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    Bopomofo Cafe

    4.3 (2.4k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Bopomofo Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Bopomofo Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    BOPOMOFO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Bopomofo Cafe

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    Carrot Matcha was very unique and tasted interesting!
    Christy C.

    There is a promo on Doordash currently - 45% off orders $15+! Amazing deal! Got the Scallion Pancake Chicken Wrap Supreme ($14.50) was pretty good. It consisted of a house made scallion pancake with chicken tender, egg, cabbage, Thai basil, and cheese. It looked pretty small similar to a snack wrap but it was very filling. The chicken tender was similar to popcorn chicken. Wished it was more crispy since it seemed pretty dry and not much of a crunch. The pancake was a bit bland but I enjoyed that it wasn't as oily as scallion pancake usually is at other places. Overall, I felt like this was slightly overpriced but it was worth trying! The Black Sesame Matcha ($8.50) was amazing! I got it in large so that was extra $1. Requested it with regular ice, half sweet, and oat milk and really enjoyed that it wasn't packed with ice and not overly sweet. It's nice that they don't charge extra for milk substitutions! The matcha tasted very rich in flavor and I could tell they most likely use ceremonial quality matcha. The sesame was very nutty and really enjoyed that they make it in-house. This was definitely one of my favorite drinks! NOTE: it's very important to give it a good stir prior to drinking otherwise the sesame just sinks on the bottom! The Lychee Pear Blossom ($8) was so good! I got it half sweet with regular ice and it was just the right amount of sweetness and ice! Loved how they use fresh lychee and pear with no artificial colors or flavor! This drink was very refreshing and fruity! The green tea wasn't too overpowering and made the drink even more enjoyable! Overall, I really enjoyed my drinks and the wrap was ok. The prices are slightly higher than other cafes but it's nice that they use real fruits without any artificial flavors or colors unlike many other places!

    4/3/2021: Carrot Matcha Latte. Absolutely marriage blessed in heaven
    vidia c.

    5/11/2026 and few times before this visit Update: so glad that they finally change their store policy and let me order to-go matcha lattes without ice. Kudos Bopomofo! Can't wait for your other branches opening!

    Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger and Nori Fish Sandwich
    Carlo B.

    I'll be honest--when I heard Bopomofo Cafe was taking over the old Jamba Juice spot in Downtown Disney, I was curious but not fully sold. Then I checked out their website and saw they had a fish sandwich featured by the LA Times... yeah, that definitely got my attention. So I went. Right away, the menu surprised me--in a good way. I noticed they had a shrimp burger, and since I just got back from Japan (and was still thinking about that McDonald's shrimp burger), I had to try it here. Order came out in under 10 minutes, which honestly isn't bad at all for how busy the area gets. First bite of the shrimp burger? Immediate happiness. Like, loud "mmmmm" type of happiness. For $15, you expect something solid--and it delivered. The patty was packed with flavor, perfectly cooked, and the pickled jalapeños gave it a nice kick. Then that honey wasabi yuzu sauce came in with a sweet, tangy balance that just tied everything together. Not gonna lie... I liked this more than the one I had in Japan. Then came the fish sandwich. And wow. I'm pretty sure the fish is wrapped in nori, which already levels it up. Super crispy, tangy, a little sweet, a little creamy--just everything you want in one bite. It's one of those sandwiches where you immediately think, "Yeah, I could easily eat two of these." This place is seriously that good. What makes it even crazier? My best friend lives like two blocks away, and I've been in that area so many times without realizing I was this close to something this good. Safe to say--I'll definitely be back. Probably way too often.

    Hainan chicken tacos & Spicy Popcorn Chicken
    April V.

    The review is for the food since that's all i ordered! Came yesterday & got the spicy popcorn chicken & the hainan chicken tacos! ($32 total including tip) The star was the hainan chicken tacos!! I wanted to try it since it was something I've never seen before & it was delicious! I took it home to eat & the tortilla didn't get soggy & the flavor surprisingly works! The chicken is very tender too! Popcorn chicken was great in flavor too but wasn't not crunchy. I really liked it but the texture was not there. I like how they have the option for light or dark meat & spicy level still had flavor & wasn't just spicy seasoning on top, it was well coated.

    Kathy M.

    The table that we sat at had food debris on it. Mentioned to the staff, came over with a bucket and a towel, and wiped the table. There was a lot of water left after wiping. It would have been a waste of paper napkins if we tried cleaning it ourselves, so we let it air dry. Probably took us about 15 min for the table to truly dry. At the table, the sitting area along the walls in the corner were not comfortable for long durations. They do have outlets below the sitting area to charge laptops in case you choose to do remote work there. We came on a Sunday afternoon and it was quiet, not too busy. Besides the wet table, the one thing that bothered us the most was the light fixture on the wall. It was going through so many light phases that I thought there was something going on with the electrical. Food was interesting, and having a shrimp patty was intriguing.

    Valerie H.

    Really solid drinks and high quality ingredients. Strawberry matcha was rich in flavor and not too sweet (which is a huge compliment in my eyes). There's a ton of food options which I haven't had the opportunity to try yet!

    BA-LA Matcha and Triple Strawberry Matcha
    Jasmine D.

    Bopomofo is an SGV icon serving up great boba and Taiwanese-inspired eats. I stopped by recently with some friends and we got the 2 for $14 large Ba-la (guava) matchas, spicy popcorn chicken, braised pork belly over rice, and the mapo tots. The guava matcha was such a refreshing drink, and I got mine unsweetened as the guava nectar is sweetened already. The spicy popcorn chicken was so addictive and flavorful and comes with a Thai chili aioli. I like that for their popcorn chicken you can choose between white meat and dark meat. We loved the braised pork belly dish, it was so hearty and comforting, and I only wish the portion size was a little bigger! This was also my first time trying the mapo tots, which is a very sharable dish. It comes with mapo tofu, ground, pork, and cheese! Parking is pretty easy in the strip mall which is a plus.

    Bobasaur
    Amy L.

    Came to try out a couple of their drinks for the pokemon week. Of course my first choice was vine whip vanilla matcha. The vanilla is very subtle compared to the matcha but you do taste it. The other was thundershock mango wang. This one tasted like yakult. So far winner is leaf starter.

    HEY Sesame Milk
    Ailun H.

    We finished dinner a couple blocks away and made our way to Bopomofo Cafe for a post-dinner sweet treat. This was my first time at the cafe, and the interior was well-decorated and comfortable, with neon lights adorning the space. The barista was friendly and helpful while I was deciding what to order. HEY SESAME MILK - 6.50 This is a lactose-free milk-based drink with a black sesame and honey paste mixed in. I asked for 75% sweetness since my cousin warned me that the regular level would be too much. The black sesame was incredibly hard to mix thoroughly, even though I was aggressively stirring my straw for a couple minutes. Overall, the drink was pretty good despite not mixing well. The black sesame flavor was incredibly roasty and nutty, but there could have been be a bit more of it. The honey was slightly overpowering. Bopomofo has an extensive menu featuring modern twists on traditional milk tea and coffee drinks, with fun flavors like strawberry corn milk and carrot matcha latte. There's also plenty of Taiwanese street food options, with mapo tots being one of their most popular items. If I'm ever at Bopomofo again, I'd definitely want to try some of their food as well.

    Mapo Tots, Spicy Popcorn Chicken, Guava Jin Xuan Oolong, Jin Xuan Oolong Milk Tea
    Ingrid L.

    My only complaint about bopomofo is that it is too far from my house! i've been a couple times and always appreciate seeing what new fruity thing is on the menu. This last time I had the guava oolong. It was really good! My only proble is that there are too many things for me to try in one go. I also love the mapo tots and spicy popcorn chicken. Both are delicious. I'll be here every time I'm in this part of town.

    Nori Fish Sandwich
    Eleni Blue M.

    Food was great! We had their most common sandwiches on the menu; the fish sandwich and the shrimp sandwich. Both were delicious We also had a strawberry basil ginger lemonade & a lychee tea with jelly Service was fairly quick. The gentleman at the counter made great suggestions. The ambiance was ok. Most of the tables were people on their laptops on a Tuesday afternoon I would definitely return & recommend their fish sando.

    Ally C.

    One of my top boba spots in the SGV for sure! I've tried a lot of their drink menu and have never been disappointed. Their snacks are also very yummy. Get the mapo tots! It's usually busy so I would recommend ordering in advance. If you're lucky you might see Phil working! I've run into him a few times. The place is small, with a few tables inside and a small patio out front.

    Leeza D.

    Spent a nice warm afternoon in the OG Bopo patio area chatting with friends. We had a great time. Please come and create your own adventure.

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    Page 1 of 60

    Bopomofo Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bopomofo Cafe

    What's their phone number? I need to call to update an online order

    Do kids drink free on certain days? Is it free with purchase and which drinks do they get for free?

    Tuesday-Thursday only. BOGO. Purchased regular size, free kid size Orange Wang or Blueberry Lemonade. For kids 5 and under and must be present. Per latest post.

    Is the Kiwi Lemon Tea, BA-LA Matcha or Phil's Combo still there? Had it in my cart to order online only a few days ago, but now they're gone. Instagram said "Fall/Winter". Confusing. PANIC?

    BA-LA is on their year-round menu. I just got the kiwi lemon a couple weeks ago, but I think they may have switched to their winter winter menu. Not sure though bout the kiwi lemon

    Is the Watermelon Oat Milk (seasonal drink) back on the menu right now?

    It's back as of 6/30/2023

    Does BPMF sell drinks by the gallon or half gallon?

    Currently they have lemonades 32oz (strawberry, mango, & blueberry) for sale

    Will you be closed on Christmas Eve?

    Does the popcorn chicken have any peanut in it? Or is it cooked in peanut oil?

    Ate they allow indoor sitting?

    Seating is now available indoors! Was just there today, chose to dine outside in the sunshine, though. Cheers!

    When the website doesn't work to order in advance and there's no phone number, what can I do? It keeps saying my items are unavailable but I even tried just a jasmine green tea, and same error. I can't believe they're out of green tea :(

    There website is always broken. You have to go there in person and order there. No work around.

    Do they still have wifi even though they're takeout only?

    They have their own wifi (BOPORESERVE) but I'm not sure if it's open to guests because it has a password.

    Is there a way to cancel orders?

    As of now, if you never picked up your order, or don't plan to, you can email us at bopomofocafe@gmail.com and we will take care of cancelling or refunding you promptly. Thanks!… Read more

    Does the vegetarian popcorn chicken have egg? I'm allergic to chicken egg and chicken meat but would love to try it if I can!

    Do they have a Phone number?

    no they don't have a phone number because of how busy it gets. terrible if u have to cancel an order, i had to drive all the way over there!

    Are you no longer taking postmates orders? All of my orders in two days on separate occasions keep getting cancelled.

    There's no way to order in person so I think that may be why your orders are being cancelled.

    Is there a way to pay online using multiple gift cards?

    I believe the best answer is to contact the vender directly. it seems like they respond quickly.

    Is caramel coloring used to make the boba?

    No, they use brown sugar for their brown sugar boba.

    Do they have Irvin's salted egg fish skin?

    They mentioned on their IG that it should be coming soon!

    Is their veggie popcorn chicken cooked separately from their other meat? Like the separate fryer does not share the same oil as the other meat?

    Yes, we have separate fryers

    Is any of your food items Gluten and Dairy Free?

    For dairy free drinks, there is the option of oat milk for no extra charge. For food, always make sure to ask but they have always been accommodating in making any changes.

    Does their popcorn chicken consist of dark meat or white meat?

    They now have white or dark meat!

    View All 52 Questions

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    Torotea

    Torotea

    4.5(512 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    Second time visiting this location, and it was just as good as I remembered!…read more I hadn't been here in a few months, and it looks like they've expanded their menu. They also added more outdoor seating, which is nice since the interior is pretty small. Parking is street parking only, but I've never had any trouble finding a spot. Emily, the cashier, was incredibly friendly and helpful. She took the time to walk us through the new seasonal drinks and menu additions, which made it much easier to decide what to order. Popcorn Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Tapioca ($7.85) - My go-to drink! - Perfect level of sweetness without being overpowering - Rich, creamy, nutty flavor - Brown sugar tapioca had the perfect soft and chewy texture (only wished it was cut a bit smaller) Pinewood Milk Tea ($6.85) - Similar to the Popcorn Milk Tea, but with a lighter, more subtle nutty flavor - Still delicious, though I personally prefer the Popcorn Milk Tea Jasmine Oolong Milk Tea ($6.85) - A great option if you're looking for something lighter and more refreshing Everything was made well, and the service made the experience even better. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu. Love that they still do daily samples!

    I absolutely love the drinks at Torotea. Their drinks taste fresh and distinctive. They look…read moreaesthetic too. You can tell that they use high quality tea and ingredients. A must-try is the Popcorn Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Tapiochi. This is a rich blend of assam black tea and creamy milk with a toasty buttery popcorn twist. It is my husband's go-to drink. Another drink I would recommend is the Cassia Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Tapiochi, my go-to drink. This drink has a comforting aroma of cinnamon with the maltiness of a milk tea and the creaminess of a latte. Their tapiochi is made in-house daily and is super delicious. This topping feels like boba, mochi, and jelly all in one. The texture of it is nice and enjoyable to chew. It also seems to pair well with basically any drink. Definitely check this spot out if you have not yet. It is unlike any of the other boba shops around. There are plenty of parking spots directly in front of the shop.

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    Chapresso - Strawberry matcha latte w/ house made puree

    Chapresso

    4.5(365 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Hojicha einspanner was so good. One of the best hojicha I've had. They really didnt skimp on the…read morepowder. I had kei coffee house's hojicha a couple days ago so I had pretty strong memories and kei's was soo mid. Chapresso's hojicha is so underrated and deserves more love! I also got their matcha strawberry. Their matcha is sourced from an award-winning farm in Asia and WOW it really tasted good. I just had the viral Matsu Matcha a few hours before too and boy chapresso did not disappoint! Also they use chopped up strawberries I saw the matcha and hojicha are freshly made to order and hand whisked too :) My friend also said the gyokuro tasted like the one from orobae in oc (iykyk)

    I don't know if I went on a really off day, but I can't remember the last time I had a milk tea so…read moreoff-putting it went straight in the trash. I was so excited for the gyokuro milk tea because gyokuro is probably my favorite tea, and I can't quite describe what the gyokuro here tasted like. I can say, however, it didn't taste anything like gyokuro. It was weirdly floral, not quite jasmine-like floral, and had a weird and honestly kind of gross flavor I guess is a way to put it. It completely lacked the fresh buttery greens quality of real gyokuro. The jasmine was okay. I gave up on the hojicha without even trying it after everyone else wound up not liking their teas either (they didn't dislike it as much as I did with the gyokuro, it just wasn't great). Reviews seem positive for this place so I dunno what was up with our drinks. While the tea flavor, at least for the jasmine, was strong, it was so strong it tasted almost artificial (compared to similar tea-forward places).

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    Chapresso - Come try our Iron Goddess Oolong Milk Tea or Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea with honey boba, and sweetened with cane sugar!

    Come try our Iron Goddess Oolong Milk Tea or Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea with honey boba, and sweetened with cane sugar!

    Chapresso - Matcha Americano, Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea, Barley Black Milk Tea, Gyokuro Green Milk Tea

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    HOJI Tea Community - Fresh Fruit Jade Tea (Strawberry) (Mango in back), Fresh Jade Mountain Tea

    HOJI Tea Community

    4.3(417 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $

    small tea shop in Pasadena, seem like a nice little shop to do work in as they have free Wi-Fi…read more They have some seating but mostly just seats by the wall. Aesthetics in the shop is pretty nice, very modern and bright, perfect spot to do work. Parking - Shared with Afters Ice Cream right across, very small parking lot, 4 spots only. Street parking is available but the street itself is a one way street. My wife and I both shared the Onyx Hojicha MT and the Oreo Uji Matcha, both were very refreshing as the day was pretty warm. The drinks came out pretty fast as well so props to the staff for preparing them quickly. The matcha is not very overwhelming which is always a good sign to see when you purchase matcha drinks. Oreo mixed with matcha is always a solid choice for me so I recommend this drink when you visit. Overall, a very simple but high quality shop, it's a bit on the expensive side when it comes to tea shops but it's definitely worth checking them out as their drinks are on the higher quality side.

    Came here for a boba after Zankou Chicken and I did not like it at all!! We got the Taiwanese milk…read moretea and it was extremely thick. The viscosity of the drink was strangely off putting and the flavor felt like they put pudding powder inside or something. For $7, I was expecting something more fragrant or sophisticated in flavor. But it was pretty one toned and sugary at best. Servers here were really nice. I asked if the owners were Taiwanese but they didn't know.

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    HOJI Tea Community - IG: BobaClog | Interior

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    Bubble Puff & Tea - Ice cream waffle

    Bubble Puff & Tea

    4.4(275 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $

    Bubble Puff & Tea is a local cafe and dessert shop across the street from PCC offering a signature…read morebubble waffle with all sorts of delicious toppings, drinks, and café items. My daughter and I came on a Wednesday evening after visiting the excellent Dumpling Wei next door. We were welcomed into a busy, student-filled cafe. The decor is understated, worn, and very student driven, with a charming sign offering a free milk drink to any student who ordered a full meal during a challenging exam week - how kind [+1 point for service]. We ordered from a screen; call me old fashioned, but I like being greeted and the place wasn't busy enough to justify such a streamlined experience. We ordered the original waffle with vanilla ice cream. It took about 10 minutes as we entertained ourselves with the claw machine and got lucky - twice. The waffle was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, with a distinct fortune-cookie flavor. It was delicious, and paired perfectly with the vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. We did not get a filling nor try the delectable appearing chocolate waffle - next time! Prices were elevated - $8 for the waffle and $2.50 for the ice cream (complete with whipped cream and chocolate syrup), but the unique product was absolutely delicious. While my undergraduate career was 20 years ago, I really can appreciate a place like this. Were I a student at PCC, I would simply live at this establishment. Good for a quick dessert and perfect for students, Bubble Puff & Tea is well worth a stop. Food: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Value: 3.5/5

    3/5 stars I found…read moreBubble Puff & Tea after searching for local boba spots near Pasadena City College since I was meeting up with my sister in the area. There were quite a few boba shops nearby, but honestly the business name alone caught my attention and made me choose this one. The shop is conveniently located directly across from Pasadena City College, which makes it a great spot for students looking to grab drinks or food between classes. The downside is parking. There's very limited parking in the back and a lot of nearby residential streets have "no parking" signs, so finding a spot can be a little annoying. The shop itself is a decent size and definitely seems popular with students hanging out, studying, or working on assignments. Personally though, the atmosphere didn't feel especially warm or cozy to me compared to some other boba shops I've visited. The layout also felt a bit narrow, which was difficult navigating with my son's stroller. That said, what the shop lacked in atmosphere for me, it definitely made up for with the drinks and food. I ordered a 16 oz jasmine milk tea and even though I had to pay extra for boba (which brought the total to almost $5.50), the drink itself was honestly pretty good. I was also hungry, so I tried the pork buns, which ended up being tasty and surprisingly filling. You get four for around $13. While I do think you could probably get a larger meal elsewhere for the same price, the quality itself was still good. One thing I appreciated is that they have a larger food menu than most boba shops. Besides milk teas and fruit teas, they also offer popcorn chicken, appetizers, soups, rice dishes, sandwiches, smoothies, coffee, and even ice cream drinks. Customer service was excellent. The staff were polite, efficient, and kind throughout the visit. Overall, I think this is a solid spot for Pasadena City College students looking for a place to study, hang out with friends, or grab a quick meal and boba. I do think the shop could benefit from adding a little more personality and warmth to the space... maybe board games, student artwork, or more fun décor would help make it feel more inviting and memorable???

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    Tea Spots - Japanese Edamame  (毛 豆)

    Tea Spots

    3.8(722 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Tea Spots is located at 1443 East Colorado Boulevard Pasadena California 91106. It is located in a…read moresmall group of stores just east of the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Hill Avenue. There are three small eateries and a nail salon located here. An adequate parking lot is located in front of these stores. Upon entering tea spots I was greeted by a friendly hello. I walked to the counter and asked questions about the types of food that they had available. The staff described a variety of selections. They are definitely more than just tea and smoothies. They have what they call 'snacks' on a large menu. These are more than snacks, they are full meals. I decided on some Ramen and Potstickers. I was impressed that they asked me exactly how I wanted things prepared. Spice levels were a prime consideration, so I decided on medium spicy. As I waited on my order, I looked at their beverage menu that was filled with different Boba coffees, teas and slushies. There are also quite a number of items on the menu that I want to try with different styles of preparation. After about 10 minutes my food was ready and I was out the door and on my way home. They do have areas inside this location to dine inside. When I unpacked my food at home, I was pleased to see how carefully it had been put together. They had everything individually wrapped. I was eager to try the potstickers first. The Pork Potstickers were delicious. Great flavor and moist with a crisp outside edge. The Japanese Miso Ramen wes filled with flavor and spice. I added some Sriracha and Soy Sauce to complete my preference. I look forward to coming back and enjoying some different beverages and flavors from the kitchen.

    This is my go-to boba tea and food spot near PCC. I usually love coming during their happy hour…read morebecause they have great deals on tea, shaved ice, and their bowls. Recently, I got an email saying they now have new sizzling plates, and I couldn't wait to try them. They offer four different sizzling plates, and I went with the beef fried noodles. Honestly, it's not the best--the flavor is a bit off, but I was really hungry so I ate about half. It's okay after adding some Sriracha, but I wouldn't order it again. The sizzling plate comes with a tea, and I got an oolong tea with 50% sweetness. It was just okay. Parking can be challenging at times, and the spaces are pretty narrow.

    Photos
    Tea Spots - Inside, ordering area

    Inside, ordering area

    Tea Spots - Free Palestine

    Free Palestine

    Tea Spots - Dumpling sauce (garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce)

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    Dumpling sauce (garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce)

    Bopomofo Cafe - bubbletea - Updated July 2026

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