Boba Guys

10/9/2016

Boba guys like a lot of the stores on Valencia, has great ingredients like Strauss milk and grade A tea. You really get what you pay for!

My favorites are the lychee milk tea, lavender-rose milk tea, and currently my most favorite Hojichaa (roasted milk tea). Yummm :).

Their Belgium waffles are so good too, when you bite into them they have pieces of sugar crystals and it tastes supa buttery+sweet.

It is a bit on the pricey side, but as I mentioned before, they have the best ingredients and you really can't complain if you want the best, right?

Shout out to the tall Asian guy and the boba guys team, keep doing your thaang!!

9/24/2016

• 1 check-in

i ordered the coconut milk tea with almond jelly. bad combo
the line was a million miles long.
i don't get all the hype, but i'm glad to see boba going mainstream ^^
Ps. Parking around here is reddick

9/15/2016

Overpriced and simply not very good.

Saw an article this week in SF Gate about these guys so had to come try them out for myself. Tiny little place with line out the door looked promising but didn't deliver.

I ordered the Thai Iced Tea with boba. The tea was pretty good and made with organic Strauss milk. They definitely take pride in using good, quality ingredients. However, maybe I was there on a bad day because whoever cooked up the batch of boba clearly never checked that it was cooked through. Nothing worse than biting into a boba to find it hard in the center like partially cooked pasta. No matter how good the tea was, it didn't make up for the awful texture of the boba. Definitely not worth the trip out to the Mission.

Sorry guys but you can't call yourself the Boba Guys and post up signs about your "Grade-A Balls" if the boba you serve is not even cooked all the way through.

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  Boba was awful--hard in the center and not cooked all the way through. Sorry but Grade D Balls served here.

  Boba was awful--hard in the center and not cooked all the way through. Sorry but Grade D Balls served here.

9/13/2016

• 3 check-ins

Boba Guys is the only boba shop in the Mission, so the line is often pretty long. Weekend afternoons/nights are the worst.

I'd say the sweetness is similar to the average boba tea, but I always get 25% sweetness because I don't like it that sweet. Boba is softer rather than firmer (which I like).

They don't have a huge variety of drinks, but in a way it makes it seem more "high-class" and easy to choose. Before you order, make sure to check out the seasonal flavors on the side of the ordering counter. I usually end up picking some fruity flavor from there (strawberry jasmine tea fresca, strawberry matcha, and peach green tea were all great).

Overall, it's a bit expensive for the price ($4-5), but if you're here, you probably don't have an easy alternative. At least you can Instagram a hipster pic of your tea on the pretty patterned wall outside.

Note: Watch your step at the entrance. You can tell there were originally yellow markings to show that there's a step there, but it's worn off over time. They should probably repaint it!

10/19/2016

• 1 check-in

hmmm... i forgot what i ordered. But the drink was A-ok, nothing different from all the boba places. Friendly staff.

8/23/2016

• 1 check-in

I love me some boba. Always. And after seeing soOooOO many photos on social media, I knew I had to try it when I visited SF.

I went here twice. I was THAT obsessed. The store itself is quite small and only offers a bar-countertop with just 4 stools available for seating. So if you plan to sit around to do do any work, this is not the place to do that. The line can get long and extend outside, but it does move pretty quick.

[[Iced Matcha Latte with Boba]] Lately, I have been obsessed with anything matcha, so this drink was definitely calling my name. The matcha was smooth, bold, and not chalky. I absolutely hate it when matcha drinks are chalky. Yuck! The boba was soft and chewy; a little sweet, but not too bland either. Add-ons are an extra 50 cents, but so worth it!

The first time I went, I didn't have them change the sweetness level and kept it at 100%. Now I am one to usually take my drinks pretty sweet. But this was just way too sweet. So the 2nd time I went, I had them knock it down to 75% and it was a little better. The next time I go, I think I'll do 50% sweetness.

You can choose from regular milk, almond, or soy milk you won't get charged extra! Sweet!

It is a bit pricey here. If I remember correctly it was around $5 for the 24 oz. However, the pricing is reflected in the quality ingredients, so it's definitely worth it.

My first time here, I drove, so I was lucky enough to find a spot (metered, of course) within a 5 minute walking distance. The second time, I Uber-ed it so no need to pay for parking, yay!

I am hoping that Boba Guys will one day open in Orange County because I will be all over that shiz.

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  Matcha green tea

  Matcha green tea

8/19/2016

• 1 check-in

Good stuff.

A few of my friends and I were itching for boba, so we stopped by Boba Guys on a Sunday afternoon. There was a short line, probably about 10 minutes or so. I ordered the Iced Matcha Latte with almond milk (at no additional charge, pretty neat) and quite enjoyed it. The matcha flavor is bold and full-bodied, but not too overpowering over the almond milk. The honey came through very nicely and was a tasty, untraditional touch. A bit pricey, but that's definitely reflected in the quality ingredients. Would come back.

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  iced matcha latte with almond milk

  iced matcha latte with almond milk

8/8/2016

• 1 check-in

• Listed in 2016 Yelp 100 Review Challenge, 2016: Bay Area Shenanigans, #BOBALIFE

ERRR. Not worth the hype, TBH.

Waited in line for around 20 minutes and was super excited since everyone seemed to be enjoying their drinks.

We ordered:
-1 16 oz. iced Jasmine Milk Tea without toppings, organic milk, 25% sugar // Asked for no ice, still got ice. Jasmine tea flavor is super faint- overpowered by milk (at least 2/3 of the cup was milk instead). Also, organic milk tasted more like soymilk since it wasn't rich or creamy at all....a 1/5 drink.

-1 16 oz. iced HK Style Milk Tea with pearls, organic milk, 50% sugar // Condensed milk overkill- can't imagine what it would be if it was 100% sweetness! There was barely any boba and the boba was too stiff- not soft at all. It says "blended with condensed milk"...felt like I was eating straight out of the jar myself.

Pros:
+Fast service. Waited in line for 20 minutes, ordered in 1 minute, got the drink in 2 minutes.
+Cute concept. Cute ant-eater, crisp interior. Good selection of basics on the menu!

Cons:
-Meh service. Lady looked piss the whole time...good thing I didn't tip.
-Pricey. $8 for two drinks? I would rather spend my $8 on a cream tart at Tartine's.

Tips/Observations:
-Why don't they have a stamp card system? Not that I would want one..but I'm sure there are die-hard fans here.
-Small space. Definitely grab and go unless you manage to steal a spot by the window.
-What is their signature drink here?

Overall, not impressed. They can't even get the basic teas right....not even sure what more to expect.

Nice try, Boba Guys. May attempt to get it again at a different location...and try their swirly pink drink.

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  Jasmine Milk tea

  Jasmine Milk tea
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  HK style with boba

  HK style with boba
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• See all photos from Hurjane V. for Boba Guys

9/27/2016 Updated review

• 1 check-in

• Listed in Bay Area Food & Dessert

I'm sorry for not returning sooner, Boba Guys!! Make sure you check the specials listed next to the register, there are some really yummy options...I wanted them all! I decided on the Matchata - matcha plus horchata. It's really good, tastes a little more horchata than matcha but you can still taste all the flavors. I also tried a regular milk tea but the flavor is really strong, I like it! Not watery at all. I'd definitely get either drink again but next time I'll have to go for that strawberry matcha!

10/20/2016

Quality over quantity at this little boba place. They don't have the crazy number of flavored teas, but what they do have is authentic and and fresh. The boba was great as well. Popular place in the Mission so expect a line at peak boba times, but service was very fast so you get your tea pretty much right after you order it.

10/7/2016

• 1 check-in

This was one of my and Kat C.'s last stops in our bobadventures. And this was the one that I was most excited about. I ordered their early grey milk tea with boba. It was a dream come true. It was seriously one of my favorite boba drinks of all time. The tea is milky but not too sweet, and the honey boba had the perfect amount of sweetness, warmth, and chew. It's probably a good thing that I don't live nearby because I'd probably be here every single day!

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  amazing

  amazing

8/14/2016

This is my second time at Boba Guys. The first time, I got the matcha latte with pearls. I didn't enjoy it too much, but that's probably because I don't like matcha very much.

This time around, I got the HK-style tea with pearls at 50% sweetness. I was pretty unimpressed. I didn't taste any of the condensed milk, which was also why I lowered the sweetness. I spent $4.25 for a regular-sized drink that, in my opinion, did not taste unique at all. Lines were also insane and parking impossible. However, drinks came out very quickly once we placed our orders.

I had a taste of the horchata tea and it didn't seem too special either. I prefer real horchata that costs a fraction of the price! I don't think I'll be back - I've effectively tasted three of their most popular drinks and have been dissatisfied with all of them.

8/12/2016

I fell in love today ... with boba :'). Growing up in the Bay Area I've tried a lot of different boba places in my life but Boba Guys by far tops most other places I've been to.

Ordered the rose black tea and horchata boba with pearls. The rose black tea was good but would have tasted better if I'd chosen a higher level of sweetness (75% instead of 50%). By itself the black tea would only garner 3.5 stars but oh my gosh the horchata boba (100% sweetness) was heavenly. It was THAT good. The cinnamon flavor was on point and the boba was soft and chewy. Who would have thought that horchata would go so well with boba??

Overall definitely worth the wait. Also the interior is beautifully minimalistic. Will be back for sure!

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  Can you spell basic??

  Can you spell basic??

8/22/2016 Updated review

• 2 check-ins

I'm obsessed over their strawberry matcha latte with almond jelly in the 16 oz. the ratio of matcha to strawberry puree in the 24 oz isn't as well balanced , I think.

8/1/2016

The sign outside welcomed customers with, "come in and try our grade-A balls." I gave their jasmine tea a shot. You have the option of choosing a topping, type of milk, and sweetness. 50% sweetness was enough to taste the jasmine flavor with a kick of sugar. I have to be honest, the milk tea looked equivalent to murky swamp water. It looked displeasing at first, but after the first sip, it tasted just all right. I think all the hype is mainly about their so-called "grade-A balls." The consistency was sweet and chewy, aka any typical description of tapioca balls.

Maybe it's the location, but the standards of this boba guys is mediocre.

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  Watered down Jasmine milk tea.

  Watered down Jasmine milk tea.

10/15/2016

Even though the wait was a little long (on a Saturday sunny afternoon), I thought that this is a great spot! You can definitely taste the overall high quality ingredients that they use. Yes it is pricier, but the tea is great and you can add a combination of add-ons for a fixed price. I love experimenting with lychee jelly, almond jelly, and boba and this is the spot to indulge in all three. They also have very unique flavors for the more adventurous!

9/9/2016

• 1 check-in

Woooo this is the 3rd Boba Guys location that I've tried. And the drinks have been pretty consistent across the different stores. I always get the Strawberry Matcha Latte. The flavors go so well together and the honey boba that they use is amazing (you can taste the honey)! As pretty as the drink is when they first hand it to you, make sure you stir it up before you drink it. I gave this place 4 stars instead of 5 just because the level of sweetness seemed off to me. I wish the drink was sweeter....but that's probably just personal bias. Still very good, though! Highly recommend trying out the Strawberry Matcha Latte--you'll be hooked!

The line can get long here but they're very efficient and it moves quite fast!

5/24/2016

• 1 check-in

Although I'm someone who avoids carb-y fillers like boba, I couldn't stay away from the boba at Boba Guys. I was told that their drinks were delicious, and that their boba was soft and chewy.

These balls were supple, and released honey-like flavor while being mashed by your teeth. The concoctions are refreshing, with a little adventurous kick (Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte to Horchata to Lavender Black Milk tea etc).

Way to incorporate various cultural flavors to create one perfect cup.

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  Strawberry matcha and coffee + some sort of jelly

  Strawberry matcha and coffee + some sort of jelly

6/25/2016

• 12 check-ins

As a young professional, caffeine is what gets me through the day, but coffee is too strong and eventually makes me crash. So, my favorite afternoon pick-me-up is tea from Boba Guys. I'm already obsessed with the Lychee Rose, which I'll have with or without soy milk and with little to no sugar.

Of course, Boba Guys have great staples like standard milk tea, Hong Kong style milk tea, and matcha green tea. Tea has countless health benefits, and tastes great. One important note is that I love unsweetened bitter tea. It is super refreshing.

If you've never had a milk tea, give it a try. It you are a regular, Boba Guys will give you high quality drinks at a reasonable price!

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  My addition is real, y'all. Lychee rose tea. Yum!

  My addition is real, y'all. Lychee rose tea. Yum!

7/12/2016

I've tried the other Boba Guys place (the one on Stockton St.) and I have to say I prefer that one more.

This place is so small, it doesn't have any seating area. The other place was slightly bigger with a few chairs.

The pearls at any BG is the BEST though! Best texture (firm and chewy) out of any PMT place. Sadly, I couldn't give it 5 stars because my matcha latte wasn't mixed at all (the sugar syrup was at the bottom) and the dirty horchata was so bitter. It didn't even taste like horchata anymore.

I love their idea though with the organic milk and clean products. Definitely worth a try in SF! Go to the other one (approx. 1 mile away) if you can...I've also seen the co-founder/business owner at the other one and he was so nice!

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  Top left: Classic milk tea (good) Bottom left: dirty horchata (not good) Right: matcha green latte (good but make sure to mix it well)

  Top left: Classic milk tea (good) Bottom left: dirty horchata (not good) Right: matcha green latte (good but make sure to mix it well)
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  Inside (this pic is basically most of the store)

  Inside (this pic is basically most of the store)