Sweetheart Cafe, Oakland's Chinatown This Sweetheart Cafe location has been here for more than 30 years. It originally sells snacks and tons of candies in different aisles . Later on, they sold dried fruits also. Eventually they sold hot foods like popcorn chicken, curry fish balls and different boba drinks. They have seatings as well. Their boba drinks had became so popular that they opened locations in Berkeley, San Francisco and Milpitas. I love their bobas, it's sweet, bouncy and great chewing texture. They used to have small tapioca options which I had loved, but it isn't an option anymore. All their drinks are pretty good so you can't be wrong what drinks you choose. I highly recommend their drinks and their popcorn chicken. I will definitely come back and try other drinks as well. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Candies - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

This is the original boba tea shop!! Loved this place when it first opened decades ago, and still love it today. The Hong Kong Milk Tea here is the best, made with a deep flavorful red tea. Had the spicy popcorn chicken today as well which hit the spot. The regular size is a good sized portion of crispy flavorful deep fried chicken. Great local business with friendly service. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

The only place that has Almond Milk Tea. I am loving it so far. Cute shop and friendly staff. Will be back to try their fried snacks soon . read more

See all

You can order at the tablet screen but I ordered at the counter for the $1 off if you get a combo (drink and snack). I got the boba milk tea large size and a spicy popcorn chicken. The milk tea quality honestly was ok. I am not sure why I tasted a hint of thai tea lol but I did not mind. The boba quality was great. Perfect texture and I love how chewy it is. Plus they gave a good boba proportion! The popcorn chicken was not spicy enough for me so I used the powder they had near the seating area. I think they try to not make it too spicy because a lot of families and kiddos order it so they probably don't want to make it very spicy. You can sit here too as you wait or as you eat. Staff are typical - not overly friendly but not cold. They are ready to work and hustle! Many childhood memories associated with this place. It has remained a place I will always come back to. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Boba and popcorn chicken - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I order the cookies and cream smoothie with boba frequently. Really good. Fries are also really good. I also order the acai mango smoothie with boba too. 5 star. Thanks. read more

Having gone to the one in the Berkeley location throughout my time in undergrad, it wasn't until recently when I started visiting the original location in Oakland. The spot is larger than the one in Berkeley, with a few tables that you can sit and eat at. While the interior is on the simpler side, it does have a cozy vibe to it and gives a nostalgic feel to me still. I got the popcorn chicken and the Honey Lemon Aloe tea, which I think are both top tier still. The popcorn chicken is delicious, with a great crisp to it and lots of flavor while the tea is sweet and refreshing. My gf and I actually liked this location more than the Berkeley one we went to, so we were definitely satisfied by what we got. Sweetheart Cafe is a great Bay Area staple, and I would recommend anyone to come check this place out. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This place is SO SLEPT ON! This review is only for the popcorn chicken. Ever since I moved from SoCal to the Bay Area, I've been trying to find a popcorn chicken spot that meets all my requirements: has to have basil, use chicken dark meat, super crispy, fresh, consistent, and reasonably price. This is THE SPOT! And the pricing is so good especially in this economy. Half size is decent portion for $7.55 and Full size is $10.25. The service is as good as it gets - people generally do takeout. You order on the monitor outside or can do mobile order, and they'll text you when your order is ready, which really helps if you're struggling to find a parking spot. Parking is typical in Chinatown - it's usually bustling and packed but no one is going to give you shit if you emergency park on the street haha. The inside of the place has some snacks and candy. You CAN sit down and eat there but it's not the best dining spot and there's a lot of clutter. In my opinion, drinks and boba are pretty mid. It does the job but nothing amazing. My go-to spot for popcorn chicken though read more

See all

So happy there's a solid place for Asian candies and café snacks in my neighborhood. This shop gives me such a warm sense of nostalgia that takes me back to my childhood. :') I'm sure others get the same vibe as there are always families or school children frequenting here. So far I've tried: -Spicy popcorn chicken: 10/10 Generous portion, piping hot, crispy, definitely add some more spicy powder and salt/pepper/MSG? seasoning from the seating area. Also there's fried basil in it which I love. You can also get a large or half size depending on your appetite. -Salt & Pepper calamari: 7/10 Maybe just my preference or it's the nature of the calamari cuts but it feels like there are a lot of pieces of just the crispy breading compared to in the popcorn chicken. Still tasty and a generous portion but I prefer the chicken. -Bubble milk tea: 6/10 Kind of had a strange artificial flavor to it but maybe it was the type of tea used. Also it does not come with bubbles despite the menu picture indicating so. You have to pay extra. Their other drinks seem a bit basic or not as appealing so I personally have stuck with the snacks. Pro tip: call in your phone order in advance to save time. The service is pretty quick regardless but it seems to get busier after school. Looking forward to trying more next time! read more

See all

Always has my heart and loyalty. The price is hard to beat and the flavors are always good! Spicy Popcorn chicken (5/5) - Always freshly made, and clear that they use juicy chicken thighs Boba Milk Tea (4.5/5): Only 5.5 when every other shop is 7 dollars at minimum these days. If you like your boba more on the chewy side, this is for you. They don't overly flavor it or make it sweet which I prefer. There's usually only 1-2 people manning the shop at the time but they're quick with their orders ~5-10 mins. The store is like an Asian liquor store that also sells street snacks and boba. Super laid back and welcoming. They still do Pokémon discounts for those who can use a small discount (like kids). read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Spicy popcorn chicken (half size) - honestly basically the full size of other boba shops - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Pre and Post school stop Grab some boba Grab some ink and brush Grab some Hi-Chew Pretend avocado smoothie is healthy Cannot say enough Should be a historical site at this point Cannot close Our great grandchildren needs to experience this place read more

See all

This review is long overdue! I grew up going to sweetheart for boba and small treats! It's across from the Chinese school (that I used to attend over 10 years ago). I really liked all the candy/snack options there! Their coconut smoothie or jasmine tea with boba used to be my go-to! They used to have these curry fish balls that I was obsessed with! I'm not too sure if they have it now or not, since I forgot look for it when I came. Overall, sweetheart gives me nostalgic vibes. I'm so glad they are still open till this day! read more

Expensive almost $10 for avocado smoothie with one added topping large size. The snacks have limited options and only one veggie option which is fine but could be better. The mozzarella sticks were not hot enough to melt. read more

Excellent salt and pepper calamari and flavorful spicy popcorn chicken. Be sure to add the white pepper salt and spicy powder to bring out the best in every bite. The service is polite and quick, and the shelves are stocked with a fun mix of candies and snacks. This spot always satisfies and makes for a quick stop most of the time. read more

See all

The best gingery milk custard is my favourite at all time . No one can make just like sweetheart cafe .The quality time of making it that is .Time consuming but worth it .The creamy of the milk ginger custard tasted so creamy and gingery flavorfull.I recommended everyone should try it .Thk you . read more

I love their fried squid! And it's so cute they offer a discount for Pokemon trainers. The service is also friendly too. I've been back many times. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

An OG boba shop with OG prices?! I remember 10 years ago, I would come here for snacks before attending the Chinese school across the street. These days, nothing much has changed, except I'm only here for their boba. Where else can you get a really good boba drink, in 2024, for $3.15? This place. That's their bubble milk tea special. A small drink, with boba, for $3.15 if paid cash. Less sweet is the way to go, and they give so much boba. Sizing up is $1 more. The drink itself is enough to quench a milk tea craving, but the boba pearls steal the show. They are so soft, flavorful and chewy. They give a lot of boba pearls so you'll definitely have some left over after your drink. I also tried their Jasmine Milk Tea, and the tea taste is really distinct. You can't really go wrong here if you order a back to basics milk tea with boba pearls. Although not as fancy, hip, or convenient compared to the newer shops, this place is still the best boba shop in Chinatown, especially when you're considering the price to quality. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Bubble Milk tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Love this spot, sweetheart cafe is such an old school gem before all these other over priced boba shops popped up. Will always come by and support! Their prices are unbeatable and the popcorn chicken is the best in town. You can order a half order (which is so affordable!!!) and a whole order of popcorn chicken as well read more

I remember coming here as a kid all the time! And the boba is still 10/10 til this day. I was so happy to see its original shop still standing today. The boba is one of the best I've had so far. I don't know how but they always cook it to perfection. The milk tea was amazing. Reminded me a little more like Hong Kong milk tea. The staff are all so nice and had smiles on their face. They still sold candy and chips with back in the day prices. I hope Sweetheart cafe never closes. It's so near and dear to my heart. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Sweetheart milk tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Sweetheart Cafe is so nostalgic. It was one of the top places to go to during my middle and high school days. Drinks were tasty and affordable, especially for that student budget. Present day; they still offer a wide variety of drinks, along with snacks. My go-to's include their fruit teas and smoothies, along with the mocha freeze. Drinks are tasty, however, some inconsistencies noted. Overall, not much has changed over the years. If you're in the area and craving boba, check it out. Parking is limited and service can be a hit or miss. read more

Sweetheart Café & Tea is a small corner boba tea shop in Chinatown of Oakland. It's one of the oldest boba place in the Bay area. They have an extensive fruit, smoothie and milk tea drinks. Similarly, their food snack has a modest list. I ordered a Mango green tea with sago, popcorn chicken and a fried butterfly shrimps. Drink was simply okay. Food was good. Service was mildly fast. Street parking only. Overall, I had a decent drink and food. This place was okay but I had better. read more

See all

This Sweetheart Cafe is located in Oakland Chinatown on the corner of a busy intersection and they are one of the OG boba spots in the area. The parking here is street parking, so it is a bit difficult to find, so everyone is usually double parked out in front. I go to this spot only for the nostalgia feelings because it reminds me of my weekly Chinatown trips with my mom when I was younger and how we always stopped here for boba every weekend after grocery shopping. The last couple of times that I came here, I ordered their Jasmine Green Milk Tea with boba and it has gotten better over the years. I stopped ordering their Sweetheart Black Milk Tea and Taiwan Style Milk Tea because of how overly creamy it was, and it always made my stomach hurt afterwards. Anyway, the green milk tea was not too creamy and it has a strong floral/fragrant tea taste, which I enjoyed - I wish that they do not put that much ice in their drinks though (even after selecting the less ice option). read more

Dropped in here yesterday during a citywide event with blocked off streets. The staff were so sweet to everyone coming in looking for a cool drink and snack. My daughter loved her watermelon slushy because it's an unusual flavor and I appreciated my cappuccino slush - wasn't too sweet and I was able to sub oatmilk in. Enjoyed garlic bread and tempura shrimp. Of important note (for me) it was super clean! The tables, floors and chairs were surprisingly clean which isn't always the case in similar locations. We'll definitely be back. read more

Love this place! I always come here regularly when I'm back in Alameda visiting my family. It may be nostalgia more than anything, but I still put this place high on my boba list. It's around $4-5 here, other places I've seen regularly $6-7. Their boba is probably the best I've had anywhere. It's got a great chewy texture, and just sweet enough. Haven't found any place doing it better :) Glad they've managed to stay open for so many years and through the pandemic, hope they'll continue on for many more! read more

I drove 25 minutes and my mistake for not checking the bag because they forgot to put Boba in my drink when I clearly paid for it read more

Sweetheart Cafe - I clearly paid for boba (on receipt). i drove 25 min ang my mistake not checking the bag before i drove 25 min back home. IM SO SAD - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Excellent customer service making sure every customer is tended to five star excellence

I'm honestly sad at how expensive this place has gotten bc I've been visiting this place w family or friends since I was a toddler. It used to be one of my favorite spots bc their boba was one of the best in my opinion and their drinks were really good but I just can't justify spending around 10$ for a drink when I used to spend $5 MAX with two toppings. read more

My goodness... super late review. If not for SIP and me reminiscing about my childhood I would've never thought about coming here! I can't believe I let sweetheart cafe slip out of my mind and memories like that..... I came here sooo many times throughout my childhood. I always ordered the green tea slush and the bubble milk tea! And occasionally the avocado shake! Their boba is always so fresh and chewy! Yummmm. Recently I came here to get the bubble milk tea with pearls and the avocado shake with pearls as well as their spicy popcorn chicken! All the items were sooooo bomb. I highly recommend it!!! It was so nice to relive my childhood. I can't wait to be back :) read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Bubble milk tea, avocado shake and popcorn chicken! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

PLEASE DO NOT EAT THE FOOD HERE OR ORDER FROM HERE. My partner ordered their popcorn chicken and ended up with a severe salmonella poisoning. He was vomiting for several days, and eventually developed reactive arthritis from the infection. We had to take him to the ER, and there will be lasting consequences from the salmonella poisoning. As someone who lived near here and has had the food - the drinks are fine, the food is a major risk, especially the chicken. Not only are the Sweetheart cafe locations disgusting, they clearly have terrible hygiene and can seriously harm people. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SALMONELLA CAME FROM HERE. So please DO NOT BUY HERE. read more

I been walking past this tea spot for the last 8 months and finally gave in and stopped to grab a tea and some chicken.. it's been years since I stopped here so might as well. The sell of the chicken got me honestly.. it's a Small store front with the option to pay at the kiosk or inside...I wish I would have ordered inside because I had a question about a tea that I should have ordered but I stuck to one of my go to drinks passion fruit green tea and a order of spicy basil chicken.. the chicken was cooked to order and the right about of spice..it was not really that spicy honestly.. but what ok cuz I still enjoyed it..but they forgot my dipping sauce.. the tea was okay but it could have been me I usually get 50 percent less sweeter here I probably could've went changed the number.. but I would come back again I want to try a a tea I seen on the menu inside. They always have lots a of desserts and snacks inside read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

One of my favorite OG boba spots! Been coming here ever since I was a child and it's crazy how it changed so much! In the past, it used to also have a ton a candy (kind of like those pick and choose your candy then weigh it type of store). Nowadays it's primarily just drinks, snacks, and packaged items like candy, chips, etc The lady here working is so nice! She definitely makes my day :) they're also really quick when making drinks! My go to drinks here are the boba black milk tea (sooo goood, I recommend 25-50% sugar if you don't like sweet stuff) and the avocado smoothie with boba (this is the best seriously). The boba here never disappoints, it's also so soft and chewy!!! The popcorn chicken is good here too, the half size is honestly a lot of food for a person! (But maybe that's just me haha) Definitely call in to order as the lines get pretty long! You can also walk around Chinatown while you wait for your drinks :) also if you know parking in Chinatown sucks, so be aware! Enjoy! read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Black milk tea, avocado, honey lemon green tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Came here for the first time and it was a good experience. Ordered jasmine milk tea with grass jelly and 30% sweetness level and some curry fish balls cuz I was starving. Came up to about $6.00! I love that they still have 16 fl oz sized cups and it's like $3.50 (non-inflation prices). And I got a tasty snack. Good customer service and both milk tea and curry fish balls were yummy. read more

As someone who has had Sweetheart cafe in Milpitas close to a couple decades ago now, I am glad to know that the taste and flavor that made the Milpitas one so legendary is alive and well in the Sweetheart Cafe at Oakland. I had the black milk tea with the boba and it tasted just right, the Hong Kong style milk tea with slightly sweet, perfectly cooked boba. It's shockingly half the price of the one in Berkeley too. Avoid the Berkeley one and come to this one instead! read more

Great spot for drinks on a hot day! All the fruit teas are really good, please come try when you're in the area! read more

See all

The staff is very friendly. I ordered a full-size popcorn chicken and a large passion fruit tea with boba, which came out to be $14 total with the $1 off combo discount. It is the best popcorn chicken I've ever had. The boba was so soft. Definitely coming back again. read more

Visited the other Sweetheart Cafe locations in Berkeley & SF before and felt a bit nostalgic when I passed by this Sweetheart. I used to go to Sweetheart and grab milk tea after weekend school because 1) it was delicious 2) I was a kid 3)it was cheap 4)owners were always friendly & welcoming. Picked up the Hot Taro Drink since it was chilly this weekend. Drink itself was pretty good when it was hot. Used real taro for the drink which gave it a thick creamy consistency. Although it the taro flavor wasn't very strong, I was pleased that it wasn't super sweet. Would've enjoyed the drink even more if the flavor wasn't watered down. Once the drink cooled down to room temperature, the aroma was gone. I could totally see this place getting packed afterschool or something. Pick from variety of drinks/snacks, then you can grab a table and enjoy in the shop too. I would probably go for the snacks on the menu and not the packaged candy/granola bars/chips since some were expired (yikes). Located at the outskirts of Oakland Chinatown, which means parking isn't the easiest. Waiting area is just off to the side next to the ordering area. I waited 15 mins for my drink when there were only 3 other orders before mine, so a little on the slow side. Also, the menu is a little difficult to read as the drinks are labeled by stickers and the stickers corresponds to the price tag. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Special deals 2/19/18 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Unassuming shop with a ton of random candies, chips, and snacks for your selection, but they've also got a bunch of fried snacks and milk teas and fruit teas! I made the trek here one rainy day, in search of the quenching of my boba thirst (and calamari hunger). Got myself a combo of milk tea with pearls and "pepper crispy squids" for about $8 and tax. Took a bit of a wait, but it was worth it-- I'd only been to Sweetheart in Berkeley, and this reminded me of it (well, franchise, I guess). They gave a plastic bag with a paper bag inside filled with the oh so crispy squids- tentacles and all, along with the milk tea. Definitely enough to share, or crave a hunger so big! Spices are to the left side of the counter, so you can customize the snacks to your liking. They've even got seats! Glad to have found a Sweetheart Cafe close enough to me! read more

They have real fruit smoothies, including new açaí smoothies (with no added sugar). Their classic Açaí smoothie was good and not bland due to honey still being added for sweetness. Today I got their soyberry, which is the same as the açaí but with soy milk. Pretty good! Of course they also have milk teas and snacks like popcorn chicken. They have plenty of chips and candy for sale as well. Staff is nice. This place is one of the OG boba places in Chinatown. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Cool deal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Unfailingly my to-go place for boba. Even before in my younger days, I would always go here for curry fish ball, chips, and all sorts of snacks. Now, I come out of my way here just for the boba. My cousin introduced me to this drink-- jasmine green tea with boba (large) with 50% sweetened. I prefer it 30% sweetened, because sweetheart always has really sweet boba. My best tip is to get the drinks less sweet because they're always really sweet! But once you do that, it becomes perfection. Also, drinks are very cheap compared to more mainstream places like iTea, T4, or Quickly. Not fond of their hot drinks though. Be sure to take advantage of their pokemon go discount for drinks! Edit: jasmine milk tea with 50% is great too!! read more

Bad service. The lady who works there is rude and disrespectful. She laughed when I explained problems with my order. I think she's the owner. Drinks are watered down and fried food tastes old. I definitely would not recommend this place. read more

Sweetheart Cafe - Front of store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Spot in Berkeley is usually really good! Ordered from their website around 5:15ish on a Friday and come to find out I put in a order at the other location by accident! ( I didn't know they had another location.) The guy rudely told me that I didn't order there and sent me to the Oakland location saying "it's off of Harrison not to far." so we head there and being that it's Friday at 5 of course there is some traffic took about 25 mins or so...only to find out they closed at 5:30. -_- Soooo no boba that night (lol) and out 28 bucks until I could get a refund from the website (which I had to download the app and send an email got it in 4days.) The right thing to do would've been to just make the order if it's close to closing at the other location but hey that's just my opinion. Anyways that's just one bad experience doesn't mean the place isn't good! I just won't order online anymore, in person orders only for me. Lol Pineapple smoothie is the way to gooo! :D read more