My friends and I were looking for something fun to do last weekend and decided to look for a…read morekaraoke place. We found this one through Yelp, but couldn't find information on prices, times, reservations, or anything. We called the number we found online, but no one answered. We called multiple times, but ended up with no information, so we decided to go and talk to them in person. When we got there, we found about 4 college aged students who did not speak much English at all. When we asked the cost, they said it was $15 per hour. We decided to go ahead, because that isn't bad at all. They had us sit in the waiting room for about five minutes, to clean the room (although there were zero costumers anywhere so I don't know why they hadn't done that before, instead of standing around and talking like we had seen them doing as we walked in.) We were then lead to our room and began singing. That part was pretty fun, and the music selection was decent, with many fairly current songs available. When we were leaving, however, we were informed that it was actually $15/person/hour rather than the $15/room/hour like we had been told. As we stood there in disbelief, the girl ringing us up said she would charge us $40 in total (there were four of us), which was a nice gesture, but still a lot more than we had been expecting. It wasn't the girl's fault, as she wasn't fluent in English, but it should've been written somewhere or explained to us better. We then shelled out the $40 and left, knowing we would never go back. All in all, the place was dirty, smelled bad, poorly lit, had poor service, and was way too over priced. Go at your own risk.

Encore is now the best Boba shop in Iowa City…read more I think this is the best bubble tea in Iowa city some of the more exotic flavors I have yet to try because thery are frequently sold out. I wish they'd have more ingredients in stock so I can try all of the exotic flavors Please get all the flavors.

Tried matcha for the first time ever! I'd have to say the premium matcha ice cream tea was pretty…read moredarn good. The store was clean and tidy. I liked the teddy bear in the corner. The workers were nice and there were cute pictures in frames down the hall near the bathroom entrance. Over all, 10/10 experience! 100% recommend for people that love their tea

The bubble tea here is delicious...and non-dairy! You can adjust the ice and sugar levels although…read more regular sugar (which I ordered by accident) is not too sweet. The large is also not that large...wish there there were a few more bubbles in the drinks. Parking can be difficult (it's off-street only in a busy area).

I've never had milk tea so good. The milk tea they use is fresh black tea and green tea, flavored…read morewith fresh honey. It is the best milk tea shop in Iowa. I Love it。 I've seen people vilify the store in the comments section and I just want to say it's not true. I have been drinking milk tea in this shop for three years. It is very delicious

Staff was very friendly and took care of our whole family! The prices are a little spendy but it is…read morewell worth it for the taste and the vibe! 5 stars

I had the tarot ube brulee boba tea and it was the best tasting boba tea I have ever had in my…read morelife. And I profoundly love boba tea and do not get it anywhere near as frequently as I desire. It was so rich and creamy, a heavenly blend of ube and caramelized goodness with perfectly tender boba pearls that have me yearning for more. We got it at 50% sugar and it was still very sweet so next time I would probably go for 25% sugar even. They also have shave ice and mochi donuts and they had neither of those when I was there because it was pretty late but you bet I'm going to be back soon to partake of this deliciousness as well! I love the decor, lots of green and cozy and clean and bright. So perfect! Service was fast and friendly! They also have ordering kiosks that let you get exactly what you want without having to talk to anyone. I always joke that Iowa city has more bubble tea places per capita than than anywhere I've ever lived... So fortunate to be living here!

I have been a loyal customer of BEP Teahouse for years and have made many purchases, so I was very…read moredisappointed to recently realize that many of my visits and purchases were not properly credited to my loyalty points account. I called the store to ask about the missing points and was told to contact INFI. After contacting INFI, I was told that the points could not be added and that I needed to speak with the store again. Basically, I was sent back and forth between the store and INFI without anyone taking responsibility for resolving the issue. I understand that systems can have problems, but after being a loyal customer for years, I expected better customer service and a loyalty program that actually tracks purchases accurately. The point system needs to be much more reliable, and there should be a reasonable way to correct missing points when customers can provide proof of their purchases. I hope BEP Teahouse takes this feedback seriously and improves both the loyalty program and the way these issues are handled.

Tried this place for the first time and the food did not disappoint! It was authentic and…read moredelicious! The restaurant vibe was hip and fun, the walls were designed with colorful graffiti art and they had a karaoke corner. Our group ordered Kimchi fried rice, jjajangmyun and Korean style bibimbap. All dishes were tasty! The jjajangmyun noodles were perfectly chewy just how I like it. And the bibimbap was served in the traditional clay pot, it was a little on the spicier side but it was so good I finished the entire bowl. The only thing I was missing was the banchan (Korean side dishes). Understandable since we ordered a la carte whereas if we ordered kbbq or the meat combinations it would be included. We definitely plan to come back and try more dishes! Highly recommend!

One of the best places in town to get Korean food. When friends want to try Korean food for the…read morefirst time I usually take them here since there is a fun vibe and the food is reasonably authentic. They also have great cocktails and plenty of soju.

I've had a lot of boba in my life, and I would say La Tea definitely leans a little less…read moretraditional compared to more authentic spots. That said, there's one drink here that truly pops off -- and it's what keeps me coming back. The Uji Matcha Latte with tapioca and red bean (half sugar) is my go-to order, and it's delicious. Perfect balance of earthy matcha, chewy boba, and just the right amount of sweetness from the red bean. Honestly, I like it even better than some matcha drinks I've had in Seattle! I think that drink is better than the random drinks I've tried at Teamo which is next door. The last time I stopped by, we were heading out on a road trip, and I ordered a small -- but heads up, the bottle is a teddy bear shape, which while super cute, isn't the most convenient if you're trying to fit it in a car cupholder. Still tasty though! Overall, I'd rate their boba quality around 3 stars -- but that matcha drink alone is a solid 5 stars in my book. Plenty of seating inside (the space is surprisingly big) and a few games at the front if you're hanging out for a bit. Tip: Stick to the matcha drinks if you're a fan -- they do them really well here!

La Tea and Teamo are right next to each other. I wanted to go to Teamo, but due to the Pride…read moreFestival, the line was much longer at Teamo. Being an impatient gremlin, I went to La Tea instead. I love Jasmine Milk Tea; that is my go to everywhere I go. I'm always trying to find the next best Jasmine Milk Tea place for my tastes. Let me tell you, this place is not it. There was a reason that Teamo's line was much longer then La Tea. My tea did not taste like Jasmine at all. I was with my best friend and her mom. This was her mom's first boba experience, so she thought it was great. My bestie doesn't go out of her way to drink boba or milk tea, so she thought it was fine too. Basically, if you're a noob when it comes to milk tea, it'll taste good to you.

Not bad food. A bit spendy for what it is, but it feels like the type of place you're meant to go…read morewith family or friends and all order something to split.

Shit hole. Stood and waited for more than 20 just for someone to come out of the kitchen. No…read morehostess. Two little kids running around the restaurant. I finally had to ask if we were to seat ourselves. Finally got a menu but again waited for almost 15 and no one came to our table. We finally got up and left. Two different Chinese restaurants in downtown Iowa City SUCK BALLS.

This hidden gem has great food...the Taiwanese beef noodle soup is very good, as are the milk teas…read more The sashimi was fresh and delicious, and the green tea (jasmine) was served in a lovely tetsubin tea kettle. Seating is adequate but it wasn't busy last few times we visited. Nice staff and quiet atmosphere. Trying to find the entrance is a bit of a challenge (off the main road and at the end of South Dubuque, across the street from Graduate by Hilton). I discovered this place by accident while trying to find the library and had parked in one of the public garages (also across the street from the restaurant).

By far my favorite sushi/poke bowl spot in the Iowa city area. Soseki never misses, the portion…read moresizes are great as well! The staff is so friendly each time I come in. Will always recommend Soeski to others! Try their delicious poke bowl!!

The menu was very extensive but not detailed enough to know what the dish contained besides the…read moreheadliner item (beef, pork, tofu). The waiter was awful. When asked, "what's in this tofu dish?, he said, "tofu". My wife asked if it had vegetables and he said he didn't know and made some odd comment on how expensive tofu was as though that made a difference in the recipe. At one point he scoffed and said something like, "the picture shows...". We had so-so beef with scallions and ginger and the green beans. Both were just average. We ordered pot stickers before all the questions and they arrived in time for dessert. My wife also has a Diet Coke which the waiter never offered to refill.

Authentic, bold, and satisfying--Szechuan House is easily one of the top spots for Chinese food in…read moreIowa City. The inside is clean and minimalistic. They have the cool round tables that can fit up to 10 or more people for Chinese New Year which is awesome. You can absolutely come here for solid American Chinese classics (yes, the orange chicken is good!). But if you're ready to challenge your taste buds a little--or want to impress your Chinese foodie friend--here's what I recommend: 重庆辣子鸡 (Chongqing Spicy Crispy Chicken) Crispy, dry-fried chicken buried in a mountain of dried chilies. Numbing, salty, and packed with wok hei. A must if you're serious about spice. 四川烤鱼 (Whole Fish with Szechuan Sauce) Whole tilapia swimming in bold, peppery sauce. Flaky, flavorful, and unapologetically spicy. This one earns respect. 干煸包菜 (Stir-Fried Cabbage with Hot Pepper) Don't underestimate this dish--it's got deep wok flavor, a little heat, and balances out the heavier mains perfectly. 担担面 (Dan Dan Noodles) Nutty, garlicky, and just the right amount of heat. Toss them well and you'll see why they're a classic. Yes, it's a bit oily--that's part of the deal with traditional Szechuan. But the flavor payoff is so worth it. Portions are generous, and the spice is real (so come prepared). Pro tip: This is what my Chinese dad would order. And if you're ready to go beyond orange chicken, you just might find your new favorite here too.