Tu Cha

I took my kids (9 and 14) to Tu Cha in Koreatown after they saw it go viral on TikTok and had been begging me to go. Honestly, my expectations were pretty low, but these desserts completely blew me away. They were absolutely beautiful, creative, and most importantly, delicious. Each one looked like a work of art and tasted even better. Hats off to the chef, these desserts are seriously impressive and absolutely worth the hype!

The dubai matcha dream cake, citron, and the my man go are worth it to try at least once. Their four seaon oolong was the best thing I had here. Everything else was sadly disappointing. The devil fruit disintegrated when I picked it up. That and the rest of the deserts, oh my gourd, just peachy, and berry3 were not crunchy like you see in the videos. The white chocolate shells were very soft. Just peachy did not have any earl grey flavor and just tasted sweet and very milky and the Dacquoise was gummy in texture. Flavor is subjective but it just didn't wow me and for the price there are just better options. The people who work here were realy nice rhough and they were very busy.

After Tu Cha went TikTok viral, I had to come and try their desserts. Tu Cha is located 1 mile from my gym that I go to so I decided to stop by before hand. I couldn't even find parking. I literally drove around for 15 min. I decided to just go to the gym and visit after since they close late. I still had a hard time finding parking. Turns out that they have free parking. You can find free parking for TU CHA on W 2nd Street and W 7th Street, or at a designated lot near the store. It took 7 min to go in and get what I needed and I was out. They have a kiosk where you can order but they also have a cashier as well. The staff is friendly & knowledgeable. The prices are comprable for the desserts. I heard other places are more expensive. I can't compare them to order places because I haven't tried them but Tu Cha desserts are so good. I don't like to rely on TikTok influencers too much but I have to say they were spot on the Oh my gourd! Reminds me that fall is here. It's a little nutty with ginger and caramel & pumpkin mouse. It was delicious. The Berry3 is a Strawberry coulis, pistachio praline, raspberry mousse, crimson velvet. We also tried the My Man Go which is Fresh mango, creme fraiche mango mousse, hazelnut praline, tropical chocolate shell. I think this was my favorite out of the 3. Definitely worth the hype. The area is a little sketchy but it's LA so just be vigilant. This rating is only for the desserts. I didn't order the tea but they look yummy too. Hence the 4 stars. Thank you Tu Cha, you made my day & my birthday weekend.

We tried the citron petite gateau and we loved the passion fruit yuzu flavor. The self-order kiosk ensures that even when it's really busy, there's always someone available behind the counter to answer questions which is amazing. The only downside is that the ONLY nut-free option is the citron. We would come back if they add more nut-free options!

Cute desserts. It is a little bit on the pricey side but definitely worth it. Will have to come back to try more items. Ordered the mango, lemon, strawberry, dubai matcha, coconut matcha latte. My favorite is the dubai matcha. The crunch on top and at the bottom makes it addicting. The cream in between was lightly sweetened and not over powering. I enjoyed it more than a dubar chocolate bar. The mango, lemon and strawberry was all good. It's between a sweet and tart flavor. The crunchy outer shell gives it more texture to it which complimented the inside. Didn't get to try the chocolate one. I like that the dessert was not overly sweet. Just slightly sweet so you can taste the flavor. The matcha coconut latte was good. You can taste a hint of coconut and the matcha flavor has a nutty flavor. Tried the new flavor Peach and Blackberry. The peach look so beautiful but Im not too fond of the flavor. It has more of a tea type of flavor not so much peach. The Blackberry is tart and sweet. Parking was a bit confusing. There is not much parking space but when I got inside it did say that they have free parking at this location. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it so had to have my friend drive around until I purchased my desserts.

As much as this business was recommended to me, I honestly couldn't understand why. I had the mango dessert and the milk tea and both were far from exceptional, if anything both items were very mediocre when it came to taste. Now if you're going with the main intention of getting some good looking pics for social media then this is the place to be. I just don't think that the same thought if put into the taste as the presentation. Personally once was good enough for me, not my cup of tea.

My first visit to Tu Cha was in May this year to try their summer specials which consist of the “Just Peachy” and, more notably, the “Devil Fruit,” inspired by One Piece. The surrounding area is not the nicest, but the inside of this dessert shop is modern, sleek, and a stark contrast to the urban graffiti and chain link fences outside. A handful of items such as the Berry 3 had sold out by 7pm on a Wednesday night, but luckily the Devil Fruit was still available. To be honest, the Devil Fruit was good, but probably the least exciting out of what we tried. A blackberry center with tangy blackcurrant mousse and a white chocolate shell. Still yummy, kinda yogurt-esque. The most interesting aspect about this dessert was its visual appeal. This was still an enjoyable dessert, but I just thought the other two I tried were better. The Just Peachy was my favorite. I was surprised by the strong Earl Grey flavor. I thought it was delicious and paired very well with the sweet outer shell. I do think the tea was overpowering any peach flavor. I didn’t really get much peach and wish there was more peach filling. The My Man Go I think is one of their more popular desserts. I remember seeing a TikTok where Catherine said they started making more of it to meet demand. I definitely get it. The mango tastes very ripe, especially since we’re coming into mango season. The hazelnut praline kinda took me by surprise, adding an almost savory element. I had to take a moment to process and warm up to it before deciding that I liked it. I am unsure of how others would perceive it… but I guess since it’s a best seller people like it. I returned at the end of summer to give Tu Cha another try. This time, we got the Berry3, Citron, Camellia Milk Tea, and Four Seasons Oolong Milk Tea. I can see why the Berry3 was sold out the first time - it’s very good. Visually, it’s stunning and vibrant. The inside mousse is raspberry with a pistachio praline adding a savory element that I’ve gotten used to in Ms. Zhang’s desserts. My new favorite, however, became the Citron. The passionfruit center surprised me and went well with the cheesy inside. I think Catherine Zhang is very creative and her desserts are interesting and delicious. I would definitely come back to try other creations and the boba. The parking situation makes me a bit apprehensive to return. There was a sign that said “free parking 2 minute walk away!” that was definitely illegible from a driver’s perspective on the street, but even after I read it, I had no idea where the parking lot was. Maybe I should’ve asked haha.

TuCha was founded by a group of Hong Kong natives who also partnered with Catherine Zhang, the renowned winner of Zumbo’s Just Desserts Season 2. TuCha is all the buzz right now with the viral fruit pastries taking over social media. We were just lucky enough to be in town to check this out. But it was actually my girls that wanted to stop by here to check it out. Ha. They are totally my kids. We drove 1 hour from Redondo Beach to Downtown LA. Yikes! Parking was not fun and we drove around for like 10 minutes looking for metered street parking. We got lucky and snagged a parking spot directly across the street. Of course as we were walking in, they had a sign outside that said “Free Parking” and gives you the location down the street. Oh well. The space here is very minimalist and modern. They sell the beautiful fruit pastries and drinks. We got the Just Peachy, Citron and Berry3. At about $13-14.50 for each pastry, it’s pricey!!! We were incredibly sad the Mango was sold out as that was our first choice. We ordered at the kiosk and the staff packs it up and calls our order when it’s ready. There really wasn’t much service as that was all they really did. Out of all the pastries we spent at a whopping $41 for 3 pastries, the only one that was worth the hour drive and money is the Citron! The passionfruit and lemon yuzu flavors really shined with the light cheesecake texture. We really wanted to like the other ones but were not fans at all. We all agreed. The Just Peachy and Berry3 had this mousse texture that was off, just did not like how it tasted or the feeling of it in our mouth. I also did not love the Earl Grey flavor in the peach. The jelly centers were not great either. Sorry but that’s the honest truth. I think if the Peach and Berry had the same light cheesecake texture vs the mousse, it may be better. I kind of wished I ordered a drink because I noticed after we left that they had some unique matcha flavors and would have loved to try the Orange Americano. My daughter also mentioned TuCha is a competitor to Aurora which is another local bakery that offers similar desserts and all over social media too. If you visit TuCha, get the Citron. Totally worth it. I bet Mango is worth it too but we will never know. Ha. For now. CITRON $13.00 Passionfruit crémeux, lemon yuzu cheesecake, ivory chocolate JUST PEACHY $13.50 Fresh white peach center, Earl Grey-infused mousse, almond dacquoise, and a frutti shell BERRY3 $14.50 Strawberry coulis, pistachio praline, raspberry mousse, crimson velvet

New fav boba and dessert shop! Love their genmaicha and especially the chew silk osmantus jelly! Can't get it anywhere else. The matcha citrus tonic has yuzu in it and it's so refreshing! Trust the reviews the drinks are good. The Dubai matcha dream cake is as good as it sounds. The texture and taste of the matcha and pistachio crunch really pairs well with each other. Service is great no complaints here and ambiance is very cozy. Can't wait to go back I'm craving it already!

Came here at 1pm on a Friday with a friend after seeing it on socials. They said they were sold out of the following: - mango dessert - citron dessert - cheese foam But a few minutes later they brought my drink out with cheese foam and then started restocking the mango dessert!!! They also had a sign saying they were out of boba and then someone came out to remove the "no boba" sign. Very confusing. An employee told me the desserts take 1-2 days to make so they aren't always able to restock but then what about the cheese foam and boba?? I was so sad because we would've totally waited 5 minutes to get all of that and we were stuck with the chocolate and raspberry instead. I did go back and share my disappointment and they were able to rectify the issue so I think it is just some growing pains since it's so new. Overall I think the fruit shaped desserts are very good and there is a little biscuit with a white chocolate drop holding it all together at the very bottom. I would come back to try the citron but I would skip the other 2 cakes. I got street parking but apparently there is a garage. There's also WiFi and some nice booths.

Though the desserts can be a bit pricey, I thought they were worthwhile to try as the wife and I will definitely be back for more! Stopped by close to closing time (10PM) on a Monday night and was delighted to see that they still had desserts available! We tried the My Man Go and the Dubai Matcha Dream Cane. Not only are the desserts visually stunning, but for both items we tried, the flavors came through really nicely, being not too sweet or overpowering but with just the right touch of sweetness balanced with fruitiness and matcha. - My Man Go: Fresh mango, creme fraiche mango mousse, hazelnut praline, chocolate shell - Dubai Matcha Dream Cake (6.5" x 2"): Matcha sponge cake, Pistachio Knafeh, Matcha Mousse, Matcha white chocolate For not being big on desserts, I'm sold! The desserts (by Catherine Zhang) are complex and no easy feat- requiring quite a bit of effort to put together into such a visually compelling package. Catherine Desserts might be Australia's greatest export, after Bluey of course.

Desserts were good, but pricey. Wanted to see what the hype was about so we stopped by on Friday afternoon. Ambiance is sterile. There was no music playing, everyone inside was very quiet, and everything clean and plain. Service was friendly, they didn't have what I ordered so they gave me two of something else. I didn't see any parking so we parked on the metered parking outside.

I'm so happy I made it to the grand opening. There is not only scrumptious dessert but they're also not too sweet and boba/tea drinks. I had the mango and berry desserts because you have to take advantage of their 2 for $25 special. To drink I had the matcha latte. I have been wanting a classic matcha latte as of late and this was perfect. For the desserts the mango had purée and a delicious sorbet. The berry was sooo good. The sorbet was delicious and I LOVED the pistachio center. I love the desserts were absolutely not too sweet. The desserts are served frozen so give it some time to thaw. They have parking at 2850 W 7th but luckily I found street parking.

Finally after a bit of delay, Tucha officially opened its door for the first time today! I've been super excited about it, being long follower of Catherine and even have used a lot of her recipes for baking. So doubtlessly, have been so eager to try her creations!! And she's there today so super excited to even see her in person. As expected, long line had been there before the opening time. It took awhile for sure as they used self-order machines and people took awhile to make their decisions I guessed given it's their first visits. As the name said, they offered various kinds of tea on the menu, but also the selections of desserts crafted by chef Catherine. Price was kinda steep especially for the cakes, but I wasn't surprised given her popularity and hey it's LA LOL. They had some seats on the spot and I could see this spot stay crowded as it's pretty convenient one. I went for their Signature HK Milk tea and liked how the tea flavor stood boldly with hint of bitterness. Would recommend going for half sweet for sure. Despite being pretty nice, wouldn't call it my favorite one in town though. Being kinda indecisive with the cakes as they all looked so good, I ended up trying the citron, which was delightful blend of refreshingly tangy passion fruit, lemon, and yuzu with sweet cheesecake. Presentation was so good with that real-ish look of a lemon. It's also nice combo of texture with the thin crispy base at the bottle and the moist creamy cake. Other than the price, it surely deserved all the stars! One tip, let it sit for awhile for best texture since it's bit hard out of the fridge.

Okay okay okay, I was coming into this review initially a little annoyed because I'm impatient and I did have to wait 25 minutes for two boba drinks, but... the drinks are quite good! I liked them a lot and the that first sip immediately made me less annoyed. I'm a big milk tea/boba connoisseur so I'm really happy this place opened up near me! You order on self serve screens and then wait for your order afterwards, there's a few tables and it was pretty busy on a Saturday late afternoon! Probably big part of why the wait was so long, so I should be giving more grace--plus they just opened! Vibes are loud, but it could be a fun place. I personally enjoyed the music playlist while waiting. Anyways, I ordered the Earl Grey Boba Milk Tea, half sweet, and it was perfect. Unfortunately they ran out of brown sugar boba, so I ended up with the osmanthus jelly but... I'm kind of glad it ended up that way. Both very tea forward and I enjoyed it a lot!!! My partner got the Signature HK Milk Tea, and he also enjoyed his drink, despite not being an avid milk tea drinker. Overall, I'm definitely coming back. I think I knocked off just one star for the wait, but again, I should be a little more gracious since they've just recently opened the store and it was a busy Saturday night. I'll be back to write a 5 star review soon, and to hopefully try the yummy looking desserts!!

The Matcha pistachio was amazing! The combo works , a desert that isn't too sweet but has enuff of flavor and textures to satisfy the sweet tooth! Will definitely come back to try others on the menu. House Special milk tea was great as well, no boba when we went so have to try again with.

I heard about Tu Cha because I've been following Catherine on IG making delicious desserts! So when I heard about her opening a dessert spot in ktown, I had to support! We came on a Saturday at around 2pm (6 days after the grand opening) and the seats were all taken inside. We quickly headed to the shop after she posted on her IG stating her they've been selling out (appreciate the update) so that we were able to gauge since we live an hour away. By the time we arrived, the mango and raspberry ones were out but we were able to try 4 other ones. If you are unable to eat inside, be sure to eat it immediately after take out. The texture tastes so much better when it's cold. Location wise, we were able to find parking a couple minutes away but I can see the struggle if it is busy. Overall, I would go back again to try the mango and raspberry ones!

I went to Tu Cha, a new cafe in Koreatown, that just had its grand opening. The owner, Catherine Zhang, won Season 2 of Zumbo's Just Desserts on Netflix back in 2019, so she already has a strong following, especially among food lovers on Instagram and TikTok. Since people already knew about her desserts, the lines for the grand opening were extremely long. Instead of waiting, we went the next day in the morning when it was less crowded. This gave us time to talk to the staff and carefully choose which desserts and drinks to try. For the grand opening deal, we got two cakes for $25 and ended up ordering Citron, Berry, My Mango, and Chocolate Cube, plus an extra Dubai Pistachio cake. Citron - This was one of my favorites. It had a strong citrus flavor, and the passionfruit cream added a nice tartness. My Mango - This was my actual favorite. It had a fresh mango flavor, and the presentation was amazing. The dessert was airbrushed to look like a real mango, which showed the effort put into it. If you love mango, this is a must-try. Berry - This was disappointing. It was supposed to have strawberry coulis, raspberry mousse, and crimson velvet, but the flavor wasn't distinct. It just tasted like a generic berry mix. I wouldn't get this again. Chocolate Cube - A solid choice for chocolate lovers. The Biscoff caramel and dark chocolate mousse were rich and delicious, but there was nothing new or exciting about it. Dubai Pistachio - I really liked this one. The matcha sponge and pistachio knafeh paired well together. When we opened the box, the earthy smell of matcha was strong, which was a good sign. The matcha white chocolate wasn't too overpowering, making it a well-balanced dessert. We tried two drinks: Genmaicha - This was refreshing, with a nice roasted rice and barley flavor. Taro Drink - This took longer to make because they prepared it fresh, using real taro paste. The first sip was tough because the taro was thick and starchy, but the flavor was really good. While the desserts were visually impressive, I expected more variety in texture. The petit gâteau all had different flavors, but they felt too similar in consistency. I think Catherine has great skills, but I hope to see more creativity and innovation as the cafe grows. The biggest downside is the price. We paid over $100 for five cakes and two drinks, which is expensive, especially in a student-friendly area. The aesthetic and target audience don't really match the pricing. While you're definitely paying for presentation and craftsmanship, I don't think the flavors fully justify the cost yet. I'd be interested to see how the cafe evolves over time, especially in terms of desserts and flavors. I'd go back for the drinks and possibly to try new items in the future, but for now, it feels a bit overpriced for what it offers.

So happy that Tu Cha finally opened in Koreatown! The store is spacious and airy, with an extensive drink menu -- great for catching up with friends or getting some work done. The highlight, however, is definitely their specialty cakes, including true-to-life petit gateau pastries and heart shaped cakes with a chocolate shell. Service was attentive, and the staff are friendly and helpful.

Came here for the grand opening. It was packed and busy. The decor of the cafe is pretty and esthetic. We got two cakes and 2 drinks which came out to about $55 including tip. It is a bit pricey but the taste quality makes up for it. The owner/chef is super cute and sweet.

Wow! The desserts at Tu Cha were almost too pretty to eat so we started with the teas.. and they did not disappoint. My husband had the Signature HK Milk Tea, and I tried the Toasted Genmaicha Milk Tea with Osmanthus Chew Silk Jelly. The flavors were deep, complex, and perfectly balanced. The silk jelly lived up to its name- soft, bouncy, and incredibly light, unlike the usual heavy jellies or boba. It added the perfect texture to my drink. We were blown away by the desserts. Each one looked like it came straight from a high-end hotel patisserie, and the quality was undeniable--real fruit, premium chocolate, and well-balanced flavors. Every bite was a treat and best of all, not too sweet. We came for the grand opening, which made the experience even more special. Seeing Catherine (huge fan!) and Uncle Roger, along with an exciting lion dance was a huge treat. Tu Cha exceeded my expectations. Can't wait to take parents and try their other teas.. when the lines are a bit shorter!

They've finally open!! This place didn't disappoint!! Got a few of their popular drinks and we all loved, it's not overly sweet and the combination of the flavor and tea didn't overpower each other. The worker there is very informative and gives me great suggestions. I already know I have to come back and try their dessert next.

All the desserts were really good, but the texture could be improved. The lemon dessert could be a bit creamier, and some items had a lot of pistachio, which might be an issue for people with allergies. Overall, like I said at the beginning, all the desserts and drinks were outstanding, and the staff was really nice!

The desserts were so aesthetically pleasing and a delicious treat! The workers were pleasant! Small shop, ghetto area but worth it! :)

I was at the grand opening and we ordered 5 different drinks. Fruit tea was amazing, and I thought the osmanthus silk boba was unique and delicious. I will definitely be coming back!

I was in the area searching for a good boba place and stumble upon Tu cha and boy am I glad I stop by! The tea was exceptional. A good balance between strong tea flavor and not too sweet or bitter. I tried their toasted genmai milk tea with chew silk jelly and it was phenomenal. The service was friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be back.

While there might be a bit of a wait, the taro milk with boba is absolutely worth it! The mango and lemon desserts look fantastic and taste delicious--not overly sweet at all. There's metered parking available right outside Tu Cha, and a designated parking lot nearby. The staff is friendly, and we'll definitely be coming back!

I got a typical boba milk tea from them and my husband got the "dirty macha," we both really loved it! There were tons of drinks you could pick, it's for sure our next "go-to" place.

I'd give this plane an honest 2.5 out of 5. My first trip there (12:00pm Noon) I ordered dirty matcha with Almond Milk. As pricey as matcha is overall in LA, this is probably the most expensive matcha i've had. As I was walking out, an employee named John ran out as told me he wanted to switch my drink because he put whole milk in my drink. Now, If I were lactose intolerant, this could have easily been a bad review.. But I thought to give them another chance being a new store and all.. My second trip there (around 8:00pm), I ordered Jasmine Tea.. 5 minutes after ordering they were sold out.. So i subbed it out with a Camellia Milk Tea. They did not ask the milk. Did not include the "jasmine chew silk" jelly. To be honest i'd rather save my time and money walking down to a few very good coffee / matcha alternatives bear by. Maybe i'll try it out again.

Drove 1 hr to this spot, and at 8pm every desert was sold out! Such a let down for my boys smh and Yet u advertise this and ur sold out?! Better preparation is needed!

Desserts are pretty good but expensive. The chocolate cube tasted like a chocolate ganache, didn't have a really unique flavor profile but still pretty good. I did enjoy the matcha Dubai cake though. The sponge cake, cream, and knafeh blended well together! The oolong milk tea was kind of watered down and just tasted okay. Service was just fine, but not up to expectations since it's a famous content creator's cafe.

Had the chance to try this new tea shop and was pleasantly surprised. The signature hk milk tea has strong tea flavor and not too sweet. The wife tried the pineapple tonic and she loved it. I got to take a sip of it and it was indeed delicious. Will be back for more boba dates with the wifey.

10/10. Exceeded all expectations and more. As a sweets guy, my personal favorites were the Matcha Pistachio cake and Chocolate Cube. There's really nowhere else in Los Angeles that has what Tu Cha has to offer. Especially the cakes and desserts. The Milk Tea Boba is amazing. Going to go back and try more!

Presentation of the store layout was amazing, I went to the grand opening yesterday and I found trouble with parking, other than that I was able to get into the store. The store does not have a phone number to call yet and the service in there is iffy, I tried to setup a point system for myself but the message would not go through due to no WiFi. Prices are a bit high but the quality of the food is great. Presentation of the food is appealing and it tastes amazing. I'd appreciate for the default sweetness to be a little bit sweeter and the mousse cakes less melted, other than that the experience was quite remarkable! Love this place and I'll definitely be back soon :)

Amazing food and drinks. Service was amazing even the door was held open. The environment is really modern with background music playing which made a comfortable environment. Overall I would recommend you to come here for sure!!

Great business with reasonable prices and a vast selection on drinks. I ordered a milk and fruit tea and it tastes amazing. I definitely recommend going and I will definitely come back. Great environment and extremely modern as well as incredible service. Keep up the good work!

The desserts are so yummy and look very beautiful too . The drinks are amazing good . Good location near USC and Korean town

honestly for the price it's mid most of the stuff is sold out most of the time i only got to get my hands on the chocolate cube, Dubai cake, and the my man go, they forgot my boba in my dunks, the drink also were super unflavored and watery, i heard other people eating it and saying "maybe it's just not as good cause we're not sponsored" which was kinda funny to me cause that's true, this is my first review only because I drive an hour to get here and was expecting more from it and better service but however it is picture pretty.

This boba place was so awesome and the awesome uncle Roger came so 10/10. Would recommend.