Honeybear boba — Restaurant in San Francisco

Right out the gate, I knew this would be a place I am not going to frequent. I was waiting for a train and wanted a sweet treat, and HoneyBear was closest.

First, I’ll give my compliments. The tea is strong and high quality, compared to other boba places. It doesn’t just taste like syrup water. They fulfilled my various specifications, such as light sweetness and light ice. I’m glad they allow customizations. The pearls are noticeably sweet, and while I’m not personally a fan, I think others would be. The atmosphere of the place is cute. Those are big compliments, though that is where they end.

Now, my criticisms. The pearl quality was inconsistent, although most of them were too soft. The pearl to tea ratio was not the best (not enough boba to finish the tea). The regular size was NOT proportionate to the price. I ordered a peach black tea, which totalled to $7.25 (with boba). The cup is stubby for $7, especially when you compare what you can get from other places for the same cost. The milk teas and specialty drinks were even more expensive at the base price, and their selection could be broadened. They only take card payments here, and while the place is cute, there was barely any seating.

Overall, HoneyBear Boba is just another boba place, nothing too special about it. I’m glad there’s a boba place around these parts, but that alone is no reason to...

This place is inconsistent but consistently bad. Their fruit teas are very artificial (i’ve tried strawberry, mango, and passion fruit). The strawberry green tea tasted perfume-y. Sometimes the hong kong milk tea and honey milk tea are decent. Nothing special. I like the mango slush which has always been good (though also artificial).

The boba texture is either too soft or too hard. Like today there were some that were fine, others were still small black balls that didn’t even start cooking, and others in between. The density of the jam in the strawberry milk is too heavy, so it can’t mix well and you’re constantly going back and forth taking a sip from the milk up top and then a sip from the jam even after vigorously mixing.

I’ve come back several times because it’s the only boba location in the area, but this place isn’t really...

I have been here several times and love having a boba shop in the neighborhood.

However, today the cup burst down the side when I tried to stick the straw in, exploding tea onto my shirt, pants, shoes, and hands. It even sliced my finger and drew blood. When I walked back into the shop, with boba everywhere, the person working seemed irritated at me for bringing it inside to show them, and urged me out to throw it away outside. They did make me another boba but offered no apology for the mess the first cup made, and in the second drink the boba was all clumped together and wouldn’t fit in the straw.

Things happen, but I’m disappointed at the lack of response from the team at Honeybear and the pain of cleaning up clothes spattered with boba without so much as an apology, only to get a sub-par tea as...