YGO Lab is a bubble tea chain from Taiwan which recently opened up their second location in Canada in Markham. The shop is located north of Kennedy and 16th Avenue, in the shops at Berczy Square.
The shop is small with physically distanced seating for up to 3 pairs of seats. The minimal aesthetic is bright and cheerful with some decor reminiscent of the periodic table of the elements (which the science geek in me appreciated).
Like many other bubble tea places, YGO offers brewed tea, milk tea, tea lattes, fizzy fruit teas, brown sugar milk teas, slushes, and fruit based teas. They have fresh milk and oat milk as milk options. They offer a variety of unique toppings in addition to standard tapioca, fruity coconut jelly, cheese creme, and grass jelly. These include peach resin (apparently a chewy fruity topping; extra $2!), golden tapioca (which is supposed to be chewier than standard tapioca; $0.50), and aiyu jelly. Drinks range from $5.50 for hot or brewed teas, to $6.00-$6.50 for most milk teas, fruit teas, and cheese creme drinks. The most expensive drinks include a peach resin green or black tea ($8.00), brown sugar peach resin milk with torched cheese foam ($8.00), and hot brown sugar longan and red dates or ginger drinks with peach resin ($7.75).
The staff were friendly and patiently answered any questions I had regarding the products and toppings, as well as staff recommendations for drinks. While tempted to order something colourful or fruity, I saw on Instagram that they had a special on large cold oolong milk tea or medium sized hot oolong milk tea for $4.99. This is what I ordered, with 50% sugar, no ice, and grass jelly (since they were out of golden jelly at the time of my visit). The drink was slightly watery even though it didn't have ice in it, but had a noticeable amount of oolong tea flavour.
I will return to try some of their fruit based teas. I'm also curious to see what this peach resin is about and figure out why it's a $2 topping. read more