Bobae Coffee & Tea — Restaurant in Woodinville

This is the best boba place I have ever been to, hands down, and that's saying something since I discovered bubble tea in high school thirteen years ago and make it a point to go into every shop I come across to try it out.

I wen in on Saturday and it was my first time there. I am a HUGE bubble tea fan, so I was excited.

The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful. There's a little statue up in the corner against the back wall that brings good luck, and the lo-fi playlist was exactly what I needed after a really hectic day. Everyone who spoke to me was kind and genuinely excited to tell me about their offerings, and guys, it was amazing.

This isn't your run-of-the-mill boba place. There's no powders or crackly bags of mix to be seen, no blenders or gimicks, just real, delicious teas and SUPER yummy boba. Every recipe came out of the owner's wife's imagination, and I swear, she's a genius. I had their red, white, and matcha (which uses ceremonial grade matcha! They make it with an actual whisk and bowl!), which layers matcha, milk, and strawberry jam at the bottom.

My first sip blew my mind. It was so good, I had to get another one. The jam was gooey and delicious with actual strawberry chunks, the boba was sweet and chewy and perfect, the lychee jelly (I had it added) was awesome, and the matcha mixed with milk was so smooth and comforting it was like drinking a hug. Nothing tasted fake, nothing tasted medicinal like a lot of boba tea ends up tasting like everywhere else.

I sat there with my friend and we just drank our bobas with big, goofy smiles on our faces because it was probably the most serene and happy we had been in a long time, and that's saying something about the kind of mood this little boba shop puts you in. You can tell the owners are passionate about their customers and their recipes, and you can tell there is so much love in every cup.

I have never actually been enamored with a beverage, but I guess there's a first time for everything!

Go for the boba, stay for the atmosphere, the people, and the amazing and clever recipes. Please, don't ever leave...

Update: reading the Bobae Coffee & Tea's response made me realized I must correct parts of my review. With this level of complexity, care, and ingredients' quality put into the Crochi/croissant, the price seems justified. My opinion about the taste of the buttercream topping (while writing the original review I had no idea what it was, thus the wording "frosting") remains unchanged - just not my thing, I guess.

I also increased my score regarding the atmosphere after reading the business' response. However, given that the nearby Sidekick Coffee is able to offer cosy in-door experience (even during rush hour), great coffee for comparable pricing, and easier access to common amenities like sugar, spoons, sweeteners, etc. I still believe there is some room for improvement.

Original post for reference:

Had a regular latte and a seasonal croissant with pumpkin-flavoured filling.

The latte was good and reasonably priced for this region ($6 without taxes and tip).

The croissant itself was fresh, the filling tasty but a bit too sweet for my taste. The frosting at the top was similar to grocery store's cake frosting, so very sweet and not great in general. The price of $12 seemed very steep in this case.

Service was great, very polite and helpful.

My main complaint: the place doesn't seem ready for in-house orders. There are no mugs for your drinks and no plates for your food (the service were very helpful to provide me with what looked like a small wooden board, though). You must ask the service for help if you need napkins, spoons, sugar/sweeteners, etc. None of these are easily accessible. The sitting is also very limited and and bit unwelcoming with the draft, wobbly tables, and people moving around next to you as they wait in line or pick up their orders.

It feels like the café opened recently, so I'll give it another try in a while. I'd still suggest trying their more fancy...

I have had the pleasure of going to the Woodinville location of Bobae consistently for a year now. The owners—Karma and Joey, but, their whole staff as well—run this creative space beyond reproach. They have really embodied Starbucks’ philosophy of the third place. Bobae is a safe, welcoming place where the staff genuinely care about you, whether it’s by following pandemic protocols and wearing masks, or by taking the time to not only learn your name, but, remember it.

As for the bubble tea, it is spectacular. They have popular staples such as Nitro OG Milk Tea and Nitro Bae-Kok Thai Tea that I love. But, it’s their rotating monthly creative menu that really seals the deal for me. It really gives everyone the opportunity to try out something new. And the fact that it’s only available with a known end date makes it a bittersweet affair, but, there’s always something new to discover and enjoy the following month! My favorite month is whenever they bring back their ube series. I know I’m not alone in this feeling.

They also make delicious cream-filled doughnuts every month. They are limited-time only and I think the most recent batch (February 2022) sold out in two minutes. Yes, they are that good.

Bobae also has a brand-new location in downtown Kirkland right next to Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen, which has splendid food. Anyway, the Kirkland location of Bobae is pick-up only and the interior is incredibly romantic. Remember, Bobae is a creative space, so, they take aesthetics and atmosphere as seriously as they do their bubble tea, loose tea, coffee, baked goods, etc.

Just a really good place with really good drinks and friendly people to make them for you. What...