Volcano Tea House

The hot grass jelly is so watery. And the popping boba in the hot soup is so yucky! It melted in mouth. Never put popping boba in hot stuff. The AGV grass jelly dessert less than $3 from Ranch 99 market is much better. The boba milk tea is good though.

I discovered this place 5 or 6 years ago. I've only ordered one thing..Misugaru blended w oat milk and Agar a.k.a. Crystal boba! It's the best drink with a sort of sweet wheat flavor...like cereal milk(It's a Korean staple drink) Wanna Try something New..? Then try this very unique drink that hit every time!! 5 ⭐'s To Volcano Tea House! ..and I swear I'll try something else someday..just not today haha😋🥤

Tried this boba spot for the first time and it didn’t disappoint. The tea tasted fresh, not watered down, and the boba was soft and perfectly chewy. Service was quick and the staff were really friendly. Definitely coming back to try more flavors.

Tea is always good and on the affordable side. Selection is varied. Somehow, they are always out of the mini boba (sago) so if you are going there specifically for that, go early.

Volcano Boba, located in Sawtelle, has earned a reputation as one of the most popular boba places in the area, evident from the consistently long lines. Having recently visited, I had the opportunity to try their Tai tea boba and Black sugar milk tea latte, resulting in a mixed experience. Starting with the positives, Volcano Boba's Tai tea boba is truly deserving of the hype it receives. The tea itself is infused with a delightful flavor that strikes a perfect balance, delivering a robust and satisfying taste. Complementing the tea, the tapioca pearls offer a pleasing chewiness, adding an enjoyable texture to the beverage. It's no wonder that the long lines persist, as this particular drink is a standout choice. If you're a Tai tea lover, make sure to give it a try. However, my experience with their Black sugar milk tea latte was less impressive. The drink leaned heavily towards a milky profile, overpowering the more delicate notes of the black sugar. As a result, the expected complexity and distinctiveness of the black sugar flavor were somewhat lost, leading to an imbalanced drink. Those seeking a stronger black sugar taste might find this particular offering disappointing. Additionally, one drawback of Volcano Boba is that they don't offer a small size option, limiting choices for those who prefer a smaller serving. In conclusion, Volcano Boba offers a mixed experience. Their Tai tea boba lives up to the reputation and is a definite standout, while the Black sugar milk tea latte falls short with its excessive milkiness. The lack of a small size option is another downside to consider. Nonetheless, the long lines, though inconvenient, indicate the demand and quality of their boba. Consider visiting during off-peak hours for a more relaxed experience.

Ordered a passion fruit green tea. Boba was cooked ok. Tea was standard. Cash/venmo only. For $6.50, it is definitely a bit on the pricier end. Parking can get tough when it is busy in the plaza, otherwise, you can walk a few min and find street parking. When I went in Dec'22, there was no space for seating...only take out orders.

I would call this place more of a traditional style boba shop, no crazy stuff made up for Instagram. They do now accept credit cards and tap to pay. Brown Sugar Latte good but boba is on the al dente side--I prefer it softer. The flavor of the boba was good however. Milk tea brewed properly and not bitter or overly sweet. There are a few boba shops in this area, this one is one of the better spots. This area can be tough to find parking, keep heading north and spots open up.

Average, but decent and drinkable boba. Not bad, decent flavors, nothing most would complain about, and you can finish the cup eventually.... But it's not a Tea Station amazing kind of tea flavor where you just down the drink as fast as your stomach can handle because it was so good, with delicious tea flavor. Nope, here, it's a decent drink...then you forget about it. Cash only sucks. Absolutely no reason when Square is universal among smaller businesses - doesn't make any sense. Most tables were hogged by laptop users, so nothing but the bench along the wall to sit at. Odd postings on the wall like the bank account info - totally random and no idea why it's there.

If you want a Boba drink, and you're on Sawtell Avenue, over in West LA, Volcano is your place to go. Yes, yes, they have other drinks that don't involve Boba, but from my experience, the majority of people that come here want one of their Boba drinks. They also have various varieties of Boba, and other ingredients to put in the bottom of your drink, which is another factor that makes this place very interesting. What Volcano offers is a nice selection of great tasting drinks. They have various varieties of drinks whether it be coffee-based, milk-based, or fruit-based that you can either drink straight or add your Boba to. The way this business works is that you decide what you want, walk up to the counter, tell the person handling the counter your choice and they make it for you on the spot. Though this is a great process, and the staff really try to get your drink exactly right, this is also where some of the criticisms about this business arise. Due to the fact that some of the people that walk up to the counter really don't know what they want, and need to have some instructions from the staff, this can really slow the line down. This problem is sometimes exacerbated due to the fact that this is a popular business. So, when you get here, if a lot of people are in front of you, or there are a lot of people waiting for their drinks, you may have to wait a while. That's just the fact of this business, it's definitely not a criticism. Overall, if you want that really fun and unique drink, that involves Boba or not, this is your place to go.

This is our go to tea house in the Sawtelle area. Nice variety of boba drinks. Fast and friendly staff. The place is clean with interesting decor all around. It is located at n a small strip mall with parking.

I ordered the iced rose milk tea with boba, 25% sweet. Delicious. Many other options for drink choices, add on options, and level of sweetness The boba texture was perfect. You order, pay, and pick up your drink at the counter. The customer ahead of me left so I was the only one in line. It felt like my drink was ready in less than a minute. Not much ambience. No tables to sit down and enjoy your drink, just a bench near the door. This place is set up more as an order and take out.

My friends and I were craving smoothies but ended up here after a hearty meal. I got the Regular White Peach Oolong Tea w/ Boba and 75% sweetness. Pretty sure that's where I went wrong because there was a significant drop in sugar where I would think I asked for 50% instead of 75% but that might just be me. I tried my friend's Mango Slushy and wished I got that one instead LOL Service was great. There was one worker doing both the register and making the drinks when I went and I can see the hard work put into these drinks. I'll have to return to get the slushy some day!

We love volcano tea house. Servers are always friendly. Place could use a little love like the old days before Covid. Cause it looks like a storage house. But we will always go there because we love their snacks and drinks.

Volcano tea house is victorious! I've been coming to Volcano Tea for a while now and I can honestly say it is one of my all time favorite boba spots. The best thing here is the popcorn chicken! It's really crunchy and juicy and flavorful! Whenever I'm in the area, I have to stop by and get a Thai tea + the chicken. The prices are pretty standard ($8 for chicken and $5-6 for Thai tea with boba). No where to sit and parking is kinda rough, but we usually get a good walk in by parking in the nearby neighborhood (check the street signs though!). There's lots of other places around (it's in the middle of Sawtelle) so it's very vibrant and lively. They typically take cash or Venmo and the service is usually good! I highly recommend!

Volcano Tea has been a boba staple in west la for a while. It's the og boba spot that could never go old! Although nowadays, it's a little different, the boba and snacks still hit the spot. Boba is pretty decent. There are better spots in the area, but i feel volcano tea offers a lot more variety in the drinks and snacks that they serve. The snacks itself are pretty good! Though, they can be pretty pricy. Volcano tea is now also basically only for to go orders. Before, you could hang out but nowadays it's a boba place where you buy and go somewhere else because the ambiance could get better. There's no room to just chill indoors. Service is still pretty good and decent tho!

Quick friendly service. It was a little confusing on how to order as there is a QR code when you walk in that suggests ordering on your phone, yet you can also order at the counter with a person. I ordered a Vietnamese iced coffee with boba which was ready in minutes and it was really good. I just wish there was less ice and more drink. There's no seating inside, so it's grab and go. There's a small parking lot out front that gets full during busy times, yet there's usually street parking in the residential area behind the shopping center.

This place has been in the area for a long time - best for if you want a brown sugar boba fix

The boba slushies were good, just a bit too much tapioca balls. Service from the employees were nice and very simple. Overall atmosphere was nice but no place to sit except to wait for your drink.

I love volcano tea house! This shop is my and my friend's go to spot for late night snack.

This is the OG boba place in WLA! This place has been around 20+ years. It is one of the boba spot that opens until midnight. I wish they would open until 1am or 2am though! https://order.mealkeyway.com/customer/release/index?mid=6b7151497133377a4b314b70545a6841543250686c773d3d#/main

If you're looking for the perfect spot to cool down in Sawtelle, Volcano Tea House is where it's at! I stopped by on a blazing hot LA day and grabbed their large house milk tea with grass jelly, choosing 50% sugar. It hit the spot--just sweet enough without being too much, making it the ultimate refreshing treat. The grass jelly added a fun, chewy texture that made every sip even more enjoyable. But one of the highlights was definitely their packaging! They serve the tea in the cutest bottle made of sturdy material, which you can totally reuse. It's not just adorable; it feels durable enough to take with you for your next drink, or even to use for water on the go. It's a small detail, but it makes the whole experience feel special. On top of that, the workers were super friendly and had my order ready in no time. If you're ever in Sawtelle, I highly recommend swinging by Volcano Tea House. It's the perfect place for a quick, refreshing pick-me-up, and the vibes of the area are just as sweet as the tea!

Our family lives nearby, and we frequent Volcano Tea House. My daughter and I love the hazelnut milk tea with boba, so today we brought our glass cups (which for a 1-time $7 purchase will get you a free upgrade to a large drink on subsequent visits) and got 2 orders. Unfortunately as we were walking back home, my daughter dropped and shattered her glass cup before she even took a sip (she likes to savor the entire drink in the comfort of our home). I went back to Volcano Tea House to buy another drink, and long story short, they gave me another large hazelnut milk tea with boba for free. We've already been repeat customers for nearly 2 decades, and this act of kindness is what will keep us coming back for more. BTW, the popcorn chicken is also delish!

Whenever I'm in Sawtelle, this is Boba shop of choice. I love it so much that I would actually cater this boba shop for my college's fundraisers. The Boba pearls are always the perfect texture. Never too soft or too firm. I always get the house milk tea and it's the perfect milk tea. Never too sweet or too much milk. I always order and pay using a debit card. No issues! Prices are reasonable and more affordable than some of the competitors in the area. The drinks come out super fast. The plaza parking lot is a hit or miss depending on the time and day you come . Definitely give it a try !

Our Vietnamese coffee was delicious and well priced. Service was friendly and super fast. They have a large variety on their menu, there is something for everyone. Easy parking in the plaza, though it can get very full here. Great option if you are looking for a refreshing, pick me up in the area!

Ordered a passion fruit green tea. Boba was cooked ok. Tea was standard. Cash/venmo only. For $6.50, it is definitely a bit on the pricier end. Parking can get tough when it is busy in the plaza, otherwise, you can walk a few min and find street parking. When I went in Dec'22, there was no space for seating...only take out orders.

Good spot for a late night boba drink. I got the lava flow drink which pina colada and strawberry and added aloe Vera to it. Really really sweet drink. Next time I'll probably get something less sweet. Drink came out fast.

Always great boba! I came here years ago and revisited it recently. There are so many options that you can't go wrong.

Was picking someone up from LAX but their flight was delayed so had some time to kill, and Volcano was one of the places open late not too far away. There was a small parking lot but I can imagine it fills up during peak hours. The interior is small with no public restroom or seats for dining in. The drink menu is large, with some snacks available as well. Credit card accepted if purchase is over $10, otherwise cash or Venmo only. Service was prompt and friendly. I ended up ordering the popcorn chicken and a shaved ice. The popcorn chicken was a bit pricey at $8, but it was a pretty large portion. They gave spicy powder on the side for you to adjust spice level to your liking. I only wish they fried it with some basil! The shaved ice came with three toppings of your choice, so I chose mini boba, red bean, and grass jelly. I also opted to add condensed milk. I felt like they could have used more brown sugar syrup to give it more of a brown sugar taste, and the mini boba were not cooked all the way through (still hard in the center). Otherwise, it was a satisfying shaved ice. Overall, solid to-go place, looks like they have several popular drinks and it was pretty busy even at 11PM on a Wednesday night (open until midnight).

The bubble tea here isn't bad. They're fruit teas aren't super sweet at 25% or 50%. I got the Sakura green tea, while my friends got lavender milk tea, osmanthus tea, and lychee tea. You can really taste the tea which is a huge plus! But the milk teas seem to have more sweetness in them at 50%. I might try that next time. They also sell reusable straws and cups! You can get a discount for brining it.

Oooh. Open late on a Saturday night! At least they're open until midnight. Freshly brewed tea and decent prices. I ordered a large hot house milk tea (no boba for me) and an order of popcorn chicken. The bag of popcorn chicken was deeelicious! Plenty of bite sized pieces with a small container of extra spices to sprinkle over in case the msg wasn't enough already. I loved it. My hot house milk tea was excellent too. Just sweet enough without being sugary. Exactly what you'd want hot milk tea to be. Pleasantly surprised. I tried this place because nothing else was opened. Glad I did. Definitely coming back to try their huge menu.

When I need a quick sweet treat, my go to is volcano since it opens pretty late. My husband and I love coming here because they have popcorn chicken which satisfies our late night chicken cravings

average boba, matcha was good but i think i should try their other boba drinks to really decide if i like this place or not

Step into a world of flavor at Volcano Tea on Sawtelle, where the drinks transcend the ordinary! I'm absolutely in love with their Classic Milk Tea with Boba - the boba pearls are delightfully warm and soft, melting perfectly into the richly brewed tea. Whether you're craving a creamy smoothie or a refreshing tea, their expansive menu has it all. Don't miss out on their scrumptious snacks like the crispy popcorn chicken and savory fries, ideal for munching. Although Sawtelle can be notorious for parking challenges, the hassle fades away with the swift service and exceptional flavors you'll find here. Plus, they close late, making it the perfect spot for a late-night treat. A visit here is a must - prepare to be dazzled! ---

Very average milk tea joint. Most of the drinks taste like powdered mixes, but their Vietnamese coffee and fruit slushes are good. They always seem understaffed; every time I've visited, it looks like there's only one person manning the till and making the drinks. Most of the time their credit card machine doesn't work but they do have a Venmo option if you don't have cash. It's convenient and easy to get to since it's located in a plaza so you don't have to worry about street parking.

The Pina Colada Slushy is a refreshing and tropical treat that transports you straight to a beach paradise with every sip. The combination of creamy coconut, sweet pineapple, and a hint of rum creates a perfect balance of flavors.

Stopped by after we had lunch a few doors down. We got a roasted oolong tea and lychee slushy. The lychee was good but the boba was hard. We ended up throwing most of the drink away. This place is good if you're craving drinks without boba. I didn't try any of their snacks but will probably try something next time I'm here.

I had some terrific drinks here so I was surprised by the rating. Major downside is they don't accept credit cards for purchases under $10, but they offer Venmo as a pay option which is interesting. Bring a friend or buy a drink for a friend and this is no problem. Best priced boba so far on my LA trip - drinks are about $5 for large and medium sizes are available. Boba is super chewy but flavor isn't too strong as in there's a lack of sweetness so it could be improved. For the price point compared to other spots though, I can't complain much and can personally omit the weight boba as a topping has on my rating. This is mainly because I know I can reliably come here for tasty drinks with more consistent toppings other than boba or even without toppings. Watermelon Slush - a seasonal special that's literally like blended watermelon. Light and refreshing especially when it's warm but nothing too special. I was thirsty so this was a big hit but I'd opt for another drink, probably not a slush because I'm not a fan of the leftover flavorless ice chunks in slushes in general. House Milk Tea with Boba - Fair tea taste with creaminess almost Hong Kong style milk tea and refreshing. On the less sweet end as I got 50% and it was mildly sweet, which is what I prefer but was shocked because other boba spots have pretty sweet 50% levels. Thought it was notable to consider this spot as one of the lesser sweet spots compared to nearby boba.

Went today to grab boba and there was a baby in the drink station. No hate to babies or moms but I don't know if the boba drink station is the best place for one. I guess I wouldn't have minded so much if the baby wasn't touching the stuff too or their parent wasn't touching them, then the drinks. Just seems a bit unsanitary. The drink was ok, I usually get the house milk tea and it usually satisfies me but today the boba was a little more hard than chewy and the tea tasted a little more bland.

The boba and service never disappoints. I just wish there was still indoor seating, but it's ok! We ordered and ate at a nearby place, so we got to sit there to enjoy our boba.

I came in here around 6pm on a Wednesday and there was only like 2 people in line. I ordered the oolong milk tea half sweetened with less ice. And a taro milk tea half sweetened with less ice. They were both still very very sweet so maybe order even less sugar. The boba was soft and flavorful and both teas were really good. They have a 10 dollar minimum for card, so make sure to bring cash if you don't plan to spend more than 10 dollars. There's a shopping center parking lot that's always full. There's also paid street parking or you can park at Marshall's across the street and walk

No flavor in the tea and super hard boba balls, so disappointed! Really wanted to like this place...

Love this place! Enormously grateful for having non-dairy as the base. No questions about dairy/non-dairy. Just straight to the tea, boba and jelly, or not. LOL! Came in just before the mad rush and just as a second guy came on shift. Timing is everything! Changed their queue from straight-in to hang right. Better layout - no tables to trip over; no slalom to get to the loo. Always friendly counter staff and, of course, yummy drinks!

Their popcorn chicken was grrrreat! I usually get the milk tea from Sun Right down the street on sawtelle. But one of the children wanted fruit slush so came to volcano for that and ended up getting the popcorn chicken. That's now gonna be the routine! Put in the order 5 min before and the food and drink was ready by the time we got there to pickup.

The service was much better today than the last time I was there. The milk tea tasted good. Overall it was a positive experience.

I've only tried the jasmine milk tea boba and I can't say I was a fan. Jasmine flavor was weak and the boba was hard. I can't speak for other bobas but I think there are other great places around sawtelle. HOWEVER, their popcorn chicken was amazing. $8 for a bag that was a hefty portion and it was so good. I don't know if they add white pepper but that stuff was so addictive. Boba: 2/5 Popcorn chicken: 10/5

Mediocre boba gave me a severe stomachache. There are way too many better boba shops now that it makes no sense to get subpar boba here.

So grateful we still have this gem of a place Volcano Tea with amazing Boba and a great variety of flavors. Parking is not so bad depending on the time that you go. If you go after seven it'll be a little bit harder. They are giving you bonus points as well if you purchase and come regularly. Only thing is I wish they still had a place for us to sit down as that was wonderful to be able to sit and enjoy your tea or snack.

Lots of choices in Sawtelle for boba, this spot has reasonable prices and tons of options. I got the brown sugar latte with boba and it was delish! Proper strong molasses flavor and not too sweet.

Used to come here pretty often years ago with some old friends. We were next door for the grand opening of Wanderlust so my bf and I decided to come here and pick up some drinks for the road. Their window is very overwhelming with the menu items and everything else they offered but I honestly just wanted a classic milk tea with boba and I think he got some kind of fruity tea. We got in line and ordered pretty quickly. We ordered some fries to go with our drinks because I remember them being really good. There were quite a few people waiting for their orders and some of them were the wrong drinks? It's like they were making the drinks and placing them next to the wrong receipt because they weren't fully looking at what it had. For example, one lady got called to pick up her drink but it had the wrong toppings, turns out it wasn't even her order and another lady came to bring it to her. Once they called our order for pick up, it was the same issue! She started bagging our order but my bf told her that his drink was wrong and should've had boba instead of lychee jelly. Turns out our drink was being finished up by another lady who brought it to us shortly after. It was messy and I'm not sure how they process people's orders. It just seems like they're moving too quickly and placing the drinks with the wrong order. Other than that, drinks were delish and the fries were perfect! It was like McDonald's fries but with a Taiwanese seasoning. Absolutely delicious if you eat them fresh, other wise, you know how cold McDonald's fries get/taste! IG: @ammysalamii

Very average but okay for the price. The service was on the slower side but there was not many workers when I visited. The drinks were all decent but the tapioca balls were too hard and took forever to chew.

Drinks are amazing, a little pricey but that's normal for boba. The popcorn chicken is amazing, I haven't tried the other snacks though. My favorite drink to order is lavender or taro milk tea with boba, lychee jelly, and coffee jelly with 50% ice :) service is great, super friendly and respectful staff, drinks usually take 5 minutes or less, snacks usually take about 10 minutes. My only complaint is that there are no tables or chairs in the shop, but apart from that this is an amazing boba shop and it is my absolute favorite place to get boba and popcorn chicken :)

Love this little area of town by the way. Great for walking around if you have some time! The parking situation is a bit tricky though House milk tea with boba 3/5 - just pretty average in taste and quality. I can see what the other reviews mean by the boba needs some more flavor. Popcorn chicken 4.5/5- honestly, it stole the show for me. Probably wouldn't be back otherwise. But it's crispy, hot, adjustable spice, all great things. Would like some more flavor though. The spice they give is yummy but the chicken doesn't seem enough unless you do add the spice. (Also would elevate with some basil please!) Staff was sweet. Line moves fast.

This place is absolutely one of the worst boba places I've ever tried. I went once in 2014 and got a regular jasmine milk tea and immediately my head was throbbing which I have never experienced in my life of drinking boba. At first I just thought it was a fluke but years later, I went back again very reluctantly because my friend really wanted to go and the same thing happened with a different drink. On top of that, their drinks taste very watered down, made as if they were a mere afterthought and their boba is much worse. Both times they were hard in the middle and just felt really weird. No one could convince me to ever go back here when there's so many better places around.

location & parking: located on sawtelle / ktown in one of those plazas with other cute lil asian shops & restaurants. there is a parking lot, but it is pretty small and tight. food: we got a jasmine gmt & jasmine gt with various fruity jellies and the drinks are pretty good! they taste fresh and rich with tea flavor, which tea / boba drinks should always taste like. service: came on a saturday afternoon & the workers were super fast & friendly (thank you) vibes: the ambiance of the shop is pretty cozy & chill. the line moves fast so dont worry about being here too long. note: there is no indoor seating to chill overall: 5/5 star

One of our least favorite boba places. I prefer Noble or Teaspoon over Volcano. The drinks are just ok in my opinion. Tried it twice, and I don't think it's worth going back.

At this point I think I'm on a mission to try all the (many) boba places on Sawtelle! I was in the mood for a late night boba run and had heard about this spot, so I decided to give it a try. It was pretty busy at 9 PM on a Monday night. There was a line out the door (although people were social distancing, so not as long as it might have appeared). While I waited, I looked at the menu to choose my drink. This place has a LOT of choices. I didn't even know where to start! The cashier wasn't the most friendly person, but in a way that was like "let's get through this line ASAP" more than anything. That said, she answered a few questions that I had. Honestly, I appreciated the energy overall. I ultimately ended up going with the wintermelon drink (with boba of course) - mainly because the other places I've tried in the area don't have wintermelon, which is a bummer since it's one of my favorites. The drink was pretty good. I didn't have the option to customize sweetness (or maybe I did...I wasn't asked about it, and I didn't ask to modify). I do wish it was a bit sweeter, but it was still refreshing. The boba was chewy, which I liked. Parking was pretty rough, but there's a parking lot where this place is located, which was nice. Maybe just some competition was a few other food places in the plaza. FYI, this place only accepts cash, venmo (!), or a card with a chip if the total is $10+. There wasn't a fee or anything when I paid with card, which I appreciated. Overall, it's a pretty decent boba spot. It isn't my favorite on Sawtelle, but I just might have to come back for the wintermelon drink!

Went there with friends and the line were long. We were able to get our drinks there as well. The environment were not bad at all. We order some teas, my tea was good but it's with caffeine in it. I couldn't sleep so well. Overall it's all good.