This is one of my favorite boba shops when I am around Berkeley. I think it is pretty fresh and authentic compared to some shops that tend to be watery. I got myself a peach oolong tea with mousse. It was a bit tart maybe because it wasn't peach season but the mousse made it sweeter and creamier. I still liked it very much. I went with some friends who wanted the collaboration drinks. Surprisingly, they were able to get the character they wanted. The shop was decorated for Halloween. I shocked myself knocking into one of the skeleton decorations. read more

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I've been to enough tea shops that the memories of them start to meld together. However, I had a trip to Chicha today and it is one I'll remember. After ordering at kiosks, it took about 20 minutes for our drinks. Good things come to those who wait! We ordered: Bubble Milk Tea, light sweetness, less ice Dong Ding Milk Tea, perfect sweetness, less ice Both teas had really good tea flavor. Bubble Milk Tea being more of a traditional black tea and Dong Ding being closer to a green tea. The Bubble Milk Tea had more cream, not sure if this was on purpose. For sweetness, light sweetness was good for me with boba. Perfect sweetness would be good without boba. Overall, the tea was fantastic. 90th+ percentile, but also on the pricier side. Each tea comes with a disposable cup carrier. The space is also really nice place to hang out - modern, spacious, and with a couple of interesting tea-related things to look at including a running video of tea harvesting and processing. As we were looking around, we noticed they have free tea tastings, but reservations look like they book out at least a few days in advance. Really impressed with this shop and will make a point to visit next time we're in the area. read more

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This is the first boba places I've been to where they have tea demonstrations. There is a display of their tea blocks. A nice boba shop, pretty big. There are 2 ordering kiosks. They have unique drinks. I went with milk tea w/taro ball and taro paste. I really liked the taro ball and taro paste. So glad they serve fresh taro and not powder. Street parking. It is located by a college so this place does get really busy. read more

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So cool to have this great tea spot close to campus! This is a spacious, stylish, modern, and comfortable space to relax and enjoy your milk tea. Very convenient to order on one of the two self service kiosks, though a line can form at times (wish they had at least one more). There's a useful screen showing all of the orders that are ready and being worked on. There's a good amount of seating well spread out with some tables and a large communal table. Some power outlets near the wall for charging. There's a cool tea tasting and education area where they let you taste and learn about tea. They have some of the best tea of any chain, you can really taste the tea flavor. Their boba also comes warm and fresh in your cup. And how fun is their built in cup holder rope! read more

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If you like tea this is the place to go to because they do a tea demonstration in Georgia did an amazing job with describing the taste how they smell and taste and how to make it as well. . It was very informative and takes about 15 minutes which I really love and I really enjoy and learned a lot about tea. . Also I love coming here and getting the green milk tea with Boba and it has your Taro Boba and taro paste too. You can have it less sweet or no sweet and you can have it with less ice or more ice it's all up to your choice. . This is near the university and parking is a little challenge but there's also street parking and parking garage too. Hope this review helps and thanks for reading and have a yelp-tastic day. read more

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Came here with a friend after dinner. Decided on milk tea with taro balls and taro paste since I haven't had taro milktea in a while. Ordered on the tablet and waited until it was ready. While waiting there was also a sample of Pouchong tea with cream that people could try by the register. It tasted like it had an oolong tea base. The taro milktea was good-can taste the tea flavor, it had a good amount of taroballs and I could taste the taro paste. This was not like those other places that use taro powder for taro milktea. Appreciate the twine handle to carry the tea. read more

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

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Which Chicha San Chen have I went to? The one in downtown Berkeley, 2400 A Bancroft Way, few businesses towards 8 Grams Matcha. Perhaps I give my green tea powder habit a break so that I could try fruit tea with any topping. Once I enter into its corner, its spacey interior looked amazing. One thing that amazed me the most was one wall decorated with loose tea leaves! And of course, contactless payment was necessary so I had to get through this to have a special drink I like to have. Since there were not many people waiting for their order compared to when there was a huge line for the grand opening, I'm glad to have my drink as soon as possible. If there's another reason why there wasn't a Lishan oolong tea tasting, it's the schedule that never meets my day and hour to try one. Therefore, I have no need since Asha Tea House usually has seasonal tea drinks. If Chicha San Chen would find a rental space here in my hometown instead of downtown Berkeley, it'll be splendid to find out if it's just as good as Heytea at Metreon. But, it's best to leave it to Chicha San Chen to decide. read more

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This Berkeley location has a bright, aesthetically pleasing interior that makes it a nice place to stop by. ChiCha really emphasizes tea quality, and you can taste it in their drinks. I also like that they regularly have seasonal flavors in rotation--I've seen options like taro, pineapple, etc. The little cup holder is a cute touch, but I'm not entirely convinced the drinks justify the slightly higher price point, especially with so many other boba options in the immediate vicinity. read more

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

O this absolutely amazing tea house If I could, I would have a dedicated budget to conquer this entire menu. Such a special treat!!! read more

Cute spot to grab a drink + study/work from. It's located right next to UC Berkeley, so parking is a PAIN ($4/hour), but it's really close to a bunch of other food/snack spots. They have limited indoor seating, and I assume it gets pretty busy during when school starts again. All of their drinks come with a string carrier. You order off a kiosk; friendly staff. Their drinks are on the more expensive side ($9+), but I've heard their tea is good quality and they have unique flavors. read more

Chicha San Chen - Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Cream 水仙桂花 + 皇家厚奶 - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I finally acquiesced to the hype and wasn't disappointed. I got one of their specialties, Dong Ding Oolong Milk Tea (cream), and it was deliciously creamy with a hint of tea. Not the strongest tea flavor, but the drink was very well-balanced and refreshing. The price was on the higher side at above $9 with toppings, but the quality justifies it (plus most higher end boba/matcha shops now charge that price in the Bay) Be prepared for a 20+ minute wait, but it's well worth it if you have time. This location is also less busy than locations in the South Bay, which is nice read more

Chicha San Chen - Dong ding oolong milk tea (cream) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Chicha San Chen is my new favorite tea spot that brews award-winning Taiwanese tea from Lishan mountain. The UC Berkeley location is spacious, with a bright interior. There are two ordering kiosks and a good amount of seating. I've been here twice already and the staff are always friendly and efficient with orders. All of the tea is freshly-brewed, so do expect to wait a bit. At my most recent visit we had the opportunity to attend one of their complimentary tea tastings! You ask for a time slot and get little passes for the time slot you choose. It was just me and my husband for that specific slot so we basically got a private tea tasting! We each got to choose one tea to try from 5 teas, each with unique notes. It was really cool to see how the different processing procedures resulted in completely different tea leaf shapes and textures once they expanded under the hot water. If you've never done a tea tasting at Chicha San Chen, I'd highly recommend. This is honestly as close as you can get to authentic Taiwanese tea, and the quality of the leaves as well as the farmers' attention to picking the right leaves truly shines through in each cup they brew. There are so many variations you can choose from their menu, and also seasonal flavors. You'll always find something to suit your palate for the day. In addition, the price is still really affordable for such solid tea. I'll definitely keep coming back to Chicha San Chen for my high-quality tea fix, and I'd highly recommend stopping by to try their tea if you've never had legit Taiwanese tea (and book a spot for free tea tasting)! read more

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surprised this Boba place was open on Christmas Day so we decided to check it out. My girlfriend said it's sort of like the one that's in her area with Michelin ratings The service here was not too bad, you ordered on a kiosk. The ambience felt cozy, as it felt like a study hall in addition to a hangout place. The Boba here was actually pretty good read more

Chicha San Chen - carrying your boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Chicha San Chen is a popular Taiwanese boba tea chain that's been opening many stores in the US throughout the past few years. When I first tried Chicha, I thought their drinks were a bit overpriced due to their small cups (at almost $9 a drink w toppings), but I can't even lie: their tea quality is genuinely the best out of all the boba stores I've been to. My favorite drinks from them are their Dong Ding Oolong Milk Tea and Green Milk Tea w/Taro Balls. I love how strong their teas are and the types of toppings they have! I think they've also grown on me due to them having more BOGOs and deals recently. I usually see discounts for this store on Snackpass, which I'm always tempted to take advantage of. Definitely do check out Chicha San Chen if you haven't yet! read more

Chicha San Chen - Dong Ding Oolong - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love Chicha San Chen, and this is definitely my favorite location that I've visited so far. I appreciate how the menu is somewhat small and the locations are sparse enough that they still put quality into each drink. It's much more welcoming and spacious than the New York location (and significantly cheaper). The drinks are still quite expensive, though, and are based on a topping/flavoring system. Expect to spend around $7 on a drink here, more if you want something with complexity or toppings. Some teas are worth the cost and preparation, and others aren't. The green tea is quite good, especially with a bit of honey. The standard oolong is pretty ordinary, and I wouldn't pay the premium price for it. However, the Pouchong is distinctive and delicious. The condensed milk lemon series and fresh taro are also delicious, especially for those who avoid caffeine. I would recommend coming here if you are particular about teas with unique notes or are interested in their unique preparation/toppings! small edit: I would also highly recommend ordering ahead if you have Snackpass, as this location gets very busy with students. read more

Love coming here especially because there's usually no long wait compared to other chicha in the bay area. If you love boba, this is the place for you. The bubble milk tea is always my favorite - rich, smooth with great tea flavor that you can actually taste. The boba also has the perfect soft and chewy texture. Would definitely come back again and again. read more

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

I've been revisiting Chicha San Chen and really appreciate how consistent they are. On my recent visit, I ordered my usual Bubble Milk Tea with 0% sugar and normally the sweetness from the bubbles balances it perfectly. This time the drink turned out a bit sweeter than expected though. Another drink I highly recommend is the HOT Milk tea with taro ball and taro paste. It carries a nostalgic charm, instantly taking me back to those childhood cram school afternoon tea times! read more

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

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Expensive but good! Minus 1 star for the ridiculous wait time for drinks. Otherwise 100 stars for the great quality, carefully brewed teas and amazing flavor. After a few visits, the drink I'm hooked on is the Taro Milk tea + taro paste + taro balls. It's just so loaded with taro and it tastes like taro rather than taro "flavoring". Drink after drink, it's easy to see what this tea shop has won so many awards. Plus, their cup carrier is super cute, eco and creative! I almost wish this place wasn't so good because they're pricy and addicting! read more

Popular delicious boba. This location is less busy but equally awesome, easy access but it is impossible to park. Nice staff, ample sitting space, bright and breathe easy. I love their green tea, green tea with plum plum jelly (with or without the sparkler, and it is awesome the sparkling is actually Perrier water! Fancy), my friend loves the dong ding oolong. We all love the King Pearl. If you get a drink without the pearls, e.g. the plum jelly, it stays in the fridge pretty well over night. Great for work, study, or having it on a hot afternoon. We don't have a CCSQ in our city, so it helps us a lot. Nice staff, very friendly. We were able to do a brief tea tasting and get a bag of alishan oolong tea. The Cupertino location is too busy and jaded to offer same hour tea tasting. The staff at the tea tasting counter is super friendly. Ample seating space, bright and high ceiling, great tables, stools and community seatings, tables and chairs. Easy to order on the kiosk. Awesome. Impossible to park, because it is Berkeley though, but great energy, taste, and awesomeness because it is Berkeley. read more

Chicha San Chen - Green Plum Tea with plum jelly very tasty - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I was initially a skeptic wondering if it made sense to be drinking an almost $10 milk tea until... I finally tried one. It was definitely something different from the many other milk teas that I've had. The tea flavor was fragrant and though being added with milk, the tea flavor continued to stand out. The level of sweetness right on for my personal preference - I didn't go with their recommended perfect sweetness, but went one level lower as I generally don't like my milk teas sweet at all. Since each cup was brewed individually, it took longer than other milk tea stores, but worth the slight delay - it wasn't overly busy when I was there. The store has a cool ambiance to it and with good amount of seating. However, being that it's across the street from Cal, most tables were taken with what I presume as students working on computers or chatting with friends. read more

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Heard so many good things about this Michelin star-quality boba spot, so naturally I had to see what the hype was about for myself. Safe to say... it delivered. I'm usually not much of a milk tea person, but the Bubble Volcano won me over. Made with fresh milk, brown sugar, and boba, it was rich without being overly heavy or cloying. The boba pearls were excellent quality -- fresh, soft, and perfectly chewy all the way through. None of that hard-center, overly gelatinous texture you sometimes get elsewhere. The sweetness level was also well-balanced and restrained, which made the drink even more enjoyable. My favorite was the Green Tea + Mango. Sweet, refreshing, bright, and satisfying. The drink tasted clean and natural, not syrupy or artificially candy-like. The twine rope carry handle is adorable! Super cute presentation and very aesthetically pleasing... although I'm 99% sure I'm eventually going to spill the drink everywhere while carrying it around. Worth the risk. read more

Overpriced boba :( this boba milk tea was almost $10. I had high expectations, but it was disappointing. Not worth the price, and the cup is quite small too. I've had better milk tea elsewhere for cheaper. The drink does come with a holder though. The inside is nice though, seems like a good place to hangout and study. read more

Chicha San Chen - Boba milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came here on 11/10/2025. I would say this place has the best tea. The flavor is very fragrant, incredibly smooth, and has no bitterness at all. The toppings like boba, lychee jelly, etc... are also really good. I tried konjac topping for the first time here, and it was interesting (sorry forgot to take a picture of it). I didn't hate it, but I'm still not sure if I like it yet. It's a bit chewy but also kind of firm. Overall, this place is amazing! So why did I give it 4 stars instead of 5? Mainly because it's quite expensive. (easily $8-$9 per drink). The shop itself is very pretty and clean. They also offer tea tastings, but I didn't get the chance to try that this time. Maybe next time! read more

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Quality was on point. Tea Experience is a must. Service and Ambience were amazing also. Great place to meet friends for books or board games. read more

Chicha San Chen - Tea Experience - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

This spot just became my favorite Taiwan tea place. From the moment I walked in, I could tell they put real thought into the experience. The decor is clean, modern, and warm, making it a great place to study or just hang out with friends. I especially liked the kiosk ordering system--quick, efficient, and no pressure while deciding. The drink packaging is honestly next level. It feels premium and thoughtful, not just another basic cup. You can tell they care about presentation just as much as taste. And the drinks themselves? Smooth, refreshing, and high quality. Service was excellent--friendly, attentive, and fast without feeling rushed. The space was spotless, including the bathroom, which is always a big plus for me. Overall, this place nails atmosphere, quality, and convenience. I'll definitely be coming back regularly. Highly recommend if you want a chill, aesthetic tea spot. read more

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This was delicious. Ordered the black milk tea with cream and it was much more flavor than I expected, which was perfect. Definitely a little sweeter than I thought with the perfect sweetness but it complimented the drink very well. Also felt very caffeinated after drinking it. My partner got the dong ding oolong with boba and that was also very tasty. Nicely cooked boba, creamy milk tea with a milder oolong flavor. Inside very cool spot, modern open area with ample amount of seating, and high tech screens that show you the estimated time of your order and pick up. Line wasn't long at all, two order screens and availability to order with a staff member. Price wise, is a bit steep at almost $9 a drink. But it is a nice treat and would come back for the flavor and taste. read more

Chicha San Chen - Inside area - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It's peach season!!! I love how they have seasonal flavors and I do think it's worth waiting for them to make each cup individually instead of in batches. I got the peach green tea with mousse and it was made really well with the perfect sweetness from the peaches which still tasted fresh and not canned, and the creaminess from the mousse which was not overly salty. The other thing I loved was how I can actually taste the tea flavor and how fresh it was. The only thing I can really complain about is it's $9 per cup??? read more

Had the taro milk tea with taro paste and taro ball, it was the best tasting drink I've had in a while. $10 bc they charge you for the carrier, but is it awful to say I would pay that $10 again? Drink itself has good balance, I can actually taste the taro, unlike my favorite quicklys that gives me the artificial taro flavor which I also love lol. The paste and taro balls had a different texture compared to other add-ins I've tried, very very very good. Pricey but what can I say, americas the king of unnecessary luxuries and this tea shop is no different. 10/10, no pun intended. read more

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

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I love this place for the ambiance and simple sweet decor. Such a fun place for studying and get togethers since you have choices of sitting next to the window, at the large table, the bench seating, or high top seating. So many choices of where to sit!! My go to is the taro milk since it has an abundance of taro mochi and taro paste!!! My favorite Also staff here is hands down so welcoming, hard working, and super helpful!!! read more

Chicha San Chen - Taro milk!!! Taro mochi and taro paste Sooooo good - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

It's nice to see a Chicha San Chen in the East Bay! The first time I had it was when I was traveling in South Cal, and then they opened their first North Cal location in South Bay! We ordered the Bubble Milk and the Dong Ding Oolong Milk Tea with boba. I really like their Dong Ding Oolong tea, it's very fragrant and tastes really smooth! Thet boba was large, chewy sweet, and has a great texture. read more

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

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my first time visiting chi cha san chen, and it really lives up to the hype! it was a short line in the evening, and 2 self-order kiosks were available to use. they have so many options of tea - from milk teas to fruit teas! i love the option to customize your drink, and service is fairly quick too! prices are pretty reasonable for a once-in-a-while sweet treat. the environment is great for a study spot with free wifi and plenty of seating. the staff was friendly and make drinks quickly! read more

Chicha San Chen - Mango Osmanthus Oolong Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ordered online at Snackpass ahead of time. Parking is challenging every time. There's a local market nearby on the Saturday I visit which makes the parking even harder. The seasonal taco mochi milk tea I got was fulfilling and yummy. The price was little high compared the size with other competitors. Good thing is I could opt out ice or go for hot option. Everyone was happy with their drink. Mango osmanthus oolong and bubble milk tea looked legit to me. The wait time estimate was accurate. We got in and out pretty quickly. read more

We came for boba after an early dinner at Binge Coffee House nearby. I got my usual, a passionfruit green tea with boba. I requested perfect sweetness and no ice, but after I tried the drink, I wish I only got 50% sweet. The perfect sweetness level, which I think is around 70-75% sugar tasted a bit too sweet for my preference. The boba were really chewy though. I'd come back to this location but would adjust the sugar levels until I find my perfect balance. read more

Chicha San Chen - passionfruit green tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Honestly one of the best pure tea places in Berkeley. But it's going to cost you. I also attended a tea tasting on a Sunday afternoon. The server was very knowledgeable and kind. We liked how you can just do a walk up tea tasting without reservations or even putting a deposit. We each chose a different tea and it was interesting to taste them all. We even walked away with a small tea sample. The shop is very clean with ample amount of seating. Bathrooms were clean as well. read more

I previously tried this place in NYC but it wasn't memorable so I decided to try it again on a quick trip to Berkeley. The drinks were alright in my opinion and the service didn't make it better. Just FYI if going close to closing time to be diligent about your drinks or you'll be waiting. I came in with about 20 minutes left till closing time. We ordered two drinks and waited to be notified our drinks were completed via the screen they have. I saw two drinks that looked like the ones we ordered but didn't see the screen update so I waited a bit longer before asking the worker. After asking, she looked at the screen herself and said it was not ready yet. A few minutes went by, order still not updated on the screen, and I see that they started cleaning up their stations (no longer making drinks) and got up to ask once more. She then grabbed the same drinks I inquired about before and said they were ready. Shortly after another customer came up saying her drink order hasn't updated and her drinks were also already ready. read more

Quick take: very good tea Glad we were finally able to try Chicha San Chen. Very rich tea flavor in all their drinks. We beat the rush and got lucky. Didn't wait too long to order. read more

Chicha San Chen - Boba Day - Bubble Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Unlike shops using pre-made tea batches or concentrates, this place is an upscale Taiwanese tea brand known for using custom "teapresso" machines to freshly brew each cup of tea to order. Pricer than other boba tea shops but I still would go back for their high quality. read more

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"I came across a great little tea shop not far from the UC Berkeley Student Store. Originally established in Taiwan, their teas are carefully crafted using leaves from Lishan Mountain. As soon as you walk into the spacious seating area, you can smell the fresh brew. I ordered the milk tea with taro balls and taro paste, which was wonderfully infused with the aromatic flavor of their original tea." read more

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On a Saturday afternoon at 3pm, Chicha was bustling with customers inside and out. A sign notified new customers of a 10-20 minute wait. After ordering on the kiosk we saw there were small dong ding samples. They were yummy. I got the black tea with light sugar. It was perfect; I can't imagine going any sweeter. I tried the taro balls from another drink, which were delicate and worth getting next time. While we hung out in the shop, Nic invited us to the next tea tasting. It was a pleasant demonstration of five different types of oolong tea. I learned that the lightest leaf contained the most caffeine and the darkest roast contained the least. The darkest tea leaf smelled and tasted great; the lightest one reminded me of vegetables. Nic was polite, efficient, and delightful. The ambiance in the tea shop was bright and airy but the noise level was such that we could almost not have a conversation without having to repeat every third comment. The process of ordering, checking your number, and receiving our drink was seamless. Great little shop! read more

Came here after a Cal basketball game with friends. Those friends had recently been to Taiwan and *loved* that spot over there. I want to start my review by saying I think 4 stars is a GREAT review. It is good quality tea. I taste the actual tea- it's not too sweet or artificial. Everything about the actual *tea* is five stars. However, I wasn't prepared to have to wait for them to brew the tea (my friend said- "let's get boba"). This was definitely more than just boba and so because I wasn't prepared for the 25 min wait to brew/steep the tea or the $9 (the most I've ever paid for a regular sized boba drink), 4 stars for the whole experience. This isn't to say I won't come back here again. Again, the tea itself was amazing. However, unless I have the time to wait, will likely save this for special occasions and plan for timing accordingly. read more