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

Chicha San Chen - Green tea, taro paste, boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

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

Chicha San Chen - high mountain pouchong tea with lemon juice and mousse: amazing! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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

Chicha San Chen - Cassia black tea mousse - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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

Chicha San Chen - Dong Ding Oolang Latte & Bubble Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Reviewed Jan 2025 I'm cautiously optimistic about giving this place a 5 stars because quality can go down soo easily with austin food establishments. I however really like their tea - what made them stand out with competitors. Very fresh and crisp! They allow you to customize sweetness as low as 50, 30% and light ice etc. I dont like my boba super sweet so I usually do 30% Had their Taro milk green tea with taro balls and taro paste. It taste very good and tea is refreshing. Good boba chewiness too. Note that the taro balls are not exactly the texture of standard boba. This made a great sweet treat 8.5/10 The oolong milk tea boba is also good but not as flavorful 8/10 They do all counter ordering and orders came out within 10 mins or so depends on how busy it is read more

I've tried a lot of boba places over the years and Chicha San Chen is by far the best boba shop. I tried this place the last time I was in Austin and I knew I needed to go back because the drinks were so memorable. I got a couple drinks this time and the best one is the High Mountain Pouchong Tea with orange. The tea itself is really flavorful with a light orange taste which didn't overpower the drink. The shop itself is really spacious, but it gets so busy that it's very hard to find seating. It's very busy on the weekends, but the people who work there are really fast and they're all very nice. read more

loved the drinks! they were so fresh and the baristas were so accommodating. The building is gorgeous aswell. love them

One of the best boba spots in Austin! From the easy ordering to the large menu, there is something for everyone. The teas are fragrant, tasty, and the boba is cooked perfectly. A great stop for anyone needing to get their boba/tea fix! read more

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

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

This place might have the best quality tea of any of the boba spots I've tried. The quality teas paired with the way they infuse them, produces EXCELLENT tea drinks! If you really love tea, and love the flavor of the tea leaves, THIS is the place for you. Even with fruit in the iced teas, you still get a lovely tea flavor! I'm a lover of Oolongs and theirs is divine. The way they package up your tea to go with a little string handle is too cute too! 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

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

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

See all

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

Chicha San Chen - Milk tea w/ boba (front) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

The menu here is both intimidating and unique at the same time. The intimidating part is the number of combinations/decisions you need to make if you aren't feeling anything on the best sellers list. The unique parts are the dairy options like cream and mousse and the taro ball and konjac toppings. They brand themselves as bougie tea people, and I would agree, the tea flavor in their drinks is very strong and smooth, but subtle (wonder if it's because they "grind" it?) It is quite mesmerizing watching them use their fancy espresso looking machines though. And walking through the doors, you get the vibe that this is bougie boba so I agree with the $$$. But I love getting the taro ball topping here. It has the taro flavor and texture but in a boba form. So I'll pay the ridiculous price because it is THAT good. This location there usually is a wait and they have a self-service kiosk. The sugar standard here is definitely less sweet too. 100% here is probably 70% sweet at another chain. There's also only one size. read more

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

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

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

Chicha San Chen - Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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

Chicha San Chen - Green Tea + honey on the left; Dong Ding Oolong Tea + oat milk + taro on the right - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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

Chicha San Chen - Fresh milk with brown sugar bubble tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

The twine for carrying the boba is a great idea. We ordered online and picked up immediately. I always get the Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte with light sweetness level, with light ice, it's actually almost too sweet for me without ice. The store is clean and has some seating, the service is friendly. read more

I was so excited finally can try this place , the reason I give two stars is My first impression the Ambiance cold , the sitting area is dirty and rip , second the front cashier we're on her phone at all TIME , I order the High mountain tea has blank flavor is like drinking water this is the worst tea I ever drink , will not recommend don't waste your money . read more

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

Chicha San Chen - Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Such a fantastic first experience! The staff are knowledgeable and very kind, really welcoming as well! I bought the High Mountain Tea with Mousse, 50% sugar and less ice, and it is absolutely perfect for a midday pick-me-up! read more

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

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

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

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

See all

Drinks were delicious, service was relatively fast( we got there 10 min before closing time)

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

See all

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

Chicha San Chen - Terrible Ding Dong Oolong Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Expensive... but do you reallly get what you paid for? If you're looking for the an elevated Bubble Tea to hit your palate because all your usual faves taste too familiar, this will do the trick. Tea flavors are nuanced but fragrant. Bubbles are chewy and deslightful. However, the tiny cups with fancy paper sleeves and rustic twine for strapping is interesting and great marketing for a new spot, you wish they just gave you a couple more oz for your $7 cup of Boba. read more

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

I was lucky enough to stop in on a Sunday afternoon where one lady, Tina, was hosting impromptu tea tastings today (you can't schedule, it's just something she does!). It takes about ten minutes for the teas to be explained (6-minute brew) and it's a very distinct different style based on when each are supposed to be drank (dawn, morning light, daylight, dusk, night). They're all roasted differently and are all directly from Taiwan. The small class was great - the cups are even warmed up to brew the tea in a warm cup. You can seriously taste the difference in the roasting profiles. Really solidifies the place in terms of how amazing their tea is. read more

See all

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

Chicha San Chen - Green tea w cream and boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Got the no sugar ice free classic milk tea. Pretty good tea flavor if you like the tea flavor to be strong. Also good to sit down to enjoy the tea to chat w friends too. Good ambiance. Service is pretty good. They recommended different flavors based on my preference. Will try out other flavors next time. read more

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

Chicha San Chen - osmanthus oolong, green tea honey, high mountain pouchong, cassia black tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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

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

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

See all

I love the quality of the tea and cute packaging here. The drinks were made very fast and the staff are always friendly. I hope they have more locations in Austin so I wouldn't have to drive far. 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

See all

My favorite milk tea in Austin. The drinks feel light and refreshing at 25% sweetness and less ice, and there's always multiple unique tea types I'm drawn to like the cassia, pouchong, and osmanthus depending on my mood. There are options to smell each at the front and the baristas are patient as you make your selection. The vibe of the store is bright and modern. The boba is always perfectly chewy. Even the cups are tightly sealed with a sleeve and carrying string as a nice touch. We've never had a problem finding parking in the connected lot. Everything seems thoughtful and intentional, making it a 5-star tea experience! read more

Chicha San Chen - black milk tea with boba and osmanthus oolong milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

I really want to take off 0.5 star because of the wait but I have to tell you, the tea is totally worth it! They are no ordinary tea, the tea is amazing. The store is filled with amazing tea smell and staff is very helpful. I didn't have to get in long line, however I had to wait for 30min to get my tea after placing an order. The vibe is amazing though, so I didn't find it boring when waiting for my tea. I ordered the Dong Ding Oolong Tea latte and it was great. I can't wait to order other items in the menu. Their tea is made by special tea dripping machines hence the wait, but I can tell all the staff working hard for every order you place. Make sure you prepare for the wait, don't park your car on the 10 minute parking spot! read more

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

See all

Pro tip: fruit teas taste better the day after because the fruit has infused with the tea I particularly liked the original milk tea because I can definitely taste the tea. Most other boba places, I taste more cream/milk than tea. I appreciate the teas being brewed fresh, hence the wait time. This is the first place where I can tolerate the sweetness level at no adjustment, meaning their "perfect" sugar level at 100%. They are very particular about custom orders, not a lot of customizations allowed. You cannot add their mousse topping to any drink, only certain ones. Allow 30-45 minutes per visit due to their ordering process and brew time. read more

See all