Purple Kow Photos
Business Info
PURPLE KOW ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
More like Purple Kow
Recommended Reviews - Purple Kow
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
I decided to try Purple Kow to escape the wind chill while waiting to get off the waitlist for The Laundromat nearby. I ordered a passionfruit green tea at 50% sweet with pearls and green tea jelly. I asked the barista if she would recommend 50%, but she didn't know because she's never tried the drink I ordered. What I got was jumbo sized and honestly wayyy too sugary. I could've definitely gone down to 30% sweet, and even then I think it would've still been too much. For anyone else hypersensitive to extra sweet flavor, you might want to consider the 无糖 (no sugar) option here.
A classic sf boba spot that I've been going to for 10+ years. Fast service, nice workers. Although I don't come here often because of so many other boba options and this one being pretty far away from me, it's a treat to visit here whenever I'm in the area. My go to is D2, also the only boba place I get pudding as a topping in my drink. The taste has always been consistent which I always appreciate, like I'm transported back to my early 20s
Stopped by Purple P for a quick drink and it definitely hit the spot. The drink was creamy, refreshing, and not overly sweet, which I really appreciated. You can tell they use good ingredients, and the texture was super smooth--perfect for a warm day. Service was friendly and pretty efficient, even though it looked a bit busy. The overall vibe feels casual and comfortable, a nice place to just grab something and go or chill for a bit. Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is I wish the flavor had a little more depth or customization options, but overall still a solid choice. I'd definitely come back to try more from the menu.
Mango sticky rice oolong: new drink to the menu. Way too much milk, did not taste the mango or flora notes of oolong. drinks are on the sweeter side even with 50% sweet. Classic institution that reminds me of the old high school days. L shaped sofa seating with chairs on the opposite side, circular tables for a hangout spot with friends. They gave us a purple straw when we asked for one instead of the paper straw.
I tried Purple Kow recently on a weekend night, near closing time. The service was accomodating towards us and other customers that were ordering near this time. Their cups are unique and wide, which were fun to drink but I can imagine difficult to bring around and place into cup holders. I ordered their lychee green tea and boba. It was a nice, refreshing drink, and the lychee flavor tasted like and fruity without being overpowering. The boba was okay and not too sweet.
The best Boba! Boba is warm and fresh. I had Tcho chocolate and it's creamy and delish. Staff is very nice and friendly. Unfortunately, their kitchen is closed so you can't order the amazing Tobango wings.
Calm lil spot. The milk tea is pretty good, super creamy, kinda thick. Definitely felt like a whole meal on its own. Boba was aight, chewy but didn't have structure. Overall chill.
I came to Purple Kow a couple times in the past three weeks. This is one of the few boba shops in the Richmond district., so I wanted to try it out. The first time I went was Friday after work, and it was very busy since it was after school hours, so there were plenty of students and families ordering. It definitely took longer before we got our drinks. My sister and I ordered the honey milk tea at 100% sweetness with boba and fresh mango green tea at 25% sweetness. I loved the fresh mango green tea and the fact that there were some small mango chunks was nice. It was refreshing and you can taste the strong tea flavor and lightly sweetened mango flavor. I have never seen such cute chubby cups for boba tea; it was so cute! The second time I went was on a Sunday afternoon. There was only a couple people ordering. I ordered through the website and waited until the time for pickup. When the time came for pickup, the website didn't update to say that the drink was ready, but my drink was already sitting there. I ordered the roasted oolong milk tea at 25% sweetness with boba. This drink didn't have a strong tea flavor and was watered down, unfortunately. The boba was on the hard-chewy side. The third time I came was Friday during lunch. I was the only person there since the place just opened less than an hour ago. I ordered the honey milk tea at 50% sweetness with boba. My drink was ready in around 3 minutes, so that was pretty quick. I could definitely taste the honey in the drink, so next time, I would go for 25% sweetness instead since I prefer lightly sweet drinks. The boba was also on the hard-chewy side. This drink had a good black tea flavor, and I love the fact that they use organic fresh milk since the default for many places is non-dairy creamer. They offer oat milk as the non-dairy alternative. I really wanted to try one of their snacks but all the snacks were out of stock, possibly since I came too early? The place is a cute little place with some tables and seating. I think most people were doing boba runs, so there's plenty of seating. The next time I come, I would definitely go for their fruit teas instead since they have a stronger tea flavor than their milk teas. The honey milk tea was really good too, but I would try a different topping instead of boba since I prefer soft-chewy and chewy boba. I like how the portion size for the drinks are huge, but I would prefer more drink and less boba since there was still 10-15 boba pearls left by the time I finished my milk tea.
Purple kow is a decent place for boba and have a wide selection of crema, slushies, milk teas and brewed tea. We got the pistachio with matcha pudding which was so good and the plum lime green tea with low sweetness. The plum tea was so refreshing and definitely love this place for late evening boba.
This spot is delicious and has quite the variety of toppings! I can't wait to try more of the drink menu.
April 30 was National Bubble Tea Day. I have gone past The Purple Kow, endless times but this was my 1st time going in. My order was an Iced Milk with Caramel, Pudding & Boba. The item was far more substantial than I had anticipated, and in retrospect I'm grateful of not ordering the large size. It was rich in caramel flavor, and generous with both pudding and Boba. The staff was prompt, and courteous. The space busy but at mid afternoon not crowded, and my treat quickly produced. It's a nice interior with seating, but I opted to enjoy it at the beach. I look forward to going back.
Perfect Boba chewy and sweet. I got the Mango tea and enjoyed the tangy and sweet taste. The drink was delicious and satisfying. It was a big drink. The service was a bit slow but it's worth the wait. The place is clean and well lit, lots of young people. It's a little far from me, but I recommend you check it out.
Good tea with hefty serving of boba. Very clean shop with ample room, clean bathroom, and friendly service. Street parking only, and difficult to find parking even on a slow day so order in advance for pickup.
26 days ago
It's been over a decade since I had purple kow and I wish I had let the past memory be a good memory vs having my husband pick some Up for us to go form this spot as the drinks are not god. The D3; Carmel pudding with boba is way too sweet even though we had gotten 50% sugar, less Carmel and less jelly; still I could only have the initial sip and ended up throwing it away One of the staff members were coughing so much while making drinks that was also horrible My husband got their peppermint tea with chocolate pudding and he liked it; though it was too sweet for him as well Too bad at how this place had changed a decade later read more
5 months ago
I decided to try Purple Kow to escape the wind chill while waiting to get off the waitlist for The Laundromat nearby. I ordered a passionfruit green tea at 50% sweet with pearls and green tea jelly. I asked the barista if she would recommend 50%, but she didn't know because she's never tried the drink I ordered. What I got was jumbo sized and honestly wayyy too sugary. I could've definitely gone down to 30% sweet, and even then I think it would've still been too much. For anyone else hypersensitive to extra sweet flavor, you might want to consider the 无糖 (no sugar) option here. read more
1 month ago
A classic sf boba spot that I've been going to for 10+ years. Fast service, nice workers. Although I don't come here often because of so many other boba options and this one being pretty far away from me, it's a treat to visit here whenever I'm in the area. My go to is D2, also the only boba place I get pudding as a topping in my drink. The taste has always been consistent which I always appreciate, like I'm transported back to my early 20s read more
Stopped by Purple P for a quick drink and it definitely hit the spot. The drink was creamy, refreshing, and not overly sweet, which I really appreciated. You can tell they use good ingredients, and the texture was super smooth--perfect for a warm day. Service was friendly and pretty efficient, even though it looked a bit busy. The overall vibe feels casual and comfortable, a nice place to just grab something and go or chill for a bit. Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is I wish the flavor had a little more depth or customization options, but overall still a solid choice. I'd definitely come back to try more from the menu. read more
Mango sticky rice oolong: new drink to the menu. Way too much milk, did not taste the mango or flora notes of oolong. drinks are on the sweeter side even with 50% sweet. Classic institution that reminds me of the old high school days. L shaped sofa seating with chairs on the opposite side, circular tables for a hangout spot with friends. They gave us a purple straw when we asked for one instead of the paper straw. read more
I tried Purple Kow recently on a weekend night, near closing time. The service was accomodating towards us and other customers that were ordering near this time. Their cups are unique and wide, which were fun to drink but I can imagine difficult to bring around and place into cup holders. I ordered their lychee green tea and boba. It was a nice, refreshing drink, and the lychee flavor tasted like and fruity without being overpowering. The boba was okay and not too sweet. read more
1 year ago
Calm lil spot. The milk tea is pretty good, super creamy, kinda thick. Definitely felt like a whole meal on its own. Boba was aight, chewy but didn't have structure. Overall chill. read more
I came to Purple Kow a couple times in the past three weeks. This is one of the few boba shops in the Richmond district., so I wanted to try it out. The first time I went was Friday after work, and it was very busy since it was after school hours, so there were plenty of students and families ordering. It definitely took longer before we got our drinks. My sister and I ordered the honey milk tea at 100% sweetness with boba and fresh mango green tea at 25% sweetness. I loved the fresh mango green tea and the fact that there were some small mango chunks was nice. It was refreshing and you can taste the strong tea flavor and lightly sweetened mango flavor. I have never seen such cute chubby cups for boba tea; it was so cute! The second time I went was on a Sunday afternoon. There was only a couple people ordering. I ordered through the website and waited until the time for pickup. When the time came for pickup, the website didn't update to say that the drink was ready, but my drink was already sitting there. I ordered the roasted oolong milk tea at 25% sweetness with boba. This drink didn't have a strong tea flavor and was watered down, unfortunately. The boba was on the hard-chewy side. The third time I came was Friday during lunch. I was the only person there since the place just opened less than an hour ago. I ordered the honey milk tea at 50% sweetness with boba. My drink was ready in around 3 minutes, so that was pretty quick. I could definitely taste the honey in the drink, so next time, I would go for 25% sweetness instead since I prefer lightly sweet drinks. The boba was also on the hard-chewy side. This drink had a good black tea flavor, and I love the fact that they use organic fresh milk since the default for many places is non-dairy creamer. They offer oat milk as the non-dairy alternative. I really wanted to try one of their snacks but all the snacks were out of stock, possibly since I came too early? The place is a cute little place with some tables and seating. I think most people were doing boba runs, so there's plenty of seating. The next time I come, I would definitely go for their fruit teas instead since they have a stronger tea flavor than their milk teas. The honey milk tea was really good too, but I would try a different topping instead of boba since I prefer soft-chewy and chewy boba. I like how the portion size for the drinks are huge, but I would prefer more drink and less boba since there was still 10-15 boba pearls left by the time I finished my milk tea. read more
Purple kow is a decent place for boba and have a wide selection of crema, slushies, milk teas and brewed tea. We got the pistachio with matcha pudding which was so good and the plum lime green tea with low sweetness. The plum tea was so refreshing and definitely love this place for late evening boba. read more
3 months ago
This spot is delicious and has quite the variety of toppings! I can't wait to try more of the drink menu. read more
April 30 was National Bubble Tea Day. I have gone past The Purple Kow, endless times but this was my 1st time going in. My order was an Iced Milk with Caramel, Pudding & Boba. The item was far more substantial than I had anticipated, and in retrospect I'm grateful of not ordering the large size. It was rich in caramel flavor, and generous with both pudding and Boba. The staff was prompt, and courteous. The space busy but at mid afternoon not crowded, and my treat quickly produced. It's a nice interior with seating, but I opted to enjoy it at the beach. I look forward to going back. read more
Perfect Boba chewy and sweet. I got the Mango tea and enjoyed the tangy and sweet taste. The drink was delicious and satisfying. It was a big drink. The service was a bit slow but it's worth the wait. The place is clean and well lit, lots of young people. It's a little far from me, but I recommend you check it out. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
Was craving some popcorn chicken and fries so we decided to try Purple Kow. My friend and I ordered a hazelnut milk tea with boba and almond milk, popcorn chicken (labeled as salt and pepper chicken nuggets) and sweet potato fries with plum seasoning. There's not a variety of drink/flavor options and the drink we did get was pretty disappointing. Would definitely not come here for boba. The one thing that keeps me coming back is the sweet potato fries with plum seasoning! The consistency of their sweet potato fries is just perfect and the flavor is solid. Their popcorn chicken is good too, but I personally don't like the size of their chicken. It's awkwardly kinda large and not bit sized. This spot is near a high school so while we were there, a whole group of students shuffled in and took over the place. With that said, most people don't stay too long here and just grab and go. read more
4 months ago
This has been a family favorite for years. I got the roasted oolong milk tea with boba. The tea itself is really nice. The drink had a nice foaminess proving it was well shaken. I like how they use fresh milk here rather than milk powders. The taste is nice, clean, and good quality. And they have lots of boba! Their wide cups seem to hold an extra scoop of boba in comparison to other boba stores. Very generous so every sip has lots of boba! read more
5 months ago
The food and drink are good but the store is so run down - especially outside. Can the owners just pick up the trash in front and fix the windows so it does not look abandoned from the outside? Other businesses look great out front. Why does Purple Kow care little about its storefront. Any effort would go a long way. read more
Long line on Saturday afternoon, they don't have kiosk for contactless order, everyone has to wait in line to order. This slows down the process. Overall the drinks are awesome and I like their super cup which is gigantic and can't fit into our car cup holder. Che iced milk drink- pandan jelly, lychee jelly and red bean, its overly sweet even I asked for half sugar Milk tea with boba is great, especially the boba. It's soft and not too sweet Will comeback to try their snacks later. read more
I always stop by Purple Kow when I'm hiking at Lands End and it always hits the spot after a hike! I love their fresh milk drinks (make sure to lower the sugar level though because it gets pretty sweet!). The baristas work fast and get drinks out fast (although they do get swamped from the amount of orders they have). The little shop area is also very cute and well decorated, a very good space to sit and chat! read more
My daughter says this is her 5 star place. Quality/Quantity - This was "THE" place when they opened. I remember coming here when they had lines out the door. The good news is that this is still one of my daughter's favorite boba places. Today, as I was getting my usual Peet's coffee, she asked for boba and since we still had half an hour before dinner, I said yes. She got the F3, California Fresh Fruit QQ - Pineapple, Peach, Lychee Jelly and she added boba. She said she didn't realize there were fruit bits and seeds because she felt it had too many toppings. Atmosphere - Cool small spot. The space still looks hip, but they are starting their remodel; see pictures. No bathroom, again starting their remodel. Plenty of street metered parking. Service - Good. Counter service. Price - $8. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2011 and now your other 2 locations. read more
1 year ago
I did a day trip from Sac to SF & wanted to pick up some boba on the drive home! I came across Purple Kow because it was one of the only boba stores still open late in the area. It was a busy Saturday night, which can be a sign of great service and food. There were many travelers, locals, and college students there at the same time I was. Everyone filled up the tables and a few parties were waiting outside. Although there were only a few people working, the drinks came out in a timely manner. I loved all 3 drinks and would definitely stop by again in the future! read more
I got the purple kow milk tea with boba. I thought the drink was ok, tasted it bit watered down to me but I think it was because of the milk to tea ratio. But there was way too much boba for me, the boba was literally more than half the drink, if you're into that then this might be for you but to me it felt like I was just inhaling boba with ever sip. I was also not a huge fan of the boba itself, they're slightly smaller than the regular sized bobas but not small enough to be boba pearls, they were a bit hard and tough to chew. read more
Stopped by for some boba with some friends. Someone them said this was a nostalgic place for them so I was excited to try. The tea wasn't as strong compared to other places but they do provide a large amount. I also ordered their boba which was soft and chewy. The service here was pretty quick and the staff member who took our order was friendly. This place has some seating and the colors as a casual fun feel to the place. read more
1 year ago
Purple Kow has been around in SF for so long, I used to grow up coming here in middle school. Every drink I've had here has been solid. I love that they use organic milk. I also recommend their popcorn chicken if you're in the mood for something a little savory to go with the sweet. The cups are fat and known for not fitting in a car cup holder. read more
I feel like if you are out in the Outer Richmond walking around, this is the place you end up going to. Walking around and I'm like, I'm thirsty, let's get some boba drinks from Purple Kow. Their portions are massive. It looks more like soup containers than boba drinks. I guess it's good for sharing? I mostly get tea drinks so it works out for me, but their drinks tend to be too sweet, so I mostly opt for no sugar. Ambiance is nice as they have a nice chairs for sitting, but they can be a tad slow sometimes. Located on Balboa St. between 37th and 38th Ave; next door to the Balboa Theater. read more
1 year ago
Purple Kow is by far one of my favorite and most underrated boba spots in San Francisco!! I grew up coming here since middle school and absolutely love it! Both the D3 and F2 are my go-to's and I love the size portions they give you. It's always a great time in the city whenever I get Purple Kow and wish they opened up a location in the South Bay!! read more
2 years ago
My family and I have been going here for years and it never disappoints. The portion they give is always the large chubby cup for the regular and they fill the drinks with so many toppings. We went on a Sunday at around 3:30 pm and there was a decent line as they are usually pretty packed. D4 Milk Tea w/ Boba and Grass Jelly - My go to drink here and it is so filling. I usually get 50% sweetness and it is bordering on too sweet for me but I love the creaminess of the drink. This one comes with so much boba that is chewy and grass jelly that is soft. Salt & Pepper Chicken Nuggets - They also have some of the best bites. We always order spicy for this and it tastes so good even when dipped in the side of spicy mayo sauce. The large pieces are always hot on the inside and crispy on the outside. My parents enjoy some of their fruit drinks like the Fresh Mango Green Tea and Yakult Peach Green Tea. We also love getting the garlic fries as well. If you're ever in the Richmond and want a sweet treat or small bites, this is the boba place to go to. read more
2 years ago
I love going to Purple Kow. I love their spicy Noodles and The Carmel & Hazelnut Milk Tea. I haven't been to Purple Kow in years. I wish they could build more Purple Kow boba places in different states like Reno Nevada, Washington and more. read more
10 months ago
I love this place... BUT they suck at consistency. Sometimes my drink is good and some make it bad it ends up in the TRASH ! I also ask for boba and tell them really light because I choke easily on them and they ALWAYS fill the cup HALF WAY with boba. At this point I'm just drinking straight up boba and no drink. The people who make the drinks probably can't read or follow instructions so embarrassing. I even try to ask them to remake it but they say they can't or else they charge again like... Learn how to FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!!!! read more
Page 1 of 67
More info about Purple Kow
3620 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA 94121
Outer Richmond
Directions
(415) 387-9009
Call Now
Visit Website
http://purplekow.com
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Ask the Community - Purple Kow
When are the snacks going to be available at this location again?
I've flown into town twice and each time we ask. They keep saying they're close to opening but when we come back, they aren't 😕
What is the logo supposed to be?
Dude, it's a purple cow. The word Kow makes up the face and the purple circle in front of it is the body. The K is the ears and the outline of the face. The O is the eye. The W is the mouth and nose.
How do you redeem your points when you order online?
There seems to be no way to redeem revel points online. We went in-person and used our points to order.
Are there vegan milk tea options?
Their milk teas now come with a choice of fresh milk or oat milk, so they should accommodate most dietary/allergy needs
If you place your order online, can you just walk in? Or do you also have to wait in line?
You can just walk in.
What is the brand of the spicy mayo they use?
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
139 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
9 years ago
14 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
8 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
13 years ago
14 years ago
15 years ago
15 years ago
14 years ago
1 year ago
15 years ago
14 years ago
11 years ago
12 years ago
