Chicha San Chen

Exceptional drinks for tea lovers! You can taste the distinct difference between all of the teas they offer. The taro boba is unique and tastes really good in hot beverages. Expect to pay $6-8 for each drink.

The boba pearls were incredibly fresh and chewy, hands down the best I’ve ever had! However, the flavor was very very VERY subtle, almost like drinking watered-down tea. I wasn’t a fan. Two star for the quick service and the boba.

The atmosphere was so nice. They have good drink options and it didn't feel like something i could get just anywhere. We actually went for an event but stuck around for a while, while we drank and caught up. The workers were very polite and how they present the cups were super cute with the carrier on the sleeve. I tried the mango tart, very good. My friend had a fruit gathering (or the name was similar) full of fruits like apples and oranges. Also easy to order from the kiosk or just going to the register. I would love to come back to just hang out with friends or enjoy the ambience.

The pearls are deliciously chewy! It was great to see they make their milk tea from tea leaves and not tea bags lol - that’s the real deal, Taiwanese style. The atmosphere was lovely in the afternoons. We went there after dinner once, and it got quite loud in there with limited seating.

Wonderful taro milk tea selection. Probably in the Top 2 Boba Tea shops which serves taro milk tea. I ordered the Taro fresh milk, which comes with good amount of taro. no sugar is added with the fresh milk and it was delicious to my taste. It is more expensive than Tea Top but equally yummy.

Finally got around to try this tea place from Houston. First impression is that the store smelled amazing and the staffs were so helpful with their suggestions. Their Cassia with Cream drink is now my favorite. They also have this opportunity to try tea tasting, which was such an interesting and informative experience!

I’ve gotten boba here a few times now and it’s always solid. There’s a fair amount of parking, and it’s in a busy little area next to other shops, which makes it super convenient. The drinks are really good — a little pricey for the size, but you can tell you’re paying for better quality. And the drink carriers are honestly so cute. Overall, a great boba spot.

I absolutely love this place. They have so many unique flavors and the quality is consistently high. The atmosphere and decoratuon is also so elegant and welcoming. The staffs are super friendly and always willing to give nice recommendations. I highly recommend Dongding or any tea latte with taro ball.

Came here on a Saturday and it was very busy. Lots of family and young couples and groups. Although it was busy service was quick as you can take orders on a machine as well as with a cashier. Drinks also came out quickly under 5 min wait time. Drinks: black milk tea w boba. Boba was fresh and warm and soft. I would recommend this place for a quick boba stop or quick hang out with friends. It is not a studying location as it is too noisy due to the crowd. Seating: they have a couple of private tables but also have several large tables used to be shared amongst the guest Overall experience was good and I think it is one of the best options for boba in Chinatown Houston.

I hardly venture out to Bellaire anymore and thus have not tried all the new boba shops that have opened in the last couple years. However I am glad that Chicha San Chen is one of the first places I've tried in a while! When you first walk in, the fresh tea aroma is so strong and fresh, it truly makes Chicha a true bubble tea shop. There is both a cashier and self order available. I have tried the mango green tea and the sparkling orange with konjac (non caffeinated) and both are amazing! I also appreciate the sleeve that comes with the drink so your hands don't feel cold and wet when holding the drink. The cup sleeves also have a cute a rope handle to carry your drink. Overall, I look forward to coming back to Chicha San Chen whenever I make my trek out to Bellaire.

I might be the odd ball but I thought it was just okay. I have waited months for the crowd to die down where I can actually see the place. Esthetically pleasing for those who are more into a simple, modern, laid-back ambiance. Menu is simple and easy to read. Nothing too complicated. You can order on the kiosk or at the register. Tea are alright. Smooth, yes. Strong? No. I only get no sugar or 25% sugar level so I can taste the tea. Unfortunately, it was underwhelming. Prices are moderate as they have simple menu. Plenty of parking in the plaza but you may not get so lucky to park in front.

im obsessed with Chicha san Chen, I also bought some discovery tea pack, like a sample of each, of the oolong tea. Personal opinion is I think green tea is the best, and im talking green tea with passionfruit. mango, orange, regular ice, zero sugar. I had a really hard time straying away from the green tea line, but I did try other teas, any oolong is solid, and that's as far as I got, I have already spent so much money on buying tea from Chicha, and I don't regret it at all!

I had long awaited the opening of Chi Cha San Chen in Houston and when it finally opened, the lines were super long of course. I did not justify the hours long wait time so a recent visit after the initial opening period made it more reasonable. There is a touchscreen for ordering as you enter on the right or you can place an order directly with a team member at the counter. There are more than a handful of tables for interior seating plus a tea bar area that seems fun to partake. Upon entrance, there are many team members behind the counter...some making drinks and some just standing there chatting with other team members. I decided to order via the touchscreen, which was easy to navigate through and pay. After paying, a receipt spews out and the order number is called when it is ready for pick up at the counter. While waiting, I became curious about the tea bar located at the back and asked one of the team members how it works. She wasn't able to tell me and asked another employee when and how it works. The other team member stated that the tea bar isn't currently open for tastings and not sure when it would be...possibly the weekends only. There wasn't a definite answer. The team members went right back to chatting with one another. Before our drinks came out, another employee came out to spray clean all the tables including ours, but it sprayed everywhere. I'm glad they take sanitation seriously but the spray was excessive. Once our drinks came out, we stayed for a bit to enjoy it. The tea lattes were delicious and full of tea flavor. The boba was nicely soft yet chewy, and thoroughly cooked. It is definitely an Instagram worthy shot with a cute tea caddy. I just felt like the employees didn't care and chatting with one another was priority. It was almost like a party behind the counter area, with way more staff than customers in shop (it was a weekday late afternoon). I'd go back for their drinks anytime but wouldn't plan on staying or trying their tea bar tastings since it isn't really a thing. It feels like such a waste not to have it operating though!

When Chicha Sanchen opened a few months ago, the lines were RIDICULOUS. Now? It's calmed down quite a bit, which I attribute to all the different bubble tea spots and drink options all around. So it's much better to go now than ever before! I say this because, if you like having tea flavor in your different teas, this is a really good place for that. Whether it's the traditional or oolong milk tea, or a fruity tea, what's really cool is you see the tea being brewed in front of you (see pic in this post). It's not something readily seen at most of the bubble tea spots I've been to, so it never fails to impress seeing the process play out in front of me. My current favorite drink here is the seasonal Sparkling Peach Tea. This comes with a combination of konjac jellies and peach chunks. It's something I actually first tried and loved at a Chicha location in the LA area, so I'm super glad it's made its way to the Houston location. But it's seasonal! So get it while you can. One thing about this drink - while most drinks on the menu can be adjusted for ice/sweetness, this particular peach drink cannot. The cashiers do explain very kindly to me whenever I forget about this and ask, and I understand it - some drinks are concocted the way they are to have the right flavor intended. All good. But it's good to keep this in mind for expectation purposes. A unique perk is this location often has some baby-cup samples of different flavors to try by the cashier. So while you're ordering, or after you order, they usually ask to see if you'd like to try it - I usually do, and it's often been pretty good. With the additions of Chicha and Trung Coffee to go with 85 degrees in this small plaza, the direct parking lot for this area can fill up sometimes. However, if needed, it's not difficult at all to park in the giant H-Mart plaza that envelops the Chicha portion of things and walk on over. I have my favorite drinks I get at various bubble tea shops around town, which usually determines where I go. But I will say, at this moment, Chicha is my Houston go-to when I happen to be nearby. And it's because I do appreciate that tea flavor in all the teas, and I feel a high level of consistency, whether it be their milk teas or their fruit teas, instead of specializing in one or the other.

I still don't know what to call this place. Chi Cha? San Chen? CCSC? The logo also confused me for a long time before making the connection that it's the fancy brewing machine that's the namesake of this tea joint. Located in a bustling strip mall next to 85C, parking can be challenging during peak hours. When it first opened, wait times were upwards of an hour. It's calmed down a lot since then, but drinks can still take a bit to make because each cup is brewed to order. Ordering is taken up front or via a tablet, though online ordering is now also available. There's a rewards system that can be signed up for with a simple phone number. Once you order, a screens displays the status of your order. Green milk tea with/without fresh milk: This green tea is my absolute favorite tea at this shop. It's fragrant, clean, and robust in flavor without bitterness. It tastes like a mix of oolong and longjing to me, and I like that it retains the lightness of longjing while embodies the roasted earthiness of oolong. I find the fresh milk to be the perfect complement to the delicate tea without overpowering it, as cream can mask the light tea flavor. Sweetness can also be adjusted to personal preference. Dongding oolong tea with/without cream: This oolong tea is complex with layers of flavor, almost with a caramely aftertaste. I find that a cream pairing allows for balancing of the rather stronger tea taste. Osmanthus oolong tea: I'm a huge fan of real osmanthus flower being brewed with the green tea rather than just osmanthus syrup. I usually get this tea very lightly sweetened and without milk or cream so I can really taste the floral scent of osmanthus. If you prefer a lighter floral taste, adding milk or cream would dampen the osmanthus while still preserving the floral aftertaste. Taro milk tea latte: There are a few versions of taro drinks, all of which use real taro paste. The taro milk tea latte with choice of green or black tea base, taro puree, and boba pearls or taro pillows. The descriptions of the taro drinks is slightly confusing, so I'd pay attention to make sure the right drink is ordered. Unfortunately substitutions or even removals are not allowed with these drinks. My favorite is the version with taro paste, green tea base, and boba. I find the taro pillows to get soggy quickly and I prefer the balance of pearls with the taro paste. Given the sweetened toppings and sweetened taro paste, I usually go light sweetness with these drinks. Mango green tea: Fruit teas aren't my favorites here since most of them use straight syrup and I find them overly sweet. The passion fruit and mango aren't bad, especially with no added sweetness of the tea, but I still don't prefer them to classic teas or milk teas. Toppings: Classic boba pearls are steeped in sugar syrup and thus on the sweeter side. I find them to have ample chew and overall cooked well (I've had maybe one instance where a couple stuck together). The grass jelly is soft and flowy, really nice texture. The only annoying thing is that it floats to the top of drinks and I have to play straw tag. The taro pillows taste of real taro, but I find them a bit too sweet and they can get a little soggy. Clearly I come here way too much. There's much to like, and my only gripe is the refusal of customization from pre-designated drinks. Or at least let me remove a component I don't want in the drink! I find it silly to not allow customers to remove a component of a drink even if the cost remains the same (for example, I would prefer to not have the taro pillows in my taro milk tea latte, but this is not allowed). Each drink comes with a sleeve and hand-threaded pickup suspender. It's a cute detail and adds a little bit of feel good along with the drink.

I have tried Chicha in Austin and finally decided to stop by the Houston location. The decor was bright with white and lighter natural brown tones everywhere. There was one kiosk and a barista at the desk to order from. We went on a Friday night around 9 PM and it was packed with people. Luckily, we only waited about 5 minutes for our drinks. The bubble milk tea was rich and smooth and I thought the default sweetness was perfect for me. The boba was slightly chewy and I thought it blended well with the drink. The peach green tea with mousse was refreshing but not as sweet as I would have liked. It was a little basic and could have had more flavor in my opinion. The green tea with cream and konjac was also refreshing and smooth. The green tea was very light, perfect for post-dinner. I liked that the konjac made the drink a cute pink color.

To be honest, when chicha first came to Texas in Austin, I was extremely let down by the teas I got. For some reason, my drinks tasted very diluted, and maybe I did have too high and unrealistic expectations, but nonetheless, I was disappointed. It's been a long time before I decided to give it another chance, but I'm really happy I did. This time in Houston, I got the taro milk tea with taro balls and the cassie black tea w/ mouse + taro balls. Taro MT - 9/10. Best taro mt I've ever had with fresh and light green tea. The taro balls itself are my favorite, and it is not often that you can find them at boba shops anymore. Would come back solely for this drink Cassie BT w/ mouse- 6/10. I think it's a me problem though. I don't think I enjoy the inherent notes of the tea itself, and the drink was also too sweet forward, but I still really enjoyed the taro balls. Excited to have it in my hometown now. Will definitely be back.

So glad to make it to Chicha again, this time in Houston! The interior is great, with a good number of seats and standing room. The tea tasting bar is also a cute stand in the back. The service is efficient and they also have a touch screen stand to order from! Creamy pineapple tart - like a pineapple cake (凤梨酥）in drink form with milk. Super good! Even without any adjusted sweetness this wasn't too sweet. The crumbles on top are the perfect crispy addition! Green tea with mango and boba - the tea was the perfect strength, and the mango syrup was tart and sweet! 30% sugar was a great level of sweetness - and I'm someone who usually likes really sweet drinks. The boba was the perfect chewiness throughout with a good brown sugar flavor. Overall they live up to their reputation, and I'll definitely be back!

I got the dong ding oolong milk tea. Its perfectly sweetened and has a hint of roasted flavor. Their drinks are always consistent because everything is measured from the amount of leaves to the temperature the tea is steeped in.5/5 will come back.

After dinner, we wanted to have boba drinks. Remembered that San Chen has opened in Houston. Tea drinks are made to order. Ordered the bubble tea with light sugar and normal ice. It has a stronger tea taste compared to other places. The boba is firm and not too sweet. Place is bright and modern. On the counter, you can see when they mixed your tea and put it into the machine. It also has a nice holder with ropes as handles. Cute packaging. They also offered free samples of their new oolong mango tea. Tasted too sweet for my taste but my nephew loved it. Will be back again to try the other flavors.

I had tried their fruit gathering tea and absolutely loved it! Because it was a to-go delivery order, I didn't get to see the interior aesthetics of the place. I will say $7+ for a small cup of tea is crazy when other tea and boba shops in the area have them for $5 or less. The tea was good but it definitely was pricey as well. I would be open to trying their other drinks.

High quality tea and boba! A must for while you're in Houston. The tea is prepared on the spot and the boba is incredibly soft.

When we first came here my husband said, " why is this so expensive?" After his first sip, he said "I've never had anything like this!" Since then we've been back and enjoyed its Feels clean and modern. Good quality!

I went to Chicha San Chen's Austin location once and really liked it, so I decided to check out the Houston location, and it was just as good. I went on a Thursday around 6:30pm and it was pretty empty inside. They offered us a sample of the osmanthus oolong tea w/ mango while we were looking over the menu, which we ended up ordering. I also ordered the creamy mango tart. Both drinks were very refreshing. They are slightly on the sweeter side though, so I'd recommend adjusting the sugar level if that isn't your preference. The service here was good and fast. The interior was very pretty, modern, and clean.

Got a chance to check this new popular boba spot. Luckily we arrived before the lunch rush so we were able to order without a line. The boba did take some time to come in and they got busy very quickly. I like the modern decor, a few tables to sit at but it's pretty noisy in there because it's always crowded. I tried the osmanthus oolong mango tea at the counter when they were giving out samples. Being a mango lover, I loved it and decided to order it. The boba cup comes with a string holder so that was a nice touch. Will definitely come back to try more.

This place is generally packed with moderately long lines on weekends. However, service is typically very expedient and they will be able to get to your order within a very reasonable amount of time. There is kiosk ordering options to the side or in person staff can take your order if you'd like. He has ordering is made very simple and easy to use. The cafe area is spacious, well it, and very cute. The milk tea was very smooth and on the lighter end of flavor. I suspect that this is a part of their branding. The milk tea cups are placed in a very cute string holder. Love the branding!

As far as chain boba shops go, Chicha continues to stand out for me with their somewhat precise measurements and brews of their teas and mixins. I've been to several now and have been so thankful that they opened one up in Houston so that I have quicker access, maybe the next one can be closer to city center? This Chicha is similar to others with a rather simple, clean aesthetic and usually bustling as people are lined up or waiting for their drinks. There is a tea tasting in the back that is sometimes available but I've only caught it once. Service seems fine, I've had one cashier who's nice and now remembers me, that says a lot about how often I'm here and his willingness to remember customers. The missing star is because I do think there's a bit of inconsistency at this location. Every now and then the tea flavor doesn't come through and tastes watered down. I do notice some employees aren't as thorough about washing/rinsing between tea brews but also, its a lot to ask someone to do for probably minimum-ish wage. Regardless, this is def one of my favorite boba spots and they have a lot of great teas with very fresh flavors. They also have seasonal options which is what I tend to go for.

Worthy and living up to its Michelin star title in the heart of Chinatown! Came here while they were still on the high of their grand-opening! Definitely had to wait in a long line, it was crowded, and they were doing tea tasting demonstrations! Love the expansive space and seating they provide, even when Chinatown can feel a bit cramped and crowded, they offer great seating to sip their yummy teas with friends - whether during the day or in the evening, can't go wrong with picking up a cup of tea or boba drink at CHICHA! I ordered the "drink of the week" which was the Osmanthus Oolong Mango Tea, and it did not disappoint! You can really taste the clean, crispness of the tea base itself and the mango flavor really shines through too! There's no pulpiness from the fruit like in some other boba tea drinks, and the packaging just rounds out the extra attention to detail when it comes to convenience (drinks come in a sleeve with a twine handle) and overall cuteness factor! I am excited to try their new Peach series too! Something for everyone!

My friend and I wanted to check out a new boba place in Chinatown after lunch. It was really packed but the line to order was quick and there was also a self kiosk. We got the peach oolong tea, bubble milk tea & classic fruit tea. We didn't change any sweetness level. The bubble milk tea was smooth and boba was perfectly chewy. The classic fruit tea had a super unique blend of flavors & texture. My daughter didn't enjoy the toppings but I liked the refreshing taste with the surprise crunch of a topping. The black and white wall tones made it feel modern and welcoming. There is a decent amount of seating but it was busy on a Wednesday early afternoon. I would definitely consider coming back to try more drinks.

Our new favorite milk tea shop in Houston! Look no further if you want a milk tea with a fantastic 50/50 balance of bold tea flavor and creaminess. This Taiwanese shop freshly brews the tea for each individual drink in a very cool espresso-looking machine, and serves them up quickly and consistently. Service is friendly and fast, and the vibe is sleek and modern with a touch of traditional teahouse. Our favorites: green tea with cream and boba, black tea with cream. The drinks are very fresh tasting with a perfect balance of bold tea flavor with mild sweetness and creamy milkiness (if you order tea with cream). The black tea is very bold, more fragrant and mellow, and more chocolate forward in a way that makes the drink taste a little sweeter and cozier. The green tea is very bright, has a nice refreshing tang, and some complexity to it that blends well with the cream and keeps things interesting with each sip. The boba here has a fantastic texture and is not too sweet. The standard sweetness here is kind of like a 70% sweetness level in most milk tea shops.

I tried the taro milk tea with green tea and got a variety of drinks for friends. Everyone liked their drinks and said the tea was yummy and strong! Their drinks are on the pricier side, and when they're busy it can take a while for your drinks to be ready. The employees were friendly. It's neat how you can watch them make your tea. There's a few tables along the side. It was noisy when I was there, but maybe if you go during a weekday it would be quieter. It's located in a busy plaza with a large parking lot.

Love this establishment. The tea is authentic, and you can tell that they put love in each drink. I had the bubble milk tea. It wasn't too sweet, and the boba was the perfect consistency. The drink ended up being about $7, but I think that it was well worth it.

Clean, bright space with award winning tea from high altitudes and they do free tea tastings, no appointment needed. They serve flavored, hot and cold tea.

Hands down, some of the best boba and milk tea in Houston. With the tea equivalent of 3 Michelin stars, Chicha San Chen did not disappoint. Packed with boba enthusiasts alike on a saturday afternoon, it's no wonder this is the new hot spot for your boba fix. I had high expectations going in. Seeing their teapresso set up, I knew the tea taste would be apparent in their milk tea and it definitely was. The bitterness of the tea paired with the sweet and chewy boba was the perfect combination. I will definitely be back to try their other drinks. Though on the pricey side, you get what you pay for in quail-tea.

Really busy when we got inside, but we were able to order relatively quickly and find a seat to wait for the drinks. I ordered the dingdong oolong tea with fresh milk and with Boba, I adjusted the sweetness to light sweet and light ice. To be honest, the tea flavor was really weak, and it was very milky, I'm not sure if this was just a ratio that was off, but I was really hoping for a much stronger tea flavor given the accolades this place has for its tea... I don't know if I will come back, but would be happy to take any suggestions on a milk tea that has a stronger tea flavor.

Oh nah this place ain't it, The hype is not real. The first time I came here it was not a good experience. I thought it was just a bad day since it was extremely busy, so I decided to try it out once more; still same results. The only nice thing that I can say is that the decor is elegant & well put together. I do like that they brew their teas right in front of you. Which should give you an indication that it's going to be fresh and strong right? Not really. This past Friday when I came back it was extremely busy, which is fine because it's still new however, the employee that was outside the counter should have done better of delegating the lines. I couldn't tell if people were waiting for the kiosk or waiting to order from the cashier. Then there were two lines forming to get to one register. People were also skipping the lines. Yeah total chaos. Here's the four drinks I've ordered. * Mango green tea- little tea flavor & it tasted a little watered down. 2/5 * Taro fresh milk- taro balls were hard and not bouncy and chewy. I thought that the taro paste will make the drink taste like taro, but it was like drinking a whole milk. If I'm drinking milk I can just go to the store and grab a gallon of it and get more & pay less. 1/5 * Passion fruit green tea- it was definitely refreshing if you're drinking juice but I paid for my drink to have some green tea in it. 2/5 * Green tea with cream- it was alright. 2.5/5 Overall, this was such a disappointing experience. For 7 bucks + and the cups being pretty small, it was not worth it at all. The employees did their best but I can tell they were overwhelmed with the crowd. Wait time to order & get your drinks was about 40 mins. Will I come back? That's a tough call, I'll probably give them one more chance when it dies down. I might've came on a bad day. So I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I had high hopes for this place, but I'll have to say that I was disappointed. The restaurant decor is classy, and the store was packed on Friday evening. They were sampling dong ding oolong with cream, and the sample was amazing! What was super disappointing is our actual order seemed different. We asked to have more sweetness added, but it still never tasted like the sample. The fruit tea was refreshing, but nothing special. The Bubble volcano was okay, but also not different than any other brown sugar milk drink I've tasted before. My diagnosis: decent drink place that I will likely not be returning to.

My family and I stopped in after our week night dinner, and the hype is real! Although it was almost time for closing around 9pm, the store was packed. The store had plenty of seating and was very clean. I ordered a mango high mountain pouchong tea, less sweet, and with boba. It's really cool because they make each drink to order and to exact measurements using scales. Although they were crowded, it was easy to follow the TV in store to follow the progress of your order. Would return to try their samples during the day!

Me likey because this one in Houston isn't overhyped / overcrowded like the Seattle one, but still maintains quality. Definitely recommend getting something with tapioca balls rather than trying to be experimental like me and getting taro balls!

Honey osmanthus oolong tea - 9/10 - $6 - Loved the flavor but would prefer the tea to be stronger Jasmine green tea w/cream and boba - 9/10 - Loved how melty and soft the boba was, very creamy Found one of the cutest new bubble tea spots and i loved the flavor of their teas! Im not a boba person anymore but their tapioca was so good.

I'll be honest, Chicha San Chen is not my favorite boba shop. I've tried the location in Austin as well and my sentiment is the same. To me, the teas that I've tried are a bit diluted and watery. I prefer a strong tea flavor, so either Chicha doesn't fit my preferences or I am ordering the wrong things. I will say that the taro balls are delicious and a must order. Ordering is done either at a kiosk or at the counter. Either way your order comes out fast and order numbers are clearly announced. When we visited it was quite crowded, but space and seating was still ample.

Not to be dramatic but I found my favorite boba shop in town. I'm never going back to powdered boba drinks LOL. It's an aesthetic place and you can smell the fresh tea leaves when you walk in. They brew it on the spot with their patented teapresso machines (girl you know I had to look up those machines but don't ask how much they are LOL). You can custom make your drink or get a featured drink, which I love taro and had to get the taro milk tea which comes with their taro boba balls (I LOVE THEM), also for you lactose intolerant people like me, this drink has no dairy contrary to the name YIPEE! The barista was super friendly and told us about the dairy free ingredients. We also got a chance to taste test their tea leaves in the back. So cool of an experience and definitely blew our minds. Our drinks were so yummy and not overly sweet so get the sweetness as is, definitely recommend I finished it all in an hour which is a record for me LOL!!! The handles are so cute too. I already told my bf I wanna go back again.

We visited the newly opened Chi Cha San Chen in Houston! I got the oolong milk tea with 30% sugar and less ice. The tea flavor was super rich and fragrant. It's brewed fresh with their tea espresso machine, which is really cool to watch. The whole store smells like roasted tea and it definitely adds to the experience. The line was nearly out the door on a Saturday afternoon. There were a lot of people already inside waiting for their drinks, and not that many tables to sit at. It's definitely more of a grab-and-go kind of spot. The employee told us the estimated wait time was 30-40 minutes. I like how they mention that ahead of time. While we waited, we walked around the nearby Hmart and did a little shopping. Once our drinks were ready, we grabbed some bread from 85°C bakery next door and found some tables. The drink was around $6, almost $7 after tax. A little on the pricier side, so I consider it a special occasion boba.

A week after the grand opening, I decided to see what the hype was all about... I waited an hour in line for watered down drinks. So disappointing. I wanted to order the Creamy Mango Tart... but they said they couldn't make it for me? However, they could do the Creamy Lemon Tart. Weird, because they literally used mango in other drinks. I opted for their special of the day, Orange Osmanthus Tea, which was basically watered down tea with orange. My partner ordered the Ding Dong Oolong Tea with Mousse, and same thing; watered down and super bland. Now, before anybody comes at me for not liking actual tea-- I do... just not here. I'm sure the tea is fresh hence why when pouring over ice, it's extremely watered down. I decided to give this place another try because my friends told me that I probably ordered wrong. Guess what? The Creamy Mango Tart was on the menu LOL! We also ordered the High Mountain Pouchong Tea with Passion Fruit. Same thing again; it just all tasted water down, but this time without the 1-hour wait. Based off on the drinks alone, I would give this place a 1-star, but I do really enjoy the concept of fresh strong tea and hope that they can improve their drinks. I give them an extra star because the ambiance is bright and the interior is very clean & pretty. Take a shot for every time I said "watered down"

Ch Chicha San Chen has quickly become one of my favorite tea spots in Houston. I ordered the Osmanthus Oolong Tea with honey and it was insanely refreshing, light, floral, and perfectly balanced. The quality of the tea really stands out compared to a lot of other places. It's the perfect drink for Texas heat the tea is cool, smooth, and not too sweet. Even though the place gets packed, they're surprisingly quick with orders. The unique packaging is a fun touch too. Highly recommend if you're into high quality tea that actually tastes as good as it looks! 10/10

After visiting the Austin location, I was excited when I learned Houston would be blessed with a location as well. Chicha is known for their meticulously measured and brewed teas and their customer service and this place didn't disappoint. When I walked in, the line wasn't too long but I immediately noticed so many workers standing around or on their phones and I would normally be disappointed in that but these days people pick up their devices the moment they aren't busy. The line wasn't long and no one at the time was waiting for a drink and they all were attentive when needed so I guess I couldn't complain. You can either order at the counter or the kiosk. I decided the kiosk and ordering was simple and each drink had a description and picture which was very helpful. I got the mango oolong and added konjac jelly. The workers quickly got to work and the line was cleared in no time. My drink was just as I ordered it, half sweet with light ice, the tea perfectly brewed with a slightly sweet mango twist. Most of my konjac was leftover once I finished my drink but that was a more of a problem with my stainless steel straw than the way the drink was made. There's plenty of seating and the store flawlessly clean, though i didn't check the bathroom. I'm happy that I can try more of the menu now without the two hour drive!

I had the dong ding with light sugar. I love the deep flavor of the tea at this shop. I got the light sugar because I felt like I didn't want a super sweet drink, but it almost had no sweetness to it. I would recommend trying the regular first because I think their usual isn't too sweet either. The place was packed and seating was limited. We sat down on a couple of chairs as soon as another group left. However, the interior was clean well lit and very cute. You could watch them brew the tea with their machines and it was pretty interesting:) I enjoyed my experience with chicha in a couple of other states so I'm so glad they got this started in Houston!!

My favorite drink in the world is bubble milk tea. Being Taiwanese or brings back a lot of nostalgia for me! This is a new store located next to 85 and the old Mr Wish. The interior looks nicer than most tea shops. They had a ton of staff standing around and a little kid helping which was a little strange. It was crowded when we went but they have a kiosk you can order from. I love they focus on the tea leave brewing. They even have a demonstration area where you can try different teas types. The tea flavor was strong in my oolong tea. The taro pearls were ok didn't have much taste. I would stick to the boba.

Very clean and big boba shop in Bellaire. Menu is very simplified and easy to read. My go to here would be the fruit tea with 25% sugar, light ice. If you don't adjust the sugar, it'll be super sweet! Drinks take about 5-10 min to come out every time I was here. Cashier was nice and took my order easily. Definitely would come back

Lines moved quite fast on a friday night! Got the mango osmanthus and dong ding oolong milk tea. The mango osmanthus tea was refreshing and not too sweet. The boba in the milk tea was qq/chewy. My friend got the Taro bubble milk tea with green tea and it was actually my favorite tea. I will try to get a drink next time with their green tea. Twas light and had a nice tea taste. They even had a tea demo area where they let you sample the diff types of teas they offered. Limited seating and parking is within the sinh sinh plaza. P.S don't adjust your sweetness level if you like it sweet. The tea already comes less sweet.

This new-to-me bubble tea shop was highly recommended by a friend. I got the fruit tea with less ice and no additional sugar. It was very refreshing but still pretty sweet due to the syrups that are used. They wouldn't let me add boba to this particular drink. You can sign up for rewards after you pay. I'll definitely be back -- service was quick and the store was pretty clean.

Worth the hype and worth the wait. When you drive up you'll likely see a massive line, but it goes by at a decent rate if you have some time to wait. You can really taste the freshly brewed tea in each drink. They also have a complimentary sampling station inside for competition level tea. You can see the workers measure out everything on a scale so you know the drinks here are precisely and consistently made. They don't really have an expansive menu selection like how some other boba shops have slushies, yakult, or various fruit drinks creations, but that's because the specialize in freshly brewed tea here. Would highly recommend this place if you want a no frills boba shop that excels in showcasing classic boba tea straight from the motherland.

I went here early on a Friday night. It was not as crowded as when I first drove by. I've had Chicha San Chen before, and this was the same quality! The wait time was ~10-15 minutes after ordering. This is not so bad considering that they brew the teas fresh. They have a kiosk you can use to order your drinks. They also have sample drinks you can try! I would recommend trying this place early or before those peak times so you won't have to wait long in the line to order.

Bellaire as a whole is always growing and developing. And with that in mind, I had to give the new kid on the block a try in Chicha San Chen. I am not very familiar with the business but have heard they are very successful in Taiwan. It was a very jam packed day and I had the opportunity to stop in to catch a glimpse into the business. Besides the long lines and close proximity to others ordering and waiting for order numbers to be called, the interior is very nice. There is a section to sample the various teas and seating as a fair amount. Drink wise, I wanted to try the taro milk tea with boba and their original latte drink, I can't recall the name but should be their recommended best seller one. The taro milk tea was solid. I did not think it was too heavy on the taro itself or being masked by the tea which was nice. The boba was a nice chewy consistency, no issues. The latte drink was nice pick too. The tea they use is light and refreshing and not overly overpowering. It was a nice compliment to go with the milk which both are a good pair. Overall the visit to Chicha San Chen was a good one. The staff are working very diligent with the various stations. Though the crowd is huge, they stay poised and managed very well. I would like to revisit when the hype is down but the remarks are none in my case. I do enjoy the nice twine cup holder which is very unique and saves from the use of a plastic bag. They are off to a good start and I hope it will carry on through once a couple months in.

Chicha San Chen finally made it's way to Houston! This popular boba chain from Taiwan has the equivalent of "3 Michelin stars" in the tea world apparently. Walking in on a Thurs night around 9pm, this place was PACKED! The line to order was quick since they have a seperate cashier line and an ordering tablet line. What takes awhile though is waiting for your drink to be made. Luckily, the teas take time because they are only made to order which helps ensure their high quality and consistency. I specifically tried their original milk tea w/ tapioca less ice and 50% sugar, as well as their mango high mountain pouchong tea w/ tapioca. I'd definitely get both of these drinks again! I'm just hoping that next time I come back whenever they're less crowded. The grand opening hype is real, cheers!

Two weeks after grand opening, the lines are visibly shorter and the front door can properly close without lines extending into the public pathway. I only had to wait less than five minutes before my turn to order, but the wait to receive your drink is another story. Since this was my second time at Chicha (first time was in different location), I immediately went to the Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte with added bubble topping given my great experience with it my first time, and added a new tasting for Taro Bubble Milk Tea. All orders were made with 50% sugar and light ice. One thing I'll mention about the drinks here is that since the tea is freshly brewed, the aroma and taste is very strong, so 50% sugar still doesn't taste like much and you will still have a strong tea flavor. If you prefer your drinks more balanced, this is the one place that I'd recommend going for 75% or 100% sugar. Pro tip: if you plan to visit during the next few weeks while the place is still under grand opening hype, maybe consider ordering in store then go shop at neighboring Hmart or elsewhere for half hour and return after to grab your drinks. Pro tip #2: if you order the taro bubble milk tea, they give you two options for black tea or green tea. According to the cashier, black tea aftertaste is stronger and green tea is more refreshing. Take that as you will. I don't think I've ever tried taro milk with tea anywhere else, so this can be your experimental drink if you're aiming to try something new. Pro tip #3: the store tends to cycle through a few different specialty drinks. The custom drink this weekend was osmanthus mango, and from what I hear, it's pretty good. If you jot down the order name for the specialty drinks, you can still order it in future weeks even if it's no longer featured. Overall, the staff here are well trained, professional, and very friendly. The setup also accommodates good seating arrangements that is unbothered from the lines. The drinks are deserving of all the praise and recognition; it's a premium that you can taste.

Everyone needs to try this Michelin-star boba! I can tell the tea is high quality, and the boba is the perfect texture. The drink was not too sweet and highly recommend trying the volcano one. You order at a kiosk, which was nice since you can look through all of the options. Throughout the day, they have free tea tastings. The drinks are small for the price, but it's definitely worth trying. There's some seating inside, but most people took their drinks to go and it's pretty loud inside. There's plenty of free parking, which is nice!