Bubble Puff & Tea is a local cafe and dessert shop across the street from PCC offering a signature bubble waffle with all sorts of delicious toppings, drinks, and café items. My daughter and I came on a Wednesday evening after visiting the excellent Dumpling Wei next door. We were welcomed into a busy, student-filled cafe. The decor is understated, worn, and very student driven, with a charming sign offering a free milk drink to any student who ordered a full meal during a challenging exam week - how kind [+1 point for service]. We ordered from a screen; call me old fashioned, but I like being greeted and the place wasn't busy enough to justify such a streamlined experience. We ordered the original waffle with vanilla ice cream. It took about 10 minutes as we entertained ourselves with the claw machine and got lucky - twice. The waffle was crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, with a distinct fortune-cookie flavor. It was delicious, and paired perfectly with the vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. We did not get a filling nor try the delectable appearing chocolate waffle - next time! Prices were elevated - $8 for the waffle and $2.50 for the ice cream (complete with whipped cream and chocolate syrup), but the unique product was absolutely delicious. While my undergraduate career was 20 years ago, I really can appreciate a place like this. Were I a student at PCC, I would simply live at this establishment. Good for a quick dessert and perfect for students, Bubble Puff & Tea is well worth a stop. Food: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Value: 3.5/5 read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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3/5 stars I found Bubble Puff & Tea after searching for local boba spots near Pasadena City College since I was meeting up with my sister in the area. There were quite a few boba shops nearby, but honestly the business name alone caught my attention and made me choose this one. The shop is conveniently located directly across from Pasadena City College, which makes it a great spot for students looking to grab drinks or food between classes. The downside is parking. There's very limited parking in the back and a lot of nearby residential streets have "no parking" signs, so finding a spot can be a little annoying. The shop itself is a decent size and definitely seems popular with students hanging out, studying, or working on assignments. Personally though, the atmosphere didn't feel especially warm or cozy to me compared to some other boba shops I've visited. The layout also felt a bit narrow, which was difficult navigating with my son's stroller. That said, what the shop lacked in atmosphere for me, it definitely made up for with the drinks and food. I ordered a 16 oz jasmine milk tea and even though I had to pay extra for boba (which brought the total to almost $5.50), the drink itself was honestly pretty good. I was also hungry, so I tried the pork buns, which ended up being tasty and surprisingly filling. You get four for around $13. While I do think you could probably get a larger meal elsewhere for the same price, the quality itself was still good. One thing I appreciated is that they have a larger food menu than most boba shops. Besides milk teas and fruit teas, they also offer popcorn chicken, appetizers, soups, rice dishes, sandwiches, smoothies, coffee, and even ice cream drinks. Customer service was excellent. The staff were polite, efficient, and kind throughout the visit. Overall, I think this is a solid spot for Pasadena City College students looking for a place to study, hang out with friends, or grab a quick meal and boba. I do think the shop could benefit from adding a little more personality and warmth to the space... maybe board games, student artwork, or more fun décor would help make it feel more inviting and memorable??? read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Came on a Saturday afternoon. There is very small parking in the back, but luckily I found street. I just drove by and thought, why not. The service is automated with checkin machines. It's was fine, but I am old school and always like a hello. But all good. Interior looks nice and clean and the one person working behind the counter looks real busy. I got the black milk tea slush and an order of pork puns. The pork buns were insanely tasty and the black milk tea slush was great and the cup it came in... yeah, I'll come back!! read more

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We were thirsty so stopped by! Can order at kiosk or counter; be aware an extra fee for credit card transactions under $10. Space is ample to enjoy inside; on a Saturday afternoon there were several students hanging out working on their laptops. You can order sandwiches and other hot snacks but the stars are the drinks! We took a chance and got a cheese foam strawberry slush and fruit tea. Great tasting and freshly made. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Exterior - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Love me a corner cafe on a sidewalk. There are plenty of street parking. The watermelon slush was JUST what I needed on a hot summer day. Casual simple boba/bev shop without the social media hype. I got my order very fast as well. I'll be back to chill out here! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - interior - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Was craving some Hong Kong style egg waffles, so my lovely husband took me to Bubble Puff & Tea. We ordered an original bubble puff and a matcha bubble puff filled with mochi to share. It took about 20 minutes for them to be ready. Both were delicious, but I did like the matcha flavored one more. The egg waffle crust was perfectly crispy and delicate. For the original one, the inside was light and chewy with a nice sponge-like texture. For the matcha one, adding mochi as a filling was an amazing decision because it created a wonderful chewy interior that was so mouthwatering to eat. I highly recommend eating these bubble puffs as soon as you get them, while they are still hot and fresh. As I looked at the menu, there were a lot of beverages that caught my eye. They have a wide selection of milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies, fresh teas, house specialty drinks, and coffee in addition to a sizable selection of toppings like boba and jelly. Many looked like great options, so it took me a while to decide which ones to order. Ultimately, I had the Taiwan Alpine Milk Tea and my husband had the Osmanthus Green Milk Tea. These both tasted refreshing, not overly sweet, and were great to drink alongside the egg waffles and helped wash everything down. I even loved the quality of their lids and cups. The lids have a special space for you to hold the straw, which is not something I've seen anywhere else. From the outside, I expected this store to be quite small. To my surprise, it has a decent amount of tables and seating - great for hanging out with friends or even just visiting on your own. There is a small parking lot in the back as well as some street parking. Definitely a solid spot for grabbing drinks or snacks if you are in the surrounding area of Pasadena. read more

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I tried their rose milk tea iced, so delicious and refreshing, non dairy too! This is a women's owned business, it is spacious inside and they have free parking behind the store. I would like to try other items next time. The drink I got was less than $5 which is a great price! read more

Shared this wonderful tea spot with my lovely wife because I was craving egg waffles and this is one of the best spots to try them. Upon entering, the store was moderately busy, staff said that their kiosk wasn't working due to power outage, no Wi-Fi, thus their entire system wasn't working. For this specific visit only, it was cash only which was understandable because it was a super hot day. Regardless, this time visiting was even better than all the other times I've visited despite the small obstacles. My wife and I ordered the Osmanthus Green Milk Tea & the Taiwan Alpine Milk Tea along with two sets of egg waffles, one original & one matcha filled. Total wait time was about 20 minutes as the egg waffles were made fresh and came out later than the two drinks which came out in about 5 minutes. One thing I never really noticed until this time around is that the staff would occasionally bring you the order regardless if you're dining in or taking it to go, a nice gesture by the staff. The two drinks were perfect on a super hot day, super refreshing and could definitely tell that the tea is freshly made, not too sweet with the right sugar adjustments, we usually default to 50% sugar. I absolutely love the cups, one of the better cups around as it's super sturdy, and non-spillable. Best part is the cute design that displays the texture of the drink extremely well. This is the only tea shop that I visited that has a straw holder section on their cap (SEE PIC) for reference. This is unique and very much a nice gimmick to the cup. EGG WAFFLES WERE AMAZING. Couldn't tell if it was my egg waffle craving or it was just that good. Freshly made, super crunchy and soft, and each piece savored was another step to amazing quality on such a popular style of snack. Absolutely love the portions, very much a shareable snack. The matcha egg waffle is a must try if you like matcha, it didn't overpower the egg waffle taste itself and had that balance between the egg, matcha, and the waffle itself. Super tasty and highly recommend the original and the matcha. Overall, one of my favorite tea shops to go to with plenty of tea options, snacks, and seating as many visit here to study, hangout, and enjoy quality snacks. Love that I was able to share this place with my lovely wife. read more

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Parking at Bubble Puff & Tea can be really difficult but the short walk from the neighborhood is worth it! You order at a kiosk and if you don't want a chocolate drizzle, you'll need to tell the person preparing it on the other side of the counter. The portion size is ENORMOUS. You'll be getting a really large waffle with a hefty scoop of ice cream. I would really recommend coming here is you want to try a bubble waffle! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Bubble waffle with vanilla ice cream - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Oh my goodness, Bubble Puff & Tea on a weekday around lunch is gonna be packed, that's my warning for y'all. I was surprised my car was the only in the parking lot behind the shop. I walked in to a completely packed shop that I even had to squeeze into! Good for them that they are booked & busy, but bad for me who had to wait 25 minutes for my green tea. Just something to keep in mind if you're headed there. However, aside from the waiting, I'm a fan of Bubble Puff & Tea! These ladies were working hard when I was in pushing out order after order. My green tea had a very yummy and fun matcha foam on top. Pretty and tasty! They also have tons of snacks and things that are like a full meal so you can happily eat here. I had their Sesame Balls and they were perfection! Tiny little guys perfectly fried to a delicious level. Love Bubble Puff & Tea and I'm sure I'll be back to try more on the menu! read more

I really like this little shop and I will return! I am always scared of the sweetness level when I try a new bubble tea.. "Too sweet" is so subjective.. To be on the safe side I ordered a 16 ounce Jasmine milk tea(they small size), 75% sweet with Boba. They have a touch screen where you can order. I assumed they wanted me to use that, since the worker behind the counter was making drinks alone. I do not prefer to use automated systems... My fingers fumbled on the touchscreen and I added in lychee jelly... Which I did not enjoy When I asked if it would be possible for them to remake my drink, the server asked her boss to make sure, and it was not a problem. Vivian was very cordial and helpful. She remade my drink 50% sweet, with only Boba. The shop is clean and very conveniently located across the street from Pasadena City College Parking isn't easy around here during high traffic times but that's LA for you. All in all I am always impressed when a. Establishment can work with the customer to help us find our preferred drink, vs deal with what you get, even if you hate it. I'll be back! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - My Jasmine Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been passing by this tea shop for quite a while and was intriqued by the cute name. Recently I finally stopped by. I did not try their puffs or other Hong Kong style snacks yet, but enjoyed some teas. They have some jars on the counter with the loose teas so you can see how it looks and smell the fresh aroma. I really enjoyed that. Service is very good and friendly. The boba is firm and just right to withstand soaking in the tea. They have a good variety including "messy boba" which is coated in brown sugar. I really liked the crystal boba. The jasmine and osmanthus green teas were delicious and strong enough to taste in the milk tea. I would definitely return. read more

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I stop by today before work and I got myself a Thai milk tea. It was very delicious and refreshing. The lady that was working there was very kind and professional and made me feel welcome. Definitely recommend this place. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Thai Milk Tea( Boba is Add-on) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Grabbed drinks here on a hot day. Parking was tight, but they thankfully had a few spots in the tiny back lot. Ambiance (3/5): Pretty nice in there. There were plenty of seats and it seems nice for some midday studying. Service (3/5): I ordered from the kiosk, but the worker seemed attentive and quick with the drinks. Food / drinks (2.5/5): I ordered an Uji matcha latte and my husband ordered a watermelon slush. Uji matcha being one of my usuals at boba places that offer it, this was not my favorite. The added foam topping could not save it. It was earthy yet weak in flavor, almost bland. It was the oddest thing. My husband's watermelon drink, by contrast, was much more enjoyable. Their boba was okay, but tasted like the lower quality kind (if you know you know). I'm not sure I'd be back, and I'm a little confused by the good reviews, but maybe I just got the wrong drink. May try again if I'm in the area to give it another shot. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Entrance side view. Minimalist decor, although they had this cute little crane machine. - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I love their fried chicken! I got their Ube Milk drink and it was so refreshing! I like how it was made with milk instead of tea because I can't drink some teas. I love this spot to study, too. :) read more

This café is pretty spacious. Casual vibe with great service. There were lots of options to choose from the menu. But once I saw the bubble puff pastry, I was craving it. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Not too sweet. It was delicious! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Bubble Puff - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Super chill place with sweet goodies. Came here on a cold night and enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere. Prices were fair. Parking on the street. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - inside - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Had a peach milk tea and it was delicious.Can't wait to return and try some of their other flavors.

Best boba & tea shop in the Pasadena area run by a couple of boba gals! (I think sisters). This little shop has the best quality tea, boba, and Taiwanese menu snacks of all the places in the area. Nice large seating area with free wifi. Parking lot in the back of the shop. The two boba gals who run this place are super friendly and quick. Their boba and tea drinks are made from real tea and they have a lot of fruit tea drinks plus all the toppings and add ons. Support this women run business! They also have shaved ice desserts, bubble puff egg waffles, rice dishes, popcorn chicken + lots of other snacks, and even coffee and espresso based drinks. They are open late until 10pm on saturday nights especially for Asian desserts, waffles, late night snacks like mango drinks, curry crispy chicken rice, minced pork rice and other delicious food. Best thing is that they are still reasonably priced for the high quality tea that they serve. As other "high end" boba shops using tea shots, etc. have gone to around $8 - you can still get a better quality tea or boba drink here for around $6! Plenty of street parking too. Right across the street from Pasadena city college. read more

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One of my favorite dessert spots in pasadena. I've tried their boba drinks and they too are good but the my guilty pleasure is the bubble puff pastries. Red bean with bananas. Ice cream and whip cream. Yum! It's always about a 10 minute wait because they make it fresh, it's always warm and crispy on the outside. Soft and fluffy on the inside. Almost like a pancake with all the goodies baked in the inside. The ice cream and whip is served on the side to keep it from melting. This one's a must try if you're in the area. Super casual spot. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Bubble waffle with red bean, banana, and vanilla ice cream. - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Finally found an authentic tasting HK egg waffle boba shop with great tea. So good! The bubble puff waffle has perfect texture and mochi inside is so "q" and chewy. My favorite is the matcha puff with any ice cream on the side, a must try combo. But really, can't go wrong with any of the flavors. They have a self service kiosk that makes it convenient to order. The staff was there to answer any questions and special requests. Overall super friendly. Drinks came out before the waffle so I sipped on it while we waited for the fresh puff. There was ample space for seating and great ambiance. May just come and try their food combos next time. Definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

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Looked up boba spots near Pasadena..found this one..showed up. Pretty small and no parking. Only a few spots on the street. The side lot is super narrow. Walked in. PRETTY empty. Kiosk ordering. I got the Strawberry Sunrise my daughter got peach milk tea. Both pretty average. 6/ 10. Not mind blowing..but good. Prices are fair. Customer service was average. read more

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Date: March 12, 2024 Was meeting up with an old friend in Pasadena and was yelping around for a spot with snacks and dessert so we could just munch and catchup and saw this spot looked interesting! Located right across of PCC (Pasadena City College) and right at the end corner of the street. They have a tiny parking lot in the back (7 spots) which is always nice seeing Pasadena rarely has parking that's not metered or in a structure. Managed to get a spot in back which was awesome! The place itself is so spacious for what it is! Lots of surge outlets for you to charge your phones/devices if you're there to do work/school work. Their menu is really jammed packed with delicious sounding goodies that range from a full on meal (wonton noodle soup) to dessert (bubble puffs). We only wanted something to munch on so I got a matcha bubble waffle with mochi filling (1.50$ extra) & she got a tea. The waffle was plain in terms of flavor / matcha wise but the mochi texture made up for it! So overall, pretty good! You can also add ice cream for an additional cost. They have a kiosk if you'd like to pay with card or you can order from the cashier if you'd like to pay with cash. The food came out fairly quickly so that was also a plus! Thanks for a great first experience! Can't wait to be back to try something new! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Matcha Bubble Puff - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

So far I've only tried their sandwiches, milk teas, and mango green tea, and they were all excellent. The food portion is just right and taste great. The price is very fair, especially since it's right across from PCC College for the college students. It's also near my work, so I will be returning to try other items. It does get busy during lunchtime on weekdays during the school season. They do take phone orders and Fantuan mobile app orders. read more

The food was very tasty and fresh, and the boba was delicious. However, the restroom, especially the hand-washing area, was quite dirty. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

DURIAN + TAPIOCA + COCONUT MILK = SOLD! I like that you can choose the sugar level down to 25% in the drinks. I often think that most bubble tea is overly sweet. At 25%, my durian drink was so good. I love that this was a nice and bright location. Very simple design and they decorated for Halloween. I can't wait to come back to try their waffle because they have pandan and durian! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Halloween decorations - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Ambiance: welcoming open space, one kiosk order station so timing is key, location has seating for about 25. Service: food came out to us within 5 minutes of ordering, we went around 5pm and the place was half full. The kitchen crew looked fully staffed so wait was not long at all. Food: we ordered the bublepuff with Nutella and strawberry ice cream. The waffle was super crunchy and Nutella added a balanced sweetness. We also ordered the Nutella banana waffle which was delicious as well. A must try if you are looking for a quick snack around Pasadena. Note: parking is towards the back of the building in a small lot. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Banana Nutella Waffle - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I got the crispy tofu and curry rice, and you can add on a jasmine milk tea with boba for like $3 which comes out to $18ish including tax. The dish came out HOT which was great. The tofu had a starch batter and it was pretty good and crispy, and the curry was flavorful. The jasmine flavor of the tea came through and I liked that the boba was lightly sweet. It was the perfect amount of sweetness for me at 50%. It was overall a satisfying meal, so I look forward to trying their other dishes and drinks. The two women working there were also very friendly and helpful. It's a nice place to study/work with wifi and a good amount of seating. Would come back! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Curry crispy tofu rice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I arrived first thing in the morning, so I had to wait a bit for the boba to be ready, fresh boba isn't a bad thing! How to order was a little confusing, you use a big screen to order and then they make it. The lady working was nice and let me know the boba would take 10 minutes and she was spot on for timing. The boba was good and it was price alongside most other boba places. There are a ton of tables for seating and it was a cute place. Would be back if I was in the area. read more

Food was meh. Got the tteokbokki and... it tasted like Korean spaghettio. Drink tasted watery and not any fragrance to the tea. Maybe I'll try something else next time (IF I do come back).. read more

The gyoza we ordered were really good. We gobbled them up in a jiffy. But we are still waiting for our chicken Teri bowl. Maybe that takes a while back there. I should have ordered one more gyoza. Mild is spicy enough. The sweet and sour sauce goes well with it. Ok. The chicken bowl finally arrived mmm good. Ambiance is good. Chill music. read more

the BEST popcorn chicken hands down, so juicy and flavorful and very well seasoned. I cant get anything else without getting that, Their taiwanese sausage is also bar none! read more

Great drinks! I got the peach oolong with boba and it was very refreshing on a hot day. My friend got the Thai tea boba and it was a very sweet. If you don't like sweet, I definitely recommend getting 50% or 75% sweetness. The snack portions are pretty small for its price though. I got like 14 fries. The puff pastry was a decent size. It's shareable for $12. It does take a while to make though, about 10 minutes for each puff pastry and this was when there was no other customer who ordered puff pastry. Service was very fast and it's faster if you're paying in cash. I got to "skip the line" since I didn't need to use the kiosk and was helped by the cashier. She was sweet. It's a good place to relax and unwind but I recommend bring headphones if you want to study here. The music is lowkey loud. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Matcha puff with Nutella and strawberry ice cream - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

We went around 10 am on a Thursday and the cafe was nice and had a great atmosphere. The tables were clean and it was nice and cool inside, with plenty of seating. The staff was accommodating. We ordered the Thai milk tea with golden boba, Uji matcha latte with messy boba and Coffee milk tea with honey boba. The Thai te was 50% sweetness, matcha was 75% sweetness, and coffee was full sweetness. The boba was very QQ and had a good chewy texture. The matcha was good as well, not too milky with a strong tea flavor. It was a good sweetness and the messy boba makes drinks sweeter so it ended up being perfect. The Thai tea however was too sweet even though it was 50%. The coffee, on the other hand, was not sweet enough, even though it was full sweetness. None of the drinks were terrible, but the sugar levels were rather inconsistent. I still recommend this shop, since both their food and drinks are wonderful! Great location and interior is clean and comfortable. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Uji Matcha Latte, Coffee Milk Tea, Thai Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Bussss boba. the boba is so yummyy and the matcha tastes like matcha not watered down or too milky. Service is amazeballs and fast. The spot is nice and has enough space considering it gets full sometimes. Recomend coming here to chill and enjoy matcha latte read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Uji Matcha Latte with boba and oat milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Cute little boba shop in Pasadena! They have a bright, beautiful interior with a few seating areas. I got the Uji Matcha latte at 50% sugar with their brown sugar boba and mild crispy tofu, while my friend got their popcorn chicken. I liked how smooth the Uji Matcha latte is! Their boba was also at the perfect chewy consistency. Though, the tea tasted watered down. I'm unsure if that was due to the sugar adjustment, but I wish it had a stronger matcha flavor. Their spicy fried tofu had a crispy exterior and was silky on the inside. I loved the spicy kick too. It was delicious! My friend's popcorn chicken was more of a crispy batter than meat. I wish there were more meat to it. The seasoning was also very bland. It could've used more pepper. Our foods also came with sweet and sour sauce containers, but the container was filled less than halfway! Overall, I had an okay experience with this place. The foods and drinks are also pretty expensive! read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Crispy Tofu and Popcorn Chicken - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I'm a big fan of HK egg waffles and have tried many places in the SGV/626 area. Bubble Puff & Tea by far has one of the best egg waffles (aka bubble puffs) out there. The batter is rich in flavor and light making it nice and crispy. I always get the traditional/original flavor with mochi inside but decided to try something new this time. Got the matcha flavor puffs with mochi. The matcha flavor is not as strong but still very good. The drinks are good as well. This shop doesnt offer much parking so you will have to street park or park at the close by plaza and walk over. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Bubble Puff - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

My friend and I were in need of a boba fix and just so happened to be in the neighborhood. We indefinitely "yelped" it and found Bubble Puff & Tea right around the corner. I gotta say - I was first intrigued by the Hong Kong Style Egg Waffles of course or what they call "bubble puffs" here but I wasn't in the food for a full dessert! Just from their tea selection though, I definitely will be coming back for tea and the bubble puffs, too, the next time I'm in the area! I got the Mango Green Tea with Boba and I convinced by friend to get the Honey Lemon Tea (its a Hong Kong Style drink) that is a refreshing and delicious combination. The boba was made fresh (you know it by the texture and taste) and the mango chuncks were a added bonus. Loved every sip! Will definitely be back. read more

Bubble Puff & Tea - Honey Lemon Iced Tea and Mango Green Tea with Boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I love their rose and peach milk tea boba. It's so addicting and not overly sweet. I highly recommend this place you like floral and light bubble teas. read more

Excellent excellent excellent. The wonderful women working there are doing things right!!! My girls and I had the little bubble puffs (first time was with chocolate and second time plain) they are perfectly sweet, not over doughy, and expect a great portion. We also had the teriyaki chicken plate which came with steamed rice, corn, and salad. We also tried the ramen with rice cakes which was phenomenal but I only recommend if you like spice because it has some heat (and this is with them only using little spice-they were so kind to inform me the heat level and dropped it down a notch for my girls). read more