I've been here so much lately because it's just THAT good. I love the creamy pineapple tart and the pineapple milk tea. The pineapple tart is more like a dessert drink (I don't think it has caffeine), and it's probably one of my top 3 favorite drinks. It tastes like a pineapple milkshake without being blended. I've also tried the mango tart, which is very tasty as well. I've been here a few times already and service is usually pretty helpful and friendly. Regarding ambiance, this place is mostly for to-go drinks. Yes, there is a little bit of seating, but not enough to be a hangout spot. Happy to have such a great tea shop as an option in Arcadia, especially when I need a sweet and creamy treat! read more

The first time I had ChiCha San Chen was at the San Gabriel location, when it was still new. I waited a very long time in line for a peach drink, and it was genuinely one of the best boba drinks I've had. I hadn't gone back since because I'm never in San Gabriel, but when I heard that Chicha San Chen was opening in Arcadia, I was super excited, since I live near the new Arcadia location. Since ChiCha had a stellar reputation for their teas and quality of drinks, and since I'd had such a delicious drink at the San Gabriel location, even when they were absolutely packed and SWAMPED, I assumed Arcadia would maintain the same quality. Unfortunately, I was sorely and utterly mistaken to think that. I first visited Chicha San Chen in Arcadia on Halloween 2025, and it wasn't super busy despite it being a brand new location. That should have been my first warning sign, that there were many better boba spots to spend my hard-earned money on. I can think of at least eight different boba spots off the top of my head within a 1-mile radius of ChiCha, where I can be guaranteed a drink that at least tastes like tea. Depressingly, I had the misfortune of spending my Halloween and my cash on a dong ding oolong tea at ChiCha instead. The Ding ding oolong tea, despite being one of the best sellers at the time, was very watered down. Oolong tea is a very strong and fragrant brew, especially when you choose lower sugar and ice levels like I do, but somehow ChiCha managed to mess it up. It wasn't just me as well, my friend also ordered the Ding dong oolong tea without cream, and he agreed that it was watered down. Adding to the experience was the fact that there was absolutely nowhere to sit, despite the location being pretty empty besides people picking up their drinks and leaving. After that absolutely amazing first impression of Arcadia's ChiCha San Chen, I have avoided this location like the plague! Sadly, I received a bubble milk tea as a gift this Friday. Someone had asked me what I'd wanted from another nearby boba shop, but unbeknownst to me, had changed their mind and gone to ChiCha. I spotted the drink on my desk, saw the ChiCha packaging, and prayed against reality that they had gone to a location besides the Arcadia one, especially since the presumably TEA drink looked suspiciously WHITE. Still, I held out hope that maybe, the sad state of my past oolong tea had been an unfortunate fluke; perhaps I'd come on an off-day, and maybe they'd improved since then. Alas, my spirit of good faith was for naught. I should have know from the color, or lack thereof, of the drink. Despite being a bubble milk TEA, presumably using black tea like most traditional milk teas do, the drink is BARELY OFF-WHITE. However, don't let the vague beige-ness fool you. That beige is not from tea; it's from the brown sugar syrup that's mixed with the boba. The drink looks like those brown sugar boba MILKS that used to be so very popular in the mid-2010s, and boy, does it sure taste like it. I was looking forward to some caffeine, but at that point I wasn't even sure if they put any tea in the drink. It was watered down, I tasted almost no tea, and somehow it was worse than the Halloween oolong tea. It's funny because I could literally tell which location the person who gave me the drink went to just based on the taste, or should I say, the lack of taste, of the bubble milk tea. I asked them later to confirm that yes, they had gone to the Arcadia location. I LOVE milk tea, but I really don't like just milk, so I ended up throwing the drink away after I was out of sight of the person who gave me the drink. I only drank about a quarter of the drink. Honestly, it was genuinely impressive how a renowned boba tea chain can't figure out how to make a basic bubble milk tea properly where you can actually taste the tea. However, I will give them props for one thing -- the boba itself, as in the actual tapioca pearls, were perfect. I understand ChiCha is known for their fruit drinks, so I wonder if that's why I don't see more reviews saying the tea is watered down at this location -- perhaps people got fruit teas and those fruit teas were good. Which begs the question: if your location can only (presumably) make fruit teas decently, then why bother having any milk teas in the menu? Boba drinks are expensive, it really sucks to pay so much for a drink, expect an at least DECENT milk tea, and getting watered-down, subpar disappointment instead. What a shame; this location seems to be the only ChiCha location that's like this. I will not be going back, why bother coming here when I can go to literally any of the other million boba shops around the SGV for a basic decent milk tea?? read more

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I remember first hearing about Chicha San Chen at an event. When I found out they have a location in Arcadia, I was excited to come here and try their specialty drinks. They are located on Duarte Ave within the Arcadia Center in Arcadia. It's a contemporary looking tea shop with limited seating. Cool and clean atmosphere. I didn't have much interaction with the staff, but they seem fine. There's only one self-order kiosk, but you can order at the counter as well. I noticed there were a lot of signage with various information on the counter. Make sure you read them in case there's something important you should be aware. Since it was my first time here, I didn't know what to try first. Creamy Mango Tart looked interesting. I love mango so I went for it. It cost over $8 which is a bit pricey compared to other tea shops. When I got the drink, I was a bit disappointed because it was a regular size cup. Thought it would be a larger cup especially for the price. Anyway, drink had a cardboard cover and straw string which I don't think are necessary. Perhaps that's why it was over $8 for the decorative nature. Drink was refreshing and tropical, but honestly, I didn't taste too much of the High Mountain Pouchong tea. Sweet mango puree taste was prominently delicious though. Thick velvety mousse layer on top was quite foamy and creamy. I may not get this drink again. Though I would like to try another drink next time. Yes, I'll be back! read more

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Sister store to the one in San Gabriel. It's less crowded here, so if you want to avoid the lines, come to this location. Once you walk in, there are kiosks that you order at. Their Chicha-exclusive tea machines are the star. It looks so cool and professional. It reminds me of an espresso machine, but in this case, it specifically brews tea. I ordered the High mountain tea with pineapple jelly, 0% sweetness. It was FANTASTIC. Full of tea fragrance without the drying tea effect. The pineapple jelly added just enough sweetness to the drink. You do taste the pineapple flavor, which contrasted the tea flavor perfectly. They also have very cute cup carriers that's environmentally friendly. I'll definitely be coming back to try out their other drinks. read more

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The drinks are so refreshing, will definitely come back. They haven't disappoint on tea drinks. Had the pouching lemon juice tea, non caffeine for my son condense milk lemon w/passion fruit order less sweet w/regular ice. I didn't utilize their ordering service but use the kiosk myself but could see the lack of customer service male employee when individuals came in and how he directed them to order from kiosk. Few spots to sit at, lots of space but not utilize correctly so people could enjoy the store. I came in with a service animal, I could see the male employee was eager to get me out. The female that was brewing my tea was friendly she actually was trying to get my dog's attention. Yelp site says dogs welcome but door sign says service animal only so misleading. Regardless, ours is a service animal. read more

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

Came here on a whim after realizing that the Yogurtland next door was out of the plain tart flavor that I had been craving. Decided to order the lemon condensed milk drink, something I've gotten before at their San Gabriel location and liked quite a lot. Sorry to say, as a few of the reviews already suggest--there's just something off about this location. I asked for light ice and still got an unnecessarily large amount of ice, and the drink itself just did not compare to the one I had in San Gabriel. The service here was also sort of weird and off-putting. I was the only customer in the store from the moment I arrived, placed my order, waited, got my drink, and left. And yet, when my number for my order was called, the employee made a huge deal of needing to examine my receipt to check that the number matched before letting me take my drink. I can understand procedure, but it was such a weird interaction, knowing that I was literally The Only Person in the store the entire time. She watched me place my order! She watched me sit down and wait for my order! She watched me walk over as she called my number, watched me reach for my drink, and then blocked me physically from it (!) asking to see my receipt. It was just so jarring, I've never experienced anything like that before. Clearly, Phillip C. business owner needs to do some more work and actually take actionable steps to improve and provide a more satisfying experience in the future, instead of just copy and pasting the same few responses to the reviews on here. read more

(+) BUBBLE MILK TEA (+) OSMANTHUS OOLONG TEA ChiCha San Chen is a tea spot with multiple locations throughout the world. Their tea leaves are imported from Taiwan. They offer green, black, osmanthus oolong, cassia, dong ding oolong, and high mountain pouchong teas. The menu is easy to read and they offer drink toppings such as bubble (boba), konjac jelly, coconut jelly, grass jelly, and taro balls. This location is located inside a food/shopping plaza, so parking is adequate. Drinks: I ordered the bubble milk tea because in order to accurate judge a bubble tea spot, you must try their bubble/boba milk tea, right? The intense tea flavor was the first thing to catch my attention. It took a few sips to get accustomed, but in the end, I really enjoyed it. The boba is soft and chewy. The tea flavor is stronger than the milk taste. I'd order that one again. My wife ordered the osmanthus oolong tea with konjac jelly. She also could taste the complexity of each sip. The different notes of the tea are distinct. She also really liked her drink and recommends it. Service/Ambiance: The store is well lit and clean. Chairs and small tables are missing, making it a a grab and go feeling. I love their drink holders that are tied to a string. It's a creative idea. Trust me, I didn't trust it at first. Overall, I would recommend ChiCha san chen for your tea cravings. The steep price tag is met with the quality of tea. It is definitely a treat but with so much competition in Arcadia, it does have enough fire power to stand on its own. I will be back to try their other drinks! read more

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I had a good experience at Chicha San Chen (Arcadia). I ordered the Bubble Volcano ($8.50). It's Milk, Brown Sugar, and Bubble Boba. The Bubble Boba felt like billowy, plump pillows. It's soft with a light playful bounce. Good quality! I arrived at Chicha San Chen (Arcadia) on Sunday (around 12PM - Opening Time). Parking is simple; the private lot is competitive but wide. Customers order at self-service kiosk or counter. Since the kiosk was closed during my visit, I ordered at the counter. Staff is very professional and hardworking. Staff worked quickly. My order took one minute and 11 seconds. Very fast!! As mentioned, I ordered the Bubble Volcano ($8.50). Although this drink tasted very milky & dull, its ingredients tasted fresh and exceptional. In addition, the bubble boba felt distinct and special in its own quality. All in all, it's arguably the best version of this plain sugary milk combination. Regarding ambiance, Chicha San Chen (Arcadia) is very clean and sleek. It's also small; there's two small benches and one little table. Surprisingly, this location has customer internet with password; details are viewable on counter's side. This location also has a gender neutral restroom. In addition, I appreciated the gentle, smooth instrumental music. Overall, I had a good experience at Chicha San Chen (Arcadia). The location is popular, yet the line vanishes quickly. Its boba also tastes expertly prepared and distinct. If you enjoy boba, this is an easy recommendation. 4.6 out of 5 read more

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Found this new location of my favorite boba tea place, that is all about the quality of the tea, and great but limited selection of add-on's. The tea is of the best possible quality, made in a tea machine like the way barista makes cappuccinos, and the tea is superbly made true to the taste origins. I am from Taiwan and this is such a wonderful memory of what the best quality tea combined with a little extra jelly, boba, or conjac should taste like (only one addition per cup of tea). I'll highly recommend coming here if you're close to Arcadia area. (3 min from the Santa Anita mall). read more

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Really wanted to try this place, but unfortunately the customer service was horrendous. Tell me why there were **three people behind the counter making drinks**, with one employee already having three drinks lined up and ready to be made. There was only a party of three in front of me, so I'm assuming those were their drinks, and the server had no problem taking their order. Then it was my turn. I hadn't even finished saying what I wanted before the server stopped me and said, **"Oh, sorry, we're short-staffed. Please order from the machine,"** and proceeded to turn the machine on. Short-staffed... with **three employees behind the counter and only one other customer behind me.** Okay. And just to make things even better, there was a sign saying **orders would take approximately 15-30 minutes to be ready after being placed.** So apparently they had enough staff to make me wait 15-30 minutes for my drinks, but somehow not enough staff to take my order. The best part? The machine they told me to use had already been **turned off for the night.** So I was told to order from a machine that wasn't even available AND took them just the same amount of time it would've taken to take my order to turn the machine on. At that point, I just left. I already knew exactly what I wanted, and taking my order would have taken maybe a minute. I guess that was asking for too much. Really disappointing because I genuinely wanted to try this place. Unfortunately, I didn't even get the chance to see if the drinks were good because the customer service was enough to make me walk right back out. **Maybe figure out the ordering situation before telling customers to use a machine that's already been turned off.** read more

Great tea place to visit if you are a tea lover. You can really taste the tea in your drink rather it bring a sugar bomb. You can customize your drink according to your taste & when you don't want any sugar in your tea then the really don't put any in your drink at all unlike other places. Loved that they had the different teas they use out on display. Very cool place to visit. read more

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

I've been to Chicha San Chen a few times now, and I understand that the quality or the tea is probably better than most places, but I honestly don't quite taste it. Maybe my palate is just not refined enough or I add too much sugar too my drinks or there's just too many good boba places in the SGV, but I feel like the tea is good but nothing super special. I also struggle with Chicha because every drink comes out to $6-8.25, which is a pretty steep price for the size. I got the passion fruit green tea with pineapple jelly for $8.25, and I honestly wasn't that impressed. Parking is easy to find in the parking lot, and the service is really good and fast. They also have samples of teas you can try. read more

Chicha San Chen - Passion fruit green tea with pineapple jelly - Bubble Tea Near Me - Arcadia, California

We had at this place that other locations but this location I don't know it's a little bit different still taste good but I don't know if you understand but other locations when you open the door your nose starts to smell the freshness of the tea and you know that you are in for a tree this location a little bit on the small side when you open the door you don't really have that sense and that smell like the other locations do so I don't know why read more

honestly best chicha location i've been to cause it was the LEAST BUSIEST of them all omg thankgoodness. Walking in, there was only one pair ordering from the kiosk, but they seemed indecisive so they were taking a long time lol. So there weren't any other customers in the store and all the employees behind the table were actually just chit chatting with each other. Honestly it looked like there was a lot of workers for just the boba shop, but that makes sense cause it's chicha. This store itself was quite spacious, more spacious than the San Gabriel location, but not as spacious as the Alhambra one. This one doesn't really have seating. I ordered my usual Cassia Black Tea with Mousse with Bubble. It didn't take too long to receive my order. This was 1pm on a Sunday and my receipt said I was #7... so am I just the 7th customer of the day? That's how you know this location is not that busy LOL. First sipping it, honestly, it was the best chicha crafted drink I ever had in any other chicha locations. The foam was perfect, tea was genuinely so pure, and the bubble was very fresh and warm. Compared to other locations, probably this one had more time to perfect the drink and were not as under pressure with so many orders, so this was PERFECT. I got so sad finishing my drink. I hope this location stays not as busy haha. read more

Chicha San Chen - Cassia Black Tea w Mousse + Bubble - Bubble Tea Near Me - Arcadia, California

Honestly my favorite place to get tea. I will say it's pricier compared to other tea places. The customer service is always kind and friendly . The inside is clean and has a modern look to it. 4 stars just because I wish they had more seats and some tables to just be able to sit and have tea with friends and family . read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble milk tea Fruit tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Arcadia, California

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I came here on a Friday afternoon and was able to find parking in the lot. There was no line at all. There was one kiosk, but the guy took my order. Service was great. I got the Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Honey. It was good tea and perfectly sweet. read more

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We stopped by San Chen Tea and ordered the Green Tea Passionfruit and the Bubble Milk Tea. As usual, we went with less sweet, since the sugar level can easily overpower the tea flavor if you don't. That was the right call here -- the tea itself was fragrant and clean, and you can tell quality tea is the focus. This location was very busy, and we ended up waiting about 30 minutes. That said, they had plenty of staff and their workflow seemed well organized. It's clear they're aiming for consistency and precision with each drink rather than rushing orders out. Ordering is done through a self-service kiosk, which makes the process efficient but a little less personal, especially if it's your first time or you have questions. Given how busy they are, having a second kiosk might help reduce wait times, though I can also see how limiting orders helps manage the drink queue behind the counter. Overall, the drinks were very good. Unfortunately, I drank mine a bit too quickly and didn't get to fully enjoy how the flavor would evolve as the ice melted -- not the shop's fault, just a testament to how refreshing it was. Drinks: 4/5 - High quality tea, best enjoyed less sweet Service: 4/5 - Efficient and well coordinated despite the crowd Ambiance: 4/5 - Functional, but the long wait and kiosk ordering make it feel less personal. A solid spot for tea lovers who appreciate quality and don't mind a wait. I'd come back, just prepared for peak-hour crowds. read more

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If you like tea from Taiwan this place is pretty popular and has started having locations all around the San Gabriel Valley. This location is in Arcadia, in a small plaza that has a few other restaurants and stores around. Plenty of parking and this store looks quite new. Since I came after dinner I was super full and I couldn't really have a drink filled with boba or taro. I decided on the High Mountain Pluchong Tea with light sugar and light ice. Had to use the kiosk to make our drinks but it was pretty fast. Not a lot of people were here and we were the second people in the store. Didn't really have places to sit and chill inside so I guess you have to take it out like we did and just hang out in the parking lot while drinking our drinks. read more

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Very happy to see one in Arcadia, since the next closest location is in San Gabriel or Alhambra. There was no line when I went, and it recently opened. This location is mainly to go. I did not see much seating available. The parking is shared among other businesses in the plaza. Quality is just as good as the San Gabriel and Alhambra location. Prices are steep. They do offer online ordering which is great! read more

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So happy they opened this location!! Sad that it retired Tancha but it's a fair trade if you ask me haha. Go-to drink orders are the bubble milk tea and green tea with cream. Sweetness levels are perfect -- not too sweet at all. Tea quality is bold and robust. The boba is sooooo chewy and yum. Soft delectable goodness. Store is spacious and clean. Parking in the lot is easy. read more

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

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I get it now. Their tea quality is consistent. The king boba milk tea is the smoothest I've ever tried and there no weird after taste. This location surprisingly does not have a lot of people so it's not a long wait for placing an order. It's pricey stuff but good quality. Location is for mostly pick up with only two seats available. read more

Chicha San Chen - Milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Arcadia, California

So cool to see a Chicha San Chen open up in my hometown--and happy to say the quality is just as good as their other locations! It looks like they're still in a soft launch phase; when I stopped by, staff were still being trained on how to make the drinks. The tea is super fresh, and it's nice being able to watch them prepare everything right in front of you. Drinks were delicious as always--though on the pricier side. read more

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Came and tried the high mountain pouchong tea with lemon. It was super sweet but also tasted pretty good, so I bought one with less sugar and it was perfect. Parking was easy for me but I did come on a random weekday. Also no wait. read more

One of my fav tea stores, I come here often! Not usually too busy, but you can also order ahead on their website. My go to's are iced honey osmanthus oolong tea and iced honey green tea + taro balls, light sweetness and light ice. They're sooo refreshing and always hit the spot. If you get a non-milk drink, I *highly* recommend adding taro balls. For milk-based drinks, add boba, they're cooked to perfection. The workers are friendly and fast. Love this place :) The cons: one cup size (wish they offered a larger size) & on the pricier side read more

I recently moved back into the area and am happy to find a chicha san chen so closeby to home. I ordered my standard green tea + mango with less ice and 30% sweetness. After a short wait time I got my drink which was still just as good as any other location that I've visited. Nothing more I could ask for. read more

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

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Arcadia has seriously become ground zero for boba shops they're on every corner. Out of all of them, this spot is hands down my favorite. The boba is perfectly chewy, the drinks come out fast, and I never have to wait too long. The staff is friendly, the shop is always clean, and parking is surprisingly easy. I come here multiple times a week that's how obsessed I am. read more

I've been a loyal Chi Cha San Chen customer for years, but the customer service I received at this location left a sour taste in my mouth. I accidentally ordered the wrong tea--that part was my mistake. However, when I politely asked if they could help me fix it, I was met with a cold, flat "no." I then asked if I could simply add boba and pay the extra charge, but I was told that wasn't possible either. What disappointed me the most was the lack of customer service and empathy. For a shop that charges premium prices for its drinks, I expected a much better customer experience. The barista's tone came across as dismissive and irritated, which made the interaction even more unpleasant. I still enjoy Chi Cha San Chen as a brand, but this visit was disappointing enough that I definitely won't be before returning to this location. read more

Great tea, good service and amazing flavors. The grape series really has an bold and dry flavors with real pieces of white grape inside.

I got to try their milk tea with bobas. There is a bold flavor from tea that I look for. Right amount of sugar and right amount of milk in the tea. Bobas were sweet and chewy with good texture. They make fresh teas when customers order them so it could take a while to get your drinks during busy times. Inside of this place is modern with nice decors. Less sitting areas inside so it is not a good idea for group of people to hang out to drink bobas. Service was good and efficient and friendly. read more

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4.5 Visited for the first time and tried the Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Honey - fragrant and refreshing. I also like the cute cup carriers. Service was very friendly. read more

Bring back the peach series! I enjoyed the green grape green tea with konjac jelly. The interior is very clean. There's lots of parking available. I did not interact with the staff. It is self ordering on a kiosk. It would be nice if the grape seeds were taken out of the drink. read more

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I've had bad experiences in the Monterey Park Chicha location with its long lines and claiming that they ran out of boba (when orders after mine had boba... a different story for a different day). But - I decided to give Chicha another try at the Arcadia location and am glad I did so. I came here on a Saturday early afternoon, just after they opened. This plaza is always busy, but perhaps the post-lunch boba rush hadn't started, there was no one at the store. We got to taste the tea samples and linger around looking at the menu before placing our order. With all chicha locations, I don't feel you get as many options. You pick a tea, and whether if you want milk, and toppings. Put in other words, rather than the drink combinations being presented to you, you create your own adventure. The drinks are then made in front of you in their fancy teaspresso machines before presenting it to you with a cup holder and a string attached for easy carrying. This time around, I was surprised and happy with my drink! It's the perfect (non) sweetness, and the boba is soft. I'm not sure if the hype for chicha is justified, but I will not refuse a good boba. read more

Just as good as the location in Rowland heights. The line seems to be much shorter here though so you can get your drink much faster. As someone that's been to the tea mountains in Taiwan, this is the place to go if you're looking for a tea shop focusing on tea flavor. The way they brew the tea, you get so much tea fragrance up front, so I think it's worth coming here even if you have great tea at home. Of course at home you can enjoy first steep, second steep etc but this is really great as well. There's a reason it's ITI awarded. read more

I'm a huge fan of chicha san chen. The fact that they brew EACH cup to order is incredible. Every single cup of tea is so fresh! I love their boba here. Best boba I've ever had in my life. Perfectly sweet, perfectly chewy, so yummy. I love their seasonal taro fresh milk drink. Their passion fruit green tea is delicious too. I recommend coming on a weekday afternoon when there is hardly a wait! The service I've received here is also so good. They answer all questions very patiently and I enjoy each experience I have here. The space is very clean and fresh. read more

Chicha San Chen - Left: taro fresh milk Right: bubble milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Creamy drinks but very light in tea flavor, I was watching how they make it and they use only one tea shot per drink, personally it should be more bc it's not like coffee..fo balance so you get both tea and milk. I got the osmanthus oolong milk tea and I could only taste the milk. My friends drinks however were good, I liked the high mountain tea flavor more, and the ding dong oolong was good too. The taro balls were yummy! My friend last minute changed her mind and wanted a topping so we went back to the register and ask them if we can pay the difference for the toppings, the cashier asked to see our receipt and instead gave us a full refund, which was kind of odd.. and more of a hassle...we ended up getting a different order number and having to wait longer. I wonder if they can fix that without having to give a full refund. read more

Overall: for premium teas I'd say this place might be worth it. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the best but I might go back if I was around. Drinks: you're looking at $7-8 per drink for a 12 ounce drink. But it genuinely feels like real tea flavor, real fruit juices/purees and not artificial syrups and sweeteners. I could be fooled but the oolong lemon tea I got had that real tart flavor you get from housemate lemons. Ambience/Service/Decor: incredibly clean inside and it looks like they do tea tastings as well. It went by fairly quickly but there was also no line. read more

Chicha San Chen -- A Refined Take on Bubble Tea Craftsmanship Rating: (4/5) Chicha San Chen is not your typical boba shop -- and that distinction matters. In a market saturated with artificial syrups and powdered mixes, this Taiwanese tea house stands apart by treating tea with the reverence of a specialty coffee bar. I'm giving it a well-earned 4 out of 5 stars for its craftsmanship, atmosphere, and commitment to quality. Ambiance - 5/5 The space is beautifully curated with a cultural elegance that feels intentional and immersive. From the lighting to the open tea-making stations, the store exudes a modern Taiwanese aesthetic. Watching the staff prepare tea behind the counter feels almost theatrical -- like observing a barista pull a carefully calibrated espresso shot. It elevates the simple act of ordering boba into something experiential. Authenticity - 5/5 What truly sets Chicha San Chen apart is its dedication to brewing tea from real tea leaves. This is critical. Many bubble tea shops rely on powdered mixes, which produce a flat, artificial sweetness and often lead to that unpleasant sugar crash. Here, the tea tastes clean, layered, and true to its origin -- you can taste the difference immediately. Flavor - 4/5 The tea itself is crisp, aromatic, and naturally balanced. It doesn't rely on excessive sugar to mask weak brewing. The boba complements the drink without overpowering it. The only reason it falls just shy of five stars is that sweetness levels can still lean slightly high depending on customization, but that's easily adjustable. Service - 4/5 Staff were efficient and focused, clearly trained in the brewing process. The preparation is precise and methodical, reinforcing the brand's emphasis on technique. While interactions are more professional than warm, the product speaks loudly enough on its own. Cost - 4/5 Pricing is slightly higher than your average bubble tea shop, but the difference in quality justifies it. When you're paying for real tea leaves, proper brewing technique, and a thoughtfully designed environment, the premium feels reasonable. Final Thoughts Chicha San Chen is for those who respect tea as more than just a sugary vehicle for tapioca pearls. It's crafted, intentional, and culturally grounded. If you care about real tea flavor and want a bubble tea experience that feels elevated rather than commercial, this is the place to go. read more

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I used the self-serve kiosk to place my order and got the Osmanthus Oolong Tea with cream topping and added konjac jelly. The total came out to $9.12, which felt pretty steep for just one drink! I remember when the SG location first opened and the lines were crazy, I avoided it entirely and even ended up trying it in Hong Kong instead, haha. I visited on a recent Wednesday afternoon and there was no wait; my drink was ready in just a few minutes. Parking was also easy in the shared lot. Overall, it's a tasty drink, but definitely a once in a while splurge for me. For this size, I feel like it should be closer to $6. I know everything costs more in the U.S., but still gotta watch the wallet! read more

Absoutlely love CHICHA San Chen! It's been my total addiction. I love how fresh and fragrant the teas are. Each tea is measured and made fresh. I've always had great customer service here! If you're in the area, I would recommend the tea with passion fruit. Chefs kiss! read more

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Well worth the wait. The mousse is phenomenal and worrh coming for on its own. The menu is fairly limited but you know they do everything on the menu very very well. The passion fruit is so bright and fresh, and the tea flavor really POPS. High price but high quality, this is a good "treat yourself" spot. read more

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