Gong Cha — Restaurant in Vancouver

Boba that’s on the pricier side (depending on what you get), but is worth the money and makes for a good treat every once in a while! Conveniently, this Gong Cha branch is also right next to the Renfrew Skytrain station, making it pretty accessible by transit.

As of writing this review, I’ve only been to Gong Cha twice. However, I’ve been satisfied with the drinks I’ve tried so far and see future visits happening!

For my most recent visit, I got the Crème Brûlée Strawberry Latté with Regular Pearls, and it was light and smooth while also being just the right amount of sweet and strawberry-flavoured. On the top, there was some milk foam, which has a slightly saltier, almost cheesier flavour to it- sounds a little odd, but I found it quite tasty! The creme brûlée part was delicious- I expected it to just be a little sweet and crunchy, but some strong flavour came through, which was a great surprise! I tend to avoid non fruit-tea drinks, as usually I experience some bloating/uncomfortable fullness, but Gong Cha’s latté and milk tea options don’t cause that- something I’m grateful for :)

The Strawberry Cookie Milk Tea my sister got was really good too- strong in flavour but not overpowering, with the Oreo crumbs adding to the flavour of the drink in a good way. Thankfully not too sweet, which was something we were worried about!

The only “real” slight point of constructive criticism we had was that the pearls seemed to be on the smaller side today, but the texture and flavour was still there so it wasn’t a big deal, we understand that they can vary. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This particular Gong Cha location also offers food (Corndogs, Bubble Waffle, the viral cheese coin from a while back, even ice cream??), and has a little gacha machine in the corner, with the gacha ranging from $2-4 for a spin. Overall, the space is kept nice and tidy, and would probably make a good study spot for students. Their menu is extensive, so I imagine everyone can find something...

I have no words to explain how horrible my experience was at Gong Cha Renfrew. The WORST customer service I have ever experienced in my life. I went there Sunday evening after a long week of work to get a Taro Smoothie with pearls. I went in and the girl at the till made me wait at least 5 minutes before even acknowledging me. I definitely understand that it can be overwhelming with UberEats or Skip the Dishes app orders coming in, but by the time it was my turn, she was very rude and unfriendly. Then I waited a really long time for my drink to come. The woman that came after me was served before me and she had pearls in her drink. The person making the drinks also made at least 10 other drinks with pearls that were ordered through apps before my order was even started. By the time they were starting on mine, THEY RAN OUT OF PEARLS. I was so upset and frustrated because I waited for so long. They asked that I choose a different topping but I had requested a refund because I just wanted to go home. They wouldn't allow for it but I insisted until they did. Finally the girl that was "helping" me initially agreed to giving me a refund. A man came to the till to issue me a refund but then said I didn't need to tap my card even though I paid with a debit card. I told him that is not normal for any refund transaction and that if he was correct, to give me a receipt. This man and the girl were scrambling with the machine and then suggested refunding me in cash... UNBELIEVABLE! They were going to cheat me out of a refund. I even checked my bank account and no money ever came back in. I was so angry and upset that I left crying. I don't normally complain because I know that it can be really difficult working in these environments but to have this type of service was absolutely unacceptable. 100% WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS...

We enjoyed checking out Gong Cha Renfrew for a special Yelp Elite Event! 🎉 This location is super convenient — right across from the Renfrew SkyTrain Station — making it an easy stop for a bubble tea fix.

We received a complimentary drink and snack as part of the event. We chose their most popular items!

🥤Milk Tea with Grass Jelly I always go for 50% sugar & 50% ice—the perfect balance for me! The milk tea was smooth and creamy, but the grass jelly was a little too soft for my taste. I was hoping for a stronger herbal kick!

🧇 Matcha Bubble Waffle It was crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and packed with matcha flavour - Just how we like it! It was as good as ever.

Their seasonal drinks looked tempting. We also grabbed a Strawberry Matcha with Milk Foam 🍓🍵 — WOW! It was super refreshing! The added strawberry jelly gave it a nice fruity touch. Making it onto our favourites list.

💡 A little feedback: While I loved the variety, their promo posters were everywhere — if we counted right, there were 18 posters around the counter! 🤯 It felt a little overwhelming. Maybe focusing on just a few key promos would make browsing easier for customers.

🙌 Huge thanks to Gong Cha Renfrew for hosting such a fun event! And a shoutout to CM Anushka for the great organization and the handy Yelp Elite swag (a Cellphone Silicone Suction Cup Phone Mount - pretty cool!).

We are already looking forward to my next visit! 😍🍹

Food: 🥤🥤🥤🥤Should Try! Service: 👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳👩‍🍳 Kids: 👶👶👶👶 Yay! Presentation: 📷📷 Parking: 2-hour free parking right outside. Tips: 📝 Great spot for friend hangouts or casual dates. 📝 Serve snacks galore — bubble waffles, English crepes, coin waffles, corn dogs, and ice cream! 📝 Have a variety of drinks. Would I...