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    The Alley

    4.3 (272 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

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    Yogurt Grape Lulu
    Hemi K.

    The yogurt snow grape lulu is to die for!!! The drink was amazing and the alley is always a good choice when choosing a dessert. The space is clean well kept and definitely busy. They did add some more seating near the entrance but there is limited space available. So would recommend getting boba to go or stopping by for a couple of minutes. I'm not sure in what order they make the orders but sometimes they skipped numbers and came back to the previous ones.

    Royal No. 9 Milk Tea
    Ellie N.

    I ordered their best selling royal no.9 milk tea with regular boba. It was a disappointment. The tea was super bitter. It's super dark and my heart was pounding hard after 1/3 of the cup. I'm not this sensitive with caffeine normally, so their tea was abnormally strong that day? I tried the alley a few times before and I never had such a bad experience. The boba is great. It's well cooked. The texture is just right.

    Linda T.

    I have been coming here ever since grand opening when I witnessed a girl almost passing out from standing in the line outside. Anywho, they have been better with managing their lines. Service is quick. This is my go-to boba shop when I am craving sweet. My go to is their brown sugar deerioca creme brûlée milk (comes with boba). Passion fruit green tea, no sugar is also another favorite. Though, I must warn you that the prices are on the higher side compare to the many other boba shops in Katy Asian Town area. Drinks are typically around $7. Ambiance is clean and modern. Depending on the day and time, it can get quite busy where you won't be able to just chill here. No worries, as there's some but limited outdoor benches in this plaza. Parking can also be a hassle but you have legs and this is a safe area so park further if you must

    Phuoc N.

    I have to admit, I've got nothing but good things to say about the ambience and aesthetics of the setting. However, this is as far as I'm able to go. Is there a signature drinks , as well as most of their other milk tea-based options will break the calorie bank. Their signature milk tea option harbors over 1000 calories. I cannot justify in good conscience. I ordered the alley latte since it was on the lower end of the calorie spectrum, sitting at over 600 calories. Yet, it was still incredibly too sweet, despite my request to lower the sugar level. The staff said that the sugar level can't really be adjusted but could reduce the amount of sweet cream added to the drink to help. I found this was not helpful at all in managing the sweetness level. This year amount of sugary flavor is enough to make my palate cringe and my teeth shiver. Unfortunately, this would likely be my first and last time visiting the alley. It's incredibly unfortunate, given that I really enjoy the space, vibe, and aesthetics.

    Awesome drawings
    Jando S.

    Considering the bad luck (#1) I've had at other locations of The Alley, I'm pleasantly surprised to find this location in Katy is one of the best in the chain. In fact, I would dare say this is one of the best bubble tea options in Katy period. The decor is trendy and modern, and I especially love the massive wall mural of the deer logo. Seating is limited but the place is clean (#2). There is self service (cold) water and free WiFi to boot. It's a real pleasure to see the staff work so efficiently behind the counter to keep things moving. The line gets long at times, but thanks to the good work of the employees, the wait isn't long. I love almost all of their drinks. Their milk teas and specialty drinks are divine. The ube strawberry brulee is sweet, and their brown sugar milk tea is a real treat. Even something like the crunchy strawberry milk tea is a sugar bomb, but in the best (and sweetest) way. For this reason, I walk out of here with a different drink every time. The boba scene in Katy is really on the up and up. I would even go as far to say that The Alley is a must visit in the area, as they are one of the only sure things in Katy Asian Town. ___________ (#1) Flushing, Queens I'm looking at you. (#2) Yes, even the restrooms. Score.

    Angela K.

    The Alley has to be one of my top 3 boba shops!! I always stick to the same drink, the ube brown sugar deerioca crème brulee, because it never disappoints. It was super busy when we came around 2pm... given that it was a holiday. Employees are fast and efficient with their service. We had to wait a little over 15 minutes though for the brown sugar boba as they were making a fresh batch. For this drink in particular, the sweetness really comes from the boba and crème brulee, so I don't think it's necessary to adjust the sugar level. Less sugar = less boba. The ube is subtle and smooth and combines so well with the toppings. I'm glad the boba comes with the drink because the selling point is already a bit high at $7.25. I've tried some of their fruit drinks before, but I have to go with the classic specialties. Good number of tables available, a water station, a seating area to wait for drinks, and a shelf with merch to browse. The alley is a great place to hang and chill at! Parking can be a pain when everyone is in the area lolll. That's Katy Asian town for ya!

    Jesus D.

    I'm not as convinced that this location is as good as the one in Las Vegas. The boba was not as chewy as expected. The milk tea was just okay, it tasted like tea with milk and nothing special

    Orange Peach Oolong  Ube Taro Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk
    Steph W.

    Yoooooo this place is GREAT! I can't believe that I've never had it, especially as a boba lover!! In the two plazas, there are probably over 5+ boba shops and we decided to come here. It did NOT disappoint!!! Sweetness level was great, tea was great, bubbles were chewy and store itself looked great. Easy to order up front and people were nice. My friend got the ube and said she's never finished a drink before, there she goes! I would try this place before any of the other nearby bubble tea shops! Grab and go or sit in the nook next to the tree, so cute.

    brown sugar deerrioca creme brulee
    Cindy P.

    If you are a boba lover, the alley is a must visit spot! This store has been one of my favorite places to go to every time I'm on vacation. There are many locations both East and West Coast. Depending on the time and day it can get busy but the line moves fast. My go to order is the Brown sugar deerrioca creme brulee. The drink includes brown sugar boba, chunks of creme brulee pudding, creamy milk and a dollop of whipped sea salt cream! Everything about this sounds amazing just typing it out! Once you give it a good mix it all blends in perfectly together with the warm boba and cold drink. They also offer other type of snacks if you aren't feeling like getting boba. Overall, I highly recommend this place if you are visiting. The workers were helpful and the ambiance of the store is bright and welcoming.

    Kevin E.

    What you might expect to be your typical boba stop among all the others that have popped up lately, The Alley offers a somewhat different experience with their deer theming and their alternate flavors. They obviously take cleanliness seriously by still having dividers and their staff wearing masks. While I would prefer a clear cup to see the culinary delight my ube crème brûlée brown sugar derrioca offers, it is still delicious.

    Diana L.

    Got an ube drink which I LOVED but I do think this is slightly higher priced compared to other places. It was over $7 for the drink. It's well lit and clean in there, and the employees were nice and quick to take people's order. It can get loud in there but since they have a mic/headset they can easily hear your order. They do have free water at the entrance, and about 4 or so small tables with chairs. The wait wasn't long, and thankfully they have a number counter/display by the pickup area so you can have an idea of when your order number is ready. I'd go back, but only if I was ready to splurge and had an idea of what I would fire sure enjoy.

    Brown Sugar Deerioca Milk and Strawberry Green Tea with Jelly
    Haeli Y.

    There are so many boba spots opening up in Katy/Houston that it's hard to go to the same place. However, I've tried all the new ones so far and went back to one of my faves that I can only get in Katy: the alley! I love their peach/grape drink, strawberry green tea, and the brown sugar milk tea! If you aren't a fan of flan or pudding like me, I recommend getting the brown sugar with just boba. The drinks are always out fast which I appreciate! Small space but cute place to catch up with friends or study.

    Mango green tea with jelly
    Christopher C.

    Good atmosphere, nice staff, and the drinks are good and sweet. The brown sugar deerioca crème brûlée is so sweet and be wary of the 1,000 calories with it, but it is nonetheless good. The mango green tea with jelly is light and a smidge bitter, but still a great treat. Fun spot for a final hurrah with the friends before we go to separate cities for work/school Cheers!

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    The milk tea was watered down and it's not fresh brewed tea. It tasted like powder milk tea from Ranch 99.

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    Hechalou Tea

    Hechalou Tea

    4.2
    (34 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Got the toffee milk tea with matcha jelly. The tea was so good, sweet and melty with that rich…read moretoffee taste. The jelly was a little hard to eat with the straw, which was a little disappointing. We also got the signature tea waffles, which were okay and not too sweet. The cafe is spacious, with a bunch of claw machines, although the available prizes could be better. Service is quick and you can order on an iPad. Would love to try their other options!

    Lovely ambiance where I feel like I was transported into an old school Chinese gambling room in…read moreShanghai but with modern claw machines on the other side. Comfortable cushioned chairs/bench, it's actually not just for looks. Good amount of seating area, though, they could have added maybe 1 more. I got a Signature Black Tea Egg Waffle and House Blend Milk Tea with Yin-Yang Jelly. Though, the house blend milk tea was delicious, I specifically asked multiple of times if there's any tree-nuts, such as almond milk, because someone in my group has a severe tree-nut allergy. I have mentioned it many times, including what their egg waffle mix has (such as almond flours and what not). I was told the waffle was good to go but nothing about their yin-yang jelly. The young server was friendly but I don't think he realized the importance of someone not consuming tree-nuts if they have a tree-nut allergy. Luckily, we double checked with someone else after I questioned the drink and luckily the person who has a tree-nut allergy didn't try any of the drink. So, if you or someone in your group has a tree-nut allergy... possibly avoid this place or get a drink somewhere else. There's a big chance of cross-contamination even if the person who took your order knows the severity of it. Overall, it's a good bubble-tea IF AND ONLY IF THERE'S NO ONE IN YOUR GROUP WITH A TREE-NUT ALLERGY. Tea, at 20% sugar level was sweet enough and delicious without artificial taste. I can actually taste the tea and milk. Their Signature Black Tea Egg Waffle is cute in 3 shapes of cranes. The wing parts are nice and crispy but the center of the body is dry. There's no bounce to it. It's pretty thick and heavy. I would skip their cranes and just get drinks. Again, please beware if you or anyone has a tree-nut allergy.

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    Osmanthus oolong with almond jelly, matcha toffee milk tea :)
    Osmanthus oolong with almond jelly, matcha toffee milk tea :)
    House blend milk tea
    House blend milk tea
    House milk tea with ying yang jelly

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    House milk tea with ying yang jelly
    Wanpo Tea Shop

    Wanpo Tea Shop

    4.1
    (111 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Speaks Mandarin

    I got the red bean jelly milk after a spicy malatang dinner and it was very refreshing. The seating…read moreis spacious and pretty well spaced. The menu can be a little overwhelming but they do have some popular options for you. I got a recommendation from a friend and tried the red bean jelly milk and it was delicious. I've never had this at any other tea house before. But surprisingly the flavor combinations were great and I loved the rich flavor of the red beans as a drink. The service was quick and there were lots of workers around who were patient in taking our orders. Would definitely get this drink again in the future!

    I had a very...weird experience at Wanpo. I ordered a Sugarcane Lemonade and when I tasted it, it…read moredidn't taste like Sugarcane, just straight lemon. Wanting to give Wanpo the benefit of the doubt, I asked if it could be remade because it was a $8 drink. The worker, whose name I believe is Eric, SNIFFED my drink through the straw and said that it's Sugarcane and gave it back to me.....He then said he wouldn't remake it because it smells like it...Huh..? I walked out in shock because, what? Out of all the boba spots that I have been to, never has anyone smelled my drink. In fact, I used to work at a boba shop and never has it occurred to me to smell a drink and not remake it for a customer. Like, I don't know what methods you use to confirm ingredients but you couldn't even take the drink to the back to smell it? You did it in front of my face? I don't ever ask for drinks to be remade unless it tastes nothing like I ordered, I just go about and let it be but this genuinely appalled me. I go to Wanpo and I enjoy their Mango Sago drink but this experience has led me to never come back because... are you serious?

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    Wanpo Tea Shop
    Wanpo Tea Shop
    Ig: @whatsviveating  |  wanpo milk tea

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    Ig: @whatsviveating | wanpo milk tea
    Ding Tea

    Ding Tea

    4.3
    (117 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We love ding tea! They always have fantastic flavors and give you a decent amount of boba/…read moretoppings! It's hard to say which is my favorite so you just have to try them all!

    This year our friend group opted to try something new. Instead of a white elephant gift exchange…read more We did a white elephant boba exchange. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical of our plans. I like what I like, just as others like what they like. So I wasn't sure what I was going to get stuck with. So on the way to the outskirts of Katy, we stopped in at Ding Tea. Let me tell you how busy this area was on a beautiful Sunday before lunar New Year. There wasn't a single parking space to be had in three different lots. There was traffic everywhere in people. Do not drive well when they're looking for a parking spot. People just stopped in the middle of the parking lot and didn't move. Waiting for someone to walk out of a building. Super annoying. Luckily, Ding Tea is located behind lot of the larger restaurants and the golf course and other super busy areas. There was a parking spot waiting for me out front and it was easy to get in and out. We ended up getting a tea to share, and two to go with us to the party. We also got an order of the popcorn chicken. I wish they would have it a little bit spicier on its own, without having to dip it into things. A little seasoning goes a long way! The staff were also super nowledgeable about the menu, courteous, and efficient. Will definitely be back, but not on lunar new year. So busy!!

    Photos
    Winter Melon Milk Tea
    Winter Melon Milk Tea
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Ding Tea

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    Yan Tea Cafe 岩記燒腊

    Yan Tea Cafe 岩記燒腊

    4.1
    (202 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Staff we encountered were very kind and welcoming, and the food came out really quickly. We ordered…read morethe BBQ pork congee and scallion chicken, both fantastic. Hot but not too hot to eat, and very flavorful. Their wintermelon tea was also strong and delicious. Definitely recommend stopping by.

    Known as Yan Kei (岩記) in Cantonese, it took me a minute to realize it was the same place as Yan Tea…read moreCafe. The lack of an English sign didn't help, as I figured Yan Kei was all about BBQ (#1) and Yan Tea was something like a cafe, when in fact it was the same place the entire time. Still, the rarity that is Cantonese siu mei in Houston, let alone Katy, makes this place still worth a look. It's always great to see the daily selection of meats hanging near the window to entice folks. They have roast duck, soya chicken, BBQ pork, and a very crispy siu yuk pork belly. I think their 3 meat combo over rice (三寶飯) is the way to go. It's the most ideal lunch option and could also make for a fairly hearty early dinner meal. I wouldn't go too late though, since most of their meats are at their optimal freshness during the early morning / afternoon. It's not that spacious, but it's enough for small'ish groups to dine. Takeout is pretty common here, often with some kind of bubble tea. I'm not particularly fond of the latter, but then again I've never seen a specialty Cantonese BBQ place and bubble tea do either particularly well. Another area that they're solid in is the congee selection. The pork and preserved egg are enjoyable despite the pricetag ($9) and the fish slice congee also gets a thumbs up. Prices are adequate for Katy and the service is good overall. It's worth noting the parking can be a challenge during peak hours and especially on weekends, since this is one of the busiest corners in all of Katy Asian Town. _____________ (#1) Not to be confused with Chung Wang BBQ on the same block.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Soya Chicken
    Soya Chicken
    Outside "岩記燒腊" (Yan Ji Shao La)

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    Outside "岩記燒腊" (Yan Ji Shao La)
    Meet Fresh

    Meet Fresh

    3.8
    (188 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    MeetFresh is one of my favorite places to recommend for delicious, inexpensive desserts, especially…read morewhen I'm trying to satisfy a group with a serious sweet tooth. I have a ton of younger cousins who are always working with an allowance budget, so finding somewhere that can actually appease their appetite without breaking the bank is not easy--especially if you're feeding 10+ kids. MeetFresh's $15 giant desserts are truly the king of both budget and flavor. I cannot stress enough how much of a hit this place was the first time I recommended it to my cousins. Whether I'm with them or not, they always make a point to stop by whenever they drive into Houston from College Station. For that reason alone, MeetFresh holds a special place in my heart. It has given my large family a fun, worthwhile experience time and time again. On my most recent visit, we had a friend flying in from Chicago, so we brought him and his girlfriend here. We collectively ordered the Taro Mochi Milk Shaved Ice, and wow--if you're a fan of Chinese herbal flavors, this is the dessert for you. I usually stick with the mango or strawberry fruit dishes, but this one reminded me of Sâm Bổ Lượng, a Vietnamese chè/sweet soup. The flavors were earthy, comforting, and perfectly balanced in sweetness. I genuinely could not stop eating it until the very end, when all that was left was a puddle of melted ice and mixed-up dessert "schlop" -- LOL. Truly, thank you, MeetFresh, for being such a great place to gather, share, and enjoy dessert without needing a huge budget.

    Nut allergy WARNING: Yeah, they use a LOT of nuts here. The nice person making our order did verify…read morewith me on everything, including sesame, and I was fine with our order. Would be very careful because they don't mark all of the dishes correctly - some things with almonds still do not have the nut allergy marking. We got here around 10PM, where was actually some parking in a normally packed plaza. Time-to-Order: 5 Minutes We went with a red bean milk shaved ice dish with mochi and happily shared it among five people. I'd say it's definitely sharable with 4, maybe with 2, and would be a ton to eat for one person. It's nicely separated where you can grab bites of whatever you want to try. The space is great for hanging out. Would definitely come back.

    Photos
    Meet Fresh
    Meet Fresh
    Meet Fresh

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    The Alley - bubbletea - Updated June 2026

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