This place looked so inviting from the cold parking lot. The windows were all steamy and light seemed to twinkle in their reflections. Inside it was warm and cozy. I realize that I'm behind the learning curve if I've yet to taste my first bubble tea. But I wanted my first time to be well... special. With the help of the smiling staff I chose and, at a quiet table, sipped slowly from the bubble straw and savored the silky flavors of Hot Coconut and Black Tea. I paused as pearls of tapioca played across my tongue and... Do you remember your first - Bubble Tea? ::wink:: ...Five days later and I'm back, with my son in tow, looking for dessert and more great teas. Staff are very knowledgeable and offered several suggestions which we loved. It was kinda late so we didn't try anything savory from their menu but that's the plan for next time. No matter what happens Tea Leaf Cafe, you'll always be my first... Bubble Tea. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

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AMAZING!! First tea I've actually liked! And they have the best spring rolls!! Wish I came here sooner read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Raspberry cold green tea! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

I can only review the Drink (Bubble Tea) section for Tea Leaf. I have frequent Tea Leaf for years and I always come back because they seem to be the only place that a.) Stays open late enough b.) Will do smoothie style Bubble Tea. I went here last night with my niece for some Bubble Tea and this is always our go to place. As it was 10:30 PM it may have been the ONLY place actually open that served Bubble Tea. There was line which I can only guess is due to the many college students back in town and Tea Leaf is located in the UB area and I have seen the Blue Bus drive through the plaza that it's located in. Although I have tried many flavors, my current addiction is the Coconut, Taro Smoothie with the regular tapioca bubbles and lychee jelly. I have yet to find another place that will do it smoothie style and has all the flavors that I like. I never had an issue ordering, wait is very reasonable even with the line, and this place has plenty of seating and WIFI. This is a very comfortable place to relax with couches and the WIFI is reliable so you could settle down and do some work if you wanted to. They have expanded their menu to offer Thai Tea (my favorite) and food which I have yet to get so there may be an update to this review at a later time. If you have bubble tea cravings, this is the place to go as it closes at 11:00 PM on a Sunday night and is also open pretty late other nights as well. read more

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I don't get here as often as I'd like, despite spending most of my time right across the road on campus. Anyway, they have some of the best bubble tea around. I always get mine unsweetened, and it's just as good (better, in my opinion.) I have yet to try most of their espresso drinks, but their chai is amazing and so is the Thai coffee. I had their dumplings for the first time this semester, and they were delicious! I didn't give them the full five stars because of their prices. As a college student, paying nearly $5 for a drink is a bit of a stretch. Their food generally takes about 20 minutes to make, so be prepared to wait. Other than that, they have a ton of seating and the baristas are always friendly. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Super yummy chai tea latte with boba! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

One of my favorite tea spots! A little hard to get parking on weekends because it's right by amc but if you get there early enough, there's usually a couch seat to snag! A hot green (sesame almond) tea with tapioca beads is my fav order, I highly recommend it! read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - You can always count on a cute drawing or two on the bubble tea board! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

Sullen service and the worst latte I've ever had. I don't think they actually knew how to make a latte, just made an espresso and poured some warm but not frothy milk into it. read more

The only reason I'm docking a star is due to the carrot cake I ordered today being almost frozen...well, it had ice crystals on it and some bites were harder than a cake should be. It was only 8pm so there's really no excuse for that. It was tasty though... The parts that weren't frozen anyways. Tea Leaf is number one in my book by far in terms of Bubble Tea. Almond is the best flavor. I'm so glad I got introduced to this many years ago. My favorite! Can't seem to find another place even remotely close in friendly staff and taste (almond flavor mostly) anyway. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Almond milk tea with carrot cake. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

Absolutely love this place! I've been going here for almost two years now but never thought of posting a review. What I love about Tea Leaf Cafe is the multiple options they gave and the ability to mix and match flavors. The staff will guide you, help you, do what they need to make sure you order a great tasting bubble tea. I haven't tried the food much but I definitely love the chocolate cake!! The environment is very relaxed, chill, definitely a hang out spot for anyone in the area. There is one couch and it is a coveted spot in the cafe and almost never open!! But I dream! Glad to have this place in Amherst for a quick delicious drink before catching a movie at AMC, or for a friendly or business meet up or just to chill on a free day. Some combos I've tried in the past- Papaya and taro Honeydew and practically anything Japanese green and taro Rose and papaya As you can see I love the taro and papaya and always include it in my drink! read more

This place is cool, it has a zen feel. It's my happy place. With tons of flavors, lots of options, and some pretty good food it's a must go to tea house. When ordering boba, you choose from 20 something flavors, dark or green tea, fruit or milk. The tea is nice and smooth, the flavors just the right amount, and for me I finish the tea and the boba around the same time so they have the amounts correct. I just had one and I'm thinking about going back for seconds. It's that good. Worth a visit for sure. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Pineapple green bubbletea. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

This is going to be the most quality bubble tea around the Buffalo area. They also have a wide selection of premium grade tea leaves and espresso drinks. Prices are similar to Starbucks, and presents a very relaxed atmosphere for small gatherings and chatting amongst colleagues and friends. The owners at extremely chill and friendly. They really care about the quality of the products, and customer feedback. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Japanese green tea bubble tea is the best! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

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I've been by this place a few times on my way to the movie theater but tonight was my 1st stop in to meet up with friends. I'm not a big bubble tea person I just can't deal with the bubble part, and I don't do a lot of sugar so the teas even without the bubbles are out. I opted for a latte with sugar free cinnamon syrup. My friends ordered bubble teas, strawberry banana and mango no ice. Their drinks seemed to come out quickly, we got a table and I waited for what seemed like 10 minutes before I finally got up to see if they had forgotten about my order. There was a steady stream of customers so it's possible. Apparently they were having trouble with one of the machines for my latte. Would have been nice for them to shout out and let me know but after about 5 more minutes my number was called. My latte tasted great but it was lukewarm at best. My friends seemed pleased with their drink complete with gelatinous balls. Nice place for a meet up. I'm glad I tried it. The one thing I'd like to see are more sugar free options. A nice sf chai would be a great start. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Different strokes. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

I came here a few days ago because my friend highly recommended it. She always gets the almond milk bubble green tea and I tried the coconut milk bubble milk tea. Their menu is very diverse and had a large variety of teas- ranging from milk tea to green tea. So, if you're looking for any specific flavor of tea that you haven't found elsewhere, Tea Leaf Cafe probably have that flavor. The coconut bubble milk tea was good, but it seemed a bit water down so there wasn't as much coconut or milk tea to the drink. Additionally, if you order any type of bubble tea, you can choose either regular milk tea or have green milk tea. If you are craving bubble tea, this is the place to go. AND if you decide to come here more in the future, ask for their drink card for the buy ten get one free drink offer. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Calm atmosphere in the cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

I think I'm leaning a little more towards 2 stars than 3, but there are a few perks about this place that give it a solid a-ok. So...first things first! One of my favorite things about this place is that you can order a whole pot of loose-leaf tea, of which there is a wide variety, and just fill the pot with hot water for hours on end while, and this brings me to my second favorite thing, you sit at a table and study while utilizing their wifi! My third favorite thing is that they have scallion pancakes, which are arguably my favorite food ever. The pancakes themselves are only okay, but it does well in a pinch, and they are few and far between here in Bflo, so no real complaints. Don't forget to ask for black vinegar, soy sauce, and sriracha. Every time I go, they tell me that they don't have black vinegar, but then they look, and they always do. Mix the three together and it makes a bomb sauce. So onto some of my not favorite things: First, not a fan of their boba. AT ALL. Second, no veggie dumplings, despite claiming to have them for a VERY long time. On my most recent trip there, they had finally taken it off the menu completely, which is VERY unfortunate, since outside of the scallion pancake and their veggie spring rolls (which are also only okay), there are no other vegetarian food options. The final downside plays off of one of the pluses; although there is wifi and unlimited tea, making this a seemingly ideal place to study, their loud music combined with the often incredibly rambunctious undergrad crowd makes it very difficult to concentrate. I've been here several times during off hours and have been able to get quite a bit done, but this is definitely more of a social hub than a work-friendly cafe. For me, the not-favorite things sort of trump the good, but I still come here when I'm looking for more variety/craving scallion pancakes. The loose-leaf tea is a really huge draw for me. I love me my Chinese teas. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Scallion pancake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

Don't get the bubble tea, it's super watery and more tea based than milk. Have ordered different ones about 10 times and only one that is worth ordering is matcha. The fruit tea however is great and super flavorful. You're better off buying your own boba and making your own milk tea at home though. Ordering online and pickup is super easy and convenient. read more

I had a great experience today I went in at 1230 friday quiet afternoon. A girl with shirt brown hair waited on me sweet as can be. I was deff satisfied with my drink (almond Green tea bubble) and experience. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

I've been coming to Tea Leaf since high school, and they have yet to disappoint. It caters perfectly to the high school and college students nearby - it's a great place to study or meet up with friends, and the late hours certainly don't hurt its reputation. Recent renovations have changed the vibe of the cafe; what was once a cozy hipster dive has become a sleeker space. However, the essence of Tea Leaf remains the same, and it maintains its status as everyone's favorite late-night cafe. I can only speak to the quality of the bubble tea portion of their menu, but what I have tried is excellent. The menu is diverse, and there are hundreds of combinations that keep customers coming back for more. It's difficult to order something that doesn't taste phenomenal, but I recommend staying away from the Durian tea - it has a very distinct taste that is definitely not for everybody. My go-to is blueberry-pomegranate black tea, which has yet to get old after four years. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Strawberry-kiwi (L) and blueberry-raspberry (R) smoothies. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

One of the first few bubble tea places here in Amherst that has been consistent in their drinks! I exceptionally enjoy the ambiance during the college semester times, as there were always a crowd here and everyone just hangs out with their friends. The café is like a to-go if you study nearby, and the food offerings are always improving. I still remember we used to get bubble tea before going to the cinema next door. I do have to say the taste of the bubble tea is very "americanized", but I still think it is very decent and comparable to others around here! read more

Thai tea (on the right): 4/5 but extremely sweet and had to go home and add more milk Papaya milk tea (on the left): I asked for extra flavoring which was an extra .25 and it still tasted like it was watered down. I used to come here a lot a year ago with friends before movies for the convenience and a nice place to hangout but seriously never liked the drinks here. Everything was like water with a bit of powder or syrup for a bit of taste. I knew this would happen so I asked for extra flavor for the first time as the cashier suggested and it still was watered down. How cheap can they be with the powder...POWDER!!.... I swear to myself I am never coming here or recommending this place to anyone (not even my worst enemy) ever again. Go to the other bubble tea place called TaiChi Bubble Tea, now that place is actual authentic bubble tea and can actually be compared to bubble tea from NYC. I seriously cannot believe I'm still drinking this shit water! I'm so mad because I paid $5 and tips for this shitty drink. I'm giving them another chance and they've let me down again. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

This place exudes comfort, simplicity and GREAT bubble tea ! They are fast, efficient and knowledgeable about the flavors and taste. The bubble tea smoothies are awesome ! I've tried the popular seller Coconut Taro (excellent), My family members have tried Pineapple Coconut , Kiwi and Honeydew and the flavors are spot on. The Red Velvet cake is also pretty good. Don't leave this place out...give it a try read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Great combination ...Taro, Coconut, Papaya and Mango, Coconut and Alnond - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

I really recommend this place! I always get their taro milk tea with bubbles. Prices have gone up, and quality has gone a bit down ever since I've started coming here in 2012, but still an awesome place. read more

I'm telling you every time I came here my stomach would hurt so much, even if I didn't get tapioca or any boba. This place kinda sucks...

I love coming to Tea Leaf to hang out with friends and of course get my bubble tea fix! I wish it was closer to where I live! I only drink fruit tea, so I can't comment on the quality of their milk tea, but it is very satisfying! It's a little on the sweet side, and the tea flavor is very understated, but it's still pretty delicious. The bubbles are super good quality too, no complaints there. The prices aren't too bad for the portions you get, either. The space isn't the biggest and at times it can get pretty crowded, but it's all worth it to me. Definitely a cute little spot to hang and have a delicious drink! read more

I have been going in and around buffalo and have stayed here for 2 years.. I must say, I have had better iced tea and better cappuccino for sure.. The iced tea is way too watery and runny.. The cappuccino lacks flavor of coffee.. The only thing good about the place is the interiors and staff.. 3 starts hence.. Come on guys, you can make the drinks better.. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

Best bubble tea in the area, they give you double bubbles if you ask yummy! I like the spring rolls to snack on! Friendly service. read more

Tea Leaf Cafe - Extra bubbles top and bottom! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Amherst, New York

Went last night around 9:30pm. It had a pretty constant stream of people, but the line was short. I have visited earlier in the day and dealt with a much longer line, but the service is wonderful and the employees work quickly. I ordered the classic milk tea with a green tea base and found it alright; probably the only thing keeping this from being a 5* review. The drink itself had a weak bitter flavour and the boba had no taste. However, the boba had a perfect consistency and was very fun to chew on. Pricing was nice too, coming in almost half a dollar cheaper than anywhere I've seen in California. I would gladly stop by here a third time! read more

This is one of the better places in Buffalo where you can find boba tea, although it's not the best I've ever had. I ordered my usual, the classic milk tea with black tea. It was a little too sweet, and the texture of the pearls (the little black balls) were more chewy than the average. They have ample seating and good wifi, so this would be a good place to get some work done. It did get a little busy and noisy around 4 pm on Friday with the post-school/work rush. read more

Very strange place. Taro iced tea was awful. Couldn't even drink it. I gave 2 stars bc the iced latte was decent. Funny story, so after paying, I was given a number for my order. There was literally only 2 other people in the place and they were at a table. When my drinks were ready the guy shouted my number, and I was standing right in front of him. I smiled, and said, I think that's me. He literally looked at me like there was several other people. I don't think I'll be going back. read more

I have never had a bad experience at this place. I love the taro bubble tea. The place can get very busy with high school and college students but service is usually fast enough to keep up with demand. Prices are reasonable for the drinks but quickly adds up for the food considering the small portions you get. But I don't go here for the food. Even in the bitter winters I still love stopping for a refreshing taro bubble tea. They offer both tapioca bubbles and fruit juice filled bubbles. Definately worth a try if you have never been here. read more

Completely addicted to this place of bubbles!! They know my entire offices order when we walk in at least 2 to 3 times per week. I am always impressed at the excellent customer service here. They are the kindest people! They will guide you through your order if your a first timer. They have yummy desserts and small plates of food as well. read more

Everyone's taste buds are different but this is definitely not my cup of tea. In fact, I find it hard to taste any tea in their drinks. I would consider it more of a fruit drink with tapioca, which I think is OK if that's what you're into. Alas, I am not a fan since almost all of their flavors are reconstituted from powder. Plus, the crowd is too loud and noisy for my taste as it's usually filled with high schoolers and college kids. Go to Kung Fu tea instead! read more

Tea Leaf cafe is pretty good! My usual is the Thai Iced Tea and I honestly think theirs is one of the best Thai iced teas around the area. I don't really care for the food much. It is a decent place to hang and it gets pretty packed during the weekend. This place is located the same row as AMC. The close late during the weekends, so it's an ideal spot to go to after the movies as well. Plenty of parking in the area too. read more

This is a quaint little shop with a lot of authentic tea options. I came here once during my interview process and was able to try out their Decaf Ceylon iced tea option. It was very light and well-balanced with low sweetness. I liked how they brewed all of their teas personally and had a good variety of black, green, and white teas to try from. The place was a little crowded, but it's definitely a fun place to hang out on a late evening with friends. I didn't get to try their pearls or their milk tea options, so I can't speak on that. Overall, this place has good promise, and I would love to visit again given the opportunity! read more

Really like the atmosphere here. Very casual, and comfortable place to meet your friends. I like the classic black milk tea most. Not too sweet, appropriate amount of bubbles and nice taste of the mixture of milk and tea. Have been here multiple times, never disappoint me. read more

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gonna be honest it smells a little strange when you first walk in but the bubble teas/some food options are delicious. definitely recommend if you are in the area and looking for bubble tea ! read more

I have been coming here since I was 16 and in high school. Now, 8 years later I make the occasional stop. Unfortunately this time will be my last. I came in on a Sunday night with my girlfriend. Not busy at all. As soon as we walked in, there was a foul smell of vomit. Horrible. Made me gag. I asked the cashier if someone had had an accident, and she gave me the dirtiest look ever. She blamed it on "old sugar" whatever that means. I ordered 2 bubble teas. When I got my beverages, They forgot to put the tapioca balls in my drink. I approached the counter to let them know and she insisted they were in there. They were not. This might sound dramatic but it's just really annoying. The staff is rude and way too hipster for me. The music they were playing also made me want to crawl in a hole. read more

First time I was here I got the thai iced tea with boba and most recently the Vietnamese iced coffee. If you have the time get the Vietnamese Iced Coffee as it takes 10-15 min to prepare. read more

The cafe is clean, and staff is super friendly. However. The bubble is too soft as it should be chewy. No flavor for the black tea either.

This used to be one of my favorite hangout spots. I'm so, terribly sad to say that this has been one of the greatest disappointments when coming back to Buffalo from uni. Okay, basically, I don't know if it's the new rumoured management, or if it's the new setup (yay bigger space, bigger café area, cool) but going here makes me unbearably sad. I tried about four times, each with different company, different mealtimes, and different cashiers - all to which I've left regretting ever coming here after the *big change* Their espresso machine hasn't been working for two weeks, the cashiers give you shit for not giving them a 20% tip when ordering a $2 drink, they don't do meals after 7, and they like to take half an hour (32 mins technically) assembling the bulgogi (I assume they're killin the cow in the back or something) But yeah, overall, I'm quite sad at the sudden turn of events - this place used to be the go-to for spontaneous meetups, enthused moviegoers, cute dates - things like that. The only people I see here now are just hollow shells of their past lives, living in fear of even more change to the disastrous venue this place has become. Just kidding. But don't go here. Sorry read more

Tea Leaf goes in my pretentious list of "Suburban places I wish were in the city/closer to where I live". Anyway, trekking into the nondescript plaza for bubble tea is worth it. It's packed away between a bunch of new suburban bars that I have only heard of in name. Inside is very cozy and inviting (couches!!). My review is just for bubble tea, which I have had here twice. Both times were awesome. It's funny how years ago, I hated bubble tea with a burning passion... and now I find myself craving it! The first time I went, I had the strawberry fruit tea, which is a nice option if you aren't craving the milk-based ones. It was refreshing and light. This time however, I got the coffee bubble tea, and was very impressed. I was going to get sesame, but my boyfriend ordered it and I have a huge thing about two people getting the same thing, so I ordered something else. I find that the tapioca here is very fresh, if that makes sense. It's got the perfect amount of chew, and all the teas are expertly prepared and delicious! This is definitely my favorite place to get bubble tea because of that. You can also get extra tapioca for $.25 I think. Who knew! read more

Let me start by saying that I am an incoming freshman at UB who has lived in California all her life. Needless to say, I have been utterly spoiled by the broad array of Asian foods in both the Bay and LA (surrounding) areas. I was unsure of what to expect when I got to Buffalo, so I turned to Yelp to find some places I could possibly hit up when those feelings of homesickness kick in and I want a little taste of home/Asia... So I searched up restaurants, blah blah, and then decided to try my luck by typing "boba" in the search bar. To be honest, I was a little nervous y'all, but I took up the courage and clicked that button. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised to find a boba place! Okay, "pleasantly surprised" is an understatement because I was ESSITED *dancing in seat*. Might be a little strange, but it's the truth... I was like "Say whaa?! There's boba in Buffalo?! OMG, 4 stars!!!", fanning myself in the process. Alright, no more of that silly nonsense. Let's get down to business...to defeat the Huns. Went to Tea Leaf Cafe with the fambam the weekend before my orientation. I got the peach green tea, my mom got the forest mango green tea, and my little brother got the Japanese green milk tea. When we got them, the coloring of each drink looked promising, so we were unprepared for the rude awakening that followed... My peach green tea tasted like sugary water with a HINT of tea. Mama's mango green tea: water with slight tea flavoring with maybe, MAYBE a small mango aftertaste Brehski's green milk tea: milky water with just a tad of green tea flavor The boba: some weren't cooked all the way, but meh, 'twas aiite Okay, first off, tea is supposed to taste like tea. Maybe I'm used to "strong" teas from when we go to yum cha or even from drinking HK-style milk tea, but really, no tea should taste so bland...it tasted like water. Even if they don't brew a strong tea for the drink, couldn't they at least add more of the flavoring? I wasn't paying attention when they were making the drinks (nor was I too observant of my drink when I got it, heh) so I can't confirm this, but I read other reviews that say they use POWDER?! Why no TEA LEAVES, TEA LEAF Cafe?! *blank stare*...So disappoint. For some reason I got the large cup too (which I did not ask for, hm...)! Call me picky, spoiled, wasteful, or whatever, but I did not want to finish that drink. I asked my dad if he could finish it because he's usually the "trash can" (for a lack of better words) of the family, but even he didn't want my drink! He made a face like DX and said in Cantonese, "Yo drank taste terrible! At least Mommy and Joshua's are somewhat drinkable." So then my mom took my drink and gave hers to my dad. Yeah... The end. I'm sorry if I was too harsh :S After reading my "review" you're probably thinking that I wouldn't want to come to this place again. However, being a fairly reasonable and open-minded person, I am willing to give Tea Leaf Cafe a second chance. Maybe it was partially our fault. Maybe we chose the wrong drinks. Maybe they haven't mastered the drinks we tried yet. Maybe, just maybe we should have tried the drinks recommended by other Yelpers... In any case, I'll be back with an open mind and heart, Tea Leaf Cafe. I hope that we can become good friends in the future. Don't let me down. read more