Was in the area the other day and decided to give this place a try. I was surprised to see how busy it was...definitely the most poppin' place in the plaza. Ordering was quick and easy--I got the sweet taro milk with boba and an assam milk tea. However, the wait for the drinks was incredibly long. Luckily, my friends and I were able to snag one of the few tables while we waited. Once we got our drinks, I was pleasantly surprised. Their menu is definitely unlike any other boba place I've ever been to and I was worried that the sweet taro milk would be weird, but it was actually pretty good! Didn't taste the beet at all. Boba texture was good too. Overall, a pretty decent boba place if you're interested in trying unique drinks and don't mind waiting. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

Love the environment inside. Although the prices are pretty high for food. $13 for a small box of popcorn chicken... I ordered a shareable classic mapo tater tots and popcorn chicken. My total was almost $30 ... read more

No indoor dining and only two picnic sized tables and two 2-person tables for outdoor dining. But you could tell they were very COVID safe and popular with the online to-go orders. Parking can be a little crowded in the Trader Joe sized parking lot but plenty of people leaving and it's free. Strawberry corn milk: definitely tasted like corn milk with some strawberry jam. Pretty interesting but very sweet. BA-LA Milk Tea: I wouldn't recommend as it was 90% guava syrup and hardly any matcha. You could've told me it was green colored Kern's Guava juice from the can and I would've believed it. Also too sweet. At least it looked cute I guess. B.O.G: also pretty interesting as it was a good even mix of blueberry and orange juice. Not too sweet and pretty refreshing. Also pretty aesthetic looking as well. Mapo Tofu Tater Tots: crispy tater tots with a giant scoop of mapo tofu on top. I would consider it mild for Korean standards and medium spicy for American tastes. It also had some cheese in it. Pretty heavy meal actually. I definitely recommend checking out the pictures as the portion was bigger than expected. Overall, pretty tasty boba place with some hit-or-miss drinks but good snack food. Great customer service too. They just opened a location in Orange County as well. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Menu 3/5/2022 - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Bopomofo Cafe serves good food and drinks, but definitely is not worth the long wait times. I stopped by around 3:00 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon and was warned the wait times could be anywhere from 30-45 minutes. Since we drove out of our way to stop by Bopomofo, we decided we would suck it up and wait it out. My wife ordered one of their boba drinks and we also picked up their mapo tofu tots. The mapo tofu tots tastes exactly as you would imagine. I wish the mapo tofu was a bit spicier, but that's just my personal preference. This is definitely a dish you want to eat right away because the tots get soggy very, very quickly. This is also not a dish you'll want to eat on your own as it'll put you in a food coma -- highly recommend sharing this heavy dish with friends. Seating outside is not a problem since most people take their orders to go. Call in your order if you can to save yourself from having to wait around like we did. Not a must-visit spot if you're traveling through LA, but if you have time and want to try out some Asian fusion food, it's worth a stop. read more

Came on a Sunday afternoon to pick up an online order...and was underwhelmed by the service. Though there was barely a line, and I was the first in line to pick up my online order, it took about 10 min for a staff member to acknowledge me and to hand me my order. The drinks were pretty standard. I got the mint matcha, which had a hint of graininess (I think that was the mint). The boba was soft and chewy, but nothing super special. They had interesting seasonal options as well. Overall, for their price I was expecting to be wowed, but the quality and taste of boba is akin to any standard boba shop. read more

Service here is always friendly and I have enjoyed every Boba drink that I've gotten. They are milk tea also does not have lactose in it. I also really like their popcorn chicken. Free parking. read more

Matcha Carrot Latte: a carrot refreshing taste with a light creaminess from the matcha flavor Shrimp burger: delicious, has a little spice to it but the flavors and crisp on this burger is amazing. Wish they still offered the breakfast sandwich Hoji-Corn Latte: my new favorite drink, has a deep roasted flavor from Hoji-cha and nice slight sweetness from the corn I like adding egg pudding to it Popcorn chicken: they offer classic(no spicy) or spicy and i love both of them, they are good size pieces and comes with a green & orange sauce , i like both of the dipping sauces. The spicy is on the hotter side. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Shrimp burger - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

I passed by Bopomofo I dont know how many times exactly but so many times but a large crowd in front of the shop always stopped me from paying a visit. Well, its been over a year and I finally decided to try it out by placing an online order. A large HEY Sesame Milk with Oat Milk and no other toppings was what I ordered. I was a bit shocked to see my final price for one drink but since I love black sesame and this is one of their signature drinks back by popular demand so I had to get it. To be exact, my drink was $7.72 with tax. I am pretty sure this is the most I ever spent on ONE drink at a boba shop in my life. After placing my online order, I got a text saying it will be ready in 20 minutes. I drove to the location and got there a few minutes before it was ready. I read a sign for online pick up order and waited someone to come by. A guy came out with a bag for someone else's order and he was about to walk back in and I stopped him to ask if this is where I pick up my order. He was super polite & friendly and asked for my name. A few seconds later, he came out with my drink and told me to give it a good shake before drinking. He also added that he would be more than happy to make any modification to my liking if needed. I went to my car and took a sip. It was soooo good. I love love love black sesame. This drink had a very roasty, strong black sesame flavor with just the right amount of sweetness that I admire. Its probably one of the best black sesame drinks I had. I believe they were pretty generous with the black sesame too but definitely not too much to overpower the overall flavor and yet just the right ratio of milk and black sesame. Just to note for lactose intolerant individuals, you dont have to worry since its made with lactose free dairy anyway. Not going to lie, I would drink this everyday if I could but because its sooo expensive for just one drink, thats what is stopping me from coming back. If it was around $5-$6, I could have been their regular customer, haha. Well, other drinks on their menu is very unique and something you cant find at other boba shops and that alone is interesting enough to pay a visit to Bopomofo. I do want to try their food like Popcorn Chicken but that too is a bit expensive I think. For your information, their kitchen is only open on Thursdays to Sundays. Maybe next time, I will try to order at the store and see how it goes from there if theres not a crowd. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Large HEY Sesame Milk $7.72 - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

Loved the matcha-guava drink I had. As someone who is lactose intolerant, this place makes me very happy!

Personally, I really don't get the hype. It has been years since I came to Bopomofo and it's still as mediocre as I remember. At the soft opening, I remember getting a drink and it was very underwhelming. I thought it was because they were still new and were figuring out their recipes and menus. Fast forward years later, I am disappointed again. I got a coffee milk tea 25% sweet this time and it is probably the worst coffee milk tea I have ever had in the 626. There was definitely coffee and tea but this is not how a real coffee milk tea should taste like. Bopomofo's coffee milk tea is so watered down and not good to be very frank. You're better off going to any Hong Kong Cafe and you will 100% get a better and right tasting coffee milk tea at a fraction of the cost. I also looked at their food menu and decided not to get any food. Everything on their menu sounds so gimmicky and really did not appeal to me. Service, however, was great! The girl working was really nice. Ambiance was pretty dead. No lines and pretty slow. Plus side is they have a restroom, but you have to ask the worker for the code. All this said, this will be my second and last time here. I do think you should definitely come and try for yourself. Just because I'm not a fan doesn't mean that you won't be! read more

Before the pandemic, my friends and I used to study here all the time! There were a lot of seats and plug outlets but it did get pretty crowded at times. Unfortunately, there's no indoor seating due to the pandemic, so I don't come here to study anymore. There is outdoor seating though! I still come here occasionally to try some of their seasonal food and drink items. I listed a few of my favorites below. Orange Wang: My all-time favorite! It tastes like orange vanilla popsicle. I also like how they add a slice of orange on the top. Strawberry corn milk: The combination sounds a bit odd but it works really well together! The corn flavor isn't super strong but it's there and the strawberry part gives it just the right amount of sweetness. I don't know anywhere else that makes this so I definitely recommend trying it out if you're feeling adventurous. Popcorn chicken: Honestly, you can't go wrong with popcorn chicken. What I love about the popcorn chicken here is the sauce they give! It's really unique and creamy! Walnut shrimp burger: It is pretty pricey (around $14) but the shrimp patty is super thick and tastes great! There's just the right amount of bun, condiments, and toppings ratio. I also love the yuzu sauce they add to the burger. All my friends love it! Overall, great place with great food, awesome drinks, and a wonderful staff! Beware it does get crowded on weekends so I recommend ordering ahead of time. Parking may be hard to find when it does get crowded since the lot is small but there is street parking nearby. read more

See all

I wanted to try this place for awhile now because everything looked and sounded amazing. Items I got: * Taro Sweet Milk (large, 75% sweet) - Tbh I was kind of skeptical of the beet juice as I never had it in a drink before, but I'm glad I got it. It not only made the drink pretty to look at, the drink was also very unique and delicious overall. Would get less sweet though as it was a little too sweet for my liking. * Spicy Popcorn Chicken (thigh, dark meat) - One of the most crispy, juicy, flavored / well seasoned popcorn chickens I ever had. Portion was great. Dipping sauce that came with it was also very tasty. * Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger - I love honey walnut shrimp, but wouldn't necessarily get item again though. It was a good juicy spring burger, but I would not necessarily say that it reminds me of honey walnut shrimp. There wasn't walnuts and the sauce wasn't exactly my favorite sauce. Workers were friendly. Pickup was easy. Food was packed nicely. Good amount of parking in the parking lot. Would love to try their other drinks and food items! read more

See all

Chinese American fusion done right! I loved the menu's creativity and unique fusion concepts. We ordered online for pickup as soon as possible (30 minutes), and the timing was pretty accurate. There's no indoor seating, only outdoor picnic tables which were too wet from the rain to sit on at the time. The spicy and regular fried chicken sandwiches, which used juicy breast fillets, were tasty! I personally prefer the spicy version (a solid mild) for more flavor. The Taiwanese style pineapple buns added a hint of sweetness and held the sandwich's structure surprisingly well. The mapo tots were hefty, fried yumminess. They'd be a great drunchies food with their sauciness, oiliness, and cheesiness. I'm a fan of the drinks. I liked the coffee flavor of the hot seasonal shaken espresso but would recommend reducing to 50% sweetness (no 75% level available) instead of 100%. Same deal with the BA-LA matcha. I got it with 25% sweetness, but I think I could've gone down to 0% sweetness because of the guava nectar. The boba was nice and chewy, not hard or mushy. I'm very curious about the other drinks (carrot matcha latte?! strawberry corn milk?!), so I'd definitely want to come back! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Spicy and regular Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich & mapo tots - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

Workers were so friendly and gave good recommendations! Drinks are so unique and definitely not on the sweeter side, so if u get less sugar.. it's less sugar lol Also, we saw Phil and he was just the kindest person ever! We were visiting from the Bay Area and it was an unexpected gift to see him! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I ordered a guava matcha, which was a surprisingly solid combination of flavors - very unique! They only have lactose-free milk, which I found interesting. I couldn't taste the difference (and am very much not lactose intolerant, so neither could my stomach). I appreciated how not-sweet the boba balls are. They don't need to be, because the guava paste is - even ordered at 25% sweet. It tastes like the same paste Cuban bakeries use to make pasteles de guayaba. read more

The drinks here are good, but not anything crazy. I prefer their food more, but sometimes it takes a LONG time for it to come out, and even then it's lukewarm. Their ideas are great and food combinations tend to be pretty good. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Popcorn Chicken - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

It was 25 minutes before closing time. Only have 2 tables with customers. We sat and waited for our drinks. Not 5 minutes, suddenly the crowd started lining up. It's packed and very noisy. Love the drinks here. Not too sweet and the size is just enuf. This time I ordered the new matcha blueberry but after several sip, it has the after taste like chinese medicine . Next time I'll stick with my usual. The shaken double espresso is super good. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Blueberry matcha.. tasted interesting, I dunno it has the after taste like a herbal medicine - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

A relative blipped Bopomofo's Honey Walnut Shrimp burger (100% shrimp patty, honey-wasabi-yuzu sauce, candied walnuts, pickled jalapeno, red onion, shredded romaine on a toasted King's Hawaiian bun) onto my radar. So, I stopped in mid-afternoon on a week day when there was a minimal line. Even so, it took about 20 minutes but WORTH IT! This is what I imagine a krabbie patty from Spongebob to be like. The 100% shrimp patty was thicc and loaded - looked straight up like the inside of har gow, it was THAT pure shrimp-esque. The pickled jalapeno and red onion was a really nice contrast to the sauce and kept it bright & acidic. I paired it with an Assam milk tea (so just black milk tea), no complaints as it tasted like high quality tea and had the milky fragrance goodness. The generally recommend 100% sweetness as they don't use HFCS but real cane sugar. 75% was perfect for me (I usually get 50% sweetness at other boba shops). Quick call out for the vegans or dairy-free folks, oat milk sub is free! FYI -- you can only order kitchen menu items Thursday-Sunday only. Next time I'm coming back for the Taiwanese Fried Chicken burger. read more

See all

I'll be honest - I was skeptical. Is Bopomofo overhyped? Is it just the "celebrity endorsements"? After trying Bopomofo, I have to say it is pretty freakin good. I highly recommend ordering ahead of time because of this place's popularity. There are bench tables outside but it's very difficult to get a spot unless you come early. I think the drinks are the stars of Bopomofo. I got the Strawberry Corn Milk which was DELICIOUS and very "corn-y" if you're into that. If the "HEY sesame milk" is on the menu, you have to get that as well. Frankie's Matcha is also great and comparable to the Strawberry Matcha latte at Boba Guys. The food for me was OK, but I love the creativity of the menu. Mapo Tofu tator tots?? So crazy. But crazy good. The Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich has a pineapple bun! Unfortunately, the salty sweet combo didn't quite work for me but I love the concept and it is great for Instagram Photos. As a Taiwanese person, I would probably skip the Lu Rou Rice next time. It was good but nothing special. I would love to come back and try more of the menu next time I'm in town! read more

See all

We drove an hour from OC to check out this cafe and waited another 25 Montfort our food, but it was worth it! Tips: order ahead of time since the cafe is not yet open dine in!! There is a small patio outside and it's luck let the draw if you get a table to sit and eat! We got a table but didn't feel like eating in 98F heat. The drinks here are all different and interesting! Have you had carrots and matcha milk tea?! Neither have I and it was yummy!! Watermelon latte was not only esthetically pleasing for the Gram, but delicious!! The sandwiches are BOMB! They are quite expensive but so good! The honey walnut shrimp was hands down the best sandwich I've had. The different textures and flavors made me very happy!! The fried chicken sandwich was also so good! The chicken wasn't dry, but juicy! And slaw, pickles, and sauce gave it dimension and again oh so good! These are must-try's!! Staff was very nice and professional. We ordered inside the cafe and they brought out the orders when ready. I wish we could dine in at this cute cafe soon! Would love to eat everything when they're fresh! read more

See all

Interesting drinks but a bit over-hyped in my opinion. Got 2 drinks for almost $15 after tip and while they were good, they weren't life changing. Flavors are very interesting - matcha carrot, strawberry corn, black sesame - but the taste just didn't seem to justify the high price, especially in a boba scene as competitive as the sgv. The honey walnut shrimp burger (I think that's what it called) was a bit soggy and didn't really live up to expectations. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back but definitely willing to pick up a drink if I'm in the area. read more

See all

Good food. Good drinks. Prices are comparable to other places. Love coming here to support.

Service was really good. Walked in and was immediately addressed, I felt welcomed. Whoever was working on Feb 16 2024 around 2pm gave top notch service. The server recommended to try the lemon kiwi lemon tea, I also got a popcorn chicken. Lemon kiwi was really refreshing and had a light tea flavor. Exactly what I was looking for. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Lemon kiwi tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

Highly highly recommend!! Their spicy isn't too spicy, so it's pretty good to try. Their popcorn chicken is really good texture and taste wise. Their boba is a must!!! Currently, their seasonal items are blueberry breeze and mango peach breeze and both are perfect summer drinks. The boba is cooked very well and tastes so good. Definitely worth and will be visiting the place again. The Strawberry Corn Milk is interestingly refreshing and you can definitely taste the corn but in a great way. It's sweet, milky, with a hint of berry. Everything was great!! I'd just recommend ordering ahead of time online. It'll save you some wait time! read more

See all

This has been on my radar for years and I finally got to go on a recent trip to the west coast. I wasn't hungry so I didn't get a chance to try the food but I for sure wanted to get a drink before I went back home. I ordered the lychee berry bliss with light ice and 75% sweetness. This drink was one of the best I've ever had! With the first sip I could tell the quality that was put into it. The strawberry purée was fresh, the lychee providing the perfect floral complement to the coconut milk. There was about a 20 minute wait which was expected. I recommend ordering ahead. I can't wait to try more on my next visit. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Lychee berry bliss - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

The drink and food options are sooo unique! Ordered online for pick up but decided to eat there bc there were open spots. Started to get busy later on though so there's always a wait, but it's worth it! Drinks- All their drinks look good so it was hard to decide but... I ordered the black sesame drink w/ oat milk (no extra charge yay) since it's seasonal. The 50% sweetness level was perf and had a strong sesame flavor. The black sesame purée is at the bottom so you gotta stir. The ingredients tasted really fresh and reminded me of the sesame paste desserts you get at Asian cafes. The boba is soft and chewy. Food- Mapo tots, honey walnut shrimp burger and spicy chicken sandwich. These food options were really creative and added a twist to classic Chinese/Taiwanese dishes. The mapo tots had a good amount of tofu and cheese, and the potatoes were crunchy. The ratio of cheese was just right and we added an extra fried egg. The honey walnut shrimp was my fave food we ordered. It really tastes like the honey walnut shrimps you order at restaurants! So flavorful and the shrimp patty was thicc. The addition of lettuce made it a lot crunchier and fresher. The spicy Taiwanese chicken sandwich was slightly spicy and the amount of chicken was perf. Loved the addition of carrots for a crunchy texture. I've always wanted to try Bopomofo, the food options are so creative. Def recommend it even if you're not in the area. Worth the drive imo! Will come back to try the other options! read more

See all

I really want it to find out for myself the hype of this café especially because being a fan of Wong Fu Productions how could you not?! (Sorry, no Phillip sighting, and yea, I'm dating myself with this reference). FYI, there's always a nice long line outside. There's not much sitting outside and you pretty much have to wait for someone to leave and grab a seat at one of the rare tables outdoors. VERDICT: overrated & too long of a wait 40+ minutes for food to come out even though we were told 25-30. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ FOOD: - Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger - couldn't quite taste the honey much, so just a shrimp patty with some flavor. I was disappointed since I LOve honey Walnut shrimp dishes - Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich - Spicy version - also just OK - Spicy Popcorn Chicken x2 (each of the meat options) - again, not a "Omgggg can't find this anywhere else" DRINKS: - ordered a variety off the menu - they were ok - again not like I can't find them elsewhere FREE PARKING - but you must look & wait - lot is shared with many establishments in there and it's always crowded (y'all know it's bc of Golden Deli ) - when I'm too impatient I'll just park on side street and walk it over. Ps. If you prefer to order take out you might as well do it ahead of time. Once you get there, you can just wait in line to order like the rest. read more

See all

Yummmm! Bopomofo was on my to-go list for Socal and for good reasons! Their menu is new and different and as odd as the ingredients may sound, they work really well together. I got the carrot matcha and the watermelon oat milk. Both were delicious. I usually get 50% sweet on my drinks and i thought 100% on the carrot matcha was just a little bit sweeter than what I usually get. The flavor profile can be described as "earthy". I personally love both components separately so this drink was a hit for me. The watermelon oat milk was also delicious. It was both refreshing and creamy at the same time :) I would get it less sweet next time. The cashier was helpful and recommended me to get full sweet for the carrot matcha since the drink isn't as sweet because of the carrot juice. The staff passing out the drinks were also really nice as well. The drinks are a bit more expensive but it's quite unique and they said their ingredients are high quality. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Carrot matcha and watermelon oat milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Wow the heritage pork belly bowl made me nostalgic about Taiwan! It's still my favorite version of the classic Taiwanese dish. Popcorn chicken is always on point. We had a tiny wait n but totally worth it. Also the drinks are still premium quality after all these years. It's refreshing to see a business continue to use natural ingredients for their boba tea. Not sure if I know of another boba shop like that. read more

Pros: Love the drinks here! Particularly, I love the consistency of their boba pearls--always chewy and soft, but also flavorful. Cons: Unbelievably long wait time. Probably the longest in all the popular boba shops in 626. Be sure to set aside at least 15 minutes just to wait. Average of 20, though. I always go for a walk around the nearby neighborhood and then circle back, and my drink still wont be ready. Also not a fan of the food. As a Taiwanese person myself, I appreciate their idea of a fusion between american and taiwanese cuisine, but the execution didn't live up to the promise of it. Their mapo tofu flavoring is off, and the crunchy tots are a weird texture to pair with the soft tofu. All in all, I come back for their drinks when I have an abundant amount of time to kill but that's it! read more

Came here on a Saturday and the place was PACKED. But for good reason! We got the seasonal drinks, Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich, and Mama's rice with the tea egg. We also tried the mapo tofu fries. The drinks were solid but the star for the day was the Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich. The bun was nostalgic of the pineapple buns and the chicken was flavorful and juicy. The inside was clean, and is great for a casual lunch with friends. I recommend placing an online order if it's a weekend prior to arriving because the line was really long, especially if you're really hungry. The parking lot was full so we did street parking. I will definitely be returning for that sandwich though! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Taiwanese chicken sandwich & mama's rice - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

Oh man, I love Bopomofo! Great drinks, great food, cute spot. Whenever I'm in the area I always think I want to try different food but then I always wind up wanting the popcorn chicken from Bopomofo and then I end up getting other food as well and then I don't go anywhere else hah. My order always contains some form of bala matcha and popcorn chicken. The Thai basil aioli is SO good with the popcorn chicken. The braised pork belly rice and honey walnut shrimp are good too, but bala matcha and popcorn chicken are what I come for. The pork belly rice portions are honestly pretty small (and seem to have gotten smaller recently), especially for the price, but it is good. If I wanted pork belly rice that was more worth the value I would probably go somewhere else but I often just end up getting it because I'm already at bopomofo and it IS good (just expensive and small) I normally order online for pickup so that the order is ready faster. Have always gotten good service here, workers are nice. They recently added a cute 626 neon sign that is probably Instagram worthy as well. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Was in the area and very excited to try this. Ordered online and I received a text that my order would be ready in 25 min which was 5 mins before closing. My order consisted of the popcorn chicken, 2 taiwanese chicken sandwiches, a large assam milk tea and a large yes black sesame w/ dairy free milk. The sesame drink had a generous amount of black sesame in it and I felt like even if you ordered 50% or leas sugar, this drink would still be sweet enough for those that don't like their drinks too sweet. The assam milk tea was good, I prefer more of a strong tea taste and it tasted authentic which can only be a plus for a taiwanese tea spot. The popcorn chicken did not have very much seasoning which was a bummer. They didn't put the sauce in my bag so I had to ask for it on my way back to get another straw. The taiwanese chicken sandwiches were a let down for 12 each. The slaw did not have a crunchy tangy flavor which I expected. The chicken again, wasn't seasoned enough and the piece of chicken was not thick enough for the price. The location is next to the golden deli and 7 eleven. May come back to try other drinks but the good items did not wow me and I was left unsatisfied. read more

See all

When I'm anywhere near a Boba Guys, that's usually the only boba I get. A friend told me I needed to come here too, so skeptically, I obliged. We got the Strawberry Corn Milk with Boba. Spoiler: our friend was right. My love for Boba Guys has not changed, but I will now go to Bopomofo anytime I'm near it. This drink was so unique. It might sound weird, but it's like a sweet cereal milk with fresh strawberries. Oh, and they know how to make good boba (it's shocking how many boba shops serve bad mushy boba). We tried to come back the next day, but sadly, they closed early so we couldn't. Until next time, have a drink for me! read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Strawberry Corn Milk with Boba | Instagram: @telephonesmoothie - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I bookmarked this spot a few months ago, and just learned it was opened by Phil Wong -- how cool is that! If you're familiar with WongFu prod. you'll know who I'm talking about. I didn't get a chance to try their food, got drinks only and it's as good as it looks. They have a really nice curated menu with signature drinks and also ones that are more interesting. I got the strawberry corn milk and also ba-la-matcha - both were delicious. You're able to adjust your sugar levels, however both drinks I adjusted to 25% but it was still really sweet, so just a FYI. The corn milk was super interesting, the corn juice had a really nice sweet corn taste to it, when stirred and mixed with the strawberry sorbet, you get this lovely flavor. The ba-la-matcha was also great, nice guava taste mixed with matcha. It was really busy when I came, but the turn around time for your order is very fast. Order in person or online. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

I heard really good things about this place but I try not to buy into the hype alone. Went in with the idea of trying a couple things to get a lay of the land. My wife and I put in an order online and went to pick it up. I was fully prepared to wait due to the popularity of this place but they were very organized and I got my food on time. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded waiting if it means they are getting business. We ordered the mapo tots, honey walnut shrimp burger, popcorn chicken, coffee milk tea and crimson smash. It was all delicious. The mapo tots and the honey walnut shrimp burger were our favorite things. This is seriously an innovative restaurant. They took familiar dishes and flavors and made a new spin on it. I love that the drinks are also customizable to different sweetness levels. I'm not a fan of overly sweet drinks and I loved getting to adjust my drink to my taste. I recommend checking this place out, order ahead and support this local spot. They only do food Thursdays-Sundays so keep that in mind when you think at swinging by. Be kind, be patient if you need to wait. These folks are awesome. read more

See all

We came during the week but there was a constant stream of people ordering and waiting for their drinks as we waited for our orders to come out. Because of Covid, we couldn't sit inside, but I think they allow two guests or two people from the same party to enter the building and order before waiting outside. There's a QR code and some menus for you to look at when you first walk up so that when you go inside, you're ready. I got the Jasmine Green Tea ($4.25) - Lightly sweet, this tasted good - It was refreshing because it was hot outside lol. My husband got the Taro Sweet Milk ($5.50) - 25% sweet. This, I thought, was better than the Jasmine tea. It was subtly sweet and I really enjoyed the flavor of the taro, which is odd because I normally don't get this type of drink. Although they put beet juice in it, I couldn't tell I was drinking beets lol. I would come again for their drinks, and maybe next time I'll try their food too. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Jasmine Tea and Taro Sweet Milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

See all

This has always been on my bookmark list to try out because 1. Phillip from Wongfu Pro, duh 2. The hype/fomo is real and 3. The unique drink options + the aesthetics! Mainly because of the hype, I had to check it out myself when I visited town. We ordered: - brown sugar pudding milk tea - unfortunately, I didn't try this since it was for a friend but she really enjoyed it - HEY sesame milk: 5/5 - one of the best sesame drinks I have tried (which isn't too many) - taro sweet milk: 5/5 - was a bit worried when it came out to be legit taro and not the powder (which is what I'm used to) but surprisingly I was a huge fan of - highly recommend! - Frankie's matcha: 5/5 - not my cup of tea but my bf loved it Also wanted to mention that the boba was the perfect chewiness too. Wasn't aware that this place not only serves boba drinks but is also a cafe that serves snacks. We stopped by on a Tuesday and the kitchen only operates Thursday-Sunday - so make sure to plan accordingly. Overall, great drinks and def worth the hype! Already looking forward to visit another time and try out their snacks. read more

Bopomofo Cafe - Brown sugar pudding milk tea, Frankie's matcha, taro sweet milk, HEY sesame milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Gabriel, California

This is an excellent place - the beverages and service are 5/5 stars! (The food is also not bad). The TLDR of it is that the drinks are creative, the service is excellent and the quality of the items is consistent despite how busy they are. I visited LA over the weekend, and BoPoMoFo has been on my bucket list since it opened, so naturally, I was eager to stop by before checking in at the hotel. It's worth noting that all of the drinks we ordered both times were 25% sweetness. During my first visit, I got the strawberry corn milk and my friend got a black milk tea (Can't remember the exact name). The black milk tea was actual tea with lactaid - they don't use creamers and powders there. He liked it but noted it tasted different than the traditional boba he's used to. My strawberry corn milk BLEW. MY. MIND! It was such a creative idea that I had to order it to see what it was about. While corn in a sweet drink initially sounds offputting, it was a unique enough drink that I was curious. The sweet corn goes weirdly well with the dairy in the milk. The strawberry sorbet on top, which I initially thought would make the drink too sweet, actually was a perfect balance with the corn and milk - and it wasn't too sweet at all. The second time, on our way out of LA, we felt it worth going out of our way to come back here, even though it was a Saturday, Halloween, and consequently, quite busy. We ordered the vegetarian popcorn chicken, the regular popcorn chicken, an orange wang, the strawberry corn milk, an espresso and milk drink, and the brown sugar pudding milk tea. Our order understandably took some time - the drinks were ready right away, but the food took a while. But I'd say it was a reasonable wait based on how busy they were when we went. We had the food and the orange creamsicle and espresso drink at the outdoor seating area, and saved the brown sugar pudding milk tea and the strawberry corn milk for the road. The orange wang was excellent - almost like a light milkshake. It tasted just like an orange creamsicle - there was milk, orange juice, and even a little orange slice floating in there, which was a nice touch. The espresso drink also tasted quite good - the espresso was of pretty good quality, and the ratio of espresso to milk was great. The pudding milk tea was also really good. The tea itself was of good quality, and the pudding at the bottom was itself tasty and sweet. The combination was not too sweet (aka exactly what we wanted) and the flavors complemented each other beautifully. The strawberry corn milk the second day was just as good, and stayed good 6 hours later (consistency in quality despite being super busy is also worth recognizing and applauding). An added bonus of the drinks here are that they're visually appealing. Most of the drinks with multiple components come with a color gradient that you have to shake to enjoy, but I think this extra touch, in addition to the already good flavor, demonstrates a level of attention to detail that deserves recognition. My only complaint is the popcorn chicken. I acknowledge that the vegetarian chicken itself was very good. And the portion sizes were quite large, making them well worth the price charged. However, the seasoning was way too salty for me. That said, the thai basil sauce that accompanied the dish was quite good. My friend had the same thoughts about the regular popcorn chicken. Hence, I docked a star. The service, though, was impeccable. And it was a treat to meet Phil Wang during my second visit. Phil and the rest of the team (both times), were super friendly, attentive, and clearly took great pride in their work. The level of service was excellent. My only advice is that if you're going to go, you may want to place your order in advance online, which is what we did the first time. I will definitely be returning here for more strawberry corn milk (or another creative drink) when I'm back in LA. read more

Small boba cafe at the corner of a strip mall. There's limited seating both inside and outside. It's typically very crowded on weekends. They have food items, some of which, are limited to weekends only. Overall, drinks and food are good, but service is slow and the ambiance is loud + crowded. My favorite drink from here is the black sesame milk drink. It's creamy and roasty/nutty in flavor. If you like the black sesame taste, this is it. 1. Lu Rou Rice (4/5) Good flavoring and satisfies the taste buds if you're craving a juicy, savory,meaty dish. 2. Mapo Tofu Tater Tots (5/5) Super creative combo. At first, it sounded weird, but after you see it, let aline, taste it, you'll want more. It's great for sharing. 3. Taiwanese Sausage Breakfast Sandwich (4.5/5) The sausage was juicy and the dripping egg yolk with cheese made it a delight. It's very filling though. An overall good experience! read more