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Tapioca Express

3.2 (498 reviews)
Closed 10:30 am - 11:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Order Tapioca Express Takeout or Delivery

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TAPIOCA EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Loud
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Complimentary tea we with bento
Huong L.

My husband really wanted me to try this place since this was one of his favorites in highschool/college years :) There's a nice parking lot so you don't have to worry much about parking. Noise level can be an issue but it's not too bad. Service was good based on the to go orders I got. Food: Popcorn chicken -- this is apparently a very popular item and I can see why, it was pretty good and definitely satisfy any cravings. Love the texture and flavors Pork chop bento -- this was good, they have a variety of items in the bento such as veggies minced meats, egg, etc. the bowl was definitely hefty but there was definitely a lot of rice Taiwanese meatball -- to be honest, I wasn't a big fan of this as I expected an actual meatball, but it was more like a big dumpling filled with meats. The flavors was also not my favorite. However, my 2 year old wanted to try and he loved it haha. Overall, it was a pretty solid place and fun to try.

Front
John M.

Nice place that we haven't come to in nearly 3 years. Got Wintermelon SB AND mango sb and HK milk tea.

They definitely don't mix the drinks well.
Keri T.

They should rename it Tapioca Slow. Three employees behind the counter, only three orders ahead of us, and yet it took a full 30 minutes to get three non-blended drinks and an order of fish cakes. Ironically, the fish cakes came out faster than the drinks. Maybe the staff are new, but there was zero sense of urgency. To be fair, the drinks are solid and the food is tasty--but the sluggish service and muggy atmosphere really drag down the experience. If they could match the quality of their menu with some actual hustle, this place would be a win.

popcorn chicken! so damn good
Michael C.

I grew up with Tapioca Express in California and was very happy to find this location still kicking, especially with all the trendy boba shops popping up left and right. If you want to know what it was like to get a Taiwanese snack in the early 2000's, this is the place to be. My first order of business is to try the popcorn chicken. The seasoning is spot on with the requisite fried basil, so you know it's legit. The chicken is also cooked well, although if I'm picky I think they could up the dark meat, as the white meat pieces were not as juicy. Still, I would this chicken up against any Taiwanese restaurant in the eastside. I also got the minced pork noodle, which was just ok. The noodles are actually cooked very well, but the pork is just fine in terms of texture and flavor. I did enjoy the pickles, possibly the best part of this dish. The restaurant interior is an endearing time capsule. There's a wall of comic books and cafe style seating. This is truly a great place to just hang out and kill time. I hope to come back and do just that, while trying more of the extensive menu.

Menu
James A.

Founded in the San Gabriel Valley in 1999, Tapioca Express has expanded to 29 stores along the West Coast through a franchise model. We stopped into their Redmond location in the Overlake Center strip mall, for a short sit-down of beverages with a lot of boba (tapioca pearls). It's a large space inside, with far apart tables with plenty of seating to encourage a longer stay. You place your order with a friendly staff member, and your name gets called out a few moments later. All of the drinks are within the 4 - 7 dollar range, with an upcharge for added boba. My daughter and I tried two different drinks. The italian soda (mango flavor) was different so decided to try that with boba. it was OK, would have been fine with free refills if ordered at a sit-down restaurant for that price, but just as a drink by itself, there are better choices. The other drink was a Yogurt frost, and it definitely tasted very strongly of yogurt (i.e. fermented milk), approaching Greek yogurt taste. The generous amount of tapioca boba given really did add a lot to the taste and texture, and was super glad we included it. There are other stores in this mall that we have been to, but first time in this particular store. Note that the mall's topography is different, where one end of the mall is probably one to two stories above the other end....the outdoor mall wouldn't be practical in snowy/icy weather.

Alex N.

Amazing place to get Taiwanese snacks, my favorite spot to get popcorn chicken. The drinks here very good too, very quick and casual. Super friendly service, I would come back.

Popcorn chicken
Nathalie C.

My go to spot for popcorn chicken. I always get the 3 star spice and they always come out delicious. Perfectly fried, chicken always juicy, seasoning is top tier. Service was fast, I got the popcorn chicken in less than 5 mins. They also have a lot of drink options and snacks.

thai tea
Ariella N.

I really wanted to like this place, but did not meet any expectiations at all. Pros: Large dining area, opens late, many bored games to play and manga to read. Cons: Service and drinks aren't that good. We waited 20+ minutes for our food, and there weren't that many customers at the time. When the server finally brought it out, the guy just left it at the pickup table without saying anything. Thai tea (no modifications) was watery and not sweet at all, if anything it was just slightly bitter. I don't think we drank more than pictured. Food was ok, we got the tonkatsu plate and the pork chop noodle soup. Both were thin. Katsu tasted better than pork chop, and pork chop tasted like popcorn chicken if that's your thing.

Pork noodle soup
Piko L.

Always love their food because it's comfort taiwanese food. The popcorn chicken always hits the spot and their soup noodles are delicious. Their prices are fair and the staff is helpful, and attentive, which is really appreciated, especially during a cyclone that hit the Seattle coast and sent many cities into a days-long power outage. The owners were kind and helped everyone find an outlet. The drinks are an amazing treat and they'll offer sugar and topping adjustments to everything! Love coming here to do some work on a quiet day. Thank you tap ex staff for being so kind

Bessie C.

Popcorn chicken with basil is our fave! Lots of parking available and tables/booths for seating. They even have comic books and board games. Friendly staff! Order at the counter and seat yourself. Menu is quite extensive with both food and drinks.

Mango Yogurt Frost
Alekkz D.

I used to be an addict to Tapioca Express way back when it was Edmonds but unfortunately the building caught on fire or something and I thought all hope was lost. I was driving past this area few months back while volunteering with a dog shelter (I live in on the west side btw so to come all the way out here takes me roughly 45 minutes). Back in Edmonds, it was 2 minute drive and I would visit 2-3 times a week no joke haha!! I'm now sitting here on my 2nd visit to the Redmond location and I can't believe I went 3+ years without my Mango Yogurt Frost and popcorn chicken! I probably can't come as often but I'm probably going to be around at least once a month (although this month it's already the 2nd trip). Glad that Tapioca Express still exists nonetheless! I love the yogurt frost!!! No where else compares to how delicious it is.

Black Tea with egg pudding
Kumar V.

I will come here every time not for their Boba or Tea but for their popcorn chicken. I haven't had better popcorn chicken in this area before. In fact it's my second favourite place for popcorn chicken. The best one which I ever liked was in Irvine, CA. The ambience is pretty average. Tables are not super clean and feels sticky. Not super clean environment but gosh those popcorn chicken! Just amazing.

the inside of a restaurant
Sahitya M.

I haven't tried their hot tea before and I was surprised how delicious it was ! It's a non diary milk tea with hazelnut flavor and it was absolutely above and beyond my expectation! The only problem I had was it was barely lukewarm I would have really enjoyed it if it was a warmer. Overall I love this place for the boba ! They seem to have a lot of food options as well, may be something I would try in the future Overall a decent place for both hot and cold tea ! They serve not just tea but coffee as well

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4 months ago

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23 days ago

Great food and authentic transitional Taiwanese cuisine. Like those pop chicken and curry a lot!!!!

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11 months ago

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Noodle Nine delivers a genuinely authentic dining experience that feels like stepping into a slice…read moreof everyday Asia rather than a polished, commercialized version of it. From the moment you walk in, the cultural atmosphere stands out--many of the patrons are Asian, and on my visit, a few were even dressed in traditional garments, which added a vibrant, lived-in feel to the space. It's the kind of detail you can't manufacture, and it speaks volumes about the restaurant's credibility within the community. The interior itself is fairly average--nothing particularly modern or upscale--but it doesn't detract from the experience. If anything, it keeps the focus where it belongs: on the food. Service was a bit of a mixed bag. There were only two servers handling the floor, and they were clearly stretched thin. Ordering is done digitally, which helps streamline things, but you can still feel the strain during peak times. That said, the food started arriving quickly--our tofu noodle dish came out almost immediately, while the beef dish lagged behind a bit. Presentation leans traditional in a charming way. The plates and chopsticks have that classic, no-frills aesthetic that complements the overall vibe of the restaurant. Now, let's talk about the food. First, a word of caution: spice levels here are no joke. If you're sensitive to heat, you'll want to dial it down. But if you can handle it, the flavors are absolutely worth it--rich, bold, and deeply satisfying. The tofu was exceptionally soft, almost silky, and clearly freshly prepared. The noodles matched that texture perfectly--tender, well-cooked, and comforting. Pricing is another strong point. For the quality and portion sizes, it's very reasonable, making it an easy spot to revisit without hesitation. Overall, Nine Noodles is a great pick if you're looking for authentic flavors, a culturally immersive atmosphere, and solid value. It's not about fancy decor or polished service--it's about good, honest food. I'd definitely come back.

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There's only one computer right at the entrance where you place your order.
There's only one computer right at the entrance where you place your order.
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Tapioca Express - taiwanese - Updated June 2026

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