Best tasting tea in Irvine. Customer service is perfection. Owner is personable and warm in a sea of corporate owned tea shops.

i keep the lights on in this establishment for the amount of times i come back here personal rankings: rising buddha: 10/10 milky, jasminey, light no. 13: 10/10 milky, nutty, kinda strong tea flavor honey red jade: 10/10 sweet & light no. 2: 8.5/10 darker than no. 13, ambery metal goddess: 8/10 very oolong-y aged cresent: 5/10 strong & has a aftertaste? can't put a finger on it hokkaido metal goddess: 5/10 not a fan of hokkaido so this was my bad funny story: the owner came up to my group & asked how our drinks were & offered to substitute any of our drinks or give us extra ones. so considerate! but his approach scared us a bit since it was dark & he came out of nowhere so perhaps try to find a better way of approaching people regardless desouro we love you (they run a very strict program and will ask you to try the drink to see if you like it) (gets a bit cramped in the store since it is pretty tiny but clean for the most part :)) read more

My friends and I came here for the first time. The cashier was very helpful. We got 2 drinks, the Desouro Buddha and Phoenix 13. Both drinks were very good. The staff was very informative and kind and Perry was very nice and explained what the drinks were and how they tasted. They staff asked multiple times if we liked the drinks. We will be coming again! read more

A lovely young lady named Gisele helped me yesterday. She had a great attitude, very friendly, and attentive. Love this place! She recommended the red jade, it was amazing. read more

I really liked their honey gyokuro green milk tea. I got 75% sugar and it was perfect. I also got their hokkaido metal goddess, but I didn't like because it was a bit earthy. read more

Why am I waiting a WHOLE HOUR when there are THREE people in line. Why is there a DEAD BUG on the counter the whole time I'm waiting for a drink. I hope the manager will start underpaying the workers so this place can shut down again. The drink however, was pretty good. SIKE, terrible and bland. The worst drink at 7leaves will top any drink here. If I could give 0 stars I would. Just kidding, thats too nice, negative five. read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

It was very exciting to hear this shop was finally open! It's been so long since I have had high-quality tea boba. Could not find a replacement in the last 2 years! We ended up trying phoenix no. 2 and phoenix no. 13! Both drinks were very good!! No. 13 had a stronger tea flavor & was more floral tasting. No. 2 tasted just like the OG rising phoenix! However, the boba has changed. It was a bit hard! Staff had the same great customer service - very friendly & made sure you enjoyed your drinks! But, the constant yelling "yes chef" was a little weird & a bit uncomfortable. read more

I was here a few days ago, and this place had excellent service. I've been here a couple times now and the Barista Andria is so kind, she always remembers me and my drink, which is the Rising Buda (It rocks!). It gets a little busy but The people are always nice about it. Good place! read more

I've been chasing a tea spot that serves amazing oolong tea just like yun tea house in San Diego and this hits the spot. it's probably the best oolong tea in OC. i got the metal goddess oolong milk tea. nutty, creamy, with no bitterness and a strong tea flavor. one thing to note however is that this place does run sweeter. the sweetness is on a scale of 5 and I think 4 was still really sweet for me. service was great as well! read more

We visited Desouro on a Sunday afternoon after lunch close by. A friend and I both had the Ceylon black milk tea -- it had a noticeably deeper and richer taste than most milk teas, with a full aftertaste that kept the tea flavor lingering in my mouth. Servers are friendly and enthusiastic, as is the owner who chatted with us for a bit. The tea was a nice cap to a big meal -- better than your average milk tea and I would love to see coffee on the mentí at some point. read more

Honey Jade black milk with boba is the most comforting thing ever!! Especially when I take care of myself, finishing long day work or celebrating during holidays!! All staffs are so friendly and supportive, they're patient to introduce the flavors and ask me to taste before leaving. The BEST drink in the United States! Must try when you visit Irvine read more

Desouro - Honey Black jade milk tea with boba (sweetness 2, full ice) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I decided to try Desouro (which used to operate under the name "Orobae") to see how it compared to the old shop. The drinks themselves were decent, but the overall experience was hectic as it is still soft opening -- the store was packed, service felt rushed, and the atmosphere was stressful rather than enjoyable. Something important to note: this business is connected to the same owner behind Orobae, which had a lot of controversy in the past. If you're curious about the history, there's a detailed Reddit thread that covers what happened to Orobae and its owner: r/irvine, "What happened to Orobae" (you can find it by searching that title). For me, knowing this background makes the experience harder to separate from the past. Combined with the chaotic vibe and lack of professionalism I felt during my visit, I don't see myself coming back. There are plenty of other boba spots in Irvine that provide a calmer, friendlier atmosphere without the baggage. Or if you want better drinks, there is torotea in Diamond Bar! read more

My go to place whenever I want boba now. All the drinks are carefully curated and the owner is always looking out for customers when he's around. Great guy, great service, and great drinks! read more

I loved orobae. I was happy to wait in line when time permitted. Sad when they closed. Excited when Desouro opened. Finally went today to try it out. Used to order the rising phoenix. Ordered a phoenix #2 and two slushies. The tea barely had any tea flavor, due to their "guarantee" I asked for more tea flavor and less milk (after reading other yelp reviews, come to find out they use non dairy creamer!) flavor. They suggested I try the phoenix #13, it still had barely any tea flavor, but what can you do. The being squished against the wall to wait for your drink was off putting and the high counters don't make any sense. The staff were unable to place the three drinks into the carrier the counters are so high. Disappointed, won't be coming back. read more

Came here on a Sunday night and there was a line but things moved very quickly. The staff are clearly trained for good service and they ask you to try your drink before leaving so any adjustments can be made. The milk teas are all based on black and oolong teas. Their boba is smaller than expected and was lightly sweet, but I prefer a softer chewier texture. Our group had the Metal Goddess MT, Phoenix 13 MT, Aged Crescent Black MT, and the Oak Fired Oolong MT. All were pretty good and had very distinct taste profiles. As someone who likes drinks on the less sweet side, I got 75% sweetness and could have probably gone down to 50% per my usual adjustment elsewhere. The aesthetic stands out, with minimal European looking interior, staff in black chef shirts and gold name tags, and black cups. No seating inside but a few tables outside for standing around. read more

The drinks are awesome, still taste like the old Orobae, service is still excellent and finally they are indoors. Only reason I give it a 4 cause the drinks are smaller than a normal regular size. Have to ration my sips.. I would go across the street just because of the size ifykyk read more

Quality milk tea is back in the OC! I love seeing passionate people do their thing and Ken's passion for providing customers with a higher level tea experience is evident here. There's a nuance and complexity to the milk tea's here that others can't match. If you're looking primarily for a sweet, confectionery drink, this place isn't it. A great example is their Honey Red Jade Black Milk Tea that had a creamier mouth feel and honey graham cracker finish that I haven't experienced anywhere else. I'm currently trying every drink on the menu, and so far, each one has its own unique set of tasting notes. I recommend you try the same! Shout out to Ken for always speaking with customers directly and with enthusiasm that is often missing from many businesses, let alone tea shops. read more

I was kinda confused why this place only has a 3.9 rating, especially since so many people told me it was really good. I usually don't let lower reviews stop me from trying new spots, and I'm so glad I didn't this time. This place was amazing; prices were fair, and the service was honestly top tier. The woman helping us was super patient even with a long line and nonstop crowd, and she took the time to explain everything on the menu, which I really appreciated. It took about 20 minutes to order and get our drinks, but that's totally understandable with how busy and popular they are. Big shoutout to the team, you guys are amazinggg read more

This has honestly become my favorite tea spot in not just Orange County but all of Southern California in general! My favorite before was Orobae & when that closed, I've tried so many other tea spots & none have come close. Once I heard about Desouro opening up in the same plaza, I was ecstatic to try this place out immediately. The ambiance inside was really clean, simple & modern. Once inside, I was greeted with such friendly & helpful staff. Met the owner, Ken, & he was very informative on all the drinks & you can tell he is very passionate in his work which I really do appreciate. Ordered the Phoenix No. 2 Oolong Milk Tea with level 4 sweetness & half ice & it was just perfect. It had that nice nutty tea flavor & is pretty close to Orobae's Rising Phoenix. Overall, the wait wasn't bad at all, I love how the staff really takes the time & effort to take care of everyone instead of trying to rush people out & the drinks are amazing. I would highly recommend! Definitely will be coming back! read more

Desouro - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Love the fresh brewed teas and the staff are friendly and efficient. Looking forward to when they start selling coffee!

The boba isn't as good as the ones Orobae used to have. I waited for 40 mins in line and honestly it's not worth it.

They call it a specialty coffee, and tea shop however they don't serve coffee and they don't even have hot tea So disappointing read more

The service is great and the drinks are amazing. I highly recommend visiting here whenever you have the chance!

Desouro has great drinks and a great atmosphere. The menu is extensive and has something for everyone. Service was fantastic!

Quality milk tea for sure! Definitely come try it. The cashier suggested the metal goddess oolong tea based on my preference.

Service was amazing. My daughter was too embarrassed to say she didnt like her tea. The owner made her feel at ease and spoke to her so nicely stating it was no problem at all and he wanted her to love her drink. Let her pick another one. read more

You won't find tea like this anywhere else. You won't find a menu with these ingredients. Incredible flavors and kind team

This boba store is amazing! I refuse to believe any of the bad reviews about customer service or the drink being too milky. Every time I have gone, the customer service is amazing and the drinks are even better. I truly do admire the amount of passion behind this tea spot. Will always be my go to drink place in Irvine! Come out, you will not be disappointed read more

The service feels so forced, fake and cringe. I feel bad for the workers. I got my milk tea and it honestly tastes mainly of creamer powder with a hint of tea flavor. I liked the drinks from Orobae better. Not coming back. read more

Desouro - Aged Cresent Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

The smell of tea when you walk in is nice, the boba is sweeter than im used to. And the tea isnt as strong as id expect it to be. It comes in only one small cup size. I got the phoenix 2. With no ice since it was raining and sugar level at 25%. Price is about the average you would pay for boba nowadays. Recommend going on a rainy day because there was no line practically. Inside is mainly black and white without any decorations. read more

Hands down the best experience I've had at a tea shop. The tea is delicious, with incredible options and the staff is so kind and helpful & the shop is beautiful!!! read more

The service was excellent and the drinks are excellent. Can't ask for much more. I really enjoyed the milk tea.

Best boba texture and flavor. Line is a bit long but you won't get this flavor anywhere else

They have been open for 3 weeks and still not serving coffee. Their tea just tasted like a regular one you can get from any other tea shop. Its just hype. There are better tasting tea and coffee in the area that are served hot. Spend your money somewhere else. read more

The service was amazing!! They greeted all their customers warmly. Not only that, their drinks were so good! My only complaint is that there wasn't enough! read more

The shop is clean and really upscale, my drink was amazing and they made sure I loved it after I ordered, service overall was great. Gonna go back soon. read more

Finally got around to trying this place I've been meaning to go ever since it opened up. Unfortunately, their drinks weren't up to par as what I've remembered. The tea was actually lacking a bit flavor or intensity. You can say that the milk seems to overpower the tea even though it still comes through somewhat but just not as strong as I am used to. I would say though the boba was great and warm witch tasted fresh. Overall drinks are solid but I would say not worth a 30 plus minute wait. I would come back only if the wait is less than that. An online ordering system would make things more efficient. I'd give it a 4 if it was efficient just based on the drink but the wait kills it tbh. read more

Rising Phoenix number 2 is the same as it used to be at the other spot on the other end. Just in case you're wondering, should you get number 2 or number 13, quality and flavors are the same; the only difference is cup size. Enjoy read more

Amazing teas and on point coffee. You can truly see they are passionate about their craft and quality of their drinks. I'm so happy to finally have a spot local that cares about Service & Quality!!! Thank you y'all rock- read more

I frequented Orobae regularly back when it was around. Always loved their tea forward drinks. The Phoenix Oolong and Honey Gyokoro especially. It sucked when they closed because they were the best when it came to this type of milk tea. Bako Tea House tried to replicate it but truthfully didn't come close. Their tea always had this bitter after taste that I disliked. I finally got to try Desouro now they started opening earlier and it is as good as I remembered. I ordered the Phoenix No 2, No 13, and the Galle Ceylon Medley and both were excellent. Strong tea flavor, silky texture, and no bitter after taste. Got them level 3 sweet but will drop it down to a level 2 for future orders. Definitely gonna be back. read more