The employee who helped me at the register was SO knowledgeable about the menu, and gave me great recommendations for which products were vegan-friendly. I think her name was AJ? I couldn't quite read the name tag. She was excellent, thank you! The vegetarian (vegan if you get it with sweet chili sauce instead of aioli) popcorn chicken was super flavorful and crispy. Definitely a shareable portion between 2 people as a hefty snack, and 3-4 people if you just want a small bite. The taro sweet milk tea was unlike any other taro drink I've had before, because there seemed to be actual mashed taro in the bottom of the drink. It was presented beautifully layered, and it kind of tasted like strawberry milk to me. Fun to try, and looking forward to trying other drinks next time! The inside of the cafe had plentiful and comfortable seating, a great playlist, and it was clean. Big thank you to this business for having vegan-friendly food AND drink options that don't just omit the milk, but actually have a non-dairy substitute and no powdered creamer. I'll definitely be back! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Taro Sweet Milk with oat milk, 25% sweet Vegetarian Popcorn Chicken (ordered with sweet chili sauce instead of aioli to make vegan-friendly) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

The interior of Bopomofo was simple and clean. There was an abundance of parking in the front, and one could place an online order if needed. My group tried an assortment of items today, family-style. 4/5 Mapo Tofu Tots: This was pretty unique, a fusion of two worlds - eastern (mapo tofu) and western (tots and cheese). I personally did not care for the cheese, but the mapo tofu was quite tasty, a mild flavor not yet reaching a spicy level where I'd guzzle water. Others in my group favored this item amongst the 3 we tried, while I thought it was okay. 4.5/5 Scallion pancake with popcorn chicken, egg, and cheese. The scallion pancake was light, flaky, and layered, pretty authentic in flavor. It's probably my own bias, but I was also not a fan of the cheese in this dish, though it had a melty consistency others might like. They provided an umami sweet sauce to add. 4/5 Pineapple bun with popcorn chicken. This was a unique take on how one could combine snackable Chinese/Taiwanese food. The Pineapple Bun was somewhat sweet and buttery, tasty on its own, but raised question marks for me. It was an unexpected combo with the savory popcorn chicken. The chicken was crispy and we ordered it mild. 5/5 Strawberry Basil Lemonade: This drink was on the sweeter side at 100%, but very refreshing and not tart. I'd order it again. The strawberry flavors were somewhat strong in this one. 5/5 Guava Jinxuan Oolong Tea: I was a fan of Jinxuan oolong while touring Taiwan, so I was excited to see this authentic strain of tea on the menu. When unmixed, the guava syrup/purée was a bit sweet, but I did enjoy this drink. I didn't taste the unique milky oolong flavors though. The slightly bitter tea notes came out at the end, though I'd also reorder this. Bopomofo was an adventure for my and my group's taste buds, I would probably come back to try other drinks and dishes. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Having tried the first location in SGV, we wanted to try this when visiting SD. Store was very clean and welcoming and staff was very helpful and understand. We originally got a matcha black sesame, Blueberry Orange green, tea and Lychee pear blossom but didn't like the BOG as much as the lychee pear blossom. The staff were super nice and accommodating in replacing our order for a different drink. Parking was easily accessible on weekend. read more

Bopomofo Cafe is located in the same parking lot as the Costco and Target. Because it's smack dab in the middle, parking isn't too terrible. The cafe serves both drinks and food. However, we just came for a matcha. At this point, there are few matchas in San Diego I haven't tried. I'm constantly scouring and it's easy to rate a good one from a bad one. For me, it's about the matcha presence- does the deep and rich matcha flavor come through or is the milk or flavoring overpowering? The color is often a quick indicator. I ended up getting the matcha with sesame, which seems to be a seasonal item not always on the permanent menu. They went HEAVY on the sesame. It was so thick and pasty that it was pretty overpoweringly filling the straw in deep globs. The matcha itself was okay. Not my favorite, but still in the category of good. I think the bonus here is that they serve food so that if you'd like that option, it's available. read more

The menu is a good mix of drinks, snacks, and food. I'll come here if I'm craving a variety since there is a wide range of options on the menu. I wanted a caffeine-free drink and there were a few drinks to choose from. I'm always glad when boba shops have caffeine-free options. The strawberry corn milk was good. I love sweet corn flavor. I was able to adjust the sweetness. The boba was well made (cooked through) and sweetened nicely. The bento was solid, but I regret choosing spicy slaw. I usually like some spice, but I guess not with cabbage. You can choose from white meat or dark meat for the popcorn chicken. The white meat is still tender and moist though. My only complaint is how long it took for my order to get prepared. There was only one customer before me in line. I think it took 30-35 minutes. Or maybe my order was ready, but not placed on the counter... I was waiting patiently looking towards the counter. Ambiance is bright and there are people on their laptops studying or working. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Strawberry Corn Milk - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Bopomofo Cafe, a place with such amazing customer service that just falls short with their drinks that it almost pains me to give the place three stars. The obvious pros: the attentive waiters. Noticed my friend was wearing a shirt made for my birthday this past year, noticed my name matched with the shirt, wished me a happy birthday. Hilarious and unexpected! Wanted an adjustment on sweetness on a couple drinks, was gladly served. Free size upgrades with a valid student ID. How accomodating! The obvious cons: the lackluster drinks. This was my first time, but my friend's eighth. He said its always hit or miss, erring on the side of miss. Such a wide range of types, colors, and flavors. There is definitely variety and camera-appeal, but the guava matcha was way too sweet from the guava, the teas tasted watery, and the addition of the milk diluted the flavor. I would love to give a higher review to childhood superstars, fellow UCSD alumni, Asian American representation Wong Fu, and maybe we all ordered the wrong things, but I would love to see the food quality match that of the service and vibes! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Jasmine Milk Tea, Honey Roasted Oolong Milk Tea, Ba-La Matcha, Assam Milk Tea - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I followed Phil from Wongfu forever, so it was exciting to be able to stop by a Bopomofo for the first time on our trip! Impressive bubble teas and food. The drink wasn't to my taste - I think I'm just not used to fruit with matcha, but I could tell the matcha was high quality as was the lactose-free milk. The bubbles had a really nice QQ texture as well. The Taiwanese popcorn chicken blew me away - I've had lots of this dish but this one was unique. You can choose breast or thigh, spicy or mild. The thai basil aioli really put this chicken over the top! The walnut shrimp burger wasn't to my personal taste (I think it needed more sauce and the walnuts didn't really stay with the sandwich, kept falling off), but my husband loved it so to each their own! I wish I lived here and could try everything on their menu! What a creative menu. read more

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I've been a fan of Wong Fu for years and since we were visiting SD, I was excited to visit Bopomofo! I tried their Spring menu and got the High Mountain Paradise drink with tapioca. It featured fresh mango and peach. I really enjoyed how refreshing the drink was and how it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet (I opted for 0% sweetness level, so the fruit was the only source of sweetness). The staff was friendly. Lots of people were studying, but we found a spot on the counter and even had enough space for my baby in his stroller. We'd love to return when in town again! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Spring menu - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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First time at Bopomofo and I was impressed! Went here on a Tuesday evening and there wasn't any line! Most of the seats were taken inside from people studying but there was seating outdoors. (: Service was quick and friendly. Me and my friend ordered the spicy Taiwanese popcorn chicken and two drinks: the strawberry milk corn and the guava jin Xuan Oolong tea. Both drinks had a lot of flavor and extremely refreshing. The oolong tea was from their seasonal menu! They had a wide variety of different drinks from the regular menu and the seasonal drink menu! Their popcorn chicken was extremely juicy and the seasoning for the spicy chicken was so tasty. The chicken really was cooked to perfectly with the perfect crunch. It came with a spicy mayo dipping sauce which went so well with the popcorn chicken!! I am excited to come back soon to try their other food and drinks! Parking was also a plus. It had a huge parking lot unlike other spots in Convoy/Claremont! read more

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I came in today for lunch, and their menu looked good. The cashier up front was great and gave us lots of recommendations. I ordered the seasonal green onion pancake chicken wrap. Green onion pancakes are my favorite and it's been a while since I've made one at home. I thought it would be a nice treat to have this, but my pancake was very burnt and the chicken tenders inside the wrap were soggy. I also ordered the guava matcha and although the guava taste was nice, my drink was almost all guava and did not taste like matcha at all. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Guava matcha - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Been back a few times and honestly I prefer the food over the drinks! The shrimp burger and popcorn chicken are so good, though a bit pricey. The triple strawberry matcha and ba-la matcha are decent, but the matcha isn't super strong and has a slight bitter taste. Wish they would bring back the lychee berry bliss! read more

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I had heard good things about Bopomofo and finally got to try it recently. We came for a late lunch and it was surprisingly busy on a weekday afternoon, we had to sit at the side table/counter (it seemed like most of the people sitting at the tables were studying). The restaurant was very modern and clean, and the staff was friendly for the most part. We ordered the mapo tots, honey walnut shrimp burger, and the weekday deal which included a regular milk tea and popcorn chicken. I really liked the popcorn chicken, it was very crispy (it's nice they give a choice of white or dark meat for the popcorn chicken). I also really enjoyed the mapo tots, it was a creative and tasty dish. The shrimp patty in the burger was also good/juicy, but it didn't seem to be anything special (and also seemed overpriced and a bit small). Otherwise we enjoyed the food/milk tea here! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Excellent food and drinks. Clean location and large. I like the popcorn chicken the best. You can choose white or dark meat for popcorn chicken. The chicken was fried perfectly and the flavorful. The aioli was perfect match. The crispy shrimp burger was good. But the weird part is the buns was cold and the shrimp patty was hot. So the temp change was totally weird to eat a hot patty and cold patty. Service was friendly and helpful. Will come back to this location again read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the blueberry matcha with oat milk, and it was pretty good! I really enjoyed the matcha flavor. I do wish I had gotten it half sweet, though, since I'm not a fan of overly sweet drinks. If you're like me and don't like things too sweet, I'd definitely recommend ordering it half sweet. read more

We went there on Saturday at 2 pm and they were somehow so busy even past the lunch time. We got mapo tots, hainan chicken tacos, and popcorn chicken. My favorite was popcorn chicken, the chicken was so tender and flavorful, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, tasted even better than some popcorn chicken in Taiwan. The side sauce of basil mayo was not a common for popcorn chicken, people in Taiwan don't dip there chicken with sauce, but it surprised me cause this basil mayo cleaned my palate after eating too many piece of fried chicken. I was most excited about the mapo tots, but it was soooo salty and heavy, it might be weird to say but I thought it should come with rice lol. The mapo tofu on top was good but the flavor was too strong for me, and with oily tots, I felt I could drink a gallon of water when eating this. The hainan chicken tacos were good, very mild flavor compared to the mapo tots. But the tortilla broke apart when eating this, I thought it was too wet, and speaking of hainan chicken, I expected there would be some scallion oil flavor but there wasn't, so this was mild for me. The hojicha latte was great though, very strong hojicha flavor. read more

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Let's go grab a fun and creative drink? I'm down! Bopomofo Cafe is known for creative Taiwanese-inspired drinks and snacks, offering milk teas, fruit teas, specialty coffee drinks, and fun combinations you don't usually see at typical boba shops. This location sits between two major retailers, Costco and Target, but their part of the parking lot is rarely packed which makes visiting pretty easy. There were already a good amount of people inside when we arrived. Some were sitting and working remotely, others chatting with friends, and a few waiting for their orders. The main drink menu is displayed on the back wall near the register. There's also a QR code posted along the line for ordering and laminated menus near the counter. They offer a wide range of drinks and a lot of them sounded interesting, but the one that stood out the most to me was the corn milk with strawberry sorbet. I also added egg pudding to my drink. My husband ordered the brown sugar buzz. The employee helping us was very kind and made sure to adjust sweetness and ice levels the way most cafes do. The next part is really the only reason this visit loses a star. Our drinks took quite a while to come out. I'm usually a patient person but it seemed like there was only one employee making drinks. We waited for a while and the cafe itself runs pretty warm. With the large windows letting in natural light, it heated up quickly. Eventually our name was called and we picked up our drinks. One thing I immediately noticed is how much they care about presentation. The drinks looked amazing and luckily they tasted just as good. My corn strawberry milk was incredible. It was perfectly sweet and definitely corn lover approved. The strawberry sorbet sits on top so you have to give it a minute to melt and mix into the drink. Once it does, the flavors come together really nicely. I honestly hope they make a corn matcha in the future because that would be a showstopper. The egg pudding topping I could have done without though. It lacked flavor and mostly added a mild sweet gelatinous texture. I was hoping it would add more creaminess. The brown sugar buzz was one of the better coffee drinks I've had and I'm normally more of a tea person. It was slightly sweet but the espresso still came through nicely so it didn't just taste like milk. Overall super tasty drinks! I hope they work on reducing wait times soon. read more

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Came here for some food recently and ordered the Taiwanese spicy chicken sandwich (regular and spicy) and the mapo tots. Everything tasted pretty good but the main thing that threw us off was that the bun on the Taiwanese spicy chicken sandwich was sweet. Inside the store was really nice and clean with a couple places to sit down and eat. The workers were also pretty nice and the food came out quickly! I'll be back to try some more of their menu items and drinks read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Mapo Tots (1), Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich (1), Spicy Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich (1) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Really wanted the nori fish sandwich and mapo tater tots while visiting California for a short time this week. I used to love getting them when I lived in OC so this was a nonnegotiable must stop for me. The order really should have been placed ahead of time to cut down on wait. The inside of the store here had limited seatings for waiting or eating. The outside patio has no shades or umbrellas making it unpleasant to eat if you burn quickly like me. The food was absolutely delicious. So totally worth the detour. But the wait time was nearly 25 minutes and it was just uncomfortable getting sunburnt waiting on my food. Highly recommend placing an order ahead of time. read more

Their meal deal plan gives you a free drink when you purchase food, which is an amazing incentive to come out when you really want to stay inside! There are plenty of parking spots as well as free WiFi. Table seating is pretty limited since many come here to study, but there are outdoor options as well. The music in the store makes dining in here feel lively. My friend and I got the spicy and regular popcorn chicken meals along with their assam milk tea. The baristas were super informative and provided great suggestions for sugar and ice levels on their drinks. Both chicken were juicy on the inside with light crisp outside. I was impressed by their thai basil and chili aioli, which paired well with the side salad and chicken. The creamy savory sauces make the chicken melt right in your mouth. The assam milk tea had a strong caramel flavor that wasn't too overwhelming. It served as a nice light pairing for my meal. I am always excited to see what they are innovating at Bopomofo and I will be coming back soon! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Popcorn Chicken (1) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Got an ice oolong tea, no sugar with boba. Initial thoughts was that the boba was a little overcooked. The tea didn't really stand out to me but that it's a good thing. It definitely did satisfy a craving and prices are comparable to other tea houses. Service is friendly and quick. read more

Bopomofo pulled me in with their Honey Walnut Shrimp burger (a must when ordering Chinese). Located in between the Costco Business center and Target, it is the perfect place for a post-errand treat. I ordered the Assam milk tea (unsweetened) and the burger. The milk tea was standard. I appreciated that they not only had lactose free milk/oat milk for no charge, but that the tea itself wasn't overly milky. The burger didn't quite live up to the hype for me, but it was still really good. The shrimp wasn't chewy at all, there was a nice crunch with the walnuts, and a tiny bit of heat with the jalapeño. It just didn't scream "honey walnut shrimp" to me. Service is friendly and there is ample seating-seemed like a lot of people were studying. I'll probably be back after my next business center trip! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Bopomofo Cafe is an elevated version of the traditional Taiwanese tea & snack shop. The beverages are well crafted, tea forward, and unique in their combinations. I loved the honey walnut shrimp burger! The fried shrimp patty is juicy, topped with sliced jalapeños and honey walnut crumble, and sandwiched in a chewy toasted bun. The lu rou rice bowl is comforting and familiar, and they give a very big portion. Service is quick, food is prepped fresh, and there are plenty of small tables around to chow down on. I wouldn't recommend coming with large groups unless you grab & go. Parking is easy and plentiful. read more

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Bopomofo feels like the restaurant equivalent of someone who discovered the hipster movement on a delay. Everyone else already did the reclaimed wood, the ironic merch, the "we're just a humble neighborhood spot with a PR team" aesthetic. Bopomofo rolls in like it just unlocked that level and wants you to notice. The Taiwanese chicken sandwich is good. It's fine. It's competent. But the buzz around it has that suspicious, slightly inflated quality, like people are praising it because they feel they're supposed to. The sandwich itself tastes like it's auditioning for a role in a trend that peaked three years ago. Crunchy chicken, aromatic seasoning, a bun that behaves itself. All respectable. None revolutionary. But this place isn't really about the food. It's about the adventure of documenting the food. You don't go to Bopomofo to eat. You go to curate. You go to capture the moment where the sandwich sits at a flattering angle in natural light. You go to prove you were there, participating in the cultural moment that everyone insists is happening even if the moment itself feels a little manufactured. The vibe inside is less "culinary destination" and more "content studio with a kitchen attached." Every corner looks designed for a soft‑focus portrait of your lunch. Every plate feels engineered to be held aloft for a photo before it ever touches your mouth. It's the kind of place where you can practically hear the ambient hum of influencers warming up their ring lights. And that's the thing. The sandwich is good enough, but the hype is doing the heavy lifting. People talk about it like it's a pilgrimage, but the experience lands closer to a field trip for your camera roll. You leave full, sure, but you also leave with the faint suspicion that the meal was secondary to the performance of having had it. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Absolutely love their bala matcha drink, strong matcha flavor and the guava complements it well. The food is also really good with crispy chicken and balanced flavors. A decent amount of indoor seating but can be difficult to grab a seat if you're planning on staying for a while. Can order ahead to save time with the line. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Disappointed with my experience this time. I've been here before and ordered the lychee pear blossom, which was delicious, so we ordered it again expecting the same quality. Unfortunately, it tasted completely off this visit, bland and bitter, nothing like before. I asked one of the cashiers if they could fix it, but he came back and said they couldn't because we had already taken a sip. I understand sanitary policies, but there's really no way to know a drink doesn't taste right unless you try it first. Instead of offering a remake or a replacement, they handed us a small cup of syrup to sweeten it ourselves, which honestly didn't help and felt like a lazy solution. No effort was made to remake the drink or offer an alternative, which was frustrating and disappointing, especially since this is a drink I've enjoyed here in the past. Probably won't be ordering it again. read more

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I had to come here once I found this place as I grew up going to Chinese School every Sunday where I learned bopomofo. What is bopomofo? IYKYK... Im actually quite fond of the system bopomofo as it helped me as a kid to really learn Chinese characters. It was a time in my life where I had quality time with my mom. My father doesn't know bopomofo as well as my mom, so it was a special language I share with mom that my dad couldn't be part of. In any case, Bopomofo Cafe was open on Xmas and I really enjoyed coming here after visiting Mitsuwa (which was also open on xmas) and gave their hojicha latte (hot) a try. It was a bit more grainy than I like and I like a very smooth hojicha, so this was just a tad bit off the mark for me. I decided to stop in again to give them another try and ordered an iced hojicha corn latte (50% sweet) and also a heritage lurou fan. The hojicha corn latte unfortunately was too sweet for me and not sure I liked the hojicha & corn combo. I may give this another try next time I am back and ask for 25% sweetness or I might move onto something else. The heritage lurou fan was delicious, this was 5 stars! The pork belly was cooked very well, melts in your mouth and the right flavors! I loved this dish and will definitely be back for this! The other thing I really like about this place is they use lactose free milk as their "normal" milk and that made me pretty happy. I have lactose intolerant issues and can't enjoy certain dairy, but this place just made this a non issue for me! Thanks! The space is really nice and you could linger a bit here and get work done or just hang out. Its kind of dangerous this place is right behind Costco's but its a good location with ample parking. Id definitely come back again! I told my mom about this place and she got a kick out of the name! Me too! I deducted one star because the hojicha latte offerings just didn't work for me. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Heritage lurou fan - delicious (5 stars) - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Love the seasonal changes! Matcha guava is a great addition but the corn drink will always be the go to here. read more

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Bopomofo is easily the best spot for popcorn chicken in San Diego! The interior is spotless and has a great vibe for studying, and the outdoor seating is a nice touch for sunny days. I highly recommend the BA-LA Matcha, a perfect balance of guava and matcha. The staff is incredibly friendly and the menu is full of unique, customizable drinks. I do appreciate their service policy. they really seem to care about getting your order right. I have my eye on the Nori Fish Sandwich for my next visit :P read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Mapo Tots & Spicy Popcorn Chicken - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

4.5 stars based on at least 3 visits. 5 stars for the food. Heritage Braised Pork Belly rice - really delicious and must get. Although I really really dislike the use of eco-friendly paper container, despite it lined with a smaller parchment paper, the rice keeps sticking to the container. Mapo Tots - it's saltier than I would like but it's a great appetizer! Popcorn chicken - The thai basil aioli is yummy. Standard and expected crispy and seasoned just right! 4 stars for the drinks. I appreciate the use of all whole ingredients! I really enjoyed Ba-La Matcha. Hojicha latte uses a powder, and I am not a fan of powdered hojicha, but the flavors are on point. Assam black tea is quite strong, and really fragrant. read more

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Bopomofo Cafe is easily one of my favorite spots in San Diego for matcha and boba. I've been here multiple times before finally giving it a review here on yelp, and I just found out they're owned by a couple of my childhood inspiration lol. I tried their Triple Strawberry Matcha and it was smooth, flavorful, and not overly sweet. The menu is unique and has a lot of creative options you won't find at most cafes. The staff was friendly, the service was quick, and the café itself was clean with a great atmosphere to hang out and relax. It wasn't super packed considering I went on a Saturday morning. Everything felt fresh and high quality. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu. Highly recommend if you're a matcha lover! read more

ORDERING AHEAD IS A MUST!! One thing to keep in mind though: make sure you let them know you're there to pick up your order. I've learned that if you don't check in, they may not start making it right away and your order can end up getting forgotten. My absolute favorite drink here is the Hey Sesame Milk. It tastes incredibly fresh and actually tastes like real sesame instead of artificial flavoring. I'm also a big fan of the Orange Wang when I'm in the mood for something lighter and more refreshing. One thing I really appreciate is that they don't charge extra for non-dairy milk. That's becoming so rare these days, and as someone who usually orders dairy-free drinks, I seriously love them for that. My only complaint is that they don't offer any blended drinks. Bopomofo, if you're reading this, please add some to the menu! Overall, the drinks are consistently delicious and keep me coming back. Drinks: 10/10 Service: 8.5/10 read more

Ever since I tried Bopomofo's walnut shrimp burger, I've been dreaming about every time. When I'm in town, I need to make a visit. This location is pretty big compared to the other SD location I've been to. More parking and next to Costco. Ordering process was quick and easy. They had some god combo deals. Lovely interior and abundance of seating. Walnut shrimp burger was just how I remember. Consistency and perfection. Great size and flavor. Paired with their summer blossom green tea, which was so refreshing! I tried the mapo tofu tots and thought it was just ok. Too oily and heavy for me. The Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich was massive and was very, very saucy. Overall, good place for drinks and food!! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Walnut shrimp burger - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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I like their Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger. It's so unique and surprisingly good. The combination of flavors is unlike any other burger I've had before. Their Spicy Popcorn Chicken is also really good. I've been to Taiwan, and honestly, I haven't found better Taiwanese popcorn chicken anywhere than TapEx... but Bopomofo's version comes close. I can't even decide which one I like more. TapEx's is crispier, while Bopomofo's is softer and juicier. Both are yummy in their own ways, though Bopomofo's does come at a higher price point (same goes for the pricey burgers). There is limited seating. About half of the shop seems to be a standing area, which feels like wasted space that could easily fit more tables. They have outdoor seating without shade... it would behoove them to add some umbrellas. The food's so good it almost made me forget I just paid gourmet prices for popcorn chicken and a burger. read more

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Came here on a Saturday morning right when they opened! Kind of wished they were opened a little earlier since I like to have my caffeine around 9am. My friend was raving about their matcha corn latte, but I found out today it was seasonal. It'll be back next year so hopefully I'll get to try that. I knew I wanted a matcha today and they had new seasonal drinks. I ended up getting their Triple Strawberry Matcha Latte. Oh my gosh, I was trying so hard to sip it slow. The matcha puree on the bottom and the Strawberry cold foam was delicious. I was scared the strawberry was going to overpower the matcha, but it was a perfect balance. Location is right next to my favorite ramen spot Kitakata. Plenty of parking! Cage has plenty of seating inside and outside. Whenever I pass this place for Kitakata I always see people studying or multiple groups just hanging out. Hoping to have this again before it disappears! Try if you haven't already! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - The Triple Strawberry Matcha - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here as I was craving a nice boba drink and this place is a solid place to satisfy those cravings! There is a lot of parking and located next to different food places as well. The place was clean and the worker was friendly when taking my order. My order came out within 5 minutes of waiting. I got the assam milk tea with boba and the drink itself was the perfect amount of sweetness and the boba had a nice consistency. Would come back to tried some of the food menu! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Assam Milk Tea - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Spicy Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich - a large sandwich portion! Thick piece of fried chicken in between a Taiwanese sweet bread with cabbage, pickles and sauce. Very tasty! It's not crunchy. You can eat the bread alone as a snac Blueberry Matcha Latte with boba and egg pudding- think matcha, plus boba plus floating blueberry chunks and egg pudding all in my sip. Yep that's what I ordered. Also got 50% sweet which was perfect! It would be better if it was colder but I tend to prefer cold drinks. Plenty of parking. Great customer service too. Staff was friendly and very helpful. read more

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Hat tip to my friend and teammate, who's been to the OC location. I happened to be visiting my parents in San Diego last month, and she gave me a heads up that Bopomofo had opened a new spot over by Convoy, where my folks routinely go grocery shopping. I'd finished up my meetings for the day and had some flexibility to pop out for a leisurely weekday lunch, so I talked the fam into checking out this café with me. First, seating is pretty limited. Fortunately, San Diego has some fantastic weather year-round, so outdoor dining is likely an option most of the time. However, inside, I'd guess there's maybe room for two dozen folks, tops. I also witnessed several people parked on their laptops, who were there before we arrived, and were still there when we left. If you arrive early enough and plan to spend your day working from here, it appears that's permissible. I ordered a black sesame hojicha oat milk latte, which was completely passable. However, I'd argue that the food here is definitely the star of the show. We shared the shrimp burger, lu rou fan, regular popcorn chicken, and my personal fave, the beef noodle sandwich. The burger was juicy, but ran a little sweet for my taste. I appreciated that the popcorn chicken was still steamy and moist inside, and didn't feel heavy/greasy. I wish we'd ordered the spicy chicken, instead, but neither of my parents can tolerate heat these days. The lu rou fan was also flavorful, but I would have preferred a slightly heavier topping-to-rice ratio. The highlight was definitely the beef noodle sandwich; basically an eastern take on a French dip sandwich. I was a little surprised at the pricing; it turns out that San Diego lunch costs about the same as Manhattan these days. A meal for three of us ran just shy of $90. Overall, I'd say we were all quite pleased with our meal--not blown away, but would definitely stop by if we're in the neighborhood. read more

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A little bit pricey, but because you can taste and see the higher quality. We came for their anniversary event where they had a special of free Jin xuan milk tea if you order the nori fish tacos and mofo asada fries. The Jin xuan milk tea was okay. Nothing special. The nori fish tacos though were so delicious! just wish they were a little bit bigger. Crispy fried fish and crunchy slaw. The mofo asada fries were also delicious with crispy fries and tender steak pieces. Also wish this was a little bigger. Parking is easy in large free parking lot. Service is friendly. read more

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Unfortunately, my visit to Bopomofo Cafe didn't live up to the hype and ended up being a pretty mediocre experience overall. Starting with the menu items, both the drinks and the popcorn chicken were just okay. They weren't terrible, but they definitely lacked that "wow" factor and didn't stand out from any standard boba shop down the street. The biggest frustration, however, was the service and setup. They don't have any self-ordering kiosks, which normally wouldn't be an issue, except they were extremely understaffed. When we went, there was only one employee working the front. This single staff member had to take orders at the register and then pivot to make all the drinks themselves. It created a massive bottleneck, making the wait times longer and the whole process feel completely inefficient. read more

Bopomofo has unique and yummy matcha flavors! I stick with either the blueberry matcha or carrot matcha. The blueberry matcha is a bit on the sweeter side, but you're still able to taste the matcha. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a worker near the counter. I've never had to wait for my order to be taken. They are always on it! They have lots of seating inside and outside. At lot of people come to study but it's never too full. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Blueberry Matcha Latte - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California