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DaBoba? More like DaCustard! Wanting a little sweet treat, I stopped into Daboba for a Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea. I initially attempted to order at the kiosk, only to discover doing so comes with a 3% fee vs. ordering with a human. It's not about the nickels, it's the principle of the thing! I instead placed my order with the clerk - less ice, less sweet. Though it wasn't very busy at the time, the drink came out relatively fast. The service overall was friendly, too! Now, about this beverage... if I'd asked for a "surprise me," I'd be happier. This is because on its own, it was respectable and unique in its custard-like consistency. However, given that I'd ordered a milk tea, where neither the appropriate consistency nor tea notes made an appearance, my happiness and satisfaction levels go down. To give some credit, the beverage I received wasn't too sweet, and had a slight velvety mouthfeel. It was unique and interesting, unlike anything I had ever had before. Final verdict: there is no shortage of boba tea shops around, especially in Chinatown. If you're going to do something different, power to you. However, don't say you sell one thing, and sell another.
I had the Purple Rice Yogurt and the Honey Golden Pearl Green Milk Tea. The yogurt was super good--full of that rich purple rice flavor with a nice natural sweetness. The golden pearls in the milk tea were soft and had a great chew. Didn't have to wait long at all--service was quick and efficient. The shop's pretty spacious, though there aren't many seats. It's got a fun vibe with lots of cool Asian-inspired decor. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.
Roasted Milk Tea: 10/10. Vietnamese Coffee: 7/10. Not as sweet as I would like. I switched out the coffee jelly with honey boba which I liked. Service: 10/10. 2 Self serve kiosks or you can order at counter Ambiance: 10/10 Really cute looking place. Good photo ops as well as couches and tables where you can sit down and charge your phone. We waited here while waiting to get seated at a restaurant and time passed by fast.
It's located on the second floor. The place is super cute as is the drinks with the teddy bear lids and it makes me giggle when it's juxtaposed next to its very serious bear that is part of their logo. It was very clean and spacious feeling. I loved the flower backdrop that is great for taking photos. The boba was delicious! I recommend ordering at the counter as opposed to ordering via the kiosk as it seemed like your drink was made faster that way. It also gave me the opportunity to ask for more information about the drinks which helped me decide to get the brown sugar taro bubble tea with both honey and brown sugar boba.
This is one of my favorite boba spots in Chinatown. They have very extensive menu, with lots of choices, from brown sugar teas to milk teas and smoothies. Also lots of boba and fruit jelly add on options. Ample seating as well
No complaints with Daboba! It's a newer spot on the upper level inside of Chinatown, so there's less of a crowd. The inside is super spacious and well decorated, and there are some tables as well as a bathroom. They also have a touchpad ordering system. I got a hot boba and my only qualm was the paper straw and too small a hole!! haha
Came here after lunch in Chinatown and there was no line. I ordered the brown sugar pearl taro milk and it came out in 5 minutes. It was good; I just couldn't really taste the taro flavor and it tasted more like a brown sugar milk tea. The boba was okay; it was chewy but wasn't soaked in anything so it tasted pretty bland. Might come back to try another drink but wasn't a huge fan of this one.
[ DRINK ] Taste tested the classic jasmine green milk tea with boba since it is my first time at Daboba. More on the creamy side but you can still taste the jasmine tea. The boba was fat and chewy. Overall this passes and it's pretty good honestly. [ SERVICE ] Standard. [ PLACE ] It's kind of hidden on the top floor of the Chinatown Plaza. The interior is very nice, modern, and cozy. Great place to spend time with friends and kill time. [ VERDICT ] Overall, Daboba is a solid choice and you can't go wrong with this place. I've only tried 3 other boba places in Chicago and this is the best one so far.
First time here and was very impressed.. workers were friendly, store was cute & clean, and my drink (roasted brown sugar fresh milk tea) was excellent! I would definitely come back the next time I come back to Chinatown.
Located on the second level of the Chinatown Square Plaza, it can be challenging to locate at first, but I luckily stumbled upon it and decided to give it a try. I got their Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk and it was good, not too sweet and a good amount of pearls that are cooked perfectly with a nice chewy/bouncy texture. The cap on the cup is also cool, it's shaped like a bear. I think it's on the pricier side of boba in Chinatown, being $8.76 for their top seller.
We tried two drinks and here's my take: Kumquat Lemon Seasons Tea: This drink is quite refreshing and enjoyable. However, I would recommend getting it with 50% sugar instead of the default. This will probably help the tea flavor stand out more. Cheese Green Tea: While the tea seemed to be of good quality, I found myself wishing the tea flavor was a bit stronger. I got it with 50% sweetness, but I think 75% or even 100% sugar would enhance the taste. The cheese foam was light and complemented the drink well. Overall, both drinks were good but needs stronger tea flavor.
TLDR; Roasted Brown Sugar drinks are great, creamy and sweet Kumquat High Mountain Tea at 75% sweet tasted like 100% sweet , will opt for 50% sweet next time (along with their other fruit drinks) -------- 2nd floor of the Chinatown eateries strip mall Self-order kiosk + ordering with cashier is available Bathroom is available for customers Good amount of tables~ typically seats just 4 Regular and Large size cups are available Roasted Brown Sugar drinks are great, creamy and sweet - really enjoyed this drink when I tried it in Houston, TX Kumquat High Mountain Tea was really good and refreshing but realized over time their 75% sweet actually tasted like 100% sweet so will try to opt for 50% sweet next time for their fruit teas Will be back so I can try their Roasted Brown Sugar Matchaaa
We got the gold pearl green milk tea. Looks like everyone's favorite at this place. It was good. Pretty solid. Comparable to good boba places outside of Chicago. The drink was good, balanced flavor and not too sweet. The boba balls was soft and chewy. Delicious. The place is located on the 2nd floor, so it may not get as much foot traffic as downstairs. But the place is big with lots of seats and decor is nice. Staff was nice and fast.
We stopped in here after visiting the gachapon arcade upstairs and immediately noticed how clean everything was. The whole shop is really cute, too. They have plushies sitting on the couch in the waiting area and a little floral Instagram wall that's clearly meant for photos. We also very much appreciated that they have a bathroom, which isn't always guaranteed in Chinatown spots. I got the large Fruity Party drink and loved it. It had slices of citrus floating in it plus a rainbow of fruit jellies at the bottom. It was both super refreshing and really pretty. I'd absolutely order it again. My sister got the medium kumquat lemon seasons tea. It was super strong and concentrated, which is just the way I like my tea. I learned that I liked kumquat kumquat so that's a fun bonus. We'll definitely be back next time we are in Chinatown. read more
This was a cute little boda shop to stop by! They have ordering kiosks that you can use to place your order or you can order at the counter. They have a good amount of options but not too many that it's overwhelming. I got the mango green tea with fruit jelly at 25% sweetness and regular ice. As someone who doesn't love overly sweet drinks this was pretty solid, any sweeter and it would have been too much. The drink came out super quickly and there is a ton of space to sit inside if you choose! read more
8 days ago
The purple rice yogurt drink is delicious! I would go back and get it again. Service is friendly and fast. And the actual sitting area is spacious, well decorated, and even has areas to take plenty of cute photos for instagram! read more
DaBoba? More like DaCustard! Wanting a little sweet treat, I stopped into Daboba for a Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea. I initially attempted to order at the kiosk, only to discover doing so comes with a 3% fee vs. ordering with a human. It's not about the nickels, it's the principle of the thing! I instead placed my order with the clerk - less ice, less sweet. Though it wasn't very busy at the time, the drink came out relatively fast. The service overall was friendly, too! Now, about this beverage... if I'd asked for a "surprise me," I'd be happier. This is because on its own, it was respectable and unique in its custard-like consistency. However, given that I'd ordered a milk tea, where neither the appropriate consistency nor tea notes made an appearance, my happiness and satisfaction levels go down. To give some credit, the beverage I received wasn't too sweet, and had a slight velvety mouthfeel. It was unique and interesting, unlike anything I had ever had before. Final verdict: there is no shortage of boba tea shops around, especially in Chinatown. If you're going to do something different, power to you. However, don't say you sell one thing, and sell another. read more
I had the Purple Rice Yogurt and the Honey Golden Pearl Green Milk Tea. The yogurt was super good--full of that rich purple rice flavor with a nice natural sweetness. The golden pearls in the milk tea were soft and had a great chew. Didn't have to wait long at all--service was quick and efficient. The shop's pretty spacious, though there aren't many seats. It's got a fun vibe with lots of cool Asian-inspired decor. Definitely a spot I'd come back to. read more
Roasted Milk Tea: 10/10. Vietnamese Coffee: 7/10. Not as sweet as I would like. I switched out the coffee jelly with honey boba which I liked. Service: 10/10. 2 Self serve kiosks or you can order at counter Ambiance: 10/10 Really cute looking place. Good photo ops as well as couches and tables where you can sit down and charge your phone. We waited here while waiting to get seated at a restaurant and time passed by fast. read more
1 year ago
It's located on the second floor. The place is super cute as is the drinks with the teddy bear lids and it makes me giggle when it's juxtaposed next to its very serious bear that is part of their logo. It was very clean and spacious feeling. I loved the flower backdrop that is great for taking photos. The boba was delicious! I recommend ordering at the counter as opposed to ordering via the kiosk as it seemed like your drink was made faster that way. It also gave me the opportunity to ask for more information about the drinks which helped me decide to get the brown sugar taro bubble tea with both honey and brown sugar boba. read more
This is one of my favorite boba spots in Chinatown. They have very extensive menu, with lots of choices, from brown sugar teas to milk teas and smoothies. Also lots of boba and fruit jelly add on options. Ample seating as well read more
1 month ago
No complaints with Daboba! It's a newer spot on the upper level inside of Chinatown, so there's less of a crowd. The inside is super spacious and well decorated, and there are some tables as well as a bathroom. They also have a touchpad ordering system. I got a hot boba and my only qualm was the paper straw and too small a hole!! haha read more
Came here after lunch in Chinatown and there was no line. I ordered the brown sugar pearl taro milk and it came out in 5 minutes. It was good; I just couldn't really taste the taro flavor and it tasted more like a brown sugar milk tea. The boba was okay; it was chewy but wasn't soaked in anything so it tasted pretty bland. Might come back to try another drink but wasn't a huge fan of this one. read more
5 months ago
[ DRINK ] Taste tested the classic jasmine green milk tea with boba since it is my first time at Daboba. More on the creamy side but you can still taste the jasmine tea. The boba was fat and chewy. Overall this passes and it's pretty good honestly. [ SERVICE ] Standard. [ PLACE ] It's kind of hidden on the top floor of the Chinatown Plaza. The interior is very nice, modern, and cozy. Great place to spend time with friends and kill time. [ VERDICT ] Overall, Daboba is a solid choice and you can't go wrong with this place. I've only tried 3 other boba places in Chicago and this is the best one so far. read more
First time here and was very impressed.. workers were friendly, store was cute & clean, and my drink (roasted brown sugar fresh milk tea) was excellent! I would definitely come back the next time I come back to Chinatown. read more
2 years ago
Located on the second level of the Chinatown Square Plaza, it can be challenging to locate at first, but I luckily stumbled upon it and decided to give it a try. I got their Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Fresh Milk and it was good, not too sweet and a good amount of pearls that are cooked perfectly with a nice chewy/bouncy texture. The cap on the cup is also cool, it's shaped like a bear. I think it's on the pricier side of boba in Chinatown, being $8.76 for their top seller. read more
2 years ago
We tried two drinks and here's my take: Kumquat Lemon Seasons Tea: This drink is quite refreshing and enjoyable. However, I would recommend getting it with 50% sugar instead of the default. This will probably help the tea flavor stand out more. Cheese Green Tea: While the tea seemed to be of good quality, I found myself wishing the tea flavor was a bit stronger. I got it with 50% sweetness, but I think 75% or even 100% sugar would enhance the taste. The cheese foam was light and complemented the drink well. Overall, both drinks were good but needs stronger tea flavor. read more
TLDR; Roasted Brown Sugar drinks are great, creamy and sweet Kumquat High Mountain Tea at 75% sweet tasted like 100% sweet , will opt for 50% sweet next time (along with their other fruit drinks) -------- 2nd floor of the Chinatown eateries strip mall Self-order kiosk + ordering with cashier is available Bathroom is available for customers Good amount of tables~ typically seats just 4 Regular and Large size cups are available Roasted Brown Sugar drinks are great, creamy and sweet - really enjoyed this drink when I tried it in Houston, TX Kumquat High Mountain Tea was really good and refreshing but realized over time their 75% sweet actually tasted like 100% sweet so will try to opt for 50% sweet next time for their fruit teas Will be back so I can try their Roasted Brown Sugar Matchaaa read more
2 years ago
We got the gold pearl green milk tea. Looks like everyone's favorite at this place. It was good. Pretty solid. Comparable to good boba places outside of Chicago. The drink was good, balanced flavor and not too sweet. The boba balls was soft and chewy. Delicious. The place is located on the 2nd floor, so it may not get as much foot traffic as downstairs. But the place is big with lots of seats and decor is nice. Staff was nice and fast. read more
Adorable place and bustling but we got our drinks super fast. The flavor was everything and you can get multiple types of popping boba in one drink I got mango and passion fruit in the mango slushie drink and I was in heaven. You can choose the level of sweetness as well which is always a plus. There are so many great flavors add ins and mixtures you can do! I will definitely be back! Def my favorite boba spot in Chinatown! read more
2 years ago
7 months ago
My new favorite boba spot! I have been craving purple rice yogurt ever since I first tried it years ago in another city. I think this is the first place I've found in the Chicagoland area that does this drink. It's very unique, and I love the texture of the rice in the drink. The purple rice yogurt drink is probably my favorite drink from here. I get it at 75% sweetness. I would recommend this drink if you want to venture out from the typical milk tea and you like more tart-tasting drinks. The yogurt is a bit sour and creamy. It's an interesting taste. I also recommend their green milk tea with golden boba. Any of the drinks I've had with golden boba are great. I have also tried the mango yogurt drink. It was ok. I don't think the mango was very sweet. Service is decent. You can order at the counter with a cashier or at the kiosk by the door. The ambiance is nice. The decor is very colorful and vibrant. They have neon signs, some cute plushies on their couches, and other nice backdrops for pictures. It can get busy and loud during peak times, so it's not a great place to study if you need it to be quiet, but it's a great place to catch up with friends! read more
Very cute spot in Chinatown to take a break at and enjoy some delicious drinks. They have tons of options that you can't really go wrong with. I tried the taro milk tea with brown sugar boba which was the perfect level of sweetness. Personally i found the amount of boba to be a bit too much but otherwise still really good. I'd recommend stopping by if you're in the area! read more
3 years ago
The menu is limited compared to the other boba shops in the same area; however! What they have is unique and they do it well! I got the Brown sugar pearl fresh milk boba that is advertised as highly sold. It did not disappoint. The milk was creamy and just thick enough (not a watery milk but not a cream thickness) and the brown sugar flavor mixed so nicely. It was almost a nutty sweetness. This is coming from someone who doesn't like milk. I will be returning to try their other options that seem to be unique to their store. The bear is also a nice touch! read more
10 months ago
Ordered a couple drinks here and one of them the staff somehow forgot to put the boba it. How that happened I don't know but then instead of just taking the seal off adding the boba the resealing it they gave me the boba on the side. I would understand doing that if there is a rush and you do not have the time to redo the drink but there was no one else waiting for their drink. So this is getting a 3/5 stars because while it was good, there is also seating and a restroom but I shouldn't have to fix my beverage. read more
Just reviewing oolong and jasmine milk tea. Solid drinks! Good balance of creaminess and tea flavor. Jasmine tea was notably fragrant. I want to go back and get less sugar on the oolong milk tea to enjoy it more. Boba was cooked to perfect consistency. Service was timely. I like the wide space and ample seating. The cute plushies are a plus to the ambiance. read more
Very cute and nice addition to the area!! Their menu is a little confusing/overwhelming but they have a lot of great options. They have a couple drinks with Taro in it which looked good. They also have a yummy coconut Thai milk tea. If there's pearl in the menu name then it comes with the boba in it already. I would recommend getting their classic daboba rather than the golden pearls. They also have drinks with Yakult in them. One thing that was mildly annoying is they don't take card - just cash or zelle. But I think that allows them to keep their prices slightly lower. The place itself is super cute with an adorable snorlax mural. There are also games. read more
Where there is boba there I am! My friend brought me to Chicago's China town and we stopped here while walking for some boba. It was packed however we did not have to wait too long. The service was friendly and fast. They have an array of options and for boba they are adequately priced. Maybe it was the time of day we went but it was load so this would not be a great place to study. Seating was also minimal. Parking terrible! read more
I got the honey golden pearl tea per a friend's recommendation and it was tasty - though a little bit too milky and not enough tea for my taste. The pearls had a good texture which is big for me. For the interior, the space is very open and had cute decor. It seems like a great place to study or work. Not much to say on the service as I had limited interactions with the staff but no complaints thus far. read more
3.5/5 I really want to like this place. It had so many great aspects, but came up short on arguably the most important part. The place is comfy and nice to stay at and do work in. They have free wifi which is really fast! Restrooms are available for paying customers. It's upstairs which adds a bit to the ambiance. Sadly the boba I got was hard to drink. It might be this one batch of tea, but it had a rather strong sour aftertaste. I ended up not being able to finish it. I do want to try some other drinks and see if that was just a one-off, especially because I would love to work there more often! read more
10/10 for the chewy and fresh boba. The boba was not hard nor was it over cooked. They keep it in a warmer so it's fresh all day for customers! My drink was complicated and I appreciate the employee for trying her best to make it right and remade it to make sure it was right. The interior is super cute with the bright lights and lanterns on the ceilings. Not many tables to sit but there are a few for gathering with friends. read more
Came here last night with my fiancé! It was our first time and we absolutely loved it! The space is so cute! There are fun pictures on the walls, pretty flowers through the space, and they had the cutest pillows on the couches. We took our order and our drinks were made really quick as well! We were able to sit at a table and thought the milk teas were delicious!! I had the one with oolong in it and they honey bubbles and it was the perfect amount of tea taste! There are quite a few boba places throughout Chinatown, but I think this is a must try!! read more
This place is so cute and has such a wide selection of boba drinks. It's so hard to pick a drink every time we come. You can order at the counter or if you need time to peruse you can order at a touchscreen. Either way you won't be disappointed stopping in and grabbing a boba because it's yummy and adorable to hang out in. Even if you stay to drink whatever you order, it's a nice relaxing place to sit and chill or catch up with a friend. I keep coming back every time I'm in town. And you should too! read more
Out of all the boba places in Chinatown Square this has to be the most aesthetic. Love all the cute lighting, decor, and plushies. Service was quick and we tried the Sparkling Night and the Honey Golden Pearl Roasted Oolong Milk Tea. Personally wasn't a fan of the Sparkling Night but the other one was pretty good! Wasn't too sweet and can never go wrong with honey golden pearls. Also the drinks in the picture are the same size. read more
It's on the 2nd floor across from Joy Yee. There were a few vendors inside selling BTS and accessories. Had the Mango black tea with Mango popping and boba and oolong pearl milk tea with coffee jelly. You don't get to choose the sugar level, but it wasn't too sweet where it hurts your teeth. Overall it was delicious. read more
Talk about the cutest Boba place ever!! Very instagram friendly! Between the flower wallpaper, the couch with squishies and the LED lights this place was so cute!! I got the avo-yogurt boba and liked it. Cant wait to be back! read more
Came here multiple times and it never disappoint. Love their purple rice yogurt drink that's what y boyfriend always order, there is different kind of drink from milk tea, fruit tea, slushy to frappe. The best part is that their drinks are dairy free, you can request dairy. People are nice and there are tables for you to sit and enjoy the drink. Would come back and recommend family and friend. read more
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