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    Milk Lab - Durham

    4.5 (170 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Milk Lab - Durham Takeout or Delivery

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    MILK LAB - DURHAM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Maria C.

    I really enjoyed my experience at this place! It was my first time trying rolled ice cream and it was very good. There were a lot of options for ice creams and beverages, also the girls working there were very kind and patient. The place seemed very clean and it was in a good location next to a lot of stores.

    Savi D.

    Hey Yelp fam! This is a good yet sad review--but not for the reason you're probably thinking. While in Durham (as I shared in a previous post), we stopped by a food hall after an event, and inside we found Milk Lab. I'm usually not big on trying different teas or specialty drinks, but on this particular day my sister recommended it--and I figured, what the heck, let's give it a try. I honestly don't even remember exactly what we ordered or whether it had milk in it, but what I do remember is that it was so good. The barista was amazing--super knowledgeable, explained the drink list, and even helped us decide when we couldn't choose between two options. The drink we got was one of their recommendations, and it did not disappoint. IT WAS SO GOOD! Now here's the sad part As I was walking to the table to sit down, the drink somehow tipped over and spilled. Y'all... I don't even know what happened, but I was HEARTBROKEN. I didn't get to finish it, but from the few sips I did get, I would absolutely order it again. I'm just glad I at least managed to get a picture before the tragedy.

    Mango Tea (Large)  & Brown Sugar Fresh Milk + Boba
    Sydney N.

    Drinks here are really good and refreshing but their boba lacked in flavor I wish it had more of a honey taste to them. The service here was okay, it took them a while to make our drinks even though there was 4-5 people behind the counter.

    Rose tea
    Sweta S.

    The service is wonderful but the drinks taste mainly like milk with a twinge of tea flavor. I had the oolong milk tea and do not recommend this. This is the second time I have visited. Unfortunately, the drinks taste only okay because of the lack of tea in their drinks. It does have seating, so this may be a good place to study. However, their teas lack flavor.

    Natasha R.

    Such a great boba shop! They have rolled ice cream, milk tea, and lots of toppings. My one comment is that I feel like the sweetness level in the drink is really varied from drink to drink- both me and my fiancé got the same percent sweetness, but his drink was significantly sweeter than mine. The drinks were delicious though and I would definitely go back.

    Rochelle K.

    This review is solely based on their ice cream. I came here to try their roll ice cream. When I walked in they have a order kiosk but I didn't use it since it wasn't busy. My order was place quickly but it took a little longer for them to find what they needed to make my ice cream. After my ice cream was finished I was told they are out of whipped cream. Ice cream wasn't firm at all and easily break a part even when he tried to scoop it inside the cup it lost its rolled shape. I didn't enjoy my ice cream at all and waste money. My ice cream ended up in the trash. I feel like this place can be more sanitized with their utensils they use to make the ice cream. Maybe their boba tea is great but the roll ice cream is a complete NO. I definitely wouldn't return here.

    Jasmine tea
    Nikki S.

    Milk Lab! Did not disappoint!!! This spot was super cute and super clean, inside smelt fresh and sweet which felt very appetizing when walking in. The menu is big and also simple! Super easy to read and if you needed any clarification the employees were sweet and helpful! I of course am a one trick pony when it comes to boba so I always get a jasmine greet tea with the brown sugar boba! The employee was very sweet and allowed me to no troubles subtract milk! Awesome! I even visited the bathroom and it was CLEAN! Yipee love to see a clean restroom. Especially for the middle of the day! The tea though most importantly tasted great! Light sweetness, not bitter yet not overpowering at all! Very delicious and very fresh! Just what I needed for a hot day in NC! The boba itself had a great coated of syrup that was neither gritty nor lackluster in flavor. Tasted very good and a little bit tinier than most boba I've had but no issues there it was still delicious! I highly recommend this spot for some awesome boba!! keep up the great flavors! Will come back!

    Great service! The line never ended but you got through quickly. Massive coffee selection. Clean restroom!

    Strawberry Matcha Latte Oolong Tea - Lemon Lime Tea Purple Taro Latte
    Celeste S.

    AMAZING! I honestly was not expecting to love this place as much as I do when I first tried it today. I tried all three of these flavors and the matcha strawberry latte with almond milk and strawberry jelly was my favorite! I love that there is no up-charge for the amount of ice or for the use of non dairy. The add ins are a 75 cent fee but they give a great amount!! which i loved, plenty of boba and jellies! Service was also very pleasant and were patient on making sure we ordered the best drinks! Its located in south-point mall which is perfect after a long day of shopping !

    - Brown Sugar Black Milk Tea, tasty!
    Angela W.

    Milk Lab is a really good place to satisfy my boba cravings! It's located in a plaza with plenty of parking, and they have an online ordering option. I got their brown sugar milk tea. It was ready really quickly, faster than the initial time estimate I was given, which was very nice. The store itself is spacious and clean, with both indoor and outdoor seating. I think that for boba, I make distinctions between a good drink and a good tea. A good drink just has to be harmonious, but a good tea means I am judging the flavor of the brewed tea itself. With that being said, I think my brown sugar milk tea was a fantastic boba shop drink. It was creamy and had that nice caramelized flavor from the brown sugar, without any odd aftertaste. However, I think the brown sugar overpowered the tea in this drink. I got this drink at a reduced sweetness but I still couldn't really taste the tea. I think that does tend to be the case with brown sugar drinks though, so I may opt for a non brown-sugar drink next time I am here. All in all I enjoyed this drink even without a super strong tea flavor, so I am still looking forward to my next trip here.

    Austin L.

    first time coming to here and the bubble tea did not disappoint! they were out of matcha unfortunately but settled for the strawberry dalgona. it's espresso with strawberry which was an interesting yet tasty combo. staff were friendly and the place itself was open and welcoming.

    Front counter
    Lauren M.

    Yummy rolled ice cream - my son had the Cookie Monster. He enjoyed watching them roll the ice cream. He loved all the cookie toppings and the whipped cream.

    Strawberry Cap with passion fruit jelly IG: michellelieats
    Michelle L.

    Satisfied my boba cravings at Milk Lab, which is one of my favorite boba spots in Durham! Here is what we got: Strawberry Cap with passion fruit jelly ($6.45) - aesthetic and refreshing Mango Fruit Tea with lychee jelly ($4.95) - tastes like a mango slushee Love how they serve both boba and rolled ice cream!! But of course, boba wins any day.

    L-R: Purple Taro (w/ soy, boba, 70% sweet), Cookie Monster (120% sweet), Brown Sugar Black Milk Tea, & Thai Tea!

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    3 years ago

    Amazing my kids are asking to order it all the time it was very convenient so we did not have to drive all the way there

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Super creamy milk teas and their milk is super high quality! Definitely check it out bc it is only located in NC!

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    4 years ago

    The long lines are worth it. We love to go for bubble tea and ice cream. Delicious and always hits the spot.

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    4 years ago

    Great experience for my kids and the service was great. Was very pricey but worth as a special treat.

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    Sandy L.

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    4 years ago

    Definitely one of my favorite places in Durham. Stop in for a jasmine tea with a milk cap. Just trust me.

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    Page 3 of 5

    Ask the Community - Milk Lab - Durham

    Is this business open for delivery/takeout?

    Yes! They are doing curbside pick-up via www.milklabmobileorder.com (or call them) and delivery through Postmates!

    Do they have non-dairy milk?

    Yes! They have oat, almond, and soy milk.

    View All 3 Questions

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Coffee & Tea 638 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Salt N Cocoa - Gulab jamun Rolled Ice Cream

    Salt N Cocoa

    4.8(73 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Amazing as always! Customer service is great and the employee even offered to remake my Nutella…read moretaiyaki if it was too dark for my liking - which it wasn't. Their rolled ice cream combinations are tasty but the made to order taiyaki truly takes the cake. Nice and crispy on the outside that gives away to warm and gooey Nutella. It is smoking hot immediately but hard to wait, hence the vanilla ice cream! The space was nice and bright, clean, and welcoming. They have redone their seating to include a couch which is very comfortable and can comfortably seat different parties with space in between. Always a treat and can't wait to be back.

    A cute place to have ice cream, boba, or even coffee.. with both indoor & outdoor seating. The menu…read morehas quite a few fun options, including the famous Japanese fish-shaped waffles called taiyaki, with both sweet & savory fillings. I was pleasantly surprised to see Kadak Chai (Indian special tea) & Kashmiri Pink Chai Latte on the menu. Definitely something I'd like to try next time! We ordered the Gulab Jamun Rolled Ice Cream & Falooda. The rolled Gulab Jamun ice cream was good, but the Falooda was AMAZING! Perfectly layered and the presentation was on point for both. Before you head there, two things I'd like to mention...the prices are high! $10 for rolled ice cream feels a bit much & the service is slow. But if you're there to spend time with someone, go ahead & chit-chat until your dessert arrives :-P Because sometimes the dessert takes its sweet time... literally :D

    Photos
    Salt N Cocoa - Oreo rolled icecream

    Oreo rolled icecream

    Salt N Cocoa - Indoor

    Indoor

    Salt N Cocoa - Taiyaki! So kawaii!!

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    Taiyaki! So kawaii!!

    Bapu Tea House - Strawberry Matcha latte

    Bapu Tea House

    3.8(20 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Very cutie spot! Love the ambiance when we came in, the seating is very unique, cute, and…read morecomfortable. If you're looking for your knees to pop a little when you sit down, this is the place for you haha. Go support your local small businesses! I got the ube ice milk at 50% sugar and it was delish! There's only one size and it's pretty big. I definitely recommend mixing it super well with the coated ube on the sides of the cup, otherwise you're just gonna taste the milk. I loved it though cause it felt like I was getting different layers of the drink based on how much ube I had mixed in- very high quality milk and drink. I would totally recommend! My roommate got their strawberry matcha, and we watched them make their matcha and 100% authentic, it's not just some concentrate, we watched them mix the matcha with the designated whisk- super high quality and she loved it too. I had a sip and their boba quality is also 10/10, super super chewy and nice! The guy behind the counter was also really kind- very quick service, patient with you as you look at their wonderful menu. You can also ask to sample some of their toppings to make a well-informed decision for yourself. They also have little gifts you can buy in the form of tea, popping boba, or even cute boba/drink carriers. Also, they have a cute interactive wall where you can write a note or draw some pictures. Would be back again! Personally think it would be fun if there were also board games around too!

    | Overview + Brown…read moreSugar Ice Milk is deliciously creamy + Boba texture is perfect + Decent milk tea size in a cute cup with "ears" + Good selection of fruit teas, smoothies & iced coffee drinks + Cool ambiance + Fast customer service - Boba cost extra for Brown Sugar Ice Milk - Taro milk tea here is made of powder / other ingredients look artificial - Various toppings in the open - are they clean? - Menu is purely drinks; no desserts or snacks | Full Review Located in a corner of the Hope Valley Commons shopping area, Bapu Teahouse Durham looks inviting from the outside with its cool boba milk tea structure by the cafe's front door, showing Bapu's simple logo outside. Bapu's ambiance inside looks artsy, with cute aesthetics and cool atmosphere. What stood out to me was the assortment of toppings displayed. The good thing: they look pretty colorful and fresh; the not-so-good thing: they're uncovered, so I'm not sure if they're clean. Nonetheless, it's convenient to see the different topping options you can add to your milk tea. I noticed Bapu uses the artificial purple taro powder for its milk tea instead of taro paste, so I eliminated that choice from my milk tea selection process. There was only one young employee who took orders and also made the milk teas when I went, but his customer service was good as he made fine recommendations and served my order fast. Unlike Boba Baba's eye-aching menu screens, Bapu Teahouse's menu overhead looks clear with photos, highlighting its special drinks. There are no kiosks here, so you'd have to order face-to-face. As the server recommended, I ordered the Brown Sugar Ice Milk (75% sweetness, light ice). It doesn't look as Instagram-worthy as Tiger Sugar's brown sugar milk teas, but it looks yummy enough, with brown sugar syrup clearly visible in Bapu's cute & translucent cup with ears. Bapu only serves 1 size for its drinks. When I ordered this, the server asked if I wanted boba. Most decent milk tea cafes I go to automatically already have the basic tapioca pearls or boba by default in their brown sugar milk tea drinks but Bapu charges extra for that. Brown Sugar Ice Milk is listed as $6. With the boba topping, I ended up paying a total of $7.76, which is slightly higher than average price of brown sugar boba milk teas in cafes I've been to. Compare that to Feng Cha in Morrisville, which offers Dirty Boba (brown sugar milk tea for only $6.25 with the boba already included, so Bapu's pricing here sounds like a joke. To be fair, the size of the cup is large enough, with its cute top that reminds me of Doraemon or Hello Kitty. The material of it doesn't look cheap and it feels fun to hold. The sweetness of the brown sugar flavor was just right. It might have been too sweet if it was set to 100% sweetness level, and it's still probably slightly sweet at 50% but my usual preference of 75% for any brown sugar milk tea was perfect here. The milk was deliciously-creamy with the fresh & chewy boba - perfect texture. Server did a good job blending with just the right amount of ice, good amount of brown sugar syrup & boba. It's not on the same level as Boba Baba's Brown Sugar Boba or Tiger Sugar's brown sugar drinks but it's better than many mediocre brown sugar milk teas I've tried in other cafes. Bapu Teahouse's menu is purely drinks, with a nice variety of milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies & iced coffee. Sadly, there are no snack or non-drink dessert options here that you can pair with your milk tea. It's not a big deal if you're only craving for a drink, and it looks like Bapu has a good selection of toppings to customize your order. Just prepare to pay extra for those. | Overall Score: 3.4/5 | Recommended Alternative: Sharetea in Morrisville

    Photos
    Bapu Tea House - Brown sugar ice milk tea

    Brown sugar ice milk tea

    Bapu Tea House - Hangyodon Underwater Refresher - Citrus & Lychee Lemonade

    Hangyodon Underwater Refresher - Citrus & Lychee Lemonade

    Bapu Tea House - Wall mural

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    Wall mural

    The Bean Flower

    The Bean Flower

    4.5(26 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    So I'm absolutely in love with Bean Flower- not only do they have the best drink and unique Asian…read moredessert menu, they also have the cutest arrangement of stickers, art, pottery, and other knock knacks from local Asian-owned small businesses in the area. Love the vibes when you come in- it's a very hang-out friendly, sit-down and talk, can sit around and read with some background noise kind of vibe. They do have I think 1-2 small tables in the back! Really love the staff here, they gave really great recs and are so incredibly personable. I'm not kidding when I say that Bean Flower is constantly on my mind. It was Lunar New Year time around when me and my friend came! They gave us the CUTEST red envelopes with our order with a Bean Flower sticker. Absolutely in love- y'all come get your boba and desserts! We got their Thai tea and assam milk tea this time- I'm definitely coming back for their desserts to try next time too! I wish I had more money to buy all the art they had as well.

    This strip mall spot offers a diverse set of Southeast Asian beverages and desserts. I went for a…read morerelative smorgasbord, getting a dessert with some frozen creamy top as well as flavored jellies and sweetened red beans. It was a distinctive experience. The typical diner will probably prefer a regular cup of ice cream, but if you want to try something new this has a mix of flavors and textures but is certainly sweet and satisfying as a dessert. Although this is true of most Asian desserts, I appreciated that they specifically note that their gelatinous ingredients are not gelatin but instead have plant-based origins, which is important for many special dietary needs. I did not have room for a beverage, but I expect they would have been able to offer something good.

    Photos
    The Bean Flower - Thai tea

    Thai tea

    The Bean Flower
    The Bean Flower - Seating area

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    Seating area

    Milk Lab - Durham - coffee - Updated August 2026

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