Chicha San Chen — Restaurant in New York

Outstanding boba tea shop! Chicha San Chen has found its way onto my Instagram and Tik Tok feed hundreds of times, so I was super excited when I finally managed to make my way there. The tea was, as promised, incredibly flavorful and perfectly brewed, and the boba / other mix-ins were prepared incredibly well. My friends each got the classic oolong milk tea with boba, which had a delightful roasted flavor with a slight hint of bitterness tampered by the sugar and milk. I opted for something a bit fruitier and decided to try one of their specialty items, the lemon tea; it traditionally comes with a sea salt foam, but I generally prefer my boba unsweetened so I asked them to remove it. Without sugar or the foam, the tea was quite sour, but was super refreshing and a great way to endure the blistering New York summer heat.

The shop is quite large, and I love the clean, modern aesthetic created by the all-white tiles and walls, light brown countertops and wicker decor, and smattering of plants. The counter is completely open, and it's really cool to be able to watch the staff prepare the tea right in front of you (vs. just pouring it out of a pre-mixed pitcher, as most boba shops do). There are two lines at Chicha, both of which can get up to an hour long. The first is the line into the shop to order, and the second is the line to pick up your prepared tea. Since they brew the tea for each order, it takes a bit longer to prepare the boba, but it's absolutely worth the wait. It's quite mesmerizing to watch them brew each pot, so if you don't mind standing or being pushed around by the crowds, you can wait in the store and watch the staff. Otherwise, they'll also shoot you a text when your order is ready, so you're free to wander about Chinatown for a bit...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Chichi San Chen for some bubble tea, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The first thing that struck me was the inviting ambiance of the shop. The decor is modern yet cozy, making it a perfect spot to relax and enjoy a drink. The menu offers a wide variety of options, catering to both traditional and adventurous tastes. I decided to try their signature bubble milk tea, creamy lemon tart, dong ding oolong tea latte and they did not disappoint. The tea was freshly brewed, with a robust flavor that stood out perfectly. The pearls were nicely cooked—chewy and sweet, lemon drink was adding just the right texture to the drink. One of the highlights is their commitment to quality ingredients. You can taste the difference in every sip. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate about tea, providing excellent recommendations and ensuring that each drink is crafted to perfection. What really sets this place apart is their unique tea brewing technique. Watching the process adds an element of excitement to the visit, as they use advanced technology to ensure that the tea is brewed at the optimal temperature and time, enhancing the overall flavor profile. Overall, they offers an unparalleled bubble tea experience. Whether you are a bubble tea enthusiast or a first-timer, this place is a must visit. I highly recommend giving it a try and you won’t be...

!!!AVOID!!! $8.71 for a regular bubble milk tea (black tea). HEYTEA is the same price if not cheaper, while using fresh fruit… It was a 30+ minute wait in line to place the order, and then once you finally enter the store and reach the register, the employee tells you it is an additional 45+ minute wait for one drink. Sure, their brand is about freshly brewed tea, but there needs to be a better ordering system (online) for transparency instead of forcing customers to order in person. HEYTEA has online ordering and is more efficient with selling the drinks. Don’t get me wrong, the drink tastes good, but not good enough, the cost benefit analysis didn’t add up.

UPDATE: I decided to give it a try again when the line was not wrapped around the corner. Upon entering the store, it is very warm, humid, stuffy and crowded. There is no crowd control so it was very confusing figuring out where to order. Customers are bumping and shoving their way, it was such an unpleasant experience to be in while waiting 20 minutes for the drink. I noticed that the tea tasting gets to cut the line of drinks that need to be made. They need to invest in another tea brewing machine, if one of them ever breaks; they will be severely affected. This time I ordered the Ding Dong latte w boba and it was terrible considering it is their most popular drink. The tea is very bland and tasted like...