We were exploring the university town center. We've been there before but wanted to try something new. We stumbled upon this cute and intriguing tea cafe and we were delighted. The first thing that caught my eye was the sample area with different green teas. I tried them all and they were delicious! As my eyes gazed the menu , I realized how affordable the prices were. I was overwhelmed and overjoyed by the amount of options both common and unique. The service was as pleasant as expected and the drinks we ordered were amazing. I don't often leave reviews, however I felt this one was necessary. I highly recommend! read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Steep Thoughts: Florence's Quest for (Her) Perfect Black Milk Tea Black milk tea: 0.5/2. I got the classic black milk tea, 2 pumps (aka half sweet). This drink is on the fruitier and lighter side, and it's quite sweet even at 2 pumps--I think the simple syrup they use plays a big role in the overall flavor of their drinks. It's pretty watery too, and I'm not sure if there's an option to reduce the ice. Other drinks: 1/1. As expected from the name, this shop focuses on tea, with fruit teas, milk teas, and some caffeine-free drinks. Good food options too; the crispy chicken in particular is delicious! Ambiance: 1/1. Basic decor with several tables, chairs, and booths. Free WiFi. Good place to work, and a lot of UCI students do so. Service: 1/1. Order at the counter. Staff are friendly and drinks come out pretty quickly. Total: 3.5/5 read more

Yeah, it's pretty nice. The drinks are simple and cheap. The place is always super busy, and it's not really a place to sit down and do cafe things just because of how much traffic is happening. The chicken is fantastic, but really tiny portions. It's pricey too for just a handful of meat. Drinks come out SUPER fast though, so if the line isn't long it's a nice place to swing by and get something to cool you off. I've had their mango tea, thai tea, lychee tea, mango smoothie, mint tea, chicken, and I'm sure a bunch of other stuff. It's all pretty good. read more

THE BEST POPCORN CHICKEN I've ever had. I usually order via Door Dash because I study nearby. Perfect spice and unbeatable flavor. No complaints. I really like their mango boba tea as well. I've also had their peach and milk boba teas. Decent options, but popcorn chicken is their highlight. read more

The drinks are pretty decent here. I got the peach green milk tea and the almond black milk tea with bobas. The bobas was nice and chewy. I got the drink less sweet and the amount of sweeteners was perfect. Had I came here before ordering food prior, I would have been down to get their combo food deal where it comes with a boba drink. The price was reasonable and the service was quick. Place looks clean and inviting. They have small seating area inside but plenty of outdoor seating with the nice weather. read more

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I love cha for tea and i'm sad that I don't live a walk away anymore!! This was the go to boba spot with my friends when we were students at UCI! The mango green tea always hits and the boba is super fresh and chewy. I appreciate that they served their drinks shaken, I feel that it really makes a difference! They have a variety of snacks, I have only tried the popcorn chicken (which is always delicious) It can get busy, but the line usually moves pretty quickly. You can also order ahead on their website which is very convenient. read more

Solid spot for boba!! Although I only really ever get 2 drinks here--honey green milk tea and mango green tea, both with boba!!! LOVE that you can order online read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Delicious drinks at great prices! Cha for Tea is typically my last stop when I'm visiting my daughter. Our favorite is the mango green tea. I recently tried their honey green milk tea at the little tasting station and now I leave with not one but two drinks! As with most tea shops, you can adjust the level of sweetness. The employees are friendly - open late, fast service. read more

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This place is so good. We got the extra spicy crispy chicken appetizer. It's a good amount for just $5.75! We also like getting the almond milk tea too. We noticed ordering from their website is much faster since lines can be insanely long. They offered many self-serve samples at the front by the register. It was a nice treat after waiting so long in line. The next time we visited, we did an online order. I saw on the online ordering that you can pick from their standard crushed ice or cubed ice. I'll try their cubed ice next time because I don't think I like crushed ice for boba drinks haha. Their sweet and sour sauce is an additional $0.20 charge, but it's pretty good! It looks and tastes different than most popcorn chicken places. read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

my GO TO boba spot in OC due to quality & price & location. food/drink: I ALWAYS get the Honey Green Milk Tea with boba. each and every time I've visited (20+ times over the years) the boba is alway Q (chewy, perfect, warm) and the tea is the same sweet tasty quality as the last. I've never been disappointed. PLUS before toppings, a large is under $5... where can you find this nowadays for this size and quality service: standard, nothing special or bad. ambiance: the outside area is nicer than the inside. inside needs a renovation but it's a standard looking boba shop. inside & outside both have more than enough seating. good area to walk around too. parking: SO much parking. read more

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CHA FOR TEA @ UC Irvine's University Center As a student, I was wowed on how close this was to UC Irvine's campus! My friend brought me here in the center telling me how amazing the boba here is. Parking is free for 2 hours and there is plenty of space in the lot. This place is my favorite, during my time in Irvine with my friend's family, I came here all three days straight, no joke and got the same thing. Their best seller Mango Green Tea with boba. It is FANTASTIC, and I cannot rave more about the pricing and how fresh their boba is. The price is no argument, with it only be less than $6 a drink, it's amazing. The service is great, there is samples for you to try and the workers are always kind and get your order so fast! The ambiance is bright and clean, so I'd highly recommend stopping by, this is by far my favorite place. read more

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love cha for tea!! such a great spot in university center and the drinks are super tasty!! i love the lychee green tea with jellies read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Outstanding experience and boba here. Upon entering they have a stand where you can sample some of their best selling drinks. This was a great way to try before committing to an entire drink. They have an extensive menu with many toppings to chose from and their prices are very reasonably priced. I ordered the lychee green tea with light ice and it was around $5 for a really great size. The drink wasn't too sweet, but if you prefer it less sweet you can also order it with 50% sugar as well. The location is in a very vibrant complex right on UC Irvine campus so it was nice being around a college campus and seeing it so lively. I would highly recommend this place to friends if you're in the area and looking for boba! read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here around 3PM with a group of friends and the line wasn't too bad at all. We probably waited about 5-7 minutes before placing our order. I was craving something refreshing so I went with the mango green tea w/ boba. While you're waiting in line, they have pitchers of some of their top drinks along with small sample cups. I tried the warm almond milk tea and the mango green tea - the almond milk tea tasted a bit too similar to almond jello for my taste. The mango green tea was solid, just a bit sweet, so I opted for 75% sweetness for my drink. The boba had a nice chewy consistency and the mango green tea was the perfect drink for a warm day. Will definitely return to Cha for Tea if I'm in the Irvine area again! read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Large mango green tea w/ boba - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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Nearly 15 years later, and I still find myself coming back to this GOAT every time I visit Irvine! What's to like about Cha for Tea? Well, for starters, it's easily accessible from UCI, and... those free samples! You know a cafe is great when they offer free samples; it's the quite, unspoken "Yes, we know we're good" that gets me. What's impressive? Their almond milk tea! You'll know a place is good when they can make a refreshing almond milk tea; very few places can do this right! (iykyk) It's the perfect blend of nuttiness and sweetness (I prefer lightly sweet.) In summer, I get this iced, and in winter hot... both versions are equally amazing. Of course, they have a variety of other remarkable drinks such as mango green tea, but almond is by far my favorite. They usually have a few up to try while in line, so sample as much as you'd like! I also enjoy their lighting and shelves of product. The bright wood showcases all their teas and accessories - why yes, I'd love to take some home, but I know that this will send me into another financially unsustainable hobby... may the next time though! read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Iced Almond Milk Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

ORDER popcorn chicken (3/5) mango green tea (4/5) the price here is unbeatable, but you pay for what you get. the popcorn is tasty, but the portion always catches me off guard since the bag is filled maybe 1/3 of the way... but again you pay for what you get. the sauce here has a light flavor and the consistency is super thick. sauce is an additional fee. the drinks here are pretty good and well priced. my favorite is the mango green tea (they usually have a sample of this). i get mine less sweet with boba. ive tried the green milk tea here as well and its also good. i always come back since the price is so good. SERVICE super quick service even if there's a line + you can order online AMBIANCE spacious inside, but usually busy. plenty of parking! read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - popcorn chicken - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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My friend who went to UCI Recommended this place and we tried a few things. The popcorn chicken was good, the drinks were also decent. Located in a nice little plaza. Overall good experience and convenient for the UC kids. read more

Nestled in the UCI campus, I had no complaints about the service, especially the cashier he was very friendly. And it's very well lit inside as well as plenty of seating to do as you wish. The issue was just how artificial the boba drink tasted. My husband used to work at lollicup back in the day and even he said all they used was powder and syrup mixtures. I did used to love Cha but I think now that I've tried other boba spots that you can tell they have made their teas from scratch. My passion fruit cooler was just incredibly sweet that I couldn't finish it after a few sips. If you are looking for just a quick sugar fix then this is your place. read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Passion fruit cooler - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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First off, my order was ready in under two minutes. I was shocked lol. I got their roasted brown sugar milk latte and it was so good! The prices are actually very reasonable as well! read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Roasted Brown Sugar Milk Latte (Large), one with the orange straw - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I'm disappointed with the drink. Soooo Watered down tea. Can't even taste the jasmine at all! Nothing read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Organic Jasmine Green Tea, (Large) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

We had Cha for Tea provide boba service at our wedding in San Clemente, and it was a huge hit. We picked Cha for Tea for the ease of their catering process as well as quality of their boba drinks. They were responsive throughout the planning process and worked directly with our coordinator on delivery timing and logistics. We picked four different teas, and two different toppings (boba and jelly). We were welcome to bring our own décor for the boba table, but we thought that their provided "BOBA" marquee sign was eye-catching and more than enough. When service started our guests immediately flocked to the station, but throughout the night everyone was able to get one. The boba was fresh, soft, and perfectly cooked, as if we were at a boba store. They even packed the leftover tea in a jug for us to take home at the end of the night. We would happily pick Cha for Tea again for any large gathering. read more

their bubble tea is absolutely delicious. I often DoorDash the Jasmine Green milk tea along with their popcorn chicken. It's so satisfying for a quick study sesh. read more

This place is so nostalgic. It reminds me of high school/college days. I got a green milk tea and enjoyed the strong tea flavor. The line moved quickly. Easy parking in a large lot. read more

Never had an iced chai before, but it was pretty good. I appreciated that they had a little sampler set up to taste test different teas, it really helped me get out of my comfort zone and try something new. read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Chai milk tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Nice place--open late, lots of different options, and free samples of 4 different flavors (usually a fruit tea, milk tea, refresher, and plain brewed tea). Service was also quick and friendly. read more

I love the fact that they have free sample for the some of the teas they sell. Yes, the almond black tea is a must! They have a variety of drinks from hot to cold. The organic variety is great too. Friendly staff despite the fact that wait times can be long. Reasonable prices as well. They do not have charging ports so be wary of that! Other than that, great place overall! read more

Solid boba spot but only a couple good drinks that I come back for, which are the almond milk tea, honey green milk tea, or mango green tea. I was feeling adventurous and got the mango milk tea but it started separating which was a little unsightly, but I drank it anyway after giving it a mix before I took a sip. I really liked my boyfriend's almond milk tea and snuck a few sips hehe. Service was quick even though there was a long line. Ambiance was casual, more of a grab and go spot. Plenty of outdoor seating if you want to enjoy your drink right away. read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Mango milk tea, Almond Black Milk Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

This spot holds a special place in my heart. When i was a kid, i used to take ballet classes nearby and after every class my mom would go here for a lil boba bevvy! Now, every time she visits (all the way from Wisconsin), we hit up Cha for Tea straightaway. Service is always quick and you can customize your sweetness level and even boba level! If you are craving boba, go here. read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Peach Passion Green Tea (Large), Peach Mint Refresher (Medium) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I haven't had Cha for Tea since my college days, and I'm surprised by how much they've stepped it up! This location is thriving with people and their service is really fast :) 1. Green milk tea I am very picky with my GMTs because it is my go to drink. But this location has the PERFECT green tea flavor I always look for. You can taste the floral notes and the milk/tea ratio is perfect. 2. Roasted Brown Sugar Boba Not sure if I taste too much of the roastyness, but it is definitely different from your usual BS boba. Service: Ordered on the app while I was in the plaza. By the time I walked over, my drink was ready to go! Less than 5 minutes I would say. Ambiance: Quite noisy with a lot of students around. Very typical boba shop vibe. There's lots of tables, but not sure if you can find seating during peak hours. read more

This boba place is located in University Center. They make fresh hourly here. There a small area for indoor seating and they also sell Taiwanese appetizers to munch on. I like to get their roasted brown sugar boba milk latte which is quite delicious. Very sweet in flavor that you can customize sweetness as well. Good and friendly staff. One less star for lack of space while waiting to order out drinks. read more

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The OG boba shop that put Irvine on the map. Cha for Tea at UCI is truly the original--the spot that kicked off Irvine's boba craze. Long before the city became a boba lover's paradise, this place was already serving up chewy tapioca pearls and solid milk teas to generations of students and locals alike. There's something nostalgic and comforting about coming back here. The drinks are consistent, the service is fast, and the location is unbeatable for UCI students. While newer spots might have flashier menus or trendy toppings, Cha for Tea stays true to its roots--and sometimes that's exactly what you want. One star off only because I'd love to see a bit more innovation or seasonal specials to keep things fresh. But overall, still a classic and an essential part of Irvine's boba history. The ambiance is loud and bustling with UCI students and can't always hear your conversations read more

My favorite spot in UTC These are my favorites: Mango green tea(iced) w/ lychee Toasted brown sugar milk latte Crispy chicken w/ noodles read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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Very yummy boba. Prices were very yummy. The wait was very quick and awesome. Drinks came out very fast. It was very yummy. Yum yum yum

Food: this is my usual go to boba spot in Irvine area, especially when visiting my best friend who lives close by. I've tried many different drinks both cold and hot, and they have always been solid. This time around, my bf and I stopped by while on our way going home from Newport Beach. It was still cold and windy outside so we opted for hot teas, he got chai and I got honey green milk tea. The drinks definitely warmed us up right away and tasted OK, but still a bit too sweet despite requesting 50% sugar. Personally I would choose yifang or sunright over this place, but cha for tea is a staple irvine experience that you really can't miss out on. We also got crispy (popcorn) chicken in mild spice, which was indeed crispy, bite sized, and seasoned really well even without the sweet and sour sauce, highly recommend! Price: about $5 per drink or appetizer, I think the prices are very reasonable Ambiance: located in the heart of university center, which is a big plaza close to UC irvine. Lots of young college students, mostly Asian crowd, very lively and crowded and busy. There were about 8 tables inside, some people were studying, some were talking, not enough seats to accommodate the number of people who visit. Better to just grab the drinks and sit outside or walk around the plaza Service: good, no issues, minimal interaction other than ordering at the counter with cashier Parking: huge parking lot right infront the university center, no need to worry about finding a spot, there always will be one read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - 2 hot teas and 1 serving of crispy chicken - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Cha For Tea is probably a staple for UCI students and locals and visitors alike. Solid tea options and munchies to enjoy while you're studying or just hanging out. It was a cold night for us so we opted for hot drinks, which were just right. The hot chai milk tea was nice and refreshing but I'd recommend dropping the sweetness to 50%, same goes for the hot honey green milk tea. And good job, they're the more popular items on the menu too. The crispy chicken aka popcorn chicken was seasoned nicely and had a nice mix of crunch and tender. It's been a while since I had popcorn chicken so this was a nice little treat myself kind of snack. So while it may get crowded here, the line moves fairly quick and drinks come out in a timely manner. Seating may be limited though since it's pretty close to UCI. read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Happy national bubble tea day from my favorite place to get boba Mango green tea 10/10- my absolute fav, I normally get 2 pumps of sweetener instead of the full amount as it's pretty sweet and it's awesome that they can adjust it for you. I love how refreshing it is and how the mango and green tea go together perfectly. This is also the most popular drink on their menu!! Their boba is also incredibly fresh but I love getting their lychee jelly or aloe Vera jelly however I didn't get any in this drink order. Highly recommend their hot honey almond milk tea for when it's cold out. They also started selling boba squishmallows so I had to cave and get one as it's so cute and cha for tea is my favorite spot for drinks. The lines go fast too! I've been coming here for 10+ years now and it's always been consistent. Instagram: @hungrytamale read more

Cha For Tea - University Center - Mango green tea Instagram: @hungrytamale - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Cha for Tea is a nostalgic favorite for me as I've been coming here since I was a student here. Given that I started coming here at the beginning of this century, I have to give them respect for their tea being consistent for decades. I love their honey green milk tea and their boba is consistently warm/chewy in that perfect way. I wish I could get more volume in my orders, but I do crave their tea here and I can''t keep myself from stopping by when I'm in the area. read more

I wish yelp would do half stars, this place would get 3.5 from me. Rounding down because I will frequent other locations when I have options. This was a good Boba place for order ahead and pickup. It's right by the UCI campus so it's very busy with a line out the door and the place itself is quite small. I could imagine waiting for your order takes awhile. When you pickup the person taking orders will help you ahead of the giant line which is nice but probably slows down the line so not the best system. The boba was good but I feel like the menu was limited. No oolong options and the black milk tea was just ok. Parking makes this place a task to get to. Overall just ok. read more

Fast wait time, delicious drink, good prices, but hot as hell inside. Customer service was amazing.

As a long-term customer of cha, it's became apparently clear that they do not care about customer input, especially on food items. On a multitude of times I have purchased the popcorn chicken from this establishment. Each time I come I get the same spice level, yet each time I receive the item the spice level is different. From past times I've let it go and assumed it was just a mistake. But no, it's become blatantly clear they do this simply for efficiency. If there are other orders of popcorn chicken coming in around the same time you order you will get whatever spice level they give you. It's simply absurd to ask a customer for input then blatantly disregard it. read more