this place is solid. i have good memories of it. this is the first place i ever got boba when i moved to seattle 9 years ago, and i go back occasionally every few years or so. i just want to leave a review specifically for the little stand they had at the recent u district street fair. after a long 1.5 hours there, i was on my way back to my car, and i saw the booth with no line this time that i passed. they had all my fav flavors, including oolong. i was so tired but i was like, ok, i bought my son some things that he wanted, i should just get something nice for myself, too. my son (3 y/o) protested bc he just wanted to go home. at first, i gave in and said yeah, i already spent too much money at this festival. but after i walked away, i thought, no, i'm tired and hot and i worked hard and i came all this way--i should get boba if i want it!! so i came back to the stand and said, "can i have an oolong tea?" and the very nice person at the stand looked me straight and steady in the eyes and said, "yes." she was very supportive and insistent that i have the tea for myself even if my 3 y/o insisted on just wanting to go home. it was arguably a small gesture, but it felt really good to have someone so confident and encouraging that i should do this nice, fun thing for myself. i drank the boba on the way home as my son fell asleep thank you!!! read more

Refreshing beverage in Seattle, Washington... We were walking around when we saw this boba shop near the Large Gate at the entrance to Chinatown. My niece suggested that we see if this place was actually Seattle Best Tea. The interior was crowded, so we thought that it must be a popular place. There were people standing in line and a small group sitting in the back of the shop. Service was efficient and polite. I was told that wintermelon tea cannot be served hot. That's ok... I can drink it with less ice on a chilly, cloudy afternoon. Since toppings were free, I got rainbow jelly. Yay! Thank you! We'll be back if we're in the area again! read more

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Fresh tea. I saw the whole wall of tea leaf jars I knew the tea would be good. The staff was very friendly and efficient. I didn't get any boba or topping. The tea was authentic with strong aroma. The staff poured the hot water on the leafs and soaked it a bit to ensure the taste. It's a very fine line between getting the aroma and getting so bitter. He did a great job. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

So fresh!! They know what they're doing. We got the mango green tea and the passion fruit green tea and both were incredible! The tea flavor is intense and you can tell it's freshly brewed. There's also unlimited toppings!! What!! That itself deserves a 5-star. We didn't get any toppings and the tea was great on its own! read more

Seattle Best Tea - Passion fruit green tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I am very confused on all these 5 star reviews. I came here in the afternoon with my boyfriend. I got the lychee green tea, less sweet, less ice with lychee jelly and he got either the mango or passion fruit green tea, regular sweetness and less ice. Both our drinks tasted water down, barely any tea flavor. Service was disappointing, I felt as though the worker was having a rough day and looked like they hated their job. I'm giving it 2 stars because we also ordered the ube ice cream which was decent. Don't think I'd come back to this business. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped in to get a boba..Chris behind the counter was the friendliest person ever! The perk of this is they give you a bunch of free added toppings and boba, as well as choosing your sugar level! I ended up getting a strawberry milk tea with boba, pineapple jelly, and aloe vera jelly. My bro got a chocolate milk tea with tapioca, almond boba, and egg cream. It was also wonderful but Chris made like experience so much better he was just the best employee!! Definitely a favorite boba place I would go back too!! read more

Best tea in Seattle for real....I love the range of flavors and that everything tastes more high quality in terms of tea and flavorings. Also free add ons is such a plus. Definitely my go-to these days, they outdo their competitors by a long shot! read more

My husband and I were walking around Chinatown. We wanted a sweet treat after lunch and found this boba shop. The ambiance was cute and quaint, small and clean. On the walls, there were articles about the boba shop. The service was good, the man was friendly and advised me which drink to pick. I ordered lychee black tea with boba, 50% sweet. The tea was great, not too sweet or bitter. The boba was soft and chewy, not too firm. I would come back when visiting Seattle! read more

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TLDR: My favorite boba in the Seattle area. Great drinks, fair prices, amazing service, cozy/authentic vibe, locally owned Drinks: I've never had a bad drink here from their milk teas to their fruit/standard teas. Drinks are adjustable in ice + sweetness (75, 50, 25, 0) and all toppings are free Price: While having gone up in the past few years, prices are fair for Seattle and all toppings are complimentary with your drink. That means no +1 or +75 on top of your drinks. Also, they have a stamp card system where you can buy 10 and get 1 free across both the ID + UW locations. Service: The staff here is extremely kind and knowledgeable about the menu. No matter how busy the store gets they have always been patient and genuine. Ambiance: The look of the store hasn't changed in the 5+ years I've gone here. There are tea barrels lining the back wall and the overall vibe in decorations screams community and culture. 5/5 stars, only wished the ID location opened later (closes at 8), but sometimes if I really want boba I'll go to their UW store (closes at 10) read more

Seattle Best Tea - Menu Nov 2025 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Was visiting Seattle and craving boba, but when I saw their ice cream flavors I had to switch! Got the jasmine tea ice cream- which had such a strong jasmine flavor it tasted like a flower, in the best way! Also tried the ube, milk tea, and dragonfruit ice creams- all delicious! Price is also super reasonable at under $5 for a small (and you can get two flavors!). It's also a very generous small- they give you a ton of ice cream! Honestly this place needs to come to New York- would give Chinatown ice cream factory a run for their money. Service was also super sweet and helpful. No seating inside. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Jasmine Milk Tea Ice Cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We stopped by here in late December to pick up some after dinner boba tea. Since coming up here to Seattle this spot has been our go to eventhough it's a drive from Edmonds. Sometime there's a line but service has been quick. Prices have always been reasonable and topping included at no extra. There's also a tea tasting area in the back as well as ice cream served in addition of the boba tea. read more

Super convenient stop for bubble tea in the international district! Located just across the street from the light rail, Seattle Best was a perfect stop for a refreshing fruit tea on the way to a Sounder's game. The kiwi fruit tea was decently sweet, and the aiyu jelly was light, a bit lemony, and super refreshing. All of their teas are super customizable, and their toppings are included, which I haven't seen at many shops! Overall a great place to stop for a bubble tea. I'll definitely be back to try their milk tea. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Kiwi Fruit Flavored Sweet Tea with Aiyu Jelly - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Solid black milk tea. Got 50% sweet. About $7. Quick and friendly service. Not much seating inside, more of a grab and go place. Will be back! read more

Seattle Best Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Free toppings are awesome - not that many boba shops in the city that are doing this these days. I got the Mango milk tea with boba today and it was delicious. The portion size is not only larger, but it is definitely cheaper on average compared to some of the other boba shops in the area. Furthermore, their ice portioning wasn't as ridiculous as some of the shops I've seen - it was like 15% of the cup rather than 25%+. Service was polite and friendly - definitely come here! read more

Was looking for a quick caffeine pick me up and this was the spot. It's in the heart of Chinatown right next to the gate. They have a wide array of drinks and ice cream to offer as well. I ordered a heavy oolong milk tea with coffee jelly for about $7. Fast service and good flavor on the drink, a little on the sweeter side. Easy place to walk in, order, and take it to go. Appeared to be a good local staple as they had pictures of all the people and customers they serviced! Felt homey inside like your typical mom and pop's shop. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I've tried a lot of milk tea over the years along the West coast, and I have to say Seattle Milk Tea remains my favorite and is a must have when I'm in the I-District. Their Wintermelon milk tea is the perfect amount of sweetness and is nice and creamy, just so well made, any others just don't hold a candle. Staff are always friendly and service is quick, prices are reasonable and the place has a nice charm. I will always come back here when I have the opportunity. read more

We visited Seattle Best Tea as our last stop on the Small Business Food Walk for the 2 for $6 milk teas. This shop has a very homey feel, almost as if it were originally a traditional tea lounge opened decades ago, then converted partially into boba and ice cream shop maybe 15 or 20 years ago. My guess is this is probably the very first boba shop in the CID, very similar to something like a Ten Ren in other Asian American-heavy regions. Black Milk Tea, 50% Sweet ($3) - This drink comes with boba. Everything seems to be mixed by hand at Seattle Best Tea, with no particular regard to drink consistency and repeatability. They scoop the boba and sweetener rather haphazardly - in fact I'm not even sure if they actually made my drink half sweet. After tasting - the drink was far too sweet, cloyingly so, making my mouth almost pucker as if eating something sour. The addition of creamer is quite heavy as well, resulting in a drink that has essentially no taste of tea. Finally the nail in the coffin - the boba is almost inedible - way undercooked, hard with basically no chew, with the pearls all different sizes and shapes, some big and some small, some round, some smooth and some bumpy. Milk Tea Rating: 2/5 Boba Rating: 2/5 Heavy Oolong Milk Tea, 50% Sweet ($3) - On first sip, I couldn't tell that this drink tasted any different from the previous drink. It was only after sipping them side by side, I found that this tea was possibly a bit more earthy. They might as well have mixed creamer, water, and sugar instead of adding tea - there would be minimal difference in taste. Milk Tea Rating: 2/5 Boba Rating: 2/5 That's not to say the drinks are undrinkable - I still finished them after diluting with some fresh brewed tea at home - but they just aren't good. This type of drink might have been acceptable 10 or 15 years ago when the boba scene wasn't as vibrant in the US, but nowadays there are way better options. It's probably best to visit Seattle Best Tea only for tea tastings and fresh tea, rather than getting their boba. Note: It is quite possible that the drinks were bad on my visit due to heavy traffic from the food walk. I did notice they had a fructose dispenser in the store but they didn't use it at all. I am planning to give them another shot in the future. read more

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Jasmine green milk tea was yum. The consistency of the bubble pearls was perfect. Service was prompt. We took our drinks to go space is cozy. read more

Seattle Best Tea - jasmine milk tea and heavy oolong milk tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I got the mango fresh tea with lychee jelly and it was very fruity. They unfortunately did not have mango jelly which I would have loved to try. Sizes for the drinks were one size only and the price was very reasonable. Would definitely come back again. My gf got lychee milk tea and my other friends got wintermelon milk tea, peach slushie with crystal boba and they all generally liked their drink. Service was fast and they were friendly. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Mango fresh tea with lychee jelly - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I got the heavy oolong tea and thought it couldve had a stronger tea flavor. I like that you can adjust the sugar and ice levels. There's a lot of options for different drinks and even ice cream! It's a small shop but staff are super friendly. read more

Cute little cozy shop selling boba and ice cream along with other things like tea leaves and tea sets on the side. Customer service 5/5. The prices of toppings were built in. The jasmine milk tea was 5/5. Wintermelon milk tea was 3/5. It was notably sweeter than other places and darker as well. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Jasmine (left). Wintermelon (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

There's so many options in ID for boba, and there's usually a line here, probably because of the proximity to the light rail. Sadly, this is probably one of the worst places I've ever been to for boba. The drinks tastes like water, and the boba is hard. The location is also kind of run-down. read more

This is a long-standing boba place in Chinatown, and for good reason too! Their quality is exceptional even after many years, and I light up every time someone gets something for me or if I get something here myself. Since my friend picked my drink up for me, I don't have anything to say about service, though I remember the interior being quite small and having no seating. From previous visits, you order up at the counter, and there's tons of drinks to choose from. You get a free topping for anything you order, a huge plus here! I requested the peach milk tea with grass jelly, 50% sweet and less ice. I'll admit peach isn't my favorite flavor for milk tea but I still loved how much tea flavor I was able to get from my drink, and the grass jelly made it soooooo much better! There's been a huge spike on the number of boba places Seattle has for a while now, but I feel the consistent quality of Seattle Best Tea keeps it up there. A highly recommended place! read more

Seattle Best Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

For sure this is an all time bubble tea spot in China town. Not only they have bubble tea but ice cream and great teas. The service was very friendly I appreciate the staff for being friendly and outgoing. The only complaint I would say is that the tapioca was not as chewy as it should be. Mines was kind of hard, felt like it was old. But other than that the drinks were great. I had the classic jasmine milk tea and my son had the classic black milk tea with lychee jelly. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Jasmine milk tea with boba & Black milk tea with lychee jelly - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Amazing and engaged staff. Business was well run and team welcomed every guest that came in. Their processes were good and waits were short. Drink quality was excellent. read more

I can remember finding this place when we lived in Seattle back in 2007. They had some of the best tea I had ever encountered and they had full on tea ceremonies that the owner would perform if one was so inclined. It was one of the most wonderful experiences I've ever had when it comes to experiencing tea and it's whole culture. I ended up taking a bunch of tea to our new home from this company. I even ordered some a few years later. All of it has always been excellent. Since going back today while visiting town, I've noticed that they've made it a little bit smaller and they've focused a little more on bubble tea. My wife and I decided to have an oolong milk, bubble tea, and it was excellent. The flavor was wonderful and the flavor of the oolong really came through. I would definitely recommend this tea shop. The service was very cheery and prompt. And part of the interior has a bunch of old tea urns that are on one of the walls. Super cool. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Some of the assorted teas, including my favorite, the high mountain oolongs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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One of my coworkers recommended this plane for boba, and I was in the area so I stopped by around 11:30 on a Saturday. There were quite a few people in the line waiting to order, but orders were taken quickly. Toppings here are free so I ordered a taro milk tea with boba. As a heads up, there is apparently a 10 cent surcharge for paying with credit. The overall cost of the tea was $7. My drink was ready in around 5 min. The drink itself tasted great! The boba was fine, not bad, good sweetness, and on the firmer side. Overall, a solid drink and a place I'll definitely return to when I'm in the area! read more

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This is my favorite boba spot. Period. This is the first place where I got hooked on boba, so I remain loyal. Awesome service by Chris, who remembers you and your order. I recommend the Pink Lady, zero sweet w/ boba and lychee jelly. Drinks are moderately priced and toppings are included. It gets busy with a bit of a wait on the weekends, but so worth it. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Punchcard - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Still my favorite boba/milk tea shop to go to in Seattle and at this point in all of Washington! There is just so much to like about this shop. I brought my two friends here who are both from Florida for a sweet treat after eating an early dinner together. The employees working were very friendly and super helpful as always! They answered any questions my friends had and even gave recommendations on what to get. read more

This is my FAVORITE boba spot. The shop is small and homey and the service is really good. One of the workers, Chris, is super friendly and always remembers our orders and faces. The topping add ons are all free so you can choose as many as you want. I usually get popping boba, boba, crystal boba and lychee jelly! They have so many options. Our go-to orders here are coconut, taro, jasmine, heavy oolong or brown sugar milk tea, all with 50% sugar. Make sure to also get a punch card!! read more

Seattle Best Tea - Taro milk tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The milk Tea's here are amazingly good!!!!! I ordered the Black Milk Tea and it's one of the best Milk teas I've ever had, hands down!!!!! They have a lot of tea options and they also serve ice cream. The service was quick and easy and got there once it opened so there wasn't a wait. This place is very clean and has a lot of seating options. I definitely recommend this place if you're in the Chinatown area! read more

We had a terrible first boba experience when we first got to Seattle so we decided to try again in the international district. This little spot had a line out the door which was such a good sign to us! The people here were so friendly and I felt so much more confident in the drinks. They have lots of options and lots of toppings but we got an oolong milk tea with boba and a fruit tea with aiyu jelly. Both were great (not the best but not bad at all) and this spot is located near a local park so it's a nice place to enjoy the drinks as there is no seating inside. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Fruit tea with aiyu jelly - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This tea was so good! Very fragrant jasmine tea and you get a free topping with your drink. I chose coffee jelly for mine. My sister got hot taro and she liked her drink. The employees were funny and kind. It is pretty small so it's more of an in and out spot. Can't wait to come back in here next time im in the area. read more

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I love bubble tea and I am still thinking about my bubble tea from Seattle Best Tea five months later! The location is in Japan town and there was a short line when I arrived. I ordered the winter melon and then waited about 5 min or so for my drink. The tea was perfectly steeped and the tapioca balls were perfectly chewy. If you are craving bubble tea, this is where to go in Seattle! I can't wait to go back on my next visit. Staff was friendly and I had a great experience from beginning to end. read more

Waited 35 min for 2 drinks only for them to give us the wrong drink. I had asked for normal sweetness then found out they made my drink 25% sweet once we walked 10 min back to the car. I saw the guy punch in 25% sweet and corrected him before we paid, but guess they still printed out the old ticket. So disappointed. read more

I have yet to try anything other than their milk teas and ice creams but this was one of the first bubble tea shops I went to since living in Seattle and it remains one of my favorites. Do they really have the best tea? YES. And their drinks are adjustable and comes with a free topping. I would swing by more often if they had indoor seating. read more

Amazing heavy oolong milk tea! Best milk tea I've ever had. I got hot heavy oolong milk tea with boba... Strong oolong tea flavor steeped with soy milk and it was very enjoyable experience as I wander around international district. Boba texture was great and it wasn't as chewy as other place's boba. The service was very friendly and very engaging with us as we were trying to decide on which tea. You could smell how fresh is it as they brew our milk tea. Very quaint environment. read more

Sometimes simple is best. If you're tired of the fancy smancy flavors with cheese foams and a million toppings and add-ins, or need a break from all that sugar and decision fatigue, going back to basics is key. (If you're a fancy boba girl, then by all means, skip my review). Don't get me wrong. The extras are nice, sometimes. But I also think boba is losing its soul when we keep accessorizing it with too many extras. Or we focus only on how good it looks for the 'gram. I've been to one too many boba spots where the drinks only look cute. Or I get 'influenced,' get intrigued by the hype, then get so disappointed when the taste is mid. I'd much rather have a plain looking drink that tastes great, than a cute one that tastes like milky water. Seattle's Best keeps the main thing, the main thing. The teas are brewed strong enough that even with some sweetness, the bitterness isn't lost. The boba is cooked well - not mushy nor undercooked. You get a selection of toppings - boba, grass jelly, and pudding. That's all you need, in my opinion. Service has always been straightforward too - no trying to upsell me extras, no annoying niceties. They are welcoming without being cloyingly sweet. And I appreciate that. Seattle's Best is what I would liken to the good old days when boba was still relatively new and IG wasn't as huge as it is now. I highly recommend supporting them next time you're in CID. read more

Decent boba spot in Chinatown, Seattle. I come here whenever I am craving boba after finishing grocery shopping at Uwajimaya. It is only a couple blocks down and you have time to grab the drinks after putting your groceries away in the car. Otherwise parking is quite difficult to find. They include free toppings with your drink and the prices are fair. I usually get the Wintermelon Milk Tea, but they have plenty of drinks to choose from. Is it the best though? Unfortunately not, I brought some friends here and they didn't enjoy the drinks that much. Therefore, I would say that they're a decent boba spot, but don't go out of your way for it. read more

Seattle Best Tea - Wintermelon Milk Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My wife and I were visiting from Baltimore and got bubble tea as a snack after dinner. The place is a small shop in Chinatown with a counter to order and some seats in the back. It looks like they also do tea tastings as well, but we were only there for boba. The gentleman at the counter was super nice and when he took our order we chatted about why we were in town. We mentioned we were in town to watch the baseball game between the Orioles and Mariners and we then proceeded to chat a bit about baseball. I ordered the black milk tea and my wife ordered the oolong milk tea. We both got our drinks 25% sweet and with boba. The tea flavor for both was great along with the sweetness level. The boba was just the right chewy texture with a little hint of sweetness as well. The tea reminded me of the bubble tea you get back in Taiwan. read more