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Delicious drinks that are not too sweet. The interior is clean. Expect drinks to be in the pricey size given the portion but I can tell they use high quality tea.
Still phenomenal tea. Got the Dong Ding Oolong with fresh milk and taro balls, delicious. Tried my friends' mango tart and lemon tart drinks and they're very much just like a key lime pie and mango cookie in drink form. Service takes a while on weekends but it's always worth it!
Great service. We tried the bubble tea and green tea. Both were good but I would have preferred the green tea without the pink tapioca jellies. It made it too sweet. 8/10 Tea
This is one of the better boba tea options. They have a good menu of really well balanced teas, that are brewed using a special machine that almost looks like an espresso machine. The presentation is really nice even though it's always a take out cup. Definitely recommend if you're tired of the sugar-loaded Dubai chocolate 14k gold labubu bobas and want something more sophisticated.
chicha san chen has a clean, modern interior, and the drinks come out pretty quickly even when it's busy. the boba is sooo warm, soft, and perfectly chewy. my favorite is the honey osmanthus oolong! it's incredibly refreshing, with a strong floral aroma that really shows the quality of the tea leaves. overall a good spot if you're looking for high-quality tea but it is a bit pricier
Absolutely love this spot--if you're a tea lover, you need to stop by! All of the tea is brewed fresh, and the variety is incredible--from bold, darker blends to light and fragrant oolongs. We especially enjoy trying their seasonal specials, and love that you can also buy their loose leaf teas and tea bags to enjoy at home. The staff is super friendly and helpful, especially if you're not sure what to order or want a recommendation based on your taste. They're always happy to guide you. There's a good amount of seating, making it a great place to hang out with friends or family. And bonus points--the bathroom is very clean, which always adds to the experience. Don't forget to sign up for their rewards program so you can earn points toward future drinks and treats!
ChiCha has very high-quality boba. I got the honey osmanthus oolong tea per my friend's recommendation, and it was amazing. You can watch them brew the tea, and you can tell they care a lot about the quality. It was expensive for a small cup at $7.31, but it was well worth the price. I got it with tapioca, and the tapioca tasted really good. They are less sweet than most boba shops around here as they are more authentic to their Taiwanese origin. I got the "perfect" sugar level (100%), and it was actually perfect for me. I usually get 50% at other places, and it tasted similar to that. I have heard people who really like sweet drinks tell me that they would want to get 200% sugar here. I don't know if they do that here.
So expensive for how much they give you but the tea is some of the best in Austin. I also love their loose leaf oolong tea you can buy at the counter. If you come when it's busy, service can be incredibly slow and the space is tiny so it gets cramped quickly (very pretty though).
Literally some of the best boba out there. The teas and the milk teas are all fantastic you truly can't go wrong with any drink you get. I will say I think some of the employees need training because none of the knew how to apply a gift card. There is also a kiosk to order if you don't want to stand in line. 10/10 recommend!
Call me a hater but i finally caved and decided to give san chen a try. I did not believe all the hype but thought i had to give it a try first. The store itself was very clean and cute, they had a lot of different tea selections which felt more premium. I decided to opt in for a classic oolong boba tea and here are my thoughts: it doesnt taste like a classic boba tea. You can tell the tea is more premium BUT they don't add milk snd i dont think they add enough milk powder. It didnt satisfy my boba tea cravings unfortunately. The boba balls itself were well made. Sweet and high quality. Not sure if i'll be back because it is overpriced and i can get better boba at other shops for cheaper and better! But to each their own! Not BAD boba, just not what im used to
I love Chicha San Chen! This is my first time having it at this location. The place is so cute for photos :) the servers were kind! Our drinks: Dong ding oolong tea with cherry blossom konjac Bubble volcano
If you're looking for brewed to order quality tea, this Taiwanese bubble tea shop has it. I was wanting something unique and was surprised by a chocolate-giving tea: cassia black tea with mousse. I also loved the fresh taro milk tea that comes with taro balls
The few times I've been here it hasn't been crowded so the drinks come out fast. You can order at the counter or order at one of the kiosks. The location is a bit random and unappealing from the outside. But once you step inside, its simplistic decor is quite inviting, you can see them make the drinks fresh in front of you. Their milk tea with taro ball and taro paste is my go to order. Have tried a few other items which were solid too. The drink carrier is cute and unique. It is on the pricier side for boba; they only offer one size and it's not that big hence 4 stars instead of 5. read more
Their tea was really yummy and strong. I think their base drink isn't too sweet which I liked as well. I think it is really pricey though because it's around $7 for a small drink. I think it's worth to try though because the drinks are good! There usually is a line but it goes by pretty quickly and the drinks come out fast. There are small tables inside and the workers are nice. read more
I ordered the Dong Ding Oolong Tea with Mousse! I love their boba tea because it is freshly brewed. I highly recommend getting the mousse. The mousse has a slight cheese flavor in it but it complements the oolong tea. There is a long line but we ordered on their website so we just went inside and picked it up immediately. There is some seating inside and it gets crowded because of the long lines but overall, great food. read more
9 months ago
9 months ago
ChiCha is probably my fav boba/tea spot in ATX. The tea quality is just too good and they are always consistent. I love their taro balls as well, bomb.com haha. Love that they are a genuine Taiwanese chain, since this is where boba originated from, and their tea literally has won global awards! I never stay in the store too long but the ambiance is chill, sometimes the music is playing very loudly but nothing to knock them for imo. Usually not too long of a wait either but the tea does take time for them to brew using their cool specialty brewing machines. But that is like a made to order freshness guarantee! read more
This place was very very good. I got the dong ding tea with honey which the cashier said they liked and it was exactly what I wanted. The boba was so fresh and chewy, better than everywhere else I've been. The drinks came out quick and everyone was so nice. This is such a cute spot to go for a quick drink. 11/10 recommend!! read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
Highly rated for a reason! Every time that I come to Austin, I always stop by Chicha because the drinks are legit! Not too sweet, aromatic tea freshly made before you, and I also like that you could custom make your drink. My favorites are the Green Milk Tea with Taro and Taro Balls and the DongDing Tea. I love the cup holders too! One thing about the drinks is that it's a little pricy at $7 each cup but the quality is great so. Overall, 9/10. read more
This store is visually amazing. You can watch them make the drinks and it's beautiful. Everything is measured and meticulous. The only downside is it's a little intimidating coming in to order. This isn't a typical boba tea shop with a bunch of colorful fun flavors. Everything is simple and focused on the flavor of the teas. I ordered a black tea with mousse. I think I was expecting it to be a milk tea but that might have been my own misunderstanding. Wish there was more of a description of each item when you use the iPad. Cassia black tea with mousse: 7/10 I got this with less sugar and ice. It honestly tasted like a muted version of cereal milk. I liked it but maybe not for $6. The packaging is very cute but I don't think I appreciate tea enough have it be worth the price. read more
I heard this one of the best boba places in Austin, so I thought to give it a try! I walked in, and the layout and atmosphere is so cute. It's modern, comfy, and can hold a good amount of people. I love how you can see everything being freshly brewed and created. I got the Dong Ding Oolang Latte and it was perfectly balanced. Not too sweet, but it tasted fresh and flavorful. The boba texture and taste was great too. The workers are incredibly friendly and quick! The drinks are put in the most adorable cup holders and they're good portions. Will definitely return! read more
2 years ago
Cute little bubble tea shop. Got a black milk tea with boba and a green tea with taro paste and boba. Tea is fresh and lends a great flavor to the drink. Real Taro paste with little chunks -- delicious add. Boba is cooked through nicely and not too soft. Service was quick and friendly. Love the little carriers. read more
Amazing milk tea spot! Came here on a Friday night and the place was pretty popping. I ordered the High Mountain Pouchong Tea with Lemon Juice and Mousse. So good! I let my friends try it and they both agreed mine was the best pick of the night. This was my first time here and I can't wait to stop by again! read more
2 months ago
3 years ago
Chicha San Chen has a lot of West Coast hype and it's easy to see why. While they have boba in their drinks, they could easily be an artisanal tea place, too. The serving counters are set up to look like a laboratory, and the tea is made through what looks like espresso machines. The tea flavor in their drinks is really strong, and it's not too sweet. The tapioca pearls are fine, but it's the tea that stands out as being full-bodied, fragrant, and delicious. The staff are great, too. One of them gave our group of 4 a mini tea-tasting session and explained the processing of oolong tea that they use. Another person helped make my order right when what I wanted wasn't what I got. Overall a great experience, and we went both days that we were visiting Austin! read more
2 years ago
This place seems very different from all the rest: "Founded in 1998, Chicha San Chen's success has brought Taiwanese milk tea to another level. The company sources teas grown and hand-picked on Lishan Mountain in Taiwan. CSC is renowned for their expertise in tea brewing, and has been awarded what's referred to as the equivalent of three Michelin stars from the International Taste Institute". Is this boba tea shop worth the hype? I think so. Their tea really is excellent. My go-to order is the Dong Ding Oolong Tea with fresh milk, add boba, 30% sweet, little ice. At $6.75, it's on the pricy side, but gotta treat yourself sometimes! read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
First thoughts when I went in was that it was bright and clean. I can definitely see it being a cute spot to hang out with some friends (but only if your group is less than 4). They had free samples of the dong ding oolong which was delicious and I was sad that I didn't just get that drink instead. On the sign it does say that their drinks tend to be less sweet in general which I think is pretty accurate. I got the cassia black tea with mousse with perfect sweetness but found the tea itself to be very light and definitely not that sweet. It wasn't bad just nothing that stood out, especially compared to the drink sample. Service can be a bit slow but they do have a pretty efficient way of calling numbers out. read more
Strong tea taste is what sets this bubble tea shop apart from other Austin spots! This spot is not too far from the Asian shopping complex The Crescent, just down the street off Airport Blvd. There is an option to stand in line to order with the cashier or you can skip and order through their digital system. I tried the Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea and loved everything about it. I did order mine with light sugar and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. Their boba is on another level or should I say is cooked to perfection...it has the right amount of texture that I cannot put into words. If you post on your social media and tag them you get to pick (1) any tiny bubble tea brooch in their collection. Collect 8 and you can redeem for a free one! ...hands down one of the top Austin bubble tea spots IMO! read more
2 years ago
I had high expectations walking into Chicha San Chen, and I'm happy to say that most of them were met. The baristas were generous with answering my questions and letting me sample their teas and toppings, so I was feeling really good about my order without feeling rushed. I ended up ordering the Dong Ding Oolong Tea + oat milk + taro balls. I sampled their boba and found it too slightly overcooked for my liking, but the taro had the perfect texture and complimented the tea. I went with Perfect Sweetness (100%) this time just to see how sweet they made their drinks, and even though I was nervous about the 100% amount, it ended up being just right and not too sweet at all. I also think it's very cute that they serve the drinks with a little hand-tied handle made of twine. Can't wait for my next visit! Tea: 4/5 Toppings: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Decor/ambiance: 5/5 read more
6 months ago
My friend is a big fan of this place and wanted me to try it since it has Michelin stars. I understand how they were rated this way due to the aesthetics of the venue and the drink presentation itself with the cute holder that I have not seen done at other places. It was also super cool to watch the bobaristas make all the drinks with more high-end equipment. Despite all of this, the fresh milk with brown sugar bubble tea tasted pretty standard to me and I did not really understand the hype as it tasted similar to other boba establishments I've been to. There was not much seating available since the establishment was fairly small so I would recommend getting it to-go instead. Parking was difficult to find for me since we went when it was fairly busy but the service was amazing and they got our orders taken in a quick manner. The drinks did take a while to be made though but considering the circumstances they got it out in a reasonable manner. read more
2 years ago
Drinks are consistent and very obviously high quality. The tea flavors are strong and the boba pearls are always perfectly chewy. The staff here are kind and will explain the teas to you very well. There are tea samples for you to smell and sometimes samples to drink. Definitely a nice opportunity to learn more about the history of the teas if it isn't too busy inside. read more
Finally tried out this place and it was fantastic! I will say I loved the aesthetic of the place and the ambiance and their ordering system a little bit more than the drink itself but maybe that's because I got regular sugar instead of less. All in all a decent place for boba, priced like other spots in Austin but this place has prettier packaging! Service was helpful and quick. read more
3 years ago
ChiCha San Chen (translated eat tea three thousand) has the equivalent merit of 3 Michelin stars and for good reason. They're also expanding like crazy now with recent openings in Seattle and Toronto as well. Their Dong Ding Oolong Tea is their signature, award winning drink. While they are a boba store, their specialty is in the actual tea, their boba is just alright. ChiCha has one cup size at a high price point. Ice and sugar can be adjusted as expected. Tea is brewed freshly with each order. While it's hard to justify the price point as a common experience for lower quantity, the quality is worth trying at least once and for special treats. Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte w/ Boba - I personally think their oolong lies closer to the green tea side than black tea, so a bit less oxidized. It's aromatic and florally strong. As a tea latte, there's milk, but because ChiCha specializes in tea, the balance is tipped towards the tea (thankfully) and it's very potent. Boba, again, is just alright. It's chewy, not bouncy, and leaning towards the flavorless side with a lack of marination. read more
3 years ago
I am a tea fanatic and was super excited to hear a third US store was opening right here in Austin, Texas. I ordered 4 different drinks and sadly... not a single one was as good as I had anticipated! I expected my drinks to be tea heavy, but instead, found them to be all diluted. Tried & failed: Ding Ding Oolong Tea Latte, Fruit Tea, Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea and Cassia Black Tea with Mousse. The Fruit tea was not as horrendous as the others, but it may also be because of it sitting in the fridge overnight. read more
I revisited this place multiple times since their grand opening, and it seems like they've really refined their process. Gone are the days of waiting over an hour for a drink; now, everything seems to be running smoothly, with items consistently in stock. While the order system can still be a bit slow, it's definitely improved overall since their grand opening. Just be patient with it. Parking has become a bit more challenging lately, as the nearby gas station and Jack in the Box no longer allow parking in their spaces. As a result, there are only a few spaces available in the immediate area. Oh they started doing a reward program via your phone number. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Newly opened ChiCha San Chen on Airport Blvd is known for their high quality teas that are brewed freshly on the spot and for each cup. They were awarded 2 to 3 stars by Michelin International Taste Institution, a worldwide certification evaluated by experts verified by Michelin Guide and other organizations and you can really taste the difference. We went on a whim during a busy hour during the weekend. I advise not to do this. Unfortunately it was way to busy for anyone to have a seat and notorious clear cups with handle was available because they were in panic fast production mode. Instead go on a weekday when all is calmer and seats are available. We got the Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte at 25% sweetness and Osmanthus Tea at 50% sweetness. The boba on both were the consistency that I preferred, tender her chewy. Freshly made everything definitely makes a difference because you have warm boba and a tea that hasn't released too much acid from sitting out all day. read more
This is the worst boba tea I've ever had! I'm from Asia and my mom visited Taiwan frequently so we know exactly what authentic boba tea tastes like. We read about Chicha San Chen and all the positive reviews so we decided to try it out even thought it was very out of our way. We all ordered Ding Đồng Oolong Milk Tea with boba and we were extremely disappointed! The milk tea: It was completely tasteless! They claimed to use high quality tea, and oolong typically has a strong nutty taste but there was no taste of tea whatsoever in our oolong milk tea. Good boba needs to have a chewy texture, their boba was soft. It was like the boba you would have in the boba tea at a Chinese restaurant - the place that serves drink boba tea but doesn't specialize in boba tea. We paid more than $6 for a tiny cup of diluted milk with some sweetener. Service: Not sure if all staff is like this every day, but the staff on the day I visited didn't welcome any customer and looked miserable. The shop: Bright and clean with several tables and chairs. Not sure if the AC broke that day but it was 80F inside. They have all the fancy stuff - hanging their award certification from International Taste Institute on the wall, having a shiny tea and coffee making machine, having tea leaves of multiple teas for us to smell. What's the point of smelling if you can't taste a bit in your drink? I feel like all these shiny and fancy stuff is there to distract our tastebud. When you see award frames and smell the leaves, it's wowing your brain and tricking your brain to believe it. They also have the cute cup holder with a string and sticker on every cup. I would rather them saving the money of buying these branded cup holders and stickers and spending on how to make high quality drinks. I'm here to pay for the drink, not the cup holder, not the sticker. I'm willing to pay $6-7 for a quality drink in a basic cup than a cup at Chicha San Chen. I'm willing to take my time to write this long review hoping to save yourself some money and saving you from experiencing terrible Taiwanese boba milk tea. Save 50% of the money and go to 99 Ranch around the corner, get a $2.99 Assam milk tea with boba included that tastes like what I had in Asia and Taiwan specifically. read more
10 months ago
It's been a month since ChiCha San Chen opened its doors in Austin yet it's still crowded! We waited 30 minutes while I contemplated how different this bubble tea could really be -- but my standards have just been raised This bubble tea shop originated in Taiwan and prides itself on offering the highest quality, freshly brewed teas. This is only the 3rd location in the US, after LA & Seattle. The teas are award-winning by the International Taste Institute in Brussels and you can taste the difference! Each cup is brewed to order We got the Bubble Milk Tea and Milk Tea with Taro Ball & Paste. The teas tasted superior to any bubble tea I've had before and the boba was perfectly soft and chewy. It was my first time trying taro balls and I loved this as well! The "perfect sugar" option is actually perfect (maybe 50-70% of most boba shops) and they really want their teas to shine through I can't wait to be back to try their other bubble teas! Perhaps during an odd time to avoid the crowds :) read more
At first I was skeptical about this boba place, because to me every boba taste pretty similar due to the typical menus that are everywhere. But this boba store really is different. You can really taste the quality of the tea in these drinks. The barista really do love what they do and are well educated in their teas. They even had a sample at the side, so you can spell the diff aromas that each tea has. Staff was super helpful and patient when we were deciding what we want. Everything is also customizable! Highly recommend, will be coming back and still craving their drinks everyday! We got: - Osamanthus oolong tea w/ mango: one of my faves, loved the fruity flavor of the mango and the crystal boba that went with it (5/5) - green tea honey: we customized this one and it turned out being a fav too. You can really taste the quality of the tea here. Simple but delicious (5/5) - high mountain pouchong tea: this had a more sour, lemon taste. It was delicious, but I got tired of it eventually (4/5) - cassia black tea: it had a dark, coffee like aroma to it. Delicious, but not my preference (4/5) read more
3 years ago
First off, I have to say the boba here is delicious! Really top tier boba, probably better than the majority of other available boba options in Austin. All the details are really cute and premium feeling too, such as the cup holder and cute stickers. However, the downside is the wait time. I came a few weeks after they first opened and waited close to an hour for one drink. That's quite frustrating because it was supposed to be a quick stop. I hope that next time I go, they would have smoothed out their ordering and boba making process to be a bit quicker. read more
After seeing this place on Instagram I was so excited to try it since I knew I'd need caffeine during my trip to Austin! When we got there I was instantly hit with the smell of fresh brewed tea! It also made me so happy to see an Asian establishment that was actually filled with a majority of Asians who were speaking Chinese since it meant that this place would be legit! While the wait was long it did live up to the hype so I really hope this place comes to Houston! It was so good that my friend, who normally hates waiting, went back the day after and then another time that same week. Milk tea: 5 When a lot of Asians boba places come to the US they change their drinks to be more palatable to the American palate. For example, increasing the sugar level , increasing the milk to tea ratio to favor the milk, or adding in some other type of sweetener. However, what surprised me was that the boba here tasted like something I'd get in Asia since it had a strong tea flavor, that wasn't burnt, and it wasn't overly sweet. Disclaimer: When you order a drink it'll take some time for it to be ready because they individually brew the tea for each drink. While this makes the boba more high end it does come with a higher chance that the tea may taste different each time based on who makes it. Green tea with mango: 5 I tend to avoid this drink because alot of places are heavy handed with the mango flavoring which causes the drink to taste artificial. However, this drink was really good mango enhanced the flavor of the green tea to make it shine! Ambiance: 5 The space had a variety of seating from bench seating, coach seats, to tables for larger groups. The space is well lit and everything was spaced out well so you don't feel claustrophobic. Price: $$$ This place is on the expensive end for boba. However, it can be justified because of the higher quality of the products. You are also paying for the effort to make each drink because each drink is made with freshly brewed tea. This is different from other places that makes a big batch and then makes the drinks from that batch. You also get a cute holder which allows you to take Instagram-able pictures with your drink! Suggestions: -I would recommend coming early in the day or going during the weekdays. The line got significantly long after 12:30pm -Bring a small car. There are limited spots in the front and the parking in the back is a bit tight - Ask to try their tea first before adjusting the sweetness level. Their 70% sweetness was the 25% or 50% of other establishments read more
Went here late on a Monday night pretty close to when they closed. It was still pretty busy and the ambiance is super clean and minimalistic. The staff seemed quite knowledgeable on tea and helpful if you didn't know what to get. I ended up ordering a green tea with cream and boba. The price was average for a boba place, but the cups were definitely on the smaller end. The boba was soft but not super sweet, and the tea flavor is really good. I got mine less sweet which I think brought out the tea flavor more. Maybe not an everyday boba place but definitely really good! read more
A few months ago, I saw pics from one of ChiCha San Chen's west coast locations and thought to myself, "Dang, will we ever get that here in Austin?" The fancy teas, customizable toppings, and gorgeous aesthetics - I want it all! Fast forward to last weekend, my bougie boba dream came true! We went the day after their grand opening and waited about an hour to get our drinks. WORTH IT and I'm confident they will work out any kinks of running a new business with a bit more time. I loved watching the bobaristas work their magic on the tea-presso machines - weighing the tea leaves, timing the brew, and measuring the temperatures... they're not messing around. I got the Milk Tea with Taro Ball & Paste and my husband got the Bubble Milk Tea; he couldn't resist the classic after tasting the sample they offered. While ChiCha San Chen's drinks are undeniably more pricey and on the smaller side, the quality of their offerings can't be beat! The boba was cooked to chewy caramely perfection in my husband's drink, while the taro added an irresistible velvety texture and nutty flavor to mine. We'll definitely return once the hype dies down, but something tells me ChiCha San Chen will continue to get lots of business for the foreseeable future. Can't wait to try the tea lattes and fruit tea. read more
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