No Austin trip is complete without a stop at The Alley! Since discovering The Alley on a previous Austin visit, we've made it a tradition to try a different drink each time. So far, they've been consistently craveable, refreshing, and delicious! This visit on September 13, the blueberry yogurt mochi milk was one of our favorites--creamy, fruity, refreshing, and with that fun mochi texture. Their drinks pair perfectly with both sweet and short munchies, too. Now the big question: When is San Antonio getting its own The Alley?! Fingers crossed they bring one our way--and keep the same great quality, service, and cleanliness. Until then, we'll happily keep making the Austin stop part of our itinerary! read more

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We stopped by for some "dessert" drinks after our kbbq lunch date. I'm not sure if other locations are doing this, but we were so excited that they have a JJK theme (anime) bundle going on right now. We didn't end up buying the bag with our themed drink, but the owner was nice enough to give us a card and cool cup holder with it! This was my first time meeting him despite going many times before. He was friendly and easy to talk to. There was also a new girl working who was nice as well despite still learning the ropes. Definitely a must stop spot when in this shopping plaza. read more

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One of my favorite bubble tea shops in south Austin! So many creative flavors. The snow mango slushy was surprisingly good!

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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

The Alley - Mango yogurt and avocado mochi purple rice - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

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! read more

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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! read more

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Delicious-- that staff was soo Nice and informative. Clean and very organized Cashier was helpful for it being our 1st time. For sure coming back. read more

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came in after having k pot near by. very bright, modern and clean. large menu avaliable. I ordered a crème brule coffee- not a fan, the brûlée had the texture of curdled milk when drinking, coffe was pretty bitter, a friend got a matcha latte which we pretty good. the boba itself seemed fresh and was a great consistency. staff was kind and patient while we looked over the menu. would come back by and try a drink that's not coffee based in the future! read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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Great-tasting milk tea with high-quality ingredients and a smooth texture. The sweetness was just right, the packaging was excellent, and the delivery was prompt. Very satisfied and will order again! read more

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. read more

The Alley - I forgot - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

A bit overpriced and underwhelming. I always try the black milk tea first at any new place. This one was fine - better than Kung Fu Tea and not quite as good as Teapioca. read more

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. read more

The Alley - Brown sugar creme brulee milk - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

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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! read more

The Alley - Ube Brown Sugar Boba Crme Brle Milk - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

First time here. We ordered the Thai tea with half the sugar, since reviews said they run sweet. We got Snow Velvet on it, but when we picked it up, we realized that we'd forgotten to ask for it with boba. The girl that helped us had no issue with adjusting the drink, but the guy she handed it to add the boba gave us a dirty look before going into the back, and returning with boba added to the existing drink, then sealing it again. Just putting boba in the existing drink made the Snow Velvet sink to the bottom. The tea and the pearls tasted good, but we did not get to taste or experience the Snow Velvet. The poor customer service made the overall experience pretty disappointing. read more

I come here at least once a week. I am so glad south Austin is finally getting better boba places as I'm tired of having to drive to Austin or even cedar park. The Alley always has unique drinks and I've never tried one I didn't like. Service is always nice and fast and the place is always very clean. I know the south Austin location is still fairly new so I do wish them lots of success! read more

I've tried this chain in Southern California multiple times, so I was interested in seeing if it tasted the same in Texas. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed. I ordered two of their most popular drinks: the strawberry green tea with jelly and the ube taro brown sugar boba milk. I ordered the strawberry green tea at half sweet, but it still turned out so overwhelmingly sweet and tart. I don't know if it was from the strawberry syrup or the jelly, but I didn't even want to finish the tea. I ordered the ube taro at regular sweetness so I expected the high sweetness level. The drink is pretty taro forward rather than ube. Both flavors were competing with the brown sugar syrup. I also would have preferred for the boba to be a little softer. I liked it more than the other drink, but I probably wouldn't order this drink again either. Overall, I feel like the drinks are tailored towards people who like really sweet drinks, so I would recommend it to those people. The inside was cute with a lot of seating, so I can see it being a good study spot. The workers were also very nice. The low rating is purely based on the taste of the drinks, not the service. read more

The Alley - ube taro brown sugar boba and strawberry green tea with jelly - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

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One of my least favorite boba spots in Austin, unfortunately. The drinks here are consistently too sweet for me, even when I reduce the sugar level, and the tea flavor just isn't as strong as I'd like. It's also on the pricier side compared to other boba shops in town. On the plus side, the shop itself is very clean and spacious, but overall, I'd much rather go to places like Chicha, Milk + Tea, Happy Lemon, Gong Cha, or even KFT. read more

I'll be transparent -- I'm a bit of a boba snob. And overall, The Alley checks a lot of boxes. I love the location, the clean and easy ordering process, and the wide variety of flavors they offer. The boba itself is fresh and chewy, and the presentation is always on point. My only critique is that the drinks tend to run a little sweeter than I prefer. I like being able to really taste the tea, and sometimes the sweetness overpowers it. But that's more of a personal preference than a dealbreaker. If you enjoy creative flavors, solid boba texture, and a sleek setup, The Alley is definitely worth a visit -- just adjust your sweetness level if you're like me and want the tea to shine. read more

We came to this location when it first opened and I've been there a couple times since and each time I say I'm going to try something different I keep getting the same thing. But when you walk in there is tons of seating which is a plus. The last time we went it was very cold inside and I was not prepared for that since it was still warm outside. We have placed our orders at the kiosk and at the counter. I feel like the kiosk was easy, it asked a lot of questions to ensure it gets your order right. Even if there aren't a lot of people inside there is still a wait for your drinks. I told my daughter that I could leave go next door and shop and come back and they would be still making it. I am not faulting them for that, it was just funny thinking it. The drink I keep getting was the Brown Sugar Creme Brûlée Milk Tea. I am a creature of habit and it seems as if no what what boba place I go to I get that. I like it and I think the next time I go I will try something different, but when I am placing my order I will probably still get the Brown Sugar...LOL! read more

The drinks are amazing the service excellent and it peaceful inside definitely a must especially since the one I went to had drinks named after our favorite characters from Demon Slayer trust me you don't wanna miss out read more

The Alley - A cut out of Nezuko from Demon Slayer - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

Glad to see more boba shops in south Austin! This place is brand new and I know they have a soft launch but when we went during lunch the staff was acting like pros. We got the ube milk tea with creme brulee half sweet, classic milk tea with boba slightly sweet and the peach oolong tea with boba slightly sweet. The ube was a hit and tasted definitely like a diet cheat dessert. Milk tea was good. The oolong was good as well, the tea was not burned, under steeped or over steeped. I will say though if you drink oolong without sugar or like the smallest hint of sweetness, slightly sweet may be too sweet. Next time I'll probably get the peach oolong with 0 sweet without boba and get a baseline.... But stil overall enjoyed the boba greatly read more

The Alley - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

Their Thai Tea is exceptional! Not too sweet or bitter. Worth the drive, but i do wish there was more all around Austin so i wouldn't drive 20 minutes away. read more

The Alley - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

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

The grand opening at the alley was better than I expected, even though there was a long line it went by fast and customer service was great. They even threw in one free chai tea latte with the purchase of your drink so that was a pleasant surprise. I ordered a Matcha yogurt drink, and I chose light sugar as well as the orange peach oolong tea. I really liked how they have the option of choosing the amount of ice that you want in your drink as well as the sweetness. As someone who can't have a lot of sugar I found this to be a nice touch. Both Drinks were great. Of course it was super packed because it was the grand opening, but the decor and ambience in the alley was welcoming, and plenty of little couches and tables to sit at. Will definitely come back try other flavors! read more

The Alley - Match purple rice yogurt - Cafes Near Me - Austin, Texas

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