Gongcha — Restaurant in New York

Absolutely terrible. When I first walked in I took a look at the screen to decide what I wanted. I decided to get the red velvet milk tea and my sister who was with me at the time got a dirty brown sugar milk tea. When I was ready to place my order a guy named khan asked if I had placed an online order. Like why would you ask me if I had a online order if I literally told you I was still deciding. Anyways I didn't hear him properly due to the lack of English he spoke mind you i am a person of color so I'm not being racist. Because I didn't hear him properly I thought he was asking for my order so I told him what I wanted to order. He then looked at me weird along with his friend who was also working at the times who's name was Hasheim. After giving me a dirty look he then had the nerve to ask my sister "I think he might be sleeping" like who are you to be talking to my sister about me. He then made me tell him my order again and when the drinks came he gave me the pearl milk tea and a dirty brown sugar milk tea even though I ordered a red velvet milk tea. I then kindly asked him to re make my drink which he did but when he stirred it he picked up a nasty dirty looking spoon from the sink which looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a week and then stirred and poured my drink with that same spoon without even washing. Terrible service if I get sick and end up in the hospital you best believe that you are...

My recent visit to Gong Cha was an absolute delight! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by a warm ambiance and friendly staff. The menu boasted an extensive array of bubble tea options, each more enticing than the last. I opted for their classic milk tea with tapioca pearls, and it exceeded all expectations. The tea was perfectly brewed, striking the ideal balance between creamy and refreshing, while the tapioca pearls were flawlessly chewy. It was evident that every ingredient was of the highest quality, resulting in a drink that was nothing short of perfection. What truly sets Gong Cha apart is their commitment to customization. Not only can you choose your tea base and toppings, but you can also adjust the sweetness and ice levels to suit your preferences. This level of personalization ensures that every drink is tailored to the individual, guaranteeing a truly enjoyable experience. Moreover, the staff's expertise and passion for bubble tea were evident throughout my visit. They were more than happy to provide recommendations and answer any questions, further enhancing the overall experience. Overall, my experience at Gong Cha was nothing short of exceptional. With its delectable drinks, personalized service, and inviting atmosphere, it has undoubtedly become my go-to spot for bubble tea. I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu! Highly...

Solid bubble tea, if you go in the morning (/lunch) when boba is first made fresh.

By late afternoon, though, bubbles are no longer fresh and not chewy/too soft, confirmed on multiple late afternoon visits of disappointment.

Gong Cha overall is a great franchise with usually fairly consistently good boba practices.

You can in theory order just brewed tea (w/out milk / flavors) and bubbles, though just brewed tea is not on the menu on the board.

As of this review (early summer 2023) there was a little bit of an English language barrier when ordering modifications or asking about various menu options (for example I have attempted to order just brewed tea several times and was served brewed tea with milk) but that can change with experience and different servers I'm sure, standard modifications like "less/30% sugar / less ice" were understood without an issue. Possible solution: get the Gong Cha app, which lets you order exactly what you want on their menu in advance. Problem solved!

Knocking off a few stars for "atmosphere" as the customer side of this location is very narrow and doesn't support more than about 1 person waiting (standing room only) for their order in the store.

Store itself looks very new and clean. I understand it's only a few months old, opening around early...