2025 Portland Top 10 Boba Shops đ”âš | Hidden Grape Boba Bonus!
Portlandâs boba scene isnât the most crowded, but it took me ages to round up these solid picksâat least there are good options to satisfy your craving! đ Top 10 Boba Spots You Need to Try 1. Bamboo Boba | Jasmine Milk Green Tea Is Chefâs Kiss, $5 for Happiness This new spot is a total dark horse in Portlandâs boba world! Their Jasmine Milk Green Tea is a mustâ the tea tastes as fresh as spring bamboo groves, paired with rich (but not greasy) fresh milk. They use high-mountain jasmine green tea from Fujian, so every sip has a faint orchid aroma. The boba is cooked perfectlyâchewy with a hint of caramel sweetness. At $5 a cup, the value canât be beaten! Just a heads-up: other drinks like strawberry milk foam are too sweet (ask for âhalf sugarâ if you order them) đ . 2. Chicha San Chen | Taro Lovers Rejoice, But Itâs Less âWowâ Than Before The best chain boba in Portland! I had such high hopes at first, but lately it feels less fragrant than it used toâguess âyou donât cherish what you getâ rings true đ. Their taro series is still a winner: Taro Milk Tea has thick, velvety taro puree that coats the cup, mixing with milk like a dessert. The Lishan Oolong with Cheese Foam uses Taiwanese Lishan oolong as the base; the salty-sweet cheese foam balances the teaâs aroma perfectly. Stick to classicsânew fruit teas are hit-or-miss. 3. The Lime Stand | Lemon Tea for Busy Bees, Sweet & Refreshing This lemon tea specialist opened less than a year ago, and their The Winginâ It is a bestseller! They muddle fresh bergamot lemons on the spot, paired with Ceylon black teaâtangy, fragrant, and on the sweet side, but so refreshing. The only downside: the portion is small for $7, so itâs better for an occasional treat đ. 4. Bubble N Tea | Iconic Short Wide Cup, $6 & Loved Since High School This old favorite has been around since my high school daysâits short wide cup is totally iconic! Their Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea is reliable: the brown sugar is simmered fresh, the boba has a caramel kick, and even though it uses non-dairy creamer, itâs cheap and filling. Itâs not mind-blowing, but at $6 (only a $1 price hike after all these years!), itâs hard to beat in Portland đ„€. 5. Happy Lemon | Honey Lemon Tea Is a Winnerâ0% Sugar Is Still Sweet! Donât miss their Freshly Squeezed Honey Lemon Jasmine Green Tea! The honey adds natural sweetness, so even 0% sugar is plenty sweet. The jasmine green tea is light and refreshingâperfect for chugging on a hot day. Skip the salty cheese foam drinks thoughâtheyâre too salty for most tastes đ. 6. Auntea HA | Tea Lovers Will Obsess, $6 for âCha Yan Yue Seâ Vibes They focus on pure tea + fresh milkâtry their Osmanthus Oolong Milk Tea! The osmanthus aroma is strong, the oolong base is rich, and they use Oatly oat milk (great for lactose-intolerant folks). The only downside: there are few locations, so check their hours before heading over đŒ. 7. Boba Cat | Grows on YouâOrdinary at First, Addictive Later Their Brown Sugar Dirty Milk is the star: the brown sugar drizzles look beautiful on the cup, the boba is soft and chewy, and they use whole milk for a rich texture. It tastes âmehâ at first, but after a few sips, youâll get hooked. At $6â$7, itâs a solid pick đ». 8. Yins Tea | Insomniacs BewareâTea Is Super Strong! Their High-Mountain Oolong is a âtea bombâ! They use Alishan oolong from Taiwanâ the tea is dark amber, slightly bitter with a sweet aftertaste. Drink this, and youâll be wide awake all night đ. Pair it with cheese foam to balance the bitterness. 9. T4 | Boba + Fried Chicken = Double Happiness Their golden fried chicken is a mustâcrispy outside, juicy inside, and spicy if you add chili flakes! For boba, go with their Classic Boba Milk Tea: light tea base, chewy boba, nothing fancy. Itâs average, but with so many locations, itâs convenient for a quick pick-me-up đ. 10. Sharetea | Convenient for Indecisives, $6 & Everywhere Their Classic Boba Milk Tea is reliable: Ceylon black tea base, boba cooked just right, and lots of sugar options. Itâs not unique, but at $6 and with locations all over Portland, itâs perfect when youâre in a hurry đ¶ââïž. đ Bonus Hidden Gem: The One BBQâs Grape Boba This BBQ jointâs (Grape Boba) is a total sleeper hit in Portlandâs boba game! They blend hand-peeled Kyoho grapes with spring green tea into a slush, topped with thick cheese foam. Every sip has whole grape chunksâsweet, tangy, and refreshing. At $6, itâs a steal! Pair it with BBQ to cut through the greaseâchefâs kiss đ„. đŁ Boba Fails to Avoid Bamboo Bobaâs Strawberry Milk Foam: Heavy artificial flavor, overly sweet strawberry syrup. Chicha San Chenâs New Fruit Teas: Unfresh fruit, weak tea base. The Lime Standâs Other Drinks: Only their signature lemon tea is goodâmango slush, etc., are mediocre. #PortlandBoba #2025BobaGuide #PortlandEats #BobaLovers