Cha For Tea - University Center

I’m sorry but what in the boba is this. I feel like milk tea is the most easiest drink to make. So I don’t know how they manage to send off a drink with literally just milk. If I wanted to wash down my food with straight up milk I would’ve just milked my cow in my backyard. Now this drink is undrinkable and unthinkable. I gasped at this drink when I received it. Yes I mixed the little brown syrup at the bottom and it didn’t do anything. Like why was this acceptable to send off or even make in the first place? First and last time I’m ordering here…

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 went here a lot a while ago, and while the quality has dipped a tiny bit, I'm happy to report cha for tea is still a good place to eat. The teas are very tasty, and the crispy chicken plate is a classic. The chicken is a bit cartilaginous, and the rice is too dry for my taste, but everything is seasoned great, and the sauce enhances everything. Great place! I feel obligated to make a pleasant update: while visiting again, a trainee made a mistake with my order and after confirming I wasn't charged for an extra item I had asked for, I left and was chased down by the supervisor, who emphatically offered the same drink on the house. He made it on the spot exactly how I liked it. Its customer service like this that elevates consumer perception, and that's why I'm raising my initial review to a 5.

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!

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.

This place is pretty much a Denny’s version of a Boba place in Taiwan. Professional boba tea places do not use blenders to make their teas 😳 They target students so I can understand cost control where rent is outrageous.

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.

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.

Delicious drinks at great prices! Cha for Tea is typically my last stop when I'm visiting my daughter. Our favorite is the mango green tea. I recently tried their honey green milk tea at the little tasting station and now I leave with not one but two drinks! As with most tea shops, you can adjust the level of sweetness. The employees are friendly - open late, fast service.

The OG boba shop that put Irvine on the map. Cha for Tea at UCI is truly the original--the spot that kicked off Irvine's boba craze. Long before the city became a boba lover's paradise, this place was already serving up chewy tapioca pearls and solid milk teas to generations of students and locals alike. There's something nostalgic and comforting about coming back here. The drinks are consistent, the service is fast, and the location is unbeatable for UCI students. While newer spots might have flashier menus or trendy toppings, Cha for Tea stays true to its roots--and sometimes that's exactly what you want. One star off only because I'd love to see a bit more innovation or seasonal specials to keep things fresh. But overall, still a classic and an essential part of Irvine's boba history. The ambiance is loud and bustling with UCI students and can't always hear your conversations

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.

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!

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!

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!

I love the fact that they have free sample for the some of the teas they sell. Yes, the almond black tea is a must! They have a variety of drinks from hot to cold. The organic variety is great too. Friendly staff despite the fact that wait times can be long. Reasonable prices as well. They do not have charging ports so be wary of that! Other than that, great place overall!

The best mango green iced tea in the world!!!! Very strong and delicious high quality tea. They don't go heavy in the ice, so I appreciate that. Service is fast. They work very hard to get drinks out. Price is really good too!

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.

Nice place--open late, lots of different options, and free samples of 4 different flavors (usually a fruit tea, milk tea, refresher, and plain brewed tea). Service was also quick and friendly.

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.

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.

That guy named Rudy such terrible customer service not polite at all when closing and when ordering rushing too much chicken fire tho!!

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.

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.

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

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 :)

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 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.

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.

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

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.

Always fast and delicious! And most of the time friendly. My favorite is definitely the crispy chicken with noodles, always hits the spot. I also enjoy the peach tea, but get it half sweet. Great location, it's always sparkling clean, has a great vibe, and consistent with the great food and drinks. Happy to be a regular here.

Actually the best boba ever of life. I will take this boba over any boba I've ever tried in the world. The boba is so chewy and the teas are yummy. I do wish their jasmine was stronger but the mango green tea is fire. It's clean inside but I usually just pick up and go tbh. The workers are also friendly.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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 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.

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

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

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

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!

This spot is very popular among college students as it is close to campus. I usually see a long line, especially during the evening or night time. However, there is the option to order online and pickup if you don't want to wait in a line. My friends and I used to prefer Sharetea since it's also in UTC but recently I've been going to Cha For Tea as well. The only thing is that I wish Cha For Tea also had a rewards system like a lot of other boba spots do. They recently opened the inside seating and I think it's pretty aesthetic and nice. I love the crispy chicken appetizer (basically popcorn chicken) and get it with medium spice, which is not that spicy in my opinion. For tea, I order the honey green milk tea and switch between getting it cold or hot depending on the weather and how I'm feeling. Honey milk tea is my boba go-to drink in general and I'd rate theirs as a 7/10. Like other boba spots, you can adjust sweetness level, ice level, etc. There are two drink sizes - medium and large. There's only about a 50 cent difference between the two sizes so I usually get a large. They used to have a few samples inside where the line is but I don't know if they still do as I didn't look for it recently. They have entrees as well so I'd like to come back and try those soon.

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

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.