Really great experience at Saltea. Tony, the owner, was super welcoming from the second we walked in and just has a really fun, charismatic personality. There are a ton of great options here, and a lot of the drinks have really interesting names with stories behind them, many inspired by his own customers. Tony actually took the time to tell us some of those stories, which made the whole experience feel a lot more personal and memorable. The ambiance is really chill too. Everything feels clean and well kept, with Buddhist statues throughout the space, good vibes, and a bunch of cool collectibles you can actually buy, including Labubus and other Pop Mart-style items. It gives the place a lot more personality than your typical coffee or tea shop. He's the type of owner who would take really good care of his customers and make sure people leave happy. You can tell he's genuinely dedicated to what he does, and the fact that Saltea is open late makes it even better. Definitely my number one coffee and tea spot around here. Great drinks, great atmosphere, and an owner who genuinely cares about the people who come in. Hermés read more

Saltea Story - Entrance - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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Saltea Story on Story Road is truly one of the best spots in San Jose! Everything is amazing across the board--from the freshness and quality of the ingredients to the outstanding service and one-of-a-kind menu. You can tell that every item is prepared with genuine care. Tony, the owner, is what makes the experience especially memorable. His warm, unique personality immediately makes you feel welcome and at home. The hospitality here is just as impressive as the food and drinks. If you're looking for fresh, high-quality food, exceptional customer service, and a unique local restaurant in San Jose, I highly recommend Saltea Story. This place is a hidden gem, and I'll definitely keep coming back! read more

This place is thee best!! They have the most innovative drinks and supportive staff. 10/10 can't go wrong and already have come back multiple times read more

I went with my friends at 10 PM and had no context of what this place was. Just found it on Apple Maps and went since a nearby dessert place was too busy. I can say now that I have no regrets. Walked inside and Tony immediately greeted us and asked if this was our first time. Telling us about his products and the awards his shop has won was so engaging. The best part: he picks the drink that fits what you like. The story behind each drink is so funny, and his customer service is great. If there is any shop in the plaza that deserves your business, it is this one. I will be back! read more

best boba / smoothies i've ever had ! perfect customer service Tony is the MANNN!!!! read more

Tony Tony Tony! The man behind the business. New name to go live soon. Went last night with friends, and my friend's son got a gelato (which the gelato will be going away soon). My friend wanted a drink, and Tony told my friend Tony knows what drink to get my friend . All my friend had to do was say he wanted something without dairy. After making the drink, the story behind the drink transpired. At the end, he said "I Ain't Your Daddy"! (Note: i do not wanna spoil the story for others. I laughed when I heard it!). My friend let me try some after he tasted it. Pretty good sweet tea flavor with popping and regular boba, among other toppings and flavors. I was going to get gelato since it was going away, but Tony convinced me to get a drink. He asked what type I wanted, and I said smoothie. Tony asked if I liked sầu riêng, and I emphatically said yes. I knew this was gonna be good! After Tony poured the hot boba into the cup to check its legitimacy, he finished up the drink. Sweet and with a hint of sầu riêng, without an overpowering flavor. (Note: let my almost 20 month old try a couple sips at 7p, such a bad idea as he was hyped before going to bed!!). 10/10 would come back again! Thanks Tony for being #1! read more

Saltea Story - sầu riêng smoothie - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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I stopped by for a quick dessert. Owner was very helpful in explaining everything was letting us sample. Ice cream was my favorite item here. Everything tasted like made with good ingredients. Fruit flavored ice creams was slightly more expensive than the others. I went for sapodilla which tasted authentic. He mentioned, he will stop this flavor after this month. Honey lavender was the most flavorful ice cream I had. Almond crunch was really good as well. I never liked genmaicha flavor. But this guy made it very well. Finally I went for a mango mochi ice cream, which was excellent as well. Everything was slightly more expensive, but the quality was good. read more

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Saltea Love this guy sm He'll treat you well and always has a story. Make you feel welcomed! read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

The owner's super funny and guaranteed we'd love their drinks or we don't pay (obviously we all paid cause the drinks were good). Best thing is that it's not too sweet! read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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I love that this spot stays open late -- not a lot of places around here do, so it's perfect for those post-dinner cravings. I've seen some reviews saying the owner isn't transparent about pricing, but honestly, that wasn't my experience at all. The pricing was clearly listed right at the top when I walked in. Yes, it is a little pricier than some other gelato places (maybe $1-$1.50 more), but for me it was totally worth it, especially for a late-night treat. If you come every day, sure, it'll add up -- but for a one-time visit or an occasional indulgence, it's perfect. The gelato itself is super fresh, sweet, and packed with flavor. They also have some really unique flavors read more

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The food is amazing and the drinks. Amazing. I love the name of the menu items this place is such a vibe. The service is amazing the person at register showed us everything off the menu and showed us top quality things. read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Drinks are delicious and tony is awesome to talk to Def trust his recommendations. It's good a lot of sugar isn't added either read more

Owner is fantastic! Matcha Tiramisu is delicious and taste kicks in immediately. Offered the drink and if we didn't like we would get a refund. I did not expect the level of service from this place. Almost passed by it. Place looks like a nightclub, large tables for group gatherings. read more

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Hands down my favorite spot right now! Most boba places are pretty standard, but their fruit teas are on a completely different level--so fresh, super refreshing, and not artificial at all. Also, do not sleep on the gelato! Having fresh gelato at a boba shop is such a game changer, and it's insanely good. On top of that, the owner is hilarious and just super open and welcoming. You walk in for a drink and end up leaving in a great mood because the vibes are just that good. 10/10, definitely coming back way too often! read more

Saltea Story - 2 slow u lose, is the best Vietnamese crack LOL - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Went here in late night to have gelato. The person there seemed to be very arrogant. Showed us reviews and showed rating that they're the best gelato place in the area. Gave us looks at anything we asked and when we sat down to eat it. He said you need to go and can't sit here since he has to mop the floor. We got the tiramisu and honestly it didn't taste good. Won't go there back ever again. Edit: The owner says we took 1 scoop for 3 people, for me I think that is pretty normal when you visit a new place you try it out first then you get more. Money doesn't grow on trees right? Neither do I want to waste the food. We took one and didnt like it either. If the owner wasn't it mood to serve us they should as is nicely not being rude. That how you lose business. Not going there ever and will suggest other people to not go either if they plan on visiting. Word of mouth spreads fast. read more

This shop sells a lot of water dishes, but we really like the ice cream here , highly recommend read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

One star and the drink was the least of it. Most of my visit was the owner telling me how good his reviews are. Then how funny his drink names are. I didn't ask about either one. At some point he moved on to trashing the other coffee shops around here, which is a weird way to sell me a drink. If your stuff is good you don't need to spend ten minutes on why everyone else is bad. Then the bill. My girlfriend and I never got told what anything cost. He rang us up and had us pay before we saw a single price, and one of the charges was for something he had handed us and called a free sample. We walked out feeling scammed. Read your receipt here, and ask the price before he starts making anything. Also scroll the owner replies below. Same paste job under every bad review with a different name swapped in at the top. Mine will get one too. There are a few other spots within walking distance where you can order a drink and be left alone. read more

The owner asked me what I wanted and I was like yeah I'm feeling a slushie bro, so he was like ok let me make you the VIP. but then I saw the "Hit and Run" which reminded me of how my ex hit me the ran away. Anyways the Hojicha in the Hit and Run was absolutely fire and a great way to lose my hojicha virginity #IHateMyEx #HoForHojicha read more

Saltea Story - Hit and Run - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Unfortunately they do not carry mochi anymore which was my original reason to visit. However, I came out with new stories and an appreciation for the drinks here. Tony is a bubbly owner and enjoys sharing stories of his encounters with people. So much passion goes into the naming and taste of the entire menu. Every unique name on the menu has a story and Tony is more than willing to tell you about them. I want to give Tony 1 star because he's not up in Seattle, but apparently that's my problem. Now I'll make the effort to visit when I'm around the bay, typically once a year. Also Sweet Gelato Tea Lounge is open from 5pm to 2am which means Originally drafted this at 3am because it was on my mind and the matcha gave me a kick, or I was just taking in the experience. read more

Saltea Story - Oreo Cheesecake - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

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Update: the owners response was condescending and passive aggressive. Don't support this scamming small business. There are far better CLEANIER quality shops around the plaza than this one. I was charged a bunch of fees EVEN THOUGH I PAID IN CASH! I also didn't want boba and it was 1.5 and tasted like mop water The owner claims the drinks are high quality, but that wasn't my experience. The drinks are overpriced around $15 for a single drink and the quality doesn't justify the price. Tax is 9% which is crazy, one scoop of boba is $1.50 and then the drink that's disgusting and looks like mop water is $12. It tasted very powdery and were mediocre overall, on the same level as Tapioca Express, if not worse. I visited on a Wednesday around 8:00 PM. It wasn't very crowded, but unfortunately the experience was disappointing. The desserts tasted old and weren't enjoyable. The gelato was icy instead of creamy, and the mochi was dry, powdery, and seemed stale. read more

Service 10/10 Very friendly and welcoming service, the person in front who I believe is the owner was very patient and took his time to explain the different yummy desserts. My girls loved the mango mochi and their gelato, the matcha banana milk tea as well as the other goodies had a very natural flavor and we could taste each ingredient perfectly. I wish we lived closer to stop by more often it, will definitely be back. read more

Great variety of desserts. Gelato, mochi, sorbet, teas, smoothies, there's something for everyone. The owner is super friendly and service is awesome. The best part is they are open late and easily accessible. The menu is full of creative drink names that will make you laugh hard lol. Overall this is a fantastic dessert/tea spot for late night cravings. read more

The owner Tony is always so warm and welcoming when I come in and pick up my order. The drinks are so fresh and delicious every single time, 10 stars!!! Return customer for life! read more

The service at this place is really good, owner makes great suggestions for new drinks!

Tony was incredibly quick as usual to create a perfect drink! It was our first time trying the matcha coffee. Super savory and enough sweetness, not overwhelming but enough to please! Would get again, thanks Tony! Been stopping by for 6 years now! read more

Saltea Story - Matcha coffee with no boba - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Service was amazing. Tony makes sure you are satisfied with your drink. I appreciate his service. Uhm but the price for a Taro Smoothie and a Fruit tea being $22 is lowkey insane feeling ripped off ------------------------ Thanks for the response! I'm not sure where the misunderstanding came from, but I never claimed I was charged incorrectly. My review was about the value and quality of the drinks for the price. We knew we didn't have to pay if we didn't like them, but we still chose to because we wanted to support your business and pay for what we ordered. I appreciated your service and still do, but I also stand by my opinion that $22+ was a lot for what we received. read more

Amazing Service, Good quality drinks. The owner is super sweet, friendly and always welcoming making it a positive experience every visit. read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Amazing charismatic owner, the service was great! The durian and mango gelato is very delicious~ He even surprised me with a house special fruit tea, promised if I didn't like it I would have to pay, I ended up loving the drink! read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

First time grabbing a drink at Sweet Gelato in Vietnam Town! I always shop nearby but never had the chance to check it out until now. I ordered a large peach tea with no toppings it was good, light, and refreshing after a long day of Black Friday shopping. They have big booth-style seating areas, plus they carry gelato and the spot is pet-friendly. Nice little place to relax! read more

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Sweet Gelato is now Saltea Story! Visited after a long hiatus (moved out of the area) and Tony is still rocking the tea scene. Still as delicious as ever! read more

Prices are outrageous, if the owner is suggesting you drinks, make sure to ask for the price first. He suggested Hojicha which was 15 DOLLARS, you could definitely get better hojicha at half the price that has higher quality. Edit: Hi Tony, Thank you for your response. I understand that you believe the price was correct, and my concern was never that the math was wrong. My issue was that I did not feel the price was clearly communicated before the drinks were prepared. While the price may have been listed, I personally did not notice it, and I only became aware of the total after the drinks had already been made. At that point, I felt uncomfortable declining the order. I also disagree that the price was my only concern. Had I enjoyed the drinks, I likely would not have come back. The combination of not enjoying the drinks and feeling surprised by the final cost is what led me to request a refund. I respect that you have a refund policy and that you remember the interaction differently. My review simply reflects my personal experience as a customer and how the situation felt from my perspective. I wish you and your business the best I will be reporting your business to California Department of Consumer Affairs Complaint Center . Edit 2: Tony lacks accountability and was dismissive of my concerns so I'm just gonna leave this image here to show his real care for customers read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Came in for gelato and somehow left still craving gelato, and with less money in my pocket. The owner Tony is clearly passionate about his business, which I can appreciate. That said, the experience felt more like a sales pitch than a gelato run. I would've loved a little more focus on what I came in for instead of being guided toward other items. It's a bummer, because I genuinely enjoy supporting small businesses. With a bit more listening and a bit less upselling, this place could be a great spot. I left wishing for a scoop of gelato and a more relaxed experience. read more

Saltea Story - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Just started coming here a month ago and Ive been back 4/5 times. Ive tried every type of item on the menu - milk tea, fruit tea, ice cream, mochi - and nothing has disappointed. Why I leave a review however - is because of Tony. In my 8 years working service industry, Ive never seen anyone so accommodating and dedicated to customer satisfaction. Anything wrong with your order? Instantly will remake something else, no questions asked. Want to chill and chat? Always willing to lend an ear or share a story. Will continue to come here for the foreseeable future for my late night sweet treats. read more

This perfect blend of tiramisu & coffee has kept me coming back for years ordering the same thing every time! read more

Saltea Story - #3 - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

This is the place that used to be called Sweet Gelato Tea Lounge, but rest assured it's the same guy inside. Every time I come I bring friends who haven't been before. They talk with the owner for a while and he makes them a drink without telling them what it is... they drink it and it's exactly what they were wanting without ever telling him. We call him the Boba Psychic. Best boba I've ever had, hands down. read more

One of coolest and also tastiest boba spots ever!! The owner was super funny and friendly and gives you many many different options to choose from. And dont get me started on the mochi straight from Japan! If you're looking for a yummy chill spot to get a boba or something sweet this is the place! read more

My favorite spot for solid boba when I'm in SJ! The drinks are so unique and delicious but the names make them even more fun to order. Tony is awesome and takes pride in his work. The store is colorful and inviting as well. 5 stars wouldn't change anything about this place! read more

Saltea Story - Awesome menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Tony was very charismatic! He asked us what type of drink we liked and made us some recommendations and they were fantastic! Will definitely be coming back again! read more

Saltea Story - Left: Hit & Run Right: Thai Tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Saltea story has the best drink, the owner made us his new drink called 'hit & run' it was the best! 10/10. Recommend. read more

Saltea Story - Saltea story has the best drink, the owner made us his new drink called 'hit & run' it was the best! 10/10. Recommend. - Bubble Tea Near Me - San Jose, California

Tony was a wonder man man. He was so kind and helpful and thoughtful. I love Tony. Thank you. Please come here their mochi is DELICOUS and he's so goated and he's from Japan. Thank you. read more