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So glad the overly long lines are over at ToroTea! This spot is really solid, some of the drinks are for me a bit too much on the sweeter side but they have plenty of options. Super kind staff that is willing to give recommendations and are adamant that you bring back your drink if you aren't happy with it! I highly recommend and will be back soon!
Torotea always hits the spot! Felt like grabbing a drink to beat the heat, so I ordered online for pickup. There are so many good drinks and today I felt like branching out of my usual popcorn milk tea so I tried a Jasmine Oolong Pure Tea with Black Tea Tapiochi™ and Himalayan Sea Salt Cloud and absolutely loved the combo. Thank you for the easy order and pick up experience! Ambiance is so calming - there is beauty in simplicity and love visiting any Torotea location. Thanks so much for coming to OC!
I had such high expectations for this place because of the great reviews and a referral from my husband's coworker. Unfortunately, I'm sad to report that this place feels overhyped. The line was pretty long for a Thursday afternoon around 2:00 p.m., so naturally, I thought this place must be a hit. Unfortunately, I was met with more disappointment than anything. We paid $17.15 for two regular-size drinks--a matcha tea and a jasmine oolong with brown sugar tapioca. One thing to note: they only offer one drink size, which felt pretty small for the price point. The matcha drink had a nice, rich flavor, which I enjoyed. However, the jasmine oolong tasted more like watered-down milk to me, and the tapioca pearls tasted more like grass jelly than traditional boba. I will say that the decor and overall design of the shop are sleek, minimalist, and definitely a vibe. But unfortunately, I can't justify coming back solely for the ambiance. For the price, my recommendation would be to save your money and go to Bako Tea instead. Their tea flavors are much more pronounced and flavorful. Overall, this was unfortunately a one-and-done visit for me.
Torotea finally makes its long-awaited entrance into Orange County! For those that know, torotea is a popular tea shop that has locations in Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, and San Marino. It was no surprise that eventually the franchise would make its way to the heart of Orange County in Santa Ana. During grand opening and subsequent weeks, the wait was especially long, wrapping all around the building. During that time, you could expect a 30-45 minute wait. Now that it's been some time since then, the wait has reduced significantly, down to probably 10-15 minutes to get your order in and receive your drink. Upon entry, you can expect a similar ambiance to its sister locations, with a hut-like feel to the establishment. The inside seems more of a waiting area rather than somewhere to sit and enjoy your refreshment. I got the location-specific drink here called the Muscat Oolong Passion Bloom and honestly, it's my personal favorite here! It's quite smooth and has a taste akin to grape flavored drinks. Overall, I would highly recommend this tea shop to anyone looking to get some amazing boba/tea in the heart of Santa Ana!
Ambiance is so cozy and nice in here really enjoyed my drinks too would reccomend trying if you're in the area
- we anticipated a long wait so we ordered online but it wasn't too busy at all (still recommend ordering online anyways) The interior is spacious and feels like you stepped into a cave. It's mostly bench-like seating on the right side with low tables. I did see some outlets but the seating situation doesn't make this place a good work/study spot in my opinion! - staff were really nice and handing out samples of their tea. It was cool to see the display of their jelly offerings too! - the milk teas were delicious, creamy and fragrant with a smooth strong tea flavor. We both enjoyed the deep roasty amber milk tea more. I think their focus isn't on floral jasmine teas so I'd go for the oolong or amber/black teas! I wish the barley jelly had a more pronounced flavor, the texture was fun but i didn't get a strong hit of that wheat/nutty barley
Torotea Santa Ana is one of four locations in SoCal; they specialize in high quality milk tea and tea-based drinks that reminds me of Chi Cha San Chen, because they have straight tea options along with crafted milk tea drinks. It was my first time trying this place, so I tried their signature Cassia Milktea with Brown Sugar Tapiochi (4/5) and Mulberry Oolong with Osmanthus Jelly (4/5). I liked both drinks because they weren't overly sweet and the edible jellies were subtle but tasted way better than the usual tapioca boba balls. I was somewhat off put by the large whole wrinkly dried mulberries that occasionally came up through my straw, but that's a personal preference that I discovered while having this drink, rather than an issue with the beverage itself. I was curious to try their popcorn milktea, so that's the next drink I would like to order when I come again. Torotea is my favorite milk tea place in SoCal, hands down because I like straight teas and subtle flavors, rather than diabetes in a cup. Highly recommend for tea enthusiasts.
My favorite tea place right now!! So glad there's a location closer to home. My girlfriends and I were always looking for excuses to get to their Diamond Bar location before this. My go to is the jasmine oolong and popcorn milk tea. Both their tea tapiochi and the milk tea themselves has a strong tea flavor. Online ordering also makes it way easier. I do like that they have an employee at the storefront to regulate the amount of people inside the store. Makes it less chaotic and stressful. Torotea is such an experience, I love it so much I even bought their tote lol! 100% recommend!!!
Toro tea is one of my favorite boba places, so I was excited to see that they opened one near home. I thought there was going to be a long line, but it wasn't too bad. Popcorn Milk tea (5/5): I know it sounds weird but this is my favorite drink. It's buttery like popcorn but with a sweet caramel kick. Definitely a unique and yummy drink.
4.5/5: If you like the tea flavors at Orobae but not the weird vibes at that place, this is the place to go. If you really enjoy the grape/floral type flavors you'll really like their location exclusive muscat flavor with the osmanthus jelly. It's very subtle but refreshing. The Jasmine oolong is really nice too, I added brown sugar tapimochi and it was slightly too sweet. Maybe I would get it with the black tea jelly next time. Tip: Make sure to use the tea saver (smaller) straw if you don't get the tapimochi. Service is really good! Not too overbearing and they are always happy to give you recommendations when you ask for it. Quick service too after you order, comes out fairly quickly. 4.5 only b/c dang is it pricey. Most tea spots are but I just really wonder if it's really worth $8 for a drink of this size.
I'm excited there is now a Toro Tea in OC! This place recently opened so the hype is still real. Expect to wait 30-45 min on average on weekends. The milk teas here are really good -- pure, strong tea flavors. But this review is specifically for the Jasmine Matcha Latte ($9), which was VERY underwhelming. At $9 I was expecting a very strong matcha flavor, but unfortunately the matcha flavor was near non-existent. Essentially all of the flavor was in the Jasmine tea. I was a little worried that was going to be the case because the drink is a very faint and light green. It looked and tasted watered down. I would skip the matcha drinks here. They are more known for their milk teas. I don't think they should list matcha drinks as their signature drinks on their menu. Also you cannot adjust the sweetness level for matcha latte. Huh? I thought that was weird. Aren't matcha lattes mixed and made to order? For a speciality, high-priced tea shop not to be able to adjust sweetness for a latte seemed odd.
Torotea is finally in OC!!! Torotea makes some high quality tea drinks, along with some innovative and perfectly balanced speciality milk teas. Popcorn Milktea? Creme Brulee? If it's your first time here, you have to try one of those two. Popcorn Milktea - This is their most irresistible drink here. It's a milk tea that perfectly captures the buttery flavor of popcorn while still maintaining a full milk tea profile. It comes with their brown sugar tapiochi, which are square chunks that have the consistency that is a cross between grass jelly and tapioca. Ember Milktea - This one has a very nutty profile. It's got a strong milk tea flavor and the nuttiness hits strong too. Very good if you are craving that nut. Manor Milktea - Hard to describe the flavor on this one. It is a strong black tea that has strong sweetness. The menu calls it malty but I don't know if I would call it malty. It's very good tho. Gardenia Oolong Cold Brew - This is craft oolong tea that is served in glass bottle that usually has 2 or 3 day shelf life. It is not sweet at all. It's power punch iced tea that lets the oolong shine. If you like strong, pure teas, this is definitely a craft tea. I love their tapiochi topping so I will be adding either of their tapiochi flavors to my drinks. I highly recommend this! The lines the first two weeks here were kinda crazy, but it's calmed down. I've been when there was no line outside, and I've also been when there are about 30 people waiting outside. The line moves fairly fast and they come out with samples of their featured tea for that time. The staff is friendly and helpful, they are patient and will answer all your questions about their drinks and you will have questions because they have some funky names for their drinks. This is going to be one of my regular tea rotation spots going forward. You can sit inside but there aren't that many seats. Inside it looks like cross between New Mexico adobes and Tatooine. If you know, you know.
There's a new Torotea! Located in Santa Ana close by to South Coast Plaza, Torotea features premium teas with their signature Tapioca Mochi or "Tapiochi". I love the flavors, high quality ingredients, and vibe of this location! The staff are so nice and welcoming and really enhance the overall experience. I got the Manor Milk tea and the Jasmine Matcha Latte. Both were delicious! Excited to come back soon.
3 months ago
New location, first one in oc! Line moved quickly despite still being newly opened, which is a good sign. Workers offered samples and the seating area was spacious. read more
3 months ago
Why did I go to torotea in oc AND wait in line even though the other locations are closer to me... was what I was thinking until I got to drink my location exclusive muscat oolong drinks. As an og torotea drinker, I actually don't normally like their location exclusive drinks, especially compred to their regular menu but this is definitely an exception. Especially in the pure tea, you can taste the fragrant muscat in the tea. I wish I didn't try this because now I'm going to have to go to santa ana if I specifically want this drink even though the other toroteas are closer to me haha read more
3 months ago
Such great drinks! It's a small location with a really cool, laid-back vibe. The staff was friendly and welcoming, making the whole experience even better. I'll definitely be back! read more
20 days ago
The atmosphere is really different but on a great way. It reminds me of being in a local place in Baja with great Latin music playing in the back and sis I tell you the drinks are fantastic. I love their Matcha Einspanner. I keep coming back - just love this place and the customer service is fantastic - friendly and clean place read more
My friends and I decided to try toro tea in OC! I've had toro tea a few years in 626 area but they finally opened one in OC. I would say the wait and drinks are whatever. It's worthy to try but I wouldn't go out of my way or crave it. We ordered the crème brûlée milk,jasmine oolong,popcorn milk tea. They were decent but overly overrated. Service was very friendly though! read more
3 months ago
came on a thursday around 6:30 and waited in line for around 25 mins. all of the staff i interacted with was super kind and helpful. they offer samples of the drink of the day which i thought was unique. inside is small but super cute and clean. music was a bit loud when i came though. milk teas were very solid, i enjoyed the jasmine oolong! would definitely recommend if you're in the area and have time to kill read more
3 months ago
So happy that my favorite boba shop is in OC now! We can during soft opening and there was a decent line outside the door so we did have to wait a while. The interior is super aesthetic tho, as with all torotea stores. I tried the muscat oolong (which is the location specific tea) and it wasn't my favorite, but it was still good nonetheless. I also got the calamansi oolong which is always a go to for me. I'm not a huge milk tea person, but I love all the milk teas here. Also the TAPIOCHI!! It's a topping you can't find anywhere else -- it's kind if like a cross between boba and tea jelly and it just has the perfect chew to it. I'm so curious to try all of their toppings tho. Definitely will be a new go to now that it's in OC! read more
Delicious milk teas! I got the popcorn milktea with brown sugar tapiochi, which tasted like kettle corn popcorn (!!!) and ember milktea with barley jelly, which had a nice strong tea flavor. Perfect sweet and perfect ice is definitely recommended if it's your first time trying these drinks. The tapiochi topping was a nice chewy jelly consistency that I really liked. There was a short line out the door at 10am on a Thursday. Drinks came out pretty slowly. Cool flintstone-esque interior. Small space, more of a grab n go place than sit n chill. read more
2 months ago
What makes this shop stand out is probably its modern and elegant design, along with the jelly toppings. The store has a stylish and upscale look, but the interior feels a bit dark and noisy. Since the space is quite small, customers line up and wait for both ordering and drink pickup inside, and there is only one row of seating with a few tables. Overall, it feels a little crowded. During the hot summer weather, many people prefer to stay inside while waiting, which makes the shop feel even more stuffy. For drinks, I ordered the Koan-im Oolong Milk Tea. It had a pleasant aroma, but the tea flavor was not very strong and the creamy taste was more dominant. My friend, however, really enjoyed the Popcorn Milk Tea. read more
3 months ago
The store just opened this past week and honestly I'm pretty impressed by how well it's run! Very similar to the Diamond bar location. The wait was pretty long (~1 hour in the morning) but we thought it was well worth the wait. The quality of the tea is phenomenal and the tapiochi is the perfect combination of boba and mochi! Would definitely return to try other menu options read more
5 days ago
I was craving something sweet but refreshing so I decided to try something new. I heard good things about Torotea and I was very excited to try their popcorn milk tea. I arrived on a Weekend day at 1PM so there was a small line but it wasn't too bad. About 5-10 minute wait to order. An employee opened the door and provided me samples of their tea. Inside, the atmosphere reminded me of Kim Kardashian's mansion with the minimal white walls but a little warmer with the plants and cute wooden and clay decorations. There's no bathroom inside so I would definitely recommend finding a bathroom nearby if you are needing to use the facilities. I got the popcorn milk tea with brown sugar tapiochi and it was a warm and roasted natural corn flavor with the nice amber flavor coming from the chewies. It was a very nice mouth feel with the soft and slightly chewy tapiochi cubes. You can adjust ice and sweetness but I got perfect sweet and ice - it was just right. I also got the Muscat grape tea with osmanthus jelly and it was a nice floral notes with the gently green grape flavor. It was very refreshing and I think the only difference I'd make is more ice because it was hot so the ice melted quickly so it wasn't as cold as I'd like. I think this is my new favorite spot because the tea is really high quality and I like their toppings. The wait time after ordering was also barely anything at all. 9.5/10 stars read more
3 months ago
Happy to finally have toro nearby and I can finally try it. My partner was able to try prior at one of their other locations, so they wanted me to get a chance to try it as well. There was a short line when we go there in the early evening. Line moved pretty quickly, they were trying to not have too many people inside, since it is quite small on the inside. The menu is projected against the wall, so it is a bit hard to see/read. Hard to see which drinks cans be modified or not. The staff is very friendly. The oojicha einspanner is creamy and delicious, a must try if you like roasted tea flavor. The jasmine matcha latte was a let down though. The jasmine was floral but the matcha flavor was lacking and a little gritty. It was busy after all and I believe they are still in their soft opening phase. Will definitely be back to try some of their other drinks read more
Came to the very first day of their soft opening and I have to say that the drinks I had here were just as good as their diamond bar location !!! The wait was not too long and who I think is the owner was handing out waters to everyone in line!! He was telling me and my boyfriend about his journey opening up this new location and how every tea is made fresh and in house, I could absolutely tell how much passion he has to create quality drinks for everyone to enjoy. I personally got the icemilk creme brûlée and it was so creamy and delicious !! The tapiochi is perfectly chewy and will probably be my top drink moving forward. I'm so glad torotea has come to the oc area and HIGHLY recommend to try it !!!! read more
6 days ago
i gave this place another try after my friend recommended the misty oolong milk tea with brown tapioca. i'm not sure if i just went on another off day, but unfortunately it tasted really milk-heavy and i didn't get much oolong tea flavor at all. i personally prefer a much stronger tea flavor in my milk tea, so this one wasn't really for me. i mentioned in my previous review that i'd come back and give it another try so i did but i wouldn't say this is my top boba place! i think next time if i do come back i'll stick with the drink i sampled the first time i came here because that one was actually really refreshing and i enjoyed it a lot. it wasn't really a milk tea which are my favorite type of drinks, but it was more of a sweet, refreshing drink, and that one definitely stood out to me more than their milk teas. read more
2 months ago
I ordered three drinks the Popcorn Milk Tea, Crème Brulee Ice Milk with brown sugar tapioca, and Manor Black Milk Tea. Overall, I thought the drinks were pretty good! The Popcorn Milk Tea was definitely the most unique. My favorite was the Manor Black Milk Tea. We got a sample before ordering, and I really liked that it wasn't too sweet and had a really good tea flavor. read more
1 month ago
I've been to the Diamond Bar and Chino Hills location and both were great. It's very exciting to have a location in OC that's closer to me. I came on a weekday afternoon and the wait was only 10-15 minutes in total which is not bad. I asked the worker if they were recommend the Jasmine Matcha or Einspanner and they responded with both are good. Not super helpful when I haven't tried either of the drinks. I understand that it's a new location with new staff, but it would be ideal for staff to know how to describe the drink so customers can choose something suitable for their own personal taste. I ended up going with the Jasmine Matcha and it was not good. It lacked matcha flavor and tasted more like a regular Jasmine Milk Tea. The hojicha lacked flavor too, it was on the milky side. I recommend sticking with their milk tea drinks, that's the way to do it. I felt like both drinks were not sweet enough. So disappointed in the matcha and hojicha, especially when it is on the more expensive side. read more
I'm so sad to admit this, but I like the tapiochi (comes in different flavors) topping more than the drink flavors. Tapiochi seems like a hybrid of tapioca and mochi (it was never explained), so it has the QQ chew with soft mochi texture. Most importantly, it refrigerates well, because the texture remains the same overnight. I tried the popcorn milk tea, their most popular drink, it had a buttery taste and lovely milky consistency. It's an original flavor, but not something I prefer. My boyfriend tried their location exclusive drink, muscat oolong, and enjoyed it. On a different visit, I tried the Jasmine oolong 75% sweet. It was hard to differentiate between the delicate jasmine and roasted deep oolong flavor. I think their drinks are naturally "not too sweet". I asked for more sweetener and it tasted much better. So I appreciate their service and willingness to remake my drink. I felt so guilty, so for my next visit I think I will order normal sweet. I do wish there was descriptions for all their teas, so I don't have to look at their online menu. I'll definitely return to try their oolong teas. read more
30 days ago
Got lucky & visited when there was virtually no wait. Unfortunately, I asked if they could put toppings on the side or order on the side just so I could try / see if I liked it in my drink, but they said no. Looks like they're not accommodation friendly here. Also, didn't help that when I asked, the cashier was unsure, looked to his coworker, asked them- who was also unsure. Then they found their manager ? (Grey shirt, black pants) And when he asked her, she glanced at me; looked up and down and then said no , totally felt awkward... Anyways! TLDR; Visit before 5pm if you want to avoid the lines. And don't ask to for toppings on the side bc they don't do that at THIS location lol read more
1 month ago
2 months ago
Parking situation is easy to navigate as the boba shop is located in a big shopping plaza. The outside of the store is quiet and lowkey much like the interior small and cool chill vibes. Service here is great they are very kind and explain the menu and all options to you. The menu is large and certain drinks are highly customizable. I have not heard of 80% of the teas in my life and I butcher the pronunciation of everything on the menu. Lol The torotea creations cannot be altered at all but I get it because they are great the way they are! My favorite drinks I tried were dalgona cloud top koan-im oolong latte, creme brûlée ice milk with brown sugar tapiochi, and jasmine matcha latte. All great and refreshing and my favorite level of sweetness. I just wish the drinks were colder but I also appreciate that they give a lot of tea. I did not like the popcorn milk tea sorry but it was gross kind of tastes like kettle popcorn mildly but overall a no for me not my cup of tea. The matcha duo einspanner was also okay it was just a little too strong for my taste. I would go with any of the other drinks but that popcorn one I could not take more than 1 sip. Just a heads up there will probably be a wait / expect one because each drink is hand crafted slowly and it shows. read more
1 month ago
I was curious to try this place after I heard it was coming to OC! I went during their soft opening and again on their grand opening day. The line was long, but it wasn't too bad, as the workers brought out samples for us to try while we waited in line, which helped us stay hydrated. I tried the popcorn milk tea with tapiochi, as it seemed to be one of their most popular drink combinations. The milk tea had a subtle hint of salted caramel flavor, and the tapiochi had a fun texture that I enjoyed. When I went back during their grand opening, I tried the muscat tea, which was very refreshing on a hot day! The muscat flavor was also subtle enough to taste alongside the tea without being too overpowering or sweet. The space is a little bit small, but the vibe was very cozy and cute. It can get pretty crowded, though. Overall, I like how they have their own unique flavors that complement their teas nicely. I would recommend this place if you're craving tea or milk tea but are looking for a new flavor and texture :) read more
1 month ago
This place is worth the hype! We tried the popcorn tea and crème brûlée and they were delicious! The Creme brûlée is like desert in a cup! read more
1 month ago
I usually order the osmanthus refresher, but I wanted to try something new and was recommended the muscat oolong pure over the passion bloom (location specific) with black tea tapiochi. The muscat flavor was faint, but I'd still rate it 4/5. I prefer the black sugar tapiochia though. I sampled the cassia milk tea which I'm going to get next time. read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
genuinely so happy they opened an OC location! torotea is the only place i like ordering milk tea from! the staff is amazing and hands out samples while in line! i got my usual misty oolong pure tea with passion fruit jelly & popcorn milk tea! i also tried one of their recommended drinks - koan-im oolong milk tea and it's definitely my new favorite! highly recommend this place! read more
12 days ago
10 days ago
3 months ago
I've previously tried the torotea up in Diamond Bar where I tried their popcorn milk tea with brown sugar tapioca, and I absolutely loved it. I came here the day after their grand opening and the service was extremely quick! Everyone was super nice, and I was suggested to try their manor milk tea. They had manor tea as a sample, and I will have to say it was the best tasting straight black tea I've had in a while. My boyfriend also got their Uva milktea, and it wad also a very creamy black milktea that we both enjoyed. We both got their brown sugar tapiochi and it has a great chew and flavor. My boyfriend also got their creme brulee foam and it had a very good roasted/toasty sweet flavor. Manor Milk Tea with brown sugar tapiochi 9/10 Uva Milk Tea with brown sugar tapiochi and creme brulee topping 9.5/10 Tea could be a little stronger/present in the milktea. The regular tea had a very fragant and rich essence to it. read more
2 months ago
I've gone to their original location in Rowland Heights a few times and am so happy to have a location near me! My favorite drink is their mulberry oolong with osmanthus jelly. All the employees were welcoming, friendly, kind, and informative! I've always appreciated the decor inside and the wait was not too long (I also went during non-peak times). Shoutout to the cashier who complimented my Patrick Star keychain and Pikmin tote bag! You made my evening :') read more
1 month ago
Love!! New top 3 drink shops in the area for me. The service is always top notch and super knowledgeable of the menu. I've had the calamansi drink, the muscat store exclusive, a milk tea, and the matcha einspanner. I think the color speaks for itself! I have been making matcha at home but was really craving one during my lunch break. The tea quality is consistently great and is very high quality. If they stay like this, they have a life long customer. read more
1 month ago
First time here. So many choices. I went with one of their most popular drinks and got the Popcorn Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Tapiochi. 5/5! I will definitely return to try their other drinks. read more
2 months ago
More info about Torotea
2860 S Bristol St
Ste E
Santa Ana, CA 92704
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(657) 335-7263
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https://toroteausa.com
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Is there wifi and outlets?
No WiFi, no outlets. This place is designed to rest and relax :)
