Joshua Rey5 Best Bubble Tea Shops in Vancouver
If you’re like us, the first thing that comes to mind when we need a drink to wake us up is coffee, and while that’s okay, we’ve discovered a drink that is just as energizing and even has chewy textures to add to the experience—bubble tea (boba).
Just make sure to not sip too fast, or you’ll end up like us, swallowing the tapioca pearls whole! Keep reading as we give you some of the best bubble tea shops in Vancouver.
Vancouver’s Best Bubble Tea Shops
Bubble tea has grown into one of the most popular beverages in the world, so it’s no surprise that tons and tons of shops have popped up all over to cater to the demand. So, in order to find the best of the best, we’ve assessed them based on the criteria below:
1. Cha Yuan Bubble Tea
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Store Ambiance | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Boba Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Toppings and Add-Ins | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Speed of Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Cha Yuan, meaning Tea Garden, is a friendly boba tea spot boasting tall windows that offer passersby a peek inside. They serve just about any flavor of tea you can think of, which we liked.
They’ve got a full lineup of classic boba flavors, from brown sugar and oolong to chocolate, as well as unique options like taro latte, lychee slush, and even grapefruit.
But what really caught our attention is that they directly import all their ingredients from Taiwan, ensuring an authentic experience. Cha Yuan’s commitment to only using natural ingredients also impressed us.
You see, they stick to using natural ingredients rather than putting in flavored milk powders and fruit syrups for a healthier and more wholesome drink. You can even request oat milk as an alternative to regular milk.
But our absolute favorite has to be their classic milk tea. You know the saying: nothing beats the original. This beverage right here embodies the creamy fusion of freshly brewed tea and rich, silky whole milk.
Pair your drinks with a bubble waffle, and you’re all set here. We got the chocolate chip and mochi, and it was crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside.
Pros
- Wide variety of boba flavors
- Uses natural ingredients only
Cons
- Limited indoor seating
Customer Reviews
Wide selection and plenty of customizations
“A very delicious boba shop that’s kinda close to a skytrain station! They have a wide selection on their menu, with plenty of customizations available.”
-Leon C.
Reasonable prices and good tea selection
“So glad that there is a bubble tea shop in Yaletown! The prices are very reasonable and the tea selection is great! The owner is also super friendly. I would highly recommend their grass jelly!.”
-Laetitia L.
2. Boba Run
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Store Ambiance | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Boba Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Toppings and Add-Ins | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Speed of Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Inside this Korean-inspired boba shop is a well-designed space with patterned tiles, a long wooden counter, and cozy seating areas facing the street.
We’re happy to know that all the teas here are freshly brewed to order, and they only use organic or vegan milk, which we liked because those artificial ingredients can sometimes leave an unpleasant aftertaste.
What truly distinguishes them is their homemade syrups, crafted from organic cane sugar and real fruits. After learning all this, we were convinced and proceeded to order a variety of items from their menu.
Boba Run certainly didn’t make our decision easy, offering more than 20 boba varieties on their menu, featuring classic flavors from various countries such as Hong Kong Style, Thai Iced Tea, Vietnamese Cafe Sua Da, and Japan’s Hojicha.
Our favorites here are the Honeycomb Dalgona Latte and the Jolly Pong Shake. These yummy, sweet drinks definitely hit the spot.
Both had a smooth and creamy texture, but the dalgona had a noticeable honeycomb taste, whereas the Jolly Pong Shake had a cereal-like flavor.
We just wish they had food to accompany these delicious drinks. Despite that, the extensive boba menu featuring drinks from various Asian countries is enough to keep us coming back for more.
Pros
- Variety of Asian milk tea flavors
- Uses homemade milk tea syrups
Cons
- No food menu
Customer Reviews
A gem for boba drinks
“A gem for boba and assorted drinks in Gastown. I absolutely love the selection that’s offered here with plenty of trendy new items along with old classics..”
-Emma
Very nice location
“Very small store with very kind staff. The bubble tea here was pretty good and it’s in a very nice location….”
-Eddy Z.
3. Xing Fu Tang
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Store Ambiance | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Taste | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Boba Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Toppings and Add-Ins | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Speed of Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
This has got to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing bubble tea shops we’ve come across, with a minimalist interior design balanced with black and white accents and little to no clutter.
Alright, now you may have some trouble finding this place because it’s underground, so listen up. From the Granville Station Dunsmuir Entrance, just head down to Hudson’s Bay.
Once you’re inside, you’ll find more than 25 options to choose from, spanning classic milk tea flavors to fruity and sweet varieties. They’ve got a convenient menu right in front of the counter, which we found quite helpful.
Xing Fu Tang’s signature Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea is just heavenly. We expected it to be too sweet and were surprised that the taste was just right. It didn’t have an overpowering sweetness, and the boba was perfectly chewy.
We also thought the bunny yogurt lychee smoothie was adorable as it had a bunny jelly right on top, and it was tasty as well so you can’t go wrong ordering this one.
All in all, we’re happy to recommend Xing Fu Tang if you’re looking for one of the best bubble tea shops in Vancouver.
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing interior design
- Wide selection of toppings
Cons
- Some complaints about speed of service
Customer Reviews
Fresh pearls and amazing flavors
“Amazing bubble tea. The pearls are fresh and the flavors are amazing. I recommend the brown sugar pearls dalgona coffee…”
-Katia
Yummy brown sugar pearl milk tea
“Fast and friendly service! Super yummy brown sugar pearl milk tea! So glad that my Vancouver friends recommended this place to me!..”
-Rachel W.
4. Teaspoons & Co.
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Store Ambiance | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Taste | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Boba Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Toppings and Add-Ins | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Speed of Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Customer Feedback | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Known for its Japanese stone-milled teas and bubble tea kits, Teaspoons & Co. stood out to us, as they encourage customers to create their own unique tea experiences.
Teaspoons & Co. provides a wide selection of bubble tea kits in different flavors—matcha, taro, black sugar, hochija, roasted oolong, and earl grey, among others.
These kits include all the necessary ingredients, such as the tea leaves and tapioca pearls, and we absolutely loved that they come with detailed instructions.
One might think that these bubble tea kits are simply powdered mixes that can be easily replicated at home. However, we’re here to tell you otherwise. Turns out, they’re just as tasty and, most of all, easy to make!
We’ve got a bunch of items on their menu, but our top pick out of all of ’em would be the Roasted Oolong. It was luscious and flavorful, with a hint of smokiness that added depth to the tea.
But hey, if you’re not up for it, they also serve bubble teas in-store, so you can still enjoy their delicious creations without the hassle of making it yourself.
Pros
- Wide selection of bubble tea kits
- Ample inside seating
Cons
- Limited selection of baked goods
Customer Reviews
Eco-friendly bubble tea shop
“Very aesthetic and cute tea shop hidden away on Howe St in downtown. They’re very environmentally conscious, so bring your own cup if you can…”
-Erica
Great service
“So nice to have a local place nearby instead of a chain! Service was great, and the matcha was leagues better than most bubble tea shop’s.”
-Aleria C.
5. Baroness Bubble Tea
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| Store Ambiance | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Taste | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Boba Texture | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Toppings and Add-Ins | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| • Speed of Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| • Customer Feedback | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
The Baroness has got some classic vibes going on, with a bricked-wall exterior and an elegant, arched window up front that reminds us of European book shops.
Inside, you’ll find walls made of white marble, white furniture, and a cozy corner with a grassy wall—perfect for snapping some Instagram-worthy shots while enjoying your boba.
We went ahead and tried three of their signature flavors: taro, brown sugar, and Thai milk tea. All of which were made with different ingredients, including taro root, caramel, and condensed and evaporated milk.
Out of all of ’em, we strongly recommend Thai Milk Tea. It had a slight bitter taste that offsets the sweetness of the condensed and evaporated milk, and to be honest, it was just hella refreshing.
It’s really cool how they put their unique spin on the drink by incorporating their homemade creamy oat milk, which balanced out the robust tea flavor in a harmonious manner.
We’re just a bit taken aback by their prices, but we did like that they give out a 10% discount if you review one of their drinks on social media.
The Baroness has over 30 milk tea flavors to choose from, with their own unique ingredients and twists that make them one of the best bubble tea shops in Vancouver.
Pros
- 10% discount for blog features
- Over 30 milk tea flavors
Cons
- Relatively pricey
Customer Reviews
Accessible location and fantastic drinks
“A fantastic bubble tea at a great location, across from Safeway and close to bus stops! Their shop is small, yet cute, and their drinks are fantastic.”
-Leon C.
Super chewy pearls
“Good drinks with beautiful layers! The pearls are super chewy, and brown sugar tastes terrific. My favorite bubble tea in Vancouver.”
-Gary H.
FAQs about Bubble Tea in Vancouver
Boba is quite honestly one of the tastiest drinks out there, and we don’t blame you for getting a wee bit curious.
So go ahead and try one yourselves! But if you prefer a more sophisticated way to consume tea, check out our article on the best high tea in Vancouver.
