I'm no boba expert, but I do like the consistency of the tapioca balls here. The boba is soft and chewy, never hard. And Cha makes a mean almond milk tea - hot or cold! read more

I like this place! The workers are always super nice and friendly! They're generous with their samples of dumplings and potstickers and their variety of teas too! This makes it convenient to try a flavor before you risk buying a whole drink of something you might not like! Their almond tea is good hot or iced! I also like their milk tea, honey milk tea, and honey green milk tea! Their boba is fairly chewy and good but I've had better somewhere else Overall, this place is good for a drink and also some food! read more

They have a delicious mango green tea! This place is super quick serving up the tastiest drinks you can think of! Think of it like a mini corner coffee shop that is always full of excitement and energy in the air.. You can also try the samples they leave near the entrance if you are ever wondering what to get! read more

Not the cheapest milk tea place around, but it definitely serves quality teas! Despite the fact that it's the only boba place within walking distance of UC Irvine, minus MJ Cafe Express which a further way away, it's pretty darn good. Located within the University Town Center plaza, it's super convenient for those late night boba runs. The shop itself is relatively small, but they also serve food which ranges from snacks like popcorn chicken to meals like basil chicken (which is also very good). They also offer samples of different kinds of teas you can order like honey green milk tea, rose tea, and others to help you decide what drink to order. They also sample some of their food which can be tasted upon request at the counter. The boba is slightly smaller than I'm used to, which isn't a problem; it was just interesting to realize the first time I tried it. My favorite drink is the honey green milk tea with boba, quarter sweetened. The tea is strong and isn't overpowered by any unnecessary sweetness, at least not if you adjust it. The workers are also very nice, which is always a good thing! read more

Great teas here. They have the best tasting boba balls too. Soft and chewy even after being in the frig for awhile

Tbh the drinks are really good despite everyone going on and on about how it's overhyped for being near uci. I do think it's a tad on the expensive end and sometimes there's too long of a line but if there isn't too long of a line it's definitely worth giving it a shot. The honey green milk tea and earl gray milk tea are my solid go to's. They're pretty good either cold or hot. Can't really comment on the boba topping itself as I haven't gotten it here. The hours are pretty good too as I often pop it for a late milk tea. read more

Cha For Tea is a nice place to get your boba fix if you're on UCI's campus. They also have other food you can get. My favorite is popcorn chicken and I'm always satisfied after eating it. Cha usually has samples of it out if you're not sure if you want it. They also have samples of the different teas they offer. My favorite is Honey Green Milk Tea. The boba is soft and chewy and the drink is really sweet. I usually ask for less sugar because it is too sweet for my liking but after adjusting the sugar, it tastes really good. The only two downsides to this place are: it gets really crowded and the price isn't that good. I love Cha but it's honestly a once in awhile thing for me since their prices are a little too high for me. But other than that, I recommend going here! read more

Cha For Tea - Honey Green Milk Tea with Boba - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Tacky? Yes. Overpriced? Yes. I would probably give this place 2 stars if it wasn't for their crispy chicken meal and/or almond black milk tea. Also, I remember asking for a job application when I was in college. The manager was really hesitant to give me one. Maybe it's because I was the only 6''3' non-Asian in the building. read more

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5 stars for having the best boba in Orange County. I've tried countless boba tea spots all over OC and nothing beats Cha's boba. The boba is fresh, soft, large, and sweet 90% of the time. Sometimes boba is not sweet. Mango ice tea with boba is my go to. Service always friendly. I would skip the fried chicken pieces. Too fatty. read more

super yummy, sometimes long line but worth it! i love the mango green tea with pearls, it's my favorite. a lot of other flavors are good too! read more

This review is for the supervisor name Allen. I have been coming to this location to get chicken combo. I spoke to him on the phone and told him that the corn I got today tasted bad and spoiled. I know this because I order the same food all the time. I didn't expect anything in return or anything, but I just want to let him know that they should check it . He seems to be arrogant and wasn't paying attention what to I'm saying. Go back to training! Basic customer service is apologize , acknowledge and see how you can help. read more

Would recommend their Mango Green Tea and their popcorn chicken mild spice (since I can't handle spice all that well). Honestly, I would recommend ordering ahead online because the line can get really long during peak hours. read more

It's definitely a great place to get boba, plus their chicken is fire! The sweetness may be a bit much, but at least they let you change your intake. read more

Can't believe there could be so many mistakes happening in our 3 meals order. Two of the crispy chickens were very spicy even though we ordered with a mild level. The label on top shows corn as the side order but it is missing inside. Less spicy will always be accepted but that's not the case. read more

Came here at coworker's insistence. Tried the wonton noodle soup. If there was less cabbage and more wontons, that'd be better. Also wontons had no shrimp in them, just ground pork and veggies and any chinese girl knows that a wonton has to have shrimp! It was good and light but I'd recommend getting the egg noodles instead of the glass noodles b.c the whole thing just felt like eating veggie air. I was starving 1.5 hours later. We dined in and I was pleasantly surprised by the fairly attentive service, waiters came by to ask us how things were going! Also, coworker and I dined in but we were taking food to-go and they made her crispy chicken meal for us right before we left. VERY considerate. Also they serve taiwanese sausage like Sinbala in Arcadia so it's good to know of another place that serves this yummy no-fail dish. Also smelled the intoxicating aroma of almond milk tea. Must get this sometime. Plus the citrus green tea I sampled? DELISH. read more

I love getting my drinks here and the customer service (experience) is awesome!! They are always friendly and always giving out samples!! This is located across from UCI and I am not a student, but they are open late and the drinks, food, and service is always great. It is loud and maybe expensive for students, but I love it here. They have fun here and very friendly to all the customers. YOU GUYS ROCK! I was here last Wednesday and the guy making my drink asked if the drink doesn't meet my satisfaction, let him know. I was like "WOW" - thanks for letting me know. The drink was perfect. This place is so much better than Tea Station - alittle too snobby for me. read more

Last year, I had to give up their almond milk tea for Lent. That is how good it is. You can tell the difference between other places that use powder and then Cha using leaves. [By the way, opening up next to UC Irvine was the best decision they have ever made. seriously, talk about location, location, location. Cha-for-freaking-ching!! (wow that sounds passably racist. it's not.)] During the 40 days I got to stop drinking all my calories AND saved at least $60 (6 weeks times a $5 drink twice a week). Totaling this up was enough to convince me to quit completely. Yes, cute little green leaf stirrer, as much as I love you and am your slave, I just can't afford you anymore. But wow, was it amazing while it lasted. read more

Been here twice, first time was very meh. The taro flavored tea was so so sweet it was hard to swallow. I got on yelp, and everyone here seems to love the California green tea so I tried it on my second go. Absolutely love. I tried the almond too, and it was very good as well. But as it still stands, the food STILL sucks. If it's not deep fried death then it's just soggy and bland. Besides that, it's a cool place to hang out, lots of people in and out and the service is decent. read more

This is one of my favorite tea places ever! It's so tasty and flavorful, and I really like the service here. It can be a little expensive, but I really don't mind spending the extra money because the drink is delicious! But you should watch what you order, because it can go wrong :(. Just stick to the stuff you sample, or the classic milk teas. read more

This location is a little bit smaller than the Long Beach and Alhambra locations. They do not have a lot of indoor seating compared to the other two locations I mention. Came here on a Saturday evening after the UCI vs. UCSB Men's basketball game for a quick bite. The staff were quite welcoming and recommended a few of their favorite selections. We ordered our usual: sweet potato fries with condensed milk, fried tofu with soy sauce, the crispy chicken entree, and a peach green tea with aloe vera. They didn't have the tea I wanted, which was the Love Potion. :( Overall, the food and tea satisfied our bellies. Note: If you pay with cash, they will give you a 5% discount off your bill. :) read more

Ever since 85 has been sucking. I go here if I don't want to to drive to Milk + Honey. I don't care for the service here because it's way over the top and artificial. Sometimes the drinks are overly sweet but here are my personal favorites: - California Green Tea (really refreshing, slightly citrus tasting but smooth. Doesn't have that bite of tang a citrus drink would have) - Earl Gray Milk Tea (Really good hot but fine cold too. Darker, richer taste than normal milk tea). - Mango Green Tea (Can sometimes be very sweet but a safe popular drink) Expect to drop 4 - 6 dollars on a drink. A little expensive which makes me kind of stay away but it's not bad for what it is. Also, you get 5% off if you pay with cash. Location is a plus because it's right next to campus. read more

They have samples available for you to taste. Like certain drinks and snacks. Their crispy chicken is good. The meat has a sweet taste. The sweet and sour sauce taste more on the sweet side to me. I recommend the honey milk tea its not too sweet of a drink and is better than regular milk tea The almond milk tea was too sweet for me. If you had almond jelly before you'd know what to expect. Those who have a sweet tooth would like the almond milk tea Seating inside the shop is packed. There's a bunch of college students that go here, there more seating outside near the fountain. I hate how packed it gets though. :| * Bring CASH! There's a 5% discount. read more

This was my favorite place when i went to UCI...merely because of the proximity and late hours. The service is friendly and enthusiastic, and prompt. Other than the California green tea, I don't think their drinks are anything to brag about. I was recommended to get the honey Jasmine milk tea...and I'm a weakling when it comes to people recommending things. Usually when they do, I always say yes because I feel bad turning down their recommendation. I didn't even ask for a recommendation this time but I ordered the Jasmine milk tea and the cashier recommended the honey. I actually don't like honey unless it's mixed with a sauce so honey boba is a no go for me...and Jasmine milk tea is no exception....so I was a little disappointed. The honey was just way too overpowering for the subtleness of the Jasmine Tea I would come here if I happened was in the area around UCI, but i would definitely not drive to that side of Culver for Cha.... read more

I love this place! They have a huge selection of different types of tea, milk teas, slushies, etc. and their food menu is pretty good too. I always end up ordering almond milk tea and the crispy chicken entree. It's a bit pricey for the food you get, in my opinion. Drinks are $4+ and entrees go for around $9. They give you a 5% discount if you use cash! read more

It was just really okay. I knocked off stars for low attention to details. My order was really late and I found out they forgot it. It was under whole bunch of other receipts. I had the mango green tea iced with boba and the original sweet potato fries. If you are not planning to eat the fries right away, it's going to be soggy because of the packaging so don't get it. It's not worth it later on. It's also cheaper when you pay in cash. read more

Excellent service every time I've been here. On busy days they have fresh food samples outside the restaurant as well! They also have samples of some of their drinks, but I've found that they don't taste as good as the freshly made ones (of course). Tried the Love at First Sight and Lychee coolers, as well as the almond milk tea for drinks. As for their food, I tried the crispy dumplings, chicken dumplings, and crispy chicken. My favorite drink there is the Love at First Sight. The food I've tried there so far has been pretty good - what makes this place unique is the sauce that they use. I have never tasted one like it. I've never had to get adjustments to my drinks there, but they do offer that as a sort of fine-tuning if you want! read more

I tried their Mango Green Tea while visiting UCI. The tea was alright, a bit too sweet for my taste. If I want another cold drink during the summer, I'll probably visit again. +The employees were very cheery and passed out samples of each kind of tea, which is useful, if you want to know what the drinks taste like. read more

I remember coming to Cha for Tea a couple of years ago and not being impressed but my sister wanted to tour UCI so we came here since it's in the area. PARKING: Huge lot, not a problem. ATMOSPHERE: Kinda like a normal coffee place, a couple of tables and an ordering counter. Not that big. FOOD: I got their "famous" mango green tea with pearls, it was meh. I don't see how it was so famous, it was kind of bland and didn't blow me out of the water. My mom got a slushee type drink and that one seemed more interesting. The pearls are so small! Kinda chewy but not all that tasty. So, it is confirmed that this place is just meh, I've definitely experienced better and figure you only come here if you go to UCI and need a place for a pearl drink that's within walking distance and open late. read more

As much as I love boba, I try not to come here often for two main reasons. First, the prices are quite high especially compared to Lollicup, and as a college student, I just can't afford to have their drinks on a regular basis. Furthermore, this place has a tendency to be quite crowded; if you come here at night, expect a long line. I admit that I've tried only a few of their beverages, so I really can't say much about the overall quality of their drinks. My favorite is the almond milk tea, and every time I order it, I am deeply satisfied. Overall, the service is friendly and quick, and the wait time for your order to be ready usually depends on how packed the place is. However, I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes. All in all, Cha is a decent place for boba (never tried the food, but I've heard mixed reviews), but it is not for you if you don't want to spend much money and/ or you prefer a tea and coffee shop with a quiet, calm atmosphere. read more

Cha for Tea was always my go-to place for boba, especially during high school. My typical visit would result in me getting a mango cooler (or mango green tea) with boba and a spicy crispy chicken. The teas were always good and the taste was usually consistent (some days it was a little too sweet/syrupy but I have a sweet tooth so it wasn't much of a problem). Have tried their entrees a couple times and I remember it was decent but not great. Recently tried their California green tea, which was delicious. Definitely more expensive than other establishments, but definitely a solid place to get your boba fix. read more

A little above average boba place. Pricey. Crowded. But I still frequent this place plenty. I think the best part is that they offer to adjust your drink if you don't like it. I also shamelessly eat the free samples offered there from time to time (not excessively, maybe 3 samples tops(?)). Favorite drinks include: honey green milk tea & peach milk tea. read more

One of the best boba places in Irvine... BUT also one of the most expensive. Don't know if it's because it's near campus and they know a lot of students come, but omg $$$$$$. They usually have someone standing outside before you go in, giving you a small sample of a drink and either a popcorn chicken or potsticker. That's how they get you, cause it's so delicious!! I usually try not give in to buying it cause it's so expensive... for both, but sometimes it's worth the splurge. One time I got both a drink w/ boba and popcorn chicken, and the bag was less than half full... I was so disappointed for something that cost half a chipotle... The line moves pretty fast and they give you a small discount if you pay in cash! I usually don't come unless I get a coupon on campus, or I have friends from out of town who want to try it. read more

Been coming here since my college days Good milk tea options and I always get the popcorn chicken. I'm. It sure what the sauce they provide is called but it goes very well with the chicken. Service is friendly and fast. Limited seating though so coming here to study is a hit or miss read more

Cha definitely serves up quality drinks as many can contest, but we can all agree that if we were all Cha revealed - our wallets would have a field day! So I go here for specific drinks or if I'm too lazy to leave the comfort of the UTC (since it's literally across the street from the UC Irvine campus)! When I was a freshman, this was definitely one of my go-to spots. Since many of the employees are students as well (whether they go to UCI or other nearby schools), they're usually very understanding and patient. They also give out a bunch of samples! If they're not outside asking you if you want to try one of their drinks or snacks, don't you worry! They have samples inside as well. To sample snacks you have to ask because they're under a heating lamp, but usually for the drinks they have a little set-up where you can pour a little to try and see if you like them. Some of my go-to drinks are: the Mango Green Tea, the Almond Milk Tea, and the Honey Green Milk Tea. I have to say that I have tried to get my almond milk tea fix somewhere else other than Cha, but in my personal opinion no one else does it better! Or is have yet to find a place just yet! Drinks here lean on the pricier side so I don't think I could ever become a regular customer. They cost around $4-$5 depending on what size you order and if your drink has any add-ins! Oh, also if you've never been to Cha before and you order a hot drink WITH boba, it comes with a cute plastic green spoon. Random, I know. But I mean, the more you know Haha. The snacks and entrees here are a bit pricy too, but it doesn't hurt to try them if you're in the mood! I have only really had the popcorn chicken (snack and meal) and the dumplings here! The food was all quite good, but nothing too special (maybe I'm just ordering the wrong things - who knows?!), but they too were a bit pricey but I know that if I have a cravin' I'll definitely stop by to grab some popcorn chicken! So if you want quality drinks - yes, come to Cha! It's a little pricey, but worth it if you're in the area or if you're a UCI freshman with no car and therefore limited access to cheaper alternatives, but hey! At least you have the options right? And not sure if they still have them, but I know when I used to be on Ring Road more often they'd pass out flyers and coupon books with deals for yes folks you guessed it Cha for Tea! Woo, woo. There's also seating inside and outside that's shared with the other eateries in the UTC! You usually will be able to find a seat or two, but if you get unlucky and a UCI club is having an event - take your food or drinks to go. Save yourself the headache of trying to deal with large crowds and not having a seat - but this is only usually during evening hours and doesn't happen toooo often. It really just varies. Also, it's news to me because I was away doing an educational program on the other side of the country BUT they no longer do a discount if you pay with cash. Sad life. Crying Wallet. But yes folks, this means if you're going to pay with card - go forth because there's no discount (no matter how small) that makes it a necessity to pay with cash! read more

To be honest, this place is really overpriced. I only come here for food and never really for the drinks. They offer samples of popcorn chicken and dumplings and of various milk teas that are self-serve by the door as well. The workers usually always greet you when you come in. I get either the crispy dumplings (8 pieces) or crispy popcorn chicken. The dumplings are super crispy. There is a perfect amount of dough to filling ratio. The popcorn chicken is good as well. I don't get too much taste of actual meat and the pieces are a bit small. BUT IT IS SO ADDICTING OMG. You can customize the spice levels. And there is a shaker with some extra pepper by the water bin in case you need a little extra spice! Also, the dipping sauce is weird, pink, and jelly-like, but it complements the dumplings an chicken really well. The servings can be a tad bigger for the price :/ P.S. THEY NEED TO CHANGE FROM STYROFOAM CUPS TO PAPER CUPS. PLEASE BE ECO-FRIENDLY, CHA, PLS. read more

Great customer service. Love that they have samples so you could try anything before ordering. I ordered the honey tea milk boba it was alright. Their service is supper fast. I would go to this place again. read more

Cha For Tea - Honey milk tea boba - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

This is my go-to spot in Irvine and it's been a great experience every time. I always get the crispy chicken (you can customize this - more salad, no salad at all and more rice instead, etc.) and the black almond milk tea with small boba. Love, love, love. I've tried the rosebud tea once and was a little sad not to see little rosebuds like in the picture. I'd love to see this place start selling some blooming tea. The line can be long but it moves pretty fast. Seats can be limited but usually not a problem. Lovely shopping plaza with a ton of options, although the parking situation has gotten more annoying as the years have gone by. They should stop putting a time limit on so many spots. If you're in the area, definitely check this place out. read more

I was not a tea drinker but I was here several times before trying out different boba tea. I have to say that this place has changed my mind about tea, especial milk tea. And when I have a craving this is my prefer tea joint. I like the fact that you can customize your drink & usually tell you that they will fix it if it's not to your taste. Also they have sample of different flavor tea around so you can find out what some of these taste like. My almond milk tea half the sweetness was quite good. The chai tea is so so (had it better elsewhere ) - Mango green tea is pretty yummy. In short, we enjoy a lot of tea drinks here & strongly recommend. read more

Overpriced food, okay drinks. Never loved their food, it's bland and there's nothing special to it. It's not cheap either when there are so many other options in UTC. The drinks are okay, I don't love their variety but what they do have is pretty good. Similar and almost on par with Tea Station (which is also quite pricey but has a vast selection of drinks). I only come here as a meeting spot or when I really, really, really need boba. read more

This place gets PACKED. If you're looking for a place to get your quick tea fix maybe choose another location. The lines go out the door and employees can only make your drinks as fast as they can. I got a mango smoothie and it was alright.. only thing though... I saw them put some green syrup with some sort of jelly or something on the bottom and then my mango smoothie on top. After I got my drink I asked them what it was and they said it was sour green mango. I was so confused because on the menu it never said anything about the mango smoothie coming with sour green mango on the bottom.... I tried it and I HATED it. It was so disgusting, I tried mixing it hoping it'd taste better but nope. I asked them to remake it and they kindly did. Overall the drink was alright. Service is still great no matter how busy it gets so props to them considering how the place went under new management. The downside though, they honestly only have your SUPER BASIC drinks. If you want something like oolong milk tea, genmai milk tea, hojicha milk tea.. etc. It's not the place to go. They also only had like 2 types of toppings, boba and lychee jelly... wheres aloe, rainbow jelly and all the puddings??? read more