They just removed all the taro series they have here at this location (im not sure if its happening to all the chains) but its super disappointing as that was my favorite drink here. Theres no more taro balls you can add to your build your own drinks either. They have other seasonal items coming to replace it but they don't know when so beware if you're going in for the taro series! read more

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I had high hopes given it's "Michelin Starred" reputation. My overall experience was good, but nothing exceptional. The drinks are solid, but nothing particularly stands out. I opted for the "triple-starred" Green Tea with boba and was a bit underwhelmed. Plenty of other shops without renown have provided as good or better. The tea itself was of reasonable strength with no bitterness, but lacked anything distinctive to note. The pearls had a good, not great chew but otherwise were bland. I'm disappointed in their inability to maintain supplies. They are not only out of the transparent cups that is core to the visual aspect of the drinks and experience, but also three flavor options: honey, mango, and passion fruit. That left only lemon and a range of dairy options. On a brighter note, I had no issues with service... drinks were made quickly and the staff had no issues explaining their menu and recommendations. As a visitor from another city who intentionally made it a point to visit Chicha San Chen, I find my expectations not met and cannot recommend them in their current state of affairs. read more

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Service : Top Notch! Couldn't complain. Food: Didn't see what the hype was about. It wasn't bad nor was it good. Just simple! Ambiance: Decoration was nice, luckily we were able to find a seat and chill for a bit. Wished they had tinted windows! Could use a little bit more table and seats. The employees that work there were very health conscious and wore mask which was nice to see. I didn't even know this place existed if it wasn't for YELP! The store blended into the center and didn't stand out. I was surprised the crowd was flowing in evenly. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I saw some reels on Instagram and was excited to try Chicha San Chen while I was in town but didn't love it. I had the green milk tea with no sugar (which is my preference for milk tea). Maybe I didn't order the right thing but my drink mostly tasted like milk and the tea flavor didn't stand out. Hubby had the ding dong oolong tea with 30% sugar and taro balls. I tried a sip of his drink and enjoyed the taste and chewiness of the taro balls so I wish I added some to my drink. read more

I drove all the way from Dallas to try the Michelin star rated tea. It did live up to the hype. Somebody need to franchise a location in Dallas so I wouldn't have to drive 3 hours for boba. I judge all tea house based on their green tea and that's what I got. Also topped off with foam. Their boba was perfectly cooked and had the right amount of chew. Down size is they only offer one size cup to keep the tea consistent. Their sweet wasn't too sweet either and was perfect read more

BEST boba I've had in a long while. A top 5 for me. U can really taste the quality. I went here 2 days in a row. They brew their tea on the spot and we went during opening hours at 11:10am and 3pm during their off hours. The wait was only around 20 mins each time. I'd gladly wait for quality handcrafted boba. The store is small but cute! I'd rec ordering on the self iPad and taking the boba to go. I'd highly recommend this if you value quality over quantity. read more

Chicha San Chen - Osamthmus tea w mousse and taro w boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Tried this place after hearing all the hype about it and it turned out to be good, but no anything to write home about. I got the osmanthus oolong tea with mango and it was too sweet even though I asked for less sugar, and the tea flavor was not that strong. My friend got the dong ding oolong tea latte and the tea was stronger here, but so was the milk. The high mountain pouchang tea with lemon juice was very refreshing. The favorite was bubble milk tea with taro. The boba had great texture, however the tea itself was alright. I liked that it was not too sweet, and I enjoyed the real taro. I enjoyed the aesthetic of the shop and the service that was provided. However, even though there was not a long line to order, the wait for the drinks was quite long. A good experience, but not sure if I would return. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Decided to try this place after I heard it had award winning tea. I myself got a green tea with mousse and grass jelly which was one of the best I've ever had! Their "perfect" level for sugar really is perfect, not over sweet like a lot of places. The tea tastes fresh and floral. The mousse was divine, not exactly a cheese cap but a flavor I couldn't put my finger on - so worth the calories! They have a fairly small sitting area that is often quite crowded but 2 ordering stations which is nice. They were pretty quick to serve despite having a long waitlist and you can also track your place in line which is nice. I'll be back! read more

Had to see what the hype was about and thankfully went at a time when it wasn't super packed! Got a taro milk tea without any sugar which in hindsight was a mistake -- the tea was great but could've used at least a little bit of sugar! The flavor and aroma felt very fresh and high quality and the boba was super chewy and perfectly sweet. Next time I'd order something else because I'm sure there's a ton of options I should check out that make this place so famous! read more

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Delicious boba and very nice staff. Very busy and hard to find parking with long lines. Quality of drink is unmatched. read more

Chicha San Chen - Brown Sugar Boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is NOT your average bubble tea place. It is something far far better. * * * I give all bubble tea places five stars. This is because most bubble tea places are good and they are all pretty much the same. I have found maybe two bubble tea places in my life that were not up to snuff. And over fifty that were wonderful and everything advertised. * * * Yeah, technically Chicha San Chen sells some tea drinks that have bubbles. Some of them also have flavors. But that is not really what Chicha San Chen is all about. * * * Chicha San Chen sells OOLONG tea. Very very very good oolong tea. Six different kinds of very good oolong tea. Oolong tea may not be Darjeeling ... which in its highest forms is the most amazing tea in the world. But their Oolong is better than anything you will get in any supermarket in Austin. Better by a lot. * * * You do have the option if you want of just getting a plain cup of tea. But they have put together a set of flavor combos that go with the six basic teas. You also have the option of designing your own combos. These mixes are very very well considered indeed. * * * Service is slow but that is just fine. Nine million international students are in line ahead of you waiting for their tea. The clientele is not just Taiwanese. The clientele comes from all over the world. I am betting the word about ChiCha San Chen hit the University of Texas first - and rapidly spread through all the departments. The other slow factor is that the teas have to steep after they are prepared. The teas strengthen their taste in the glass. The mixed flavors cook and blend in the glass. So your drink will sit on the counter for a long time while the help attends to orders that came before yours. This is fine. Let the drink reach its natural peak before you take it. * * * Technically, ChiCha San Chen is on soft opening. But this is one of the tightest and most professional soft openings I have ever seen. They have a huge staff (which is needed given the dozens and dozens of people pouring through the door.). They make the teas in record time and with extreme precision. Everyone knows exactly what to do. They work non-stop without a pause. I have little doubt that management trained and trained and trained this team before the first door was ever opened. * * * And trust me - the tea really IS that good. They give free samples of a black tea with cream. The black tea has far more taste than any milk tea you have had in a regular bubble tea place. The cream is creamier but it does not reduce the tea flavor of the black tea one bit. One of the best free samples I have ever had. I actually ordered a Pouchong tea with lemon juice and mousse. Pouchong is a green tea and is very different from the free sample they were giving out. The total effect was a cross between a lemon meringue pie and a refreshing and strong flavored green tea. The tea was far more interesting than the sencha I usually get when I order green tea. I was in love. (Or actually I was in commitment. I had already fallen in love with the milk tea sample.) * * * Speaking of commitment, Going to ChiCha San Chen is a major commitment of time. You will wait forever to put in your order. You will wait while they slow brew your beverage. Is it worth it? * * * Yes, I said, Yes, I said, Yes, I said, Yes. read more

First of all, I didn't even realize it was the grand opening so when I saw the line I was very confused LOL! I decided to stick it out and I'm glad I did because this was unlike any boba place I've ever been to and I've been to a LOT. The drinks taste very unique in my opinion and it has a lot to do with the quality of the tea. Someone named Ren, did a tea demonstration for myself and others and it gave me a great insight into all of the intention of this boba shop. I loved it! He also was a great host, you can tell he was very passionate about the shop. It was the most unique and fun experience I've ever had at a boba shop. It was also really pretty inside, it had a modern aesthetic and would be a great place to bring friends. read more

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Well I've tried this place a few times now and it's safe to say that it's a tad bit overhyped. Yes, the quality is incredible, the drinks do taste good and I think the price is reasonable. However, I would not wait over 15 minutes, let alone stand outside in the heat for an hour. My go to is the cassia black tea with cream NO BOBA. The boba ruins the subtle sweetness of the drink and waters it down. Their drinks are a lot less sweet than other boba places so keep that in mind. And the boba isn't anything special so don't wait around for it. The fruit tea drinks are also good but I usually stick with the milk tea. read more

Chicha San Chen - Milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I am in love with this place. Just so refreshing! I happened to find this place one morning I just wanted some refreshing ice tea with jellies. This place looked new on the map and gave it chance. The mousse is life changing! We've been here 4 times in the last two weeks! read more

Chicha San Chen - HM pouchong tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Their boba tea has a really nice authentic taste to them. The boba pearls are flavorful-- an assortment of tea to choose from with dairy free options. read more

Chicha san Chen I love you but please bring back the taro series!!! It was the best. If you want the best boba in Austin, you want this place. Everything is phenomenal and the service is amazing. It always has a super long line even on the weekdays but it moves quickly. I love the decor and the uniforms are so cute! (Also no food only tea.) read more

Chicha San Chen - Yum! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Enjoyed this spot primarily because you can taste the actual tea vs the milk/syrup etc over powering it at a lot of other spots.

Ordered the honey osmanthus oolong tea (light sugar) + taro milk tea (light sugar) and enjoyed both drinks! Stopped by on a weekday afternoon and still had to wait a bit for our drinks, which was fine. They worked hard to make each drink. It's such a cute and clean place... bright and white with greenery and essential decor. We'll definitely come back read more

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We had to wait in line for an hour and then wait another 45 minutes for our drinks to arrive because it was just so crowded. It has a unique variety of drinks but I would not recommend waiting for as long as I did. I think because of that I would probably not go there again unless someone else in my group wants to! read more

Chicha San Chen - Milk Tea with Boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

PARKING: There is very, very limited parking. AMBIANCE: It is a casual tea place. DRINKS: I love how this place use quality tea leaves and they brew the teas you order your drink. I got the Bubble Milk Tea with Taro (this is their basic milk tea with taro paste + boba) and Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea (refreshing tea). I got it both "perfect" sweeten which is not too sweet to my taste and just right! The drinks run on the pricer side for your average tea. However, I can't believe I waited in line for over an hour for tea. Since it is a recently open tea place, the hype is still going on so be prepared to wait to order and wait for your drinks. read more

This tea place is no ordinary milk tea boba shop. It is not about ordering a milk tea with boba. It's about the experience. They have a variety of teas and the teas are brewed fresh per order. Though the process may take longer, it is worth it because it is different. I love the aroma of the teas. My husband and I took a day trip to Austin from Houston just to try it ChiCha because we are tea connoisseurs. We tried 3 different drinks between the two of us. 1. Bubble Milk Tea (Bubble is their boba, we got the Perfect Sugar and it is not too sweet, light milk tea, not as creamy as other places) 2. Dong Ding Oolong Tea with Taro Balls (fragrant tea, taro balls were nice and chewy) 3. Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Cream and Coconut Jelly (fragrant tea, was expecting a milk tea when I added the cream but it wasn't a milk tea) The lines and wait were long, but I enjoyed the fragrant teas and experience! read more

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The drinks are just okay. Oolong Tea is fresh but not strong enough. The bubble is little hard. They using paper cup so we cannot see the drinks. The service: 5 Ambiance: 4 read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble milk tea and Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte with bubble - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

6/5 service! I didn't realize my drink didn't include boba, so I went back up to the register and they accommodated my request to add boba after the fact without making me wait in line again. Superb customer service :) The boba had good flavor and a nice chew. I've never had Cassia tea before but it was good. My partner got osmanthus oolong with honey and it was perfect on this hot summer day. This boba was yummy but not anything different from other boba shops. Parking was tight, I believe I got the last spot in the back and there was a little bit of a wait, but it was worth it. I would still go back again. read more

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My absolute favorite bubble tea place of all time. It's unlike any others. The quality and the flavors are phenomenal. My favorite drink is their High Mountain Lemon Mousse and their Taro series. read more

I came across this new Taiwanese boba shop accidentally through my social media. My friend and I stopped by mid afternoon and the place was extremely busy! I tried their mango green tea with a cold foam. You can see the staff making all the drinks fresh which is pretty neat. It was super refreshing a bit too icey (over half my drink was just ice). The joint is very cute and aesthetic. I would definitely work out of here! Overall I found the place to be a bit pricey for what it is, but a good try. read more

Chicha San Chen - Drinks bar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We stopped here during a road trip. Unfortunately, they were out of stock on our first and second choice, so we went with a different order, which we thought was okay. I could see that they are famous for their teas. read more

We got another espresso-style tea contender in town! (watch out Teaspoon) They call their full sweetness (which is 70-80%) "perfect sweetness" (which I agree with!) It is definitely the least sweet boba shop in town. At most places, I usually get 30-50%, but here, "perfect sweetness" is indeed perfect for me. I ordered the Dong Ding Tea Latte (while thinking about that old SHINEE song..ring ding dong ding ding dong ding...). The tea is loud and proud. This place definitely emphasizes their tea and is more sparing on their cream. The Dong Ding oolong tea is pleasantly nutty and the boba has a lovely bouncy chew to it. If you like more tea-heavy places like Moge Tea, I think you'll definitely like it here. The ambience is super cute. Clean aesthetic with green plants and pottery on the side. If it wasn't so packed during the soft opening week, I could see myself catch up with people here. The cashier was super friendly and insightful, explaining the various teas to us. read more

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SLAPS!!! The Wells Fargo ChiCha San chen combo is unmatched. This is the best boba in austin hands down. We went during their soft opening and there was a line that took quite a while to get through. Aside from that, when we got up to the counter, they offered us samples of the base for the original boba drink and my god. That was the creamiest most delicious base ever. They also allowed us to smell all of their different teas which was lovely. The interior is clean and minimalist and it was amazing. I would be back in a heart beat. To be honest with you, this is my new boba spot. It is so good. We originally thought it was in the same strip mall as 99 Ranch, it is not . It is close by though. Highly recommend! read more

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We ordered the brown sugar boba. Not my area of expertise but was recommended to try it. Was quite tasty. Gave it a 5/5 because it probably was the best boba I've tried. The service was great and the interior was very clean and up-kept. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Best boba in Austin! Tried this place for the soft opening last week and was truly impressed. They were running a little on the slow side but this was totally worth the wait. Part of the reason the line takes so long is you are greeted with samples when you reach the front. We were able to taste their main milk tea which was super helpful in determining my preferred sweetness level. I went with the perfect sweetness and it was as described, perfect. The also let you smell the other types of tea they offer which was really nice and helped me land on the mango oolong for my second drink. The Mango oolong was refreshing without being too sweet and I would recommend for a hot summer day. One other important call out is the boba pearls. By far the best I've had. They were sweet and actually tasted like brown sugar. It's just down the road from 99 ranch and if you're looking for boba in Austin this place is a must try. read more

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I don't usually leave yelp reviews, but I was so disappointed by the experience I was compelled to leave one. This place is all aesthetic and no taste. The tea was completely tasteless...as if i was drinking watered down milk. A total disappointment as someone who enjoys tea and boba in general. The mousse tastes very artificial, like it was made from instant power as opposed to real cream. The tea is not at all concentrated, a shame since they have such fancy tea "espresso" machines. I believe these espresso machines are what make these tea so tasteless because the leaves are not steeped at all...hot water just runs through them. Basic knowledge about tea says you must steep them in order to get a proper flavor. There is a way to do things, which this place seems not to understand. The service was fine, and it's nice that they have samples, but the tea was simply a disgrace for $15. I had to stop and get another drink after trying this tea because I was so disappointed. read more

So glad they open up in Austin. Their teas are excellent! I ordered the orange green tea, and I want to try all their other drinks. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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High quality Taiwanese bubble tea in cute packaging - it was packed on the weekend so I recommend ordering from the to-go iPad (left line) if you're in a rush. My brown sugar tea was good but not amazing. They had lots of options so I'll try something different next time. read more

Cute place, nice atmosphere, I had one of the oolong teas with cream and taro balls, lightly sweetened. Very tasty and rich, service was good. It's pricey but quality is good. read more

Chicha San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

One of the best boba spots in Austin! It's rare to see made to order tea and actual tea leaves actually been used in boba shops. I got the milk tea with taro balls 30 % sugar which was perfect! The taro balls were chewy and firm and not too sweet! We also got the milk tea with boba 30% sugar. It was amazing as well. Their boba was really great and plump. Do expect a decent amount of wait while getting it on a hot day. read more

Chicha San Chen - Milk tea with taro balls - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

San Chen has the best quality boba I've had in Austin! All of the drinks that I've tried so far have been such a treat, I haven't been disappointed. Despite the long lines sometimes, staff are able to make your drink fairly quickly. The shop does get a bit loud when it's crowded but nothing out of the ordinary for a busy spot. They have a few tables and benches to sit around. read more

The parking lot was nearly full and we got the last available table in the coffee shop. I ordered a Bubble milk tea, light sugar, less ice on the machine and they made it quickly. It was a good level of sweetness but the boba was a little too chewy for my preference. I am slow to consume drinks, so I was glad they offer a drink carrier with a string handle, so I could easily hold it when I went shopping later. They only offer a regular size and my drink, without any upgrades, was $7, so I did not feel like it was a good value for the amount I paid. read more

I ordered honey osmanthus oolong tea with boba, the tea tasted ok. But boba is hard, and not very good. The drink size is very small for the price. My drink is $7+ already. With that price, I can already get a large size drink in other boba tea shops. The store itself is pretty small and narrow in shape, the seating layout is very bad, and not a good place for visiting if you have big group friends, because the tables are mostly small and doesn't have enough chairs. If it's 1 person or a couple, it will fit. But if you have more than 3 people, it'll be a bit difficult to sit together and chat. This place doesn't have good atmosphere, I don't think I'll go there to work on my laptop or work on my homework, because all the seats are very close to each other, I can hear people chatting very loud next me. It's hard to focus on my homework. Very dirty bathroom! And they only have one bathroom there. There was a young lady went inside in front of me for 15 mins. I guess maybe she was doing her makeup or something, I was not sure. But yes, I stood outside the bathroom for 15 mins, and so were the 4-5 people waiting in line behind me. Everyone was waiting to use the bathroom eagerly. After I entered the bathroom, it was really dirty!!! there were period blood shoe prints all over the floor, and I am sure I stepped on them because there were so many. So gross! There was one big garbage bin near the door, but it was exploded and overfilled with drink cups, and all the drink cups piled up high there, and many cups fell and dropped on the floor already. Their staff didn't do a good job changing the garbage bin. It was very unsightly, and many customers were unable to toss their drink cups because it was full. It's my first time visiting this tea shop, I'll say the overall experience was not good. And I don't recommended it. I hope their tea shop will take criticism or customer reviews humbly. No one paid me to write this review. It's all based on my personal experience. read more

Chicha San Chen - menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is no doubt the BEST boba in Austin! Despite being from the West Coast, I never had Chicha San Chen until I moved to Austin. I had only heard about it when coworkers told me I lived near a "famous" boba spot. I am happy to say that it lived up to my expectations! Both the milk and fruit tea selection have amazing flavor and you can really tell that they use quality ingredients (rather than syrups). The only con is that the drinks are a bit pricey, but for good reason. The shop is small so the seating area feels a bit cramped when there's a line. There is limited parking which can be a challenge on weekends but usually is not a problem on weekdays. The wait can also be a bit long on weekends so I recommend ordering online ahead of time. Because of these factors, I prefer to just pick-up my drink rather than dining in. Having trouble deciding what to get with all those different tea variations? Here are my recommendations! 1) My go-to drink is the Ding Dong Oolong Tea Latte with Taro Balls. I tried the taro balls on a whim and they've been a favorite for me ever since. The taro balls have the perfect chewiness and a subtle but sweet flavor. I've never been to any other boba shops that make taro balls this perfectly. 2) High Mountain Pouchong Tea with Lemon Juice and Mousse - One of the most refreshing fruit teas I've ever had. Perfect for Texas summer! I was worried that it would taste too citrusy, but the mousse balanced the drink really well. The mousse was sweet but also had a subtle taste of lemon zest, which made the drink feel really nostalgic. This drink is unique and isn't comparable to any other fruit teas at competitor boba shops. 3) Osmanthus Oolong Tea W Mango - Just what you'd expect, but better! A simple fruity drink made with high quality tea. read more

Chicha San Chen - High Mountain Pouchong Tea with Lemon Juice & Mousse, Ding Dong Oolong Tea Latte with Boba, Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Mango - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Heard this place is from Taiwan so had to check it out. Wanted to get the lemon drink but that one doesn't come with boba so passed and asked Chris for a recommendation. He recommended the Honey Osmanthus with boba. It was really light and refreshing and the boba was good too. The bobas are huge and chewy lol Thanks for the recommendation Chris! Last note is that the cups are so extra read more