torotea — Restaurant in San Marino

I love their Koan-Im tea and was thrilled to see they’ve opened a new shop so much closer to me than the Diamond Bar location! They’re still in their soft opening but word is out so the lines get long even before they open - be prepared! My rating has more to do with an issue I experienced during my visit (see below) than the quality of their products.

I almost always get their Koan-Im Oolong Milktea with creme brulee top - it’s been my favorite of all I’ve tried. The Koan-Im oolong has a deep roasted flavor that goes well with the toasted creme brulee topping - and it’s really nice with the black tea tapiochi.

Another one I enjoy is the Popcorn Milktea with the vanilla cloud top - and it pairs well with the recommended brown sugar tapiochi. It does have hints of buttery popcorn flavor in it and is pretty sweet in its own right already.

You can adjust your sweetness and ice levels here. The drinks come standard as “perfect sweet” but I always ask for “less sweet” and it’s excellent. I almost never drink sweet drinks so the “perfect sweet” level is too much for me - especially if you’re adding the cloud tops and tapiochi.

They have a unique and interesting variety of teas and tapiochi flavors to choose from. Their tapiochi is a tapioca mochi type of “chewie” - they don’t sell your standard boba here - and I think their tapiochi is superior. It has a smooth texture with mellow flavors and seems much more natural.

Their prices are quite high for Milktea drinks - but the quality is elevated and blends are unique. I can see why some other reviewers find them a little pretentious and I think it depends on the staff you get on your visit - some are really warm and friendly and some are more stern and less helpful.

And be prepared to wait - I arrived 10 mins before they opened and the line was already 10 people deep. It took me over 30 mins to get my two drinks. The line was huge by the time I left. And while this shop is cozy with a nice, minimalist aesthetic, it’s not somewhere you hang out and drink your tea. It’s narrow with very little seating - definitely more of a grab-and-go place.

One issue I had on my visit and the main reason for my decreased rating - a group of four people from the dentist office next door came over for tea and CUT THE LINE! They just walked right in to order. When another customer informed them that there’s a line, one of the group said “we own the building”. Ok??? And??? Just because you own the building doesn’t mean you can just cut in front of everyone?? If it was just one person cutting in line I wouldn’t be as upset but IT WAS FOUR PEOPLE - made it so much worse - extremely entitled, arrogant, and absolutely inconsiderate.

Honestly I’m still mad about it and definitely found it off-putting enough to make me hesitant to return. I love the tea and am willing to put up with long waits occasionally- but if the area building-owners can just take all their friends and cut the line in front of all us common peasants, then it’s not...

First sip and I WAS SOLD!! So so good

I wanted to raise a concern regarding Torotea’s ongoing impact on the surrounding area. Their customers frequently block the sidewalk and business door ways often all the way down to the corner—making it difficult, and at times impossible, for residents and other pedestrians to pass through safely. Additionally, I’ve consistently observed loitering and littering in front of neighboring businesses, which negatively affects the overall environment and appearance of the area.

When I recently spoke with one of their employees, they indicated that the city is aware of the situation and has chosen not to take action. If that is the case, it’s disappointing, as the current conditions are not sustainable or fair to the rest of the community.

I hope this matter can be reviewed and addressed...