Chicha San Chen

Heard so many amazing reviews of this place that I had to try. I got the bubble milk tea and it was really good! The tea was so fragrant and the tapioca was unbelievably good. The tapioca taste wasn’t one dimensional like most bubble tea places. It changed from one taste to another as you chew on it. Definitely a whole experience. The packaging of the bubble tea was also so intricate and well thought out. The only thing that I can’t get over is the ridiculously expensive price. I got the most basic drink, medium size and it was close to $10 after tax. The cup size is also slightly smaller than the typical medium size at other franchises. I admit that it’s a really good bubble tea, but I don’t think I’m willing to pay this much regularly for one drink.

Delicious boba tea, great store experience and very clean. Have to deduct one star because it's very pricey for $10. This is definitely a treat, not everyday drink. But still enjoyed it and would recommend especially for first timers!

Visited this place shortly after it opened, so this review has been a long time coming! Despite a 40 minute wait, I was impressed by the dong ding oolong tea with bubbles and enjoyed seeing the making process. The tea stood out for its flavor and freshness was truly exceptional. While the bubbles themselves weren’t particularly unique, the tea more than made up for it. They do offer tea tasting sessions which can be booked in advance. Highly recommend this place, and I’ll definitely be back!

A beautiful store with good amount of indoor sittings. They have versions choice for all kinds of tea from Taiwan. The staff was very kind and introducing us several popular options for drinks. You can also see the process of making their tea, it’s kind of using espresso machine to make the tea, which was very cool to me. First time to see that! The tea tasted delicious, not too sweet and you can really taste the flavor of the tea based not just a regular bubble tea store.

The tea here has such great depth of flavor! I got the Osmanthus Oolong Tea with honey (my long time favorite) and it was somehow the best version of this tea that I have ever had. You can tell that the espresso-style brewing method makes a difference. My family got the Dong Ding Oolong Tea and High Mountain Tea which they all enjoyed! We were lucky enough to sneak into a complimentary tea tasting session where they teach you about the harvesting, roasting, and other characteristics of the tea leaves before letting you taste some. Kevin was very knowledgeable and gave us a great explanation while keeping the tasting session entertaining. I would highly recommend coming here for their popular tea items as well as a tea tasting session. You can book the sessions online in advance! The interior is a bit small and crowded for how popular they are right now, but the lines are short. Most of the time inside is spent on tea tasting or waiting for your teas to brew. The staff also all seem to be multilingual which is great! Will definitely be coming back to try more of their teas.

This modern tea shop really knows its tea. The fragrant aroma of tea leaf hits you upon entry, an unforgettable experience ! Staff are very friendly and even hand out a sample of tea drink for guests. And the staff takes the time to prepare the drinks appropriately without rushing. Overall, wonderful drinks and experience. Feeling fortunate to have Chicha San Chen in town.

Outstanding boba tea shop! Chicha San Chen has found its way onto my Instagram and Tik Tok feed hundreds of times, so I was super excited when I finally managed to make my way there. The tea was, as promised, incredibly flavorful and perfectly brewed, and the boba / other mix-ins were prepared incredibly well. My friends each got the classic oolong milk tea with boba, which had a delightful roasted flavor with a slight hint of bitterness tampered by the sugar and milk. I opted for something a bit fruitier and decided to try one of their specialty items, the lemon tea; it traditionally comes with a sea salt foam, but I generally prefer my boba unsweetened so I asked them to remove it. Without sugar or the foam, the tea was quite sour, but was super refreshing and a great way to endure the blistering New York summer heat. The shop is quite large, and I love the clean, modern aesthetic created by the all-white tiles and walls, light brown countertops and wicker decor, and smattering of plants. The counter is completely open, and it's really cool to be able to watch the staff prepare the tea right in front of you (vs. just pouring it out of a pre-mixed pitcher, as most boba shops do). There are two lines at Chicha, both of which can get up to an hour long. The first is the line into the shop to order, and the second is the line to pick up your prepared tea. Since they brew the tea for each order, it takes a bit longer to prepare the boba, but it's absolutely worth the wait. It's quite mesmerizing to watch them brew each pot, so if you don't mind standing or being pushed around by the crowds, you can wait in the store and watch the staff. Otherwise, they'll also shoot you a text when your order is ready, so you're free to wander about Chinatown for a bit as you wait.

They take credit card. This store is very unique when it comes to bubble tea. They brew the tea fresh in front of you when making your boba, so it can take much longer to get your order. As this spot is very popular, sometimes the line can be up to 2 hours to even get through the line. It’s definitely NOT worth doing that. But if there is no line, that is definitely worth trying. Be aware that some people claim this spot has 3 Michelin stars. This is NOT the case. This spot has received an award from the International Taste Institute (iTi) that's allegedly equivalent to three Michelin stars. Most people don’t believe that this is accurate, but the iTi tries to make it seem like their 3 star ratings are just as sought after. It’s still really good and one of the best boba spots, so definitely worth trying out! Lastly but most importantly, ORDER AHEAD on Snackpass. This can help avoid long lines and is a great hack. I’ve attached a QR code photo with this review so you can do that!

No line on a Tuesday afternoon, and thank goodness because I thought this place was merely fine and would have been super bummed if I'd waited. I went with the Ding dong oolong iced with oat milk, and tried my friend's Cassia black tea mousse. Both were good, but spots like HeyTea and Molly Tea are wayy better. They were giving out samples of a mango tea that was actually delicious - I should have just gotten that one haha.

Order ahead if you can! I was not aware that they had that feature and ended up waiting nearly 40 minutes for my drink after placing an order. The drinks are good and true to taste - one of my drinks was messed up but I didn't realize until I got home. The place itself is light, bright, airy, and clean. I love an open-kitchen concept where you can see the drinks being made. Every employee really did take the time to wipe down any spills or messes made in the moment, which I appreciated.

Hidden in the heart of Chinatown, this bubble tea shop takes a bit of effort to find. The space is small but charming, with a clean and minimalistic setup. Service was fine, and I appreciated the small sample tea offered while ordering. Having tried this brand in Atlanta and been underwhelmed, I gave it another shot in NYC. Big mistake. My bubble milk tea was, unfortunately, the worst I've ever had. At $9.53, it was a pricey disappointment that ended up in the trash just a few blocks away. While the ambience is pleasant, the drink quality doesn't justify the hype or the Michelin buzz.

This is not your typical boba tea shop! They use high-quality teas that are brewed with care and precision (they use beakers to measure the tea leaves). I was looking for a cream-top drink and the Cassia black tea with mousse hit the spot. The caffeine really hits you with this one and was the boost of energy I needed after a long Chinatown food crawl. The tea is really the star of the show here and is great place for tea and milk tea lovers alike. I just wish there was a way to sip the tea from the lid vs. drinking through a boba straw. I can see why this place was absolutely packed on a Sunday morning. Don't be intimidated by the crowd inside. Most people are just waiting for their drinks and they have a pretty good queueing system with time estimates.

They take credit card. This store is very unique when it comes to bubble tea. They brew the tea fresh in front of you when making your boba, so it can take much longer to get your order. As this spot is very popular, sometimes the line can be up to 2 hours to even get through the line. It's definitely NOT worth doing that. But if there is no line, that is definitely worth trying. Be aware that some people claim this spot has 3 Michelin stars. This is NOT the case. This spot has received an award from the International Taste Institute (iTi) that's allegedly equivalent to three Michelin stars. Most people don't believe that this is accurate, but the iTi tries to make it seem like their 3 star ratings are just as sought after. It's still really good and one of the best boba spots, so definitely worth trying out! Lastly but most importantly, ORDER AHEAD on Snackpass. This can help avoid long lines and is a great hack. I've attached a QR code photo with this review so you can do that!

The prices here are ridiculously high at $10 but so delicious. It's probably my favorite milk tea shop with Boba. The Boba comes extremely chewy and warm, just how it should be. The tea is so concentrated and fresh. I haven't gotten a drink I didn't like here.

[NYC BOBA TOUR STOP #53] *My other stops on the tour: https://www.yelp.com/collection/4dXTAnFqPHD1D8obaInTZw/nyc-boba-tour I've been to the Chicha in both Seattle and Philly, and was SO excited when it finally made its way into NYC. The store smells delicious and like fresh tea leaves, really enhancing the whole experience. From previous visits, my goals were to get bubble milk tea and dong ding oolong tea latte. I think I got the bubble milk tea at their Philly location, but I don't remember the tea being so pleasantly strong and fragrant. It's an extremely noticeable and deep and rich tea flavor without being too bitter. The dong ding oolong tea latte still hits as it does, and my sister, who is famously an oolong lover, said it was one of the best oolongs she's had. The only thing that this Chicha was lacking was the sweetness that their boba usually has. The texture was consistent with the other locations I've been to (perfect & lovely) but I was searching for that brown sugar flavor they usually have. It's really unfortunate that it isn't consistent because I have gone back a few times since the first visit, and it's still lacking that flavor. We ordered, they were super efficient in terms of giving us a link to a live virtual line that showed where we were in the process, and the drinks probably took around 15-20mins to come out. It's honestly not too bad, and I do appreciate the ability to go out and come back when your drinks are done!

I have walked by this tea shop before when the line went out the door, but there was no line today so I decided to give it a try. They had some interesting combinations that I am not used to seeing in bubble tea. I ordered the honey osmanthus oolong with boba and full sweetness and I could tell that it was quality tea. It had the perfect amount of sweetness from the honey for me. I would go back to try more things in the future if I am in the area. Though at $9.50 for one medium sized tea, it is rather expensive even for NYC.

Found this spot while in Chinatown of NYC and I am glad i went inside. The experience of them brewing the tea using fresh herbs was amazing! I got the passion fruit green tea with boba. I loved that the sweetness came from the passion fruit. It wasn't too sweet just how I liked it. I enjoyed seeing how the steps of making each tea. The service was moving really fast! It is soo cute and clean inside as well.

Really good tea and boba! Got passion fruit and the bubble milk tea. I normally like to adjust the sweetness down but decided to get both as is to try them as they're intended. Neither were too sweet and the tea flavor really came through. The boba texture has a nice softness and bounce, even after walking with it for 20 mins before drinking. One note, the shop does take credit card but bags are $.75 cents and cash only.

You know how you've had pretty good steak and then you experienced A5 Waygu? This is how I feel about this tea. My go to drink is the osmanthus tea with taro balls. The tea is fragrant, lightly sweeten and the chewy texture of the taro balls makes this drink a very pleasant experience. There is usually a line out the door during the weekends but if you're lucky there is no line. You order and given a number via text on your phone. When your order is ready - you'll get a text and they'll call your name. Your order will probably take around 10-15 minutes to be ready depending on how backed up they are as they brew each tea fresh. The decor of the place is modern and clean but the crowds really takes away from the ambiance of the place.

Store ran out of boba like thirty min before closing. But they had their other toppings available. The other options are still so fire I'm so happy. Got the taro balls and they were so chewy and yummy. Paired it in with my black milk tea. Very tasty tea - yummy flavor, good quality. About $11 for a medium :') Friends got their fruit teas and they were all so fire (crystal pearls/jelly). So so worth, don't think you can go wrong with any. Very limited seating inside, only some seats alongside one wall. Also no bathrooms. Very pretty drink station for cute pic.

With all the hype around this place, I had pretty high hopes for the bubble tea here. Honestly, it was pretty average and not worth the price. The decor is modern and the service is friendly and the packaging is original, but if you want bubble tea there are so many options in the area that's better.

Love that they are on snackpass! Was able to grab lunch nearby and time my order on Snackpass perfectly. They are very popular in Southern California, so I was excited to see them open here! Their tea is high quality and definitely differentiates themselves from the other shops in Chinatown. I got the Cassia Black Tea Mousse (Light ice, Light sugar) 决明乌龙奶盖 （少冰/糖度轻盈）, and it was pretty good. It might be slightly overhyped but I think it's a good start to trying all the other drinks on their menu!

Well deserved 5 stars for Chicha San Chen. I've heard about this boba chain earning a Michelin star, and it's definitely worth the hype. The long lines in the summer scared me away the first couple of times I'd walk past, but I was lucky on a colder winter day to see that there was no line outside. I ordered the taro milk tea whereas my partner ordered the lemon tart drink. The sweetness levels were perfectly executed as Asians tend to be critical and sensitive to over sugared desserts and drinks in general. The taro balls are perfectly tender with just the right amount of chewiness. The lemon tart drink tasted like a less sweet version of a drinkable key lime pie! So far, Chicha San Chen and Xing Fu Tang are my top boba joints in NYC. I have yet to try HeyTea next!

"Michelin star boba!" I exclaimed to my very proud Taiwanese Dad about this place and he immediately rolled his eyes..I still had to try it out for myself. It was pretty packed when I came on the weekend but the line moved quickly. I could tell the brew was authentic and we loved the detail and care they put into the carryout experience. However the price was still pretty steep (no pun). I'm not sure it lives up to the hype but it was good enough to try at least once for the experience.

The hype is very real for Chicha San Chen! While it is pricey, the tea is high quality. I've tried the oolong, black tea with cream, and the taro series. All are delicious and depends on what you're feeling on the day. My favorite is the black tea with cream, add taro balls. It's more tea forward than the taro milk tea while still getting to enjoy the taro balls. Next time, I want to try the creamy lemon tart! The service at the register is efficient and friendly. Though, I wish they offered bags to pay for with card because it's cash only. There are a few seats inside the shop. Because it gets so busy, this isn't somewhere I would stay to do work. It would be more of a take out spot for me. I do recommend trying it at least once!

Drink: The tea is amazing here and so fragrant! As soon as you walk into the shop, the aroma of tea hits you. My favorites are the tea latte with taro balls and the orange fruit tea is refreshing as well. Sugar snd ice levels are customizable. Every drink has a nice tea flavor and the boba is also very well done here. I would highly recommend any of their drinks; I haven't had a drink I didn't like here. Service: Staff are friendly and offer you a sample of their tea as you order. The wait can be long when they're busy but the drinks are worth the wait! Ambiance: The tea shop has a few seats, but they get taken quickly becuase of how popular this place is. The shop is bright and the decor is beautiful. Overall, I would highly recommend this tea shop!

Was super excited to try this spot out as I heard it is an award winning boba spot which is one of the most popular chains in Taiwan. Personally, while I think the bubble tea at Chicha San Chen is good, there's also many other good spots in NYC so I wouldn't necessarily line up for it if there's a long line. The highlight of this spot is definitely the tea as their teas are super fragrant and strong! They have an open cafe concept where you can see your drinks being made which is cool! They also have quite an efficient ordering system where you can order online and wait if you'd prefer that. There's also some inside seating if you'd like to stay to enjoy your drink. Overall a good spot that's worth trying!

Pricey but really delicious spot for milktea boba. We were recommended the regular boba flavor with black tea. Love that you can taste and really smell the black tea used. It really looks like a thoughtful and involved process (with something looking like an espresso machine for tea, temperature gauges on the tea), which made me feel okay about the price -- almost $10 for a small sized boba! This boba isn't crazy sweet and doesn't try to overpower the tea with sugar and cream. The pearls were good and chewy and added a good amount of subtle sweetness. I do like the packaging and the little jute string that lets you hold the drink. Service was fast and friendly. The line wasn't too long and wasn't crazy hard to order and get our drink, as some of the hype has gone away. Would come back again if ever indulging in a little treat.

I finally made my way to Sanchen after the hype died down, so I didn't have to wait in a long line to try their tea. I ordered the black milk tea without boba because I did not want to fill up too much before dinner. Surprisingly what stood out to me was not the tea, but the cream they used. It was quite nice and gave the drink a more unique taste compared to other milk teas. I liked it even though it was a bit pricey. There is a screen in the back displaying wait times and names associated with your order. I like how they have a section in the back where they teach you about the tea that they use. And I like how they tie a rope around the cup holder, so it's easy to take to-go. Convenient and eco-friendly. There is very limited seating inside, but the décor is simple and bright.

Now that the hype of the store died down, I was able to order a drink with no wait on a Saturday evening. The moment you open the door and step into the store, you're hit with the strong smell of freshly brewed tea. The cashier was very efficient in taking orders and I received my tea within a couple minutes. The boba was soft, chewy, and sweet. The tea was sweet with the osmanthus but didn't overpower the tea. My drink was well balanced overall and I am happy to have this addition to the boba scene here!

Delicious! We had heard about this award-winning bubble tea and knew it had to be part of our day in Chinatown. We really lucked out with no line when we arrived! We walked right up and ordered. They have a few specialty drinks listed, but you can also use their menu to order tea, then flavor, then topping. I went with Osmanthus Oolong tea with milk and bubble. My friend got the top-awarded green tea with honey and bubble. We didn't have to wait long, plus the wait was fun: we got to watch their patented and famous "teaspresso" machine press and make the tea! Now THAT is fresh. The space was very clean and aesthetic, with cool topographic design on the walls. The staff were clearly running a well oiled machine, and would call out in unison when an order was placed and when it was ready. One bummer is that they don't have a guest bathroom, but I guess that's par for the course in NYC. We really enjoyed our teas! I LOVE the cardboard and twine handle carrier they come with. My friend wished she would have gotten milk with hers, and they wouldn't add in a bit on top when she went back up, so we mixed ours a bit. Overall, very fresh and high quality tea!

The tea was really nice and the boba was nice and soft! I did wish there was a slightly stronger tea flavor but overall I liked it. It is on the expensive side and there wasn't a lot of seating. Though to be fair it was also a bit busy.

TLDR: Make sure you ask them what is in your drink if you may have severe allergic reactions. Try to know your order before you even get close to the cashiers as it is extremely rushed. The new must have boba in Chinatown... or so they say. Coming here on a Saturday, there was not much of a wait but it was extremely chaotic. It seemed as if the workers were operating on a commission basis since they were screaming and rushing people to hurry and order. Although not a big issue for me, I can see how first timers may be overwhelmed by it and opt to go to a different establishment. The store itself is very pleasant as it is very bright and clean. Walls are not overly decorated and it is very cleans. i ordered the fruit tea and waited for approximately 20 minutes. It was very sweet and seemed to just be some upscale apple juice. I do want to make a note that this place does NOT list any ingredients so individuals with severe allergies should be wary. Came back again after work on a Wednesday and it was calmer. Tried something new and it was good but not wow. I've had better drinks at other shops located in the general area and couldn't see myself waiting over 40 minutes for drinks from here.

Very average, honestly. But if a twine handle on a drink excites you, you may like this place for the aesthetics. I first came here during the first week of opening and during a weekday afternoon, yet it was STILL packed. You would've thought I'd easily curb the weekend crowd but it was just as crowded. The hype has only died down just a little since, with the weekend crowd being in full blast. The Taro Ball Tea Latte was very average. Dunno how much fresh taro they actually use, and especially at the high volume that they make it in, but it tasted anything but fresh--also super pricey ($10 after tax). However, I went back recently and got a Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea and that was surprisingly really refreshing and fragrant. Still not worth waiting around 20+ minutes for, which seems to be the standard waiting time. They also have a tea testing in the back, which I think is highly overlooked because the majority just come here for the drinks but would be interesting to check out.

This place was a major disappointment especially after waiting nearly 50 mins. We assumed it would be good since there were so many other people waiting for it. Unfortunately that was not the case and we did not enjoy our drinks. NOT worth the hype. The drink did not even have any sweetness to it at all. Like none. Save your time and get yourself a boba drink elsewhere!

This place is always so popular and usually has a line. The employees are quick and efficient and I love their Honey Osmanthus Oolong Bubble Tea. I haven't tried tea that is as refreshing and fresh as it from here and they definitely have a special technique involved in making their tea. Their boba is also super soft and chewy and there are some seats inside.

Came after the hype was a little less. The inside was bright with screens displaying wait times and names. When I got to the register, they gave a sample of the creamy lemon tart which was super refreshing. Since this was the first time I'm visiting, I decided to get the bubble milk tea with the recommended sugar level. I waited maybe 15 minutes and received a text that the drink was read. The drink came in a cute sleeve with a twine handle which I loved! The milk tea was strong and creamy that reminded me of Hong Kong style milk tea. The bubbles were very chewy and fresh and it was my favorite part of the drink. The drink was pretty pricey but I guess that's the cost of a "Michelin star bubble tea." I would definitely go back to try their fruit teas.

I was really excited to try Chi Cha San Chen, the new bubble tea spot in the heart of Chinatown. The space is spacious and well-located, so I stopped by on a weekday around 7 PM. There was a line with about five people ahead of me, and a staff member let us know it would be a 45-minute wait for our drinks. Since I was eager to try it, I decided to wait. I ordered the Honey Osmanthus Oolong Tea and the Ding Dong Oolong Tea Latte. We waited in the shop, which was surprisingly hot for the summer heat--there didn't seem to be much air conditioning. After about 45 minutes, our drinks were ready. The first sip was refreshing, given the heat, but after that, it was clear that the teas were overhyped and quite disappointing. Both drinks were bland and watered down, with barely any oolong fragrance or flavor. Honestly, there are much better bubble tea places out there, especially for the long wait time. It seems like most people come here for the aesthetic--the cups are designed like pouches, which is cute, but I'd rather have my bubble tea actually taste good. I probably wouldn't return unless friends want to give it a try, but next time I'll be trying something new, because these two drinks were a real letdown.

I came to seek green tea with my default topping of grass jelly loeng4 fan2 涼粉 which was disappointedly sold out. Grass jelly loeng4 fan2 涼粉 is a refreshing dessert to nurture my broken heart since it is enters nostalgia of all things past. I did not find after my seeking. I departed in utter despondent and dispirited.

Stopped by on Monday afternoon since I was in the area and happened to see that there was no line, which was pretty shocking. When I was here in mid-June (about a month after opening), there was probably a 10-15 min wait to even get inside, then an additional 40-50 wait after ordering!! It was insane - no way was I going to wait an hour for a BBT at the time. Fast forward to this week, I was so excited to have been able to just walk in, place my order, and get my drink all under 5 min. I went for the classic bubble milk tea (almost $10!) and upon my first sip I could tell that it was made with incredibly fresh tea leaves and ingredients, but at the same time - it tasted familiar and nothing out of the ordinary. I'd definitely recommend Chicha if you are a tea enthusiast and looking for a high-quality drink, but if you have to wait anything over 15-20 min for it... probably not. Still, I think it's great that NYC now has a Chicha in the heart of Chinatown. Worth the visit once the hype's died down.

This place was pretty busy, and the wait for the drinks was around 15 minutes. But this is a pretty popular boba chain that people have waited even longer for so I felt like it wasn't too bad! 'Dong Ding Oolong Tea Latte': I love oolong milk tea, so I had to get this! The tea itself is pretty fragrant in scent, but taste wise it was pretty mild. I personally like a stronger tea flavor for my milk teas, so I felt like this was milkier in taste, but I still enjoyed it! It was not too sweet and slightly creamy! I actually really liked the boba, it was warm, soft, and chewy!! The packaging is also cute and functional with the little cup holder handle that it comes with! This drink ended up being almost $9 tho...there is a good selection of quality tea drinks here, but not sure if I can justify the price.

This place usually has a line out the door so I decided to see what the hype is about. I came around lunchtime when they first opened and there was no wait. There is a sign inside that said you can expect to wait 20 minutes for your order to be prepared. The cashier assured us that this was not the case at the moment. I got the signature fruit tea and my friend got the brown sugar milk tea. They were good but not $10/cup good and not worth waiting in a long line for. You can get something similar at the nearby bubble tea stores (plenty of competition in Chinatown). The packaging is nice and unique but it is still overpriced and overhyped.

Food: fruit tea was okay. It was kind of too sweet but you could only get it with no sugar or sugar - no option in between. You also couldn't add any toppings to it which I thought was weird. Service: it was fine. Nothing special. Drink was made in a timely manner Ambiance: cute decoration and the walls have information about their tea. Some seating inside.

I meant to try this place in LA but I decided to fly across the country to try it first. The staff here are super friendly and helpful. My friend and I came by here in the evening and worried about caffeine, so a staff member suggested some non-caffeinated drinks. We ordered the taro drink. It was pretty popular and there seems to be a focus on quality for their tea. I loved that we could smell samples of tea leaves. We got quite cute hanging drink holders, made with material that lent a quite rustic and homey feel. I will have to try the LA location soon and hopefully get a caffeinated tea drink.

I felt like it's overhype. Long line for this award winning tea from Taiwan. It was okay in my opinion. Location: It is located in Chinatown. There is a huge line when we came probably you will wait around 30-40 mins. The interior has the a display on how they brew the tea. There is a few seating and there is a small merchandise shop at the end. Service: they are nice the cashier gave us free sample. I waited for my order around 15-20 mins, not sure why but my friend got hers like 5 min. Bubble tea: I don't know but I don't taste that it is something special. I have been to a lot of bubble tea place and this is okay. We ordered BUBBLE MILK TEA and BUBBLE VOLCANO: both of them are both okay. There is not that strong tea taste on it. The boba was okay, not hard or chewy. Price rating: 10/10, it is by far the most expensive bubble tea I bought, $9.53 for one bubble tea! I'll probably not come back, first it is way to expensive for a bubble tea and second it was alright.

Ordered online. The creamy lemon tart was unique and yummy. The zest on top was a nice touch. The taro milk tea was good, as expected (thank you to all of the places for raising the bar so that artificial taro is no longer an acceptable thing.) The ambience is somewhat sterile like a tea lab. Slightly confused as to where to pick up your order and had to pay extra for a bag.

If you manage to see a short line here, definitely make the visit to get their drinks. I have avoided this spot due to the long lines, but finally made it over when there was just 2 people in line before me. When I got to the counter to order, the employee even offered me a sample to try. I ordered the Bubble Volcano ($8.50) and Osmanthus Oolong Tea ($5.75). I loved that the cashier offered less ice and less sweet for me without me asking, which was so considerate. Once I paid, I got an alert via text of my order and when my order was ready. Within 5 minutes, my drinks were ready. First of all, I love how the drinks come with a holder, which is just too handy and cute. Next, these drinks are of high quality tea, which is brewed freshly. I loved both drinks, but felt the Bubble Volcano was more worth the money. The oolong tea was so refreshing and delicious, but so simple for the price. Honestly, really depends on your mood. They have various drink options, but also not too many that makes it overwhelming allowing each drink to really shine.

the bubble tea at chicha is pricier compared to your average bubble tea but i'd say it's definitely worth the try. i ordered the bubble milk tea ($9.53 after tax). the boba was very chewy and authentic and so was the milk tea. all their drinks come in one size. the design of their cups and cup holders is very unique. customer service was quick and efficient. we went around 11 in the morning and it was pretty busy. we waited around 10 minutes for our drinks. overall rating: 8/10

I've lived in Taiwan practically all my life and have never seen Chicha San Chen before. I even asked my mom who is still there if she's seen it... and the answer is no. We did some digging and found out the concept store is actually located in Taichung and not Taipei. I came at the right time and got to sample the passionfruit osmanthus oolong tea. I ended up getting that exact flavor since it was so light and refreshing. The tea is legit, the passionfruit syrup is light at 30% for some sweetness, and the boba is chewy and fresh. I liked my drink a lot but price tag was kinda hefty at $8-9.

I desperately needed to know if chicha san chen was overrated or well-deserving of the rave, so on a hot summer weekend, I joined the line of people outside. I liked that the line moved relatively quickly despite how crowded it seemed inside. But to my surprise, the real wait was after you got inside and placed your order. The wait for my drink took about 45 minutes, give or take!! Luckily, Chinatown is full of stores to window shop at. When placing your order, you can do so at the counter by the entrance or with the staff member walking around with an iPad to help with orders. I did it at the counter, and they gave us a small sample of the bubble milk tea (without bubbles). Then, because the store was full of people just waiting for their drinks, I decided to wait elsewhere. They sent me automated text updates regarding the wait time for my drink, which I appreciated. However, my drinks were still not ready when the text told me they were. I had to wait an extra 15 or so minutes, but I just used that time to really take in everything. It was cool that we got to see how the tea was being made through the display glass. And they even offered a free tea-tasting experience to customers. I was too slow to respond to the tea tasting so I didn't get to do it. The drinks menu is pretty small -- definitely nothing like Tiger Sugar or other brands from Asia. But I believe this Taiwanese brand's selling point is the tea leaves that they use. Note that the Bubble Volcano (similar to Tiger Sugar's brown sugar milk tea) does not use tea leaves; it's just made up of fresh milk, brown sugar, and bubbles. While I liked the taste, especially because the bubbles were warm and a nice texture, I thought it was pretty on par with other brands' brown sugar drinks. It wasn't good enough for me to wait in line for it again... maybe if it was one of the first brown sugar drinks to come to NY, which was pretty much the case for Tiger Sugar. But because that brown sugar market is pretty saturated now, there's really no reason to queue up. I also got the creamy lemon tart. The staff recommended drinking it without a straw and just sipping it from the lid instead, so that's what I did. Just like its name, I thought it was creamy, sour, sweet, and salty. It's quite a refreshing drink during summer, but I also got tired of this unique taste pretty quickly. At least it wasn't similar to a lemonade or I'd be very disappointed. The store has minimal seating along one wall, but it'd be quite hard to snag a spot if it was as crowded as when I went. I vibed with the shop's aesthetics and liked how the workers wore uniforms.

I can't speak for the in-store experience because my Mom picked up the drinks. But she said every time she passes by the shop, there's a huge line. But there was one sweltering Friday afternoon at around 3 where there was no line so she decided to pick up some drinks for us. I had the Bubble Volcano. I couldn't get it less sweet (probably due to the tapioca) but it was still pretty good. They brew the tea fresh for you, so I will say that it does taste better than other bubble tea shops. The boba was also very good, and they give a good amount. Hubby had the Taro Ball Tea Latte. I liked the taro balls but the latte could have used more taro flavor. Mom had Passion Fruit tea, which has the passion fruit seeds in it. I tried it and wasn't a fan but I also don't love passionfruit. I like that there are only 12 drinks on the menu, so this is very helpful for indecisive people like me. But $8 for a drink is pretty steep so this coupled with the fact that there are usually long lines is enough to deter me from visiting again. I probably wouldn't go out of my way for this but if I happened to be walking by and there was no line, I might try another drink. The Creamy Lemon Tart sounds interesting.

The times I've been here the wait was long and it was so crowded inside. Top that off with the fact that the drinks are kinda small considering each one is around $9 is a pretty big turn off. The drinks are good (I really liked the creamy lemon), but is it worth the hassle and the cost? I personally can't say that it is especially since the area has so many other great boba choices already.

Parking in Mulberry parking and walk here Congested in the store Text when order is ready Nice packaging Drinks are great

Truthfully the best oolong tea that I've ever had. But I'm a student so the price for the size was a bit :( for me. Glad I tried during my NY visit tho!

I was in the area and there was no line outside on a weekday afternoon so I decided to stop by. Once I walked in there was a lot of people though. There was only a few people waiting to order, but a lot of people waiting for their drinks. I was going to walk out but then decided to get something anyways since I was already there. I got the honey osmanthus oolong tea with bubble. I asked the person behind the counter if they recommended the bubble or taro balls but she was unable to clearly articulate the difference and did not give a recommendation so I just went with the bubbles. After ordering I appreciated the kiosk displaying the estimated wait time and then announces when your drink is ready. Although the estimated wait time displayed was 25 minutes, I only had to wait for about 10 minutes. The tea had a strong flavor and was just the right sweetness (I got light sugar). The bubbles were well prepared and had just the right chew to them. Although the drink was good, it was expensive, and I would only go back if I was in the area or if someone else wanted to go.

A taiwanese bubble tea shop that has been awarded michelin stars - one of the newer spots in Chinatown and given the hype, the line is long and hasn't died down yet. On a Sunday afternoon, we waited an hour to order, and then another 25 minutes for the drink. So get ready to wait! Once you order, you can check your spot in the queue online so you can walk around and not have to wait inside. They gave us samples of the tea while we were in line which is nice! There's also tea tasting experiences that you can sign up for. The sample we tried was their signature black milk tea with bubbles (black milk tea, cream, bubbles). It was way too creamy/heavy for me, especially with the summer weather, but if you are looking for a creamy milk tea, this would be the drink to get. Known for their high quality teas, we got the oolong tea latte with bubbles, taro milk tea and the creamy lemon tart. The oolong tea and the taro were just okay. Not super strong on the oolong tea and it felt a little watery or like it was missing something. However, the creamy lemon tart was delicious!! It was sweet and sour and the creaminess balanced out the lemon well. Was super refreshing as well. I would only come back for this drink. Otherwise, the line, wait and price is not worth the hype.

This popular Taiwanese tea shop has finally hit NYC, so I had to try it out! I came on a Monday night at around 8 pm, and there was a bit of a line. It was about a 15-minute wait to get inside, but they have their menu posted up along the line so that you can order from the associate right as you get in through the door. It was about 20 minutes after putting in the order before my drink was ready I ordered the Bubble Milk Tea (~$9). The drink was so tasty, I understand all the hype around it coming to NYC. Upon stepping into the store, you can smell the tea brewing. It's no doubt that the tea that Chicha San Chen uses is high in quality. I liked the boba consistency too, it was sweet and had a bouncy texture so it was fun to chew on! I'm not sure what type of milk or cream they use, but I didn't ask for any substitutes and it didn't hurt my stomach so it's potentially lactose-friendly? This spot ranks highly in all the milk tea shops I've been to in the past. I'm not sure if the time I waited for the drink is worth it though, but since this shop is still fairly new, I'll just have to come back when the excitement place dies down.