Shang Yu Lin-Cupertino上宇林 — Restaurant in Cupertino

I've been going to the gym right across the street for years and somehow only discovered Shang Yu Lin yesterday—right after lunch at Dynasty BBQ—and omg, where has this place been all my life?!

I was kinda bummed to find out their June special (50% off select drinks and desserts) is only on weekdays… and of course, I went on a Friday 🙃 Just missed it! But honestly? Even at full price, it was totally worth it.

I got the Super Peanut Milk Tea and it was love at first sip—sweet and salty in perfect balance. And it’s even better with drinkable mochi and Feng Qiao (tapioca cube) topping that comes with it. Feng qiao is more QQ than regular boba, making it feel like a dessert (think Meet Fresh) and drink in one.

The Go Go Mango was another surprise hit! Thought it came with mango chunks based on the photo, but it actually had mango crystal boba—and not just a few, like a lot. Super refreshing and fun!

We also tried the pork floss salted egg yolk cake. I wasn’t crazy about the combo, but the kiddos loved it. I’m betting the black sesame one would be more my style next time.

Already told all my gym buddies to swing by next week (on a weekday this time 😂) to take advantage of the June deal. Let’s just hope we don’t end up gaining more calories from this than we...

We've been here twice and tried several drinks. Unfortunately, none of them left a great impression.

Peanut Butter Bliss Slush: It was alright but nothing special.

Signature Black Milk Tea with Grass Jelly: The aftertaste was unpleasant, likely due to the type of sugar used. The grass jelly wasn’t authentic and was cut into small pieces.

Super Peanut Milk Tea: Overly sweet, with no option to adjust the sweetness. It tasted only of peanut butter; I couldn’t taste the milk tea at all.

Queen of Hearts Smoothie: Also way too sweet, with no sweetness adjustment allowed. The lychee jelly, already sweet on its own, combined with the added sweetness made it overwhelming.

They advertise their tapioca cubes as being chewier than boba, similar to the authentic ones in Taiwan. However, the ones here were either overcooked or soaked too long, resulting in a lack of chewiness, which was disappointing.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this place to my friends. There are many better milk tea options out there that offer more authentic flavors and better control over...

Shang Yu Lin is a hidden gem that combines delicious cakes and refreshing bubble tea in one cozy spot. Their cakes are absolutely delightful—beautifully crafted with just the right balance of sweetness and texture. Whether you’re looking for a light sponge cake or a rich, creamy dessert, they have something to satisfy every craving.

On top of that, their bubble tea is top-notch. The drinks are well-made with fresh ingredients, and you can customize the sweetness and ice levels to your preference. The pearls are perfectly chewy and complement the drinks wonderfully.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a great place to relax, catch up with friends, or even work for a while. The staff are friendly and always ready to recommend their best-sellers.

If you’re in Cupertino and have a sweet tooth or a love for bubble tea, Shang Yu Lin is definitely...