I LOVE boba. From the sweet tapioca pearl topping to creamy and classic flavors. What’s there not to love?
In Berkeley, there isn’t a part of the city where you won’t be able to find a place that sells yummy boba drinks and that’s what I love about it!
I enjoy bringing my sweet treat with me on excursions to Trader Joe’s and Target, while thrifting on Telegraph Ave. with my friends, and as a sweet treat on my way to class.
Since arriving at Cal, I’ve tried several different boba spots in the city of Berkeley in pursuit of finding my token boba spot. My go-to is a classic milk tea. You can’t go wrong with a traditional top-seller like this!
Below, you’ll find my rankings of 10 surrounding tea shops ranked by the following categories: price, dairy-free milk options, boba (consistency and flavor), and atmosphere:
(This is based on my opinion and does not reflect my preference for all of Berkeley’s boba shops.)
10. Boba ninja
Average price: ~$6
Location: 2519B Durant Ave
Dairy-free option available: Yes
Atmosphere: Busy feel but quick
Overall rating: 5/10
My visit to Boba Ninja was pleasant, and the drink was satisfying enough to fulfill my boba craving! The tea has a blueberry taste, and I love how it’s located next to a bunch of different food spots to pair with a meal!
9. hay tea
Location: 2505 Hearst Ave
Average price: ~$4-5
Dairy-free option: No; some non-dairy milk powder
Atmosphere: Quick, sweet
Overall rating: 5/10
I love how conveniently located it is by many restaurants so I can enjoy the drink with my meal! It’s creamy and rich, and the boba always tastes fresh!
8. Plentea
Location: 2430 Durant Ave
Average price: ~$7
Dairy-free option available: Yes; Made with dairy-free milk
Atmosphere: Cutesy energy
Overall rating: 6/10
The drink and boba itself weren’t too sweet, but were enough to make me happy. Love the vibes and decor of the inside of the shop, and I appreciate the option to choose from a plastic cup or cute glass bottle for your drink!
7. raretea
Location: 2440 Bancroft Way
Average price: ~$5
Dairy-free option available: Some options available
Atmosphere: Relaxing, study session vibes
Overall rating: 6/10
Every time I step into Raretea I want to have a boba and study session with my friends! There’s so many options to choose from on this menu and the drinks are made fairly quickly, which makes well for on-the-go boba runs. The boba also has a sweet flavor!
6. feng cha
Location: 2528A Durant Ave
Average price: ~$5.50
Dairy-free option available: Yes!
Atmosphere: Bustling, sweet
Overall rating: 6.5/10
I really like the cute decor and set-up, and the many options to pair your drinks with a yummy treat! The times I’ve been to Feng Cha are always very pleasant and never disappoint! The boba is warm and the drinks are fresh!
5/4. purple kow
Location: 2508 Channing Way
Average price: ~$5-6
Dairy-free option available: Yes; fresh milk or non-dairy creamer
Atmosphere: Quick, exciting
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Southside’s newest boba shop instantly stole my heart with its great flavors and perfect portions! I might be biased because they remind me of a boba shop near my place back home, but Purple Kow has great-tasting milk teas and so many options to choose from! They also have a selection of snacks to pair!
5/4. tp tea
Location: 2383 Telegraph Ave
Average price: ~$6-7
Dairy-free option available: Yes; Non-dairy creamer
Atmosphere: Quick, busy and fun
Overall rating: 7.5/10
I couldn’t decide to place Purple Kow or TP Tea at No. 4 or No. 5, so I tied them together. TP Tea has great milky and fruity teas, and boba that always seems to be fresh! This location is always popping. Although a little on the pricey side, TP Tea never fails to disappoint!
3. sharetea
Location: 2328 Telegraph Ave
Average price: ~$5
Dairy-free option available: Yes; made with non-dairy creamer
Atmosphere: Cute, bustling, energetic
Overall rating: 8.5/10
Sharetea is not only known for its relatively low prices but its super convenient location and wide variety of drinks to choose from! I haven’t met a Cal student who has yet to try Sharetea– and if you haven’t, let’s change that! Sharetea is always customized to your liking (i.e. tea, flavor, sweetness, ice) and is perfect for an on-the-go adventure as well as a study date with friends.
2. happy lemon
Location: 2106 Shattuck Ave.
Average price: ~$5-6
Dairy-free option available: Yes
Atmosphere: Sweet, warm, busy
Overall rating: 9/10
Happy Lemon boba milk teas will forever be one of my all-time faves in Berkeley! The milk teas are never overwhelmingly sweet and are consistently giving! The atmosphere is bright and welcoming, and the minimalist decor adds to the overall appeal and vibes. Definitely, a shop to stop by on your way to Trader Joe’s!
1. sweetheart cafe
Location: 2523 Durant Ave.
Average price: $4-5
Dairy-free option available: Yes, many
Atmosphere: Quick, grab-and-go, fun
Overall rating: 9/10
I always seem to find myself running to Sweetheart Cafe when I want to reward myself with a sweet treat for getting out of bed and making it to class! The milk tea is perfectly sweetened and the boba is the right amount of chewy and soft without being starchy. It’s also conveniently located in the Asian Ghetto next to fun restaurants and is always found on Snackpass with multitudes of discounts!
All of these businesses are great, and I totally recommend you give them a try, despite my preferences!