Think you’re a boba aficionado? Welcome to Orange County. Our area is known for its outstanding bubble tea scene and The Irvine Ranch remains a leader in must try boba shops.
It all began in 1999, when Cha for Tea set the standard for outstanding Taiwanese-style bubble tea. Over the decades, numerous specialty beverage shops popped up around the area. But, competition remains fierce. Orange County is one of the most concentrated places for the best boba in America.
From delicate jasmine green tea with tapioca pearls to ice blended fruity concoctions made to order, there’s a plethora of options. Have you tried them all? Check out this list of must-try boba shops:
CHA FOR TEA
Since 1999, Cha for Tea at University Center remains one of the best specialty boba tea shops in Orange County. It’s popular with UC Irvine college students and remains a gathering spot for local school fundraisers. Its sister location at Woodbridge Village Center remains a neighborhood staple for families. Cha is a featured Kid Pick and teenagers enjoy Cha’s proximity to the AMC Woodbridge movie theater. Younger children like sipping boba as they stroll around the nearby lake where flocks of geese and turtles bask atop rocks near Barranca Parkway.
The mango green iced tea and jasmine honey milk tea with boba have remained popular over the years. Cha’s Taiwanese-style crispy chicken is another standout snack perfect for enjoying outside.
– Jenn Tanaka
OMOMO TEA SHOPPE
OMOMO Tea Shoppe at Walnut Village Center is known for its extremely photogenic, refreshing beverages. Don’t get deterred by the line of people waiting to order out front. At this extremely popular boba destination, the wait is worth it. The non-caffeinated grapefruit smash blends fresh citrus fruit into a slushy concoction. It actually tastes healthy, especially if you opt for this drink without boba. The mango tornado combines fresh mango chunks with OMOMO’s signature cheese foam.
The decadent avocado smash tastes like a creamy dessert from southeast Asia. Layered with fresh strawberries and brown sugar sweetened boba, the beverage gets even better when you add custard pudding to it. The menu includes classic milk tea and more exotic blends like matcha mixed with oreos.
– Jenn Tanaka
Walnut Village Center
14433 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92604
HNTEA
HNTea at Alton Retail Center is laser focused on teas. And not just any tea. The shop prides itself on U.S.D.A. certified organic tea, whose flavor characteristics are described with a sommelier-worthy list of adjectives including “woody” and “earthy.” If HNTea’s dedication to quality isn’t already evident, check out the brand’s name: the “H” stands for “Healthy” and “N” for “Natural.”
This is a true tea lover’s shop, but it also offers innovative and playful drink concoctions. One of the most popular creations is a peach and passion fruit blend with jasmine green tea. It sips like a refreshing tropical tiki drink that you can enjoy poolside while the decadent Rock Swirl with boba is made with Mountain Rock black tea. But what sets the latter apart from other brown sugar boba milk teas is the savory cheese foam. The salty topping balances the drink’s sweetness, while at the same time enriching it.
– Edwin Goei
Alton Retail Center
15366 Alton Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92618
BOPOMOFO CAFE
Bopomofo at Alton Square opened March 2025. The popular chain was launched by Philip Wang, co-founder of YouTube sensation Wong Fu Productions. Bopomofo fans have lined up for its bubble teas ever since the first store opened in San Gabriel. This is the brand’s fifth location.
Visitors should come to Bopomofo thirsty, and also hungry. It’s home to the Nori Fish Sandwich, which was recently featured on the Los Angeles Times’ list of best fried fish sandwiches. There’s an excellent rendition of popcorn chicken, a boba shop staple, which you can enjoy as a combo bento box for lunch. For drinks, try the best selling Ba-La, a three-layered concoction of guava nectar, lactose-free milk, and matcha that resembles the Italian flag in a cup.
– Edwin Goei
Alton Square
5365 Alton Pkwy. Suite G, Irvine, CA 92604
HEYTEA
With its clean concrete surfaces and stark gray motifs, HeyTea at Harvard Place Shopping Center feels so artistically austere it could double as a study in Brutalist design. That modern sensibility extends to the drinks. And the one that put the company on the map is the signature “Cheese Tea,” which combines strong tea with a rich, frothy salted cream-cheese foam. It turned a tiny shop in a Guangdong alley into a global brand with more than 4,000 stores worldwide.
Don’t want caffeine? Try the grape boom or coconut mango boom featuring chunks of silken mango with coconut milk layered with tiny sago pearls and chunks of coconut-milk jelly.
Does it sound more like a meal? Yes.
Should you order it? Absolutely.
– Edwin Goei
Harvard Place Shopping Center
17595 Harvard Ave. #E, Irvine, CA, 92614
MACU TEA
Macu Tea at Sand Canyon Plaza is part of an international chain that was founded in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2008. Since then, Macu Tea has grown to over 400 stores worldwide, including this one in Irvine.
The most popular drinks are listed on a tiered wooden shelf. At the top is a beverage appropriately called the “King of Mango Smoothie.” As you take your first sip, it tastes like you’re drinking a mango cheesecake. Macu takes pride in using only freshly sliced whole mangoes. The drink is blended with coconut milk, grapefruit pulp, and a layer of green tea jelly. If you walk here from the nearby office parks, the shop offers you an innovative fabric sling (or a fashionable insulated bag) to carry your drinks to-go.
– Edwin Goei
Sand Canyon Plaza
6608 Irvine Center Dr., Irvine, CA 92618
MIXUE ICE CREAM & TEA
Mixue Ice Cream & Tea offers a wide array of drink options. From vanilla soft serve floats to a refreshing grape drink topped with taro balls, Mixue specializes in dessert-style concoctions, and regulars learn to modify their orders to their liking. An icy grape beverage gets even better when adding coconut jelly. While the strawberry green tea and tart lemonade remain best sellers. Visitors modify sugar levels and can adjust how much ice is added. For guests with a real sweet tooth, there’s even the option of adjusting the drink’s sugar level to 200%. The shop’s location near Quail Hill Trailhead makes it a sweet post-hike destination.
Quail Hill Shopping Center
6785 Quail Hill Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92603
REDSTRAW TEA BAR
Redstraw Tea Bar was founded in 2018 by Lauren and Denny Yi. Inspired by their own love for specialty teas, the couple opened shops across the southland focused on premium brewed teas. Their Irvine location at Cypress Village Shopping Center welcomed visitors in late 2019. The shop serves Redstraw’s signature jasmine green tea with boba. The ceremonial matcha and peach bellini blend of aromatic black tea with mango and lychee, remains a top seller. The shop’s proximity to Jeffrey Road and the 5 freeway also make it a convenient stop after trekking the Jeffrey Open Space Trail.
Cypress Village Shopping Center
14031 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA 92620
THE ALLEY
The Alley, which is situated near the Regal Irvine Spectrum theater, opened in 2020. It’s become a popular stop for moviegoers looking to pick up an icy drink before or after the show. Shoppers also swing by The Alley’s small shop for a mid-shopping refreshment. The cafe focuses solely on beverages, including a variety of tea-based drinks that pair well with brown sugar boba. The most popular sweet drink is the brown sugar deerioca crème brûlée milk tea. Ice blended smoothies like the fan favorite snow velvet mango smoothie also remain popular with kids of all ages, especially visitors seeking a tea alternative.
Irvine Spectrum Center
507 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, CA 92618
HAPPY LEMON
Happy Lemon at Fashion Island and The Market Place is known for two things: lemon-infused iced teas and warm “bubble” waffles. At both locations, guests also enjoy the blended lemon slushies, which are served with strawberry puree or fresh mango. The refreshing beverages remain popular for guests to enjoy while they sip and shop around the centers. Guests can modify the sweetness of the drinks and add boba or other additions to their liking.
Occasionally, Happy Lemon hosts collabs with popular characters. A recent release featured Genshin Impact, which was awarded the Game Award for Best Mobile Game. The shop offered special collectible bags to entice fans to visit and purchase flavors inspired by the game. Check the shop’s social media at @happylemon.usa for new releases.
Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Dr. #A110A, Newport Beach, CA 92620
The Market Place
2957 El Camino Real, Tustin, A 92782
CLASS 302 TEA CAFE
Class 302 Tea Cafe at The Market Place features a build-your-own-boba concept, allowing visitors to customize their own concoctions with a selection of green milk teas, fruit juices, coffees, and slushies. Customers can mix and match their tea bases with an array of toppings ranging from classic brown sugar boba to fruit-flavored jellies.
A variety of beverages include a velvety matcha brulee and white peach green tea, which is a pleasant blend of subtle earthiness and fruity, fragrant sweetness. Enhance the drink with lychee jelly and strawberry popping boba.
Growing up in Irvine, Class 302 was a staple of my childhood. Whether I was stopping by for an after-school snack, or in need of a sweet treat after running errands at Target with my mom. Years later, it remains my go-to spot for a refreshing cup of boba.
– Sarah Murdaah, UC Irvine student
The Market Place
13252 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, CA 92602
