Mike L.
Yelp
For a while there, I used to hear my friends talk about Urban Ritual in SF more than a little fondly. Despite all of that praise, though, I have to admit that I never managed to make my way to their location to try them. So, of course it makes perfect sense that my first time trying them (as well as the next two...) happened to come at this location in San Mateo instead! What can I say? I guess my boba-crazed friend was right whenever she would say that the mood for boba and milk tea always hits harder when we're not in The City.
Like nearly every other milk tea shop in the neighborhood, Urban Ritual is fairly small in stature (although, they they manage to squeeze in a few tables). Yet, unlike so many of their nearby competitors, the menu here is legitimately one of the most unique I've seen. Even Teaspoon, which is a (past) favorite that has a for more interesting menu than the likes of TP Tea, can't compare. At a glance, the collection of drinks here may not seem very extensive, but there's a good amount of creations to choose from that all sound terrific. They also have the option for you to create/customize your own "basic" milk tea, but it'd be a shame not to try something different, like their Black Sesame Rice Ball, Matcha Toffee, Mango Sticky Rice, or Strawberry Pandan Corn Milk!
-- BLACK SESAME RICE BALL - Drinkable Mochi, Black Sesame, Rice Milk...$6.50
All of their drinks looked great, but this one stood out the most! The "drinkable mochi" is exactly - almost like a gooey pudding, but gloppy and with a slight chew. It also served as a nice contrast against the black sesame and rice milk, which wasn't exactly creamy, but had a nice thickness and nuttiness to it.
-- MATCHA TOFFEE - Matcha Green Tea with Classic Milk and Bite-Sized House Made Toffee Brittle...$6.75
While I liked all three of the drinks that I tried, this just might have been my favorite. It wasn't intensely sweet like I had feared it would be (save for the sips with a bunch of the brittle) yet there was still enough buttery sweetness to add a richness to the otherwise classic sort of matcha latte flavor.
-- RICE RICE BABY - Genmaicha Green Tea with Rice Milk Topped with Toasted Rice...$6.50
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but it was pretty solid! Not only did the toasted rice add a nice crunch, but it also reinforced the roasted element in the tea's flavor, too. As for the green tea and rice milk, it was something akin to a matcha latte, but not as sweet nor with as much body.
Inevitably, at some point, another new, shiny sort of boba shop will open up and join the many existing options around 3rd Ave. However, unless they find a way to improve on what Urban Ritual does and/or offer something similar, but better, I can't imagine this place not ranking among my absolute favorites anywhere. That is, unless the one in SF turns out to be better!