4.5 stars. First and foremost...the drink was 11/10! Upon entering the vibes are relaxed and sophisticated with simple yet earthy, welcoming, and bright decor. There is bench and bar stool type seating available in the small store. Store is located across Safeway where I parked for free. Free parking in front can be difficult. I was given a free sample of idk the employee just said this is for you.. Sample was bomb just wish he told me what it was lol. The drink I ordered was Honey Osmanthus Oolong tea with oat milk and bubble omg soooo fresh and yummy and wow I'm still thinking about it after I devoured this drink hourss ago. I love tea. If you ask me tea or coffee, the answer always has and will be...TEA! This place is for real tea lovers no artificial highly sweetened sugar powder shiz over here. Real deal tea and the bubble omg the boba was perfect texture.. flavor.. just perfect! Now as to why I am deducting .5 stars.... Well the parking situation with the how did they get a license type drivers. The location is a big miss for me and why I don't see myself returning often. I like that I can park for free at Safeway but it's always a hassle in this area with the drivers and people for some reason in this particularly busy part of downtown Bellevue. The prices are a bit high but quality is there it's just location makes me sigh in annoyance. Would recommend. I highly enjoyed my drink. Next time would like to try the bubble volcano! read more

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I arrived 10 minutes before they opened and there was a line outside of the door already so be prepared to wait if you go even later. Even with getting there early, parking was a pain in the butt- eh but when can ya do I guess? But if we ignore the parking situation & the long lines, I can assure you that the tea itself is worth it. The tea is brewed fresh daily and it's not straight up powders/sugars like other boba shops. The drink I ordered (High MT pouchong tea + cream) can be described as fresh, herb like with a perfect amount of sweetness! If you're used to extra sugary or powdery drinks, you may not enjoy the drinks here because surprise surprise it does taste of actual tea and not just plain old sugar. 10/10 would be here often if I lived in Seattle! read more

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(Note: I haven't been here since they moved to BV Square but I doubt that has affected the quality of the drinks and has only worked to improve the parking and seating issues!) CHICHA stands out amongst the competition for obvious reasons, including its quality, boba, and overall flavor. Definitely a place you have to try at least once to see the unique tea extraction process and witness the hype that hasn't seen to die down in MONTHS for this place since opening. Be prepared to spend at least ~$6.50 for a tea without add-ons, maybe $9-10 at max. What to get: The passionfruit tea is my boyfriend's FAVORITE tea of all time. We will literally drive down here from Kirkland during peak hours just for this drink sometimes. I was a little underwhelmed by the first drink I ever ordered here, but as someone who prefers sweet milk teas to fruit teas, I think this was my own fault for ordering a fruity black tea. HOWEVER, after my most recent visit, I have found my perfect drink: ding dong oolong tea latte with oat milk, pearls, perfect sweetness, light ice. Absolute perfection. I can't remember the last time I had a boba that made my eyes widen and jaw drop like that. Truly the perfect definition of a "not too sweet" Asian dessert treat. A must try one of a kind boba shop in the Bellevue area. read more

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This place was bookmarked in my folder for a while. Finally had the chance to come here. They definitely do not play when it comes to brewing the tea. They measured it down to the weigh and happily brewed it to perfection. There's a long line but don't let that deter you, it moves fairly quick. The drink was good and refreshing, a little pricier than the norm of other establishment. But you're paying for quality. Definitely good to try at least once. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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A cute little shop in the mall. Can get very busy! I thought the tea was great, but nine dollars for a smaller boba tea seems quite steep to me. It was really nice to try but it didn't really live up to the hype for me. Will try again just in case it was the drink I chose. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Taro boba tea and volcano - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Chicha San Chen is one of my absolute top picks as a boba addict! I really appreciate that you can actually taste the tea in the drinks, the drinks aren't overly sweet, and the boba is very soft and chewy. Service is great, and they always give out a sample of their drink of the day before you order, which is cool if you're wondering about trying a new drink. The ambiance inside is also great -- the aroma in the air immediately hits when you walk into the store, and you can see their tea machines behind the counter. The only con is that the drinks here generally cost a dollar or two more than at other boba stores, but if you ask me, it's well worth the jump in quality. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Dong ding oolong tea latte with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Sadly, the CHICHA San Chen here doesn't live up to the hype or standards from the SGV, CA (best version I've tried so far) or even Montreal (slightly better) locations. Their claim to fame is the quality of their fresh milk, which for some reason doesn't contribute as much to the drink here. I usually get 0% sweetness, and their tea is rather diluted. Fresh boba is the best part. Appreciate that they make the drinks to order, but we also waited a long time for our one drink despite there being very few customers in store. The store design is also not great as customers needed to walk towards the back to order and were brushing past our shoulders, while we were waiting for our drinks. read more

I usually am a milk tea boba person but I tried two fruit teas and loved them!! I had the mango oolong and peach oolong which were great with half sweetness. The line was pretty long, but it went by quick. I have to say that they had the best boba/tapioca I've had in a very long time! Will definitely be back again! read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Hands down, one of the best Boba you can get. I've tried their Bubble Volcano, Osmanthus Oolong and Green teas. The Boba pearls are so fresh that you can taste it. You can also see people brewing your tea fresh, right in front w you. The people are super sweet too but be prepared to wait, if you go during the peak hours. But it's absolutely worth the wait. They do also give you tiny brews of the day and it's so refreshing. My favorite is the bubble Volcano. I do also like that their sugar levels are way lesser than other places! read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Volcano - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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The line was lonnngggg. Which I knew that beforehand but wow the hype is hyped for this place. The tea was good but I wasn't wowed with flavor. I'm a huge tea fan and this definitely had really great tea taste, it's not overly sweet, definitely less sweet than other boba places. Overall a good tea but I was expecting to be blown away upon the first sip and that just didn't happen for me. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Chicha San Chen is conveniently located inside the mall and I ordered ahead to avoid waiting in line. When I arrived on Friday afternoon it wasn't too busy though! The interior is small with only a few tables but bright and cheery. I wanted a non-caffeinated drink since it was late afternoon so I tried the creamy lemon tart drink which had a deliciously foamy cream top and a great tart flavor. read more

Everyone loves this place, it's very busy! Amazing Tea! great refreshing and flavorful. The ambience is clean and very busy. if you can pre-order that's a good idea! but Tea is good! If you Open another store come to Alderwood Mall read more

CHICHA San Chen - Menu passion tea and coconut jelly's my favorite - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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I don't see really the hype. I waited about 10 mins in line and then about 10 after ordering. The process is quick once you order your drink. I didn't get anything special, just a tea with lemon juice. It was refreshing, but keep in mind, we were in a heatwave so anything iced would have been good... . In all, I would stop by again but only if there isn't a line. 20 mins is a tad too long for a tea, but that's just me though... read more

CHICHA San Chen - Inside - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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If you want high quality boba, this is the spot! My favorite so far is the High Mountain Pouchong Tea with less sugar. The shop itself is super bright and aesthetic. Only downside is how physically small it is, and being located in a busy mall, it can get very crowded. The wait can be up to 10-15min during peak times but it is so worth it! read more

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Would I wait hours for a drink here? No. Is this the best boba I've had in the U.S.? Personally, yes. I arrived 30 minutes before closing, and there was still a long line. Thankfully, it moved quickly, and I got my drink in under 10 minutes. While offering samples is a nice idea, it could slow things down for indecisive customers, making the line even longer. Most milk teas I've tried in the U.S. have an artificial or chemical taste, but CCSC's drinks taste fresh and authentic. Everything we ordered tasted natural, and I didn't feel thirsty afterward, which usually happens at other boba spots--even at 100% sugar. I could really taste the tea in my drink, and the boba was warm and freshly made. This is the closest thing I've had in the U.S. to the boba in mainland China. The only downsides are the price and size. It's expensive for such a small drink, and if you choose 100% ice, it'll be gone in just a few sips. read more

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Perfect every time. Their boba never disappoints and I'm super happy that they're able to maintain the consistency of the drinks. The menu has a decent range of flavors and types of teas to choose from. Considering they have a couple of Michelin stars, the price is a bit higher than your average boba shop. However, you're definitely paying for the quality of your drink and I've never come across anyone that has regretted getting a drink here. * Osmanthus Oolong w/ Honey: 9/10 - subtle sweetness * Green Tea w/ Mango: 9/10 - nice mango flavor * Bubbles (Topping): 10/10 - super chewy and perfectly cooked The shop is relatively small without any tables or chairs to sit at other than the bar, but way more spacious than the other locations in CA. There's always a line out the door, but it moves pretty quickly. It's located in a small plaza with other shops and there's a couple of parking spots as well. We didn't have many interactions with the staff, but the worker that took our order was very nice and friendly. Highly recommend giving them a try! read more

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Ordered the same bubble volcano as last time, but today's free samples were "dongding tea with cream and boba" and I want to get that next time, I was impressed! Similarly, I arrived at 2:53pm, ordered at 2:57pm, and my drink was ready at 3:04pm which is VERY impressive considering there were about 30-35 people in the shop without their order. Most people grab their drink and go because the shop is so crowded! read more

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This was a popular boba place. Depending on when you go, the line can be out the door. I love that when I walked in, I could smell the fragrant tea wafting through the air. They also offer samples every time I've been here so you get to try different tea flavors. Their tea was not very sweet which I like. I got the normal sweet level here instead of my usual 75% sweetness at other places. * Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte 4.5/5 - I wasn't sure what to get and got a sample of this. It was a very good organic milk tea so I got it as a drink with taro balls. The taro balls were warm, chewy, and tasty. * Green Milk Tea w/ Cream, Taro Paste, and Taro Balls 4/5 - The drink was surprisingly not very sweet at full sweetness. It was more like 50% so you could really taste the tea. That's fine, but I usually want a little more sweetness. The taro paste was not bad, a bit grainy. I think I also like organic/fresh milk better than cream. * High Mountain Pouchong Tea w/ Cream 3/5 - I tried a sample of this another time and it was alright. Kind of a weird tasting tea. I didn't really like it. read more

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Good but pretty expensive boba tea. They have a long line usually and a very small interior. If you want to avoid the lines, come at off hours, like 2pm on a tuesday. Their tea flavour is always great. They make their tea like an espresso. I always get the cheese foam here because it imparts a nice salty and sweet flavour to the tea. They do have some non caffeinated options that are milk only too. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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One of my favorite bubble tea spots in Bellevue. The drinks are expensive but it seems like other places have brought up prices to match recently. You can really taste the quality of the tea here, and I love theirs consistently quick and good service. The ambiance of the place is also really nice. I like the pseudo coffee shop vibes read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Great milk tea! We came to Seattle for a quick trip and wanted some good boba but the options didn't look too plentiful compared to where we came from. We luckily found this place and the drinks were great! Cute little holders as well. They gave me a sample of their black milk tea with grass jelly and I ended up getting that since it was so yummy! The service was great. I accidentally ordered the wrong topping and they were able to fix it for me before they had finished making the drinks. Parking is tough but right now it seems like you can park across the street! read more

CHICHA San Chen - Authentic milk tea! We got the black milk tea and dong ding oolong milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Yet another hot day in the PNW. There were three of us together in the area planning to grab dinner on the 4th of July but ended up stopping by Chi Cha San Chen since two of us have never been here before! When we walked over, IT WAS SO BUSY!!! A lot busier than I had expected because I thought the hype had died down since they opened several months ago. We were there for probably like 30 minutes or so waiting in line, ordering, and waiting for our drinks to be ready. Customer service was great though! I didn't quite like my drink that much, but that was my own fault for not ordering it properly and taking the employees hesitation about my order. I ordered the Dong Ding Tea Latte, without any additional flavor and it was just really tea flavor, so nothing special. My boyfriend ordered the Bubble Milk Tea, which is the original milk tea for this shop. This was super good, and he even said it might just be the best milk tea he has ever had! My sister ordered the Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea, which was also good! read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Talk about making tea to perfection. This place takes it to a whole new level with precise measuring, temperature checking, and weighing out the exact amount of tea, water, or other ingredients to make your order. Truly a made to order cup of tea that is much more flavorful than the average boba tea shop. Worth it! read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Chicha San Chen is one of the most hyped tea spots in recent memory, but each time I visit, I am reminded why I always return despite the long lines. Chicha serves freshly brewed, high quality tea with traditional Taiwanese flavors. On this visit, I opted for one of the seasonal drinks, the peach green tea with mousse. The drink was fresh and mildly sweet and the mousse added a different texture to the drink. Overall, each time I've visited Chicha San Chen, I have not been disappointed as the drinks are fresh and the staff are knowledgable to help you make a decision between all of their wonderful choices. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Outside - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Ambiance: Hung out here for 45min on the weekend, people come in large waves! Parking is a bit of a struggle when it gets busy. The people making drinks all have to chant a welcome at the same time every so often, and they sounded so tired. Drinks: - Sample the osmanthus oolong milk tea- the tea didn't have a strong flavor, just a subtle taste, because of how strong and thick the milk is. - Taro Ball tea latte hot light sugar and oat milk- Tasted like a pretty classic taro milk tea, the taro balls was an interesting difference than the usual tapioca. I'd do both next time. Curious to try the teas without any added milk- could be good! read more

CHICHA San Chen - Taro ball milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I've been here a few times already but haven't gotten a chance to review them. Whenever I go here, there is always a long line but it goes by quick. The shop is small with only a few seatings by the window. You can order at the kiosk or in person. The staff are always friendly and offer you samples to try. I normally get their osmanthus oolong tea with mango or orange. I tried other tea shops and they don't make it as good as this place. The teas are freshly brewed in front of you which makes it very unique. This is my favorite tea place whenever I'm in Bellevue. Parking is limited but there are plenty of parking around the area. Can't wait when the Renton location opens up! read more

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We grabbed drinks at CHICHA San Chen in Bellevue after lunch. We were visiting from CA so, of course, this was one of the places I had to check out. First of all, the company branding is super cute and I especially liked their individual drink carriers. The shop is very aesthetic - clean and simple. Parking, however, was a nightmare! I came on a Sunday afternoon and it was impossible to find parking - especially for a large SUV. I ended up finding parking across the street at the Safeway parking garage. Here are a few drinks we ordered: * Dong Ding Oolong Tea + Cream - This was my order. It was the worst drink I ever had. I had to have everyone in my party try it just to make sure they were tasting the same thing I was tasting. Ugh, it was so offensive like dirty wet rag! This went in the trash. * Taro Milk Tea - Good and a safe flavor to get even for amateur palates. * Fruit Tea - Refreshing. I don't know why I didn't get this for myself, as this is what I'd normally get elsewhere. * High Mountain Pouchong Tea + Lemon Juice + Mousse - THEE BEST drink I've had from a boba / tea shop. Love the tartness from the lemon juice and the creamy mousse gave a silky mouthfeel. Cold tea + tart lemon juice + creamy mousse all worked so well together. I'd come back just for this drink. The line was out the door but the drinks came out quick! Now that's great service! Overall, I'm glad I got to try CHICHA San Chen during my visit in Bellevue. I already know where to park and what drinks to avoid and reorder next time I'm here. read more

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Verdict: now that the hype has finally died down (and there are more worthy competitors around), this place is worth recommending (with 1+ hour wait times to order, it wasn't worth it back then). As of June 2024, it's still more expensive than the rest of the field, but it's still made to order, and they always have provided samples and a smile when I order (unless it's on the self service kiosk in which case there's no smile, but you at least get a sample). In my own words (now that I've actually been to Taiwan): Definitely the best quality of tea & extraction (lion teaspresso - you can't buy these for home use!) - but expensive - more than any other bubble tea place in town ($18 for two drinks, before tip, after tax). There is no "large", and the standard cup size is around 8-10oz. Given that it's a hot drink, even with the lowest ice level, you're still going to be getting mostly a cup of ice, and an espresso-shot-amount worth of tea. Lastly, since they only make drinks to order - service takes a while to make it - I don't think the wait time for a drink has been less than 20 minutes. Even if there's a small line to order (as in, it doesn't go out the door), you're going to be waiting a while for them to clear the existing order backlog before you get your order. That being said, it smells like tea in here - definitely has the vibe of a high-end tea place. They leave the fresh tea leaves in open containers so you can smell them - I'm particular to the Oolong or High Mountain Pouchang Tea.. I'd say, if you're a tea fan, and/or a Taiwan fan (vibe wise), it's worth a visit. Would I be a regular here even if I lived in Bellevue? Ehh, probably not. But if I'm in the area, and feeling like I could drink some tea, I'll drop by for a visit. read more

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As an ex-Californian, I'm always on the search for good boba, especially because Seattle's scene has a bit less selection than what I'm used to. After I found CHICHA, I can definitely say my boba craving is satisfied, and it's now one of my go-tos! The big thing about this place is that everything is just such high quality. No weirdly textured boba, but sweet and subtle with just the right chew. The real star is their tea selection, and you can honestly never go wrong with asking for a recommendation from your cashier. Parking is a bit rough sometimes, but if you circle around and check street parking you'll probably be able to find a spot. Worst-case scenario, park in the Safeway across the street and do a dual boba-and-grocery run! read more

You can smell the aroma of fresh tea brewing as you walk in. There is definitely a line even on a weekday but it moves rather fast. It did not disappoint. The bubble /boba is the best I have had in Washington- perfectly soft and chewy with taste of brown sugar. Love that they have non dairy milk substitute, although not all drinks have that option. Love my basic, black tea with oat milk. My only 'complaint' is the specials are only offered at the register. If you are like me, gets overwhelmed with choices because you want to try everything, it didn't help to have more options at the register. Hope they organize their menu and specials so they are visible and can be considered by all the patrons. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Black tea with oat milk - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

One of my FAVORITE BOBA SHOPS - pls pls try the taro balls if you like boba. I wish more boba shops would serve taro balls (extra chewy and flavorful). All the drinks are SO sweet and tea-infused , with options to add non-dairy creamer or fruit purées. They even hand out samples of their seasonal drinks! Ding Dong oolong tea has a strong authentic oolong tea flavor that stands out. High Mountain tea was a close 2nd! The fruity drinks (mine with mango puree) was light and refreshing. I adjusted the sweetness to less sweet and it was perfect. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Mango oolong tea High mountain tea with cream - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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My favorite is the refreshing High Mountain Pouchong Tea with Lemon (less sugar and less ice) and the Osmanthus Tea with Mango. It's hard to find a bubble tea shop with these specific teas in the selection and they also have many good health benefits! Btw High Mountain Tea is a type of tea that is more mellow, does not express bitterness but has similar caffeine levels to green teas and oolong teas. Their teas are different than your typical bubble tea place. I'm more a tea person than a coffee person so I really appreciate the variety of tea I can get here that I couldn't get at my typical bubble tea store. I make sure to stop by when I am in the area for some lighter more refreshing tea. *They have Oatmilk as a substitute Customer service is ok, not very warm, but efficient. They also give samples which I appreciate. Another reviewer complained about the smaller size of the drinks compared to the price and found myself agreeing with her. All in all a solid tea place for tea lovers and one of my favorite soft boba pearls. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Ambiance : 10/10 Service : 10/10 No food serviced. Overall, top tea place I like. Tea is brew in front of you. Tea is very refreshing. My overall pick from their menu is High Tea Pouchong Tea. It is light and not too strong. Sometimes it get crowded when it's the holidays or weekends. Definitely recommend place if you like tea. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

This place is always packed, and parking is a NIGHTMARE. Honey osmanthus with taro balls (iced) Black tea with oat milk and boba (hot) Green tea with oat milk and boba (hot) All 50% sugar. The general consensus in our group was that hot drinks with milk were best. The texture of the pearls was very good, even despite being in the hot tea. The milk brought out the flavor of the tea, as did the warmth. The honey osmanthus felt overpowered by the ice, since it was a light tea to begin with. Would recommend this as a hot tea and add milk to bring out the richness. Taro balls were tasty, not too big, and a nice change from the typical boba pearls. Would get the taro balls again. Overall, this is a very hyped, very overpriced spot for bubble tea. However, the taste and dedication from workers is definitely there, each drink made from a single set of tea leaves. At nearly $10 per drink, it's definitely a special occasion spot. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Honey osthmanthus (iced), green and black tea (hot) - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

My local friend took us here when we visited her and I thought it was so good! The tea bases are unique and really flavorful, if you are someone who appreciates multiple subtle flavor notes in teas or roasted leaves then you'd like it. I got the high mountain pouchong tea with cream, light sugar, and sakura konjac and thought it was so refreshing. I just discovered there's a couple locations of this Taiwanese boba chain in the Bay Area too so now I need to check those out soon! read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

One of the best things I have ever tasted in my life. The warm boba in a cold drink was incredible. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

As good as my favorite ~non Michelin star~ spots in the area, so the label feels like a good marketing flex more than anything, but it is truly good! Prices are similar to Seattle for a full size, but they're just in the smaller cups instead. But every part was good, and my vegan pal appreciated the non-dairy options for everything! The mousse (cream foam) had a great texture, the tea had a strong flavor, and boba/jellies were perfectly cooked. Went at 3 pm on a Wednesday and waited less than 10 minutes from ordering to leaving - so that probably helped too. Too small of a space to hang there, but would be cute if ya could! Maybe when it's super dead, but idk how often that happens. In sum: for sure give it a try if you can go at slow times, but i don't know if any boba is worth an hour long wait! Rating 5 stars tho bc thankfully my experience was the former :) read more

CHICHA San Chen - Green tea with mousse Vegan (oat milk) black milk tea with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Our go to place for boba! It definitely is on the pricier side, but quality is there. I usually go for their taro milk (non caffeinated). I love their taro paste and taro balls. Depending on when you go, if there's a long line, then the quality of their boba isn't as good. When it's not busy, their boba is the perfect amount of chewiness and not mushy at all. Staff is always friendly and I love the samples they always give so in case you want to try something new, you can get a taste of another selection. read more

Could never get around to trying this place in LA because of the insane line. Decided to give it a try in Bellevue and it did not disappoint. It was definitely packed inside but worth the wait. The teas were extremely high quality (we were even able to taste test them before we picked it out) and the packaging was beautiful. The tea had a nice bitterness to it that wasn't overpowering. Would call this my favorite tea spot. Super authentic and high quality. Food: 9.5/10 Service: 8/10 Ambience: 7/10 (aesthetic interior but docking because of how packed and tight it was. Not a good place to sit and chill, better to take to go read more

CHICHA San Chen - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

2 stars is for the drink that I have, not being picky about the drink, but this is my 3rd time to try and still barely can taste the tea flavored, plus it costs $8. Btw, the cashier was friendly. read more

CHICHA San Chen - Honey oolong milktea. - Bubble Tea Near Me - Bellevue, Washington