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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.
I was super excited to try Daboba for the first time and I was not disappointed! The shop is super spacious with lots of seating with lots of Insta worthy corners. I recommend their golden pearl milk tea! (It's delicious and not too sweet) the bear lids are also very unique and cute! I can't wait to try more flavors! read more
2 years ago
A new boba shop in Chinatown? I'm definitely going to check it out. ATMOSPHERE/ARCHITECTURE: 10/10 Marble white floors, bright lighting and decent amount of seating the boba shop is super welcoming and makes a nice hangout spot. SERVICE: 9/10 Excellent service. Boba came Out fast despite being a pretty busy day. FOOD: 10/10 I like the cute bear lids they have on their signature drinks. It's a nice touch and they really commit to the bear theme. Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Matcha - 9/10 - Solid brown sugar tea with perfectly chewy and soft boba pearls. Honey Golden Pearl Green Milk Tea - 10/10 - Astoundingly perfect. The gold pearls are better than the black ones and the milk to tea ratio here is great too. The best boba in Chicago. VALUE: 8/10 Prices are par for boba. PROBABILITY OF RETURN: 10/10 Simply the best. TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT: Come and drink boba OVERALL: 10/10 read more
1 year ago
The service was fast and the area was super clean, im glad we went here :) I recommend this, I think (I didn't try other bobba places so maybe it wasn't the best, but to me, it was read more
3 years ago
SUCH a cute spot to get Boba in Chinatown. There's several places to get Boba but I recommend you go to Daboba! They have a kiosk at the entrance where you can order and pay. They have a great selection. I had the Shooting Star Boba and it was so refreshing. Would love to come back if I have the chance to! :) read more
Love the open space and the colored lantern decor. The place was not the fastest but they have a ticketing system so they just call by number. I didn't hear my number but it's not in any order. They said all their drinks are dairy free, is that real? We took their words for it and had a hot oolong milk tea, they didn't ask sugar level or boba/nah, so the default was a little over $6. We really liked the flavor and sweet level (I think it's like 30% at other places). Love that they have paper boba straw! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
I must say I do enjoy "chilling with daboba". The milk tea here has everything you could want from boba -- perfectly chewy boba, not too sweet, and good quality tea! The golden pearls are actually pretty good too. There's a ton of seating inside to hang out or study. The drinks always come out pretty fast too. This is one of my top choices for boba whenever in in Chinatown! Definitely give it a try. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Our drinks were tasty, and the ambiance is cool. A little pricey, but it is Chicago Chinatown! read more
3 years ago
Huge menu, option to order at counter or on a tablet to cut down on wait time. Drink made really quickly. You can adjust the sweetness, 25% was perfect in my opinion. read more
3 years ago
As much as the drinks are delicious, I'd have to say that this is THE BEST STUDY CAFE in Chinatown, or even a hangout spot with friends. Lighting is bright and the area is spacious and clean. There's good wifi & enough outlets all around. And you can order from the cashier who know what to recommend or from the kiosk. Definitely recommend the Dalgona Coffee & Shooting Star series (but with like 25% sugar bc even 50% is still too sweet for me lol) read more
Bit of a wait and pricing is a bit pricey for the amount of boba but the interior is trendy with lanterns y'all, great for group hangouts, and the cup covers are seriously the cutest. I don't care if it's a gimmick, they're adorable! It was a great way to cap off a hot summer group run. I don't actually consider myself a regular boba drinker but I'll say they nailed it in terms of taste and boba texture consistency. If this was local to me, I would frequent it because they have so many different flavors! Ordered a medium matcha boba drink with red bean. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
Had a little fun night with family for my sisters birthday in December. We usually go to Joyee but my cousin told us to about this place and my nieces and nephews loved it. It's very nice and aesthetic. The servers were really nice as well. I got the brown sugar roasted matcha or something like that, and now I'm in love lol. It was so good. And I never liked boba but it was really good paired with the drink. My nieces and nephews loved their drinks. One got a cookies and cream slushie and the other a strawberry yogurt and they couldn't get enough. Definitely recommend this place :) read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
High quality boba tea and delicious fruity flavors. The place is so cute and has lots of photo ops on the walls. Hug the stuffed animals too for pics! read more
Roasted brown sugar milk tea was so delicious! Make sure you decide what sweetness you want because it can get pretty sweet! I like 50% sugar. They seem to also have kpop events, I got a free newjeans sticker last time I was there! read more
3 years ago
Delicious bubble tea! The boba here have a great consistency and texture. I tried them in the Japanese oolong milk tea which had a reasonable milk to tea ratio. I prefer my drinks 0% sugar but find there's enough sweetness from the boba to lightly sweeten my tea and not feel like I'm drinking a sugar bomb. The service was good and wait not too long. The store was clean and decorated with several boba plushies and paper lanterns which was a nice touch. Can I also just say how cute the lid is?? Each boba drink came with a bear-shaped lid on top. This is also convenient because I sometimes have spillage from the hole created by my straw through the plastic lid but the bear lid will help to catch any stray tea before there's an accident. Helpful when you plan on walking around/driving/traveling with your beverage. Will definitely be back here! read more
Experience: Came across this gem through social media outlets. Very cute! Parking: Being that it was a Saturday evening and in Chinatown, parking was very difficult. However, it was not possible, especially if you do not mind the walk. Majority of spots are paid parking, BUT if you look close enough, there is free spot, just be aware of signs! Worth: Yes, 100% worth it! Had the Brown Sugar Pearl Matcha- Not roasted (As pictured) and it was delicious and not too sweet. Would come back here again! Cheers for being my 200th review! read more
4 years ago
Great bubble tea with chewy tapioca pearls. I paid $6.30 with tax for the Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Soya. I'll definitely be coming back to try their other flavors. The wait time was probably 20 minutes because they were understaffed. read more
4 years ago
I was really looking forward to trying the milk tea here, but I left feeling really dissatisfied. They use powdered ube, which was disappointing. The prices are higher than usual, $7 for a small drink! The milk tea made me nauseous, and when I asked the cashier about the ube, he was rude. Wouldn't recommend. read more
Chilled with Daboba and I have no regrets! I ordered the brown sugar boba to go. It was one of the better bobas I've had in Chicago. The tapioca was chewy and flavorful, and it complimented the brown sugar flavor well. I asked for 50% less sugar and it was the perfect blend. If you don't like your bubble tea too sweet, then I would recommend dialing back on the sugar. I would encourage anyone who loves bubble tea to visit Daboba. The brown sugar boba was amazing, the staff were friendly, and I may need to go back for more flavors, thanks! read more
4 years ago
So yummy! My review is closer to a 4.5 stars than a four. Extremely great customer service, amazing boba texture and great/vast amount of selections of choices on the menu. I got the black tea with cheese foam and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. I love the little personal bear claw matcha powder touch they added! My only comment is that the tea flavor could be a little stronger and prominent but I also know that is not popular in the mainstream- but just my personal preference. read more
New boba location in Chinatown! It's a little hidden since you have to go upstairs. I love that there are more options available. The drinks themselves were good. The brown sugar boba milk tea was pretty sugary so I would not recommend the 100% regular sugar level if you don't like it super sweet. The downside is the price for the size. And they will charge you extra (50 cents) if you modify for less ice! read more
2 years ago
Very clean, colorful and fresh on the inside! I had the Mango Yogurt drink with egg pudding added. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and had chunks of real mango on the inside which made it so much better! read more
came for their bogo 50% soft opening! my friends and I got a variety of drinks to try and all in all were pretty tasty! definitely a lot of fragrance in their teas which is nice and their boba was so warm, soft, and a perfect chew :) their fruit teas are currently unavailable and they said an estimate of two weeks! overall a good solid spot for some boba in chinatown the owner or manager helped us with a small lil mishap in a drink, and was nice in making sure we were satisfied also had a cute and very spacious interior! read more
Really good experience here. It's on the upper level. They seem to specialize in brown burnt sugar flavors and the delicious smell of that hits you in the face when you walk in. I had a standard taro amd my daughter a brown sugar one and both were amazing. Nice vibe and decor! read more
Favorite boba in Chicago! Granted, I haven't lived around here for very long, but had pretty pleasant experiences during the times I've tried this place. It's in a plaza in Chinatown, so there is parking, which is great! FYI, the shop is located upstairs on the second level. It's bright inside, really spacious- good for a group. The staff are friendly, too. Tried the Roasted Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea. The boba is really good- perfect chewy-ness. :) The milk tea tastes good too. The prices are similar to the nicer boba places out here. (A little pricey, unfortunately) My friend found out they charged if you ask for less ice, too. Second time, got milk tea (I think Oolong?) with red bean. Also good! I don't recall seeing the other toppings on the menu, but they do have red bean. :D More trivial things- their cups are cute and they have cute decor (with squishy stuffed animals)- hah. Highly recommend, try it! read more
3 years ago
Amazingly fresh and the best boba ever, just so delicious!!! This place is fantastic, A++++!!! read more
3 years ago
Overrated. For one, not sure why everyone keeps hyping the brown sugar fresh milk, there was barely any brown sugar and just tasted like plain oat milk. The matcha was not any better. Again, tasted like plain milk with no brown sugar. You can tell by the picture there was close to no brown sugar in the match cup. Second: They charge for no ice haha. Total was 18.08 for 2 drinks. Granted, they both had milk substitutes, but they use bottom of the barrel Silk milk. There is no reason why it is almost $20 for 2 drinks while using trash ingredients. Maybe if they would stop spending money on extra unnecessary plastic lids to go on top of the plastic film they use to seal the cups they would be able to afford better ingredients. Save your money and get some ice cream or go elsewhere. Third: kiosk would've been better than going up to the counter. Not sure what the girl's name was but they she was rude. Definitely would not go there again. read more
Great news spot in China Town. Boba had a nice unique taste. The tapioca was slightly hard, not as fresh as I'd hoped. Drinking size is a bit smaller than the local competition but the pricing is about the same. Not an easy place to find it's up on the second floor in the middle kind of hidden. read more
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