Busy day running errands. Feeling hungry. No time to get home for lunch. I'm passing Taichi Bubble…read moreTea & Ramen. It's a Taiwan-Asian fusion-inspired fast food chain but I was down for this. It's been more than a year since my last meal here. I don't know if they changed their menu but I experienced a bit of a relearning curve in ordering ramen at the front counter. First, I needed to pick a broth. I chose Tonkotsu ramen, which is ramen in Japanese pork bone broth. Then, I needed to pick a protein which was shrimp and I asked for the meal to be extra spicy. It only took a few minutes. I could hear it being prepared in the kitchen. The young woman at the register was helpful and patient as I made my selection. Definitely convenient. The ramen was good. I got a lot of shrimp and I liked the little slices of fish cake with pink flower designs. The decor has undergone slight changes since I last visited. It seems there are better displays and more varieties of merch. It's still very clean, bright and cheerful. There are still plenty of young customers. Given its close proximity to SUNY Albany that should be no surprise. I liked the playlist, too. R & B and Hip Hop played in the background. Loud enough so that you could definitely hear it but low enough so that students who were dining--some in groups-- could comfortably hold conversations. I didn't plan to come here but my stomach growled. It was a nice, relaxing lunch that hit the spot.

Wow- this might be the worst poke we have ever gotten…read more The interior is beautiful, clean and bright, too bad the food wasn't. We ordered our dishes with two proteins- there was more cucumber than fish! I bring it up because I could actually count the 3 pieces of tuna and salmon in my bowl. The "wasabi" sauce is not only radioactive green but is 100% mayo- no wasabi flavor at all and SLATHERED all over the bowl. Service was great, but the presentation and the quality of food (especially for the money) is not worth it. Very disappointed.

We ordered the Tiramisu Cloud Matcha Milk Tea and a Chinese crepe with Spam, and honestly, both…read morewere really, really yummy. I'd rate both around a 4/5. Food was yummy and the matcha was on the sweeter side, which I enjoyed. If we lived nearby, we'd definitely be coming back! The interior is also super cute, they did a great job.

We came and ordered the jianbingguozi/savory crepes in spam and cheese, original, and two eggs +…read moretwo fried sheets. We also ordered the grilled cold noodles and peach oolong lychee tea. The total came to around $41 and it was great! The place is well decorated and the food and tea were very good. They make the savory crepes right in front of you fresh! Good and cheap eats!

Went to Gong cha for boba and it did not disappoint! They are top notch and good quality love it!read more

I had my first mochi bubble waffle at Gong Cha, and it was enjoyable! I decided to try the Dolce…read moreMilk Coffee Bubble Tea, which I really liked. I appreciated being able to easily choose my size, sweetness level, amount of ice, and toppings for both my drinks and waffles. They offer quite a variety of options, including seasonal items like pumpkin, peach, and Hershey. The kiosk option is super convenient, and the service was quick and friendly. In terms of ambience, it's okay; I'd treat this spot more as a grab-and-go place, but they do have a couple of tables if you want to sit down. Overall, it's a pleasant spot for bubble tea.

Wow! I waited over a week to visit this place because they were sold out of most of the desserts…read more They're so popular, and the owners take their time making new desserts. They have tea, but I wanted cheesecake. The cheesecake was excellent! You order online or at their kiosk inside. It's best to keep checking online to see if the desserts you want are in stock yet, if they aren't, they're listed as sold out. The ube cheesecake was creamy, sweet, with cream. The triple matcha cheesecake was very good, tasted like matcha, and best if you don't like dessert too sweet. Each piece of cake was around $10-11 would be nice if it was bigger, but it's great as it is because it's dense. It's so cute inside! Service is fast! Highly recommend!

Loved Eggcellent so much we visited twice on our trip in the Albany area! The options are fresh and…read moredifferent from what I am used to having when grabbing a milk or fruit tea. First up, I ordered the Jasmine Tea with Matcha foam and coconut water. This was a super refreshing drink and I am already wanting to have it again. Second we grabbed the Ube Milk Tea float which was a super pleasant taste, ordered with 0 percent sugar which kept it at a perfect level of sweetness. The ube milk tea float comes with a scoop of delicious ube ice cream on top. The service was super friendly and inviting, and the inside was really cutely designed.

I am never disappointed whenever I'm here to satisfy my Chinese comfort food cravings. This is a…read moresimple and small eatery serving up tasty dishes that you'll come back for time and again. The overall ambiance is basic and clean. However, they are serving up big and bold flavors. Service here is always friendly and fast. I especially like that they offer complimentary hot tea, and it's really appreciated on chilly days! Actually, tea is my go to whenever I'm having Asian food. I am a creature of habit and mostly order my usual. On this visit I had spicy wontons, General Tso's chicken, stewed beef chuck noodle soup and eggplant with garlic sauce. All delish and certainly enough leftovers for another meal. You've got to try it! Side note, they have an attached private parking lot next to them and that's a plus!

My partner and I drive from NYC to Vermont at least once a year, and every single time we make a…read moremidpoint stop here. Taiwan Noodle consistently serves absolutely delicious food. The spicy wontons are our all-time favorite the sauce is incredibly flavorful, and unlike many places where the wontons are mostly dough, these are generously filled with meat. We also ordered the beef chunk soup and the salt-and-pepper fish. Even though I've been here many times, the salt-and-pepper fish was new to me on this visit, and it was fantastic crispy, perfectly seasoned, with little bits of fried garlic and a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce that was so good. If you're in the area, definitely stop by!

Nice little gem of a restaurant, fast and efficient service , and really good quality sushi for the…read moreprice. I love the Japanese aesthetic. Pictures attached.

I'm on a business trip in Albany and saw that Ruby City was just a few miles from my hotel. So, I…read moredecided to venture out the day before my conference to check it out by myself. They had a small parking lot in the back which is a plus. I got there close to 4p, the open at 3, so not busy. The owner/hostess greets me and seats me towards the front and explains the menu is online, awesome. Just scan the QR code and add anything that starts with AYCE. It was simple and with just a little guidance I get my first order out. I asked her if Ramen was included and the first thing she tells me is not to waste food. I shouldn't order too much. Ok, I don't disagree with that but to start off the experience being judged? Anyway, I wait on the ramen. I ordered the calamari and rock shrimp appetizer. Now most AYCE sushi I've been to gives you a few pieces of calamari and a few pieces of shrimp. Not here. Be careful. The portions are pretty big. They also add a lot of rice to the nigiri pieces. But the quality of the fish was pretty good. The mackerel was a little tough and dry but it was ok. There were a ton of choices on the AYCE menu. But in the end I didn't make a second order because the portion size and the amount of rice got me. $28.99 for the dinner AYCE. Not a bad price at all. I went alone and had to eat my entire appetizer by myself. Next time I will bring someone to share.

Staff friendly and helpful! Food tasty and fresh!…read more I had an Okinawa hot hot dog and my sister had chicken teriyaki The veggies and dressings were tasty and fresh. The Crêpe tasty and gluten free. Warm! We each had a boba tea! Earl gray and chai My sister is 87 and loved the variety! Next time we will get sweet crepes

Consistency is a standout quality at T-Swirl. Their rice crepes are consistently thin and crispy,…read moreyet strong enough to hold toppings and dressings in place until the last bits. Fresh toppings such as veggies are always fresh and juicy, and the crepe brulee has definitely become or go-to dessert crepe here. Their fresh tea is in keeping with other similar joints - it varies but more often than not stringent, so sweetening definitely helps mask that. Staff are consistently friendly, quick, and efficient, and it's a nice casual hangout spot. Long live T.

I had a regular size lavender milk tea with boba. It was delicious and had plenty of boba in it…read more The shop was pretty busy but my order was ready quickly, and the cashier was pleasant. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm at the mall.

Pretty good bubble tea! I was in the area for a meeting and planned to grab a cup of coffee...but…read moregot sidelined by a place to get me some boba! I refrained from the milk tea and kept it simple with green tea with raspberry tapioca. Yum! Service was quick and friendly. Will definitely try something else next time I'm passing by.