Came here after work to get a boba fix. I ordered taro milk tea, kiwi fruit tea w/ aiyu jelly, and calamari rings. I wish I could say that I love this calamari, but I don't. I only ate it because I was hungry. The calamari flesh had no flavor, not even salt really, and the fried coating was a little much. It tasted like I was eating Burger King onion rings. As for the drinks, the taro milk tea is good not great, not too sweet (maybe get not ice). The kiwi fruit jelly is great thoughand on par with sharetea. All in all, it was a pleasant surprise to see this in the area that I was working today, and I'm glad that I stopped by for some snacks. read more

I had the handmade taro fresh milk with boba and it was so delicious. I wish it had more taro in it. You can taste the taro pieces a little bit and it was so yummy. I would definitely order it again. The little girl I nanny ordered the black milk tea with boba and she liked hers as well. read more

RareTea - Grandma de Taro Fresh Milk with boba and Black Milk Tea with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

The chicken was over cooked. The sauce they give you the amount of chicken they give you do not meet up they need to add more sauce with orders. Also when I asked for a side of teriyaki sauce I was told no. Have I known this prior to ordering I wouldn't ate there. They make you order through a website and the website is very vague and they won't talk to you when you go to the door to hand you your food which I understand due to Covid. I would not return do to the food quality. Plus health report is not the best on rating. They are under conditions with Heath Dept. read more

Unfortunately the buying experience didn't fit the hoopla around the branding and fancy store front. First, their menu is inadequate to understand what you're ordering. Unless you know your boba like your best friend, it was quite unpleasant to place an order: 1. The owner seems to have placed a table at the entrance door for social distancing, but the counter and cashiers are about 10 feet away from you, making it very difficult to hear anything, especially with masks. It's unpleasant to have to yell just to hear yourself speak or ask to repeat several times. There was a of street noise and the employees didnt really have the liberty to be flexible it seems to get our order. 2. Most milk tea joints have the option for adding boba-- it this one, and there was no indication which included boba or not. So I had to go down the line and say "does this include it? How about this one? How about that one?"--needless to say, it added to the frustration of ordering. The menu should have an asterisk or a "b" to signify that it can come with boba. Either that or train your staff on the importance of helping your customer know what's on your menu. 3. Bless their hearts, they only work there, but the cashier wasn't pleasant at all and got impatient when I expressed how hard it was to hear her. I tried to better understand their menu, but it seems like a rigid system and no room for flexibility. Their menu was taped on their window so I asked to see a menu up close so I wouldn't have to go outside and come back in the doorway to aks about the menu. The cashier was just really pissy--but I think it comes more from not having good customer service experience or training from the owner itself. 4. I know they just opened, but it just so happened that they didn't have things we wanted on their menu. I tried ordering coffee to make the $6 min for credit card use, but the cashier said unpleasantly that they didn't sell coffee, even though it was on the menu. So I just ordered something else to make the minimum--and silly me, I know better: everything on their menu is of the processed kind. (Silly me I ordered the fried lobster balls. --just like most boba places, just beware, everything on the menu is just a name, not the actual thing. There's a time and place for treats like that, but I regretted falling for how good the photo looked. This part is all on me.) We got the taro milk tea with tapioca. It was just as you could expect from a boba drink. I grew up on boba and for as fancy as this place was in appearance, it was a bummer that the experience was womp womp. I hope it's just cuz they just opened and all the limitations of covid. Its frustrating to have a business move into a neighborhood and not be neighborly or match the good vibe of that neighborhood. Relax, have fun, and have good energy. read more

On one of those rare hot days in the Bay Area, I found my Lemon Green Tea especially refreshing. Paired with a Spam Musubi to satisfy my "guilty pleasure" craving, it made for a very satisfying snack. I wish there was seating available, but we walked over to Claremont Middle School and sat on their benches. read more

valid will be coming here again gangatron. 5 stars highly recommend spring peach tea if you in it for the biscuit.

Got delivery through Yelp. Tasty drinks. I like that we can adjust the sweetness and ice. I like the packaging and the service was efficient and fast. I'm just sorry I forgot to post a picture, I was so excited to have my tasty drink. I will definitely order again when we get Boba cravings at work. read more

RareTea - Ordered again, here's a photo yummy Boba Drink - Bubble Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I had been craving boba tea all week and finally made my way to one on a Sat morn. But to my disappointment, it tasted so bad, so bad it was not drinkable. Both my husband and I threw ours away. I don't even know what flavors these are, tastes so weird. I sent mine back since it was made wrong (no ice or boba) and even the second time wasn't better. There was no acknowledgement of the error. Waste of $. I hate to say it but unless they change up their recipes this place won't survive. read more

First off, I'd like to say that the quality of food & beverage here is great & I would definitely recommend. The reason I'm giving only 3 stars is because I ordered with them thru Door Dash (and I'm not sure if it's the business or the Dasher that should be held accountable) but upon receiving my order (a boba Oreo milk tea & rice bowl) I noticed that I had no straw. Typically I'm not the type to make a fuss over something so small but how on earth am I supposed to drink my boba with no straw. Now I'm at work using a spook to scoop out my boba and take sips of my drink and it's honestly just a mess. And of course when I tried to call the business to let them know it went to voicemail (only wanted to make them aware so this doesn't happen to the next person putting in an order with them). Disappointed because of the way I have to consume my order currently. Other than that, quality of food/beverage is delicious & would order with them again. Hopefully next time I'll get a straw. read more

Got RareTea take out since quarantine got me craving for boba. This was really good! Exceeded expectations. Great for a spontaneous boba fix! read more

RareTea - Brown Sugar Boba Fresh Milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

30 minutes for one boba tea. Also overpriced. Next time boba guys right down the street.

Finally, boba/bubble tea in the Rockridge neighborhood! We have tried this branch several times already since it opened, and each time I'm pleasantly surprised with the additions - first the board games nook(cute!), then the added food items. And everytime, I love watching them make my fruit-based teas w big chunks of fresh fruit (faves: Kiwi with Aloe tea, Passionfruit Yakult tea). Sweetness level can be custom- adjusted perfectly for each, and satisfyingly chewy boba. Great job, team! All teas come in the same sizes, and similar to other boba shops, use plastic cups and straws, which is unfortunate but expected. But since the cups are made of a thick reusable plastic material, we have started to save our cups to reuse, and the owners are very supportive of that. They also sell reusable boba straws, which is also a good idea if you become a regular boba drinker like I am! Welcome to the neighborhood, excited to have a great bubble tea option in Rockridge!! read more

RareTea is offering takeout orders during COVID-19. I was able to place an order from a link off their yelp page. My go-to boba spots are Happy Lemon and Mr Green Bubble, unfortunately both were closed today which led me to try somewhere new. This was my first time at RareTea and my experience was great. The workers were masked up and hustling with many takeout orders, but I didn't have to wait long. It was very efficient and the employees were so friendly. I tried their mango smoothie and it tasted of delicious fresh mango! Their boba was also warm (which I prefer) and perfectly chewy. I will definitely be coming back! read more

While it is difficult to find Boba in Rockridge, I can say that this place is rare but not really good. The servers were nice, but the flavors of my Tarot Milk Tea were bland. I am not a Boba expert, but the tea just did not do it for me. This place also had small snacks/tapas (fries) to enjoy with your drink--that is the saving grace of this joint. read more

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Omg the brown sugar fresh milk boba is amazing I would remove stars because they regularly run out of the fresh milk AND the boba () but the quality is so good that I recommend this drink whenever they have it. The boba is sweet and hot-to-warm. I also recommend trying with custard if you want a thicker bev. read more

The cashier is impatient, rude, and never follows instructions. The drinks taste watered down. I once ordered the French fries and there was a wire in it. I tried giving this place many chances but after multiple times of disappointment I'm taking my business elsewhere even if it's further from my house. read more

1st boba shop here. Very friendly staff. I would recommend the brown sugar boba tea! Yummy! read more

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This review is solely for the new caramelized brown sugar fresh milk boba drink. I absolutely LOVE this drink - I've tried a lot of boba, both in the US and in Taiwan and this is the best boba I've ever had in the US. It reminds me of authentic 青蛙撞奶 street boba in Taiwan - chewy hot boba pearls coated in warm brown sugar syrup and layered with cold fresh milk. A must try - you'll be addicted! read more

So ecstatic to finally have a boba shop in Rockridge! I've had their regular boba milk tea and mango green tea and they both hit the spot. I'm no boba tea snob/expert, but the convenience of having RareTea in the neighborhood and so close to BART makes this place a new favorite for me. I appreciate that they have almond and oat milk as alternatives for folks who are lactose intolerant. Also don't forget to sign up for their rewards programs if you become a regular! read more

Best Boba in town....Hands Down. I've tried iTea ( Supper Overrated ) & Tea4 ( the Boba is Subpar ) Here, they have real fruit juice mixed with tea, and they carry high quality boba. On top of that, they have great food. Would highly recommend this staple boba spot read more

RareTea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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I went around 6pm on Friday, and my boba was inedible. I literally spit the boba out from my mouth. It was hard and had a strange gritty texture. This batch of boba should just have been thrown out you cannot serve that to customers. Will not go back. A boba place needs to make consistent boba. read more

An awesome boba spot in Rockridge (which until the past year or so didn't have too many options for boba drinks). I have been going here the past couple months as the weather got warmer, usually getting the Jasmine Green Milk Tea, Passionfruit Green Tea or Strawberry Tea, all with boba and light ice, and they always taste great and refreshing. Drinks are usually made pretty fast, as I have never had to wait too long. Although in the mid to late afternoon (both weekdays and weekends) this place does get swarmed with high school kids and the line is long. Tip: if you're in a time crunch, best to avoid coming here mid to late afternoon, at least during the school year. As for the inside, this boba spot is pretty small. They currently don't have in-door seating due to Covid still being around (and even if they did have seating the space would probably only fit 2 maybe 3 small tables). The staff still wears masks, which I actually love especially with Covid cases rising again. I will definitely keep coming back to try more of their drinks. read more

Was excited to see they had a location in Rockridge. However the drinks were watered down immensely. Spent over $11. What a rip off. I cringed when the lady in front of me "returned" her drink but she was most likely correct. read more

I always go into a boba shop with an open mind. Having said that though, I only order a matcha latte with no ice, no sugar, and with soy milk or nonfat milk if they have it. I said no ice they gave me ice. I got matcha latte and that it is not a matcha latte. It was more jasmine tea than anything else. They did get the green color right so I guess they got one thing right. The no sugar was a joke because my drink tasted even sweeter than my friend who got 50% sweetness in his drink. TLDR Come here for boba. Don't come here for matcha. read more

Love the mango MT. Creamy and has small mango bits which adds flavor and sweetness. Has a decent size menu of drinks and snacks. Good tea flavor. Have not tried any of their snacks. Can sometimes be a bit of a wait but I feel that all good tea houses take a bit more time to prepare drinks read more

Rare tea makes their boba to perfection- just chewy enough but not too hard or soft. I Love their drinks - especially their strawberry milk- except they've forgotten the pudding/boba in it so many times when I order via yelp. Apparently it's because the add on's don't print out on the order form but ultimately that's an issue of the employees not knowing the menu. I've received a variety of responses when I have to come back and say the add on's are missing- from it's my fault & they give me a small cup of boba to throw in to full replacement of the drink. This would be a 5 star review if the customer service was a little better and more consistent read more

RareTea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

They NEVER OPEN ON TIME. Been waiting outside for them to open. Their drinks are delicious though. PLEASE OPEN ON TIME. If you say you open at 11 then don't leave people waiting until 11:30 read more

Drinks were warm when we picked up...i guess the Tea was just brewed but shouldn't be served warm with Ice. Classic Milk Teas had an off flavor and very meh in general. I would avoid. read more

Me & My Girlfriend favorite boba in North Oakland. The boba is cooked perfectly - not too smushy. Really recommend the Okinaawa Pearl Milk Tea! Girlfriend ordered it and she said its the Best Milk Tea ever had read more

RareTea - Okinaawa Pearl Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Delicious. Great spot. Highly recommend. We love our boba and this business gets my full applause.

Pandemic review: This outpost of the franchise dared to make its Taiwanese bubble-tea inroads into Rockridge and for that we are forever grateful. Sure, it's not Ten Ren tea quality but their boba's not too sweet and the drinks are flavorful. Every Thursday the family orders a strawberry smoothie, Thai tea, black tea and occasionally the matcha or roosted Oolong. Good service, satisfying milk tea that rivals Mr. Green Bubble on Piedmont. Order through Door Dash: The owners here prefer that as the service charges are less usurious than Grub Hub. read more

Jasmine milk green tea with boba. It's strange that I find myself saying those words. But ever since I've been introduced to this genre of drink it's my go to. Credit to my wife for finding this place. She is a discerning boba drinker and this is in her top 2 in the Bay. Thanks for being close to where I live guys, you are a nice source of quick cheer and pick me up when in need. read more

Tasty teas, and I've been impressed by their COVID protocols. You can order online and don't have to even go in to pick up since they have a table set up in the doorway. They are very nice and quick with orders too. One of favorites is a fruit tea with the lychee jelly and aloe! read more

The boba and food is amazing but the service here is the worst I have ever experienced. The employees sass the customers and have bitchy attitudes. If your gonna go here just be prepared to have a bad customer service experience read more

Honestly not great for my first time here. Ordered online which was nice, but they forgot my toppings and weren't hospitable when I asked them to remake it. Drink itself doesn't look very appetizing like the picture on the menu extremely watered down read more

RareTea - Strawberry w lychee - Bubble Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Not sure if it was just an off day but the flavor of my milk tea boba was just awful. It also took way too long for just a basic milk tea, I waited twenty minutes before receiving and it tasted so bad, I always get this simple flavor at all boba shops and this one has been the worst one I've had by far read more

Good stuff!! I had the Okinawa milk tea and the chicken katsu bowl. The milk tea was not to sweet, nor too bitter (I requested 50% sugar and they delivered as promised) with a perfect amount of creaminess to it. The chicken katsu bowl was delicious, crunchy and went perfectly with the tea. I have become a regular now :) read more

Very friendly staff and great tasting teas. Would definitely recommend and will come back soon.

Great if you have all the time in the world and love mediocre boba. Cashier never called my number. After 20 minutes I asked about my boba, he said someone else must have taken it. No apology. Not worth the wait. read more

Their boba has gotten much better since their soft-opening last year. Since then, the consistency is good, sweetness is dialed in, and their service is faster. I love having a dependable boba place in the neighborhood. read more