Lived in Cali for many years, drank in many a shops. Drank the stuff back when it was only found in Vietnamese shops - long before it went mainstream. Wife even worked in a milk tea shop she had frequented in college. Basically: I'm fairly familiar with the flavors and the trade, so please don't consider this review as an out-of-towner thinking they know their way around "bubble tea".
The menu was vague with little details on the ingredients. The selection of drinks were basic, nothing utterly new or signature (Vietnamese coffee isn't so common in boba shops, but it's not completely rare either). And the flavors were... a little disappointing.
We had the Vietnamese Coffee, Oolong Milk Tea, and the Thai Tea.
The Vietnamese Coffee was light - a little too light, nothing like the strong flavors you'd expect from the ingredients. My wife said it tasted like the coffee we make at home (we usually mix caramel or maple syrup into our coffee, so be aware that this description won't vibe with everyone).
The Oolong Milk Tea tasted watered down. While not the strongest flavor of milk tea picks, there's still supposed to be a notable flavor that remains in the mouth - but this one disappeared the moment you swallowed it.
And the Thai Tea? ... Well, surprisingly, it tasted just fine. It's weird, most times milk tea shops completely get this flavor wrong. If you want to know what it's supposed to taste like, drink it at some random shop in Cali that sells donuts - those ones are more chemically-driven, but their flavors are correct. Most milk tea shops get the flavor completely wrong because THEY ALWAYS SKIMP ON THE TEA. The tea flavor is supposed to be POWERFUL, so when it mixes with the milk, it mellows and mixes into an entirely new flavor. But most fancy milk tea shops are so concerned with the amount of flavoring they put into their drinks, that they always hold back on the amount that's SUPPOSED to be in Thai Tea. This shop? They got it right.
So why list Four Stars when the descriptions so far only mark it as Three?
For one, the interior is lovely. A bit small, but it is cozy and fun to hang out in.
The lady at the counter was also quite friendly and attentive - she would overhear our decisions and memorize what it is we want before we even get to mention them. She'll even apologize to the customers behind the customers she's serving, letting them know that she'll get to their orders right after finishing ours.
And after some small talk over the unique scent in the shop (my wife equated it to a Larry's Cookie), the lady at the counter mentioned that it was most likely a culmination of all the teas that she brews first thing in the morning. Meaning, she makes the tea fresh. In this day and age, when most milk teas are just about pouring packaged powders into nicely-branded milk options, it's rare to see any milk tea shop make things with actual teas. It's greatly appreciated.
With those things in mind, it is enough to make it a Five Star for me and my family... if only the flavors hit the spot. Nice job on the thai tea, though!
Now, word of warning, they DO make all milk teas with milk here. NO substitute milks in sight. No almond milks, no soy milks, nothing of that sort. It's just milk. If you're sensitive to or are against the use of traditional milk: it may be best to avoid this shop.
But for those that are fine with it - these drinks will sit well with you. read more