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    The Alley

    4.1 (27 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Yenah J.

    First of all it's in a shopping plaza so I'm glad I don't have to struggle to find parking. That's a win in Austin. Second, the inside is gorgeous! It reminds me of a modern cafe I'd see in Asia, with bright indoor lighting, plants, and light wood. I tried quite a few drinks but my favorites were the strawberry smoothie, orange peach oolong, and the crunchy Thai tea! I customized it to half sweet and it was perfect. The boba was delicious and not too hard or soft. The owners are very sweet and helpful. I've been to The Alley in other countries and loved their drinks. So I'm glad Austin has one!

    Next door to Daiso!
    Rebecca L.

    South Austin finally has The Alley and I couldn't be more excited! This location just soft opened next to Daiso and across from KPot, with the grand opening coming up this weekend. I honestly haven't been this excited about a boba shop opening in a while, not just because of the drinks, but because I really hope this little pocket becomes a hub for Asian spots in South Austin!! The space is branded as The Alley Café, and it definitely has a more elevated, high-end café vibe compared to other Alley locations I've visited. When we arrived, the whole family was there setting things up, and they were incredibly sweet and welcoming. Drinks we tried: Earth & Garden (Oreo-based) -- my favorite! Creamy, not too sweet, and such a fun twist. Ube Taro -- another standout with a rich flavor. The boba was excellent: bouncy, chewy, and just the right texture. One of the things I've always appreciated about The Alley is their commitment to quality--using real fruit instead of just powders. This location really stayed true to that standard (even better than another location I've been to where it didn't taste the same). We actually came too early during soft opening, so we missed out on their first 100 customers mystery bag. But for anyone planning to stop by this weekend, it's worth a shot at snagging one! Overall, a fantastic new addition to South Austin, and I'll definitely be back when in area!

    Interior
    Phong T.

    I was in town for an event and visited this place with a good friend and partner for an afternoon pick-me-up. We all ordered some form of milk tea. I chose the Thai Tea and asked for 50% sugar with boba, but it still tasted very sweet--almost like 100% sugar. The others in my group experienced the same. The sugar level needs adjustment, and some improvements are possible. Still, I don't want to undermine the quality of the drinks, as they were all very tasty. The interior is cozy yet spacious, making it a great spot to catch up with friends, work, or study. The staff was friendly and efficient at preparing the drinks.

    Mango yogurt and avocado mochi purple rice
    Chelsea L.

    South Austin has a new boba place and it's one of my favorites!! I didn't visit in-person but will definitely go in next time. Got it with Uber Eats since there was a $30 promo. The avocado mochi purple rice sounded so unique and they're currently doing a collab with Demon Slayers (a great anime) so I just had to get it. The drink was really good. It was a perfect balance of avocado and sugar. The mochi was really interesting. I haven't had long mochi like that before but I liked it! The purple rice was also sweet and chewy. Mango yogurt was sooo good!! I wanna get this again. We didn't get an actual boba drink this time but I've had their boba in other locations. Their deerioca aka tapioca, pearls, boba is sweet and chewy.

    Seating area
    Carolyn B.

    Tried them shortly after their opening. It was empty when I arrived, but I think they just had a slew of online orders so the wait was a rather long -- like 20 minutes after I ordered. They were polite and apologetic, though. I got the Original Purple Rice Yogurt. I loved it. I don't like overly sweet drinks (most boba drinks I'll order 50% sweet), but in its unmodified form this was perfect for me. Tangy, with a velvety smoothness from the purple rice and just enough refreshing sweetness from the green tea jelly and the boba that I added. My friends got the Ube Taro Brown Sugar Boba Milk, and they both complained they were way too sweet. They probably should have requested a lower sweetness level though... so I think that's on them, lol. The space is bright, clean, and relaxing. I'll def be back when I'm in the area!

    Eric G.

    Finally getting some more boba options in South Austin! The service here was quick and friendly, and there is plenty of seating inside to work or chat with friends. I got the brown sugar boba creme brulee half sweet and it was perfect! I also tried the orange peach oolong and it was very refreshing. Can't wait to try out more here in the future!

    I forgot
    Elizabeth R.

    Im sorry but I'am not impressed. I got the strawberry green tea and it was meh! Not worth it. My kid got the mango something. Horrible! Def will not waist my time and money here. We literally didn't even drink them.

    Ready for a yummy drink!
    Holly O.

    This place is so cute! They are conveniently located at the end of the shopping strip right next to Daiso. I ordered the green tea brown sugar Boba and it was absolutely delicious! What a treat and I love that you can customize and ask for extra less sugar and less ice etc. When you come in, you make your order at a kiosk and then wait in they are beautiful and serene shop with ample seating for your drink. I will definitely be back!

    Ube Taro Brown Sugar Boba
    Regina K.

    First off the space is so pretty, definitely a really nice vibe, if you wanna do some work with a Boba on the side. The staff were really nice and helped me make a choice since I was getting two drinks. I got the Ube Taro Brown Sugar Boba drink and I got a Brown Sugar Boba Crème Brûlée, the sweetness is definitely in the Boba since the Boba is made with the syrup so make sure to mix it up really well, it was a nice blend. My favorite was the Ube Taro Boba. Can't wait to try the other flavors!

    Karen Q.

    So incredibly thrilled to have another boba spot in South Austin (a desert for boba). They just opened this week and they're running a soft opening on the weekdays, with a big grand opening celebration this weekend, September 27 and 28. There will be a prizes and giveaways. We tried a variety of their options, including smoothies, milk teas, and fruit teas. I really like their purple rice yogurt series and their fruit teas. All drinks are customizable by sweetness level. I like to get less sweet, which is the perfect sweetness for me. The space is very nice. I would say it's more of an elevated café design compared to the Cedar Park location. I can definitely see myself spending time here! Located in a shopping plaza so plenty of parking.

    Tia V.

    So happy The Alley finally opened in Austin! I used to drink this franchise all the time when I lived in South Korea, and having a Daiso next door gives me major nostalgia. I got the Mango Purple Rice Yogurt at 50% sweetness--perfectly balanced, creamy, and refreshing. Friendly staff, cute vibe, and great drinks. Can't wait to go back!

    Ube Brown Sugar Boba Crme Brle Milk
    Aditya A.

    The brown sugar ube boba was super unique and incredibly tasty!! Staff was very friendly and helpful - only downside is side table chairs are a little bit low if you're trying to get work done but they do have other tables and outlets for that, I just came at a very busy time it seems. Will definitely come by again for a drink!

    Brown sugar creme brulee milk
    Raquel O.

    For the first day opening it was not too busy and I saw drinks getting out fairly quick. Clean, sleek and spacious area with plenty of parking available since it is in a shopping center. I ordered the Brown sugar boba creme brulee milk. To start I waited almost 45 minutes and would see people who showed up after me get their drinks within 10 mins and leave. When I asked they said they were making more brown sugar boba and that is fine but I wish I would have been told there would be a wait so I was not just blindly waiting. Second when I tried it even after I mixed it all I tasted was milk. Compared to the menu picture that is not what my drink looks like and the ratio was way off. The brown sugar boba was delicious but I was just drinking white milk with boba. For the amount of time they had me waiting I was pretty disappointed since I did not even get to drink it. The staff was nice and they might have felt a little overwhelmed but more communication would be great.

    ube taro brown sugar boba and strawberry green tea with jelly

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    3 months ago

    My new boba spot to take anyone that comes to austin! Love the crème brûlée boba! You can also order on the kiosk!

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    MUSE Fusion+Sushi

    MUSE Fusion+Sushi

    4.4
    (208 reviews)
    1.7 mi
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    New go-to sushi spot -- no notes!!…read more Ordered to-go and was picking up within 20 minutes. Fast, kind service and a really nice layout if you're dining in. The rolls are creative without being try-hard, unexpected combos like asparagus and Fuji apple that actually work. Everything felt super fresh and well thought out. What I got: The Salmonlicious Roll (M9) was my favorite of the night, I ordered it without cream cheese and it was incredible. The apple adds this perfect sweetness that I didn't know I needed. The Big Easy Roll was a classic done right light, with a beautiful assortment of fish on top. Crunchy cucumbers, tangy yuzu. Chef's kiss. The Spicy Tuna (C4) was a solid classic, good quality fish. The Buddha Roll (M7) was also delicious. Edamame (A6) to start, simple and good. Also, first time using ponzu sauce instead of soy sauce and I am never going back. Game changer. Affordable, fresh, and already planning my return visit!!

    The thing is, as a sushi place... I don't really care about what they have to offer. It's just…read moreAmerican-style sushi with the amount of finesse you would think a random spot would have. I can't sit here and type up a review about the thing I didn't come to MUSE for. Long story short, do not bother trying the ramen here. I actually came to MUSE because they advertised their sandos online. It's the type of sando akin to the famed ones from Age.3 in Ginza and other Japanese spots. It's definitely more expensive than abroad, but it's genuinely the BEST thing here. It's actually so insanely good that I was afraid to eat too much of it. It's the definition of a guilty pleasure. The creme brulee one scares me just from what it makes me become... Word of advice, this place should rebrand to focus on sandos and drinks. Advertise, pop-up, whatever they have to do to get the name out there... I would go just for the sandos and you should too.

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    Birds nest and cucumber mint limeade.
    Birds nest and cucumber mint limeade.
    Muse non alcoholic drinks
    Muse non alcoholic drinks
    Sunshine roll- SOY - calamari - crab mix - avocado - cream cheese -jalapeños - panko - spicy mayo.

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    Sunshine roll- SOY - calamari - crab mix - avocado - cream cheese -jalapeños - panko - spicy mayo.
    Sweet Memes - Austin

    Sweet Memes - Austin

    4.0
    (169 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    The reviews about minimal customer service are accurate. Ordering is done through a kiosk and your…read morenumber gets called. The staff were friendly when we got our drinks, but the exchange was brief. The space, though, is super Instagrammable with lots of playful decor. Parking is a little tight out front, with some extra spots along the side street. I ordered the crème brûlée taro milk tea with boba, and my husband got the regular crème brûlée milk tea with boba. Flavor-wise it was good, but my drink had a lot happening texture-wise. Between the crystallized sugar, grainy taro, and boba, it caught me by surprise. Once everything was mixed together, it was fine, just not my favorite. Still a fun spot with creative drinks, and I'd be open to trying something else next time!

    You order at a kiosk with no real person making recommendations. I should've known this place would…read morebe more created for photo ops than good quality products. Even so, the ambience seems like the decorations were cute, but very cheap and damaged overtime with little to no repairs. But I didn't come here for aesthetics. I came here for great Boba tea and sweet treats. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. What looked like a traditional milk toast dessert, was literally four pieces of stale bread, toasted and stacked on top of each other. that tasted freezer burnt with lots of sauce on top. No topping between each layer so it was not flavorful or tasty and all you could taste was a weird chemical flavor from the bread. Same thing with the ice cream, so freezer burnt that it tasted of chemicals, cardboard, and didn't even melt despite sitting on the plate for 15+ minutes. The Taro tea itself was fine with the crème brûlée topping, but the brown sugar Boba had the same chemical "going bad" flavor to it. It was super hard and bitter tasting instead of sweet. The soufflé pancakes were fine, but the ice cream was terrible on that too. It's hard to mess up Ice Cream, but somehow they managed.

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    Sweet Memes - Austin
    Interior
    Interior
    Sweet Memes - Austin

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    Brooms Matcha

    Brooms Matcha

    4.4
    (10 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Definitely one of the best matcha you can find in Austin!! There are not a lot of places where you…read moresee the love and care taken to each drink, which is made in front of you. There are so many bad matcha spots in Austin that it makes you truly appreciate the places that do it right. The menu is simple and short. I got the strawberry matcha latte with oat milk which was so good! The strawberries on the bottom added the perfect amount of sweetness. The only con is that there is a long line (for good reason).

    Most matcha, if not all matcha, in Austin is terrible, dull, gritty, and/or astringent. This one is…read morepretty good. Hand whisked with traditional tools, this matcha might be a bit pricey but it's worth it. Some notable things I liked: - the hojicha is surprisingly better than their matcha, but their matcha is still good. I normally never prefer hojicha so it surprised me a lot. - when I asked for less sweetness, it actually was less sweet. You would think that isn't surprising, but so many places still drown it in sugar. I appreciate that it's not like that here. - the wait was almost an hour for one of the first weekends they opened. It's like that for everything in Austin now though - it is so hot in there lol - the service is mindful and whoever wrote on our labels that day has gorgeous handwriting????? Overall the best matcha place in Austin. Don't skip, but it would be good if this place had a more permanent situation so we can look forward to a new wave of tea in Austin.

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    Strawberry matcha and matcha with agave syrup
    Strawberry matcha and matcha with agave syrup
    Strawberry matcha and matcha with agave syrup
    Strawberry matcha and matcha with agave syrup
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    Tea Cup Boba House

    Tea Cup Boba House

    5.0
    (48 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    Tea Cup Boba House feels like one of those small neighborhood spots that instantly improves your…read moremood the second you walk in. The space itself is definitely on the smaller side with only a few tables, but the ambiance is thoughtfully designed in a way that somehow makes the whole place feel cheerful, cozy, and welcoming instead of cramped. I ordered what I believe was a taro milk tea with almond milk and extra boba, lightly sweetened. The drink came out smooth, creamy, and balanced without becoming overly sugary. The boba had the right texture too - soft and chewy without turning mushy. You can tell they actually care about the drinks instead of just assembling them as fast as possible. The cashier was genuinely funny and friendly, which honestly adds more to a quick stop like this than people realize. Service was fast, parking was easy, and the menu had plenty of options without feeling overwhelming. This isn't really a "hang out for 4 hours and study" kind of boba place because the seating is limited, but for a quick stop, grab-and-go drink, or casual catch-up, it works really well. The surrounding area is still developing so there aren't crazy views or anything, but during sunrise or sunset the light coming through the windows actually gives the place a pretty nice vibe. Small shop, good energy, solid drinks, easy parking. I'll definitely be back.

    We've been here a couple of times now and have enjoyed each visit. I go with my almost 10 year old…read moreson. He always enjoys the cookies and cream with boba, and I've tried the taro milk tea with boba, and the taro coconut milk tea with boba. The recommended 75% sugar is perfect not intensely sweet but not too plain. We are always impressed with the speed of service as it's usually only one person working. My son always says, "I'm still amazed how one man can be faster than 5 at that other place we've been to." We usually pick up to go but have enjoyed our drinks there as well. The place is so nice and picture friendly with boba themed signs on each wall. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Matcha Latte
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    The Alley - cafes - Updated June 2026

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