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    RareTea

    3.3 (97 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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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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    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.

    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.

    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
    Elizabeth L.

    This RareTea is located in the middle of Alameda Landing. It is usually busy here on weekends and weeknights, so parking in this area may be hit or miss. I had only been to this location once before my most recent visit, but I had been to the Berkeley location at least a few times - I feel like the drinks at this location are not as consistent as the Berkley location. I ordered their jasmine milk tea with boba. When I tasted my drink, it tasted off and after a few sips, I realized it was the milk that tasted a bit different/strange. I let one of three employees know - he told me that they recently changed their milk, so that is probably why. He was nice enough to offer to remake my drink or pick a different drink, hence I am giving them 3 stars, instead of 2 stars. I gave him my old drink back and decided to get a creama/snow cream green tea with boba. I received my new drink shortly after and it tasted okay, but so much better than the milk tea.

    Milk

    Ordered the Okinawa milk tea. Mostly taste milk. Should have just ordered milk. Never again

    Everything to the right is just the breading no calamari. Soft and mushy with the taste of old oil.

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    Ask the Community - RareTea

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    SIGNAL Coffee Roasters

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    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!

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    TOMO Tea House

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    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!

    Convenient tea, boba, coffee, mochi donut shop located in the Marina Village Shopping Center…read more Plenty of mall parking for you to run-in, order, wait, and take-away to the convenience of your car. Better yet if you like Pink as you can sit there in the splendor of Pinkness slurping on you drink and munching on a mochi donut. If you have a kid, let them run around in their socks in the little play area while you relax. We went there on a Tuesday where there is a $1 mochi donut special with the purchase of a drink. Wife and I each had a drink and a mochi donut (Strawberry for me and Salted Caramel for the wife). As for drinks, I love strong Viet Coffees and went with the Salted Cream Coffee while the pretty one went with a Mango Matcha Latte. My coffee needed to be a lot stronger while the wife was happy with her tarty latte. Mochi donuts were good with a nice chew. Overall, I'll try a different drink next time while you can't beat a $1 dollar Tuesday mochi donut special.

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    Mango Matcha Latte
    Mango Matcha Latte
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    Coffee Cultures Alameda

    Coffee Cultures Alameda

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    I'm usually very particular about matcha since I've perfected my own recipe to suit my personal…read moretaste, but I have to say I really enjoyed their Earl Grey Matcha from the seasonal menu. It wasn't overly sweet and still maintained that earthy matcha flavor that many places tend to lose when they jump on the matcha trend. My husband ordered the Vanilla Bean Caramel Latte, also from the seasonal menu, and loved it so much that he said this is now his favorite coffee spot. Safe to say, whenever we're back in town, we'll definitely be returning!

    A lovely spot to kill time while my son was out on the water. Upon opening the door, I was greeted…read morewarmly by the staff and made to feel quite welcome. The seating is mostly at table tables along the wall walls of window. It was kind of neat to be able to sit and watch people walk by in the traffic as it ebbed and flowed toward the bridge. The early morning was rather quiet outside so it wasn't noisy at all. I had a lovely chai latte, extra spicy. It was perfect after the chilly walk to this little space of warmth. They had a nice selection of pastries, ultimately I chose a danish because I love them. This one did not disappoint. It was tender and flaky and went perfectly dipped in my chai. If ever, we are in the area again, I will definitely pay another visit. It was nice to step into a local place that wasn't a chain. I think the quality of staff and consumable offerings was just so much better than you would find at one of the other places.

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    Menu
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    Vanilla & dole whip swirl on opening day, and latte art
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    Coffee and Tea Traders

    Coffee and Tea Traders

    4.0
    (166 reviews)
    4.1 mi
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    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.

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    Malaya Tea Room

    Malaya Tea Room

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    Malaya Tea Room is situated along a somewhat local street; it's nestled between a smattering of…read moreother local shops, including a record shop and a coffeeshop. The only option is street parking, so finding a good spot can be difficult. It is an extremely popular spot, so I'd advise making your reservation weeks ahead of time. Once you're inside, though, it's a great experience. Though gu the shop is small and the tables a bit crowded together, the atmosphere is lovely. The decor is tastefully quaint, and the space is clean and well-lit. The tea service itself is lovely as well. The full tea service, which runs each person $48, includes your pick from a very large variety of teas and sandwiches, including a couple vegetarian options, though I wouldn't call the overall menu vegetarian-friendly. Each table also comes with a little container of sugar cubes and creamer for their tea. This far, all of the sandwiches and teas that I have tried are very good. Each patron gets their own pot of tea instead of one shared pot for the table, which I love. Each set also comes with a scone with clotted cream and jam, a potato canape, and a selection of small desserts. It was more than enough to satisfy me. I really love that they offer both traditional British flavors as well as unique Malaysian flavors in their menu. The desserts also change from time to time, so every experience can feel a little special and new. It gives this spot a unique feel that I haven't yet found elsewhere. Overall, the experience was very positive and I absolutely do recommend it to anyone who has the time and interest. Though $48 is definitely not cheap on the surface, I feel that the unique menu, quantity of food and drink, and general enjoyability of the experience make the price worth it.

    Malaya Tea was a very cute place to have a tea party. My friends and I came here on a Sunday…read moreafternoon. There were two other parties there at the time. Even though there was a sign mentioning that it was a small space and asking guests to keep the volume down, that didn't really happen. One of the other parties was an intimate baby shower. My friends and I weren't exactly quiet either, but I think it was because the whole room was fairly lively. There were so many different kinds of tea to choose from. There were six of us, and we all ordered different flavors so we could sample each other's teas. The sandwich selection was also impressive, and our tea towers included a variety of small desserts that were all delicious as well. I chose the Smoked Salmon & Chive Cream Cheese, Cucumber & Dill Cream Cheese, and Coconut Jam (Kaya) with sliced cold butter. The Kaya sandwich was easily my favorite. The desserts were a wonderful addition to the experience, and everyone at the table enjoyed them. I was torn between ordering the Peaches & Cream Black Tea and a green tea. I ended up choosing the Genmaicha with Coconut, and it was delicious. If I come back, I'd definitely like to try the Peaches & Cream Black Tea. As a group, we all agreed that the Kaya sandwich was the standout item. We did have a small hiccup at the beginning because two of our tea orders arrived without tea bags--basically just hot water! We all had a good laugh about it. They were busy, and mistakes happen. The staff was very apologetic and corrected it right away. They even offered us two extra sandwich orders, which was a very thoughtful gesture. Overall, it was a good experience, and I enjoyed my first tea party. However, I do feel that this venue is better suited for a calmer, more intimate gathering, such as a bridal shower or a quiet afternoon tea with close friends. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Anytime someone rang the bell, they came to the table almost immediately. If you're looking for a relaxing tea experience with a small group, this is definitely a place worth trying. For my group of friends, we're a little louder and more energetic, so it almost felt like we were too much for such a peaceful setting. Still, we had a wonderful time and would recommend it to anyone looking for a charming and cozy tea house

    Photos
    Pandan cake, assorted macarons, mini cheesecake
    Pandan cake, assorted macarons, mini cheesecake
    Sits 24 people inside and about 8 outside!
    Sits 24 people inside and about 8 outside!
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    Lazybird Coffee

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    I truly adore this neighborhood cafe. It's just a few blocks from my Alameda home, and I've become…read moreone of their most regular customers. I often bring family and friends, and everyone in the place knows me by name. I've tried most of the coffee and matcha drinks and they are all excellent. But one drink showed up as a special a few months ago and quickly became the #1 go-to drink for both my wife and myself: the Orange Creamsicle Latte. We get it iced and made with oat milk and it is indescribably delicious. I came in earlier this week and was disappointed to learn that the Orange Creamsicle was considered a seasonal special and is gone. Lou, if you're reading this, please bring it back and make it part of the regular menu. Especially since summer's a-comin' and orange is a great summertime flavor!

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    Photos
    White Chocolate Matcha (Oat Milk)
    White Chocolate Matcha (Oat Milk)
    Front window
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    4.0
    (237 reviews)
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    I love Firebrand Sourdough bread!…read more It's best warm with some Green Tea There are so many options. Enjoy!

    I don't normally spend time writing reviews unless the service was really good or really bad. Today…read moreI was in a bit of a down mood but I was excited to cheer myself up and try this bakery. I was cheering up at the thought of trying their good looking pastries and bread and I was about to order myself a number of items. I went to order the chicken pesto focaccia and the Oldet Gentlemen at the counter was so rude. He corrected me and called it a pizza with an attitude. I also ordered a coffee and he rudely and impatiently asked me the size. This is my first time here so I was maybe a bit slower to order and know the menu names and sizes but there was only one pesto chicken thing on the menu and it's in the shape of focaccia bread. I stopped ordering anything else because the gentlemen was so rude. I will now hesitate to visit this place and will never buy anything. if he is the cashier again. I usually order a lot of different things when I'm trying new places and I like to be loyal and frequent places and always leave a tip but I will def think twice before visiting next time. Their chicken pesto was okay. The english muffins looked really good but I didn't want to purchase because of the interaction.

    Photos
    Inside order counter and water drink station
    Inside order counter and water drink station
    Ham and Cheese Croissant, top view
    Ham and Cheese Croissant, top view
    Inside

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    Inside

    RareTea - bubbletea - Updated June 2026

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