There's a saying that goes, "Life is better with boba."
Sure, we might've just made that up, but we stand behind the sentiment. Boba, also known as Bubble Tea, is a tea-infused drink from Taiwan. When ordering boba, you usually choose a type of tea, milk, juice or smoothie and then add your choice of topping/sinker. There are several cool spots in Austin to grab some delicious boba tea, and we've highlighted some of our favorite spots in the list below.
Contributed by Keylee Paz
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photo via instagram
1923 E 7th St
One of the newer spots to join the Austin boba scene, Terrazzo Tea, also happens to be one of our favorites. From a variety of jasmine milk teas to matcha slushes, their variety of delish drinks have some creations you have probably dreamt about. They welcome all modifications, as their menu is created with their recs, but you can always adjust to your own liking or even build your own, with the goal of creating the best boba you've ever had!
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photo credit: Do512
1614 East 6th St
East 6th finally has somewhere to get boba! Love Bubble Tea is located right in the middle of things, perfect for an after dinner treat or stop between bar hopping. They serve classic milk teas, fruity blends, and have a variety of toppings to choose from. No worries if you're not sure what you want, they are always extremely helpful and will walk you through all the options, ensuring you end up with your perfect drink!
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Photo via Facebook
10901 N Lamar Blvd, Ste A
Gen Bobabee is definitely one of Austin's hidden gems when it comes to boba. Located in Chinatown, this boba shop offers a wide variety of refreshing teas and sinkers. Their drinks are usually less sweet than most places, giving you the chance to embrace the flavors of your drink. You also have the option to get as many sinkers as you can possibly imagine from their menu. The location is also a cool modern space, so make plans to grab a nice Taro Smoothie with Tapioca Pearls, and sip your drink while enjoying the ambiance.
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Photo via Yelp
10901 N Lamar Blvd
This Vietnamese-inspired boba shop has something for everyone. You can stick with the basic milk and fruit tea flavors, but we recommend you kick it up a notch by trying their signature CHE dessert drinks. It's the best place to get out of your (drink) comfort zone, and we feel like the Awesome Trio, Longan Sunrise and Summer Delight teas are the best ways to do so. Bambu also has one of the best mangonada smoothies in Austin.
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Photo via Yelp
6929 Airport Blvd, Ste 110
With locations in Austin and parts of Dallas, Fruitealicious keeps up with its slogan of "Refreshment Redefined." You can customize your own drinks, whether you want a simple strawberry lemonade with fruit jelly or want to get one of their signature drinks on ice like the El Diablo (a habanero mangonada slush drink). Once you see what they offer, you are going to want to order everything you see.
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Photo via Yelp
1910 Guadalupe St
8557 Research Blvd, Ste 118
Coco's Cafe is definitely the place to go near the UT campus when you are craving some delicious boba. They offer all kinds of teas, juices and unique drinks, as well as a combination of tea smoothies. Unlike some of the other entries on our list, Coco's also offers Taiwanese food options as well. It's also conveniently located in front of a bus stop and a few UT lecture halls, so you can grab some boba before hittin' the road!
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Photo via Facebook
13343 N HWY 183, Ste 275
ShareTea is a cute little spot near Cedar Park that offers everything for your boba needs. We recommend the Hokkaido Pearl Milk Tea (Caramel Toffee) and the Okinawa Pearl Milk Tea (Roasted Brown Sugar). If you're feeling adventurous and fruity, we recommend the Kiwi Fruit Tea with Aiyu Jelly. Besides their yummy classic bubble teas, you can also sub for a nice crema (smoothie) or a delicious Mojito!
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Photo via Yelp
Various Locations
Gong Cha is a chain from Taiwan with three locations in Austin. While they also offer classic boba drinks, everything from their creative series is to die for, as the drinks have the desirable amount of sweetness and a unique combination of ingredients. The best drinks have to be the Lemon Ai-Yu White Pearl drink and the Earl Grey Milk Tea with Pearls, Pudding and Herbal Jelly. Head down to one of their locations ASAP and try one for yourself.
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4607 Bolm Rd
This high-end dessert shop is known for appearing on the Netflix series Queer Eye, as the adorable owner Sarah Lim received a makeover from the Queer Eye members. OMG Squee has a range of gluten-free Asian-American desserts and delicacies, including boba teas made in house. They have a unique set of options, but we recommend trying their Dulce de Leche Caramel Milk Tea if you are looking for something sweet and different.
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Photo via Yelp
While Kung Fu Tea is another chain on the list, their drinks are the best to-go drinks and are all so worth it. Their slush drinks and milk caps are staples, but their best item has to be the Milk Strike, which is your choice of signature Kung Fu tea flavor, your choice of sinker, lactose-free milk, topped with freshly cooked wow bubbles (Oreo, Red Bean, or Herbal Jelly). They also have seasonal drinks that change often.
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Photo via Facebook
2002 Guadalupe St, Ste B
Yet another UT classic Boba stop, K-Bop is the rival shop to Coco's, but we cannot deny that their bubble teas are just as mouthwatering. They specialize in Frozen Bubble Teas, which are just your choice of tea and topping served frozen manner. Order a nice Spicy Chicken Bulgogi and a Frozen Lavender Milk Tea with Lychee, and you'll be golden.
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Photo via Tea Cup
1725 E Riverside Dr, Ste B
709 E Slaughter Ln
Tea Cup Boba House is conveniently located on busy Riverside as well as a new location on Slaughter, and is home to everyone's favorite classic boba teas. You can either choose from their variety of Milk Tea flavors like Oolong and Matcha Latte or get a yummy fruit tea flavor like their Strawberry Green Tea or Passionfruit Green tea! Add your choice of sinker and call it a day.
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EVEN MORE BOBA IN AUSTIN:
500 E Ben White Blvd
609 Clayton Ln
2525 W Anderson Ln
1906 Guadalupe
Various Locations
4211 S Lamar Blvd
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Did we miss your favorite?
