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    Bopomofo Cafe

    4.3 (2.4k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Bopomofo Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Bopomofo Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    BOPOMOFO CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Bopomofo Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

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

    This used to one of one of my favorite boba spots when they opened a few years ago and it still is one of my favorites! They're open daily 11am-8pm (until 9pm on Fri & Sat) Parking is still a nightmare since the parking lot is small and it's shared with many other businesses but there is nearby street parking available Ordering is easy - you can order in-person or online and there are two lines when you arrive (one for in-person and the other for mobile orders). Service is friendly and welcoming. Inside is quite small but there are several tables with outlets and benches, as well as outdoor seating. Menu has a good variety of fruit and teas, as well as plenty of food options! Pricing is a little pricey but definitely worth the price! Most drinks are $6-$7 for a regular and +$1 for large. Love that they don't charge extra for sugar and ice adjustments, as well as milk substitutions! There are 4 toppings (boba, taro, egg pudding and lychee Jelly) and they're extra $0.75/topping. The Nori Fish Sandwich ($13) was phenomenal! This was definitely an upscale Filet-O-Fish! The Cod Filet was so tender and perfectly fried without being too greasy! The tartar sauce was so flavorful without being too salty. The bun was so fresh and soft. I really enjoyed this sandwich so this was 9/10. The Triple Strawberry Matcha ($7.25) was amazing! I added lychee Jelly and taro so that was +$1.50. The matcha tasted strong but not too bitter and the strawberry puree was refreshing and sweet. The taro was fresh and very good! The lychee Jelly tasted quite subtle. I really enjoyed this drink so this was 9/10. Definitely would recommend and return!

    Anna C.

    Parking at 6:30 PM on a Tuesday was pretty easy! Ordered the nori fish sandwich as part of the Yama × Bopo Special ($2 off March 9-12 if you get the $6 sashimi from Yama next door). I had half my sandwich without the salmon--it's a delicious elevated version of the filet of fish. The cod is flaky and juicy, the cheese is melty, and the bun is buttery. The onion cuts into the fried batter nicely without being overpowering. The nori flavor could be stronger imo. Also, the sandwich is decently filling. There's seating both inside and outside. I waited about 20 minutes although the initial estimate from the staff was 10, but I noticed a lot of people ordered pick-up so I'll probably do that next time to minimize wait. Will be back for other menu items--love the creativity!

    Orange Wang
    Peter H.

    Finally got to try this place! I've been meaning to come here for a long time and finally got the chance. The service here is quick. Lots of hardworkers here for sure. Decent space to sit down and eat, study, chat, etc. The one major downside is parking. It's a nightmare here. Golden Deli is in the same parking lot and there is always a line out the door so I think that's a big reason behind it. This place has more than just drinks, they also have popcorn chicken, sandwiches, burgers, and even tacos. I only had an appetite for a drink so I got the orange Wang. The name stood out to me and it was an unusual option given most people probably get their milk tea (I assume). But I wasn't disappointed at all! If you like the drink called orange bang, then you will love this one. It's basically their version of it and it's delicious! They use real orange juice. I think there's vanilla and something else... either way, super delicious! Highly recommend. I can't wait to try their other options :D

    Spicy Popcorn Chicken Dark Meat, Orange WANG!, Nami Matcha

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    4 days ago

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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!

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    5.0(519 reviews)
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    Haicha Fish Balls are amazing…read more Haicha Fish Meatballs so good And there HaiCha Yuenyeung Coffe with Tea Organic Milk Mango Fruit Tea Sooo good Well recommended and for first timers oh you will be satisfied Great service, very polite and very clean inside definitely you will need to try it out

    $18 for 2 nasty boba milk teas that we ended up trashing. The "tea" tasted like watered down milk…read more The boba was only okay. We tried to force them down, but we just didn't think it was worth it. It was honestly the worst milk tea I've ever had. The owner and only person at the counter was extremely off putting. He asked us right when we walked in if we speak Chinese. When my friend said she did, he would not stop talking to her in Cantonese. She informed him that I did not speak Chinese, to which, he started interrogating me about where my parents are from in English. He then only spoke to my friend in Cantonese for the excruciating amount of time we spent there. He insisted that the boba milk tea was the best drink there and kept talking to my friend even when she asked for some time to look at the menu. It felt like he was rushing us to pick something, so we tried to enter it in quickly. He made us feel super uncomfortable. We could not wait to get out of there. The monitor used to place orders on was really confusing. It did not help that we were trying to rush. The man explained it to my friend in Cantonese, so she ordered hers correctly. I couldn't understand him though, so I guess I did it wrong. It had all the milk teas in one listing. I didn't realize that I had to select the type of milk tea when I clicked on this option. We didn't realize that the computer did not charge us correctly. We did not have a receipt, but my friend's phone showed that she got charged $11 ($7 for her own drink + $1 boba for her + $1 boba for me + $2 for tax and tip). Since 2 drinks ordinarily come out to about that much, we thought the second drink was included in the pricing and it just didn't print correctly on the order receipt that goes to the bar. When the owner came up to us to tell us that the receipt only showed boba for the second drink, we were confused but went back to the computer to look. He said that we were supposed to select which milk tea specifically. After my friend clarified that it was just the regular milk tea, we checked her phone and saw the $11 charge. We left thinking that was the total for 2 drinks. This man found us across the street and to tell us that we still needed to pay $7 more. I handed that to him in cash and he left. For clarification, I am not upset about having to pay the $7 that he was due for our order. I am simply stating that the ordering system could be improved to avoid mishaps like this from happening again. I also want to note that I think $7 for the drink + $1 for the boba is not worth purchasing here for the sole fact that it is not tasty. There's also just a little bit of street parking outside. The inside was a little dark with a lot of mismatched furniture and random products available for sale. Update: In response to this review, the owner has sent me unprofessional messages. I won't be coming here again and highly suggest that you don't either.

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

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    4.3(405 reviews)
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    I was in the area so stopped by for a drink. There was no wait to order and staff was patient when…read moremy card was having issues during payment. There's no public restroom but there's some seating inside. I got the hoji matcha cloud ($7.45) at less sweet. The price has gone up since the last time I've been here, which is expected. I think it's still decent for the price at the cup size. The matcha is pretty strong but still has some sweetness.

    Was in the area and decided to stop by for some drinks since I haven't been here in a couple years…read more They have really cool interior decor and seating is comfortable for casual chatting with friends. I ordered the Mango Cloud this time less sweet (7.42), and also the Matcha Blend. The price has went up a bit since the last time I was here but the cup is still the same size. The drinks took around 5 minutes or so to be ready. The mango cloud is as good as other reviews said. There is mango chunks in the drink and it is blended very well so it is a smoothie consistency. It also has some cream but I couldn't really taste it. I got less sweet so the sweetness level was perfect for me. I enjoyed the drink and my only complaint is the price but all drinks are around this price especially for fruit blended ones. I would recommend it if you're not looking for a matcha drink, but their matcha blend was also good as well with authentic matcha.

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