It's my mission to check out at least one boba shop whenever I travel, here was my experience…read more AMBIANCE: Parking: It's in a plaza. We didn't have much issues as there was a lot of space. Seating: Both inside and outside seating. Great for groups and patio seating outside to keep you dry. Vibes: It's in a plaza, maybe 10 minutes away from Downtown Birmingham. The plaza consists of restaurants, a gym, and a grocery store. The spot itself is spacious, clean, and welcoming. A great place to hang out with friends or be friends. FOOD: Peppermint Boba (Recommend) A seasonal drink that was a pleasant delight. The peppermint wasn't too strong, it was well balanced with milk and the boba was chewy. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great! The store opened and there was a rush of 3 customers. The kid in front took care of it well. TL; DR OVERALL: 5 Stars. Great! This is a solid enough representation of boba so it's glad to be shared here in the Dirty South! The prices are reasonable, food is delicious, and I appreciated the range/variety they provided. For those craving a boba fix, be sure to check this place out! Shoutouts to Ashley and Tam Duong for bringing this delight to Alabama and best wishes to new owner, Hugo Anguiano, and his team on this business. TIPS: * Check online for their seasonal specials! * Check out their article! https://bhamnow.com/2021/12/17/thirstea-cafe-to-open-at-the-pizitz/

Ordered a jasmine milk tea. It's basically jasmine-flavored iced water. For $8 (order + tip), this…read moreis basically a fancy water.

I haven't been back here in years and let me tell you. I have missed it so so much…read more When you first pull up you can see the oriental market that is attached to Red Pearl. Once you walk in you will take a right inside and then go to be seated. The staff were all incredibly nice and checked on us multiple times. The food? Absolutely amazing. Seriously, I cant rave enough about how good it was. We sampled each other's food and it was even better than how I originally remembered! The food was a 10/10 and is such an amazing place to get food. The lights And arrangement inside looked gorgeous and it was so clean inside. We loved getting to enjoy the food and check out the super market while we were inside! We will definitely be coming back soon!

I will drop you down a star for taking my suggestions lightly and making excuses…read more It was not the server it was most all of the servers were sitting down not doing their jobs. I had zero problems with my server . I know she was told as they all were to do the silverware. Plus I have lived in Al my whole life. I know about our heat. No your place was too hot. Your food is good but your service for the most part blows. Also a guy server said something rude to me and then when I asked him what he said he said jk. It was not felt rude it was rude when I asked him to tell me again what he said he wouldn't tell me. I heard excuses . Sorry just because you have been in business a long time does not mean I have to support rudeness or a place that doesn't care about my business. **Also if you would go down through the reviews there is a common theme your service is lacking and has been for many, many years. ** Responsibility should be taken and not excuses I will not be in a hurry to come b and my money spends elsewhere. Your loss truly! Other places appreciate my business . Too bad

I've been to Teaspoon a few times since they have opened a while ago. They have a great variety to…read moretheir menu. While the selections are good; I find them to be on the sweeter side even after adjusting sweetness to be 25% or below. The store is small, cute, clean. Staff is friendly and smiling. The order took no time to make. I ordered a Guava Sunset with 25% sweetness during my most recent visit which was refreshing yet still too sweet for me. I'd order again and go down to 10% sweetness. Guava Sunset - Freshly blended guava & pineapple marmalade w/ a splash of lemon juice.

Drinks first, thoughts after... Teaspoon is conveniently…read morelocated next to the great ono poke and taco mama. They offer various drinks and overall they are decent. The boba I will say are really good. The perfect texture and sweetness. The tea is not too strong. I am a tea person and this place is more sweet drinks. I always get 10-25% sweetness and even then the ratio is surprising. If I am at the summit and think boba is a good idea, sure I'll grab one from teaspoon, but I would not go out of my way.

Really great little place. Got a big, excellent breakfast sandwich and a bunch of donuts for a…read moregreat price. They even threw in a bunch of freebies! Super nice folks.

Great iced coffee. Donut just ok. Breakfast taco had egg shells in it. Took 3 bites and every bite…read morehad a crunch. Big no for me. Ended up throwing it away.

Hometown Grocery has become my go-to when in Birmingham. The more I shop there, the more it feels…read morelike a hidden gem that deserves far more recognition. What sets it apart isn't just one standout feature--it's the rare combination of variety, quality, and fair pricing all in one place. Start with the produce section. The vegetable selection is genuinely impressive, with enough variety to build vibrant, fiber-rich salads that never feel repetitive. Whether I'm in the mood for something earthy and hearty or light and crisp, there's always a fresh option ready to go. It's the kind of produce aisle that makes eating well feel effortless rather than like a chore. Then there's the meat counter, which might be my favorite part of the store. Hometown doesn't just stock the basics--they carry cuts that most grocery stores overlook entirely. Fish backs, pork riblets, braised ribs--these are ingredients that serious home cooks know are gold for stocks, slow braises, and deeply flavorful one-pot meals. Finding them fresh and well-priced, rather than having to hunt through specialty butchers, is a genuine luxury. And that's really the heart of it: the prices. Everything here feels fair, even generous, given the quality you're getting. In a landscape where "fresh" and "affordable" rarely show up together, Hometown manages to deliver both without compromise. Shopping here feels like being let in on something the rest of the world hasn't caught onto yet. It's not flashy or over-marketed--it just consistently delivers. Honestly, more grocery stores should be built this way: thoughtful variety, real freshness, and prices that don't punish you for wanting to eat well.

I love the Hometown Supermarket! I've been a bunch of times over the years and I'm always blown…read moreaway by the selection of items they have from around the world! The produce department always yields something I've never heard of. The seafood department contains everything from live fish and crab to jellyfish! They have sections for different areas of the world, From Asia to Africa. I took the kids one year for a festival I think for the Chinese new year, but I'm not positive because it's been so long. It was a lot of fun and we got to learn how different dishes were made. They also have a tea bar where you can get Boba made, and there is a restaurant called Mr. Chen's attached to the store. That is also really good. If you're looking for something different, definitely go check them out!

Got the Blueberry Breeze and and it was amazing. Made to order. Service was quick. Ambiance was…read moreamazing. Spacious and clean.

I love a good boba tea, and Thirstea in The Pizitz Food Hall is probably the most convenient place…read morein downtown Birmingham to get your boba fix. You can choose the kind of boba you want as well as the drink. I've never had a bad experience here!

Daughter and I decided to do a progressive dinner... We let ChatGPT choose our stops and our…read moremenu... we were super excited when we saw that Saigon was chosen for its spring rolls because of course they are our absolute favorites! Charbroiled pork and shrimp spring rolls are the best... And of course, I had to add some hot drip coffee! Always a great stop... Always great service... And they were watching the World Cup so we didn't even have to miss out!

Saigon Noodle House ROCKS ! Another great meal this evening. Both me and crazy guest, a complete…read moreNUT; enjoyed everything ordered. This place is so dang consistent! The Spring rolls are like nobody's else I've ever seen, excellent with peanut sauce- you will want extra peanut sauce if you like this as much as I do. The Sandwiches- YUMMY - The Vietnamese ham, roasted pork and Pâté with "bimmy" bread or whatever they call the fresh made bread is so soft and unbelievable! The PHO'S - The Standard P1- Delicious with brisket, tenon, etc ( nothing waisted LOL ) with fresh cut onions, bean sprouts, and so many other wonderful ingredients including fresh herbs. - The Coconut Curry Seafood Pho - is also delicious with squid, shrimp and fresh seafood of the day and excellent noodles. I will be back soon

I'll give it a four star because it hasn't been as good as it used to be! I still love the Szechuan…read morebeef noodle soup!

Didn't eat at the restaurant but the supermarket portion is very nice. It's has a great selection…read moreof items which include different foods and sauces, toiletries and kitchen equipment.