Bopomofo Cafe

"Although fans of Bopomofo Cafe, one of the standout boba spots in Los Angeles, still have a little longer to wait before fully experiencing its new San Diego storefront, its owners will be in town on Wednesday, June 19 to give locals a sneak preview of what’s to come. From 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., co-founders Eric Wang and Phillip Wang are hosting a meet-and-greet at their incoming Convoy District location and pouring samples of some of Bopomofo’s bestselling drinks including guava matcha, the creamsicle-like Orange Bang! and Assam milk tea made with oat milk. The business partners launched the cafe in San Gabriel back in 2019, where it quickly became a sensation, and now operate another LA County outpost in Artesia. A UCSD alum with a dynamic YouTube channel whose content includes a Netflix talk show filmed at Bopomofo, Phillip Wang tells Eater that the San Diego shop should be open by the end of July, with San Diego Comic-Con as the target date. The Convoy District open house will also feature giveaway coupons for free drinks with purchase and discounted gift cards. Along with boba drinks, Bopomofo is known for other creative beverages like corn milk with housemade strawberry sorbet along with a food menu inspired by Chinese, Taiwanese, and American dishes, from mapo tofu tots to Hainan chicken tacos, and a hoagie stuffed with braised beef shank and served with Asian au jus. There are also seasonal items such as the springtime Blueberry Cooler made with blueberry compote, limeade, and mint and a Taiwanese sausage corn dog. Other drinks and dishes are being developed exclusively for the San Diego cafe." - Candice Woo

"One of the LA area’s essential boba spots is coming to the Convoy District. But Bopomofo Cafe is much more than boba, says co-founders Eric Wang and Phillip Wang. The friends launched Bopomofo’s flagship San Gabriel location in 2019, which was followed by a second outpost in Artesia. The newest branch will open by mid-January in the Convoy complex shared by Target and the Costco Business Center. It’s a full circle moment for Philip, a filmmaker and notable YouTube creator, who told Eater that he spent a lot of time on Convoy while attending UCSD in the early 2000s. Though it's popular for its boba drinks, made with lactose-free milk or oat milk and without any artificial flavors or syrups, Bopomofo is also known for its other unique beverages, including a matcha latte infused with cold-pressed carrot juice and a strawberry-corn concoction that mixes fresh corn milk with housemade strawberry sorbet. The cafe also offers a substantial food menu, which the partners tell Eater is a fusion of Chinese, Taiwanese, and American flavors. Bestsellers include mapo tofu-topped tater tots, Taiwanese fried chicken sandwiches, and honey walnut shrimp burgers as well as seasonal dishes like Hainan chicken tacos. The partners, who tell Eater that they hope to open more than one location in San Diego, are planning to create some items that will be specific to the San Diego stores." - Candice Woo

"Bopomofo is best known for its co-owner, YouTube and filmmaker Phil Wang of Wong Fu Productions. The boba shop is popular in the SGV area and known for its unique take on boba drinks, which do not contain any artificial flavors or syrups, fructose, or powdered creamer — just real fruit, pressed juice, loose leaf teas, and fresh milk. The carrot matcha latte mixes matcha with carrot juice. The strawberry corn milk, watermelon oat milk, and strawberry ginger lemonade are also drinks that can’t be found at other shops. Bopomofo uses lactose-free milk, plus oat, coconut, and almond milk as non-dairy options." - Kristie Hang

"In LA’s San Gabriel Valley, the snack shop Bopomofo makes a fine popcorn chicken characterized by herbal notes from the basil and an almost-too-salty exterior that finds its balance from the spot’s excellent milk tea drinks." - Matthew Kang

"Bopomofo Cafe serves up Instagram-ready milk teas, along with Taiwanese-American comfort fare in San Gabriel. The Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich served on a pineapple bun is rightfully popular." - Cathy Chaplin