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    RareTea

    3.4 (99 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order RareTea Takeout or Delivery

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    RARETEA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - RareTea

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    Thai Milk Tea
    Ryan B.

    Straight to the point, I've come here every now and then sometimes and was never disappointed with my drinks. Service is straight forward and the barista always makes it on time. Inside is pretty cozy as well.

    Menu as of 06/2025
    Krisstina C.

    I love coming to rare tea to get a drink. They're very quick with putting out orders and the quality is always great. I also love how they have a good snack menu. It's a pretty small boba shop but they have some indoor seating. They also have gachapon available with cute prizes! I recommend trying this place if you're near!

    Takoyaki
    Teena N.

    The service here is excellent, they are SOO kind to me and my kids. They have claw machines and delicious drinks and food, you can always find parking around the area. The ambiance is a nice hang out spot to chill with your friends and chat for a little. I usually just come order a drink or food and play their crane machines.

    Menu
    Brian T.

    Happen to be in alameda and found this place. Good service here and they have claw machines to pay to play. There are some seatings inside. Ordered on kiosk. The kitchen is closed at 7. I got the Okinawa Pearl Milk Tea but more milky than tea flavor. The boba was good. Came out warm and chewy. Also tried the rose matcha latte but the ratio was off. It was very rose flavor heavy. Decent boba place if you are looking for good chewy boba but the drinks I got were ok.

    Roasted oolong milk tea
    Sydney J.

    I stopped by to order a drink and snack. I got the roasted oolong milk tea, 30 sugar no ice and sweet potato fries. You can get 20% off your first purchase if you order via Snackpass mobile app. The tea was only a little sweet which is how I intended, but I wish there was less milk since overall the tea flavor wasn't as strong as I'd like. The sweet potato fries came and were sweet but wish it was more spiced. I would also prefer it to be a little crispier. It came with ketchup. They have some small crane/grabber machine games. There is some outdoor seating at Alameda landing which is the plaza it's located in. It's not hard to get lot or street parking nearby.

    Found a long hair in my drink today. I know mistakes happen, and I'm not trying to bash the place since I come here often, but I wanted to mention it because cleanliness matters. Hoping it's something that can be improved, as I'd love to keep supporting this business.

    Honey milk tea & coffee milk tea (both with boba)
    Sandy Q.

    I sent hubby here to get us a few boba drinks. We ordered coffee milk tea and honey milk tea (both with boba). The drinks were mediocre. I couldn't taste the coffee in the coffee milk tea. There was no distinct tea flavor in the honey milk tea and the boba was too chewy and bland.

    Carol C.

    Date: 5/15/2024 Time: 3:40 PM 65° Sunny Leaving T-Mobile, I noticed Encinal High School was having a fundraiser at Rare Tea. My daughter attended Encinal (CO'97). Of course, I will support the cause. I can't count the numerous times I have walked by Rare Tea without ordering anything from them, always worrying the amount of sugar that is added to the teas, milk teas, smoothies, etc. Then I never knew they served yummy appetizers. Seeing the fundraiser, I stopped in for a tea. Thanks to the help of one of the employees and a representative from OKAPI, I uploaded an app to borrow and return a glass. Then I was able to order a beverage, 1/2 off on first older. So many choices of beverage, and they all sounded refreshing and delicious. Beverage: Peach tea, no sugar and boba. Price: $6.25 (plus 60¢ for boba). 50% discount, final price: $3.43. Tea was indeed refreshing. A return visit is a must for the appetizers and teas.

    Jasmine Green Milk Tea

    Don't go there, you'll regret it. The milk tea doesn't taste like milk tea at all; it's just sugar and water. It's disgusting and a waste of my money.

    Green Milk Tea with mini boba

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - RareTea

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    Dandelion Kaffe

    Dandelion Kaffe

    4.2(121 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    This place is yummy! They have good brunch food. Korean fusion. Their coffees are yummy too i like…read moretheir tiramisu latte & my boyfriend gets their Einspänner. I'm so glad their got bigger cups because their small is tiny & i would finish my drink so quick. The first few times i went their wait used to be long but more recently they seem to be quick. They are also dog friendly they have the outside seating.

    Let's start with what was good:…read more * The tiramisu latte is absolutely delish. Is it $6.50 delish since it's mostly ice? Well, I'll let you be the judge of that. The taste is wonderful. * The person at the cash register was tremendously apologetic when I reported the main issue below. They offered me a refund, which I accepted. Props to them for being so apologetic and gracious about it. Now the disappointing stuff: * Ordering is a little confusing as inside the front door, it appears that you need to order from a kiosk. We did, but it turns out they take orders in person in the back. Ah well. * Although we got there about 1PM and they were open to 5PM, there were a lot of menu items that were already sold out. Including pretty much any baked goods. Sigh. * All the tables that seat four people had one person at them with their stuff spread all over the table. Technically not the restaurant's fault, but it was kind of annoying. We opted for the community table, which was empty. * After what felt like a considerable amount of time, they brought out the "big breakfast" that my significant other had ordered. Without comment, the bagel was replaced by a single piece of toast cut in half. We looked at each other quizzically, and I said, "I guess maybe they ran out of bagels?" Well, OK. Sigh. But where's my order of a bulgogi sandwich? I told my SO to go ahead and eat and not let the eggs get cold. * He tried the eggs, but they were kind of dry and lukewarm, like they had been dying in the window. I said, "How could they be dying in the window when mine isn't even here yet?" But there it is. * My SO had almost finished his lunch, and there was still no sign of mine. Finally I went up to the register and asked. Turns out they had never even started making mine. Um, what? Two orders come on the same ticket, and you decide to make one and not the other? * As I mentioned above, they offered to either start my order then or give me a refund. I was so disappointed and frustrated that I just took the refund. Then we walked down the street to Ole's Waffle House so I could order food and have a chance of receiving it. There, I had one of the best patty melts I can recall, and my SO enjoyed what he said was the best piece of carrot cake he ever had. Plenty of good coffee refills for half the price of the tiramisu lattes. Dandelion Kaffe was busy, but if the kitchen doesn't feel like making what you order, then what's the use?

    Photos
    Dandelion Kaffe - Beautiful, long bar

    Beautiful, long bar

    Dandelion Kaffe - Bulgogi Croissant

    Bulgogi Croissant

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    SIGNAL Coffee Roasters - Oat milk dulce de latte, half sweet

    SIGNAL Coffee Roasters

    4.3(220 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$$

    I was in Alameda, CA for the day and decided to try out this coffee shop. I was in a cute little…read morepart of town and it was a bit difficult to find parking but after circling around a bit, I was able to find metered street parking about 2 blocks away from SIGNAL Coffee Roasters. It was a Saturday afternoon and there were some people inside the cafe doing some work. I stopped by with my dog who was in her dog bag and the worker was kind enough to let me order my drink without having to leave my dog outside! I ordered an Iced Black Sesame Latte with Oatmilk. 10/10. Everything was perfectly balanced! The coffee flavor was there but also the sesame flavor. Super refreshing! There were also some seating outside the coffee shop. Not too many but it is still available! Overall, great and friendly service, quick service, and great coffee! I would highly recommend if you wanted a quick stop for some craft coffee!

    Wish I could give a higher rating but the last three times I've come here the espresso has been so…read morecitrusy I've ended up tossing my americano after a few sips. I've been a barista for the better part of 10 years so I know that sometimes it's hard to get shots dialed in but it's disappointing having it be consistently bad visit after visit. Aside from that, the atmosphere and service is good. Pastries are delicious, drinks get out to you quickly, store is clean, and I like the music the employees put on.

    Photos
    SIGNAL Coffee Roasters - This is Dulce de Leche LATTE!

    This is Dulce de Leche LATTE!

    SIGNAL Coffee Roasters - Ube latte

    Ube latte

    SIGNAL Coffee Roasters - Ube latte

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    TOMO Tea House - Catering Boba Bar

    TOMO Tea House

    4.0(115 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    After miles of cycling, TOMO Tea House was the perfect place to cool down. This hidden gem in…read moreAlameda offers much more than just boba--they also serve authentic Vietnamese phin-drip coffee and specialty coffee creations. The Mango Sago was absolutely amazing (soooo good!), and the Taro Shake with jellies was delicious. Service was excellent, and the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I loved the relaxing ambiance, family-friendly atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating, and the play area for kids. Plenty of parking too, conveniently located next to Lucky Supermarket. Highly recommend whether you're craving boba, dessert, or a great Vietnamese coffee after a long ride. Cheers!

    An absolutely adorable place for families with children or anyone seeking a sugar rush…read more A M B I A N C E They have a play pen area in pink and white to match the decor theme of the establishment which is super cute! Not many places are welcoming to children so I love that this place offers that. S E R V I C E There are a couple ordering screen stations near the entrance so you can take your time browsing the menu to order. The drinks and snacks were served quickly too. The staff do not greet you when you enter though. I made eye contact with them and smiled while they were all laughing about something on the floor behind the counter and they didn't smile back which killed the vibe. D R I N K S I got a pistacho jasmine milk tea. The pistachio foam was soooo good but the jasmine milk tea tasted way too artificial. Thankfully mixing in the pistachio foam low key saved the drink but I just couldn't finish it. My coworker comes here often so he likes it, maybe he has low expectations or maybe I'm too picky. I like real jasmine milk tea, not the powdered flavoring. For the pricing of $7 I would expect the real thing... S N A C K S My coworker ordered the malasadas, one of each flavor available (sesame seed, Ube, and I don't remember the 3rd flavor). I tried the mystery 3rd flavor and was unimpressed. It was too chewy and way too sweet custard center. I ended up giving it away to another coworker unbeknownst to the coworker I went with so as not to offend.

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    TOMO Tea House - Mango Matcha Latte

    Mango Matcha Latte

    TOMO Tea House - Brown Sugar Boba Fresh Milk

    Brown Sugar Boba Fresh Milk

    TOMO Tea House - Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea

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    Julie's Coffee and Tea Garden - Afternoon Tea in the Garden

    Julie's Coffee and Tea Garden

    4.2(880 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    •$$

    Julie's is a wonderful small Cafe. The ambiance is cozy and welcoming. The back patio is a great…read moreplace to experience the outdoors and visit with the resident cat. I cannot speak about the coffee/espresso drinks, because I do not drink coffee. Their food is exceptional! The pastries from tender, moist flavorful scones to cheesy biscuits, are fantastic. The savory food is so delicious. A lot of the items are things you have had before, but Julie's makes a far superior version of them. Their breakfast sandwich and grilled cheese with ham are the best examples of those sandwiches that I have ever had. It can take a little bit to get your food. You can either order in advance, if you're in a hurry, or enjoy a chat on the patio with a friend while you wait. It's totally worth it. Julie's is also a great member of the community. The owner, Shannon, donates food to many worthy causes, including Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter.

    Beautiful place! Everyone is so sweet, it didn't even bother me there's no WiFi from 8AM -2PM LOL…read more I initially came here to do some work (and need WiFi for my training videos), but I was still able to do work without WiFi. It's also a nice place to bring your dog if you're trying to socialize the little by little (my dog stayed in a stroller). If you want a chill place to catch up with people, read in a beautiful setting , enjoy some good (a little expensive) food. 8/10 caprese sandwich. They use heirloom tomatoes and a delicious balsamic vinaigrette. Comes with a salad that pairs nicely with the sandwich. 7/10 lavender mint latte. Not bad at all. The lavender is strong and the mint enhances it. I don't know if it's the almond milk, but it did taste watered down. I would definitely come back again, but with a book :)

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    Julie's Coffee and Tea Garden - Shotgun storefront

    Shotgun storefront

    Julie's Coffee and Tea Garden - Raspberry champagne cupcakes: a weekend special

    Raspberry champagne cupcakes: a weekend special

    Julie's Coffee and Tea Garden - The coffee is good. Enjoy the afternoon time in there.

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    The coffee is good. Enjoy the afternoon time in there.

    Coffee and Tea Traders

    Coffee and Tea Traders

    4.0(166 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    •$$

    I run a couple of times a week in the area, I'll usually go into Safeway for some post run fuel…read more Decided to come in here and try an iced latte. I came in around 8:30, a few tables outside had people drinking their coffees and eating breakfast. When I walked in, only one guy was waiting for his order. There was only one person working. The service was not good. I stood at the order counter for 5 minutes, I looked at the lady, she looked at me, and didn't offer a high I'll be right with you. I understand she was the only one preparing coffee and food. I'm not trying to complain about the wait, but the lack of acknowledging a customer to say it will take some time. I finally ordered an iced latte. I do think they have some creative drinks, but I know they are usually too sweet and I just opt for a plain iced latte instead. It was an ok latte, nothing amazing. They have a bulletin board for people to post their flyers or business cards. There was a card on the board that said A.W.A.R - All woke are retards. I'm sure that's not the view of the establishment. I do think they need to screen the board from time to time.

    Cute grab and go coffee shop/café. Reasonable prices for…read morecoffee and food - the bagels and breakfast sandwiches are great too. Sometimes during the week, they also have almond croissants, mochi muffins, and donuts as well. Small seating area inside with larger outdoor patio seating. Perfect place to bring the dog when you're getting your morning cup of Joe.

    Photos
    Coffee and Tea Traders - Bagel and white mocha

    Bagel and white mocha

    Coffee and Tea Traders - Pretty artwork on the wall above

    Pretty artwork on the wall above

    Coffee and Tea Traders - Yummy sesame bagel and cream cheese

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    Yummy sesame bagel and cream cheese

    Lazybird Coffee - Spam musubi

    Lazybird Coffee

    4.3(186 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    •$$

    Ask for recommendations!! The baristas and cashier are super nice…read more I got the Pandan Latte, which is a new flavor to me, I enjoyed it so much!! Also they have some cool art on the wall, cute location.

    Lazybird Coffee has been one of our go-to stops during a bike ride as of late, which is usually…read moreduring the weekend mornings. Usually there's a small line out the door and that has remained unchanged for this visit as well. They have a small space and tables for small parties both inside the cafe and along their front sidewalk. Their menu selection is wide, offering a variety of lattes, coffees, and teas, but also both pastries and small meals as well. It's no wonder why they're always popping around this time of day. Although I haven't tried many of their drinks, I can say that their matcha latte has been consistently good. Today I ordered one with almond milk and the matcha flavor is nicely balanced. Good ratio between matcha and milk. The matcha itself tastes pretty well rounded - not bitter, but also not too subtle in flavor. I probably got the matcha here like three times and it has not failed me yet. My partner really enjoys the Malasada but they can sell out pretty quickly. Previously I've tried their Ube Crinkle and their donuts and they were pretty good as well. This time, I wanted something a little less sweet and small so I tried the Bibingka which was great! I love mochi and the Bibingka had a mochi texture to it. It comes with some pineapple bits which I tend to avoid, but my desire to try something new overrode that today and thankfully, the bits were small. It's a dense little bite, but I enjoyed it! A perfect little bike treat. I don't get much interaction here with the workers since it's such a quick stop, but it's okay. I think depending on what time you go, it just gets really busy and employees are just trying to chug out the orders. We'll be back again for those delicious drinks and pastries though!

    Photos
    Lazybird Coffee - White Chocolate Matcha (Oat Milk)

    White Chocolate Matcha (Oat Milk)

    Lazybird Coffee - Front window

    Front window

    Lazybird Coffee

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    Firebrand Artisan Breads - Roasted Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts

    Firebrand Artisan Breads

    4.0(251 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    •$$

    Amazing. My friends and I were in the area for a car meet and popped into Firebrand to check out…read moretheir pastries and use the bathroom. First off, it's spacious. Between the inside seats and the outdoor bench seating, there's plenty of space for a lot of people and when the weather is nice, it's even better. The pastries display was absolutely amazing. Not just their bread offerings, but also their croissants and bombolinis, my gosh it's hard not to throw caution into the wind and order a little of everything. I opted for the matcha croissant, blackberry cream cheese danish, passionfruit bombolini, and vanilla bombolini, and all were amazing and not too sweet. The topper was the ube latte that I got along with everything. Overall, a great pit stop if you're in the area or if you just want to come here because of this place. It's sure to be a good, delicious time.

    While in the area for the Downtown Alameda Art & Wine Faire, we came by Firebrand Artisan Breads to…read moreto grab some coffees and a snack. I love this area of Alameda, populated with so many fun breweries and family-friendly spaces. This was our first time at this spot and we noticed a sign (see below) for the best English muffins in the Bay Area so we had to grab one toasted with butter. Would love to try it as a brekky sandwich, but we didn't want to ruin our appetites for festival food lunch..the brekky menu looked amazing including biscuits & gravy, churro French toast sticks, lemon zest French toast, brekky pizza, and the pork & jam (crispy pulled pork, house made blackberry jam, fried egg, honey-buttermilk biscuit with country fried taters...sounds delish!!) They also have a beautiful selection of baked goods, pretzels, packaged breads to-go, lunch AND dinner options including soups, salads, pizzas, kiddo menu, sandwiches, sliders, and more. I had no idea! Service was quick, hours kickoff at 7:30a, and there's indoor/outdoor seating. Plenty of parking outside or across the street if needed. Can't wait to come back soon!

    Photos
    Firebrand Artisan Breads - Inside order counter and water drink station

    Inside order counter and water drink station

    Firebrand Artisan Breads - Ham and Cheese Croissant, top view

    Ham and Cheese Croissant, top view

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    Interior

    RareTea - bubbletea - Updated September 2026

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