Bubble U
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My favorite spot to get a drink, so yummy and so refreshing! Service is always quick and reliable! Super cute and clean inside
The service was fast and easy! We ordered on a kiosk and got our drink within minutes! I do wish that there is a section to add notes or that we could order with someone directly in case we want to substitute anything though. We tried the rose milk matcha. If you don't like fresh and strong matcha, I wouldn't recommend this drink. Their matcha is definitely fresh and strong. As someone who isn't super into matcha, I like the rose milk part of the drink but not so much the matcha. I would have loved a plain rose green tea or rose milk tea but I don't think those were options based on the menu in the kiosk. So it would be nice if there was a bit more flexibility in the drink options. I would like to come back and try one of their drinks that don't include matcha next time because the drinks are definitely of high quality and flavor!
Bubble U has relocated! So happy for them for expanding and for this much more convenient location. The original owners are here now with the og Chinatown location managed under someone else. The owner was so nice and patient, answering all of my questions as i had my senior moment, forgetting what i used to order. Heads up, their tea drinks have a strong level of caffeine so if you'd like to opt out, be sure to let them know. I ordered the Peach Tree without caffeine, mild sweetness, with their unmatched sea salt cream topping, and added their homemade brown sugar mochi! Love that i can get my mochi jelly fix here too, and not have to always go to torotea. The interior at this place is more relaxed and roomier than the Chinatown location too, which is another bonus. I was alone but as I stepped out and took my first sip the words just slipped out of my mouth, "that is so good." I mean all the ingredients are so high quality here, the peach drink is made from an actual whole peach blended up and the foam topping is uber creamy. They still claim their rank in my top all-time fave boba spots. And they also sell a handful of Japanese snacks!
I enjoyed my Thai tea here a lot. The tea tasted fresh and like it's brewed daily. It also had a potent tea taste versus being watered down and tasteless. The service was friendly and fast, and I particularly liked the ability to order on a kiosk at the counter. The store is spacious with plenty of seating and very clean. Definitely would return again when we're in downtown LA.
I visited Bubble U for a second time during Christmas Eve and enjoyed the honey milk tea ($5.49). As expected, the drink tasted delicious because I ordered my favorite flavor for iced tea. However, they charge extra if you don't want to put in any ice. They had a holiday-themed boba cup and a reusable bag to hold the drink on the way back. I'll try to bring the bag back on my next visit even though it has a holiday theme. Last time I visited, they had Lunar New Year designs on their cups, so I can appreciate the thought put into their products. Unfortunately, their website says that this store will close on April 30, 2025. It was a pleasure visiting this boba shop, and it'll be missed.
The good: We ordered a caramelized pineapple green tea and avocado coconut mango drink with 25% sweetness for both. The level of sweetness was great in each. The avocado part of the drink was creamy. The charred pineapple slice on top of the drink was tasty and visually cool. The bad: They had two self-ordering tablets but only one was working. There's no outdoor dining. There's a machine inside (maybe a cotton Candy machine?) that's out of order. I couldn't taste the coconut in my drink (maybe it was coconut water?). The interesting: It's an extra 30 cents to get your drink with no ice.
Drinks: 4/5 Good flavor, sweet/tart/refreshing. Nice portion, drinks are highly customizable. Service: 3/5 Machine orders, not much a service location. Ambiance: 4/5 Clean, nice decoration, and decent spacing.
No egg pudding! Google said this store had it so I'm sad about that. There's not a lot of street parking bc of how busy the area is. The staff was very helpful. The inside is very cozy and aesthetically appealing. Pistachio honeydew melon milk tea was delicious.
Cute little hole in the wall boba cafe! I got the Uji Matcha Milk Tea while my family got the Strawberry Paradise Smoothie and the Taro Milk Tea. The Uji Matcha Milk Tea is great, nothing special about it. The Strawberry Paradise Smoothie is very creamy, it tastes like Nesquik Strawberry Milk. The Taro Milk Tea is also good, but it just tastes like your average taro milk tea. The drinks also come in this harder plastic which I like! The cafe is small, but it's very cute and clean. There's two kiosks to order from, and you can also order with an employee. There's also a cotton candy machine near the register. The decor is cute, simple but nice. There's plenty of seating, but the cafe can get full fast. People are constantly going in and out of the cafe so I'm unsure if there's air conditioning, but if there is, you won't feel it with the opening doors and body heat. I would come here again! I didn't notice they had sold ramen when I went there, but now I'm very intrigued. There's also plenty of drink options so you're bound to find something you like.
Self service and very clean. The worker was kind when handing us our drink. The drinks themselves were on the pricier side (~7/8$) however, I will say it was some of the best boba I have ever had. The taste of the mango matcha was amazing and surprisingly neither overpowered the other. The tapioca itself was fresh and great texture. The grape slush drink was amazing and mouth water. I am wishing I had both as I write this review but sadly I live in Orange County so it's not very realistic for me to go to LA specifically for this shop haha. If you're near I couldn't recommend more that you go.
The staff is friendly and helpful. The service was fast. The drink came out perfect- it was exactly what I ordered. Banana matcha with brown sugar mochi was amazing.
A cute boba place in Chinatown! I ordered in the kiosk and my drinks came out relatively quick after that. I got the Luna Matcha and it came with a cutie little dragon art on top of the sea salt foam! I also got the Black Sugar Fresh Milk. Both drinks were so good and perfect for my boba craving. The matcha they use is uji matcha from Japan and you can really tell the quality of matcha is high! The customer service is excellent as well! I was struggling with putting my straw in and the employee saw and kindly assisted me! Would def return if ever in the area!
I was a bit confused when I walked in because there is a boba drink-making machine on one of the counters by the front but also a tablet to place orders, and no workers visible, and no bell for service! I ended up pulling back the half curtain and shouting loudly to the back a couple of times before I got someone's attention to ask questions. I was disappointed that they didn't have any oolong tea offerings since that's my go-to order, but I spoke with one of the workers who said they were pulled all of their oolong based drinks because the tea leaf quality from their distributor was not up to their standard. I ended up ordering a Ceylon milk tea with boba at 75% sweet, which was still a bit sweet for me. Their boba texture was softer than I liked and was notably smaller in size, although the drink to boba ratio was good! The Ceylon tea also didn't shine through for me.
I had high expectations for this place but was unfortunately disappointed. The location is cute and popping, but the drinks really did not live up to expectations. We got a strawberry matcha latte and a strawberry smoothie with boba, both of which were around $7. Eek! I've never seen boba so expensive, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt-- maybe it's due to high rent or expensive ingredient prices, I don't know. Regardless, the drinks were no where worth the price. The matcha was super weak and had such a minute matcha flavor that honestly tasted kind of unpleasant. The strawberry smoothie had a weird artificial taste. I would definitely go elsewhere next time for boba. read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Karen, we hear you on the pricing and the weak matcha -- that…
Okay, I really didn't want to leave a bad review. I tried the drink & had asked if they can change it out because it legit taste like just milk. I got the crunchy taro. The girl said no everything cost more money. Lady, you're drink is over $7 ... she said all she could do is add tea to it. Which made the drink even worst, so now I'm leaving a honest review of my experience here. read more
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Terry D.
Hi Pam,…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Terry D.
David, brown sugar milk gets all the love -- and for good reason with…
My kids and I visited this shop before Easter 2020 and I owe them a decent review. Ordering was easy as it was done in a kiosk. Loved the drinks and french macarons we had. The aesthetics of their drinks were also A+ Unexpectedly, we were given an extra milk tea with boba as an Easter gift which we find very sweet for them to do. The drive from San Fernando Valley was definitely worth it. Will definitely go back again. read more
I ordered the coconut pineapple smoothie and I really liked it. I forgot to ask for 50% less sugar so it was pretty sweet. There was more pineapple flavor than coconut but I still enjoyed it very much. Staff was very cheerful and nice; great smile on. Decorations were cute. There are some tables and seats for sitting, but can be limited in the afternoon whenever everyone is wanting boba. There's paid parking available in the Blossom Plaza, as well as there is a lot behind the block for $5. Meter parking is limited and hard to find. This is my 2nd time coming back and probably my preferred place for Boba in the area. read more
3 years ago
I love Bubble U!! The drinks are always so good and the boba is very sweet and squishy :) I always get the Luna Matcha which comes with a foam on top with a little drawing. Its so cute omg. I stopped by during Thanksgiving and there was a little thanksgiving turkey design on it ()b The workers are also super sweet! I just wish that there was a way to contact them over the phone. read more
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Terry D.
This made our day -- so happy the Luna Matcha and those seasonal foam…
You can see the super cute latte art on the top. Bubble U makes great tasting tea. I had the melon cream drink that was rich is the smooth flavor of honeydew. I also ordered this HK style curry fish ball and on doordash there's no picture or description, but here's a picture. It comes with 5-6 individually wrapped curry flavored fish balls that tasted like fish sausage. read more
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Terry D.
Glad the melon cream hit home -- that honeydew flavor is a customer…
3 years ago
Best boba I've had in a long time. First sip was a little bittersweet which I was sad because I like my drinks on the sweeter side- but once you try the boba it's sweet and mixes with the drink perfectly. Really good my only complaint is that it seemed like you had to order off the screens which is ok but I like doing it in person. read more
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Terry D.
Love that the boba made the whole thing come together for you. Next…
They had some interesting teas but what I didn't like about this place was on a Sunday at 2 pm they didn't have regular boba. They only had agave boba, which tasted weird kind of like Angel boba or white pearl bobas. We ended up getting the matcha strawberry with grass jelly and agave boba. The boba really didn't taste great but the tea was decent. However, for the boba and two toppings it was $9.30, which is on the pricer side. You also don't have direct contact with staff since you have to order on a kiosk in the shop. Thus, they are card only but they do accept Apple Pay, just no cash. read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
We get it -- agave boba is an acquired taste, and running out on a…
DRINK: Got the boba milk tea. The milk tea base is incredibly different from most competitors. It has a very distinct mellow taste and little to no aroma. Boba is softer and smaller than usual. The boba is the size between mini boba and regular boba. Nice cup too. I'll acknowledge that's it's good but the tea base is too different for me to cope with. SERVICE: Amazing as balls. VENUE: Small little shop with modern vibes and adorable decor. Hidden in Chinatown right across Bank of America. I didn't drive but I bet free parking will be a bitch lmao. read more
5 years ago
Stopped by here on my day off- got there pretty much when they opened. The concept of just using a machine to order and pay is nice during Covid but only when it actually works lol. I was able to order but not pay since there was an error so I had to order through the mobile app. The drink also didn't look as exciting as any of the photos they posted online which was disappointing because let's be real, we are really getting these teas for some nice ig photos too. Otherwise, I like that they milk alternative options. Can't say it was mind blowing especially since there are so many boba places in LA. read more
4 years ago
Excellent boba with fast service and easy ordering process. I recommend you try it and check it out for yourself read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Candy, thank you! Fast service and easy ordering are exactly what…
Their drinks and boba or jelly are pretty good! We got the honey black milk tea with the Sakura boba and the taro milk tea with golden boba. The honey milk tea is really good and the perfect sweetness when we asked for 50% sugar. The Sakura boba is more of a konjac jelly than boba and is really fragrant and floral so it was a little off putting at first and overpowering. It would definitely work better with a fruit tea but it was still new, good and very pretty! The taro tastes good and the bobs is a nice chewy texture. read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Your taro and honey milk tea review is gold! We love when people…
8 years ago
Very cute, small, and clean boba shop in the middle of Chinatown. Their golden boba is amazing! Nice and soft chewy texture with the perfect amount of sweetness. All the boba inside my drink were consistent without any being hard or clumpy. However, I thought their drinks were lacking a little in flavor. I got the Earl Grey Fresh Milk Tea with 75% sweetness and less ice. The drink had barely any sweetness or any tea flavor to it. It tasted like I was just drinking milk with 25% sweetness to it. If I didn't get the boba, it would have been a pretty depressing drink. The boba really made up for it! My two other friends got different drinks and thought their drinks didn't taste like much either but also really enjoyed the boba. read more
Cute spot for boba. The experience is hands free from start to finish using a kiosk. The menu is easy to navigate and understand, and drinks are fully customizable. The burned pineapple drink was amazing, and the the passion fruit ice green tea was exactly what I expected after my customizations. read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Eve, thanks for getting what we're building with the kiosk…
6 years ago
We came to try the maple boba tea. By name I didn't expect this to basically be a very pulpy grapefruit or lychee type drink but that's OK cause I actually really enjoyed that. If I got this again I would order it sweeter to balance out the bitterness of the fruit but overall it was still tasty. Also they put a good amount of boba which was nice. read more
6 years ago
I love this place! This place has some of the best boba drinks I've had. I found this place through Yelp when I was eating down the street in Chinatown. Very cute place (pre-covid) and now they have an ordering station or you can place your order online for pick-up. So far I've tried the Rose Matcha, Passionfruit Smoothie and Black Sugar Fresh Milk Tea.. they're all very good! The boba is also super chewy but soft. Price is also comparable to most places and they also don't skimp on the size. Definitely a must try whenever you're in the area. read more
5 years ago
Not sure what the rave is about. I had the Thai milk tea. It tasted water down. Boba was not exceptional. I would not go out of my way for this. However, I am not a local. This could be the best around the neighborhood. It is close to Queen's bakery. So that's a plus! read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Thanks for giving us a shot! Our Thai milk tea is made with real…
4 years ago
Their cups! Their cups are so innovative! I love how you can cap the straw hole and un-cap it when you put your straw in. I was so amazed by the design. I ordered the taro smoothie with oat milk and 50% sweetness. My friends and I were pleased with our drink choices. Cool spot to just grab a drink and go. iPads and workers are available to order front. Probably best boba spot for Chinatown! read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Our sustainable cups are designed to make the experience special --…
3 years ago
I frequent this boba shop often! Street Parking can be difficult as it's in the heart of Chinatown. It is a cute small shop with few tables for sitting. The drinks are sooo good almost every time. Once in a while, I'll order a drink I don't love. We ordered the strawberry paradise and Oreo smoothie this time. The Oreo smoothie was amazing! The strawberry paradise tasted mostly of milk - make sure to mix it up! read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Ging, you're awesome! So glad the Oreo smoothie was a win -- that…
7 years ago
Was passing through chinatown and we had some time to kill so we wanted to check out a tea place and sit and chill. I had their black tea with salted cheese with 50%. It was very light sweet, not as sweet as I would've liked compared to when I get 50 sweet from other places, so I would recommend playing around with 75% or regular sweet to find your ratio. The tea was good! Black tea with salted cheese has become my new go-to, a classic. The owner was really nice and delivered the drinks to our table. He even offered to him know if we needed anything else. Great customer service. Parking is tough since there's hardly any street parking available, so you're better off paying $5 for all day parking when you see one of the lots. Howling Ray's is nearby too! read more
First impression... the cups are really nice. You will definitely not have any leaking issues with these. I got the rose matcha with sakura agar jelly and I gotta say it's a must try. The flavors are well balanced without one overpowering the other. I also got it at the 50% sweetness level and it was still pretty sweet. Just a heads up it might be a bit of a wait but well worth it! read more
8 years ago
I've been here twice and can honestly say, this place has good quality tea. The first time around I casually came across, since my parents were shopping at the local Chinatown flea market. I had the Luna Matcha and it was delicious. It was very light, not heavy at all. It tasted like Chrysanthemum tea with matcha and their foam. So gOOd. The second time I came here was this past weekend, and it was just in time for their J-Hope event! I brought my friends to try this place since we were in the area, and had no idea they were doing a cute event for BTS' J-Hope's birthday! They had several photos of him up and played BTS music videos as well as his v-live on the screens. They were putting cup sleeves of him on the drinks and gave away special photocards that they designed. It was super cute. I ordered the Rose Matcha with boba and it totaled out to $6. It's pretty pricey for the drink, but I definitely think since I did get the J-hope cup sleeve and the photocards, it was worth it. The drink was a perfect balance of rose and matcha. The boba was phenomenal. It wasn't your typical regular sized boba, but it wasn't mini boba either. It was just in the middle and it was so soft. I thoroughly enjoyed my drink. Out of my friend group however, they liked my drink the best and didn't enjoy their drinks as much. Overall, I definitely recommend this place! Luna Matcha is a good choice if you want something different but also light! Rose Matcha is also a good choice if you're a fan of those two flavors! Can't wait to come again~ read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
Fresh fruit smoothies, so refreshing! Tried Berry crush and Golden Hawaiian. Berry crush with 25% sweetness and boba was perfect for my taste as the boba adds some sweetness as well. Good summer drinks I must say! read more
6 years ago
Every time I've been in Chinatown, I've stopped by to grab boba here. It's a bit on the pricier end but definitely has good quality drinks and excellent service. Orders can be placed contactless now through a kiosk at the front door. I ordered: Creamy Strawberry w/ Pearl Boba (4/5): A pretty solid option if you're not looking for a more smoothie-like drink! The tornado brulee made this drink super aesthetically pleasing and the boba was good and chewy. My only critique was that the strawberry flavor was somewhat weak even after I mixed the drink. read more
8 years ago
I'm visiting from Orlando and while I'm Chinatown, LA I wanted to grab a quick Boba or Tea while I shopped and explored. Bubble U stood out to me because the decor was modern and very simplistic in a sea of red lanterns and popup shops. I had no idea what to order so I looked and Yelp to get an idea of how their drinks looked. When I walked up to the counter even after study Yelp I had no idea what I wanted. The cashier helped me arrive at a delicious raspberry situation with lychee added-yum! I love how you can mix up the menu to fit your tastebuds or start from scratch. Presentation was on point. My drink looked just like the photo! My drink arrived fast and one of the staff members even snapped a photo of me with my customized drink. I would definitely suggest you use your resources when ordering if you're being adventurous. If you're hip to tea shops then I'd suggest you mix it up. Definitely a super cute spot and I would recommend you stop by if you're in the area. read more
5 years ago
This little boba shop is so cute! Drinks can be customized in regards to ice level, sweetness, and some drinks can even be made with dairy free alternatives. I ordered the brown sugar milk tea with boba, YUM YUM! They didn't disappoint :-) My boyfriend ordered a strawberry matcha tea because someone else ordered it first and it looked yummy. It definitely looks better BEFORE you mix it. After it turns greenish brown but still tastes delicious. I gave 4/5 stars because everything is contactless. You order your drink on a kiosk, pay, input your phone number, and they text you to come back wen your drink is ready. That's all awesome in our post Covid world but there isn't anyone to recommend you a drink or answer questions unless you count other customers inside the shop. I would love to see someone manning the counter or at least near the counter for those purposes. Even the people who make your drink are behind a large wall. You can't see them make your drink or know the cleanliness of the kitchen or folks behind the wall. When your drink is done you get a text and someone sets down your drinks and runs away, lol Either way I would 100% come back to try another drink in the future. read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
Heather, we love that you're ready to come back! The contactless…
This China Town is weak but at least I stumbled upon Bubble U. The Honey Green Milk Tea with Taro Pudding was a good balance of sweet and the taro pudding gave it a smooth jello texture. I recommend the boba here as it is perfectly cooked. It's soft and not slimy at all and the balls are little smaller than average. The popcorn chicken had a really nice seasoning and when you get it spicy it's actually spicy. The sweet potatoes fries are pretty basic. It could use larger salt flakes and side of sauce. The cafe can get busy but the line moves quickly. read more
6 years ago
I'd like to make an argument that Bubble U is one of the best boba places I've ever been to. I ordered the tiramisu iced coffee drink along with the berry crush drink. Both drinks tasted fresh and were made within 7-8 minutes. The lychee and boba was also great! read more
8 years ago
Nice little tea place located in Chinatown, but the drinks here are okay. Came here after a walk around Chinatown last Sunday. I ordered the Thai Tea smoothie which was all right, it had a decent taste of Thai tea flavor. The interior of this joint is small and the staff here are friendly. There are other drinks I would like to try such as Tiramisu iced coffee which sounds like a delightful drink. Overall this is a nice little spot to grab a drink when you are in the area or finish eat Howling Rays and need a refreshing drink. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Terry D.
Jessie, we hear you on the melon cream delight! We're always rotating…
3 years ago
Business owner information
Terry D.
Thank you for providing a detailed account of the situation.…
6 years ago
I tried the matcha rose bubble tea and it was pretty good! Neither of the flavors over powered each other and you could still taste both. The boba was a good chewy consistency but not the best I've had. It's a little on the pricey end if you get their specialties. Overall, would come back again. Everything was covid safe and you order at a kiosk and wait outside for your drink. read more
5 years ago
Wow. This place is so delicious. I got the lavender. Yum. Get the pearls in your drink too. They're very sweet, but not too sweet. read more
Business owner information
Terry D.
So glad the lavender hit right for you, Gary! Those pearls are…
8 years ago
Loved their unique kind of flavors here! They have a lot of matcha drinks to choose from which I really appreciate and I went with the Luna matcha tea. It comes with 3 different things inside the drink which I forgot what it was but you're supposed to mix it all up before you drink it. It has a super cute design on top of the drink. I also got boba with it and I was glad I did. My bf got the burn burn latte which he really liked as well. You can really taste the tea and it wasn't so sweet to the point that you can't taste anything but sugar, which was a plus! I had a sip of it and I liked it as well The tea is fresh and I would love to try the other drinks that they have as well. They had some specialty drinks that looked really good. read more
More info about Bubble U
819 Santee St
Ste 111
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Downtown
Directions
(213) 905-8398
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Ask the Community - Bubble U
Does the lavender bubble tea have any dairy if subbed with almond milk?
Nope. No dairy
What coffee drink would you recommend that isn't too sweet?
Most drinks can adjust the sweetness. We highly recommend the Sea Salt Coffee. Sugar level options: 25%, 50%, 75%, regular or no sugar.
Is there outdoor seating during Covid times?
Dear customer, There are public facilities to sit outside.
Which one is their regular milk tea?
Signature black. I get it with extra creamy milk, which I believe is just Strauss barista milk, which all the good coffee shops use to make lattes. it's the best in town guaranteed. Only other place that comes close is miss cheese.
Do they sell red bean smoothies?
No, only taro, oreo cookie, matcha, thai tea, mango, strawberry banana, and coconut pineapple smoothie.
Is the rose matcha vegan?
Rose Matcha could be vegan if substitutes with almond/soy/oat milk.
Are the bubble teas gluten free? Can the Taro be made gluten and dairy free?
I just asked and they said that the boba not sure that it is gluten free. But the taro is made dairy free.
Do they have Strawberry milk tea?
We will have a natural strawberry milk tea coming out Around April. We use fresh natural strawberry and no syrup. Highly recommended!
Is their student discount a wide known thing or do you have to ask them?
Hi, We gave student discount for his/her drink when students provide ID and proved they are students. Student discount is limited one drink for each student. Feel free to…
Do your milk teas use dairy free creamer or have dairy free options?
Hi Emily, Our regular milk tea are dairy creamer. We also provided almond milk and soy milk as an option.
Do you guys have a parking lot? I tried finding street parking but its almost impossible where you guys are located.
Dear Millicent, Thank you for interested Bubble U! Unfortunately, there are no parking lot provide for our location. It’s a big problem for our guests who are not living in…
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