What you need to know about boba and the best places you can find it.
Hear me out. Boba isn’t for everybody. It just can’t be. And while it hurts to admit that detrimental flaw, I understand that there are only a handful of people capable of enjoying it. I refer to them as “bobaholics” because I know from experience what this addiction entails.
Boba refers to tiny, orb-like pearls made of tapioca starch that comes from the cassava root. They are usually present at the bottom of bubble tea. The drink originated in Taiwan in the ‘80s and has become extremely popular worldwide. One of its most liked qualities is the fact that it is vegan-friendly. Today, there are many drink options you can pair with boba, including teas, slushies, milkshakes, and icees.
As a bobaholic, here are my three favorite boba shops you can visit near the Azusa area.
Cafe Bungalow by Bon Appetea
Want a place that emphasizes a chic and modern vibe? Cafe Bungalow is the go-to spot for hanging out with friends, studying, or playing board games. This boba shop features an adorable dining room with booths and small pub tables. Along the walls, you will find square mirrors and a simple shade of white that adds to the elegantly modern aesthetic. What makes this shop unique is its fun tabletop games such as Jenga or Connect Four that are free for customers to enjoy.
The restaurant’s menu includes tea, coffee, smoothies, and blended juices that pair perfectly with a topping of boba. In addition to their tasty drink selections, Cafe Bungalow offers a wide range of food options centered around Asian cuisine. One of my favorite snacks is the popcorn chicken, which you can also order as a meal that comes with a rice plate. Other popular options include fried tofu, teriyaki chicken, egg, spam, and cheese noodles, and a curry chicken salad.
As an independent restaurant chain, Cafe Bungalow only resides in Azusa, Calif., just across the street from Azusa Pacific University (APU). I give it a huge thumbs up, and I’m certainly grateful it’s less than a five-minute walk from my living area. Follow their Instagram @cafebungalow to learn more.
Boba Fiend Tea House
Boba Fiend Tea House (BFTH) is a newer spot in the Azusa area. Like Cafe Bungalow, the shop is within walking distance from APU, making it another convenient location to order boba. Although it has been open for only four months, BFTH remains busy. There has never been a moment where I was the sole customer inside.
I’ll immediately let you know that the selection here is impressive. I have now made it a point to try something new with each visit, which happens to be about once a week. From their brown sugar milk tea to their pineapple strawberry slushie, there’s really no bad option.
BFTH prioritizes a “drink-only” menu, meaning they don’t sell food. But the options are endless. I find it especially easy to view their menu online, which shows all drink categories and what types of toppings they offer. Toppings include boba, egg pudding, red bean, lychee jelly, aloe vera, rainbow jelly, mango jelly, green apple jelly, passion fruit jelly, and blended oreos.
The chain also serves what they call “specialteas.” These options are unique and quite fascinating. One example is the Arnold Fiender, the company’s version of an Arnold Palmer with kumquat, passion fruit, and lychee. Another interesting option is the Sly Slush, which is a slushie made with strawberries, lychee, and yogurt. For this drink, in particular, BFTH says, “This slush may make you crave KBBQ.”
In addition to their exquisite menu, BFTH offers unique drink sizes. These include like, love, and fiend, resembling a small, medium, and large. But I find their like size to be larger than what the average boba shop offers. It’s a great choice for the simple price you pay.
While BFTH capitalizes on serving amazing drinks, I look forward to them expanding their dining area. It is small and there are only two tables accompanied by two chairs. This is unfortunate because I usually visit with multiple friends, but we don’t stay because there is limited seating.
To learn more about BFTH, you can visit their Instagram @bobafiendofficial or check out their website at www.bobafiendteahouse.com/.
Boba Tea Lounge
Imagine the most outrageous cereal, mix it with your favorite milkshake flavor, and then add a heap of boba, and you’d be picturing a standard drink at Boba Tea Lounge in Covina, Calif. This boba shop, by far, carries the craziest flavors imaginable. While it comes in clutch if you’re in the area, it’s a bit much in my opinion.
Boba Tea Lounge is one of the original boba shops that serves cereal in a drink. The idea is cool, don’t get me wrong, but upon that first initial sip, the sugar levels are off the charts. I’m talking sweeter than the frosting your grandmother would put on your birthday cupcakes when you were five.
Some of their signature cereal shakes include Cap n’ Crunch, Cookie Crisp, Trix, and Reese’s Puffs. They have over 15 cereal flavors you can choose from. Other wacky options include candy shakes such as Twix, Kit Kat, Snickers, Butterfinger, and M and M.
Aside from their wide selection of drinks, Boba Tea Lounge also offers food. Similar to Cafe Bungalow, most of the options are tailored to Asian cuisine, with a small number of American foods such as french fries, chicken wings, or tater tots. One of their more popular items available is the spam musubi.
Due to COVID-19, there is no available seating inside, as the restaurant remains cautious. But upon walking in, you can’t miss the arcade games along the wall that are fun to play while waiting for your order. Another fun aspect of the shop is the pictures along the wall that display some of the more popular drink options on the menu. They help give a visual of what the drink will look like.
I recommend Boba Tea Lounge to those with an eager sweet tooth. To view some of their outrageous options, follow their Instagram @boba_tea_lounge
The Beat @APU 