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    CaliTea - San Diego

    4.5 (84 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    CALITEA - SAN DIEGO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Thai Milk Tea & Avocado Smoothie
    Jenifer B.

    Stopped by here for some boba and would definitely be back to try more items. The avocado smoothie was really good but the Thai tea was ok. Boba could've been a little softer but taste was great! Staff was super nice, drinks took about 5-10 minutes to be ready

    Hokkaido milk tea.
    Jonathan D.

    I was visiting San Diego for a conference, and I was looking for somewhere not too far from my hotel to get some work done. While initially I'd been hoping for a coffee spot, my best nearby option appeared to be CaliTea. This is an adorable little tea shop in a small shopping plaza. After some discussion with the helpful counter worker, I settled on a Hokkaido milk tea. I don't like my drinks too sweet, but I do like boba, so I tend to get something with low or no sweetness and then let the boba add the sugar. My milk tea was the perfect level of sweetness, and it was one of the better milk teas I've had in a while. There are five indoor tables, mellow music, Wi-Fi and a number of outlets, so it proved a good spot to get work done for a few hours. There are also some outdoor tables to take advantage of San Diego's beautiful weather, though I was perfectly satisfied looking through the large windows. I'd definitely come back if I were in the area.

    Hibiscus tea with light pomegranate syrup, fruit tea (unsweetened)
    Ginger P.

    Every tea order is fresh-brewed. I had the caffeine-free fruit tea (unsweetened) and the flavor of the tea was very strong (love!). My husband had the hibiscus tea with a little bit of pomegranate syrup and he liked his drink as well. I like that there are 3 caffeine-free options for tea (the other one being rooibos). The employee who worked there wasn't very helpful about answering questions about the menu. I just ordered a fruit tea with no frills, no sweetener from the build your own. I think the special menu creations would probably taste better. If I return, I'll try one of those and report back.

    Brown Sugar Vanilla Frappe
    Rangoli K.

    I like Cali tea. I love the brown sugar vanilla frappe, which is the one that I ordered here you can make your own tea and they have a lot of customizable options. The staff is very nice and generous. However, the making time is a little bit high around 15 to 20 minutes, in case you walk in, so be ready to wait or you can definitely order in advance. But I still definitely would recommend you to try this place out !

    Roasted Oolong Milk Tea w/ Pudding
    Jessica S.

    After grabbing some tacos/burritos, my boyfriend and I walked over to this boba shop since it was right there. Because why not? It's located in between Los Panchos Taco Shop and Round Table Pizza in this small plaza on the corner of Friars Rd and Via Las Cumbres in Morena(?). There's a small parking lot with ample parking stalls. I could see the lot being filled during rush lunch and dinner hours. I got the Roasted Oolong Milk Tea with egg pudding and 50% sweetness. The egg pudding add-on was relatively expensive ($0.99), and it was just eh. Note taken not to get the egg pudding next time LOL. The drink overall was relatively good. It had the nice light roasted oolong tea flavor I was looking for but wished it was a little more bolder/stronger. It did its job in quenching my boba thirst tho! The menu is quite extensive with teas, coffees, and lemonade options. They also have a build your own tea drink option. I believe there aren't many boba places in the area, this place is a great place to stop by for that boba fix!

    Risto K.

    Excellent boba tea shop with some extra donuts! I came here due to great reviews. Living up to the hype CaliTea is really good. I am not a caffeine drinker anymore and they had options for me. Service was good and they just opened up. AmbienCe is that of a small neighborhood coffee shop. Small and cute. Special points go for small donuts they carry.... I am not a fan of boba so I cannot really fully appreciate CaliTea, but I can say it's better than any other boba tea I had!

    Jessica S.

    It's quite dangerous to have a good boba shop so close to home. Like, literally within walking distance. It's taking all my willpower to not suggest stopping by every day, twice on Sundays. We'd never heard of CaliTea before moving into the area, but knew we had to at least give them a try. Because if they were any good, it'd save us the trip into Convoy, you know? And if they weren't, well, we still have our go-to's down the road. They are that good! I mean, not all of their drinks are winners so far - which is part of the reason I've knocked one star off (the other being the staff isn't always friendly, or trained to help...). I love that they have more than one chamango-type drink. I had to try the spicy lihing lava, the strawberry version with boba, of course ($5.99) on my first visit, and my husband got the lychee slush with boba ($4.59). Both were instant winners based solely on drink flavor alone. The fact that they have quality boba is a bonus. Our second trip we both ordered the Vietnamese Coffee frappe with boba ($6.29). This one wasn't quite as strong as the other drinks - the frappe was more ice than frappe, and the flavor was kind of weak. The next trip had me going back to try the pineapple version of the spicy lihing lava series, and my husband ordered the Rose Green Tea with boba ($5.49). Unfortunately, the rose drink was not a winner, and my husband had to end up dumping it. The flavor was way too perfumey, which is always a danger with rose-ish drinks. Still, we know they can make good drinks and that their boba is quality, so we'll definitely be back.

    Brown sugar oat milk & Jasmine oat milk tea
    Samantha W.

    Our first time here, tea was great but the boba was undercooked and firm in the centre. Second time, boba was cooked better but it was so insanely sweet...disappointing that they keep missing the mark with the boba or we've just been very unlucky the 2 times we visited. I always get 0% sugar with my jasmine oat milk teas because the boba adds enough sweetness for me. I thoroughly shook and vigorously mixed the boba with the drink to distribute the sweetness but it wasn't a matter of "washing off" the syrup - the boba itself had absorbed so much sugar that you'd get the sweetness when chewing the boba. It was so overly sweet, I'd never had boba balls that sweet before. Someone must have added too much sugar to the recipe or they changed the recipe since last time? Again, I am aware that the sign says if you are unsatisfied let us know and we'll remake it. But I don't particularly like wasting food/drink if it's not totally inedible and I just don't know how they'd suddenly have perfect boba ready to go. Liked that they used real passionfruit in my husbands passion fruit green tea though. That was nice.

    Hibiscus Cooler Tea and Cali Milk Tea
    Diana A.

    My husband and I wanted to try a new boba place and stopped by CaliTea. My husband ordered the Hibiscus Cooler no boba and less ice, I ordered the Cali Milk tea which my understanding was a mixture of green and black tea. I don't like overly sweet boba tea and was originally going to order 25% sweetness but the barista recommended I order 50% sweet- and it was perfect! I really enjoyed the flavors of both drinks. You can really taste the richness of the tea, which is exactly what I want when drinking boba. Unfortunately, at other establishments I've had the experience of the drink being straight up sugar or way too milky (it doesn't even taste like tea). But at CaliTea both the drinks were made to perfection. I can't wait to go back!!! I wish this place was closer to my home so I could go more often.

    Strawberry banana smoothie with boba
    Curt T.

    Got the strawberry banana smoothie with boba and it was good. The boba tastes fresh and I loved the chunks of strawberry in the smoothie. The taro smoothie was good but tasted a bit milky but good. Service was quick and friendly. They did make a mistake and did the taro tea instead of a smoothie but quickly fixed and remade it so service was spot on. Check this place out if I'm the area.

    Suite front
    Emmett T.

    This boba tea chain decided to set up a shop in the Las Cumbres Square off Friars Rd in Mission Valley. The suite is near an internal corner which does not make it very visible from the roadside. Parking is not great, but the plaza is rarely full so an open space can be found in the lot. The inside is narrow with four tables and bench seating along the west wall. The menu was loaded with choices for both milk teas and fruit teas. Half of the selections were non-tea options like frappes, slushes, smoothies, and organic lemonade. What makes CaliTea unique is that their tea is brewed to order with eleven types of tea leaves. You won't find this setup elsewhere in town. All the other places prepare batches of tea inside large dispensers. The iced drinks come in one size of 24 oz while the hot teas have a 20 oz serving size. Toppings ranged from $0.50 to $0.99 extra. Because they are in a soft opening period and currently don't have a high customer demand, I think they can get away with the extra preparation time it takes to brew as ordered. This would be a concern if long lines extended out the door. On my first visit, I chose the Tropic Osmanthus which contained osmanthus tea, lychee, and guava. I have not seen this flavor before which was why I wanted to try it. The second time I came here, my pick was a Mango Kumquat from the signature fruit tea series. Maybe it's the calibration because for each of my orders, the volume of liquid did not fill up the entire cup (see photos). The fruit profiles were fine, however I had expected a stronger tea flavor. The boba pearls could have used more boiling. I gave CaliTea a 3.5 star rating for now.

    Cali Milk Tea - Matcha Milk Tea - Osmanthus Milk Tea
    Sarah B.

    Yelp brought me here! And they offered something different, every cup is brewed to order. The place was clean and ordering was simple. Had the Cali, Osmanthus and Matcha milkteas with 50% sugar and no toppings. ALL were tasty and refreshing. The Cali is their namesake, it had a nice nuttiness taste to it. Which I enjoy. The matcha had some floral flavors, it definitely tasted different from others. Osmanthus, is a new tea for me. This one also had nice floral notes as well, there was also a nice sweetness to it. You can definitely tell the difference of freshly brewed tea. The aroma of the teas being brewed too just really makes you feel like your in a tea house. No obnoxious loud music too! The owner, did not catch her name :( She was very helpful and explained the different teas we ordered. I really appreciate receiving some education on what I am ordering. She really knows her teas. She also gave us a sample of their honey boba. Ooh, they were yummy! Not too sweet and not too chewy. I normally don't like boba because most are hard. I definitely will request some next time. I am a fan! Looking forward to my next visit, I want to try their lemonades.. ooh and their coffee options as well. Parking was limited and spots are tight, we went during lunch time.

    Taro Smoothie with boba! A MUST
    Calina N.

    OBSESSED! My new favorite boba spot in San Diego! I came across this shop while getting Los Panchos next door. I'm a boba lover so I HAD to try it. I'm so glad there is an actual good boba place in Mission Valley now and I don't have to drive up to convoy! The location is kind of hidden but it's close to USD and other shops that have a lot of foot traffic so I'm sure they will gain a lot of traction soon. They brew all their teas fresh to order which I think is really cool and I can definitely taste the difference compared to other boba shops. I love their taro smoothie. It's the best taro drink I've had! I absolutely recommend it! Shoutout to Gissel and Dylan for answering all my questions and the kind service! I'll definitely be coming back!

    Lemon green tea with aloe

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    Got the hibiscus tea with 25% sweetness and they didn't overdo it on the ice. it was perfect and so refreshing. I'd come back.

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    Hi Grace, thank you for your review. We hope to serve you again soon!

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - CaliTea - San Diego

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    Tea Town

    Tea Town

    4.5
    (95 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    We were so glad to stumble upon this boba shop just steps from the trolley that we took exploring…read moreSan Diego. Their menu has a huge selection of teas, milk teas, smoothies, and other drinks, so narrowing it down to just one was definitely the hardest part. We ended up getting Mango, Taro and Ube Smoothies, and all were delicious. They were refreshing and exactly what we needed after spending a hot day walking around the city. In fact, we came back twice. It actually would've been three times if our first visit had worked out. We arrived before the posted closing time, but the employee told us they were already closed. Maybe the hours listed were incorrect, but it was a little confusing. Other than that small hiccup, we had a great experience. The drinks were consistently good, the location was convenient, and we'll definitely stop by again the next time we're in San Diego.

    This place is in a plaza, so there's a big parking lot. You order at a self-service kiosk, and…read morethere are plenty of tables and seating. They also have some board games. It's a good place to sit and talk. It was $16.17 for both drinks. Strawberry Yakult (3.5/5) - I got this with less ice and 75% sweetness. It had a tangy, slightly sour flavor because of the Yakult. The strawberry flavor isn't very strong. Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie (4.5/5) - I liked this one a lot more! The yogurt flavor wasn't too strong, and the strawberry flavor was nice. I liked how there was strawberry purée on the sides of the cup. I got crystal boba in both drinks. It was nice and chewy. I'd recommend this place.

    Photos
    Taro Smoothie | IG @moniquedao
    Taro Smoothie | IG @moniquedao
    Mango Smoothie w/Vanilla Ice Cream | IG @moniquedao
    Mango Smoothie w/Vanilla Ice Cream | IG @moniquedao
    Taro Smoothie & Mango Smoothie w/Ice Cream | IG @moniquedao

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    Taro Smoothie & Mango Smoothie w/Ice Cream | IG @moniquedao
    Urban Bubble

    Urban Bubble

    4.6
    (937 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $

    Came late night with some friends to get some boba. There's lots of seating inside the store and it…read morewas decorated nicely! There was no line so we were able to order right away. The cashier was very helpful when we had some questions about the drinks. We got the thai bubble, wintermelon milk tea, and toasty tea. All the drinks were yummy!

    They got my order wrong and I got diarrhea tonight for $25. Parking is difficult and it's loud…read moreinside with music blasting the whole time. I'm surprised some people could sit down and work/study successfully. Note: I had a positive experience last time getting a blended drink, but today I felt like trying their Thai Tea (not blended) and two Korean Corn Dogs. I ordered the hot Cheeto one with cheese and sausage. Did not wind up receiving the hot Cheeto one. Got a regular one with all cheese, no sausage. Partner got a potato one with cheese and sausage, but only 25% of the filling was sausage. We ate them anyways and wanted to leave it at that since the parking was so difficult. Then my stomach started gurgling in a very wrong way. I don't know if something went wrong with the Thai tea (was the milk they used expired?), or with my Korean corn dog possibly being prepared wrong with a new hire, but my body rejected it violently once I got home. I'd be very cautious about coming back here. Most likely won't. Couldn't finish my Thai Tea. Had to throw it out. I'm hoping this was just an unfortunate one time thing, because it seems like people for the most part have a good experience from their food and drinks. This is my third ever time visiting Urban Bubble. The past two visits were for blended drinks and they were great! The girl working the cash register on the evening of 4/24 around 8:00PM was really helpful with suggesting recommendations and did great. I don't know who prepared my food and drink but maybe they need extra training, heads up. If you order food, I suggest that you check the food before leaving the building instead of trusting that it was correct and finding out once you've already left.

    Photos
    My birthday last year
    My birthday last year
    Hello everyone, come to urban and enjoy our tiger milk, Thai milk tea served with our signature cheese foam pudding and crème brûlée.
    Hello everyone, come to urban and enjoy our tiger milk, Thai milk tea served with our signature cheese foam pudding and crème brûlée.
    Honeydew Bubble

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    Honeydew Bubble
    Mosa Tea

    Mosa Tea

    4.4
    (210 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    Women-owned & operated
    Catering service

    TOROTEA DUPE!!?? The TGY special is one of their bestsellers or signature drinks so ofc I had to…read moretry. So yummy & floral with the tapioca jelly! My friend actually prefers this over torotea so definitely worth checking out :-) Also super cute boba shop with minimal interior & chill vibes. Despite limited seating, weekdays aren't busy so it makes the perfect study spot. If you've ever been in Convoy, you know parking is a struggle so the parking lot is a major plus! WHAT A HIDDEN GEM!!

    This place is SO underrated. When you first walk into the shop the tea aroma hits you right away…read more Their drinks remind me a bit like Orobae with the roasted/nutty flavors. If you're looking for something more subtle I would recommend the Genmai Green Milk Tea, while the Pistachio Mist has a stronger tea flavor. My favorite of theirs is the TGY Special which includes the tapioca jelly that is trending right now, similar to the Torotea jellies. They also always have samples by the register and last time I sampled their Grapefruit Bloom and it was also very good and you could really taste the tea! The store is relatively small, and does have some seating but is very limited. I highly recommend trying out and supporting this small business. The parking lot is VERY small, but I feel like I always go at a random time and has never not been able to find a parking spot.

    Photos
    TGY Special w boba
    TGY Special w boba
    Brown Sugar Mist Srirred
    Brown Sugar Mist Srirred
    Mosa Tea

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    Urban Location Boba Tea House - San Diego

    Urban Location Boba Tea House - San Diego

    4.4
    (145 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    I came here after a book event at Mysterious Galaxy and wish I had come here first instead of…read moregetting a meal at the Chinese restaurant next door. The staff here was so much friendlier, hands down. I was wanting a sweet little treat so opted for the Flan Cake Brown Sugar Milk Tea, say that 5 times and it came out in a timely manner. The drink itself wasn't too sweet it was the perfect amount. I loved the smooth flan that I stirred into the milk tea, it did add some texture to my drink and the sweetness. I'll definitely come back to try their milk tea with cheese foam, I love cheese foam plus they have food options too. I really wish I had ordered their crispy chicken snacker, someone else ordered it and it looks and smelled really good. But if you're in the area definitely come check them out, their menu has so many great options, from coffee drinks, matcha, milk teas and more.

    Well I commend the guy on having a firm recommendation! I love that in a place. I say, it's between…read morethe wintermelon oolong and the brown sugar, and he says brown sugar. Definitive! And then he says how sweet? And I say I don't know, that's like pant sizes for boba, right? Some places run sweet... he says "I'd go 75% sweet." I say "As long as it's not blah too sweet," and he says, nope, 75% is great. I mean, what more could you ask for! Maybe for him to be right XD I don't know what to say, I talk about boba the way book clubs talk about lit. This was a Did Not Finish for me. He was right, it wasn't too sweet, it was just... weird. (And I'm obviously a boba fan, I knew what wintermelon was!) It tastes almost like some kind of artificial sweetener, though I can't place what kind it would be. Seemed like good ambience, FWIW. Fun signs, little games to play, nice seating areas. I just couldn't get into that particular order for some reason.

    Photos
    C2 Gyokuro jasmine fresh milk tea
    C2 Gyokuro jasmine fresh milk tea
    D7 Passionfruit Green Tea & A1 Brown Sugar Milk
    D7 Passionfruit Green Tea & A1 Brown Sugar Milk
    Lychee Green Tea

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    Lychee Green Tea

    CaliTea - San Diego - bubbletea - Updated July 2026

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