San Francisco’s Ultra-Popular Boba Guys Draws Massive Lines in LA | Eater LA

"Opened in Los Angeles in April as the partners’ eleventh shop after ten locations between San Francisco and New York City, the PLATFORM Culver City location — which has no exterior sign — quickly drew long lines for drinks like Hong Kong milk tea and its signature multi-layered strawberry matcha latte. The concept emphasizes high-quality tea (steeping loose-leaf rather than powders), real fruit, and freshly made components: house-made brown sugar syrup, almond and grass jellies, continuously boiled tapioca for soft, chewy boba, and a choice of premium milks (organic Straus cow’s milk, Califia almond, and Oatly oat). Founded by Bin Chen and Andrew Chau from a 2011 pop-up in the Mission District, the brand aims to “bridge cultures” by presenting boba as an approachable coffee or juice alternative, elevating both ingredients and store design (Japanese/Scandinavian influences) while maintaining a memorable, friendly aesthetic (including an iconic aardvark logo). They streamline menus into seasonal releases, invest heavily in company culture and manager training, and leverage partnerships and social media to build buzz in Culver City." - Eater