It's hard to find Che in SF, so I was delighted to find Bambu! Their che is a little different than the soupy/pudding style you may be used to; it's served as a drink. I love how many toppings/variations you can get, as most Vietnamese restaurants only serve 1-2 flavors of Che (if they even have it). Definitely go for the pandan jelly! Che is in the same realm of boba, but it's way better! I hope Bambu opens more locations elsewhere ini SF -- I think Che has a chance at becoming the hottest new dessert! read more

BAMBU - Taro Lover Che drink with taro, pandan jelly and coconut milk. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

This little hole in the wall is my greatest find in the Richmond district!! I haven't had authentic che in years and this place really hits the spot. Lovely lady who works there. My personal favorites are #10 and #6 and sometimes I'll get the pandan or taro waffle (they use some sort of rice flour which makes these waffles bouncing and chewy) a must try for sure read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place for Viet dessert drinks!! Honestly, if I had to choose between boba or this, I would hands down choose Bambu all the time. Their drinks are always made fresh on the spot, and the staff there are also super sweet and friendly. I've tried the Bambu Favorite (#10) and Bambu Combo (#2), but my personal go-to is the Bambu Combo (#2) with red tapioca instead of boba, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I personally like the Bambu Combo because it has beans in it, which adds in an extra dimension of sweetness that I felt like the Bambu Favorite (#10) lacked. I usually get my drinks with 25% sweetness because regular sweetness is too sweet for me. I remember their drinks used to be around $5-6, but due to COVID and inflation prices have now gone up to around $6-8. Definitely pricy for what it is, but for the quality and the great customer service, I always end up coming back again! read more

BAMBU - Bambu Combo (left) and Bambu Favorite (right) - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was craving for some bbtea after eating nearby and came in for a visit. They have so many varieties on drinks it took me a while to decide on what I want to order! Got the Bambu special ($6.50) in the end with 25% sugar and less ice. There were lots of toppings in the drinks - coconut meat, pandan jelly, longan, basil seed and coconut water. I was worried that it would taste a little watery but it came out fine. I wish it was a bigger size though as it was 6.50 and the toppings literally filled up the whole cup. I would want to come back and try their taro drink next time as it seems to be very popular! read more

BAMBU - Store front - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My girlfriend and I have been going to Bambu for last 2 years now and they never disappoint. Irene, the owner is always very nice and pleasant whenever we come in. We usually get the strawberry-kiwi yogurt drink and it never disappoints, by far our favorite. The taro with boba is also really good. Will be back there soon! read more

There are boba places like Boba Guys and Sharetea out there in SF, but BAMBU? Never heard of them, but WOW, I'm impressed. First, talk about creativity. Most boba places give you some sort of drink and then maybe a few toppings, but BAMBU has options that are absolutely DECKED OUT. You'll get a cup with a forest of fruits and toppings in it itself. Drinking it is literally an adventure through a bunch of textures and flavors. The presentation is also awesome, as you'll get an impressive looking cup filled with ingredients. Then, for the taste? It's great. To be honest, the tapioca here is better than boba guys, since it's chewier but not too loose. The other jellies and fruits go together with the drink beautifully, and infuse together to give a refreshing but exciting kick. One of my favorite parts of the drink is that everything is edible! From the coconut pieces to the lychee and even the long green chewy jellies---it just makes the drink all the more satisfying. So if you've been stuck with the mainstream boba places, get yourself over to this place, because you've been missing out on real boba art. read more

BAMBU - Black milk tea w red bean paste and tapioca - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I wouldn't order from Bambu. After waiting for two hours I called the store to ask why my order was taking so long and they said it was ready but the driver didn't pick it up. My DoorDash app said the driver was waiting for the order so I called and text the DoorDash driver and then my order was suddenly canceled. I called Bambu back and they explained that the order was cancelled yet I wasn't the one who canceled. They said they were in the phone w DoorDash and suggest I call them as well. A few mins later Bambu called and said to reorder and pay thru DoorDash and they will send another driver. I said no, if I reordered I would end up paying over $100 for thee drinks and a pandan pan cake. Rip off!!!!!!! I'll never order from this store again. Potential customers be ware! read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The black milk tea is really fresh，It's the best drink in my life until now！You can choose sweet how nuch you like。But standard is good for me。 And boba is soft easy to chew ，good experience！ I'll be back try taro milk tea。 read more

BAMBU - Black milk tea with boba is my favorite drink of this store。It's really fresh！I'll be back to try taro milk tea next time。 - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food is good. Service is okay and the restaurant itself is pretty nice. Price is good too.

Me and my boyfriend love walking here after getting dinner or just if we want a drink or something sweet. My favorite is the coconut taro smoothie with boba, aaaaand the matcha waffles are pretty decent too (chewy, not too much matcha flavor though, basically just a sweet waffle). My boyfriend usually gets the three bean drink. It's not MY favorite but he seems to like it a lot. The staff is pretty friendly, they recently rearranged the decor inside so it's looks a little better, less cluttered by the door. They have a lot of seating, and games if you want to hang out and come with friends/family. read more

Bambu has a unique concept of Vietnamese desserts and drinks. They offer a range of drinks from milk tea, to coffee, to dessert-type coconut drinks, and smoothies. Prices have raised since I first tried them in 2014, and ranges from $5.50 and up (though boba drinks in SF these days seem to be around that price range). I always get my usual- Strawberry Fantasy smoothie with red tapioca and pandan jelly. So good! I always feel healthier drinking this compared to a milk tea drink since I feel like I'm getting some vitamin C at least (but both probably contain a ton of sugar, so not saying this is healthy by any means). The textures of the toppings make the drink really interesting, the red tapioca seeds are kind of crunchy, and the pandan jelly is chewy. The numbered drinks/desserts are also refreshing and good, with ice, coconut juice, and variations of fruits and toppings. I also love getting the pandan waffle! It has great pandan flavor and a nice chewy somewhat mochi-like texture. This seems to be the only bambu location in the SF area so I hope it stays! I will say the service can be quite slow, and unfortunately there only seems to be 1 person doing everything (cashier and making drinks). I noticed that especially during covid (perhaps people are making more phone orders, etc.), the service is even slower (taking about 5-10 minutes for someone to be available to take my order, then another 10 minutes to make my drinks). Hopefully they find a better system or more help, but I just keep in mind that I may have to wait longer when I come here. read more

The only drink I order from BAMBU is the #1 special with lychee instead of longan. It's the bomb!!! I don't even care that it's $7.50 lol. The drink is super hydrating, and the lychee goes perfectly with the coconut water. The customer service at this location is excellent. My requests for this drink is kind of complicated, but they always gladly accommodate. read more

I haven't been here in years . I got their pennyworth, #1, #14 and first time trying # 2 Bambu combo. The lady working today is very nice, even apologize for taking a long time on my drinks. She was awesome in suggesting the sugar level since I don't like it too sweet. My #2 bambu combo was on the spot perfectly sweet for me at 25% sweet. She was the only one working and she had a lot of orders which Im not in a rush and don't mind waiting. Busy is always good especially during pandemic. Definitely call in advance to pre-order if your in a rush. Their pandan waffle takes a bit long so it's good to call ahead or be patient. We all are trying to survive during this pandemic. read more

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When you're craving something sweet, Bambu is a nice break from the typical boba and Chinese/Taiwanese dessert options. They specialize in Vietnamese desserts, though you can also get milk tea and boba here. My favorite is the Taro Lover, it's made with REAL TARO, pandan jelly, and coconut milk. Super refreshing and delicious. You get way more quality ingredients for your buck at Bambu. Example: The Bambu Special has coconut, pandan jelly, longan, basil seed, fresh coconut juice for ~$5.95. Now compare that to a cup of boba! read more

Have been craving Bambu! The locations in Hawaii closed so was eager to try it again in the Bay. I like that you can customize the (added) sugar level. The #10 Bambu Favorite itself is already slightly sweet so didn't get any added sugar, and was just right. read more

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Haven't had taro milk tea for a long time, so after dinner nearby I came here for the first time and bought a taro milk tea and was really impressed! The texture of the drink was amazing, as if I could taste the taro powder/chunks while drinking it. The menu looks very interesting and new to me as there're lots of products I've never tried/heard before. Will be interested to come here again next time I'm in the area. read more

BAMBU - T8. Taro Milk Tea - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ordered the Bambu Favorites. It took a little getting used to as I had never had this before, but the chewy, jelly, slightly crunchy textures work well together and are quite nice with the coconut milk. A great caffeine free afternoon treat! read more

Great, refreshing drinks. I'm not a big drinks or boba fan, but I'd periodically crave Bambu! I do enjoy the nutty coconut milk, the chewy pandan jelly, and the variety of other ingredients that can be added to the drink. I usually get 50% sweetness. But if no bean in the drink, it's sometimes not sweet enough. The service is always great. Parking is a bit of a headache around here, so I try to call my order in so I can just quickly pick up. Too bad the prices have really gone up over the years. read more

BAMBU - Current menu as of Jan 2019 - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Usually go there for the Che (#1) which is light and yummy! Love the lychee and the basil seeds and lower calories than the other ones on the menu. Decided to order the pandan waffle and so good! It's crispy on the outside and chewy in the inside! Perfect combination! read more

This place has the best pandan waffles ever!! We used to come here regularly and started getting delivery via app (convenience). Very chewy and crispy waffles. Fruit addict has gotten less sweet but still good. YUM. read more

I ordered the taro milk tea with boba, then found out they were out of boba, which is okay it happens, but was quite disappointed. So I got egg pudding instead. I tried a sip and I felt something crunchy and tasted burnt, believe it or not, the pudding was burnt!!!!! I poured the drink out through a sifter and I was right, the bottom of the pudding was burnt! Let just say it was very nasty tasting :( extremely disappointed, had to throw the whole thing out. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here Twice & ordered the Fruit addict both times. Both tasted different on different weeks. The first one was pretty good & had enough sweetness & plenty of longons & lychees, coconut slices, red water chestnut seeds etc. The second time was alot more disappointing. Less taste, less fruits, less everything & more of a chunk of ice. No matter what, you cant beat the generous San Diego Bambu. The next best one is ithe generous San Jose Bambu. For less the price, its packed to the top. You'll get more ingredient for your dollar instead of paying for a big ball of ice that fills up half that cup. Never coming back. read more

BAMBU - San Francisco is so frugal, if you like eating more chipped ICE... thats the place to get ripped for ice instead of fruits - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had order two durian smoothies add pearls. BUT when I got my order is was two different kind of drinks. Bad services!!!!! ;( read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of my favorite spots to go to if I'm craving a refreshing coconut drink. I wouldn't call it a boba place since it's more of a cafe that serves Vietnamese desserts and drinks cafe. I like to order the freshly made pandan waffles to go. The coconut pudding is a nice cooling treat to have on a hot summer day. read more

Me: hello Bambu? can I place an order to go? yes, we'll get the usual ... * Sipping boba at work * Me: oh, this boba is sooo good! Co-worker: (excited) can't wait to try it! * starts coughing * Me: Don't resist the balls! just swallow ;-) Thank you Bambu for making work time sooo much fun! read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

The smell of pandan waffles on the corner of 25th & Geary...ahhhhhh, makes one want to follow this wonderful scent. We make this our final stop on a Sunday night. The staff are kind and gracious. There's never a massive line like Purple Kow, and all the ingredients are made fresh and healthy. If you're not sure about an item on their menu, they kindly offer you a sample taste. For example, not everyone's palate embraces durian. I love durian, so whatever durian drink they make me I'm content. Not everyone may like cold drinks, and if you ask them to make a #3 hot, they will kindly do so. There are the usual hot drinks to choose from (Vietnamese coffee, hot chocolate, mocha, chai tea, etc.). Some nights are colder than others in SF (most nights); therefore, you may want something warm to sip on. Comfortable seating, clean restroom, and friendly staff who always make our night when we come in 10 minutes 'til closing. Make sure to show them your stamp card. See you tonight, save some waffle mix for us latecomers. read more

BAMBU - Mango-lychee smoothie and #3 served warm w/ yummy pandan waffles :) - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm not a regular therefore no knowledge of this type of drink. Dropped by to pick up a request. Was really surprised at how busy this place is. I heard that this place just opened very recently. Splashes of green colors everywhere. A couple of bar tables with high stools and couches. Lots of customers hanging out enjoying their choice of drink. I was tempted and went for #6 for myself. Coconut with boba pearls. Very refreshing indeed. Street parking and they take cc. read more

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You know, I'm really surprised BAMBU (or a place just like it) hadn't opened up sooner in SF. With all of the different Asian food crazes (dessert cafes, boba, crepes, roti buns, etc.), it seemed inevitable that a Vietnamese dessert place would come around. Especially considering how popular BAMBU seems to be in the South Bay! Even though their menu board is fairly extensive with numerous varieties of drinks and desserts, my eyes went straight for their Chè section. After all, it's their specialty, right? A few of the choices sounded great, but I went with the #6 Chè Trái Cây that came with Lychee, Longan, Red Tapioca, Jackfruit, Palm Seed, Jello, Pandan Jelly, and Coconut Milk. Although it couldn't quite match up with others that I've had in the past, I thought my order wasn't too bad. The flavor of the drink was pretty spot on, and a standard order comes loaded with condiments/toppings. Ironically though, that was also the problem - the ratio of coconut milk to condiments was off. Had there been more coconut milk (and particularly less pandan jelly), I would have enjoyed it more. BAMBU's average of THREE AND A HALF STARS is about right, but I rounded mine down if only because the quarter of a cup of condiments was a bit much at the end. Also, parking can be a little scarce depending on when you come here, but the location is pretty convenient otherwise. Certainly doesn't hurt that the lines here aren't too crazy though! read more

BAMBU - #6 Chè Trái Cây (left) and Black Milk Tea with Grass Jelly (right) - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

An okay boba stop which had some interesting flavors. Borderline on artificially sweet to the point where it was like drinking a liquified jolly rancher. It's a nice spot to chill with lots of seating but the boba leaves something to be desired. The smoothies are excellent though. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

It pays to review and it truly does pay to check in. Today, I went with my brother (another Bambu convert and fiend) and the guy who's always there took my order and then asked if I was Dina. Caught me off guard of course, but he thanked me for my previous yelp review and gave me a free drink card for being a loyal customer (and my review). AWESOME!!!! Love that Bambu SF is consistent. Always. Haven't had a smoothie I didn't like, yet. But I don't expect to. I think we're tainted for any other boba spots bc we frequent this one all too often and have expectations for everything to taste like this. Case in point we went to Sweet Coco in Fremont recently and we were SO disappointed. Thank you Bambu SF and thank you to the gentleman behind the counter who is always there, I honestly should already know your name bc we are there so often!!! read more

Delicious! Got the bambu special #1 with no sugar and it was so refreshing. My husband got the passion fruit with jelly half sweet and it was great read more

BAMBU - 1. Bambu Special with no sugar - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very cozy and warm place to hang out. With new management, Drink and services is greatly improved. Recommended to try their waffle if you have time and not in rush, fresh and tasty. Will come back again when I'm in town. read more

BAMBU - Hazelnut mocha and house popular no.10! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am amazingly surprised by the Che! Dessert drinks: I have only tried #10 dessert but it was surprisingly good. I liked the combination of red tapioca , pandan jelly, coconut milk , grass jelly and ice. It's not too sweet but it's not plain at all. The red tapioca is new to me, it's actually crunchy. Other tapioca I've had is always soft and chewy. I would definitely get this again or to try a new Che drink! read more

BAMBU - #10 - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm glad that they are still open due to the pandemic. I visited the other day and was pleased with their service. I ordered two waffles, a number 5 & 10 and they were outstanding in taste. It really filled my stomach up and satisfied my two kids. To add on their overall customer service and wait time was quick and efficient. I would recommend to anyone to come try it out for themselves. read more

BAMBU - W1. Coco-Pandan Waffles and 10. Bambu Favorite Che - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been to the Bambu in San Jose and to this SF location once, and I just have to say I LOVE the ambiance. It has a very comforting atmosphere good for talks and catching up with people. Lots of couches and seating. Keep in mind I have only been here in the day time, so I can imagine how crowded it gets at night. I typically don't have Che that often, so I decided to experiment and see what I felt was best for me. I ordered the Chè suong sáo hat luu which had grass jelly, pandan jelly, red tapioca, jello, and mung bean. On top of that (because add-ons are FREE!) I put in mango, taro, and tapioca pearls. I don't know why they don't have a huge list for add-ons because the girl at the counter had to verbally tell me everything they offered. But besides that, it was about $3.25-$3.50 I think? SO worth it! I remember getting my dessert and it was stuffed. Looked like a party in my cup. It was great the first few bites then everything together just got too sweet and I was REALLY full afterwards. So.. I guess that was too many things put into one but now I know what add-ons I like and don't like. I wouldn't mind coming back here again. Just don't try driving since parking might suck. Take the bus; the 38 Geary bus stops RIGHT in front! How convenient! read more

Coconut pudding!!!!!!!!!! They take a young Thai coconut and they must use some sort of powder to transform the coconut water into a jello-like pudding. It's $6, but worth it (until I figure out how to make this magical pudding on my own). They have fancy Asian drinks with unique mix-ins. Pretty exotic; definitely worth trying. read more

BAMBU - Coconut pudding. This is the best!!!!!!! - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

great original refreshing drinks that you can control the sugar level of. (i often order a bunch of drinks for dessert after family meals) good pandan waffles most importantly, they are the only place in SF with kickass durian shakes only thing is i hate waiting until they open at noon on the weekends. (11am would be perfect - i'm insanely thirsty after class ends at 11am and hate killing an hour of my saturday until they open) if you have coffee on your menu, open up before noon read more

Delicious Vietnamese style milk tea. Very spacious and great service. This is has a good selection of milk tea. read more

BAMBU - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Francisco, California

There's staff is very friendly to help me out about choosing drink at the first time I visit, and also the drink is healthy because they said all the ingredient is homemade read more

I love drinks: both alcoholic and sweet! Bambu, though it is somewhat of a chain, and is growing at a slower speed than the infamous QUICKLEY'S, is so much more than tapioca! Most people come to BAMBU for their dessert drinks, however, they also offer smoothies, coffee/tea, and tapioca drinks that you can find almost anywhere. On the inside, space is enough to accomodate waiting customers if there were ever a line (unlike TPumps where there is barely enough space on the inside), is very clean, and has a large menu showcasing all of their offerings. You are also free to add as many ingredients as you want to any of the offerings. Before meeting up with my friends to Fort Mason's Off The Grid, I stopped by to order the #17 - taro with coconut milk (I replaced the pandan jelly with red tapioca [which is a tapioca shell with a chestnut filling for added crunch], and added basil seeds). Wow, it was delicious, and super creamy. I was a bit doubtful due to the large ball of shaven ice, and after mixing it all together - it brings the drink all together. YUM! After eating at Off The Grid, I visit BAMBU once again, but this time with my friend who was eager to get her BAMBU fix. I don't quite remember what my friend ordered, though she ordered two drinks of the same type - coconut milk, mung bean, pandan jelly, coconut meat, and red tapioca in one of the two drinks. My friend is "cray cray" for BAMBU. Heres what I ordered on my second visit in the same day: #1 special, with a suggestion from my friend - coconut meat, coconut juice, basil seeds, pandan jelly, replaced longan with lychee, added jackfruit, and added tapioca pearls for more texture. It was very refreshing, and really enjoyable. I ordered the #17 again, but this time for my brother - coconut milk, taro, pandan jelly, added basil seeds, added tapioca pearls, and requested more taro. MMMMMM, this combination of #17 trumps what I had originally ordered. The associate at the front desk said that my drinks were very customized! My brother really liked the drink I got him! Everyone at BAMBU were enjoying their drinks and chit chatting at the same time. I also noticed that one family compared BAMBU to that of any STARBUCKS: which is incorrect, because STARBUCKS is known for their coffee, whereas BAMBU is known for their dessert drinks. I am definitely coming back for more! [Accepts all types of credit cards] read more

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