A great place for boba! I wanted to write this review because of their service the other day. Very busy and crowded but the workers were all so helpful! Some rowdy teenagers came in and gave a lot of attitude to the workers when they announced they were out of boba and chicken for the night. But the workers took it like a champ! Since they were out of boba, I opted for the fruit jelly and mango green tea! A little bit on the sweet side, so I recommend going 50-75% sweetness. A fun place to get a sweet treat late at night! I'll keep in mind to come earlier to get boba next time! read more

Pros: Fast service, clean, late night hours, free student upsize, good drinks, adjustable sweetness, sweet potato fries, crispy chicken Cons: Pricy to go regularly, the line gets long, pretty loud inside, limited seating With Irvine culture being obsessed with boba, a vast market of options have sprung up to fill the demand, but none seem to come to par with Cha. The sleek, redesigned look set a fun and polished vibe to the crown jewel of the University Center. Hangouts seem to always start or end with a mango green tea, and that's thanks to Cha's hours that accommodate the university lifestyle better than most of Irvine (which tend to close around 11). The University Center has a lot of parking, but peak hours tend to get a bit frustrating. Once in the store, menus are conveniently placed in the front and 3-5 self-serve samples of popular drinks are provided. The staff is always friendly and orders come out in only a few minutes. When in Irvine, Cha for tea is a 100% must-try. read more

Cha For Tea - Classic mango green tea with boba, half sweet $4.60 with free student upsize! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

The almond milk tea was really good, but I was a little underwhelmed with the milk tea selection. Fortunately, almond is one of the flavors I usually default to, so I was glad to see it on the menu. I adjusted the sweetness to be lower and it was still plenty sweet! I also tried the dirty cajun dumplings... They were fine. I probably wouldn't order them again (not sure what was cajun besides the seasoning on top), but they weren't bad. The sauce that came with them was just not impressive at all, so that kind of put a damper on the whole dish. read more

Great authentic boba tea with some food offerings (snacks as well as meals). If you've never been here, I'd definitely recommend the mango green tea. You can customize the sweetness of your drink as well as request substitutions for syrup (like splenda or equal). read more

Great boba/food, fast service, fair prices, very accessible for UCI students. Everything is always freshly made.

Long line most of the time but its in a college center so what can you do . they make drinks super quick & i've never had better boba. I like the drinks too but the boba itself is the best i've ever had! and I've had a lot. I recommend the passion fruit mint refresher read more

Tried this place out instead of Snow Monster. We were satisfied! The interior looks very cutesy and clean. There are samples available for people to try; I liked them all but they were a bit too sweet (so adjust when you order). I liked their almond milk tea better than most places. The rosebud drink was refreshing. I ended up ordering the honey milk tea with 3 pumps instead of four, and it was still quite sweet. It was pricey for the size. The boba was absolutely perfect. The service was good. Update: Went here for a conference! Service was great! read more

After recently moving from the east coast, I have been on a hunt for a good Boba tea spot in orange county. I've tried more than a dozen places since I've settled out here and this is the first spot that compelled me to write a review. Southern California felt like an oasis of tea drinks when compared to the desert landscape that was Pennsylvania. The thing that sets this place apart from others is how good the Boba actually is. Them balls always be soft and chewy in the right way. Drinks are pretty standard, but always consistent. It can get busy though, so if you plan on coming by, avoid peak hours. Staff and management are always friendly, especially considering how busy it gets. read more

I like how I can order my milk teas less sweet here! Love the honey green milk tea, milk tea, and the regular teas (rose, green, etc). A bit on the pricey side but love it anyhoo. (: read more

My friend recommended this place. It was 1 in the morning and nothing else was open. I was legit craving boba. I got the almond black milk tea and wow was I amazed. It's cool how they have samples for everything including food so you can get a taste of what each item taste like :) I enjoy the atmosphere and how the workers are very friendly. I love how they show you what the most popular items are. Highly recommend this place. It's worth the drive read more

Cha For Tea - Small - almond black milk tea with boba - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

My favorite place to get boba in OC, hands down! I always order the mango green milk tea or the almond milk tea. They're both delicious and I like to adjust the sweetness level since half sweet is still fairly sweet enough. They usually have a line out the door but it's worth it! read more

The Mount Rushmore of boba spots goes to cha for tea. The boba balls are made fresh and fluffy but with integrity. I've never had better boba tea in my life. Hats off. Thai milk tea with boba is my favorite. Enjoy. read more

One of my go-to places for good tea drinks and small bites! Been going here since the college days

Cha is a staple for me, even though I live and work in North OC. The teas are always spot on, even with different percentages of sugar and ice. No matter how crowded, they nearly always get the drinks right. Since I usually order 4-8 drinks for the week, it's important to get those things right. My standard is green tea with no sugar and no ice, which takes some getting used to for people who aren't used to the astringency. Otherwise, boba milk tea and passion fruit green tea are my jams. I love the peach mint refresher, but it's a little sweet for me to have all the time. Also, their food is quick and good. Fried tofu and popcorn chicken hit the spot every time. This place can get crowded and sometimes new people walk up and get scared by the crowds and speed of the place, but trust me, they're nice and you can take a chance on just about anything and hit the target. read more

The almond black milk tea is always my favorite here. I love that they use non dairy creamer. Drinks here are really sweet so I suggest lowering the sugar levels. read more

Cha For Tea - Almond Black Milk Tea, Mango Green Tea and Crispy Chicken Snack - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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it's not worth a long drive like it used to be, but it's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. i'm not into the super milky/fruity drinks and imo the tea here is is in the decent/good range, but the boba itself is top notch. if you're into spicy, asian style nuggets, the fried chicken is fucking great too. unless you have a complicated drink order i would recommend ordering online to skip the line, but the wait usually isn't as bad as it looks. my order: -jasmine green tea with boba, half sweet. -fried chicken (mild) read more

Really good boba I would recommend it a lot it tasted very yummy except I wish I had gotten it less sweet. I like that they let you have samples while you're waiting in line which makes it seem more fun and fancy. The hot boba is really good I didn't have it but my friend did and I wish I got it especially in the night time. Warning though even the green tea made me go a little bit crazy there must be lots of caffeine or maybe that was just me okay thanks bye love boba I got the honey green milk tea with soy milk perfect vegan option for all my fellow vegans out there ok bye thanks Really close to the Barkley Barclays don't know how to spell it theater which is great because you can drink your boba for a little bit and then drink the rest while you walk to the theater that's what we did and we saw a wonderful trio play it was awesome very good thanks read more

Cha For Tea - Plenty of comfortable seating for all your pals - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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I just got my drink without ice tasted like water sugar almost like factory tea bar in bolsa cup look like Togo places

My friends and I have been coming here for years. Love the staff here and their drinks! Their hot jasmine boba tea is probably one of the best I've had. Would highly recommend! read more

This place is great! I love their taro milk tea so much and their boba is some of the best! I love the quality and texture of the boba! Their drinks are pretty good if you ask me! I am in love with the crispy chicken as much as their taro milk tea! Only downside is the line is always long for some reason. Every time I go for some reason I have to wait at least 30 minutes maybe even longer. All in all though, definitely a great boba place to go to! read more

Boba is almost always fresh/soft/warm! They are busy but still will make time to answer questions. I tend to stick with jasmine milk tea 50% sweetness. And I LOVE their chicken bites and dumplings. read more

Delicious drinks, highly recommended the mango green milk tea with boba with regular sweetness & the mango green tea with boba. Tasty food, would highly recommend their crispy chicken appetizer- Mild/Medium spice level with the sweet & sour sauce. Service is always great, fast and friendly staff. Very spacious with lots of seating available for dining in. I also love that they offer ordering online for takeout, so convenient and easy. With that being said, It is always busy so expect a line or order ahead to save time! read more

Their food is just okay, BUT all of their drinks are absolutely fantastic! Parking can be a bit tricky with it being so packed on the university campus, but it's totally worth waiting in line to enjoy some boba while catching up with a friend. The drinks are still much more affordable for the value and quality of their ingredients! read more

Exterior = 3/5 This is located in the back of a plaza which has a couple entry points. Parking is a little hard since it is shared with a bunch of eateries and it's along a curve. I can see it getting very packed during dinner time. I haven't had an issue yet (thank goodness) since I usually pass by for a snack in the mid afternoon. I can see the place being a little sketch at night. There are some tables outside if you want to sit and enjoy your food/drink and not be inside. Interior = 4/5 As soon as you enter, there is a tasting table that holds about four of the teas on their menu. Usually I have seen the mango green tea, almond milk tea, and a regular brewed tea. Next to the table is the cashier and then you have the tables all in one section. I bet this place gets packed during finals because I saw a lot of people studying, which I assume is because Cal Poly is next door. You can probably have a group of four here and hang out but any bigger might be a space issue. The tasting table being so close to the door can also pose a problem if people are crowding around and drinking. This crowd could also blend in with the line that's trying to order. What I'm trying to say is that the entrance of the store could get packed easily cause of how it is organized. Service = 5/5 They are pretty quick about getting your order. I would say the samples do help to make up your mind if you are teetering on options. They even have food samples next to the cashier - just be sure to ask since they serve it for you. Order = 5/5 Mango green tea: this has been my go to drink. It tastes like you are biting into a mango. I mean you can taste the after taste of green tea. Those who drink green tea know that semi dry feeling in leaves in your mouth (and I mean the brewed green tea, not matcha milk tea). I usually get this just as is in regards to sweetner. You can get it less sweet which my mom does and she loves that. I also get light ice. Popcorn chicken: I like this. It's a simple snack. Crunch on the outside, soft on the inside. They give you some sweet and sour sauce like every other boba shop. No complaints here. Overall = 4/5 I love coming to Cha for Tea. The service is quick and the drink I usually go for is good and super refreshing in my book. It's just a good place to hangout and relax or grab something to go. Hint = get samples, they will help you be less indecisive - or make it worse (hah). read more

FIVE STARS FOR THE BOBA!! It's so soft and the right amount of chewy and idk how anyone who likes boba can complain about it. Also five stars because they have a little counter with samples which I think is great, and they have samples of food! I usually get the almond milk tea, which I think tastes different here than from most places. read more

Cha For Tea - mango green tea & almond milk tea!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Ordered black milk tea with roasted brown sugar boba, pork sausage and crispy chicken. I love everything! Good food and value for money. Will def order again! read more

Post-remodel review update (last one for this place was 2009)... So this location doesn't offer those yummy entrees anymore! Just snacks like crunchy chicken or crispy dumplings. Disappointing, considering that the location didn't seem to gain any more seating space. I ordered a Matcha Green Tea cooler with boba. I had a coupon from Irvine Co. for a free upgrade. It was honored without issue, the clerk just said that you needed to pay with CASH to honor that coupon. No big deal, but wished it would've said that on the coupon. The drink was practically flavorless. I've tasted Matcha Green Tea Frappucinos from Starbucks with more flavor than this - and Cha for Tea is a tea house! The boba was decent, chewy and sweet - but the rest of the drink was very underwhelming. Drinks came out relatively quick after ordering - there isn't much seating inside the cafe, but plenty outside. Cha for Tea is right next to the UTC Fountain gym, if you're a PokemonGo player. They should consider bringing back entrees. read more

The taro milk tea is really good! This location gets super busy so expect a line and a bit of a wait.

Cha for Tea uses real chai tea and it's good! 5 stars because it's rare to find a tea place that has this!

I'm not much of a boba person, but I really enjoyed the boba from Cha! I got the Roasted Brown Sugar Boba Milk Latte which sounds almost as delicious as it is! I was extremely impressed with how clean the establishment was, and how quickly they were able to get my order out to me! As a customer I did feel much safer seeing how well cha for tea followed Covid guidelines! read more

Cha For Tea - Roasted Brown Sugar Boba Milk Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

5/5 Stars. Great boba, great service, short wait, easy to order, one of the few boba places open later at night.

I knew this place was good when I spent an hour eight across from it eating dinner at Luna Grill, noticing that the line was never not out of the door. Of course, there's not a ton of space inside so it only takes about 10-12 people to run it out the door, but still, it was mom-stop! Would bE awesome if they had more space inside, but luckily there's a ton of seating outside. I got the mango tea with fruit jellies and it was delicious! It's also cool that they have samples of their food readily available when you place an order. I can't wait until I'm back in the area to get another tea from this place. On top of this, the employees were all very friendly and everything was super clean. They seemed to have a system down to get people their orders as soon as possible and it worked! read more

I've been coming to this location for years ever since I went to school nearby. The drinks have changed over the years but always remain top quality. Their boba is the perfect chewiness and sweetness. Although they can get pretty busy, their customer service is always top notch and efficient. If you have any issues with your drink, you can always ask them to change something and they'll get it done quickly. read more

Came for late night boba and snacks with friends. This was my first time here. There's a little area where you can sample various teas while you're waiting in line which was very nice. A short line but wait time was okay. Workers were friendly. Their prices are good. - Honey milk green tea: delicious! Could definitely taste the honey and green tea. Great flavor. I sampled the regular sweetness which was too sweet. I found 4 pumps for the large size to be perfect. The boba was perfectly chewy and sweet, there were a few inconsistent ones but overall very good. - Mango iced tea with boba: refreshing sweet tea with nice mango flavor. Either jelly or no boba may be a better option for this one. - Crispy tofu: skip this! It was so bland, I couldn't take it...just made me sadder as I tried to eat it. Like eating flavorless cardboard or something. It was crispy but not even salted. A little bit of seasoning would go a long way! The "sweet and sour" sauce is absolutely disgusting. It's like that yellow overly sweet sauce from Chinese take out packets or something. Please improve this! - Popcorn chicken: crispy, juicy, everyone seemed to like it - Dumplings: meh, skip it. Tasted like boiled frozen dumplings Everyone in our group really enjoyed their drinks but the snacks seemed to be hit or miss. Would definitely get the honey green milk tea with boba again! read more

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Today the staff was singing and laughing, which is fine, except they messed up 2 out of 3 things on our order.

Let's just say I understand why the line is always so long. Even so, drinks are always made and delivered super fast! Drink adjustments (sweetness levels, ice levels, etc.) are always true to the %, contrary to other bobas where even ordering 0% sweetness would result in an overly sugary beverage. Even cooler is the endless mixtures and combinations you could request for your drink. Not on the menu? Ask for it yourself! The cha workers are also so kind and eager to make your drink too. read more

LOVE, so so good the boba here is my favorite. I 100% recommend.

Very Rude employees they have. I also read their reviews and noticed the Finger Lady Manager. I must say she was Rude and absolutely not polite. They don't care about customer service. read more

My favorite place to pick up tea boba. DRINK: Mango Green Tea with boba. I personally do not like too much syrup so I requested half sweetened and it was perfect for my preference. Quality boba! Always soft and easy to chew on. FOOD: The cajun dumplings are a must try! Properly seasoned and delicious for anytime out of the day. read more

This has long been the go-to spot for UCI students craving boba tea. Its convenient location definitely makes it the most accessible boba shop for UCI students in between classes, or even those who live in the surrounding off-campus UTC apartments. Location aside, Cha went through a significant renovation this past year and the interior definitely is a whole lot cleaner, chic, and modern. However, removing entrees and only offering appetizers now (in terms of food) is a disappointing change that came along with it. The teas and toppings are actually really limited compared to just about any other boba chain. Having only a few options available, you find yourself having the same thing over and over again after a while. That being said, Cha manages to do a decent job with their drinks so at least the quality is there. I guess I've gotten quite bored with Cha's current menu, so I find myself rarely there anymore. But whenever I do go (and not during noon hours where there are literally hordes of underclassmen and frat kids), I can be pretty confident in getting a consistent product. In the future, I'd really like to see Cha expand their menu and explore new options (rather than cutting current choices out!). read more