CHICHA San Chen 吃茶三千 (Richmond) — Restaurant in Richmond

Visited this place yesterday with high hopes. Unfortunately, my experience was anything but satisfying

The prices were exorbitant for the quality they delivered. Especially the whole branding and store interior design speaks somewhat a premium tea brand (they even have a hardcopy book at the store describing how the tea is farmed, picked and crafted with precision on amount of the tea leaves they use on tea espresso extraction for the most authentic flavors blablabla) and to be honest, tea espresso machines look fancy...

With all that....the taste was far from what I had anticipated. We ordered this oolong tea with mousse cream, asked for less ice and no sugar. The mousse cream itslef was overly sweeten (porbably with simple brown sugar) and the worst is: tea lacked the authentic flavors I've come to expect from oolong tea. With my request of less ice I was expecting a stronger flavor of the tea but IT TASTES JUST LIKE WATER...imagine if you get normal ice....

The customer service was ok. The staffs (there are 4 in such a small shop...)are quite disinterested but it's not a big problem since we wanted some time and space to pick a drink...

Overall, my visit to this tea shop was unsatisfactory, leaving me feeling ripped off and disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone looking for an authentic and enjoyable tea experience. There are plenty of tea shops in Richmond, save...

This is my new favourite bubble tea place when looking for quality tea. Probably not the place if you are into fruit drinks/slushes. I ordered the oolong with mousse and taro balls, and the flavours worked together so well. The natural flavour of the tea is so fragrant and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. The staff measure out tea leaves for each order and each cup is brewed individually! I also can't recommend the mousse enough. It is lightly salted and works so beautifully with the tea. I usually order 30% sugar at other bbt shops but this time tried their "perfect" (regular) sugar and it lived up to its name, was not too sweet. Taro balls were very QQ and the perfect size to have in a drink.

The shop is aesthetic but is cramped and it can be difficult to tell who is lining up to order VS waiting for their drink. They have no menu on the wall, only on the counter in front of the cashier. There is also no area to sit down inside. They offer free 2hr parking if you fill out their form inside.

Update: visited again and seems like they have increased the price of drinks since 6 months ago. Quality of the tea is consistent and good! Still no changes to the line up system or posting of menu elsewhere in the store other than the...

A beautifully designed space — bright, modern, and spotless — with just the right amount of warmth in the atmosphere. From the moment I stepped in, there was the inviting aroma of freshly brewed tea, and the soft lighting made it feel calm yet lively.

I ordered the Dong Ding + Fresh Milk with taro balls, light sweetness, no ice. The tea had a rich, layered fragrance that carried through every sip, smooth and naturally sweet without feeling heavy. The taro balls were cooked perfectly — soft, chewy, and with that subtle earthy flavor that blends seamlessly with the milk tea. The balance between the tea and milk was spot on, letting the natural notes of the oolong shine.

The preparation area was organized and immaculate, with tea leaves and brewing equipment neatly displayed — a small detail, but it says a lot about how much care goes into the drinks. The staff moved with precision and ease, handling orders efficiently while still greeting customers with genuine smiles.

It’s the kind of place where you notice the details: the clean tables, the thoughtful design, the careful sealing of each cup. Everything about the experience felt intentional and...