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The Alley

4.1 (25 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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I forgot
Elizabeth R.

Im sorry but I'am not impressed. I got the strawberry green tea and it was meh! Not worth it. My kid got the mango something. Horrible! Def will not waist my time and money here. We literally didn't even drink them.

Yenah J.

First of all it's in a shopping plaza so I'm glad I don't have to struggle to find parking. That's a win in Austin. Second, the inside is gorgeous! It reminds me of a modern cafe I'd see in Asia, with bright indoor lighting, plants, and light wood. I tried quite a few drinks but my favorites were the strawberry smoothie, orange peach oolong, and the crunchy Thai tea! I customized it to half sweet and it was perfect. The boba was delicious and not too hard or soft. The owners are very sweet and helpful. I've been to The Alley in other countries and loved their drinks. So I'm glad Austin has one!

Next door to Daiso!
Rebecca L.

South Austin finally has The Alley and I couldn't be more excited! This location just soft opened next to Daiso and across from KPot, with the grand opening coming up this weekend. I honestly haven't been this excited about a boba shop opening in a while, not just because of the drinks, but because I really hope this little pocket becomes a hub for Asian spots in South Austin!! The space is branded as The Alley Café, and it definitely has a more elevated, high-end café vibe compared to other Alley locations I've visited. When we arrived, the whole family was there setting things up, and they were incredibly sweet and welcoming. Drinks we tried: Earth & Garden (Oreo-based) -- my favorite! Creamy, not too sweet, and such a fun twist. Ube Taro -- another standout with a rich flavor. The boba was excellent: bouncy, chewy, and just the right texture. One of the things I've always appreciated about The Alley is their commitment to quality--using real fruit instead of just powders. This location really stayed true to that standard (even better than another location I've been to where it didn't taste the same). We actually came too early during soft opening, so we missed out on their first 100 customers mystery bag. But for anyone planning to stop by this weekend, it's worth a shot at snagging one! Overall, a fantastic new addition to South Austin, and I'll definitely be back when in area!

Interior
Phong T.

I was in town for an event and visited this place with a good friend and partner for an afternoon pick-me-up. We all ordered some form of milk tea. I chose the Thai Tea and asked for 50% sugar with boba, but it still tasted very sweet--almost like 100% sugar. The others in my group experienced the same. The sugar level needs adjustment, and some improvements are possible. Still, I don't want to undermine the quality of the drinks, as they were all very tasty. The interior is cozy yet spacious, making it a great spot to catch up with friends, work, or study. The staff was friendly and efficient at preparing the drinks.

Mango yogurt and avocado mochi purple rice
Chelsea L.

South Austin has a new boba place and it's one of my favorites!! I didn't visit in-person but will definitely go in next time. Got it with Uber Eats since there was a $30 promo. The avocado mochi purple rice sounded so unique and they're currently doing a collab with Demon Slayers (a great anime) so I just had to get it. The drink was really good. It was a perfect balance of avocado and sugar. The mochi was really interesting. I haven't had long mochi like that before but I liked it! The purple rice was also sweet and chewy. Mango yogurt was sooo good!! I wanna get this again. We didn't get an actual boba drink this time but I've had their boba in other locations. Their deerioca aka tapioca, pearls, boba is sweet and chewy.

Seating area
Carolyn B.

Tried them shortly after their opening. It was empty when I arrived, but I think they just had a slew of online orders so the wait was a rather long -- like 20 minutes after I ordered. They were polite and apologetic, though. I got the Original Purple Rice Yogurt. I loved it. I don't like overly sweet drinks (most boba drinks I'll order 50% sweet), but in its unmodified form this was perfect for me. Tangy, with a velvety smoothness from the purple rice and just enough refreshing sweetness from the green tea jelly and the boba that I added. My friends got the Ube Taro Brown Sugar Boba Milk, and they both complained they were way too sweet. They probably should have requested a lower sweetness level though... so I think that's on them, lol. The space is bright, clean, and relaxing. I'll def be back when I'm in the area!

Eric G.

Finally getting some more boba options in South Austin! The service here was quick and friendly, and there is plenty of seating inside to work or chat with friends. I got the brown sugar boba creme brulee half sweet and it was perfect! I also tried the orange peach oolong and it was very refreshing. Can't wait to try out more here in the future!

Ready for a yummy drink!
Holly O.

This place is so cute! They are conveniently located at the end of the shopping strip right next to Daiso. I ordered the green tea brown sugar Boba and it was absolutely delicious! What a treat and I love that you can customize and ask for extra less sugar and less ice etc. When you come in, you make your order at a kiosk and then wait in they are beautiful and serene shop with ample seating for your drink. I will definitely be back!

Ube Taro Brown Sugar Boba
Regina K.

First off the space is so pretty, definitely a really nice vibe, if you wanna do some work with a Boba on the side. The staff were really nice and helped me make a choice since I was getting two drinks. I got the Ube Taro Brown Sugar Boba drink and I got a Brown Sugar Boba Crème Brûlée, the sweetness is definitely in the Boba since the Boba is made with the syrup so make sure to mix it up really well, it was a nice blend. My favorite was the Ube Taro Boba. Can't wait to try the other flavors!

Karen Q.

So incredibly thrilled to have another boba spot in South Austin (a desert for boba). They just opened this week and they're running a soft opening on the weekdays, with a big grand opening celebration this weekend, September 27 and 28. There will be a prizes and giveaways. We tried a variety of their options, including smoothies, milk teas, and fruit teas. I really like their purple rice yogurt series and their fruit teas. All drinks are customizable by sweetness level. I like to get less sweet, which is the perfect sweetness for me. The space is very nice. I would say it's more of an elevated café design compared to the Cedar Park location. I can definitely see myself spending time here! Located in a shopping plaza so plenty of parking.

Ube Brown Sugar Boba Crme Brle Milk
Aditya A.

The brown sugar ube boba was super unique and incredibly tasty!! Staff was very friendly and helpful - only downside is side table chairs are a little bit low if you're trying to get work done but they do have other tables and outlets for that, I just came at a very busy time it seems. Will definitely come by again for a drink!

Tia V.

So happy The Alley finally opened in Austin! I used to drink this franchise all the time when I lived in South Korea, and having a Daiso next door gives me major nostalgia. I got the Mango Purple Rice Yogurt at 50% sweetness--perfectly balanced, creamy, and refreshing. Friendly staff, cute vibe, and great drinks. Can't wait to go back!

Brown sugar creme brulee milk
Raquel O.

For the first day opening it was not too busy and I saw drinks getting out fairly quick. Clean, sleek and spacious area with plenty of parking available since it is in a shopping center. I ordered the Brown sugar boba creme brulee milk. To start I waited almost 45 minutes and would see people who showed up after me get their drinks within 10 mins and leave. When I asked they said they were making more brown sugar boba and that is fine but I wish I would have been told there would be a wait so I was not just blindly waiting. Second when I tried it even after I mixed it all I tasted was milk. Compared to the menu picture that is not what my drink looks like and the ratio was way off. The brown sugar boba was delicious but I was just drinking white milk with boba. For the amount of time they had me waiting I was pretty disappointed since I did not even get to drink it. The staff was nice and they might have felt a little overwhelmed but more communication would be great.

ube taro brown sugar boba and strawberry green tea with jelly

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2 months ago

My new boba spot to take anyone that comes to austin! Love the crème brûlée boba! You can also order on the kiosk!

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The Alley - cafes - Updated May 2026

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