I've been going back and forth to Arcadia a lot this year, and because we regularly go to May Mei and Chang's Garden, it's been easy to sneak out, place my tea orderat the kiosk, go back to finish the meal, then get my tea. My usual order is mango oolong with grass jelly, which is still sweet enough for me at 0% sweetness. They take the tea seriously here - each cup is brewed upon ordering so it's not fast. They also have some cute twine to go around the top of the cup. The sizes are on the smaller side. They open at noon, so I've been too early to get something a few times. Heading back to LA again this week, I will probably end up here again at some point! read more

Chicha San Chen - oolong with mango and grass jelly - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

This was my first time here Chicha San Chen (located on Main street) in Alhambra as I was looking for a tea place. This is quite an interesting store. Inside ambiance is clean and modern and yet still somewhat inviting. You can tell that is place offers a more elevated, tea-focused boba experience rather than your typical sugary drink shop with cute decor. I really like the service here. The staff is friendly, patient, and was able to explain their tea brewing process and also gave some good recomendations. I got lucky as there wasn't anyone after me so I could take my time and ask questions. One of the biggest highlights here is the quality of their drink. I have never had such high quality, freshly brewed on the spot, tea beverage. Usually those boba places have premade tea in stock ready for customers so that they can crank out their orders fast. But here you can tell they take their time in seeping the tea and making your drink. Each drink is brewed fresh to order using their signature "teaspresso" method, which really brings out the depth of the tea flavors . I got their Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea that was somewhat light, floral, and with a deep oolong flavor. Loved it! I can definitely taste the pemium tea leaves, and the drinks taste smoother and less artificial compared to many other boba spots. I also got their Cassia Black Tea with Mousse that included a creamy foam top. Interesting combo for sure. Side stree parking only and it did take a few minutes to find a spot during peak times, but it's manageable. Will drop by again next time I am here in SGV! read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

Wow I get the hype of this place, they have high quality tea for their boba and their machines prove it. The place is very pristine, clean, and modern with their design and seating. If you take it to go, they give you their classic boba carrier with string. I don't really like taro but I LOVE their taro series. I got their: Taro Milk Tea (5/5): Which comes with their black tea blended with cream to create a milk tea base, thick slab of taro paste at the bottom, with their chewy taro balls. The black milk tea base was perfectly sweetened and went so well with the taro paste. Mix it up and it tasted even better blended throughout. I also love the chewiness of their taro balls that was flavored so well. I would come back to try their other drinks! read more

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Stopped by during the LNY festival. There was a line and some wait for the tea. The decorations made a relaxing atmosphere. I went to the CNY booths to kill time while waiting for the drink. It's great that it's in a busy area. Downside is that it is not close to the parking structure. read more

Chicha San Chen - Menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

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My favorite drinks are back. The only time i would come to chicha is for their taro series. I can't decide which one is better betweem the milk tea or the fresh milk. But the taro paste and balls are what makes the drink amazing. Wished it was permanent but since it's not that's fine. Save me money since drinks are overpriced. When you come in, you line up to place your order on the kiosk. Then you wait for for drinks to be called. But most of the time they make alot of orders then call people to pick them up so i just show them my receipt instead of waiting. Otherwise you waste more time since drinks take a while. read more

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I've been to both the SG location as well as the Alhambra one quite a few times and it's always been a consistent experience in terms of service and quality. The best part of Chicha San Chen is their teas--super fragrant no matter which tea you order. My absolutely favorite is the Green Milk Tea with Taro Balls, and it comes with a refreshing jasmine tea paired with chewy soft taro balls that aren't too sweet (best Asian compliment ofc). This last time I also purchased some Lishan Oolong tea (light roast and medium dark roast) and wow, it bloomed into whole tea leaves, not just scraps. Pretty good quality. Went back on a weekend and they had BOGO 75g Lishan Oolong--$40 for 150g, what a steal! The staff here are always really polite and nice, and this particular store is huge with plenty of seating spaces. There's a free parking garage behind Gen right around the corner. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

CHICHA San Chen is a world-renowned Taiwanese bubble tea chain that brought its high-end, "Michelin-equivalent" tea experience to Alhambra, CA, as part of its strategic expansion within the San Gabriel Valley. CHICHA means "to drink tea", while San Chen refers to a Chinese proverb about finding the best single thing among many, symbolizing their dedication to quality. Funded in 1998 in Taichung, Taiwan, the brand is built on over 20 years of traditional tea-making expertise. It is famously known for receiving an award equivalent to three Michelin stars from the International Taste Institute (iTQi) for its exceptional tea quality. The shop offers a bright, spacious environment with seating and outlets, making it a popular spot for studying or a refined tea break. There's also a tasting bar where staff sometimes offer free tea samples and education on different roasting degrees. CHICHA features six core teas, including the award-winning Dong Ding Oolong, Cassia Black, and High Mountain Pouchong. Drinks are typically one size and can be customized with various toppings. Drinks generally range from $7 to $9. Our favorite drinks are Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Honey or Mango, Peach Green Tea, and Bubble Milk Tea. Their seasonal drinks were also pretty good. There's street parking and a free parking structure located directly in the back. read more

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As always, I love Chicha San Chen for their aesthetics and tea. It has been over a year since I've been to one and this is my first time at their Alhambra location. The interior of this location is huge! Very clean and open. We got lucky and there was no line on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered Cassia with Mousse ($7.25), Green Tea with Passion ($7.25), Taro Ball Tea Latte ($8.25), Dong Ding Oolong Tea ($6). I forgot that the mousse has a sweet flavoring to it that makes it a bit too sweet even for this sweet tooth. Their drinks are very expensive for what it is. The size is on the smaller side and for a basic tea with no milk or add-ons, its already $6. The tea does taste good, but nothing too great. Overall, I think I still like Chicha San Chen for what it is, but I wouldn't frequent them all the time. read more

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This is one of my favorite boba spots! My go to is the green tea with cream (light sugar). I really love the strong tea flavor since they really extract out the flavors from the leaves using the fancy machines. I strongly recommend adding the cream - it's rich but not overpowering and yet adds creaminess to the drink! Service is always awesome and the sitting area is super nice! You can order ahead of time and note that they do not have no ice option but you can do less ice. read more

Chicha San Chen - Menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

It was my first time trying Chicha and the staff member was very helpful in explaining the menu and letting us smell the different teas to get an idea of where to start! I decided to go with the the Osmanthus Oolong tea and added the mousse and konjac jelly. My drink was tasted so fresh and you can really taste the quality of the tea! I had a great experience. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

One of my absolute favorite boba shops in the 626! It's a bit on the expensive side but the tea flavor is super strong and the presentation is really cute! The inside is very spacious with a decent amount of seating. A little on the sweeter side so order less sweet it you prefer it not too overwhelming! read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

I've been coming here more often now that the crowd has died down. Same quality. Less wait time. Definitely didn't wait up to 20 minutes for a drink. I usually just get whatever seasonal drinks they have because it's limited time. Honestly, whatever you pick from the menu, you can't really go wrong. All the teas actually taste like teas; it's not one of those places where whatever additional flavor they add to it just completely overpowers the tea taste. However, if you're looking for a place to study and hang out, this is not the tea shop. Yes, they have tables, and lots of them, but it's not very comfortable. They're more for you to sit and wait for your drink and then you take it to go. Limited street parking in the front. So you're better off at the free parking structure in the back. read more

Heard a lot about their tea so went to try it out. Tried the taro fresh milk, dong ding oolong and lemon tart. They were all good. The taro fresh milk came with actual taro and taro boba and was my mom's favorite. My dad enjoyed the dong ding oolong as it wasn't too sweet and had a smokey flavor. I really enjoyed the lemon tart but the "perfect sugar" level was a little too sweet for me, would try a little less sugar next time. Went on a weekday to avoid any crowds. At the time of my visit, it only had one lost to self order from and it was occupied for a bit so I placed an online order from the QR code. The main difference is that at the in-store kiosk they make the drink right away, and for the QR code it is for ordering online so it may be 20-25mins wait. read more

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Went here to catch up with some family as my son and I were visiting from out-of-town. With 5 adults and 2 kids, we were able to find a table in the back and move the benches around so we could all sit and chat. I ordered the Organic Milk w/ Brown Sugar Bubble (no caffeine), and it was sooo yum. The boba was warm and chewy and not too sweet. Definitely the spot to go especially after AYCE at Road to Seoul! read more

This was very overrated. And it was SO expensive! Yes, the tea flavor is strong... but the drink as a whole wasn't amazing. Just very underwhelming and made me upset to pay around $10 for a small drink I didn't end up liking. Lol! I wouldn't recommend and I wouldn't come back :/ read more

Chicha San Chen - Black milk tea with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

I heard about this place from reddit recommendations. I decided to try the Dong Ding Oolong Tea with fresh milk and bubble. I wish they had a non-dairy creamer option, but they don't. Honestly for the $8.66 price tag, the portion was smaller than a regular serving anywhere else. So for that reason, I'd keep exploring and try other bubble teas read more

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I stopped by with some friends because they're big fans of this place. Based on their taste in drinks, I had a feeling it would be a solid choice. It was my first time here since I don't live in the area, so it was a good treat for me. I also love how convenient the parking was. What I loved most was the strong tea flavor in the drinks; you can really taste the tea. They brew it right in front of you, and it's pretty cool to see how efficient their assembly line setup is. A lot of places near me don't quite have the tea flavor I'm looking for in their drinks, but I make do since I can't always travel 40 minutes just for boba. I usually go for fruit teas with less sugar, so the stronger tea flavor was perfect for me. I got a Peach Green Tea with 50% sugar, and it was just right. The peach flavor still came through, and the tea complemented it really well. The only downside is that there can be a bit of a wait if the lines are long, since each drink is made to order. But they're really efficient, which helps speed things up. Plus, there are plenty of seating spots, so it's pretty comfortable to just chill and wait for the drinks. Overall, I think this is a solid spot, and if I'm ever in the area with time to spare, I'll definitely stop by again. read more

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In the heart of Downtown Alhambra, this tea shop is truly a gem. Dont expect quantity with the higher price. Taste the tea and enjoy the the relaxed atmosphere if you choose to drink in the Cafe. The artisan tea shop prepared my order with care and was ready for pick up within timely manner. The tea was very tasty and the taro balls were chewy. I really like it. Their to-go cup comes with a cup holding strap thats convenient. Which you do not get if you picked the dine-in option. Overall, it was great, it gets a 4.8 out of 5. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

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We came here because we heard that they had a location here but with a much shorter line, which was in fact true! We will come here more but in the mean time we just got a simple tea, we will get more in the future, but just thought it was worth still reviewing to let others know about this place! We used to go to the one in SGV but we remember how we used to wait 2 hours in line! This place has a much nicer interior and pleasant to go through! Workers are fast at working and friendly but we ordered on the kiosk! Parking structure is nearby! read more

Chicha San Chen - Osmanthus - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

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A bright, spacious store with plenty of seating and a calm atmosphere when I visited, though I have also seen this place packed out. Parking is mostly on the street with some car lots and structures in this bustling section of Alhambra. I commend the tea options and quality at the store. For my drink, a "black" tea (what we call 紅茶 or "red" tea in Mandarin) definitely retained its fragrance and flavor. It was refreshing and the foam topping that I chose added a nice milky, creamy taste and mouthfeel. I gave the store 4 stars because, for a tea store, the mood felt aloof and distant. All the staff were busy working on orders. Though polite, they didn't seem to want to make eye contact. I had a question about the tea options and couldn't flag down anyone to help. I gave up eventually and just made my choices which thankfully turned out well. Maybe it was just that day. I'll probably visit the store again to try the other drinks and check out the vibe. read more

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Idk. I wanted to like this place a lot based on the reviews but my milk tea was just mid. I ordered the first item in the menu which was their milk tea with boba, lightly sweetened and lite ice. However, the boba changed the flavor of my tea to overly early sweet. Do non or slightly sweetened tapioca balls even exist anymore? The cup had a sleeve with a rope handle that felt like my cup was going to fall apart and just have my milk tea splatter everywhere. I didn't trust it would hold my cup in place and I wasn't about to lose out on my $9 like that so I held it like I would with a normal cup. The staff was friendly and the place was pretty big for a boba spot. It was clean and asthetically pleasing. No bathroom for customers tho, huge 1 star off! So overall, I wanted to like it but it was just ok. read more

I really wanted to give it a higher rating but I was quite disappointed with my drink after waiting 45+ minutes and it cost $8.40! Definitely one of the priciest boba milk teas I've had and I've to say that it wasn't worth the hour wait or the hefty price tag unfortunately Service was ok and not exactly the friendliest but it's ok since I understand it was super busy There are 2 options to order - 1) using the in-store kiosk OR 2) placing online order. Parking was ok. They don't have their own parking lot but there are nearby street parking and a few garage parkings. Inside was pretty small but there was a good amount of seating They're open daily 12-7pm. Menu had a good variety of brewed teas and fruit teas but expect to pay $8+ for most of the drinks! There are 3 steps when ordering on the kiosk: 1) choose your tea (6 different teas) - $6.00 2) choose flavor (7 options) - $1.25 3) choose toppings (4 choices) - $1.00 It's nice that there was the option to make sugar and ice adjustments. Got the Bubble Milk Tea ($8.40) and it was average. I had high expectations since I know the tea is freshly brewed for every order. The tea wasn't as rich in flavor as I was hoping and the boba tasted ok but not as fresh as I was expecting. I hate to say but I've definitely had better boba milk teas for much cheaper. Therefore, this was 7/10. read more

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A solid place to go for premium tea and boba. I'm glad they opened up a second location because the first one was sooo busy with crazy lines. I usually get the dong ding oolong tea with bubble (boba). I'm not usually a fan of oolong because of the roasted flavor but I do enjoy the oolong here. And their boba is always soft, fresh, and perfect sweet. One thing I find interesting is their highest sweetness level (named "perfect" sweet) for tea really is perfectly sweet. I would consider it comparable to a 50% sweet at any other tea shop but at Chicha it's their highest level of sweet. This isn't the place to go if you love sugary syrups and flavors in your tea, they really want you to focus on the tea itself. Definitely pricey for boba tea but they make each drink to order in their own "teaspresso" machine so that's definitely unique and not your standard tea shop. read more

They robotically greet you when you go in, and it's weekday afternoon. We decided to try it out since there is always a line in the San Gabriel location. I still don't understand the hype, but since this place has no line....want to try couple drinks to reassure we don't like it. The woman making the drink behind the counter people came to us all the sudden and stop us ordering drink on the computer, then she is rude the whole time we are there. Then, the greeting is not really welcoming ...it's just a ? and the drink itself it's ok with a high price with horrible services, that older lady needs to know she is dong a disservice to the whole place.....and also we ask for a spoon for scope the fruit from the tea or any utensils to do it...not available? hm.....skip! read more

Staff is nice and works quickly. There's a free 2 hour parking lot nearby and plenty of seating indoors. My favorites were the High Mountain Oolong and the Ding Dong. They were very fragrant and unique with great depth of tea flavor. Even though it was award winning, their green tea was basic and generic. I didn't understand the appeal. Osmanthus was also okay as torotea makes a better osmanthus. Grape tea was better than HeyTea's grape tea. It's not muscat but regular green grapes. Overall, it's fine if you want some teaspresso drinks but not as good as COMEBUYTEA for the same style. read more

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Personally the wait time is too long for a drink like this. It is a little better tasting than the standard milk tea but the price and wait time are not something I am willing to do again. There's a gazillion people working here and they don't stop. If they do it's game over. I waited for maybe 20 minutes on a weekend and while I did that I went to Uncle Fung for coffee. I came back and it still wasn't ready. They are patient and are happy to help you figure out what suits you. read more

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CHICHA San Chen is an award winning boba tea shop chain from Taiwan that has been quickly expanding its North American presence. This location is located in Downtown Alhambra on Main Street where there is street parking or nearby parking plazas around the area. Compared to their other locations, this one is a bit more spacious with a decent amount of seating. For their menu, they have a nice selection of different classic and new drinks to choose from. I opted for the Grape High Mountain Pouchong Tea and was not disappointed! You can see the process for yourself as the employees make the drinks and see the care and quality that goes into each one. Overall, you really cannot go wrong with anything you order here. All the drinks are consistently made so fresh with such high quality sourced ingredients. All of the staff here are also friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be back to try another one of their drinks next time I am in the area again! read more

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Chicha is my favorite boba place. The teas are freshly brewed, the tapioca has the perfect texture, and you can truly taste the tea--unlike other places that taste artificial. I first discovered Chicha in Texas and was so excited to find it again in California. The employees were very helpful, the space was spotless, and my drink came out perfect. Bonus points for being right across the street from Eat's Sushi! read more

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Chicha San Chen, hmm.. it feels like they're popping up everywhere now! This location though is probably one of my favs because it's convenient. I love parking at Sprouts and walking down Main Street (mostly to go grab some Chicken Bun Bun) and drinking boba after. It's honestly pretty hard to compare boba shops nowadays because there are so many and honestly the prices are so high now... Chicha is no different, I think we spent $33 on 4 drinks.. at about $8+ per regular sized drink, I'm not sure if I would crave coming back on a regular basis. I contemplated giving them 4 stars because the boba was actually very fresh. The consistency was good and that's not always found everywhere. However, the oolong tea flavor seemed very light. I don't think I'd randomly crave Chicha so I couldn't justify the 4 either. If I end up here, I'm content to order something, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

Chicha San Chen - Osmanthus Oolong milk tea, boba milk tea, and Dong Ding Oolong Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

CHICHA has amazing tea and is absolutely worth the wait. We waited about 20 minutes, but it didn't feel too long. They use a "teaspresso" machine that supposedly incorporates AI to press the tea like an espresso machine. I'm not sure how it works, but the result is incredible. I got the osmanthus oolong with mango, and it was so, so good. The tea flavor was rich and fresh, and the mango added the perfect amount of sweetness. I also got their konjac jelly, which was really good, almost like boba but with a softer, jelly like texture. It added a nice twist to the drink without being too chewy. I'd definitely come back to try more flavors. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

This location was so busy (long wait times), but sooo good. If you're willing to wait a bit, I'd say it's definitely worth it! The mango osmanthus oolong tea was to die for - any of their mango options are solid. The konjac jelly was good as well and a unique option - haven't seen this at many other boba stores. I would 100% come back if I was in the area! read more

Getting here with easy with plenty of structure, street, or plaza park. The inside is usually clean and there's some seating along the wall. You'll immediately smell the tea upon entering. The staff are quick and professional. They will occasionally do tea demonstrations to try various types. The drinks arrive at a good pace. It can get busy at times though. The menu is expansive but also fairly simple. The green tea honey has been refreshing, flavorful and just at the correct sweetness level. I always crave to return here for a nice simple tea. It's worth a try. read more

Chicha San Chen - Green tea with honey - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

Pretty spacious inside with bench seating and tables. Not really a place for big groups with the way the seats are set up. When you order, you can choose your sweetness, ice, milk/cream, and toppings. Both the dong ding and the osmanthus oolong tea had a great tea flavor. For the dong ding, I got light sweet but probably should've went with perfect. Light is definitely less than 50% sweet. I'd recommend not getting coconut jelly with the dong ding as the coconut jelly actually says (pineapple) on the receipt and threw off the overall taste of the drink. Instead, I'd opt for the Konjac jelly as that taste more like crystal boba. My wife got the osmanthus oolong tea and it was very refreshing. read more

Chicha San Chen - Left - osmanthus oolong tea with mango Right - dong ding oolong tea with milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

We decided to get some tea after lunch since we didn't see a line out the door. However, when we went in, all the tables were occupied and there's a short line to order. The sign shows wait time is 20-25 minutes but we still decided to try our luck. The shop is clean and chic. They offer tea merchandise at the shop as well. We ordered a green tea with konjac jelly (light sugar and less ice) and a peach green tea with peach bites and konjac jelly (light sugar and less ice). The wait time was accurate at 22 minutes from the time we order to receiving our tea. So take that into consideration if you are in a hurry. The green tea tastes really good and you can tell it's high quality tea. Light sugar and less ice was perfect for me. My friend really liked her peach green tea as well. Btw they offer free konjac jelly for every drink in the month of May. I highly recommend it. It's chewy like boba and seems like a healthier alternative to boba. read more

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#111 in my Teaholic Diaries. I tried the San Gabriel location years ago, during the height of the pandemic, and I remember I didn't love my drinks, though I can't recall what they were. Since it's been a while, I decided to give this new location a try. This Alhambra location is a spacious shop right on Main Street. Almost everything about the shop was relaxing - the music, the lighting, the minimalist decor - but then you hear a deafening electronic audio letting customers know their order is ready, and it was beyond distracting and disruptive. It actually reminded me of being at the DMV. Haha. Disconcerting atmosphere aside, the drinks were on point. The creamy lemon tart was the perfect treat to end my day. I've never had a tea based drink that tastes just like a lemon cheesecake. I'm still surprised by how comparable the drink was to the actual dessert. It was certainly decadent, and an excellent dessert tea. The honey osthmanthus oolong was also a solid choice. ****************** My Ratings: 1 Star: Terrible; just thinking about it makes me angry. 2 Stars: Wasn't a fan so Not likely to return. 3 Stars: Meh. Average. Might return if others drag me. 4 Stars: Yum! Likely to return. 5 Stars: Amazing! Would plan my day around it. read more

Chicha San Chen - Honey oolong & Creamy lemon tart - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

Bubble milk tea with 50% sugar has always been my favorite drink from Chicha San Chen! Luckily we made it during the Thanksgiving holidays and got the stirring cup as a gift. Service was quick and we loved the extra gift! read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

I've tried different locations before but was in the area looking for something refreshing so I settled for the grape osmanthus tea. You can either order through the staff or using the kiosk (kiosk was faster for me). It was delightful! Perfectly sweetened and I could see this being nice on a warm summer day. Packaging is cute but maybe seems a little unnecessary. Lots of open space inside, but limited seating. Great tea! read more

Chicha San Chen - Grape osmanthus tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

They have a total of 8 tables and there are outlets to charge your electronics. They play soft instrumental music and have a restroom for customers. Staff was very polite. When it was our turn to order, we were offered free smaples to try. I love this since it can help with the decision making process from their expansive menu. Overall drinks are pricy for the only small size they offer but quality makes up for it. Great tasting fruit teas and a great place to work since most people take their drinks to go. read more

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My favorite tea (boba tea) in SGV and this location in particular because it's spacious and the staff is on it. No parking structure for this location because it's on Main street but there are parking lots adjacent and street parking available. My Go-To if I'm ever in the area. Freshly brewed tea of premium quality and taste. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Alhambra, California

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As a Taiwanese, I'm genuinely thrilled to enjoy a cup of quality tea from Taiwan--Chicha San Chen. Though the storefront in Alhambra may look modest, stepping inside reveals a spacious and elegant interior. The soft color palette and minimalist yet tasteful decor create a cozy and upscale atmosphere. There's a wide selection of drinks available, with options to customize everything from tea base, flavor, ice level, and sweetness to various toppings. The staff are also warm and attentive, and you can tell from the little details that they truly care about the customer experience. Los Angeles has countless tea shops, but in my opinion, Chicha San Chen offers the highest quality and best-tasting tea! The long lines are absolutely justified--you'll understand why after just one sip! read more

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