Ding Tea is a franchise with multiple locations across San Diego and this one is pretty on par with the others. It is always easy to order here. They stay open late, have ample parking, the space is clean, and the staff is friendly. They mainly operate with a kiosk ordering system, though I am sure you can order with an employee at the register if needed. The menu is displayed on a TV near the kiosk which makes it easy to find a drink. There are a few specials laid out on the register counter that make that area look a little cluttered. Maybe a bulletin board for those specials would make the space feel less busy, but it did not take away from my experience. After ordering we sat at one of the tables. There is a mix of high top seating and regular tables. I stayed here for about two hours to catch up on getting work done and there was still plenty of seating available. This was on a Tuesday from about 1 to 3 PM. I ordered the Green Tea with Cheese Foam, Golden Boba, 75 percent sweet, and less ice. My husband ordered the Aloe Vera Peach Juice with 75 percent sweet and half ice. We both ordered large drinks. There was no signage about WiFi and I did not see other reviews mentioning it either, so we asked. Luckily the staff gave us the WiFi password which makes this a nice option for studying or getting work done. Our drinks came out pretty quickly. My green tea drink was a little bitter which usually means the tea may have been steeped a bit too long. With the lower sugar level it made the drink taste closer to a 25 percent sweetness level. The boba was chewy like usual but lacked sweetness and flavor, which is pretty typical for Ding Tea. The cheese foam tasted really good but the texture was strange. I occasionally got little chunky bits through the straw that felt like curdled cheese. It was definitely an interesting texture moment. Luckily I am not super sensitive to textures or it might have ruined the drink. Overall my drink was about a 6 out of 10. The Aloe Vera Peach Juice was surprisingly really good. It had a nice peach flavor mixed with that classic aloe vera juice taste you get from bottled aloe drinks. It also came with aloe pulp pieces which worked like a topping. It was refreshing and perfectly sweet. There are not many other boba spots in the surrounding area so competition is limited, but Ding Tea still offers a solid selection of drinks and satisfies the boba craving. Extra points for staying open late. read more

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The taro mix burnt cream milk tea was good. This boba shop is nearby and the staff members are always pleasant and nice. And the self-ordering kiosk is super convenient! read more

Ding Tea - Evening drink - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm literally always here. I have so many check ins and so many stamp cards. It's wild. I feel like they make the best milk teas in this area. I'm around this area most, so this is my main Boba fix spot. There's still plenty of parking, prices are fair I suppose. And they are pretty fast every time I'm here, even if I do big orders. read more

Ding Tea - New drink menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

My son just went in there today and try to buy a drink for both me and him. The gentleman that was working today was so rude that he didn't even get to order his drink because of his attitude. My son did not know that you were supposed to use the kiosk to order the drink because he only had cash, but his instead of the gentleman telling him politely has said it in a rude way and then snatch his money from his hand. I would never go back to this place again.!!!! read more

The drinks are always good here T~T The staff are polite and drinks come out quickly every-time. The interior is neat and well lit. There's plenty of tables to hang out or study and the workers are friendly. Vi was a pleasure to talk to! read more

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Been to a different Ding tea before but this was the first time at this location. We had the taro mix burnt cream milk tea. I liked the real taro in it, much better than taro flavoring alone. I thought the drink overall was okay. I think a bit more taro mixed into the milk would've made it better because all the taro was only lined on the inside of the cup so you had to use the straw to scrape it off and when you did scrape it off - I felt it would've been better with more of it. Also, the boba was a bit on the firm side and I think it would be better if it were a little softer. read more

Ding Tea - Taro mix burnt cream milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Small boba shop that has some seating area. Good for hanging out and studying or doing work. Drinks I've tried at this location: Kumquat Lemon Iced Tea with grass jelly, half sweet. Super refreshing! You can taste the citrus. The grass jelly was soft and silky. I could've gone less sweet but still pretty good! Assam Black Tea with grass jelly and half sweet. Just the right amount of sweetness for me. Grass jelly soft and silky. The tea was earthy and strong, just the way I like it! Oolong Tea with cheese foam and golden boba, half sweet. The boba had the right amount of chewiness. I prefer to get regular tea with cheese foam because the cheese foam makes it creamy and a touch savory to cut the sugar down a bit. Tea was strong but could've been a touch stronger. The young lady that helped me at the register was kind. They make their drinks speedy, perfect for on the go. I believe you can even order online to pick up? Also don't forget to ask for a stamp card. Buy 10 and get 1 free. read more

Ding Tea - Kumquat green tea with grass jelly - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I was nearby and thought to try this unique place. Walking up to order I wanted to try something different. There was a sign to try their new mulberry tea with crystal boba. I tried it but with lychee popping boba instead. The tea and the boba was good. There were lots of mulberries in my drink which I appreciated. However I was thinking it would be fresh fruit. When I ate the mulberries the texture was chewy? As if maybe they were dehydrated, then they tried to hydrate them again but not long enough? The service was good. Think I'd try the place again, but order something else. read more

Ding Tea - Mulberry tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been here a couple times but was not impressed with the last visit. I ordered a Hokkaido Milk Tea with cheese foam and a strawberry slush with strawberry popping boba. The cheese foam had a grainy texture and the drink tasted watered down. The popping boba was also a little hard. I was disappointed but hoping it was just an off day. read more

Ding Tea - Strawberry slush with strawberry popping boba and Hokkaido Milk Tea with cheese foam. - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love their brown sugar boba!! Very quick service not super busy, nice cute small boba shop with really really good quality drinks I love coming here! read more

Ding Tea - Brown sugar boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I really enjoyed the flavors of winter melon and green tea. Although I personally enjoy adding lychee jelly to my milk teas, I would probably get a different topping next time as it didn't compliment the drink too well. I do appreciate its large variety of a menu so I definitely want to try another drink the next time I visit. Service was good. Minimal interaction as expected. This is a great place to hang out, especially at night since it has late hours until 11 pm. Overall, pretty chill vibes and has nice decoration. read more

Ding Tea - Winter melon green milk tea w/ lychee jelly - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped by Ding Tea in University Square Shopping Center for a quick boba break, and overall it was a solid visit! We tried the Strawberry Yakult Slush and the Honey Sweet Passion Fruit with Golden Boba--both drinks were super flavorful and refreshing, though definitely on the sweeter side, so something to keep in mind if you prefer a lighter taste. The space itself is clean with plenty of seating, which made it a nice spot to relax for a bit. I went during the day and it wasn't crowded at all, which was a plus. The only downside was the customer service--it felt a bit rushed and not very welcoming. Nothing major, but a friendly attitude would've made the experience even better. Overall, I'd come back to explore more of the menu. The drinks were good, the space was chill, and with a little more warmth from the staff, this could easily become a go-to boba spot. read more

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This place is consistently good! I love their Thai tea, passionfruit slush with boba, and their signature. Service is usually good, they may take a second to take your order but it's never too long. Prices have increased over the years just like everywhere else. read more

Ding Tea - Menu November 2024 - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I had Ding Tea in Asia, but never in the US until now, neither a location in San Diego, finally after 3 years seeing them popping up left and right, I stopped at this one to try out their tea, I guess their regular milk tea was just like a lot of reviews said, a bit bland and water down, but their brown sugar monster was a bit better, and I really like their boba toppings, not sticky or chewy at all. The price point is a little high for 2 large drinks came out almost $20 compared to other chains. read more

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5-stars for the drink! Golden boba was perfect and the milk tea was well balanced. Staff and ambiance are what you would expect. read more

Ding Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Ding Tea has good teas and good boba (texture/flavor). I like getting my drinks here 50% - 25% sweet. My favorites are the yogurt drinks and I always get boba and egg pudding. I haven't gotten (black) milk tea here in a while, but I always remembered it being just okay. I do like the jasmine green milk tea though. Now you can order on the kiosk. The speed of receiving your drinks depends on how busy they are. But I usually come when they are not busy. Inside there are a few tables. I feel like this is not a place many people sit and study/work, unlike other coffee and tea shops where there are lots of people on their computers. read more

I think so far this has been my favorite Ding Tea in San Diego. The drinks here never disappoints. The service is really good. And the place has a cute ambiance. read more

This location is one of my favorites as I am always satisfied with my order! Have been coming here for years and they are always consistent! I recommend this and any dingtea location for your boba needs especially if you are shy since they have a device you can order from easily with minimal contact with the workers! They offer restrooms and games to play if you want to stay for a while with friends :) My favorite is a honey milk tea or strawberry black tea with golden boba read more

Ding Tea - Menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I give this spot a 4 cause they are open late and drinks are same as other spot. Its a solid 4 for me.

This place has really gone down hill. I walked up to the register -- the table on the clients side was dirty. I looked around the room and the floor was also dirty -- needs a good sweep. The wall to the left, closest to the ceiling is dirty -- something to do with the vent because the opening with covered with grey stuff as well. My drink was fine, though the barista forgot to add one of my requested toppings and had to adjust after I let them know. read more

I've been going to this location for awhile and the staff is always changing but I always get the same drinks. On my recent visit, the staff weren't welcoming and a little rude. She said the drinks we wanted were not on the menu but it clearly was on the big screen they have. There is a separate menu of new coffee drinks that I tried to order but was told there was only coffee milk tea...? Tried ordering the Aloe Vera Passion Fruit Juice and was told they only offer the Passion Fruit Tea. Also wasn't offered sugar, ice, and size adjustments... I only realized after I left that she gave us regular straws instead of the boba straws so we couldn't even drink the toppings we got. The location could improve by training their staff about the menu and how to treat their customers. read more

Hadn't been in awhile and was in the area so decided to stop by! There is plenty of parking and the location has lots of seating but I ordered my drink to go. I ordered a Thai tea slush with boba and it was pretty good. The drink was perfectly sweet and the boba was chewy. I recommend not changing the sweetness level since their drinks don't run too sweet. Stop by next time you're in the area! read more

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Love that the teas here are delicious and that they host a lot of fundraisers! The drinks tend to be on the sweeter side, so I always get 25-50% sweetness. There's also plenty of parking and the seating area is great for catching up with friends! read more

When I tell you that this is a must place, I am saying it seriously! Ding Tea is about 6 minutes away from SDSU and as students from there, it's awesome to be able to get some easy boba. The service is quick and reliable, and the environment is friendly and I really enjoy just being able to catch up with friends in the place. I'd recommend the Black Milk Teas, or any of their delicious fruit drinks! read more

Ding Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Oolong milk tea was so good it had me cracked out! Would recommend to the people I know.

I was really excited to try the hokkaido oolong milk tea as I love hokkaido and oolong! Unfortunately there was barely any oolong taste, and the hokkaido was a tad bit too sweet at 100 sugar, and I love sweet drinks. The boba itself was okay. I didn't see any outlets from where I was sitting, but it was a fine place to do homework. read more

Ding Tea - Hokkaido Oolong Milk Tea with boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

They are popping up in every city! Good for them! For the most part, every location I've tried has been consistent but not all. This location is definitely on my go-to list. I usually get regular milk tea, winter melon milk tea, or Hokkaido milk tea. Got winter melon this time and was so good! Winter melon is a fruit, almost gives off that cucumber, earthy herbal taste. It was a really hot day so I stuck with normal ice, half (50%) sweet, no boba. For my mom, I got her oolong milk tea, normal ice, slight (30%) sweet, no boba. It's normally a hit or miss on the 25% versus 50% sweet but better than full on sweet. My mom's tasted perfect to our liking. Mine was just a tad bit sweet but not enough where I would have to dilute it with water. The best part is that you could taste the tea aromas in both. I love that you can control ice and sugar level. Normal (100%), less (70%), half (50%) slight (30%) and none. read more

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While it's nice to see more boba options in the area other than Tapioca Express, I feel like Ding Tea is decent, but still not the best offering in the area. The first thing that it really has going for it is the location. It's right next door to Panda Express and the newly-opened Lee's Sandwiches. Panda only has soft drinks and Lee's only has coffee beverages, so hopping over to Ding Tea for boba first seems like the natural order of operations. It's certainly convenient and seems to be popular. However, there are a lot of hidden costs that makes everything feel very expensive for the value. The price on the menu is for basic tea without any toppings (including boba). Each topping is 95¢, which is significantly more expensive than the typical 50¢ at other boba places. Upgrading to a large for 75¢ extra gets you a 24 oz beverage. I paid more than $7 for a large guava green tea with boba. Tea, ice, and boba is as basic as basic gets. At another boba shop in the area, I paid $6.25 for a large specialty boba beverage that included two toppings before I added boba for 50¢. Same size, nearly $1 cheaper. The basic tea, ice, and boba that I got at Ding Tea would have been $4.75 and the boba was better. What sank this review down to a 1-star, however, was a nasty discovery I made once I finished my tea. While I only ordered one topping, I received a bonus topping: a peach pit! That's right! I ordered a guava tea and got a peach pit at the bottom of my cup. I don't know where it came from or why it was in my cup, but I'm pretty grossed out and I think that might be my last time at Ding Tea. I wish I had better things to say. If it hadn't been for the peach pit, I'd say that this place is decent if a bit overpriced... but the peach pit was too gross for me to ignore. read more

Ding Tea - Another look at the mystery peach pit in my guava tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been coming here ever since it opened as it's closer to my house than the boba places by SDSU and better quality drinks. My favorites are the Winter Melon Milk Tea and Hazelnut Milk Tea with boba. Their Yakult drinks are also great, but doesn't hit the same as milk teas do. I've ordered online a few times from this location via Google before, but I don't think it really saved me any time. Whenever I come around the estimated pick-up time, I usually wait 10 minutes or so for my drinks to be ready. read more

I went for the first time and the girls there got my order wrong they made it 3 times and they don't understand English because I was telling them I wanted them lg and they gave me small and then they had got one of my drinks wrong and it was really bad experience and they get upset over something that they got wrong is like not my fault they don't understand English read more

Horrible service, they try to make me pay for a drink that I did not order. Never going to this Ding Tea again.

This was my first time at Ding Tea and the cashier recommended the Monster Boba Latte. I adjusted my drink to have no ice and 50% sweetness, but the drink was still VERY sweet. I normally get 50% sweetness at other boba places, but if I were to go again, I'd get 0% sweetness (is that even a thing lol). The boba was subpar. It wasn't very warm or soft, but maybe that's because I went around 10:30 when they were just about to close. Ding Tea is a convenient location from SDSU, but I probably wouldn't come again unless I had no other option. Not necessarily the worst, but I'm willing to drive 15 more minutes to Convoy, which has multiple places with great boba. read more

Ding Tea - Monster Boba Latte - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I would always see long lines in this place whenever I buy food at Panda Express, so one afternoon, I asked my husband to have a boba date with me here. To be honest, I was nervous if it will taste good, because my husband only trusts 1 store when it comes to boba tea. Gladly, this place didn't disappoint us! Ordered Wintermelon Milktea with pearls, it was tasty and sweet, it's unlike other milktea that all you can taste is sugar and milk. It's not too creamy, so that worked well for us. The pearls are perfectly cooked too, doesn't stick together and is not hard to chew. There are few table and chairs where you can stay to study or hangout with friends, family and even dogs! I brought my little yorkie with me to order. I'd suggest everyone to try this place out! I just tried one drink but they have a lot more to offer! read more

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Any time I'm in the area, I always stop by here! You're guaranteed a delicious drink made by friendly staff. I like that they have a menu on the screens with just about every flavor imaginable, then when you're ready, you can order at the kiosk, which has detailed options for your drink, such as light ice or less sugar, etc. it's super efficient! Can't wait to come back! read more

This is based on today's (Friday 4/17/2020) review: I just picked up two drinks from Ding Tea: 1) Jasmine Green Milk Tea (75% sweet); and 2) Wintermelon Milk Tea (50% sweet). I'm very disappointed in both drinks. The Jasmine GMT tastes like water! It's as if there's no tea nor sugar in the drink... it was terrible! My boyfriend got the Wintermelon MT so I switched my drink with his. The Wintermelon MT is a little bit better than the Jasmine GMT, but that's not saying much.. it tastes like milk with sugar. In addition, the wait time was longer than expected. There were 2 other customers in the shop before me and we all seemed to be waiting pretty long for our drinks. This location has disappointed me far too many times. I prefer the Ding Tea in Clairemont or Mira Mesa over this location. read more

Ding Tea - Wintermelon Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love the boba here. I come all the time and it's awesome. tastes good, cheap, and very pretty inside . Amazing service as well.

the drink is okay, near my house, easy and ready to come over everyday, the service is good and recommend some friends to come and chill out

To the Asian lady, long dark brown hair, 3ft tall and wears a oversize brown shirt that works here, you need to be fired. Never have I ever had a staff member get upset with me for asking for water after a 3 mile run. I was very respectful, asked kindly for some water. Gave me immediate attitude, cussed my friend out for asking for more water because she didn't get him any, and yelled "WHAT ARE YOU STILL STANDING THERE FOR?! YOU GOT YOUR WATER" in front of her coworker, customers and others. What a bitch. Absolutely disgusting human being. And I'm usually pretty chill with service members because I am one! That's insane. To corporate and HR, please remove this lady from your business. read more

First time trying Dalgona Coffee Milk Tea and I would get it again if I'm a coffee mood! This does have a coffee foam on top which is a lil bitter, but not overly bitter. I got mine only 50% sweet which is fine for me. read more

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TLDR: Quality of the boba is inconsistent Service isn't horrible Prices are deceptive Quality of the store is significantly diminished between when it was opened and now. I don't particularly like the way they do hidden fees. If you remove ice from your drink you get charged $0.25 more for your drink. A regular size drink is exactly 2 measurement cups of drink, and an upgrade to large (which is the typical normal size in most boba stores) costs $0.75 Drink starts out at ~$5.50 but after taxes and fees, the drink costs $7.00 read more

Ding Tea - $7 Signature Milk Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Diego, California