Tsaocaa Boston

Stopped by the Boston location after hearing so much about Uncle Tetsu's famous Japanese…read morecheesecake. There was a short wait since they bake the cheesecakes fresh in batches, but it moved pretty quickly. The Original Japanese Cheesecake was warm, soft, and definitely lived up to its signature "jiggle." It's very different from a traditional cheesecake--much lighter, fluffier, and less sweet, almost like a cross between a soufflé and a sponge cake. If you're expecting a rich New York-style cheesecake, this isn't that. Personally, I enjoyed how light it was, and it didn't leave me feeling overly full. The staff was friendly, and the shop was clean and well organized. My only suggestion would be to have a few more seating options since it's mostly grab-and-go. Overall, it's worth checking out if you're in downtown Boston or curious about Japanese-style cheesecake. I'd come back again and would like to try some of their other pastries next time.

I visited this place on a Sunday morning . When I walked in, there was no staff present and I had…read moreto wait a few minutes before someone came to assist me. I ordered an Ube cheesecake and repeated my order as it seemed there might have been some miscommunication. I was in a bit of a rush due to limited parking and unfortunately didn't check my bag before leaving. When I got home, I realized I had been given a different cheesecake than what I ordered. I decided to keep it rather than return, as going back to Chinatown wasn't convenient at the time. The cheesecake itself was also disappointing in texture and freshness--it felt quite soggy and not as fresh as expected. Overall, the experience did not meet my expectations, and I don't think I would return.

Honey madeleine

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Entrance

Bao Bao Bakery & Cafe

4.0(185 reviews)

I was looking for some bakery buns to bring to friends and stumbled on Bao Bao in Chinatown. They…read morehave a nice selection of Chinese buns, pastries, and cake slices. I ended up choosing the red bean & matcha mochi bun, cream puff with mango, and pork sung roll to-go. My favorite has to be the red bean & matcha mochi bun which is super unique as I haven't seen the combination before but it was super yummy with chewy mochi in the middle. The pork sung roll was also pretty good. The cream puff on the other hand was a bit disappointing as the cream tastes a bit artificial and was not the light & fluffy whipped cream filling that I like in cream puffs.

I've gone to this bakery so many times and it's always great!! They have great prices on their…read moreitems and they are so delicious!! The sesame balls are always fantastic, I get them every time. Their Yuzu tea is also my go to and so delicious. I tried the scallion bread this time and it was such a hit, not super oniony and a the bread is a little sweet to balance it out. I would recommend every item in the case from bread to pastry.

Very lychee in flavor. Soft fluffy cake

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Lychee mousse cake

CT Sweet Kingdom

3.6(128 reviews)

10/10, everything was great on the menu. big portions for the price! They were kind. The service…read morewas fast. Definitely recommend this spot to anyone going to boston.

Had the Strawberry Coconut Jelly Shaved Ice Dessert and it was truly refreshing and super tasty!! A…read moresweet and Yummy! The place is small but a well kept shop in Chinatown! Easy to find and plenty of places to sit at a table and enjoy ! Lots of choices do next time I go will try the soft Waffle Dessert! It's self service where you order and pick up!

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2 Mango Kingdom's, Coffee Ice Cream and Milk Tea Shaved Ice.

One Zo

3.9(89 reviews)

Out of all the boba spots in the area, Onezo has been my go to for my boba cravings. They make…read moretheir own boba so they have unique flavors to choose from. The classic brown sugar boba can't go wrong with any drink option. But a strong recommendation from me is the black sesame pearls. It isn't too sweet and it provides a nice toasty flavor of the black sesame that makes a drink especially yummy. They are consistent with their drinks and I haven't been disappointed in a drink I've gotten. Their Hong Kong milk tea is one of their signature drinks and it is a strong tea flavor that isn't sweetened unless you add boba to it. The interior is bright and clean with a couple of tables to sit at. They're never super busy since the drinks are made so quickly. I haven't tried the desserts here just yet but I've heard good things so far.

Came here for a snack. Small place with a couple of seats and table. We ordered two desserts and a…read moredrink. The drink was really sweet dessert was okay. We definitely have had better. The mangos were a little too sour for our liking. They made us the wrong dessert at first so they had to make us a new one. They were nice enough to let us keep the mistake to try. The mochi balls had a nice chew to them. Decent dessert place but not the best.

Seating area

Pick up station

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Drink menu

Corner Cafe Bakery

4.1(125 reviews)

Solid egg tarts, but remember to bring cash because there's a minimum for credit card. Can never go…read morewrong. I've never tried any of their other items though I would assume they are reliable and delicious as well.

I was craving a pork bun and I happened to be right next to this store so I went in. This FIRE…read morebread was super fluffy and filling ratio was good! Would recommend Service was fast and there were two people available to check out. There is a 10 dollar minimum for a card purchase though so unless you are going to buy 5+ breads, I would bring cash!

Outside

Cafe Corner on Harrison

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Tora Japanese Restaurant

4.4(955 reviews)

Casual, popular, and bustling Japanese spot in Chinatown. Very tight for space and limited seating…read moregiven it is a basement spot in one of the Chinatown complexes! And it is popular for a good reason. Service is quick, I'm sure they are trying to get people in and out. Very fresh kaisendon (fish bowls) with delicately cut, plump fish. A friend and I got the salmon and tuna don, which were appropriately priced under $20 if I remember correctly. Lots of different cuts of salmon and tuna, which were all covering fluffy white rice, and served with a side of miso soup and Japanese radish/pickled vegetable. If you were to compare this place with other casual Japanese spots serving sushi or sashimi, there is an easily discernable difference in quality. You can tell by the texture and appearance of the fish in your bowl! This is a classic in Chinatown for a reason, and I will never say no to a kaisendon from Tora.

I came here on my last trip to Boston and liked it so much that I knew I had to come back again!…read more Tora Japanese is located in Chinatown--in the basement area of one of the buildings, so seating is pretty limited. I came for lunch with two friends, and they didn't have a table for three, but the hostess was able to quickly accommodate us by rearranging another party that just sat down, and we were able to get some seats at the bar. Service was really fast and friendly throughout our dining experience. I ordered the sake don from the lunch menu, which came with a good-sized portion of rice topped with salmon sashimi and a side of miso soup. Definitely a great spot for a quick and affordable lunch in Chinatown!

Inside!

K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don

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LR2 Lunch menu

Tea Do - Boston

3.9(772 reviews)

Walked in this morning placed our order for 4 drinks got the green apple smoothie, taro dragon,…read morejasmine tea all great drinks service were quick and efficient. There were 3 super great looking Asian females doing a great job during a busy time in a professional manner. The ambience in the place was great music low light great place to chill. Need to stop by plenty to chose from lots of great tasty choices of drinks I can see why people keep returning but definitely always a large why not. Just try it. Great job ladies you ladies did great keep it up and smile !!! See you soon!!! Btw no pics drinks didn't last lol

What a fun and funky place to randomly walk into! I waltzed in to Tea Do to find it absolutely…read morepacked (I'm sure a large portion of the patronage was due to the fact that it was Pride, but from what I've read this location is typically pretty busy regardless)! They have three tablet kiosks for self-ordering, and it's an intuitive UI, so the process was simple. Once I made my decision from their extensive list of options and combinations, it took me maybe 2 minutes from start to finish to build and submit my order. I ordered a large taro milk tea and it was everything I had hoped for. Flavorful, not too sweet, and the tapioca was a wonderful consistency. My only thing was that it was so busy and loud that the staff were unable to continuously call out when orders were complete, or you couldn't hear them. I eventually went up to the bar, noticed my drink had been sitting a few minutes, yelled over, "This is mine, thanks!!" Smiled, and then grabbed it. Beyond that? It was absolutely a great experience.

Inside

*.Fresh Avocado Smoothie & *.Oolong Milk Tea

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*.Juliet and *.Tropical Twister (both Large, less sugar and less ice adding boba)

Taiwan Bakery

3.9(41 reviews)

So many bakeries on this street...which one to try? Located beside more old school Ho Yuen that…read moreI'll have to try next, Taiwan Bakery has an inviting feel. Walk up the stairs and the cases show off their pre-wrapped buns and other goodies. The cashier has a gruff about her that's not as inviting. The coconut butter bun was lacking than the more usual coconut bun with filling. The Portuguese eggs tarts were luciously soft and creamy not too sweet, and the regular egg tarts good. Good bakery overall but not earth shattering with a decent selection. Enjoy!

Got myself a HUGEEE steamed pork bun. It was around 4 dollars, which is a steal. It was pretty…read moregood, but the bun to filling ratio made me sad. It was like 3/4 bun 1/4 filling... The bread kept being stocked and it felt like I was in a corporate bakery not a local one. But prices were fair and system was efficient. There is a minimum 10 dollar purchase to pay with credit card. Otherwise it is cash only! Also they don't have pennies. Pretty cozy inside but no room to eat!

Cake slices

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Cafe Darq

4.2(137 reviews)

amazing customer service from ann and wen the best ever. this is the most life changing drink ive…read moreever had.

Exotic coffee flavor would bring you to a French -Vietnamese cafe with modern fusion style from…read moreSaigon, Indochina. Then you could blend back into the multicultural atmosphere of Boston Chinatown while the memory of the great coffee willbe on your mind forever. P/S: ALL THE STAFF ARE RIDICULOUSLY ATTENTIVE & KIND!!

Interior

Smoked Salmon Banh Mi w/ Truffle Aioli

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Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Top Bread

3.8(153 reviews)

The custard pies for 1 are my absolute favorite!! All their baked goods are delicious!read more

I'm quite curious about the relationship between the three bakeries in Chinatown…read more(Corner/Top/Taiwan). Although their names seem to have nothing to do with each other, they share paper bags and some products. Are they sister shops run by the same team? Egg Tart蛋撻: Since there was no insulated box, it was cold, which is a shame compared to Corner Cafe. The egg and milk aromas were masked, but there was a slight eggy smell. Portuguese Egg Tart葡撻: Although it was also cold, I preferred the baking. It had a thin crust, and the filling was still smooth and delicate, with a richer egg, milk, and sweet flavor. Butter Bun奶香包: The best product, but I forgot to take a picture... I unexpectedly encountered "Little Swell bread微波麵包," something that has disappeared in China for a long time. It was exactly the soft and moist texture I remembered, and the milk, butter, and salt flavors were even stronger.

Portuguese Egg Tart

Tiramisu cake

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Katherine M.

4 years ago

Love the boba tea here! Taro with real taro is my favorite and would really recommend

Tsaocaa Boston - bubbletea - Updated October 2026

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I love HeyTea! Still my favorite location to go to in MA…read more I've experienced the least amount of problems here, compared to the other two (Newbury St. & Natick). PLUS, they close later than both. I have this bad habit of going here almost every time I have a meal in the area LOL. The addiction is real! I love that they keep adding new drinks to their menu... keeps it interesting. My favorite is still the Mango Coconut Boom but I'm a fan of most of their new drinks, like the Golden Oolong Yuzu & their King Jasmine Guava! I tried the Pistachio Cloud Jasmine Coconut, as well, and it's super similar to one of my favorites from MollyTea. I prefer the one from MollyTea more w/ champaca tea. Since their opening here, I have tried almost all of the drinks & their mango coconut boom is STILL superior! Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys mango. It is pretty much their version of mango pomelo sago (they have a version with pomelo but I like it without). SO GOOD! ***Pro tip: order ahead of time via HeyTea app. This is a lifesaver, since the wait time is pretty atrocious most days still. Usually takes ~20 min to be ready.

LOVEDDDD THIS! so refreshing and perfect for pistachio lovers…read more there's typically a ~20min wait for this location but it goes by fast honestly. i recommend ordering ahead on their app to avoid a long wait

Tea Do - Boston

3.9

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Teazzi

4.2

(111 reviews)

I have a couple go-to places in Chinatown and decided to try Teazzi with my colleague. He got a…read moredark roasted oolong with boba and I got the honey amber oolong with boba. It was so darn good!! I think I found a new place to add on my list of favs! Two thumbs up! The oolong tea was smokey. The boba was soft and chewy. Sweet and nutty.

Teazzi was a boba chain I was unfamiliar with, as it has very few locations on the West Coast. I…read morewas very excited to try it, and I thoroughly enjoyed my drink. The inside of the shop is nice and bright, but there wasn't really any long-term seating. This place is definitely more of a grab-and-go type of establishment. There's also a mini store to the right of the entrance, selling a bunch of cute trinkets and collectibles, that you can browse through while you wait for your drinks. House Special Milk Tea (4/5) - I got this with 70% sugar, and I thought that was a decent "not too sweet" level. I'd prefer even less sugar next time. This drink contains oats, and lots of them. To my surprise, I really enjoyed the oats because they added a unique texture. I also got tapioca with this drink, and I must say the boba is soft but strangely more brittle than chewy. TLDR// Teazzi is a solid boba shop I would return to.

What Tea

3.8

(8 reviews)

This spot is a decent spot if you're looking for a quick beverage. I like their fruit teas and was…read morelooking for something refreshing because it was so hot in Chinatown. I came across this stall, which was located in an easy-to-miss food court. I was waiting for a friend and decided to try this spot out. It's a really small place, so not ideal for hanging out. The fruit teas were good, nothing astounding, but it's decent and gets the job done!

A small stall that serves up fresh fruit drinks!…read more LOCATION: Located in the food court within Chinatown, What Tea is right by the entrance and across from both Avana Sushi and Ramen. It's a very small space so definitely not a space to hang out. MENU: There are a variety of fruit and milk drinks but it seems like their fruity drinks were more popular! DRINKS: Highly recommend the grapefruit ice tea if you want something refreshing! You can choose your tea base and add toppings. They use fresh fruit in their drinks so definitely worth it. Prices are reasonable and standard with other boba places. SERVICE: We used the machine to order drinks and got our drinks pretty quickly.

Chicha San Chen

4.7

(199 reviews)

Fantastic tea shop! Had a bubble milk tea that was so good I came back the next day to try another…read more Both were creamy and delicious! I got them both slightly sweet and with the best boba I ever had - tender and chewy and sweet. Shop is very clean and you can order at kiosks. You then get an order number and wait to be called. It takes a few minutes to make, but the result is so good. Plus they give it to you with a little rope handle with your straw or in a little bag if you get more than one. Probably my favorite boba shop yet!! Right near the Hynes T and near Berklee college.

Genuinely one of the best boba places I've been to in Boston. High quality tea and boba. Would've…read moregiven 5/5 but they prioritized online orders rather than the 10+ customers that were already in the store. Me and a good handful of customers were already waiting for 20 minutes. I'm genuinely confused why they didn't do our 3 orders first. Within the 20 mins, the other 10 customers came in and they still did online orders instead of the people in store. Having previously worked in a boba shop, I would've personally did in-store orders first

Molly Tea

4.1

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Yay! Another Molly Tea in town. Inside the Novo Market and…read moreindoor space to sit and enjoy your tea or take it on the go. Premeire tea brand out of Shenzhen, China. I had to go to China to compare it myself. I love their seasonal specials and if you're there the right time, occasional giveaways for their specials. Going in the afternoon and non-weekends are your best bet for avoiding long lines. But their queueing process is pretty streamlined, so getting your drink wouldn't be too long of a wait. I can't say for certain if all the students around the area wanted to go after dinner some weekends.

Dear Boba Tea Industry, Please stop. I know what you're…read moredoing, it's the same thing Starbucks used to do. Testing the limits of what people will pay for enriched liquids. It's not right. And you KNOW some other company's going to realize they can charge $6 for sugar water and gummy worms and still make insane profits. But maybe Molly is on to something here. They have an instagram station and they wrap their plastic cup takeout in pink plastic wrapping paper. It's just obnoxious enough to work. The tea, for all the aesthetics, is indistinguishable from Kung Fu. Except maybe they're stingier with the balls. Especially if you're charging $10. $10 in Allston gets me an ulcer's-worth of dumplings. So paying that for a tea bag and a handful of boba ain't it. You just absolutely cannot be stingy with the balls.

Heytea

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