Had some business in the area and needed a spot to lay low - this was pretty close so I settled with this spot. AMBIANCE: Parking: Plaza parking, I didn't have any issues. Seating: Inside and outside seating. Good for groups big and small. Maybe a total of 20 people Vibes: Welcome to the Mid-City area! This isn't the touristy part of town -- more local, grounded, and full of hidden gems. Lots of great eats, retail, and small businesses nearby.The spot is tucked away in a quieter part of the 54th St strip, so it's cozy and low-key rather than flashy. The shop itself is pretty spacious both inside and outside. Looks like a place to get work done or hang out. FOOD/DRINKS: Matcha Milk Tea (Recommend) Creamy, subtly earthy, and chill. The matcha flavor came through without being too bitter, and the milk smoothed everything out nicely. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Sammy was great! Friendly and quick with the service. TL; DR OVERALL: 3.5 Stars. Good flavors, selections, all at a reasonable price. Happytime Tea hits the mark for a reliable, well-made matcha milk tea in San Diego. Affordable, tasty, and with a lowkey relaxed setting. #RepresentAZN TIPS: * Ask for your drink with less sweetness if you want a stronger matcha flavor. read more

Happytime Tea - Wooo! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Came by here because I had heard wonderful things about their avocado smoothie and I was glad it was just as good as I was hoping. Freshly made, and the boba was very soft and chewy. Wonderful and quick service, while I was confused at first of the layout but it made sense once you were in. Nice that it opened to a courtyard for hanging out. Thank you! read more

Happytime Tea - Banana milk tea and Avocado smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tucked away in a remote corner of a Rolando neighborhood strip mall across from Horace Mann Middle School is where you will find this boba tea shop. The owners of Happytime Tea were doing some internal renovation when I visited with all of the inside chairs and tables pushed off to one side of the room. Electric saws were in action as the outdoor patio was also under construction. It seemed to be a lot of space for a business that focused on beverages, sweet crepes, and an acai bowl. Two menu screens hung from behind the service counter. There were close to 70 different offerings of drinks. What struck me was how affordable the prices were at $4.75 (small) and $5.50 (large) for the milk and flavored teas. The toppings were $0.75 each except for crystal boba which cost $1. I picked the first flavored tea on the list which was Pineapple along with the addition of regular boba pearls. That flavor isn't as common as you would think at a place like this. There was no pulp in the tea, however the pearl quality was very soft which I appreciated. The business hours are not as late as the nearby competition with a closing time of 7 pm (even 5 pm on Saturday and Monday), but they do open early at either 7 or 8 am. That's good for the early birds who may want coffee and not so much for a student who wants to study and hang out at night. read more

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This place has the best Vietnamese coffee in all of San Diego. It truly brings back the nostalgic feeling of Viet Nam when you take a sip. That how you know it authentic. On top of all, the vibe of this place has the best vibe on the weekends as people love to gather here to hang read more

Happytime Tea - 2. Vietnamese Coffee with Milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Been here since i was in 6th grade, the place and owner is nice overall. I love the crepes here, it's not too much or too little of everything for my taste read more

Happytime Tea - Condensed milk crepe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

7$ Milktea but using powder to make it. That's so cheap. How can your shop still survive? Might as well just serve coffee and lottery . read more

Happytime Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Cute and quiet place to meet up. Caught up with a friend on the outdoor patio. Generous menu options!

My favorite boba here! I like black mt and green Thai tea! And my daughter also love thai tea and Matcha here! read more

Was really craving milk tea so decided to come here and try somewhere new. I always get a taro milk tea smoothie whenever I try a new place so I can compare. However, the taro from here wasn't my favorite. The flavor just wasn't strong enough for me. My friend got a melon milk tea smoothie and it was delicious! Seems like this place is either a hit or miss depending on what flavor you get. Worth trying again, but it wouldn't be my first choice. read more

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2022 review update: Great place to get some work done as there's tons of seating and hidden in a corner. With the karaoke stage and lottery ticket signs, this is your classic Vietnamese joint. I will definitely keep coming back for the workspace, drinks, and WiFi! The Vietnamese coffee ($6.25) was pretty on the pricey side and not your traditional drip coffee with condense milk. It is mixed with added creamer I believe, I couldn't finish the drink lol. It could be because I came in at 2pm. I hope it stays this empty, a quiet non-packed coffee location is hard to find nowadays. Lots of parking!! read more

Happytime Tea - Indoor - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm so glad we found this place. My daughter wanted boba this morning but the place she typically goes to wasn't open yet. Happytime was nearby and open so we tried it. Delicious milk tea. Menu is organized and looks great. I would absolutely go back. read more

Quick service but just don't go there on a Sunday about 11ish. They may have a mating ritual going down. I felt like I crashed an event like I'm not supposed to. Well, luckily the counter has a fast track and got me out of there with no min wasted. The boba was great! Very scrumptious and chewy texture. It has a pho smell when I walk in. Overall a decent place. & a nice patio as others review it. read more

Hidden gem alert! Literally! This location is tucked away all the way in the back of this old shopping center. I would never have guessed to come here because there's really not many stores I would visit anymore. I used to come to this center all the time because of Ly's Garden (they were my go to Chinese bbq pork and roast pork place) but sadly they have since closed and its a live king crab place. I am in love with their Thai tea!!! I was never a Thai tea drinker because apparently I never had a good one! It was always too bitter, powdery, too strong, just tasted bad... but not here! The Thai tea is smooth, rich in flavor, perfect mix of milk and I add whip cream to top it off. For all the boba lovers out there (not me) you can get your boba on too! Le is the owner and super friendly! Broke my heart that during the initial three months of the pandemic they were closed. Yes I was missing getting my Thai tea fix on the weekend... but more importantly I was worried this small business was not going to survive! So many hidden treasures and long time fixtures are not making it during the shutdown and I didn't want Happytime to be one of them! They're open again and with plenty of outdoor seating and parking! Back to the Thai tea.... Why is it sooooo good?!? The Thai tea is brewed fresh daily. He only uses the best Thai tea and it's the most popular drink here! I usually get it with ice but It's been so hot lately I asked if that was possible to get it blended (so my ice doesn't melt as fast) and yes you can!!! Just when I didn't think it could get any better, it does! Stop by and support this small business! Tons of teas, milk drinks, blended fruit drinks, boba and of course my one and only fav... the Thai tea! Enjoy!!! :) read more

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I love this shop, best bobas and milk teas ever! Friendly and clean place. I stop here when ever I am in the area!

It's a little hit and miss in terms of the crowd (busy or quiet). I typically only get the avocado smoothie with boba and maybe a Vietnamese coffee. Which they use real avocado, which is why I love this place so much. Always go there for it. I actually haven't ever tried their food. They have a karaoke set up, and a scratch ticket machine. If you're looking for a real avocado blended smoothie this is the place to go! read more

This is probably in the top worst boba spots in San Diego unfortunately. My friends and I came here on a weekend day and it was practically empty. At least there was a nice large parking lot! The entrance is awkwardly located at the side of the building and the venue of this place is actually quite large. The owner completely ignored us as we entered and proceeded to ignore us even as we waited patiently at the register. In addition, this place was super hot and stuffy on such a hot day and the owner refused to turn on any of the fans that were in his establishment, clearly in order to try to save money. Now in terms of the drinks, I got the jasmine milk tea. First of all, when it came out it was a weird green color, which usually is not the color of jasmine milk tea. Additionally, the flavor tasted very off and artificial. In addition to bad service and bad environment, the drink was also very below average. I would not come here again. read more

Happytime Tea - 11.17.19 Jasmine milk tea...meh - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I really like this place. Plenty of parking . There is indoor sitting as well as outdoor. This feels like a little hole in the wall type of place. Orders are made quickly and are supper yummy. I loved their coffee. Prices are super affordable. read more

Randomly stumbled upon this spot when picking up some dinner, and I am very glad I did! This place is pretty hidden away in a shopping center, and I believe you have to park a bit far away from it, but I can be wrong. They have a bunch of flavors to choose from which is super cool and there is a lot of seating which is perfect if you are going with a big group. The people running the shop were very sweet and helped accommodate my drink since I don't drink whole milk. I tried the Coconut Ice Blend with Almond Milk and Boba, and it was very yummy. It was the perfect amount of sweetness and I love the creamy coconut flavor. I can't wait to go back and try more drinks! read more

Happytime Tea - Coconut Ice Blend with Almond Milk and Boba - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I was supposed to meet my friend here after I finished shopping, but we didn't know that they so early! By the time I would arrive, the place would be closed. My friend had just arrived, so she put me on the phone with a worker so that I could place my order LOL. I ended up getting the passion fruit tea with crystal boba. I asked for it to be less sweet, but it was still really sweet. Not sure if they forgot to adjust the sweetness level or if their drinks are normally this sugary, but I'll most likely try something else next time. My friend loves the Thai tea drinks here and it was good, but nothing special about it. Happytime Tea also hosts parties at their tea shop, so I remember coming here for a kid's birthday party a few years ago. They let you decorate the place and bring in your own food too! FYI, the shop is also located in the back corner of the parking lot, so it may be a bit hard to find. read more

Happytime Tea - Thai tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a cute little shop run by a small family. There's plenty of space in the parking lot and in the restaurant. A perfect place to get work done or even sit and chill with friends. We got the thai tea with boba and it did not disappoint. We didn't want it too sweet and the owner said it was pre-sweetened but they tried to make adjustments for us! Super awesome customer service!! Please support them! Their drinks are good too read more

Happytime Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I love this place!!!! I think the best part is the vibe and the service. The owner is super nice and generous.

Hidden away in the back of the shopping center, but a great spot for boba. It hasn't been busy when I went there but there is plenty of seating and looks like it has karaoke. read more

My first time at this mall I might have been 12. There was a movie theater back then. We alternated between the theater here and a few drive ins. It looks a bit more run down now. Where I use to watch movies I see Bargain Outlet. To the side I notice Happytime Tea. It's really nice inside. Everything is clean and new. There are a bunch of well placed plants to balance out the modern space. I try a jasmine shaved ice. It's the new style shaved ice where ingredients are mixed then frozen into an ice block. The ice is then shaved into thin sheets with an ice cream like texture. Feels more like eating jasmine flavored ice cream than a snow cone. Little pieces of mochi were a mixture of sweet fruit flavor. I sampled the mango smoothie. Nice mango flavor and extremely sweet. I would not order a large less I risk a sugar coma. Employees were nice. This a cool shop in a rough looking strip mall. read more

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I stopped in for a second time and I was sure glad I did. This time around, I had the young ladies make me a crepe, a simple preparation with cinnamon and honey, and I had a cappuccino and for the road a Jasmine Milk Tea. They offer a variety of crepes on the menu but I wanted something I usually roll with and they were more than willing to make it. The crepe was really good. It was soft and moist but it utilized a good thickness as crepes go. In combination with the honey and cinnamon, it was delicious. However, I would recommend that they, prior to folding, they apply the cinnamon and honey so that it's available inside the crepe between the layers an then add just a touch on the outside for color and presentation. The cappuccino was excellent and came with just the right ratio of steamed milk and espresso. The iced Jasmine Milk Tea was perfect for the road. It offered a terrific Jasmine flavor and great creamy milky texture. Service was outstanding and ever so friendly. read more

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Drove all the way here with my hubby because we wanted crepes. Outside the store it said they were serving crepes and once we tried to order inside, they didn't even serve crepes. Uhhh ok. Lol. read more

Stopped by bc it was closest place for milk tea while we waited for take out a block away. Pretty basic drinks for a fair price. Not really dealing the aesthetic for the place, old school Vietnamese cafe vibes. Service was okay, first greeting is important to me & it wasn't given at all until 4 minutes of waiting and eye contact followed by "what can I get for you?" We orders Thai milk tea, tarp milk tea & strawberry smoothie. read more

Adorable tea spot tucked in the corner of its shopping center. Typical tea house selections with friends drier than typical tea house staff. Great place to get some work done (free wifi) and get your snack on with freshly made crepes. The spot becomes a dance spot for elders at night; I finished my tea and crepe with the sound of soulful Vietnamese singing and the sight of auntie swaying to the music. read more

Happytime Tea - cream cheese/strawberry crepe and rose milk tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I love drinking flavored iced tea especially on a hot day. I ended up getting a lychee green iced tea which is one of my favorite flavored iced teas. The lady taking our order was really nice. They take credit cards but I believe there's a .50 cent fee for using it. After I placed my order, my drink was done in a few minutes. Very fast and efficient. I liked my lychee green iced tea. Just the right amount of flavor and ice. The inside was roomy but hot. No air conditioning flowing in here. Very uncomfortable. They had their doors open so air could come in. A definite negative on a hot day but my drink was good regardless. I still like boba places and they also serve shaved ice. I will be back for more drinks and I will have to try the shaved ice. read more

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Pretty Good. Awesome one-of-a-kind flavor selection -like, LAVENDER. Yes, Lavender, even asked her if I could mix it with my regular Assam due to my caffeine addiction. Don't pass this 'little gem' up. They looked like at one point the place was set up for live music/entertainment. The outside dining or sitting area looked quite beautiful. Something, that which the people who know the area well, could be compared to as, 'an oasis in the desert [or concrete jungle {take your pick} ].' read more

A very nice place to hangout with your friends. Large variety of drinks to choose from! The only thing that I don't like is how the food option is only limited to just crepes. I'm not gonna deduct a star just because of that, I've tried the crepe and it was really good. The staff are really nice, maybe they'll consider it. Over all, more food option would be really nice otherwise this place is a solid go to boba place. read more

I am really surprised with the reviews here... especially since I see some honored Elites that have near "god-like" status on Yelp in my book and whose reviews I follow closely. My husband brought back one milk tea while we were at a nearby event at Ly's Garden. The tea flavor was there but extremely watered down. There wasn't enough milk / milk flavor. Perhaps we ordered the wrong thing on a bad day? We'll have to try it again but I definitely did not enjoy the milk tea. Hubbie (who grew up in the area) was already predicting the store's closure. Looks like desserts are the thing to order.. but I was very disappointed by the milk tea. We'll have to come back and try again. 3 stars .. hopefully a re-review in the near future. read more

I found this shop when I was at the traffic signal on the corner of 54th and El Cajon Blvd. I ordered a Vietnamese coffee with milk. The taste was on point. My plus one had boba tea which turned out nicely. The staff was friendly and experienced. The shop was clean. Had numerous tables, outlets, and strong Wi-Fi signal. Did I mention they have karaoke? Yes they have karaoke! I am definitely returning for some of the other menu items. read more

This place serves the best tea and boba. They have delicious Vietnamese coffee too. Their acai bowls and crepes are also both amazing. My go to spot! read more

We ordered 4 different milk tea's: Hokkaido- Thai tea- Strawberry milk tea- Taro milk tea- & a banana and Nutella waffle. Everything is so DELICIOUS and the service was excellent. I'm so glad there's a boba shop nearby for all of my boba/crepe cravings definitely coming back to try the shaved ice and everything else instead of making a drive to Convoy (: read more

Happytime Tea - The Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

So far so good! I've been waiting for this place to open! Right now they have their soft opening so they do not have all the items on the menu available. I'm not sure when their regular opening will be but if everything is at the level I see now, I'm happy! So, what do they have now? Basically a variety of teas, milk teas and smoothies are available. My partner and I got a plain black tea (no sugar) and I got a lavender milk tea with boba (half sugar). His tasted as it should, and mine was pretty good! Sugar level was a little higher than I usually prefer at half sugar, so next time I will probably ask for less, but the taste was on point. Their boba is prepared perfectly, which can be a rarity. Basically nothing amiss! What will they have in the future when they officially open? Looks like: coffee, more tea variety (they didn't have all the flavors when I went in, but I got there late), crepes (!!!!), shaved ice, acai bowls, and smoothies. I can't wait!! The inside is nice and clean, with bright lighting, and I saw someone in there with a laptop so I'm pretty sure they have WiFi. The sign said they are open until 10pm (every day, I think) so it looks like a good place to study. There's plenty of parking so long as there's not a huge event happening at Ly's restaurant. It's located in the same shopping center as Grocery Outlet, on the south side of the parking lot. It's a great addition to this neighborhood! read more

Happytime Tea - Outside view - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Simply love the fact that there's a spot in the hood for boba. Drinks and the crepe was aiite. read more

Happytime Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

They just opened and they are still working on the decor but the smoothie were great and also some nice options of teas, açaí bowls and crepes I had the avocado fresh fruit smoothie and the mango smoothie . read more

Happytime Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Recently found this location on Yelp and thought to give it a try. Drinks 5/5 My husband and I ordered the Jasmine Milk Tea with boba and Almond Milk Tea with boba. The boba was chewy and nice. The milk teas were balanced and on point. I thought it was strange that Food 0/5 I ordered the strawberry and Nutella crepe. My husband ordered the banana and Nutella crepe. We took it to-go to eat at home. Crepes smelled of artificial vanilla. It was doughy and chewy in not a good way. And for whatever reason, the "Nutella" tasted slightly like peanut butter. The whip cream was not good either. Would not get this again. Environment 5/5 The music was light and not too loud/overbearing. It was somewhat a quiet place for customers to have coffee/tea to read a book or work on you laptop. Also there is a small stage setup for karaoke but not sure when they have karaoke nights. Overall, would come back for boba drinks and maybe try out their karaoke stage!! read more

Happytime Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Thai tea & Vietnamese coffee are DELICIOUS!! The flavor is authentic. This place is HUGE, extremely spacious and clean. FREE WIFI and Lots of natural lights for college student to study. Check in and get 20% off, Hidden Treasure, will definitely be back SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL Small Business read more

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This is one of many places in the El Cajon Blvd area that doesn't look pretty or hip on the outside, but offers delicious treats! There is a very large menu of boba, smoothies, teas, and more. There is a really large outside sitting area. The whole place gives off a vibe of being in a foreign country- we loved it. read more

Happytime Tea - Mango and strawberry smoothies with boba - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California