Laura K.

Beyond the cup, the overall experience makes returning an easy choice. The shop maintains a crisp, modern ambiance that's perfect for catching up with friends or grabbing a quick pick-me-up on the go. Staff are remarkably quick on their feet during peak rushes, and the customization options--from ice levels to unique toppings like cheese foam and herbal jellies--let you dial in your exact order every time. If you appreciate a spot that treats its tea leaves with respect while keeping the toppings fresh and addictively chewy, ChaHalo is easily worth adding to your regular rotation. ChaHalo hits that elusive sweet spot between high-end leaf quality and pure comfort, making it an immediate standout in a crowded boba scene. Their freshly brewed tea bases--especially the roasted oolong and jasmine green--deliver a bold, floral punch that isn't drowned out by excess syrup or heavy creamer.

Eleanor C.

Chahalo is a newer boba spot in downtown Berkeley! I saw a lot of people compare it to Molly Tea, so I was excited to finally try it. We ordered the osmanthus oolong milk tea ($6.49), grape oolong milk tea ($6.49), jasmine green milk tea ($6.49), longjing green milk tea ($6.49), and rock oolong milk tea with handmade boba ($6.99). The osmanthus oolong milk tea was my favorite! I loved the toasty oolong base, while the osmanthus added subtle honeyed floral notes that complemented the tea really well. The grape oolong milk tea was probably the most unique of the four. The grape flavor was a little strong compared to the oolong, but I really liked the caramel-like aftertaste. The jasmine green milk tea was also pretty good. It was nicely fragrant without being overpowering, although I thought it was a little watery. The longjing green milk tea was just as strong and fragrant as the jasmine one, but I thought the tea was a bit more bitter. Finally, the rock oolong milk tea with handmade boba was a solid classic milk tea. The handmade boba had a really chewy texture, but I wish it had been a little less caramelized since the flavor slightly overshadowed the tea itself. Service was decently fast, and the staff were accommodating. One time when we stopped by later in the evening, they were already out of the osmanthus oolong milk tea. After my friend ordered a different drink instead, they actually gave him a free topping, which I thought was pretty nice of them. Overall, Chahalo is a solid addition to Berkeley's boba scene! I can definitely see why people compare it to Molly Tea, although I found the teas here to be a little less fragrant. Personally, I sometimes find Molly Tea's floral drinks a little too floral, so I actually liked Chahalo's lighter tea profile. The interior is clean and modern, with a decent amount of seating, so it's a nice spot to catch up with friends.

Victor G.

Chahalo opened 2 months ago in TangHuo Kung Fu Malatown's vacated space. Decor mostly changed with Chinese artwork on walls. Seating now benches and stools. Entrance with canopy similar. Usually bustling with double parked cars in front & a short line, i arrived with no line & no cars present . Ordered quickly with a suggestion from an associate. Drink came within 5ish minutes. Mandarin Chinese and English spoken. Many associates present. No doubt quickening service time. All helpful, courteous. #called when drink ready. No buzzer nor lights utilized. Offerings (Xian, China): Whole Leaf Brewed milk tea, tea frappe, longjing, perfume lemon tea, pure tea, coconut series, matcha, handmade boba series. Loud music all around. Not a place to chitchat. Sips: Osmanthus Oplong Milk Tea (sm. 6.49), no sugar, less ice. -in hindsight should have ordered lg. (6.99) and no ice. it was so good! -tea was so smooth, subtle tea taste, floral notes. Any sugar would have obscured fragrant tea notes. 4.75 stars. Worthy! Quality: premium ingredients used. Quantity: big portion, reasonable pricing. Repeatable-many unique sips.

Casey N.

ChaHalo proves that a great boba shop doesn't need a massive, convoluted menu to make a lasting impression--it just needs to execute the fundamentals flawlessly. Their signature milk teas strike a ideal balance, offering a velvety texture that feels luxurious without leaving a heavy, cloying aftertaste. What really sets them apart is the attention to detail in their toppings: the mini boba and egg pudding are consistently fresh, adding a delicate texture that perfectly complements the rich, slow-brewed tea base. Every sip feels balanced, refined, and consistently satisfying. The vibrant, welcoming atmosphere inside only adds to the appeal, making it a place where you actually want to linger for a bit.

Lily Z.

As someone who doesn't like overly sweet drinks, Chahalo was delicious! We stopped by Saturday night and it was hard to find parking. We tried the following: Black Tea Frappe - smooth, fragrant, and not overly sweet. Might be better than mollys imo Jasmine Lemon Green Tea - light, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day. Service was relatively slow considering that there were two people in front of me. Next time, I'm probably ordering online!

Sabrina M.

Quick service! Waited around 5 minutes for 3 drinks on a weekend afternoon. The boba is good, not super chewy and sweet. The jasmine milk tea at 70% is delicious. There are two ordering kiosks inside; there is no AC so it can be warm on a hot day. Parking can be difficult, there is residential parking nearby

Mimi W.

New boba shop that open up in Berkeley! Inside look so unique with super orangey background! Of course I had to try their signature drinks first! I ordered the Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea which I loved and ChaHalo Black Milk Tea Frappé! Both with light ice and 30% sweetness. I love their brew tea so I would definitely go back soon to explore the rest of their menu!

Jenny W.

PROS: 1. Talk about fragrant teas! Got two of their popular drinks: jasmine green milk tea and osmanthus oolong milk tea. While both were distinct in flavor, jasmine came out on top. If you love the aroma and taste of jasmine, you will not be disappointed with this beverage. It kept its strong flavor even the next day. 2. Adequate menu with a smaller variety than other places, but it's clear that they focus on perfecting their specialized drinks. CONS: 1. Space inside is small and limited. 2. Parking isn't great, but there are adjacent and parallel streets that were a smidgen easier to find parking. It's Berkeley after all... 3. Not a huge fan of paper cups, but I support using less plastic. I feel like the drinks don't keep as well for longer periods of time in these style cups. 4. There was definitely a crowd, but not a long line for ordering; however, it took much longer waiting for drinks than expected. OVERALL: Without a doubt, I'll be returning for that jasmine tea! I'm curious about the other items on the menu as well and look forward to sampling them all.

Kartika H.

i think this place is new. excited to come here when i was in berkeley. order through kiosk and they will call your number once the order is ready. the service is very very fast. once i got the order: * fresh roasted oolong lemon tea: taste is just ok but did not like the cup because it is flimsy. suggest to use the firm one... * osmanthus oolong milk tea ( oat milk ): taste is meh for my taste buds. i sat there once i got my drinks and paid attention to details and surprised me that the milk tea was not made fresh. i saw the staff just put the order into a machine and then the machine gave the milk tea. the guy just moved it into a cup that been filled with toppings if you asked one. now i did know why the taste was meh... may be technology is wow now but i think i prefer human made...

Janice T.

I've been eyeing this spot for a while and finally got to visit on a Saturday morning shortly after 11. The inside of the shop was clean and beautifully decorated. There is seating along the wall but this is mainly a pick up and go spot. The menu was a bit limited compared to other places and most of their drinks were focused on tea drinks rather than fruit teas. My kind of place! I ordered a large roasted oolong milk tea, 30% sugar and less ice with boba. The total came out to $7.99, which is a tad steep. The employees were very welcoming and let me know that there was about a 5 minute wait for the boba to be ready, which wasn't an issue at all. I liked my drink (30% sweet was perfect) but was a bit disappointed that the drink was very milk forward. The tea taste is very mild. With the menu having a heavy focus on tea drinks, I was expecting the tea to shine. I enjoyed the texture of the boba and found it mild in sweetness despite the description saying brown sugar boba. Given the price and the mild tea flavor, I'm not sure if I'll be back but I'm glad to see another boba spot in Berkeley!

Nicelle D.

Tried the location in New York this past April and when I found out they opened one up in Berkeley I was so excited. My best friend and I may be crazy but we will drive an hour for good boba. And this is much closer. Pretty great experience. Interior was very nice, they made really good use of their space- did not feel cramped to me at all and was very pretty. Great for a nice chat or catch up. We came Saturday early evening, I ordered the Jasmine milk tea with whipped cream and pecans 70% sweet no ice and it was same great quality as in New York. Service was fast and did not wait long at all. We came after 6pm so free parking. Plenty of street parking but it is close to a busy intersection so be mindful of that.

Angela M.

My boba cravings required a boba fix. Chahalo did not offer an array of flavor options, it did present quality with two oolongs I had never tried before - rock and osmanthus. Both teas were included in the Homemade Boba series along with a fresh milk option. I purchased all three, one for each of us. This series only comes in the size M (medium) with fresh milk as the only option, the sugar and ice levels are adjustable. The Fresh Milk with Homemade Boba ($7.49) was 100% sugar, no ice for my little - she LOVED it! The milk tasted so clean and crisp, at 100% sugar it was not too sweet and the boba was flavorful with a perfect chew. The Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea with Homemade Boba ($6.99) had a lightly sweetened floral green tea taste. It was SO good. My husband enjoyed it. The Rock Oolong Milk Tea with Homemade Boba ($6.99) sounds intimidating if you Google 'rock oolong'. The flavor was rich, complex with layers of flavor. If you enjoy a purer form of oolong, this one's for you. I loved mine, wishing I had the option to upgrade the size from M (only size available for the Homemade Boba series) to L. The prices are insanely inexpensive for the quality of ingredients used. The interior is clean, contemporary and comfortable. The cashier was very friendly, patient and assisted me with the options of customizing available to me. The order of three drinks was prepared quickly. The bag given to hold the drinks is such high quality and adorable. I will definitely reuse it. The only con, the straws are not strong enough to pierce the plastic protecting the drink. We used the end of a pen to make a hole first then entered the straw. My straw curled up and was pushed into itself attempting to pierce the plastic covering. Don't do it! Definitely worth a visit. Returned the next day for round two, but the store was closed at 12:49p. Says they open at 11a 7 days a week. Sucked! I drove out of the way to do a pickup. Call ahead, I will moving forward.

Allison H.

My friend and I decided to try out this tea shop. You order on the kiosk and they make the drink pretty fast. I got the Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea and the Chahalo Black Milk Tea Frappe. I got both with 80% sugar and less ice. The Black Milk Tea was very light in flavor. I liked it better when the whip cream melted and mixed in the drink. The Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea had a more fragrant taste so I prefer that one more.