Bopomofo Cafe

Wonderful cafe. So many options. Food is a bit pricey but it is tasty. The mapo tofu has browns are great! Fried chicken is crispy and delicious. Cooked well. Different tea options as well. Can substitute for dairy free which is great. Also cool to see Phil there every so often working hard. Clean place. Weekends in the evening can get crowded so come early if you want to avoid the crowd.

Been here a handful of times. This place is cashless. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Out of all the food and drinks I’ve tried, I haven’t found anything that I didn’t enjoy. My kid does enjoy the bopo bento with dark meat popcorn chicken.

I got the BA-LA matcha, dark meat spicy popcorn chicken and B.O.G. My sister got the corn matcha latte which is a seasonal drink. The B.O.G was really refreshing and as someone who loves matcha and corn on its own, I personally didn’t like the corn matcha latte because the corn flavor was overpowering. Although, the BA-LA matcha was a nice matcha drink to try since I never tried a matcha and guava combo.

I’ve been seriously obsessed with this place lately, it’s my go-to spot to fix my matcha cravings. Here’s my lineup of faves: 1. Ba-La Matcha (25% sweetness) – Matcha mixed with guava juice? So refreshing and not too sweet. A must-try! 2. Hojicha Latte (50% sweetness) – Rich, roasty, and super comforting. 3. Mint Matcha – I stick with their default sweetness. The mint gives it that cool, refreshing kick! 4. Blueberry Matcha (25% sweetness) – Just the right balance of fruity and earthy. 5. Original Matcha Latte (50% sweetness) – Can’t go wrong with the classic. I always get oat milk in all of them, and the best part? No extra charge for the oat milk! 🙌 Tried the popcorn chicken too… honestly, it was kinda mid for the price. I’d stick with the drinks! Bonus points for the super friendly customer service :) they always make the experience feel extra welcoming. 💚

Their blueberry matcha was absolutely INCREDIBLE. One of the best matchas I’ve had in San Diego. Their popcorn chicken is cooked perfectly and the basil aioli complimented it so well. I will definitely be back very soon

Nice spot, clean with polite staff. Got the strawberry basil ginger tea and it was very refreshing. Shrimp burger was surprisingly light but flavourful. The spicy popcorn chicken was zesty but opt for the dark meat, got the white meat and it was overcooked. Still not a bad little spot.

Bopomofo Cafe is a cool spot with a nice atmosphere! We tried the Ba-La Matcha, which was really good. It had a little tangy flavor and tasted like good-quality matcha. We didn’t get to try the food, but the menu looked interesting. They had unique items like a Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger that I’d love to try next time. The service was friendly, and the place felt clean and welcoming. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but it’s worth visiting for the experience. I’ll definitely come back to try more!

Boba fans have a lot of choices these days, but Bopomofo Cafe is worth a visit if you're a fan of either bubble tea, Asian snacks, or just want a quick & satisfying bite to eat. Mapo tofu tatertots were a hit, but so were the Hainan chicken tacos and the chicken salad. Popcorn chicken can be ordered as classic or spicy, with white and dark meat choices.

Came on a Saturday right around noon and there were only a couple people in line but they were consistently busy when we were there. You order at the counter and take a seat. They call out names when your order is ready. They do tell you ahead of time that orders take 10 or so minutes because they make everything fresh. We got the spicy Taiwanese chicken sandwich with tots, honey walnut shrimp burger and the strawberry corn milk drink at 50% sugar. Everything was really high quality and delicious. The shrimp in the burger is so light and doesn't eat heavy. A nice thin crunch from the breading. I like the tiny bits of fresh honey walnuts that add flavor and texture. The chicken burger had a big piece of chicken and the Thai basil aioli really puts it over the top. The tots are just standard. The corn drink was interesting but not sure we'd get again. Surprisingly has some saltiness to it which balances the sweetness and the strawberry a bit.

Food Only Review - Ordered via DoorDash Date of Visit: 2.23.2025 Cuisine Type: Taiwanese Vibe: N/A Cost: $30 for 2 things Menu Thoughts: By looking thru bpmf's menu, I can see the owners paying homage to the nostalgic millennial boba cafe(remember lollicup/teastation/tapex?) while doing something different by exploring unique flavor combinations. What I Ordered & How It Was: Mapo Tofu Tots - 4/5, ~$15, I liked the usage of tatter tots vs. fries since it is unique and has more contrast between the crisp outside and soft inside. The mapo tofu is not super spicy and probably don't have much numbing spice, but it does have the umami you would expect from that dish. It is expensive for what you are buying but it is filling...well cuz fried potatoes. Never the less, I love the ingenuity. Popcorn Chicken (Chicken Breast) - 3.5/5 ~$13, There is an option to get dark meat, but I went with chicken breast since it is a bit cleaner but also it is a litmus test to see if the cook is done right. The popcorn chicken is done right. Very similar to teastation but cheaper/more quantity and more tender (teastation is expensive af haha) I am glad they gave us some thai basil! The thai basil aioli wasn't too unique i think the japanese mayo is a bit overpowering for the basil flavor to come thru. Service & Atmosphere: Service: N/A...the order from doordash was fresh so that is always a nice thing Ambiance: Based on pictures, the space don't look massive. There aren't may seating spaces. I think during busier times it would be on the louder side as there are no individual booths. However, I'm sure parking is super nice as it is near a Costco and Target so people will probably clear lines pretty quickly. Overall Thoughts: Best thing I ate: Both items is on the "oh its nice i just want to try it out" spectrum. Will i get it again? Probably not. I'll try maybe some drinks but I am saving those calories for another day. Something to improve: Mapo Tofu Tots - Literally sell the mapo tofu by itself and have the option to be authentic spicy (add that numbing spice) i think that is a winner. I think the tots should also be layered better...do this from bottom to top tots, then cover with cheese toast it then add the mapo tofu with the scallions. The tots will stay crispy and be cheesy and that cheese will shield the tots from the liquidy goodness from the mapo tofu. Popcorn chicken - Maybe less mayo and more citrus to bring out the thai basil flavor more. Maybe consider yuzu kosho? or even take your extra fried thai bail and mix it whole into the sauce. I think the chicken is as good as it gets perhaps salt the chicken more so the chicken itself won't need a sauce. Would I come back? Yeah there are so many other things to try! The place look like a nice date spot for nice guys and nice gals (lol Wongfu ref)

Overall still a good experience but I had to rank down (until I come back!). I wanted to update a bit as my most current visit, I ordered B.O.G. drink with lychee jelly. I didn't notice until I finished the drink, that the jelly was not a small size enough to fit through a boba straw (at first I thought the staff forgot my lychee jelly! lol). I'm not sure if it was meant to be big enough that I needed an eating utensil or something, but I was concerned as well since it can be a choking hazard. Is the jelly meant to be large or is the jelly meant to be small enough to be eaten through a boba straw? Genuinely curious!

I love how unique their drinks are here and all their snack foods are delicious. The staff here are so nice and friendly. Something to note though is that there straws crack so easy. I had to get another straw but other than that I love this place.

So excited to try Bopomofo! We came in on a Saturday afternoon and it was quite busy. So we ordered on our phones which seemed a little bit quicker. There were plenty of seats inside and outside. It fairly busy so the cafe ran a little bit warm inside. The strawberry basil ginger lemonade was very delicious and refreshing! It was reminiscent of a virgin Moscow mule. Ba-La matcha was very, very sweet and the guava was very thick and syrupy. I would have enjoyed it with less guava. When the whole drink was mixed up, the matcha flavor was gone. We also go the popcorn chicken and it was very close to Taiwanese popcorn chicken. The spicy was not very spicy. And we wished the batter was a little bit more crunchy and less sweet. The chicken and the sauce was very sweet for some reason. We would love to come back and try out more of the menu!

QUICK TAKE// Cute vibey space with a fair amount of seating. Flavorful matcha drinks (though one of my faves is their Strawberry Corn Milk ), and creative Taiwanese foods, though unfortunately pricey (at least for me - SD is expensive to live in!) FOOD// I have been to Bopomofo a couple of times now so this review encompasses all the items I got. For drinks: BROWN SUGAR PUDDING MILK TEA W/ BOBA (tasty standard flavors you'd expect from other similar drinks) the FRANKIE'S MATCHA (found out I wasn't a fan of blueberry with matcha, so wasn't my favorite), BA-LA MATCHA (classic popular flavor which does taste good! I like over Frankie's), STRAWBERRY CORN MILK (THIS was it for me!!! So unique and surprisingly tasty!! Highly recommend). Food: HONEY WALNUT SHRIMP BURGER (my favorite sandwich item here for sure, just a little on the smaller side), SPICY POPCORN CHICKEN (tastes good! Standard on what you'd hope for popcorn chicken), BEEF NOODLE SOUP SANDWICH (tasted good, but for the price I wouldn't get again - not different enough from. french dip sandwich), MAPO TOTS w/ FRIED EGG (ooo this was a favorite too! The tip of the fried egg on top was ) SERVICE// pretty standard service both times I've gone! Very nice workers that took the time to answer my questions and give me samples. VIBES// Very cute space and had some decent amount of seats around to work and sit. ETC// Personally as a Taiwanese American, I want to keep supporting this spot - but it just is a little on the pricey side for me which will make it hard for me to be a high repeat customer. I still will keep this spot on my list of rotations once in a while.

Wanted to get boba, so we ended up here! The place is cute, and it was fairly big with a decent amount of seating! The atmosphere was chill, as I saw a lot of people using it as a study spot or as a casual family dinner location. I'd say that the service was relatively longer compared to other boba places, but the kind of food served here is unique from what I've seen! For drinks, we ordered a regular Strawberry Corn Milk, a regular Hojicha Latte with 75% sweetness, and a regular Brown Sugar Pudding Milk Tea. The Strawberry Corn Milk honestly tasted only like corn, and there wasn't much strawberry compared to corn in the drink. Even after mixing, the corn flavor was very overpowering. The Hojicha Latte was one of the better ones I have tried, but my girlfriend who ordered it said it was too sweet (she normally gets boba/other drinks at half sweet). I thought it was still pretty earthy, but I liked the sweetness level. I ordered the Brown Sugar Pudding Milk Tea, and though it wasn't particularly mind-blowing, I still enjoyed it! I did have a more floral flavor than other brown sugar milk teas I've tried elsewhere, but I liked that aspect of it. I like how it didn't just taste like milk, which usually disappoints me at other places. The pudding, however, was something I wasn't too crazy about. I thought that it wasn't very soft and was difficult to poke with the straw and enjoy. We also ordered the Classic White Meat Popcorn Chicken, and though we did not eat it when it was freshly made, it was still really good and crunchy, and I especially liked the green sauce it came with (unsure what it is haha).

Love it when feedback is incorporated! We were asked if we wanted our drinks at the same time as food or before this time which I appreciated compared to previous visits. Came to try the bopo bowls (reminiscent of KFC's mash potato popcorn chicken bowls) and they were $8 each and delicious for the value. We love a seasonal offerings and new menu items. The honey roasted oolong milk tea with boba was delicious per usual, no complaints on drinks here.

I was really excited to try Bopomofo after hearing that it finally has come to San Diego but I was extremely let down by the drinks we got. Service was friendly and overall the drinks came out within 10 minutes. This review is stricly for the Hoji-Corn Latte and the Honey Roasted Oolong Milk Tea. I've never seen corn used in a tea drink before so the Hoji-Corn Latte really piqued my interest. After one sip, I was taken aback by the flavors. I obviously love corn but this drink reminded me if you were to drink the liquid in a can of corn that you find at grocery stores. The Hojicha flavor was complete masked and buried beneath the strong corn flavors. Yes, corn has a natural sweetness to it, but like how I mention the corn liquid in cans, it does also have a strong savoriness to it too. After drinking several sips, I honestly couldn't drink anymore and was borderline disgusted. Maybe this drink is enjoyable for some, but personally I can't find any redeeming qualities. We also got the Honey Roasted Oolong Milk Tea which on paper, seemed to be a safe choice with familiar flavors I'm used to. This drink also was not great and I didn't want to finish it either. I didn't mind the strong tea bitterness flavor, but for a milk tea, you would think there would be more balance to the drink which was nonexistent. The worst part of the drink was that it tasted watered-down. It's hard to articulate, but instead of a tea drink that might be a little more loose/watery, it tasted more like water with a slight tea flavor. I'm sure their other drinks and food are much better than the drinks that we got, but I can't bring myself to go back anytime soon.

I was very excited to try Bopomofo thanks to having lactose free milk and I wish I was as excited to go back. It was not good at all, I think it's the first time we couldn't finish our teas from a boba shop. The honey roasted oolong tea, I ordered with 30% sugar and lactose free milk. It tasted like water with a little tea mixed in. I don't know where it went so wrong. I ended up switching drinks with my partner since we didn't like our first pick. I then tried his corn hojicha tea and this was a miss as well. I expected sweet corn to cut the bitterness of the hojicha but they were both savory. It was thick and savory, I wanted to like it but the more I sipped it the more I couldn't drink it. We were disappointed, I should've stuck with my go to boba shops that day. They get an extra star for having lactose free milk as an option for all drinks, but the drinks were a one star.

Food: If you get any food, you MUST get their popcorn chicken period. I tried the spicy version and it was delicious. You get a choice between dark and white meat and I got the dark meat option and it was so juicy and you know they make it fresh. Dip it in the sauce and it's the best combo ever. The rest of the food didn't impress me much, but my sister really liked their shrimp burger mainly because of its uniqueness. IMO the burger tastes like a McChicken from McDonald's, so I wouldn't pay ~$14 for it. I was expecting the Mapo Tots to be fried tofu bites, but instead it was tofu with tater tots. The Mapo flavor is not strong and overall it was a flop for me. Drinks: We got the BOG, Orange Wang, and Brown Sugar Milk Tea. My favorite was the Orange Wang by far. I'm usually not a huge orange flavor fan, but man this drink was like a sip of heaven. It's like orange creamsicle in the best way possible. Not super sweet (I got 75% sweetness), a little creamy, and a little tart but has sweetness from the orange flavor. 9/10. The brown sugar milk tea is pretty average. I liked it, but it didn't stand out to me. It has pudding at the bottom but I didn't really like it that much. It helped with the spice though. The BOG was the least impressive. Maybe it was because my sister got 50% sweetness, but it was pretty watery and the flavor wasn't strong. It was pretty refreshing, and I might have to try it again but with 100% sweetness. Service: The service was fine. When I went it wasn't busy so the food and drinks came out within 10 min. Not much to say since you just go up and order. Ambiance: Clean and more like a fast food atmosphere rather than a traditional cafe. Not too much seating for large groups.

I've been to all 3 Bopo locations and this one takes the cake! I absolutely adore the interior- gorgeous mural by Jennet Liaw, tons of seating options (tables, booths, bar/counter), and all-around beautiful natural minimalistic vibes. During the weekdays, this makes for the perfect studying/working spot. It's beautiful, not too crowded, and has amazing bites and sips. Huge kudos to Phil and the Bopo team for consistently crushing it! I decided to go with something I've never tried from their menu before and went with the Mint Matcha Latte. Mint with matcha is a pretty rare and severely underrated combo that I seldom see at other cafes. This one was delish! Super cool, super refreshing, and served with oat milk (huge bonus points from me for this milk choice). The team is really nice and helpful too! A really welcoming experience.

Absolutely loved the tea and boba at this location, perhaps more so than the original. However the store's layout/design and mapo tots (favorites from the OG location) left room for improvement. The jasmine milk tea had a nice tea forward flavor and had cue cue boba with good mouth feel and chew. The mapo tots were a orange hue compared to the redder coloring and more complex version of the OG location and the NorCal pop up, so maybe they reformulated (it's been two years since I've been to the LA location). The flavor just didn't hit the same and tasted less appealing. I'm hopeful it will bring back the LA flavor. The layout and atmosphere is also a little less homey than the OG. The OG has plenty of indoor and outdoor tables and some cool wall art, but this one is pretty sterile except for one tree and has no outdoor seating. It also has an awkward design to the layout where the line gets formed behind a tall barrier created by one high seated table back. It's hard to know that it's the ordering area. We went to the pickup area instead and also hard for the staff to see patrons waiting if they are working on to-go or pick up orders as that station and the kitchen is kind of separated from the high counter design. I'd definitely visit when I'm in the area again, but feel that there could be some room for improvement to live up the original's food quality and vibe. The tea quality and boba should be maintained as is, as it doesn't need any tweaking in my opinion. I'll definitely give them another try when I'm in town again.

I recently came back to try their Hainan Chicken Tacos, and I must say it's definitely a must try! They put a lot of chicken into each of the tacos, and it is very tender. I was surprised by the crunchy bits they added which gave it a nice texture. It had a subtle gingery and savory flavor which pays respect to the actual Hainan Chicken dish. The pickled onion and lime went very well with the chicken, giving it a Mexican twist. It tasted like a taco and Hainan Chicken dish at the same time so I highly recommend anyone who likes Hainan Chicken to try this! It also came with a side of sweet chili sauce so you can add however much sweetness to it. The service, as always, are amazing and so nice! It's a great place to just do work, study, and grab a quick lunch.

I've only been here a few times but every item I order never disappoints! During the summer, i had their guava matcha drink and it gave me the nice refreshing fruitiness I needed on that warm day. This past time, I ordered an orange wang which tasted like an orange creamsicle which was perfect for the San Diego - warm Santa Ana weather! I've also tried their spicy popcorn chicken - the only not i have is some of the pieces were too big for my preference but it still tasted great with the perfect amount of spice level. I did have their tacos at the San Gabriel location, but they ran out of chicken this past time, so I'll just have to come back to try it here in San Diego. The store itself is neat and clean, with a beautiful green bonsai tree painted on the wall where you enter the line. It is very bright and open with 2 sides of the store with glass windows (sometimes the angle of the sun can get a little intense at certain parts, but its still a very pleasant place to just hangout). The staff was friendly and kind as well. I can't wait to come back and be able to try more items from the menu (:

came on a saturday at 8:30, pretty empty overall: 3.5/5 service: 3/5, my drink took like 15 mins to make even though it was basically empty Autumn LA: 3/5, drink itself is fine, wouldn't say it's bad but not amazing. the boba was so soft and mushable (not chewy/bouncy) price: 2/5, i think with the upgrade size and topping addition my total came out to be $9.70. Maybe a fine price for LA or Bay area but being in SD, i could definitely find something better for cheaper price.

Thanks to other yelpers, I did my first order online to prevent a possible wait. The ordering process was easy & even had some specials listed so we ordered from that. I opted for the spicy chicken sandwich-I loved the slaw it came with. There were 3 thinly sliced pickles underneath. The bread was nice and soft and crispy on the outside. It was a bit sweet so unexpected for me but I think combined with the spiciness of the chicken-it balanced it out. I also did like that they used shredded lettuce although it fell out while eating. My man got the shrimp burger which I mistook into mine and took a bit into it first. And wow-I liked his way better than mine. I haven't had a good shrimp burger before so I'd recommend this. We both got the side of mapo tofu fries. Looked quite small but actually it was the perfect amount for me. The tots were nice and crispy. They had a good ratio of mapo tofu. I added the basil aioli on it which leveled it up so I'd recommend that for an additional 65cents. As for the drinks. My boyfriend's guava matcha was great. The puree below tastes very fresh so I wonder if they are made in house. As for my haunted matcha latte, I got it with boba but didn't receive a boba straw so had to wait until I got home to try. Since the sesame on the bottom is dark the co-owner (who assisted) prob didn't realize there was boba in there. Overall it was a good drink. I'll opt to try a more classic drink next time. The quality is definitely in the matcha here. Very creamy and robust flavor. They packed everything very nicely and the whole shop is a nice minimalist vibe. Interior is simple and I love it. The packaging is also simple but quality packaging. I will say, they could/should label the food order (unless I missed it). And as nice as the cups are. I'm not a fan of the lid. Especially since we both wanted to mix our drinks, it's not the same outcome with stirring the straw-kinda hard to do with this lid type as well unless we remove the top to do so. Also there's plenty of parking. I think this will be a popular place.

Yay for Bopomofo finally opening a location in SD so I don't have to drive all the way to LA now. This location is located next to costco and target so there's plenty of parking in the plaza. The interior of the store is decently sized but with the way the seating arrangement worked, there was actually not too much space. Food: friend got the hainan chicken rice and we both agreed that it's quite bland. I got the mapo tots and it had a little kick to it. It's not as spicy as a regular mapo tofu dish (which I personally liked) but was layered well with the tater tots. Drinks were all really delicious. I loved their strawberry corn tea because the savory and sweetness of the corn balanced the sweetness from the strawberry syrup. The corn flavor is definitely heavier but as a lover of corn, it was no problem! Also tried their seasonal drink that I forgot the name of and it was delicious as well. My only complaint is that I think their price point is really high for both food and drinks, but which place isn't nowadays?! Staffs were nice!

The cafe was so cute and aesthetic. Very well cleaned and just well kept in general. The tea was pretty good and the food was as well, but I got really sick of the food after a bit since it had some sort of weird aftertaste.

Large parking lot shared with other business. Near a business Costco and target. Line to order is on the right side. Check their instagram as they offer discounts sometimes. It's still pretty popular so the line is usually at or out the door and takes about 15 minutes to order and 15-20 minutes to receive order. Tried: Strawberry corn milk - you really have to mix this to get any strawberry. My kid hated it and I didn't like it either. Frosty Orchard - a spiced apple cider type drink. Didn't really like the flavor. Assam milk tea - just okay. Wouldn't get again. Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich - good flavor but overcooked/stringy. Tots were good. Beef noodle soup sandwich - very small for the price but honestly the best option as it was pretty good. Taiwanese popcorn chicken was good, just get spicy or it's too plain. Tap x is better and cheaper though. Their prices are VERY high. I don't think I would go back just due to the cost. Spent $70+ just on the items above.

What we ordered: 1. Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich (9.5/10): I loved the flavor of this sandwich. There's slaw and pickles in it and a sauce that I think has mustard in it but is slightly sweet. This was my personal favorite. 2. Honey walnut shrimp sandwich (9/10): the crowd favorite! A must try if you come here. The patty is perfectly fried and still juicy. 3. Beef noodle soup sandwich (7/10): I'd probably pass on this next time. Flavor was good but I feel like the meat was just mid and it could've had some more cheese or onions or something in it. 4. Strawberry corn milk: 8/10 super strong corn flavor and the strawberry was fresh. 5. Assam milk tea (got this for free with purchase): 5/10 not a fan of this one I feel like the tea was just ok the aftertaste wasn't my favorite Lots of parking here. Food came out very fast. Not that much seating here but we were able to snag a big table because people are in and out.

2nd time here -- I was in the area and wanted a quick tea fix -- and it was a much better impression than my 1st visit. Hainan tacos were not bad!! I liked the Asian twist on Mexican tacos. And the popcorn chicken is always a hit! Got the hojicha corn latte as a hot drink this time, and still good! Though after perusing other reviews, I really should branch out and try their other drinks... ;)

The food and drinks here are really great! We tried the honey walnut shrimp burger, beef noodle soup sandwich, mapo tots, strawberry corn milk and taro sweet milk. The shrimp burger was perfectly fried and the combination of toppings were delicious. The beef noodle soup sandwich bread was perfectly buttered and toasted and tasted great when dipped in the broth. The mapo tots were just ok to me, I'll skip them next time. As for the drinks, we wanted to try the tea drinks but since it was already late, went for the caffeine free options. Both the taro and strawberry corn drinks tasted great. They use very fresh ingredients to make their food and drinks, which is apparent in the flavor. The price is definitely on the higher side, but you get what you pay for. The girl who helped us was exceptionally friendly and sweet. My new favorite spot in SD!

My coworker has been raving about this place and finally took the chance to try and was not disappointed! Bopomofo has easily become one of my favorites and have been here quite a number of times! There's always a line around lunch time and I highly recommended ordering ahead of time online. The service is great and servers are always kind and friendly! And best of all there's plenty of parking. The inside is also so ascetically appealing and always looking clean and fresh. Tried their spicy chicken sandwich and wow! The chicken is so tender juicy and the whole sandwich itself was so flavorful! The side of totts were also fried to perfection with such a satisfying crunch in each bite. Now their matcha drinks I gotta say, the matcha quality is impeccable and I have loved every matcha drink that I have tried from bopomofo!

Great food, beverages and exceptional customer service. One of my favorite boba shops in San Diego. This is the most efficient and smooth businesses ever. The team goes above and beyond to ensure that customer have a great experience. The BA-LA matcha was nice and the popular chicken is delicious as usual. Tip- ordering ahead is a breeze, especially during peak hours. The setting is modern and sleek with ample indoor and outdoor seating. The establishment is always clean-especially the restrooms. I'm so glad that there is finally a Bopomopo Cafe in San Diego. I will loyal and returning. Keep it up Phil and team.

Parking: lot Service: friendly staff and drinks only took 5 mins Drinks: really good! I got the matcha with sesame halloween special and i loved it. Never had sesame and matcha together and now i crave it all the time. Boba was fresh as well! I got regular sweetness as I like my drinks pretty sweet

This place is not visible from the street. It's in the middle in between Costco Business Center (Convoy St side) and Target / Mattress Discounters (Mercury side). There is an entrance on Othello near the corner of the Costco Business Center building that leads directly to Bopomofo. Staff are friendly, but the wait can be long. The drinks and food are... unique and pricey. Normally I'm all about unique, but this time it's just not my thing. Don't shoot it down without trying first, though. The strawberry corn milk definitely lives up to the corn part of the name. The frozen strawberry puree on top took a while to mix in with the rest of the drink. The food was definitely different takes of things I normally would like, such as the beef noodle soup sandwich. Flavor was okay, but not really my thing.

Finally got to try this place out!! Was so excited to try many things on the menu. First off the drinks are so unique and good!! The Ba-La was matcha and guava and I loved this combination! Another top drink was the B. O. G. which had blueberry, orange juice, and green tea. This was super refreshing! My favorite items for food were the Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich, Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger, and Mapo Tofu Tots. The bolo bao on the fried chicken sandwich was delicious. Love every bite of this sandwich. The honey walnuts shrimp burger pattie was so good, but I wish it came with the bolo bao option for the buns. Maybe I will ask next time if they can do that. The mapo tofu tots sounds so simple but it's so delicious with the perfect tofu texture and crispy of the tots. For sure these are items that are must get! I loved the concept of the beef noodle soup sandwich and the Hainan chicken tacos, but they fell short for me. The beef was dry and the taco shells were not my favorite. Service was great!! They were friendly and gave great recommendations. Love how they decorated their interior for this location! The owners did a video on the story of the design of this store so you should check it out if you are interested. I would highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back again to visit one of the many locations in CA!

I've been here few times now, and while it can get REALLY busy at times, I've also been lucky enough to catch it when it's quieter. I always go for the same three items, and they never disappoint: - Frankie's Matcha - The touch of blueberry that pairs perfectly with the matcha. I'm obsessed! - Hojicha Latte - Earthy, nutty, and toasty - Popcorn Chicken - Made with dark meat, which keeps it juicy and flavorful, not dry. It's honestly the best! I will keep coming back for these three items hehe

Parking is plentiful and the cafe wasn't crowded when we went. The inside is spacious and clean with a very modern aesthetic. Service is friendly and relatively quick. We ordered the mapo tofu tots and spicy dark meat popcorn chicken. The popcorn chicken was very good with plenty of flavor and a nice spicy kick. I liked the crispy flakes of basil scattered over the chicken. The meat was tender and soft with a crispy crunchy exterior coat. The mapo tofu tots weren't super impressive. It was exactly as described- mapo tofu on top of regular tater tots with melted cheese over the entire thing. I don't know that it really complemented each other. I still prefer mapo tofu over plain rice. I'm glad to have tried these two dishes but for the price, I wouldn't get them again.

630 on a Friday and there were zero people. We actually thought it was closed. But nope, we just beat the rush which was awesome. There's not a lot of seating inside so getting there in time to grab a table for 4 was perfect. I saw they hand some sandwich combos with mini mapo tots which caught my eye. I ordered the walnut shrimp sandwich with mini mapo tots. Unfortunately, the guy at the register must have misheard me and I only got regular tots. I asked them when I got my order and it looks like they only charged me for regular tots. Luckily my friend also got mapo tots for the table so I was still able to get some. I've only had bopomofo at the LA location and takeout only. This was my first time dining in and I think it makes a big difference. I love that they use lactose free milk for their drinks. Definitely recommend but I wouldn't wait in a really long line for it. The food and drinks are unique and their story is nice.

We've been here 3x in a span of two weeks. Their drinks are better than their food. Strawberry corn milk (1/5):I thought it would taste like Vietnamese corn milk but the corn was really concentrated strong like sweet corn from a can. strawberry basil ginger lemonade (3/5): lots of ginger and a bit syrupy hoji-corn latte (5/5): Has more of the corn milk taste from the Hojicha. Almost like horchata mixed with chocolate milk. orange wangi (4/5): Tasted like orange dream and orange Julius. LA autumn (1/5): has yuzu, peach and tea that was all syrup. It was nasty and thick. Described as the perfect summer and fall blend. Pork belly rice bowl (3/5): nothing special with tiny bits of pork belly. The box was a half order size. Spicy popcorn chicken (2/5): big dry pieces, the skin was not crispy, wasn't spicy, seems like they dumped a ton of paprika. I would only return for their drinks. They ran out of anything with sesame which I wanted to compare it to Sunmerry drink. Gotta try their matcha next time too. 4 stars for drink options.

Food/drink - 5/5 very delicious, refreshing tea. Abostlyy enhoyed the flavors and the seetnes Service 3/5 - too long of a wait for a tea, we waited 30min. Hope they hire more people and find away around this to become faster Ambiance 5/5 - cute interior and chill vibes

Today i ordered the B.O.G with a side of popcorn chicken. I have been recommended to try the popcorn chicken and i ordered the white meat version. The drink to accompany my meal was the B.O.G. I was very parched and this strange concoction was refreshing and inundated my thirst. The lady at took my order was welcoming and asked about my day, great customer service The standing table caught my eye, while everyone was waiting , elbows hunched eagerly waiting for their name to be called . Great lively atmosphere. I appreciated the hole left in the box to let the popcorn chicken maintain its freshness from the fryer, a sign of technique from the cook. I was curious about the pea baby food looking sauce , but this ethereal aioli derived from a Thai basil was the perfect dipping sauce. Can't wait to have my combo again :)

I didn't try the drinks but ordered their chicken sandwich and tater tots. The food was super good but I wish it was a little more saucy. And the order came out pretty quickly so no complaints there. Definitely a good spot to try out.

Plenty of parking. It's right next to the Target. This place was busy when we were there on a week night. Right before closing time... oops. I was here for their matcha. Premium matcha... and I was not disappointed. They do have other tea not just matcha. I've got simple matcha latte and added boba for extra. Matcha latte was very much flavorful and bold. Which might not be everyone's flavor. The space itself was large with bunch of seating spaces and standing space. Very clean vibe, unsure if they have a bathroom... but I think it would be a good place to telework. It could be your next work from home place with some good matcha!

Went here twice in a weekend because after our first visit I wanted to try more drinks! We were able to try the BOG, strawberry corn milk, LA Autumn, and shaken espresso plus the honey walnut shrimp burger with mapo tots. Everything was delicious. I thought both the BOG and LA autumn were perfectly sweet at 100% sweetness and had fresh fruit flavors (no artificial syrup taste) with a good balance of tea. The strawberry corn milk was really unique and had a very strong corn flavor. It kinda tastes like a corn version of those little korean boxed banana milks. I should have adjusted this to less sweet, but it's great as a dessert drink. We got the shaken espresso 50% sweet and it was really nice and tasted similar to Vietnamese coffee in strength. We also got the honey walnut shrimp burger with mapo tots which were SO good! Both are a must try. It is a bit expensive, but I thought the flavors were unique and something I can't really get anywhere else. The shrimp burger patty was perfectly fried and the fresh toppings had really nice balance. The service was friendly and drinks/food came out fairly quickly. No issues there. The cafe itself is small with modern, simple vibes and kept clean. I like that they had a few tables of outdoor seating as well to enjoy the sun and I was able to have my dog with us too. I was only visiting SD for long weekend, but I'd definitely come here often if I lived nearby.

Been here a few times now and my favorite is their chicken sando and popcorn chicken. There's always a long line but you could do online order for pickup. They have outdoor seating but I wish they had parasols to provide shade because it gets hot really fast. If you order the popcorn chicken in person just FYI you have to mention dark meat/leg if you want it to be juicy! I didn't know I had to do that and the guy just gave me breast meat which was still good but a lot drier. Their non-tea drinks like the strawberry corn and the orange wang are pretty good. I tried the hojicha corn once and the hojicha was way too grainy of a texture for my liking. I've also tried their jasmine and assam milk tea but it was on the watery side.

I'm glad that they opened up a location in San Diego! I've been to the one in San Gabriel but I've never tried their food. I went there about 10 minutes before opening and we were the first ones waiting. By the time we ordered and sat down though, the line was already out the door. This time I got the Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger ($15.50), Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich ($14), Spicy Popcorn Chicken ($12.50), and for my drink I got the B.O.G. ($6.50) with Boba ($0.75), 25% sweetened, and less ice. I really liked the Honey Walnut Shrimp Burger. It was really juicy and had a lot of flavor to it. The bun was also nice and warm. The Taiwanese Fried Chicken Sandwich I would skip if you're getting the popcorn chicken anyway. It could be because of the spicy seasoning from the popcorn chicken overpowering the regular seasoning of the chicken sandwich, but the sandwich tasted more bland. I did like the spicy popcorn chicken way better. It had more flavor to it and it had a good enough kick to it. I think they should supply more of the aioli sauce with it because the amount that they gave was only enough for half the chicken, and it's extra to get more sauce. For the drink I like that they have unique flavors that you can't really find anywhere else, but I thought that the boba tasted bland as well. It had the texture, but I didn't really taste anything from it. The juice itself was pretty good though. So maybe next time I would just go for the drink and not add any toppings to it. There's very limited seating inside and there's actually more seating outside, but it could be rough on cold or rainy days. There is a standing counter for those doing take out so it looks like a place where you would just order it for takeout. I can't tell if the regular popcorn chicken seasoning was just over powered by the spicy chicken seasoning, so maybe I will have to just get the regular one just to make sure I can taste something from it. I do highly recommend the honey walnut shrimp burger for sure. Some items were hits and some were misses, but I do like that they have items that you can't find elsewhere. Glad Bopomofo has opened up a location in San Diego, so that my friends here can try it out too.

I'm excited that I finally got to try Bopomofo Cafe! They have such a unique menu with a lot of interesting flavors that I haven't seen before, both in food and beverage. I dropped by with a few friends after eating a large dinner, but we still had room for dessert. I ended up getting the black sesame drink (HEY sesame milk) and my friends got the strawberry corn milk and mapo tots. I enjoyed my drink, it was basically black sesame paste swirled into milk that had a roasted, almost umami quality that gave a nice depth of flavor. It reminded me of this black sesame dessert soup that my grandma used to make and also black sesame tang yuan. I got to taste the strawberry corn milk and to be honest, I'm glad I didn't get it because it next on my list to try. It is very corn forward, and mostly corn juice flavored with a hint of strawberry. I thought it was going to be the other way around, strawberry with a hint of corn so I was a little surprised. It reminds me of those asian corn puff snacks you can get at the grocery store, with very little strawberry flavor. At first we thought they made a mistake, or that it was lacking in strawberry because we only got it at 25% sweetness, but apparently they're only allowed to add a certain amount of strawberry to the drink and couldn't give us any more, only some additional simple syrup which helped a bit with the corn flavor. At least the mapo tots were really good, though you do have to eat them quickly as the tots get soggy. The mapo tofu had a nice sichuan pepper numbing spiciness to it and was quite flavorful. I would go back and try some of their other unique food options and probably their matcha drinks. Definitely a place to check out for adventurous eaters and you must be willing to challenge your palate!

I used to go to the OG location which opened while I was living up in 626, and was glad to see that they were expanding down to San Diego after I moved back down here! Looks like they have 2 additional locations in the works, and with their third existing location in Artesia, looks like Bopomofo will be accessible even when I'm visiting friends or family around SoCal! They have a variety of drink offerings which include seasonal drinks, but I primarily come here for the food. Love their creative fusion takes on various Chinese and Taiwanese dishes! They definitely run on the pricier side (especially for their food) considering they're more of a casual place, so it's more of a once-in-a-while treat for me. But I love to support them and it really seems like they care about their customers. I've tried most of their food offerings and they always hit the spot. Order online to save on wait time. They're pretty popular and I've come on a weekday during an off hour in the daytime, but there was still a line. I think a lot of their demographic consists of students or those who work from home, so don't think coming during regular working hours means there won't be a wait! Overall, a little pricey but a great spot if you're looking for tasty, creative Asian-inspired food and drinks with high quality ingredients. Convenient location too, in the same plaza as Target and business Costco and not far from Convoy.

Saw the beef noodle soup sandwich online so I had to come in and try it. The place doesn't have many places to sit and there were a good handful of ppl sitting around on their computers. Noticed that most ppl ordered just drinks. What we ordered BaLa Green Tea - I liked it. Needed to mix it better next time so I don't drink all the guava first Beef Noodle Soup Sandwich - it was ok. First couple bites were good but it seemed a little on the salty side Chicken sandwich - my bf said it was real good Tots - had too much stuff on it. I didn't really eat it. Bf liked it though We want to come back to try other things... and drinks

Came here on a Tuesday afternoon and there wasn't a line! Food and drinks came out in 15ish mins so not a long wait. I got the shrimp burger and it was sooo yummy and juicy. It also wasn't greasy/heavy, which I loved. For drinks, I got the honey roasted oolong milk tea with 50% sugar. It was really good and perfect sweetness for me. We also ordered the mapo tofu on the side and the popcorn chicken. Both were pretty good, but the tots get quite soggy with everything on it, and it's very heavy. The spicy popcorn chicken is also tasty but I'm not sure if I would get it again next time- the spice on it is very powdery and makes the chicken a little dry. Overall happy with the experience and I would come back again for the burger and drink!!

My friend introduced me to the Bopomofo location in San Gabriel a couple years back so I was super excited to hear that another location opened up in San Diego! There's ample parking as it's in the same plaza as Costco business and Target. The drinks and food is really yummy but I'm docking a star due to the price and wait time. I understand they use premium ingredients and everything is made to order but it's a bit more pricey/longer wait times than an average boba shop. Honey walnut shrimp burger (5/5): if you're on a budget and can only get one food item, I highly recommend ordering their shrimp burger! So flavorful and the shrimp is nicely minced and the buns/coating of the shrimp burger is toasty. It's definitely very filling as well. Frosty orchard (5/5): I am really hesitant to try new drinks on the off chance that I don't like the flavor but wow I'm so glad I took a chance on ordering this drink! It's def my new favorite as it's super refreshing and really unique. I thought it paired perfectly with the shrimp burger. All in all, I'll be back when I'm craving their drinks!!

I came from Arizona primarily to try out this shop specifically!...and it did not disappoint! The order: Taiwanese chicken sandwich, honey walnut shrimp burger, beef noodle soup & sandwich, mapo tofu tots, hainan chicken taco, ba-La , BOG The good: the Tots! I could have this as a main dish with side veggies, all day! The chicken sandwich was great as well. I really enjoyed the flavor of the Hainan chicken, and it's like a Hainanese and Mexican hybrid! Both of our drinks were both great as well! The bad: it felt fairly pricey, especially for tacos or soup. The soup wasn't my favorite, but it's a good concept for French dip lovers (but really not for me).

Ordered a milk tea with boba and it was good. Customer service was great. I would like to come back and try some savory items.

The boba could have been better. Their boba was a little harder and more chewy. The interior is modern and simple, great place to get a quick snack. The person taking my order was sweet and explained the menu to us. They told us our chicken would come out in 15 min and it came out in exactly 15 min (I timed it lol). Haunted matcha latte: my favorite!! The drink itself had a strong black sesame taste. It was just a little grainy which is expected. Matcha flavor still came through. Taro boba: had bits of taro inside which were chunkier than other boba spots. We were expecting it to be a smooth taro paste, nope it was small cubes/chunks. Hey sesame milk: same black sesame taste that the haunted matcha has. Exactly how you'd think sesame and milk would taste Popcorn chicken: could've been crispier. It did have a strong fried basil taste

I came on a Saturday evening and was surprised to find bopomofo so empty. I tried two drinks from the seasonal menu. The LA autumn (yuzu peach lemonade) and frosty orchard (apple cider black tea) were both okay but nothing memorable. Unfortunately like others, the wait was super long - for two drinks, it took about 20 minutes.

This was the second time coming here after stopping by right when they opened and they've really worked out the kinks! Service has always been great and they've gotten faster at getting the drinks out. The menu is explorative and exciting with classic drinks if you don't feel like trying something different. I got the Jasmine milk tea and BA-LA matcha which has guava juice in it and gives the matcha a unique and fruity taste. I also love that all the milk they use is lactose free (they know their audience lol). The prices are fair and the interior is always super clean. I really want to try their food so we'll be back soon for that!