy savory sauces make the chicken melt right in your mouth. The assam milk tea had a strong caramel flavor that wasn't too overwhelming. It served as a nice light pairing for my meal. I am always excited to see what they are innovating at Bopomofo and I will be coming back soon! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Popcorn Chicken (1) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Having tried the first location in SGV, we wanted to try this when visiting SD. Store was very clean and welcoming and staff was very helpful and understand. We originally got a matcha black sesame, Blueberry Orange green, tea and Lychee pear blossom but didn't like the BOG as much as the lychee pear blossom. The staff were super nice and accommodating in replacing our order for a different drink. Parking was easily accessible on weekend. read more

Bopomofo pulled me in with their Honey Walnut Shrimp burger (a must when ordering Chinese). Located in between the Costco Business center and Target, it is the perfect place for a post-errand treat. I ordered the Assam milk tea (unsweetened) and the burger. The milk tea was standard. I appreciated that they not only had lactose free milk/oat milk for no charge, but that the tea itself wasn't overly milky. The burger didn't quite live up to the hype for me, but it was still really good. The shrimp wasn't chewy at all, there was a nice crunch with the walnuts, and a tiny bit of heat with the jalapeño. It just didn't scream "honey walnut shrimp" to me. Service is friendly and there is ample seating-seemed like a lot of people were studying. I'll probably be back after my next business center trip! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Bopomofo Cafe is an elevated version of the traditional Taiwanese tea & snack shop. The beverages are well crafted, tea forward, and unique in their combinations. I loved the honey walnut shrimp burger! The fried shrimp patty is juicy, topped with sliced jalapeños and honey walnut crumble, and sandwiched in a chewy toasted bun. The lu rou rice bowl is comforting and familiar, and they give a very big portion. Service is quick, food is prepped fresh, and there are plenty of small tables around to chow down on. I wouldn't recommend coming with large groups unless you grab & go. Parking is easy and plentiful. read more

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I had to come here once I found this place as I grew up going to Chinese School every Sunday where I learned bopomofo. What is bopomofo? IYKYK... Im actually quite fond of the system bopomofo as it helped me as a kid to really learn Chinese characters. It was a time in my life where I had quality time with my mom. My father doesn't know bopomofo as well as my mom, so it was a special language I share with mom that my dad couldn't be part of. In any case, Bopomofo Cafe was open on Xmas and I really enjoyed coming here after visiting Mitsuwa (which was also open on xmas) and gave their hojicha latte (hot) a try. It was a bit more grainy than I like and I like a very smooth hojicha, so this was just a tad bit off the mark for me. I decided to stop in again to give them another try and ordered an iced hojicha corn latte (50% sweet) and also a heritage lurou fan. The hojicha corn latte unfortunately was too sweet for me and not sure I liked the hojicha & corn combo. I may give this another try next time I am back and ask for 25% sweetness or I might move onto something else. The heritage lurou fan was delicious, this was 5 stars! The pork belly was cooked very well, melts in your mouth and the right flavors! I loved this dish and will definitely be back for this! The other thing I really like about this place is they use lactose free milk as their "normal" milk and that made me pretty happy. I have lactose intolerant issues and can't enjoy certain dairy, but this place just made this a non issue for me! Thanks! The space is really nice and you could linger a bit here and get work done or just hang out. Its kind of dangerous this place is right behind Costco's but its a good location with ample parking. Id definitely come back again! I told my mom about this place and she got a kick out of the name! Me too! I deducted one star because the hojicha latte offerings just didn't work for me. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Heritage lurou fan - delicious (5 stars) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

All hail the fish filet. I order two. Good cute spot with seating. Fabulous service, thank you.

Been back a few times and honestly I prefer the food over the drinks! The shrimp burger and popcorn chicken are so good, though a bit pricey. The triple strawberry matcha and ba-la matcha are decent, but the matcha isn't super strong and has a slight bitter taste. Wish they would bring back the lychee berry bliss! read more

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4.5 stars based on at least 3 visits. 5 stars for the food. Heritage Braised Pork Belly rice - really delicious and must get. Although I really really dislike the use of eco-friendly paper container, despite it lined with a smaller parchment paper, the rice keeps sticking to the container. Mapo Tots - it's saltier than I would like but it's a great appetizer! Popcorn chicken - The thai basil aioli is yummy. Standard and expected crispy and seasoned just right! 4 stars for the drinks. I appreciate the use of all whole ingredients! I really enjoyed Ba-La Matcha. Hojicha latte uses a powder, and I am not a fan of powdered hojicha, but the flavors are on point. Assam black tea is quite strong, and really fragrant. read more

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Disappointed with my experience this time. I've been here before and ordered the lychee pear blossom, which was delicious, so we ordered it again expecting the same quality. Unfortunately, it tasted completely off this visit, bland and bitter, nothing like before. I asked one of the cashiers if they could fix it, but he came back and said they couldn't because we had already taken a sip. I understand sanitary policies, but there's really no way to know a drink doesn't taste right unless you try it first. Instead of offering a remake or a replacement, they handed us a small cup of syrup to sweeten it ourselves, which honestly didn't help and felt like a lazy solution. No effort was made to remake the drink or offer an alternative, which was frustrating and disappointing, especially since this is a drink I've enjoyed here in the past. Probably won't be ordering it again. read more

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Excellent food and drinks. Clean location and large. I like the popcorn chicken the best. You can choose white or dark meat for popcorn chicken. The chicken was fried perfectly and the flavorful. The aioli was perfect match. The crispy shrimp burger was good. But the weird part is the buns was cold and the shrimp patty was hot. So the temp change was totally weird to eat a hot patty and cold patty. Service was friendly and helpful. Will come back to this location again read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Really wanted the nori fish sandwich and mapo tater tots while visiting California for a short time this week. I used to love getting them when I lived in OC so this was a nonnegotiable must stop for me. The order really should have been placed ahead of time to cut down on wait. The inside of the store here had limited seatings for waiting or eating. The outside patio has no shades or umbrellas making it unpleasant to eat if you burn quickly like me. The food was absolutely delicious. So totally worth the detour. But the wait time was nearly 25 minutes and it was just uncomfortable getting sunburnt waiting on my food. Highly recommend placing an order ahead of time. read more

Bopomofo is easily the best spot for popcorn chicken in San Diego! The interior is spotless and has a great vibe for studying, and the outdoor seating is a nice touch for sunny days. I highly recommend the BA-LA Matcha, a perfect balance of guava and matcha. The staff is incredibly friendly and the menu is full of unique, customizable drinks. I do appreciate their service policy. they really seem to care about getting your order right. I have my eye on the Nori Fish Sandwich for my next visit :P read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Mapo Tots & Spicy Popcorn Chicken - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

The employee who helped me at the register was SO knowledgeable about the menu, and gave me great recommendations for which products were vegan-friendly. I think her name was AJ? I couldn't quite read the name tag. She was excellent, thank you! The vegetarian (vegan if you get it with sweet chili sauce instead of aioli) popcorn chicken was super flavorful and crispy. Definitely a shareable portion between 2 people as a hefty snack, and 3-4 people if you just want a small bite. The taro sweet milk tea was unlike any other taro drink I've had before, because there seemed to be actual mashed taro in the bottom of the drink. It was presented beautifully layered, and it kind of tasted like strawberry milk to me. Fun to try, and looking forward to trying other drinks next time! The inside of the cafe had plentiful and comfortable seating, a great playlist, and it was clean. Big thank you to this business for having vegan-friendly food AND drink options that don't just omit the milk, but actually have a non-dairy substitute and no powdered creamer. I'll definitely be back! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Taro Sweet Milk with oat milk, 25% sweet Vegetarian Popcorn Chicken (ordered with sweet chili sauce instead of aioli to make vegan-friendly) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the blueberry matcha with oat milk, and it was pretty good! I really enjoyed the matcha flavor. I do wish I had gotten it half sweet, though, since I'm not a fan of overly sweet drinks. If you're like me and don't like things too sweet, I'd definitely recommend ordering it half sweet. read more

We went there on Saturday at 2 pm and they were somehow so busy even past the lunch time. We got mapo tots, hainan chicken tacos, and popcorn chicken. My favorite was popcorn chicken, the chicken was so tender and flavorful, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, tasted even better than some popcorn chicken in Taiwan. The side sauce of basil mayo was not a common for popcorn chicken, people in Taiwan don't dip there chicken with sauce, but it surprised me cause this basil mayo cleaned my palate after eating too many piece of fried chicken. I was most excited about the mapo tots, but it was soooo salty and heavy, it might be weird to say but I thought it should come with rice lol. The mapo tofu on top was good but the flavor was too strong for me, and with oily tots, I felt I could drink a gallon of water when eating this. The hainan chicken tacos were good, very mild flavor compared to the mapo tots. But the tortilla broke apart when eating this, I thought it was too wet, and speaking of hainan chicken, I expected there would be some scallion oil flavor but there wasn't, so this was mild for me. The hojicha latte was great though, very strong hojicha flavor. read more

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