Cha For Tea - University Center

Amazing boba!!! We drove an hour just for the boba!! The only thing is that they do use paper straws… so if you can bring your own. The boba is always on point sometimes the tea is not. The line can get long, but worth the wait. Will be coming back.

I have been coming here since my college days. They have good milk tea options and I always order the popcorn chicken. I am not sure what the sauce they give you is called, but it goes perfectly with the chicken. As for milk tea, my favorite is their lychee milk tea <3 The service is friendly and quick. Seating is limited though, so if you are planning to study here, it can be hit or miss depending on how busy it is.

Great drinks and for good prices. Cheaper than the other boba places in the area. I like they had a little area to pour a little sample of 4 drinks. Limited table spots inside, seems always busy. Got the Mango Green Tea, reg sugar and fruit jelly. So good would get again.

I ordered a hot tea. It was prepared in a microwave. That's embarrassing. No shade to the employees, they're just doing what they were trained to do, but the owners need to rethink this in my opinion. I will wait for freshly brewed tea over microwave tea any day of the week. I'm not coming here again.

Who wants tea with boba? I want one please! Cool, clean place to drink your bubble tea. Tea flavors are unique and refreshingly yummy. Plus, it seems that they use half and half instead of milk making their drinks extra creamy. Also great quality tea bases, brewed strong enough that you can actually taste them! The staff is friendly and quite informative of the ingredients and proud of the quality. Not only that, but they provide a lot of the mix-ins (maybe even a bit too much, which isn't a bad thing in my opinion). Yum yum taste and fast service. I'm sure to come back!

I came here relatively often in my junior college days. I'm not too far with my car, thankfully. Every time I've ordered something, it was usually good. I get cravings for their matcha green tea boba and some other flavored boba tea drinks like lychee green tea and almond milk boba, etc, on occasion. I still like this place today. yay !

This was hands-down the most frustrating and worst experience I’ve ever had at any tea shop, let alone one as well-known as this. The curly-haired guy in the picture working here was unbelievably rude. I came in before closing time, fully expecting to place my order, but he aggressively told me to get out. When I tried to explain that I was inside well before closing time, he cut me off and had the audacity to say he’d call the police if I didn’t leave! I’ve never been treated so poorly in any establishment. It’s absolutely outrageous and unacceptable that this is how they treat their customers. If management doesn’t step in and fix this, they’re going to lose every loyal customer they have. I’m beyond frustrated and disappointed.

There can be a line, but the tea is worth it—very refreshing! The staff is incredibly kind and understanding, even if you’re spilled on by your friends. Despite the rush of customers, they handle everything with patience and care, and their knowledge of the menu helps keep the line moving quickly.

Boba that punches above its price tag. Classic boba balls were made perfectly - soft and chewy, no hardness or burning. This can even be an issue at some of the "higher end" places i've been to; they've got it figured out here though. Shop itself was clean, bright, and fun. Service was friendly and fast.

CHA FOR TEA @ UC Irvine's University Center As a student, I was wowed on how close this was to UC Irvine's campus! My friend brought me here in the center telling me how amazing the boba here is. Parking is free for 2 hours and there is plenty of space in the lot. This place is my favorite, during my time in Irvine with my friend's family, I came here all three days straight, no joke and got the same thing. Their best seller Mango Green Tea with boba. It is FANTASTIC, and I cannot rave more about the pricing and how fresh their boba is. The price is no argument, with it only be less than $6 a drink, it's amazing. The service is great, there is samples for you to try and the workers are always kind and get your order so fast! The ambiance is bright and clean, so I'd highly recommend stopping by, this is by far my favorite place.

Honestly this review is long overdue. I grew up going here with my sister and it's always our favorite boba. The black almond milk tea just always hits right. I lived away from CA for 10 ish years and still missed this place when I was gone. Writing this today specifically because I truly appreciate the kind staff (as always). My phone ran out of battery while charging in the car(?!) and Myke very kindly let me charge it until I was good to go again. Also, they consistently always care about my allergies and I've never had an allergic reaction to any food here despite many different things to watch out for. I will forever stan the black almond milk tea, and everything else I've had is wonderful too. Thanks for always feeling like home.

Came here around 3PM with a group of friends and the line wasn't too bad at all. We probably waited about 5-7 minutes before placing our order. I was craving something refreshing so I went with the mango green tea w/ boba. While you're waiting in line, they have pitchers of some of their top drinks along with small sample cups. I tried the warm almond milk tea and the mango green tea - the almond milk tea tasted a bit too similar to almond jello for my taste. The mango green tea was solid, just a bit sweet, so I opted for 75% sweetness for my drink. The boba had a nice chewy consistency and the mango green tea was the perfect drink for a warm day. Will definitely return to Cha for Tea if I'm in the Irvine area again!

Nearly 15 years later, and I still find myself coming back to this GOAT every time I visit Irvine! What's to like about Cha for Tea? Well, for starters, it's easily accessible from UCI, and... those free samples! You know a cafe is great when they offer free samples; it's the quite, unspoken "Yes, we know we're good" that gets me. What's impressive? Their almond milk tea! You'll know a place is good when they can make a refreshing almond milk tea; very few places can do this right! (iykyk) It's the perfect blend of nuttiness and sweetness (I prefer lightly sweet.) In summer, I get this iced, and in winter hot... both versions are equally amazing. Of course, they have a variety of other remarkable drinks such as mango green tea, but almond is by far my favorite. They usually have a few up to try while in line, so sample as much as you'd like! I also enjoy their lighting and shelves of product. The bright wood showcases all their teas and accessories - why yes, I'd love to take some home, but I know that this will send me into another financially unsustainable hobby... may the next time though!

Outstanding experience and boba here. Upon entering they have a stand where you can sample some of their best selling drinks. This was a great way to try before committing to an entire drink. They have an extensive menu with many toppings to chose from and their prices are very reasonably priced. I ordered the lychee green tea with light ice and it was around $5 for a really great size. The drink wasn't too sweet, but if you prefer it less sweet you can also order it with 50% sugar as well. The location is in a very vibrant complex right on UC Irvine campus so it was nice being around a college campus and seeing it so lively. I would highly recommend this place to friends if you're in the area and looking for boba!

ORDER popcorn chicken (3/5) mango green tea (4/5) the price here is unbeatable, but you pay for what you get. the popcorn is tasty, but the portion always catches me off guard since the bag is filled maybe 1/3 of the way... but again you pay for what you get. the sauce here has a light flavor and the consistency is super thick. sauce is an additional fee. the drinks here are pretty good and well priced. my favorite is the mango green tea (they usually have a sample of this). i get mine less sweet with boba. ive tried the green milk tea here as well and its also good. i always come back since the price is so good. SERVICE super quick service even if there's a line + you can order online AMBIANCE spacious inside, but usually busy. plenty of parking!

Nestled in the UCI campus, I had no complaints about the service, especially the cashier he was very friendly. And it's very well lit inside as well as plenty of seating to do as you wish. The issue was just how artificial the boba drink tasted. My husband used to work at lollicup back in the day and even he said all they used was powder and syrup mixtures. I did used to love Cha but I think now that I've tried other boba spots that you can tell they have made their teas from scratch. My passion fruit cooler was just incredibly sweet that I couldn't finish it after a few sips. If you are looking for just a quick sugar fix then this is your place.

This place is so nostalgic. It reminds me of high school/college days. I got a green milk tea and enjoyed the strong tea flavor. The line moved quickly. Easy parking in a large lot.

Stephanie was very patient and helpful! She answered all my questions about the menu and was very knowledgeable about the ingredients. I ordered the Passionfruit Green Tea and Popcorn Chicken and both were delicious!

Never had an iced chai before, but it was pretty good. I appreciated that they had a little sampler set up to taste test different teas, it really helped me get out of my comfort zone and try something new.

Solid boba spot but only a couple good drinks that I come back for, which are the almond milk tea, honey green milk tea, or mango green tea. I was feeling adventurous and got the mango milk tea but it started separating which was a little unsightly, but I drank it anyway after giving it a mix before I took a sip. I really liked my boyfriend's almond milk tea and snuck a few sips hehe. Service was quick even though there was a long line. Ambiance was casual, more of a grab and go spot. Plenty of outdoor seating if you want to enjoy your drink right away.

This spot holds a special place in my heart. When i was a kid, i used to take ballet classes nearby and after every class my mom would go here for a lil boba bevvy! Now, every time she visits (all the way from Wisconsin), we hit up Cha for Tea straightaway. Service is always quick and you can customize your sweetness level and even boba level! If you are craving boba, go here.

I haven't had Cha for Tea since my college days, and I'm surprised by how much they've stepped it up! This location is thriving with people and their service is really fast :) 1. Green milk tea I am very picky with my GMTs because it is my go to drink. But this location has the PERFECT green tea flavor I always look for. You can taste the floral notes and the milk/tea ratio is perfect. 2. Roasted Brown Sugar Boba Not sure if I taste too much of the roastyness, but it is definitely different from your usual BS boba. Service: Ordered on the app while I was in the plaza. By the time I walked over, my drink was ready to go! Less than 5 minutes I would say. Ambiance: Quite noisy with a lot of students around. Very typical boba shop vibe. There's lots of tables, but not sure if you can find seating during peak hours.

I am very grateful to Stephanie, who assisted me in selecting my order, as well as completing it in only a few minutes. My food and drink came out much better than expected. 10/10 service, would come again.

My favorite spot in UTC These are my favorites: Mango green tea(iced) w/ lychee Toasted brown sugar milk latte Crispy chicken w/ noodles

This boba place is located in University Center. They make fresh hourly here. There a small area for indoor seating and they also sell Taiwanese appetizers to munch on. I like to get their roasted brown sugar boba milk latte which is quite delicious. Very sweet in flavor that you can customize sweetness as well. Good and friendly staff. One less star for lack of space while waiting to order out drinks.

Cha for Tea is a nostalgic favorite for me as I've been coming here since I was a student here. Given that I started coming here at the beginning of this century, I have to give them respect for their tea being consistent for decades. I love their honey green milk tea and their boba is consistently warm/chewy in that perfect way. I wish I could get more volume in my orders, but I do crave their tea here and I can''t keep myself from stopping by when I'm in the area.

Consider this a 3.5 star rating. Parking can be tricky at UCI Town Center! I parked a ways away and walked, but thankfully I wasn't in a particular rush. I went to Cha for Tea in the middle of a Friday afternoon and didn't find a long line (it's packed at night, though!). The employee at the counter who helped me was in training, according to his name tag, and was very friendly and got my order down no problem. However, I will note that they said they didn't have the classic jasmine milk tea that I love at most boba shops. Instead, it's a honey green blend of teas. Now, I should've noted the "honey" in the name. When I got my drink (maybe 2 minutes after I ordered - quick turnaround!), I found that the milk tea was overwhelmingly honey-tasting. To the point that it definitely overpowered any tea flavor that the blend had. The drink itself had an overly sweet, almost artificial taste to it. The boba was so soft that it made it harder to chew because of the texture. Not necessarily a bad shop overall, but it wasn't a drink that would keep me coming back as a regular. Service was great, though, so full points for that :)

Happy national bubble tea day from my favorite place to get boba Mango green tea 10/10- my absolute fav, I normally get 2 pumps of sweetener instead of the full amount as it's pretty sweet and it's awesome that they can adjust it for you. I love how refreshing it is and how the mango and green tea go together perfectly. This is also the most popular drink on their menu!! Their boba is also incredibly fresh but I love getting their lychee jelly or aloe Vera jelly however I didn't get any in this drink order. Highly recommend their hot honey almond milk tea for when it's cold out. They also started selling boba squishmallows so I had to cave and get one as it's so cute and cha for tea is my favorite spot for drinks. The lines go fast too! I've been coming here for 10+ years now and it's always been consistent. Instagram: @hungrytamale

I wish yelp would do half stars, this place would get 3.5 from me. Rounding down because I will frequent other locations when I have options. This was a good Boba place for order ahead and pickup. It's right by the UCI campus so it's very busy with a line out the door and the place itself is quite small. I could imagine waiting for your order takes awhile. When you pickup the person taking orders will help you ahead of the giant line which is nice but probably slows down the line so not the best system. The boba was good but I feel like the menu was limited. No oolong options and the black milk tea was just ok. Parking makes this place a task to get to. Overall just ok.

This was an always a staple spot at UTC to get my boba fix. I think Cha has a best boba, they have the perfect texture and bounce. My go to drinks are the honey green milk tea and the mango green tea, but I always lower the sweetness to 2/5, which is already plenty sweet for me. The popcorn chicken also deserves a shout out!

Food: this is my usual go to boba spot in Irvine area, especially when visiting my best friend who lives close by. I've tried many different drinks both cold and hot, and they have always been solid. This time around, my bf and I stopped by while on our way going home from Newport Beach. It was still cold and windy outside so we opted for hot teas, he got chai and I got honey green milk tea. The drinks definitely warmed us up right away and tasted OK, but still a bit too sweet despite requesting 50% sugar. Personally I would choose yifang or sunright over this place, but cha for tea is a staple irvine experience that you really can't miss out on. We also got crispy (popcorn) chicken in mild spice, which was indeed crispy, bite sized, and seasoned really well even without the sweet and sour sauce, highly recommend! Price: about $5 per drink or appetizer, I think the prices are very reasonable Ambiance: located in the heart of university center, which is a big plaza close to UC irvine. Lots of young college students, mostly Asian crowd, very lively and crowded and busy. There were about 8 tables inside, some people were studying, some were talking, not enough seats to accommodate the number of people who visit. Better to just grab the drinks and sit outside or walk around the plaza Service: good, no issues, minimal interaction other than ordering at the counter with cashier Parking: huge parking lot right infront the university center, no need to worry about finding a spot, there always will be one

Cha For Tea is probably a staple for UCI students and locals and visitors alike. Solid tea options and munchies to enjoy while you're studying or just hanging out. It was a cold night for us so we opted for hot drinks, which were just right. The hot chai milk tea was nice and refreshing but I'd recommend dropping the sweetness to 50%, same goes for the hot honey green milk tea. And good job, they're the more popular items on the menu too. The crispy chicken aka popcorn chicken was seasoned nicely and had a nice mix of crunch and tender. It's been a while since I had popcorn chicken so this was a nice little treat myself kind of snack. So while it may get crowded here, the line moves fairly quick and drinks come out in a timely manner. Seating may be limited though since it's pretty close to UCI.

Cha for Tea is tried and true. It's still just as good as during my college days at UCI. It brings back lots of memories coming here. But just as it was years ago, quality of drinks are still above average. Their teas are so rich and aromatic. I'm always a fan of the almond milk tea and mango tea, but in college I would occasionally satisfy that sweet tooth with a strawberry colada cooler. I remember the boba pearls being very sweet and chewy. Crispy popcorn chicken is always a wonderful salty pairing. On this most recent visit we ordered a beef stew meal which comes with rice and corn and we ordered a side of popcorn chicken. We also ordered drinks, and took everything to the beach. Good food, good drinks, good company, good times. I wish there was a Cha for Tea near me.

Good boba but I specifically asked for 3 servings of roasted boba but they only gave me 1 so I paid extra :(

Tasty and refreshing especially when the weather is hot, and food snack is a good confort food

The mango green tea is splendid for the hot weather. Just the right amount of sweet and very refreshing. Their boba is perfectly chewy as well. The popcorn chicken was yummy. We got very hot and it wasn't spicy at all. Service is nice and fast which is a plus.

Friendly staff! Enjoy the combo meal all the time! Always enjoy my corn with popcorn chicken and almond milk tea drink. We'll definitely keep coming back here

Honestly no words needed. A UCI classic. I love their samples. I've never disliked a drink from there, and I've tried many over the years. Their spicy crispy chicken is yum.

An old college staple we had to come back and visit after all these years. We're so happy to see the food and drinks are just as consistent and affordable as before. Given all the new boba shops around, it's refreshing to see Cha still prices their drinks a bit cheaper and serves it with delicious popcorn chicken snacks. Interior was bright, clean, and well lit with four pitchers of fresh teas to sample as you wait in line. Service was great and speedy - our orders were taken quickly and our drinks/food were out in about 10 minutes.

Made a pit stop to get some liquid desert in a form of boba drink. Good. Service here is order at the counter and get your name called. Ambiance - there is a small few tables inside. The rest is outdoor shared seating near the fountain.

If you were a UCI student then you know Cha was the ultimate boba spot. They have done quite a bit of a remodel that I barely recognized it! Still just as busy, there will always be a line out the door. Luckily you can now order online for pickup. I ordered my usual almond black milk tea and it tasted just like I remembered!

I usually always come for the drinks. This time I decided to get the popcorn chicken. When I opened the bag there was a feather on the chicken piece that they gave me. Drinks were good tho. I recommend the mango green tea.

Loud, loud, and loud inside, and crowded too. But...I was pleased with my drink and my wife is fond of this location. Parking was okay, since it was later in the evening.

came in with a friend on a friday evening & ordered popcorn chicken. it came out in 5 mins! which is usually very fast. the flavoring on the chicken was alright and i believe their sweet & sour sauce is made in house. it was only ~$5 which is super rare now a days!

My friend told me this was a classic for UCI students, but me being a UCSD alum, meant I never had the chance to try it! We came pretty late in the night and saw that it was pretty crowded with people grabbing boba and hanging out. The surrounding shops were all closed, so this was definitely the spot. Inside, there was a line to order, which went by fast, and free samples which were out by the time the line moved. I ordered a peach mint refresher with splenda and thought it was a pretty tasty drink! The splenda though, isn't my favorite sweetener, so something like stevia would be better. Nonetheless, the mint flavor was great, and the toppings were awesome. The service was phenomenal as well, with the staff being super friendly and efficient! I have to stop by for a bite sometime!

If you want great quality boba and drink then this place might be for you! The line can get pretty long especially on the weekend and closer to night. There isn't a lot of seating inside but plenty outside. The worker was quick to take our order. One thing I would critique is the amount of boba they give per drink; they do not give a lot of boba. I would recommend getting their drink less sweet because it is too sweet for me. Overall, really solid boba shop! Plus is that they have snacks and food to munch on if you want to pair your boba with popcorn chicken.

This place never misses! So many great drink options and complimentary samples are provided in line. Although there's normally a line out the door, staff is very quick and efficient. The vibes at the university plaza really add to the experience!

Tried their matcha soy latte and I couldn't taste any matcha. On the sweeter side so I'd reduce sweetness of you don't have a sweet tooth. Disappointed in what it was for the price

Timmy was nice and took our order with ease. Got the large peach passion green tea and was refreshing, boba was deliciously bouncy and chewy. Would recommend the caramel boba for a milk or coffee drink for next time. Considering the location it was busy, but we got through the line and received our orders pretty quickly. Lots of tables inside and saw a few people with laptops doing work. Outdoor seating is available with little to no shade. Good natural lighting exposure during the day inside the shop and clean modern decorations makes for a refreshing place to be in for me.

I got the matcha latte with boba, and it was really good, the boba was nice and chewy, but it was a little sweet. Overall I loved it!

I've been going to Cha for Tea ever since I was a kid at both the Long Beach and Irvine UTC locations. Every time I come, I leave satisfied with my order. Today I got the popcorn chicken entree combo with honey green milk tea for only $14! The popcorn chicken was crispy and paired well with the sweet and sour sauce they provided. I'm a big fan of corn so I'm always happy when they serve it as a side for their entree. As for the drink, it wasn't overly sweet since I lessened the syrup and the green tea was strong. It made for a great lunchtime meal. It wasn't very crowded on a Sunday afternoon and so service was very quick and I left in no time!

Worst boba drinks I've had in my life. Everything tastes artificial and syrupy and the food is always cooked halfway through or partially unseasoned. No quality control here. On top of that, this location always has an extremely long line and the college students are super rowdy, making a huge mess here.

Service is friendly, teas and food are amazing with good pricing . My go-to is the Mango green tea with boba half sweet. They have tables inside so you can sit and chill , overall a very good boba spot imo.

A staple honestly of uci utc. Always get their almond milk tea with their crispy chicken with sauce. Honestly their boba isn't rlly anything to write home about but it's acceptable. Their crispy chicken with sauce (I think it's worth it) on the other hand is addicting and what keeps bringing me back.

I was craving for boba and for a sweet drink and Cha for tea satisfied both. I don't do caffeine and they have a few lists of drinks under caffeine free. Of which brown sugar milk drink was my favorite. Medium size was small for me so I will recommend getting a large(about 50c difference) if you are thirsty. Also got their popcorn chicken and Cajun sweet potato fries. They were so-so and the quantity was less(~$6 for each). Service was quick. They have a few drinks to taste samples. Always a line and the crowd dies down after 2pm.

Tasty, always fresh teas and food! They are truly here to serve and have been trained well which adds to this tea places appeal. I have been going here since my daughter performs so much at the Barclay, this is my "go to" pit stop for food and teas. There is always an employee here, his name is "Phanu" (that's Tai) and he is so helpful to serve. I had a $100 bill and during the holiday season they can't accept those, which I can understand. Phanu explained ever so politely and respectfully, you could not be mad. It's his job to follow through manager orders, so he did his best. He took my order on hold until I could make change at Trader Joe's from buying anyhow a necessary item. I came back and the food and drinks were ready. Phanu offered to re-make them if the hot drink got cold, while I was away or if the cold tea was too watery. Consistently I see Phanu smiling, serving and just providing a genuine servant attitude but professional as well. Thanks Phanu for being such a gentleman to all of us and classy!

How the hell does this place have 3.8 stars? Drinks are awful, way too sweet (even at 1/5 sweetener), artificial flavor and no tea flavor. Probably the worst boba drink I had in all of OC in the last two years. There are zero redeeming qualities about these drinks. Don't waste your time here. Go to Jam Jam Tea Lab or Cha Redefine.