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    Chicha San Chen

    4.3 (193 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM

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    Winny H.

    This was my first time here Chicha San Chen (located on Main street) in Alhambra as I was looking for a tea place. This is quite an interesting store. Inside ambiance is clean and modern and yet still somewhat inviting. You can tell that is place offers a more elevated, tea-focused boba experience rather than your typical sugary drink shop with cute decor. I really like the service here. The staff is friendly, patient, and was able to explain their tea brewing process and also gave some good recomendations. I got lucky as there wasn't anyone after me so I could take my time and ask questions. One of the biggest highlights here is the quality of their drink. I have never had such high quality, freshly brewed on the spot, tea beverage. Usually those boba places have premade tea in stock ready for customers so that they can crank out their orders fast. But here you can tell they take their time in seeping the tea and making your drink. Each drink is brewed fresh to order using their signature "teaspresso" method, which really brings out the depth of the tea flavors . I got their Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea that was somewhat light, floral, and with a deep oolong flavor. Loved it! I can definitely taste the pemium tea leaves, and the drinks taste smoother and less artificial compared to many other boba spots. I also got their Cassia Black Tea with Mousse that included a creamy foam top. Interesting combo for sure. Side stree parking only and it did take a few minutes to find a spot during peak times, but it's manageable. Will drop by again next time I am here in SGV!

    Taro Milk Tea
    Fortuna N.

    Wow I get the hype of this place, they have high quality tea for their boba and their machines prove it. The place is very pristine, clean, and modern with their design and seating. If you take it to go, they give you their classic boba carrier with string. I don't really like taro but I LOVE their taro series. I got their: Taro Milk Tea (5/5): Which comes with their black tea blended with cream to create a milk tea base, thick slab of taro paste at the bottom, with their chewy taro balls. The black milk tea base was perfectly sweetened and went so well with the taro paste. Mix it up and it tasted even better blended throughout. I also love the chewiness of their taro balls that was flavored so well. I would come back to try their other drinks!

    Menu
    Pui Y.

    Stopped by during the LNY festival. There was a line and some wait for the tea. The decorations made a relaxing atmosphere. I went to the CNY booths to kill time while waiting for the drink. It's great that it's in a busy area. Downside is that it is not close to the parking structure.

    Free magnet
    Amy L.

    My favorite drinks are back. The only time i would come to chicha is for their taro series. I can't decide which one is better betweem the milk tea or the fresh milk. But the taro paste and balls are what makes the drink amazing. Wished it was permanent but since it's not that's fine. Save me money since drinks are overpriced. When you come in, you line up to place your order on the kiosk. Then you wait for for drinks to be called. But most of the time they make alot of orders then call people to pick them up so i just show them my receipt instead of waiting. Otherwise you waste more time since drinks take a while.

    Belinda T.

    I've been to both the SG location as well as the Alhambra one quite a few times and it's always been a consistent experience in terms of service and quality. The best part of Chicha San Chen is their teas--super fragrant no matter which tea you order. My absolutely favorite is the Green Milk Tea with Taro Balls, and it comes with a refreshing jasmine tea paired with chewy soft taro balls that aren't too sweet (best Asian compliment ofc). This last time I also purchased some Lishan Oolong tea (light roast and medium dark roast) and wow, it bloomed into whole tea leaves, not just scraps. Pretty good quality. Went back on a weekend and they had BOGO 75g Lishan Oolong--$40 for 150g, what a steal! The staff here are always really polite and nice, and this particular store is huge with plenty of seating spaces. There's a free parking garage behind Gen right around the corner.

    Teeling L.

    CHICHA San Chen is a world-renowned Taiwanese bubble tea chain that brought its high-end, "Michelin-equivalent" tea experience to Alhambra, CA, as part of its strategic expansion within the San Gabriel Valley. CHICHA means "to drink tea", while San Chen refers to a Chinese proverb about finding the best single thing among many, symbolizing their dedication to quality. Funded in 1998 in Taichung, Taiwan, the brand is built on over 20 years of traditional tea-making expertise. It is famously known for receiving an award equivalent to three Michelin stars from the International Taste Institute (iTQi) for its exceptional tea quality. The shop offers a bright, spacious environment with seating and outlets, making it a popular spot for studying or a refined tea break. There's also a tasting bar where staff sometimes offer free tea samples and education on different roasting degrees. CHICHA features six core teas, including the award-winning Dong Ding Oolong, Cassia Black, and High Mountain Pouchong. Drinks are typically one size and can be customized with various toppings. Drinks generally range from $7 to $9. Our favorite drinks are Osmanthus Oolong Tea with Honey or Mango, Peach Green Tea, and Bubble Milk Tea. Their seasonal drinks were also pretty good. There's street parking and a free parking structure located directly in the back.

    Cassia with Mousse ($7.25), Green Tea with Passion ($7.25), Taro Ball Tea Latte ($8.25), Dong Ding Oolong Tea ($6). 12/27/2025
    Sandra L.

    As always, I love Chicha San Chen for their aesthetics and tea. It has been over a year since I've been to one and this is my first time at their Alhambra location. The interior of this location is huge! Very clean and open. We got lucky and there was no line on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered Cassia with Mousse ($7.25), Green Tea with Passion ($7.25), Taro Ball Tea Latte ($8.25), Dong Ding Oolong Tea ($6). I forgot that the mousse has a sweet flavoring to it that makes it a bit too sweet even for this sweet tooth. Their drinks are very expensive for what it is. The size is on the smaller side and for a basic tea with no milk or add-ons, its already $6. The tea does taste good, but nothing too great. Overall, I think I still like Chicha San Chen for what it is, but I wouldn't frequent them all the time.

    Menu
    Katherine S.

    This is one of my favorite boba spots! My go to is the green tea with cream (light sugar). I really love the strong tea flavor since they really extract out the flavors from the leaves using the fancy machines. I strongly recommend adding the cream - it's rich but not overpowering and yet adds creaminess to the drink! Service is always awesome and the sitting area is super nice! You can order ahead of time and note that they do not have no ice option but you can do less ice.

    Carol C.

    It was my first time trying Chicha and the staff member was very helpful in explaining the menu and letting us smell the different teas to get an idea of where to start! I decided to go with the the Osmanthus Oolong tea and added the mousse and konjac jelly. My drink was tasted so fresh and you can really taste the quality of the tea! I had a great experience.

    Chloe L.

    One of my absolute favorite boba shops in the 626! It's a bit on the expensive side but the tea flavor is super strong and the presentation is really cute! The inside is very spacious with a decent amount of seating. A little on the sweeter side so order less sweet it you prefer it not too overwhelming!

    Online ordering
    Riki J.

    Heard a lot about their tea so went to try it out. Tried the taro fresh milk, dong ding oolong and lemon tart. They were all good. The taro fresh milk came with actual taro and taro boba and was my mom's favorite. My dad enjoyed the dong ding oolong as it wasn't too sweet and had a smokey flavor. I really enjoyed the lemon tart but the "perfect sugar" level was a little too sweet for me, would try a little less sugar next time. Went on a weekday to avoid any crowds. At the time of my visit, it only had one lost to self order from and it was occupied for a bit so I placed an online order from the QR code. The main difference is that at the in-store kiosk they make the drink right away, and for the QR code it is for ordering online so it may be 20-25mins wait.

    Victoria C.

    I stopped by with some friends because they're big fans of this place. Based on their taste in drinks, I had a feeling it would be a solid choice. It was my first time here since I don't live in the area, so it was a good treat for me. I also love how convenient the parking was. What I loved most was the strong tea flavor in the drinks; you can really taste the tea. They brew it right in front of you, and it's pretty cool to see how efficient their assembly line setup is. A lot of places near me don't quite have the tea flavor I'm looking for in their drinks, but I make do since I can't always travel 40 minutes just for boba. I usually go for fruit teas with less sugar, so the stronger tea flavor was perfect for me. I got a Peach Green Tea with 50% sugar, and it was just right. The peach flavor still came through, and the tea complemented it really well. The only downside is that there can be a bit of a wait if the lines are long, since each drink is made to order. But they're really efficient, which helps speed things up. Plus, there are plenty of seating spots, so it's pretty comfortable to just chill and wait for the drinks. Overall, I think this is a solid spot, and if I'm ever in the area with time to spare, I'll definitely stop by again.

    Black milk tea with boba
    Emmelynn G.

    This was very overrated. And it was SO expensive! Yes, the tea flavor is strong... but the drink as a whole wasn't amazing. Just very underwhelming and made me upset to pay around $10 for a small drink I didn't end up liking. Lol! I wouldn't recommend and I wouldn't come back :/

    Menu (November 2025)

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    Page 1 of 5

    Chicha San Chen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Chicha San Chen

    How do I make reservations for the Lishan oolong tea tasting?

    If I remember they have tastings starting at 12 or 1 on the top of every hour. Feel free to stop by… Read more

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    The Tea - Salted cream coffee and smashed lime aiyu jelly tea

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    4.2(437 reviews)
    2.1 mi
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    I'm giving them 5 start based on their coffee…read more I got the Seasalt Cream OG and 2 toasted brown sugar Boba milks. The coffee was amazing. My husband makes me a coffee from a phin everyday day for work and this is exactly what it taste like except the cream which elevated the coffee even more. We came back from Vietnam and the coffee in America has been subpar. This has been the only place that I would come back to consistently. Only for their coffee. My children like the Toastes Brown Sugar Boba and finished it quicker than most other places. There is a touch screen to order. I was nicely greeted when I walked in and the store was very clean with a a lot of seating. I found it odd that the middle was long and you have to walk towards the back to get your drink. But overall I'm coming back for that coffee!!!

    Came Back for Our Usual... Left With Feelings About Parking & Sugar Levels…read more Hubby and I decided to circle back to one of our top 3 favorite boba spots (not that our list is super long lol), because after a delicious hot pot dinner we were seriously craving their Coco Mango. First things first... the parking here still deserves its own Yelp review. Whoever designed that parking situation... respectfully... why Parking still sucks, but we powered through. That said, it was actually really nice seeing this place busy and packed last night -- probably around 15-20 people inside. I was weirdly happy about it because I'd be genuinely sad if this place ever closed. Always good seeing people supporting a spot you love. We ordered our usual Coco Mango, and since I was feeling adventurous, I also tried the Dragon Fruit Aiyu. And not gonna lie... the Dragon Fruit Aiyu was delicious. Super refreshing, the dragon fruit tasted fresh, and the jelly inside was such a nice touch. Definitely a solid 8.5/10 for me. My drink was $6.95 and honestly worth trying if you want something fruity and lighter. Now for the Coco Mango... This drink usually never misses. The sweet coconut with that tart mango blend is usually chef's kiss every single time. We've probably been here close to 10 times, which is why I immediately noticed it tasted a little different last night. I ordered mine with the extra lychee popping boba (+$1), so total was $7.95, and I'd rate it around a 6.8/10 this visit. My husband always tells me to stop doing 70% sugar because "either commit or don't" and honestly... he might've been right this time. But even aside from that, both the coconut topping and mango felt less sweet than usual and just didn't have that bold flavor we normally love. Maybe it was because they were extra busy and moving fast -- totally understandable -- but it was the first time it felt a little less magical than usual. Still... one off night absolutely won't stop us from coming back because when that Coco Mango hits, it hits. We'll definitely be back and hoping next time our beloved Coco Mango returns in all its usual sweet, coconutty, mango glory. Happy drinks!

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    Toasted Oreo milk & Coconut taro blend

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    Tea Habitat - Golden tea cup, with pu'er cha

    Tea Habitat

    4.9(16 reviews)
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    Visited Tea Habitat for my birthday and we had a lovely experience. Imen was kind enough to share…read moreher knowledge which I appreciated as someone who is passionate about sharing tea culture. I admittedly am now re-thinking about tea and temperature after our session. It's rare to find places such as this that offer a space to slow down and be intentional. I left with a profound respect for the work that Imen is doing for the tea community in sourcing and providing authentic Chinese tea/ tea ware. Thanks again for having us!

    5-stars, just for the fact that you'd be very hard-pressed to find an experience like Tea Habitat…read moreanywhere else in southern California. If you're into real tea, the kind backed by thousands upon thousands of years of tradition, and craft, this is it. This is the real. Varieties that Imen (the big boss at Tea Habitat) has personally procured directly, live, from the source throughout mainland China. She basically found the best stuff on her tasting ventures, making it a pretty exclusive menu of teas that you're highly unlikely going to find anywhere else in southern California, or perhaps all of California and the entire nation. You need this. You want this. You want to have it so bad, you want to relive the lingering euphoria of getting tea drunk - green tea, white tea, oolong... from royal grade to high mountain grade, harvested from centuries old trees. If some the tea names sound a bit nasty or unappetizing, it's to deter people from stealing it; hence, you may actually pleasantly surprised by its fragrance and quality. Super suggest setting an appointment for tasting, where the choice is pretty open from the list. The more expensive grade stuff though, will cost extra for a premium tasting set. And you'll be able to taste first hand, side-by-side, why certain dishware, especially the gold-lined cups, have an impact on how much flavor carries through. Quite profound. You can easily spend around 2 hours maximizing the steep of each set of tea leaves, while chatting it up with your bestest best mates. -Logistical notes: The location isn't that apparent, from the sidewalk, walk directly south towards the residential building, past the initial businesses on the side. The storefront is on the bottom floor, in one of the units.

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    Chapresso - Strawberry matcha latte w/ house made puree

    Chapresso

    4.5(361 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$
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    wow this might be one of my new favorite boba spots! Came to try Chapresso and the tea quality…read morereally shines in all their drinks! I tried their matcha latte with 2% milk (they offer oat milk too) at 70% sweet and a gyokuro milk tea at 70% sweet with lychee jelly and both were very very good! The teas were fragrant and yummy and perfectly not too sweet! They have a few seats inside but it's very limited - they've been around for about 2 years and I hope they get a lot more love soon! Service is very fast and friendly

    5/19/26 Okay, I'm not much of a tea drinker but I like matcha for all its health benefits & its…read moreearthiness, this place has my seal of approval:-) Just driving around San Marino looking for a coffee shop near 5 pm--not much luck. This place popped up & doesn't close til 8 pm- cool!! There just 2 seats indoors with a "bar" table and a bench to park your behind while waiting for your drink. There's no restroom. The outdoor patio is spacious but it shares it with 2 other businesses (Dumpling Bar & Mari Vees). Staff is trite, professional, competent but not overly friendly. He made my drink as requested-iced matcha latte with oat milk, less ice, 75% sweet level, one of the best so far, nothing fancy, just good, quality matcha. I'm likely to return if ever in the area, and that's me not big on tea lol \(*0*)/

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    Chapresso - Come try our Iron Goddess Oolong Milk Tea or Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea with honey boba, and sweetened with cane sugar!

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    Callisto Tea House - Pot and Tea Set

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    4.9(135 reviews)
    5.4 mi

    This place is so much more than a tea house. It's a reset, a tiny retreat that gently reminds you…read morelife doesn't have to be lived at 100 mph. I just finished a hike in Altadena, found Callisto on Yelp, and wandered in looking for a quiet post-trail moment. Instead, I was met with such a genuine warmth that made me feel like a guest instead of a transaction. The owner herself took my afternoon in a much softer direction. I ordered the afternoon tea service and fell into my book. This is the kind of place that invites you to read, write, and decompress. My tea of choice: Yellow Brick Road with osmanthus flowers blended with Darjeeling black tea. It tasted like sweet blossoms dipped in honey. The service also comes with three mini savory toasts, a scone with mascarpone cream and marmalade, and dessert. I chose the chocolate peanut butter cupcake which sent me into a blissful chocolate haze for the rest of the day. If you crave quiet, delicious, almost healing moments, you need to come here. Wendy, thank you for taking such good care of me and inspiring me to chill out for the rest of the afternoon.

    My book club met here for our January meeting. Parking was a breeze, for context we had arrived…read morearound noon on a Sunday. Their tea menu has beautiful descriptions that helped us choose the perfect teas that aligned with our book's themes. We had a larger group and the owners were a delight to work with to make the reservation to accommodate us and schedule a tea tasting. We had a wonderful experience and enjoyed the delicious teas.

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