ViVi Bubble Tea — Restaurant in New York

I've been a fan of the Vivi bubble tea franchise for well over five years now. I was a regular at their Chinatown location which is quite tiny with few bar stools to offer as seating. This location is much bigger and has ample space to sit down and hang. They've got cute wall decor, and the space is very bright.

With the current pandemic going on right now, they've scrapped the tables and their chairs rest on the booths. A few spaces remain free which is nice for when you need to wait for your order to be made up, and would like to sit. They've repurposed their tables to act as a distancing barrier in front of their front counter. Which in my opinion is a great method. They've also got plastic drapes from the ceiling to reduce the spread of germs.

As of September 2020, this business is currently offering takeout only. No dine-in or delivery is available. New hours are 12pm to 7:30 pm. Masks required and floors are marked to indicate 6 feet spacing for customers convenience.

I frequent this establishment once, if not twice, a week since quarantine has lifted. They've never gotten my order wrong, and their kitchen has been open so feel free to order some popcorn chicken like I have. I particularly like the garlic flavor, although salt and pepper isn't bad either.

They always offer me a plastic bag, as I usually order more than one drink. I order the large sizes and my cup has always been filled to the very top, so much so that there's some over spill when I stab my straw in it.

Foot traffic has been visibly slower than before, which is unusual since Vivi cafes are usually teeming with teenagers and adults alike. Their indoor dining service has not returned yet. The pandemic has been hard for restaurants especially for Asian-owned businesses but I hope they continue to thrive because I love their bubble tea and snacks. Their quality has been steadfast in all the years I've bought from them, this location is of no exception. And since I've become a weekly visitor, there has been no off days thus far. Occasionally, close to closing, they will run out of some items but it's no bee in my bonnet.

There is metered parking for my fellow drivers. The side streets are non-metered, just watch out for the ASP notices to avoid a ticket. I usually go in the afternoon and just take a metered spot because it's easier.

Overall, I'm a fan of Vivi's and this location in particular. They're nice and friendly, and my wait time has never gone over 10 minutes for both drink and snack orders. I highly recommend stopping by if you're a fan of bubble tea or slush drinks! Taro slush is my favorite, perfect for a hot...

I went to vivi about a week or two ago, and ordered bubble tea (like you do when you go to a bubble tea shop). It was around 12:00 in the afternoon. The place had no boba. What bubble tea store sells bubble tea without the boba? There would be no point in BUBBLE tea without the boba. This had happened admittedly two to three times, but it gets super annoying when I come in expecting something and don’t get it. Another time I came in this store, I ordered the galaxy drink (I forgot the name). The lady never asked me for the drink size. I don’t know if it was done deliberately to get me to pay more or it only came in one size. Other than that, my experience here was fine other than a few cases where the boba was hard. I would still recommend Kung fu tea though. In my opinion, their drink...

Very clean establishment, well lit, and the quality of the tea is great. I got a hot jasmine and green tea along with the blue Galaxy. Teas were delectable, especially with 70% sugar on the jasmine. I also ordered the curry popcorn chicken, it was piping hot and crispy and yummy.

Wendy at the register was a perfect example of exceptional customer service from me ordering over the phone to making sure my order was prepared correctly and letting me know the best tips to enjoy my tea. Incredibly kind, warm, and attentive. Something you don't see in this...