We stopped by The Alley and grabbed two of their popular drinks, and both were absolute hits! * Strawberry Mochi Smoothie: Perfectly balanced with a great tart and sweet flavor profile! Super refreshing, and the mochi texture adds such a fun, chewy element to every sip. * Brown Sugar Boba Crème Brûlée: Rich, creamy, and indulgent! The brown sugar boba was perfectly chewy and fresh, while the crème brûlée layer gave it that irresistible roasted, custard-like flavor. The quality of their boba and fresh ingredients really sets them apart. Great presentation, consistent quality, and delicious drinks - definitely a go-to spot whenever a boba craving hits! read more

The Alley - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

the alley is a CRAZY name it is giving victorian orphan. anyway i tried 2 of their drinks and probably wouldn't go back. strawberry green tea with jelly, 25% sugar - it was okay. you should probably get it at 50% sugar if you don't like strong tea flavor. the jelly was good, not too sweet, but there were these super sour strawberry pieces that didn't go well with it. passion fruit green tea w/ lychee jelly and boba, 25% sugar, cheese cold foam - this was NASTY and artificial. it belongs in the alley instead of the menu. sorry not sorry other than that service was fast and everyone was nice! read more

The Alley - passion fruit green tea w cheese cold foam + strawberry green tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The Alley has been one of my preferred boba spots in Oahu, for its accessibility and also delicious boba drinks despite being a part of a franchise. Their strawberry mochi smoothie has a unique drinkable mochi that makes it fun and satisfying texture-wise. The ube brown sugar milk tea is also a solid choice, but I do think the sweetness tends to be pretty strong. Overall, one of my favorite and preferred chain boba stores in Hawaii and continental mainland. read more

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Maybe I haven't tried enough but this was fantastic. The boba was perfect. The crème brûlée was amazing. The amount of ice was just right. I definitely will be going back...soon read more

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Nice spot in the Ala Moana mall to grab a perfectly curated bubble tea. Refreshing and perfectly balanced flavors and textures. Service was super fast. read more

The Alley - Boba tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you're craving a sweet beverage and are already in Ala Moana, The Alley isn't a bad spot to stop at but damn, it's hurts at $9 for a smoothie... I ordered the strawberry smoothie, which is overly sweet and has chunks of ice which is annoying when it clogs the straw. I'm sure their regular milk tea offerings must be better. read more

The Alley - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I absolutely loved their seasonal flavors and mochi flavor series! Their mango coconut mochi drink was delicious and I loved the texture! Can't wait to try more flavors. read more

Their tea is delicious! I got the jasmine milk tea - tea flavor good and milk creamy. I didn't add boba but their boba is always good. There weren't too many seats but they were comfortable! Drinks come out pretty quick too. read more

The Alley - Jasmine Green Milk TeaJasmine - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I ordered a ube taro brown sugar boba milk with lychee coconut jelly and regular milk. I asked for 50% less sweetness and the cashiers suggested I should just get 50% less boba because the boba is what made the drink sweet. This place is so cute. The drink was so good it made my eyes roll back. I love the jelly. I tried to make my drink last, but it was so good. I wanted to slurp it all quickly. read more

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The new installment to the mochi series which was their Mango Coconut Mochi Smoothie was so refreshing! I think the coconut paired with the mango and mochi was a perfect iteration of a coconut rice dessert. The bits of mango chunks added texture and the mochi added some soft/chewy texture as well. Overall a great drink! I'm glad they are expanding upon the mochi series because I also enjoy their strawberry mochi smoothie which was what I usually order if I'm not feeling the vibe to get their boba which is excellent as well. Service is quick and if you order through QR code you don't even need to stand in line. read more

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This was the second time I had tried The Alley since my cousin was craving their strawberry mochi drink and I wanted to see how my drink would turn out if I had changed certain things about my drink after how it went during my first visit (no fault of any of the employees). During my first visit I picked that I wanted actual tea in my drink because I honestly wasn't sure of what I was doing and although it wasn't the worst boba I had I wasn't in love with it either. So this time around I didn't get any tea and I did like my drink a lot more and I felt the actual boba itself was pretty good too with 1-2 that were quite soft but other than that it was great! When we got in I was a bit worried that the wait would be long since there were quite a bit of people waiting for their order but we probably waited 10-15 minutes at most so I would say it was a pretty good visit. read more

The Alley - Brown Sugar Boba Milk with light ice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Here's a polished rewrite of your review: I have to say, I used to *love The Alley during their first few years here. Their ube brown sugar crème brûlée Deerioca was my absolute favorite, though it seems like the flavor has changed a bit over time. Today I had the ube taro brown sugar boba milk -- it was good, but it didn't quite hit the same as I remember. On the bright side, the store is clean and the service is quick, which is always a plus. read more

The Alley - Strawberry Matcha Latte & Ube Taro Brown Sugar Boba Milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I haven't been to the Alley in years, but I was craving boba when we were at the mall. I like their kiosk ordering because they have pictures for everything! I got the brown sugar milk with boba, and this satisfied my craving. The boba was warm and chewy. There's some tables to sit inside but more outdoor seating throughout the mall. Service here was efficient and friendly! read more

The Alley - Brown sugar milk with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The Alley at Ala Moana is a convenient stop, especially since parking and bathrooms aren't an issue. We ordered the Assam Milk Tea, Cocoa Cream Cold Brew, Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie, and mochi. Everything tasted good, but nothing really stood out as amazing. Solid quality and reliable if you're already at Ala Moana, but more of a safe choice than a must-try. read more

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I am a MASSIVE fan of the alley. I used to go to the cafe often on the mainland and was happily delighted when I found out there was a location here on island. They have homemade jellies that are also hand cut. Far more superior flavor profile than the mass produced boba/jellies. The service is always excellent and the workers and very kind. Always ask if you have questions because they are more than willing to make recommendations. The aesthetic is very modern with the sleek counters and clean logo. I enjoy that the logo is a deer but it's not a woodsy vibe the the environment read more

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I get drinks from here every so often. We were passing by today and the hubby just had to come in. On their window was a huge display of, The Alley, doing a collaboration with anime, My Hero Academia. They have three drinks: Deku's White Peach Matcha, Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight's Brown Sugar Creme Brûlée and Uravity's Berry Yogurt Frappe. We got two of the three drinks. We tried the white peach matcha and brown sugar creme brûlée. Right off the bat I liked the brown sugar creme brûlée much better. It was sweet and smooth. I could barely taste white peach in the matcha. It also wasn't sweet, gritty and bitter. I'm sure it was the healthier version of the two though. We also received a free pack of stickers with our order. My husband loved it and stuck them all on his water bottle. The drinks were around $9 each. We added brown sugar boba to both drinks. read more

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I truly love The Alley. This is my favorite boba shop! The only thing I hate is that they only have one location in Ala Moana! They are located near Nordstrom and Jamba Juice. Park in the parking structure for easy access. I'm not always in the area, so when I am, I make it a point to get one. The drinks are very consistent. You never have to worry about it tasting different. On top of that, they offer milk alternatives. I always order oat milk! Woo hoo! My favorite go to is basically ube with brown sugar, custard, and boba. A dessert in a cup! They have some indoor seating and also a lot more items on their menu. They even have food items. They do have an app that you can order online. Makes it convenient if you want to grab and go. Their lines are also not bad as well. They started an order your own kiosk stand along with the cashier at the counter. Prices are of course pricey, but it is Hawaii, everything's expensive. If you are in the area, stop by! read more

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One of my favorite boba places! We always go whenever we're in Ala Moana The ube creme brûlée brown sugar drink was sooo good ! That's my new favorite flavor. My son got the mango yogurt smoothie and he said it was good too. Seating is inside but is limited. Price is reasonable and service was prompt. Will definitely be back! read more

The Alley - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I just bought a brown sugar boba milk tea, and unfortunately, my first sip tasted like spoiled milk and jelly. When I looked at the drink, I noticed milk curds/crumbles and large pieces of milk jelly settled at the bottom. The boba was also extremely soft and soggy. The drink tasted and looked very old, as if it had been sitting for a long time. What surprised me even more was how quickly my order was ready--literally within seconds. That made me wonder how fresh the drink actually was. I'm very disappointed with what I received, especially because the employee did not seem concerned about serving a drink in that condition or about my experience as a customer. I definitely won't be coming back again. read more

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I've been to the Alley a few times and tried a few different items but my 5/5 item was today with the ube crème brûlée taro milk tea. I used the online ordering app from the QR code at the entrance and it was ready within a couple of minutes. It's definitely a sweet treat and not something for every day but it was very good. The price is decent for Ala Moana because I know the rent is insane. I also appreciate no extra charge for doing soy milk. Small seating area is fine but if it's full there's usually plenty of seats outside in the courtyard area. read more

The Alley - Ube Crème Brûlée Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The Milk Teas and Smoothies was great. The service was good. This location is inside Ala Moana Center toward Nordstrom parking garage side. A Boba Milk Teas atmosphere. read more

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While enjoying lunch at Shabuya across the way, my mom asked if I wanted a drink from The Alley afterwards and I said HECK YEAH!!! I walked in around noon on a Tuesday and no line - yay! There was also no one sitting down either. It was kinda weird being the only customer in there! Anyways, I told myself I'd try something new. I even told the cashier I'd try something new haha! My eyes went straight to their top 5 menu and I decided on the strawberry green tea with jellies. I asked what kind of jellies it comes with and she told me green tea jellies. So, right before I walked in, I saw a small group walk out with drinks in clear cups so I figured I wouldn't ask for a clear cup.... wrong! They gave me the non clear cup of course! I'm such a visual type of person, but as much as I want to see my drink, I don't want to let it bother me too much as I know the clear cups are probably not eco friendly! But I know I can ask for one :) Sorry for going off topic. The drink was so good! I asked for 50% sweetness like usual. The drink was slightly sweet from the strawberries but you can still taste the slightly bitter green tea. Comes with green tea jellies AND chopped (fresh?) strawberries! That was a surprise! I loved the whole drink so much that I already want another one :) see what happens when you try something new hehe :) Oh! The cashier asked me if I wanted to try their new croffles... the ones in the picture looked so good, but I was full from lunch so I declined. I guess I'll have to try one the next time I come back! read more

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I first discovered The Alley while watching The King: Eternal Monarch Korean Drama back in 2020 and was stoked to find out it's a real boba franchise! Since this location opened, I have visited multiple times and the drinks have been consistent for the most part. They offer a series of various drinks from milk teas, brown sugar deerioca, to specialty drinks and more. I've tried several drinks, but the ube crème brûlée is hands-down my favorite -- it's creamy, smooth, and has just the right amount of sweetness. The flavors are well-balanced and the boba is just the right amount of chew - not overcooked. I also couldn't resist picking up one of their adorable deer-shaped keychains a couple of years back -- such a cute touch. I love hanging it from my bag! The shop can get busy, especially during peak hours, but I've never had to wait super long, which is a win in my book. Whether you're a longtime boba lover or just looking to cool down with something delicious and refreshing, The Alley is definitely worth a visit! read more

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TL;DR The Strawberry Mochi Smoothie is one of the best drinks on the island. The mochi is incredible. ----- This review is specifically for the Strawberry Mochi Smoothie, which has quickly shot up my sweet drink power rankings. The smoothie itself is decently tasty. I like that you can select a sweetness level and there are non-dairy options for milk. The star of the show, however, is the mochi. I have no idea how this pillow of wonderful is created, but the mochi is AMAZING. It's not chewy at all like typical mochi. I like to describe them as "clouds in my mouth." It's super unique and really makes the drink a specialty. I crave the smoothie solely for the mochi. I can't recommend this drink enough. My wife also recently enjoyed her Royal No. 9 Milk Tea, which is a blueberry-infused version of the standard black milk tea offering. I'm sticking to the Strawberry Mochi Smoothie, though. read more

The Alley - Strawberry Mochi Smoothie - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went here on Tuesday and ordered the matcha. About 10$ for a matcha and I would not recommend. I asked for full sweetness and it was still bitter. The boba was not sweet either should be sitting in a sugar mixture. Service was poor even though I left a tip. I also tried my friends mochi drink and it was not good. Only drank it because I spend 10$. I do not plan on returning read more

The Alley - Duo matcha with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

There's really no other place like it... 2 yrs ago I gave them 5 stars and guess what? They are STILL . I've frequented this place enough that the staff knows me and I'm not sure that a flex but the service is always so too notch. I've ordered my drinks and pad the 3 different platforms that they offered and all of them are as equally as efficient. So I've been trying other drink flavors and once again they do not disappoint. 1) cold brew with cold foam- Strong, no punches pulled. I recommend 50% sweet to off set the flavor. 2) Matcha brown sugar- matcha flavor is strong to mid in matcha bitterness. I would get it with whole milk next time to smooth out the flavor. 3) Strawberry rice yogurt. 10/10! Addicting. Period. read more

For some reason, this place is insanely popular. The lady that works there with all the tattoos didn't even tell us to enter our phone number for rewards. read more

I've been wanting to try The Alley for a while now, so when I saw it in the Ala Moana Center, I had to stop in to grab a tea. Their menu had a section noting their specialties, another section with their Top 5 and multiple items outside those categories with a little antler symbol that I assumed meant "recommended". Interestingly, there wasn't a clear overlap between any of them (i.e. one of their Top 5 was neither a special nor recommended), so I didn't overthink it and selected their SNOW VELVET PEACH OOLONG TEA ($6.75 + $0.95 for boba), which was marked with the antlers. The "snow velvet" is their version of cheese foam which I thought was verrrry salty compared to what I've had elsewhere. Not a bad thing, per se, but I wish they provided cups with sippable lids in order to enjoy a bit of foam with each sip. Instead, my cup was topped with the typical plastic film covering. That said, I'd recommend mixing the foam in from the beginning to get it evenly dispersed. Overall, I thought my drink was okay. Despite my customization of 25% sweetness, my first several sips were extremely peachy before mellowing out to a more apparent tea flavor. At first, I thought the drink was just overly sweet but I realized my tea probably wasn't mixed very well. This is another reason I would have given it a stir to balance it out, had I known. While the tea could have been better executed, I really enjoyed the boba which had a good bouncy texture and was not inherently sweet. At $0.95, the cost is on the steeper side, but was worth it in terms of quality. In general, drinks here are on the pricier end with the cheapest starting at $6.45, and the addition of toppings raises it by almost $1.00. If you're seeking a refreshing drink while exploring Ala Moana, The Alley is not a bad option. They have a pretty diverse menu, so while I wouldn't order my same drink again, I may be open to giving it another try sometime. 3.25 stars. read more

The Alley - Snow Velvet Peach Oolong Tea ($6.75 + $0.95 for boba) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Was a quick wait after ordering for a couple drinks. Very clean. Very efficient. Friendly staff! Yummy yummy drinks. Not stingy with the straws haha. read more

Nice staff, drinks came out quick, lots of parking at Ala moana. They have a big menu is I tried a specialty drink, Ube taro milk tea. Be aware the "taro" is actual taro suit chunks! I didn't realize and it threw me off when I was tasting this chewy texture (much like potato). It was a really good drink though, I like use and taro. Small cafe is a nice causal vibe with a few tables. Each time I come here its not too crowded anymore like when they first opened. read more

The Alley - Brown sugar milk tea & Ube taro milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The Alley is a convenient boba spot at Ala Moana. I tried the strawberry mochi drink, which was good and different. I really liked the drinkable mochi. The matcha boba was just okay, and the prices are on the higher side. Still a solid option if you're already at the mall and want a quick boba stop. read more

The Alley - Strawberry Mochi Smoothie - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went with 25% sweet in the Jasmin green tea. It was too bitter for me so I changed to regular sweetness but it still had a strong bitter aftertaste to me. I finished it but next time I'll try the Strawberry green tea read more

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I've been down some alleys before but this one wasn't as decrepit. Came for their mochi promotion and though it was busy, the baristas were welcoming. The male employee with the glasses was --quite literally-- serving and was on point with the service. Would stop by again! read more

The Alley - Exterior/Sign - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Honestly the best local Boba spot around. They have very few locations to this and I've noticed a lot of recently open locations end up closing so it's a rarity to find one that's still open. This one is located on the outskirts of the ala Moana mall so it's pretty easy access to park and go directly in. They've done some different changes with their rewards programs over the years. now they have it through toasttab where you scan your card and then enter your phone number and all of the cards use on this payment will link to your rewards. After paying It will automatically recognize it. The worker upfront was patient and kept a line moving. The line can get along during dinner time so be prepared to wait. You can also order ahead of time through toast tab. My go to order is the Ube crème brûlée brown sugar drink w oat milk. It is on the heavier dessert side rather than a light one. I feel like it is so different and culturally stands out to Hawaii. I would definitely recommend to order this if it's one of your first time there. Boba texture is always on point here super soft and bouncy. You can tell that it's been soaking in the brown sugar for a while. read more

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The lychee green tea is very good at this location. None of the other locations even comes close, if they even offer it. Their traditional boba brown sugar milk is also a standout. Thirst quenching and leans towards dessert rather than drink, and there is nothing wrong with that. I'm a big anime fan and I love the collaboration. Last time I was here, it was Spy X Family and this time it's My Hero Academia! Service is good. Casual. Please come and create your own experience. read more

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I'm a bit baffled at how the royal no 9 milk tea is one of the top five drinks. It is black tea infused with blueberry. It tasted like the nasty grape flavored medicine my dad used to force me to drink when I was young and sick. It's rare that I don't finish my boba drinks, but I took two sips and couldn't bear to finish it :( My husband ordered Assam milk tea with boba. The drink itself was decent. I do wish the boba had a chewier consistency and was sweeter. read more

The Alley - Would pass on the royal no 9 milk tea! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Every time we're visiting the island of Oahu my partner has to stop at The Alley, it's one of their favorite spots! The drinks here are always on point. You can really taste the quality in their tea, and their brown sugar boba is perfectly chewy and not overly sweet. I love how consistent everything is, no matter which drink we try. The cups are cute, the flavors are rich, and the boba always has that perfect texture. Whether we're grabbing one to cool down on a sunny day or just craving something sweet, The Alley never lets us down. Definitely one of our go-to boba places whenever we're here. read more

Almost all visits to Ala Moana with the children they request for The Alley before going home. Place your order on your phone so you can just walk in and pick up. Our go to order is the creme brûlée brown sugar deerioca milk, snow strawberry smoothie and the strawberry mochi smoothie. Ordered the creme brûlée croffle today and it was delicious. read more

The Alley - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Good variety of creative drinks. The team there is friendly and accommodating of the changes we requested. The decor is very pleasing. The prices seem to have increased by quite a bit. read more

The Alley - Lychee Green Tea Ube Taro Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The Alley is in a very good spot at Ala Moana. Especially with all the food places close by. Plus it's right near the parking structure, you can grab a drink on your way in and out of the mall. I never had to wait in line long, though it may depend on the time of day. I usually try something new when I order, especially their seasonal items. They do collabs with anime too! read more

The Alley - Crme Brle Brown Sugar - Bubble Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii