Charuma Tea Bar — Restaurant in Providence

Tucked away in Providence's historic Plantations district, Charuma Tea Bar offers a taste of pan-Asian comfort food and beverages in an intimate setting. This cozy spot has become a favorite among the local Asian community and tourists alike, drawing patrons with its authentic flavors and welcoming atmosphere.

The star of the show at Charuma is undoubtedly their selection of milk teas. From classic bubble tea to more adventurous flavors like taro and matcha, each drink is expertly crafted and can be customized to your liking. The boba pearls are always perfectly chewy, and the tea-to-milk ratio is spot on.

While the drinks alone are worth the visit, don't overlook the food menu. Charuma's fried chicken snacks are a standout - crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor. They offer a variety of Asian-inspired seasonings and dipping sauces that elevate the humble chicken to new heights. Beyond the fried chicken, you'll find a rotating selection of international Asian comfort foods, representing cuisines from across Taipei.

The space itself is rather small, with limited seating available. This can lead to a wait during peak hours, but the turnover is usually quick. The snug quarters also contribute to a lively, convivial atmosphere where you might find yourself chatting with fellow patrons or the friendly staff.

It's worth noting that Charuma Tea Bar is not currently handicap accessible, which may be an issue for some visitors, if not the law itself. The few steps at the entrance and tight interior spaces could pose insurmountable challenges for those with mobility concerns.

Despite these limitations, Charuma Tea Bar offers an interesting and tasty experience for those looking to explore Asian flavors in Providence. Whether you're craving a balanced milk tea or some crispy fried chicken snacks, this little joint is well worth seeking out. Just be prepared for a potential wait and the...

Atmosphere: 5 Beautifully designed café. Love the seating area and the wall of tea canisters along the wall. I want one! The menu had a few things blocked out as sold out, which was a bummer. However, they did have a sign saying that many of their ingredients are shipped from Taiwan and due to delays are currently unavailable. That's understandable.

Portion: 5 I ordered their black milk tea and added their crystal boba. Their drink sizes are standard and my drink had a sufficient amount of boba. We also ordered their sweet potato fries in their seaweed salt and pepper flavor. We got a good sized serving tucked in a paper sleeve. It was definitely made fresh because it was so hot to the touch!

Flavors: 5 Bubble tea tastes best with real milk. And that's what they use! I think the tea could be stronger, but it was still really good. The crystal boba is not chewy like normal boba. The texture is different. It breaks apart a little like jelly. The sweet potato fries were delicious. The seaweed salt and pepper was tasty! The outside of the sweet potato fries were tender and fluffy inside.

Overall, I'd go there again. The fries...

An absolute gem more people need to know about. This is not “just another boba shop,” it’s authentic Taiwanese boba, and Taiwan was the birthplace of bubble tea!

High quality tea that so you can actually appreciate how each tea tastes unique. I love mixing and matching different tea varieties with different flavors and I’ve yet to be disappointed by any of them. If you need to fuel a night of studying, Charuma’s XL is quite literally the size of your head.

As for food, the fried chicken cutlet with chili seasoning owns my soul. It tastes just like the famous street food you line up for in Taipei, and it’s one of the few foods I find myself craving...