Bubble Tea Reviews

Bubble Queen
1200-8888 Odlin Crescent
Richmond, BC, Canada

Nestled between an overgrown field and a multi-story business complex, Bubble Queen can be easy to miss. Despite its unimposing exterior, Bubble Queen offers an experience that easily convinces customers to return (even if they have to drive an extra few minutes).

Before talking about the ambiance at Bubble Queen, a few words on actually getting into the place is probably a good idea. Not that there are heavily muscled bodyguards outside demanding a cover charge or anything, but for a first-timer finding the place (and making it to the door) can be a bit tricky. If you're walking this is less relevant, but I'll assume a car is involved somehow so let's go through the process step-by-step (...ooh baby, gonna get to you Bubble Queen!*):

-You've seen Bubble Queen driving past it, heard about it from a friend, or read it on an awesome website, so you decide to go there.

-You know the address, but as you're driving down Odlin Crescent you don't see Bubble Queen anywhere - this is because it faces Cambie.

-Driving along Cambie, you see Bubble Queen (yay!) but there is nowhere to park, and traffic is moving fast. Make your way back onto Odlin ('right, right, right', if you're heading east on Cambie, 'left' if you're going south).

-Parking is found in the parkade on Odlin. Once you get out of your car head to the north-east section of the parking lot.

-At the NE corner of the first floor of the parking garage there is a small gate leading to a path, follow this path!

-We're almost there. After crossing a small bridge and avoiding falling into the field, Bubble Queen is on the left with a bright sign and inviting glow through the window. NOTE: Make sure to take a left after the bridge, otherwise you'll end up on the road.

*Yes, that was a New Kids reference, and yes, be thankful you can't hear me sing it.

Ambiance[rating:4/5]

In contrast to the larger bubble tea places that promote the 'restaurant' vibe with servers and assigned seating, Bubble Queen is much less formal and customers make their order at the counter opposite the front door. There are a number of tables and chairs which offer a place to relax while waiting for your order to be ready, and an assortment of magazines near the door, wireless access, and a television provide something to focus on. It should be noted that Bubble Queen could easily become cramped should a large number (15+) of people decide to visit at the same time - this being said, the otherwise cozy interior lends itself to friendly atmosphere that accommodates small groups well. Further departing from the larger establishments, Bubble Queen's size makes it easy for guests to be informed about the kitchen's progress - sounds of drinks being shaken and aromas of cooking food are shared with everyone, which can be encouraging or annoying depending on how long you've been waiting!

Food[rating:3.5/5]

The food selection at Bubble Queen can satisfy an appetite but complements the drinks rather than standing on its own. In addition to the small number of Asian inspired dishes on the menu, packages of snacks (Pocky!) are available for purchase at the counter should someone be hungry but lack the time for a fully-cooked meal. Although the food is not the primary focus of the establishment, the dishes that were prepared during our visit were all appetizing and provided excellent value. One should not shy away from eating at Bubble Queen, but may want to consider other options if searching for a wide variety or expecting meals for more than a couple of people.

Drinks[rating:4/5]

Bubble Queen offers a good selection of drinks for a great price. The drink menu is displayed prominently above and around the order counter, and includes milk/red/green tea, fresh juice, coffee, options for hot and cold, and a number of additions (pearls, jelly, caramel pudding, etc.). Despite the lack of specialty drinks such as elaborate ice cream cookie slushes, there is a surprising amount of variety on the menu and enough unique flavors to quench almost any bubble tea thirst. All drinks at Bubble Queen are served 'to go', meaning clear cups with a sealed top for cold drinks, or insulated paper cups with a lid for hot orders. Most of the drinks are priced at $3.00 (fresh juice is $3.50), with $0.50 for additions such as coconut jelly. The price may lead one to think that the serving size would be lacking, but Bubble Queen is shockingly generous - cold drinks measured at 675mL, with hot drinks coming in slightly thinner containers. The '675mL' (22 oz.) isn't a very easy thing to visualize, but the following statement should clear it up: Bubble Queen offers amazing value for price vs size, especially compared against many of the 'restaurant' type bubble tea establishments.

To counter any "Size doesn't matter - it's how it goes down!" arguments, Bubble Queen's drinks do not lack in the quality department. While individual results always vary, the consensus among our reviewers was overwhelmingly positive. Bubble Queen is certainly comparable to other bubble tea establishments in terms of drink variety, and for the value and quality of the drinks Bubble Queen can be looked toward as a great example.

Service[rating:4/5]

Many bubble tea establishments have great ambiance, food, and drinks, but often fall very short on quality of service - not so at Bubble Queen. Ordering at the counter was fast and easy, and our drinks were prepared immediately. The service we received was friendly, and although business picked up during our visit, we were welcome the entire time (despite staying slightly past closing). There was a small mishap of a piece of fluff/hair finding its way into a dish we ordered (which we easily removed). While a minor mistake is easily forgiven (the fluff in the food may have even been from one of us), it does point to the fact that Bubble Queen's small staff may not have the resources to adequately handle a large number of people, a complicated order, or even a bad day - though this could be true at any establishment. Whether the cafe-style ordering removes a layer of complexity, or the staff just knows what to do, Bubble Queen stands out for high quality of service.

Though this isn't a reflection of the actual service, Bubble Queen's hours of operation may prevent people getting served there at all. Open Mon-Thu 2pm-8pm, Fri-Sat 2pm-12am, and closed on Sunday, the lack of bubble tea goodness on weeknights and on Sunday might keep people away from Bubble Queen simply because it's not open when they want to go. While the hours of service don't indicate anything about Bubble Queen's quality, they are slightly disappointing for anyone who enjoys late night bubble tea. Bubble Queen is cash only, which is unsurprising, but offers a stamp card (buy 9 get 1 free!), and provides a phone number for phone-in and group orders.

[rating:overall]

Bubble Queen provides everything expected from a bubble tea establishment: relaxing atmosphere, quality service, great drinks, and satisfying food. While the small staff and limited hours of operation might cause problems in certain cases, the positives definitely outweigh the (potential) negatives, and Bubble Queen is highly recommended as a 'go-to' destination for bubble tea.

8400 Alexandra Rd, Richmond BC :: Cash & Debit



Drink: King Mandarine Calpico Green Tea [rating:3.0]

For those unfamiliar with Calpico (or Calpis, as it is known in Japan), it is a sweet, slightly acidic drink derived from fermented milk products. Sometimes marketed as a "yogurt drink", it's typically sold in a concentrated syrup, or as ready-to-drink diluted carbonated or non-carbonated drinks. While it may not sound particularly appetizing to the uninitiated, it can be a delicious drink on its own, or combined with other mixers. For me, it conjures up images of childhood summers in Japan; beads of condensation dotting the ice cold glass in the sticky humid heat; the milky-pale beverage refreshingly sweet.

Here's where things get relevant: as I mentioned before, Calpico and other similar Asian "yogurt drinks" are often sold as thick syrups. The problem with reconstituting syrups and concentrates is that you have to get just the right ratios or you end up with either an insipid, watery drink, or something so cloyingly sweet that it hurts the back of your throat. In this case, there's the added King Mandarine element that has to be considered in this delicate balance.

The King Mandarine (which must have been sweetened as well) added a nice citrus flavour to the drink, but it very nearly drowned out the Calpico, which resulted in something like a rather sweet lemonade, or that McDonald's orange drink I was ashamed to admit I liked, even as a kid. It wasn't bad per se, but it's not a drink that I'm eager to order again. I think the Calpico flavour could have been more pronounced, because there was just a vague hint of it the way it was mixed together.

Extras: Coconut Jelly [rating:1.5]

I'm not a fan of tapioca pearls, so I opted for the coconut jelly. The quality of the jelly was inconsistent, with some pieces being cut far too large to fit in the oversized straws (I had to resort to stabbing them with the sharp end of my straw when my drink was finished, as there were no spoons provided) and others being merely tiny bits or what almost seemed to be "left overs". On more than one occasion, we found what could only be described as scraps or cuttings of tattered pieces that someone had unsuccesfully tried to cut apart. Not the most appetizing, and it didn't make us feel like they were making much effort in the preparation of the drinks.

Overall rating: [rating:overall]

Estea Beverage Club
Address:8400 Alexandra Rd
Richmond, BC, Canada

Centrally located in downtown Richmond, Estea Beverage Club is an inviting venue for a late night outing or evening meal. Unfortunately, Estea's relatively pleasing atmosphere and impressive food menu is marred by poor service, often resulting in our wondering, "Why did we come here again?!".

Ambiance[rating:4/5]

Featuring a large selection of food items spread across two menus, Estea is closer to a "Bubble-tea restaurant" than a "Bubble-tea cafe". The receiving area provides a clear divider between the dining area and entrance, but could be improved by removing the dying (if not already dead) plants. The rest of the establishment is divided (with a single step) into an 'upstairs' and 'downstairs', the upstairs portion of Estea utilizes high backed booth seats and presents a cheery diner feeling, compared to the dark and sophisticated look of the 'downstairs' restaurant and lounge. While the opposing halves of the restaurant offers interesting variety, the clear division and impressive number of seats can easily make one feel segregated from the rest of the customers, especially if your party is directed to sit downstairs when all of the other customers are upstairs (and no, the TVs 'downstairs' which happened to be on a sports channel featuring a bikini competition does not make up for it).

Food [rating:4/5]

The strength of Estea Beverage Club is found in the food it serves. Estea features two separate menus focused on Asian cuisine, and one can be quickly overwhelmed with the number of choices available on the two separate food menus. Confusion can set in when the same dish appears on both menus* with different prices. Although the large number of items on the menu can prove to be a challenge for anyone who has difficulty choosing, there is something for everyone, including: rice/noodles dishes, hot pot, egg dishes (omelette/omurice/etc.), and snacks. Many of the dishes are very reasonably priced and can provide excellent value; some of the rice dishes even come with assorted side dishes (two small vegetable dishes and a dessert soup). Most importantly, the food is delicious and filling, leading you to want more (if you could fit it in).

*The confusion between the two menus can be cleared up after sorting through the menus and associated pictures, and attempting to gain clarification from a server. One of the menus (the large one with lots of pictures) features items meant for an individual, while the smaller (and seemingly more expensive) menu features dishes that are shared among a group. We think.

Drinks [rating:3/5]

The drinks featured at Estea serve as a enjoyable refreshment and centerpiece during time spent with friends, but also lack distinction and uniqueness that would make Estea a drink destination. Despite being named 'Estea Beverage Club', the drink menu consists of items squished onto both sides of a single sheet of paper and is easily overshadowed by the food menus. Size of the menu aside, the expected variety is present - a choice between black/green/milk tea, slushes, fresh juice, and select drinks served hot or cold are available, as well as drink additions such as pearls and coconut jelly. While some of the choices are interesting (Piña Colada slush, anyone?), the cramped menu and lack of popular favourites such as a chocolate-cookie slush variant leave much to be desired. Furthermore, the size of the drinks seem to be smaller than most places; although the wide bottomed snifters used at Estea are deceptive when determining volume, general consensus was that the serving size was smaller than normal while the prices remained relatively the same. There was rumour floating around our table of a 'super-size' option for the drinks, but we were unable to find it on the menu.

Service[rating:2/5]

Now that we've covered food, drinks, and climbed up and down stairs, the one main thing remaining to discuss is service. Admittedly, making a blanket statement about service can be difficult, as a number of factors can affect both the actual quality of service and what the customer perceives, but at the end of the night what the customer (that's us!) experiences is what matters, so here goes. The service at Estea can be described as 'horrible', poor at best. While the staff wasn't overtly rude, a number of things stood out - so much so that they deserve a list:

• - Our initial table was right next to the door, making it rather cold (this is Canada, in November, at night). Moving ourselves wasn't a problem, but was also the only option as our server seemed to disappear after initially seating us.

• - We didn't receive enough menus for each person. Though this isn't strange by itself (it's almost the norm for sit down bubble-tea places for large groups), we also didn't receive enough spoons, leading us to believe that a few of us might have been invisible.

• - Our server was fairly scarce. Aside from seating us and taking our order (after a minute or so of waving our hands around - literally), we were mostly left on our own. While being too intrusive can be a problem for some servers, the opposite - ignoring customers - is also a bad thing (and how are we supposed to complain! ;P).

• - When our food/drinks finally did arrive, there was no discernible order. The first drink arrived around eight minutes after we ordered it, but we were still getting a mix of food and drinks twenty minutes after that. People who ordered side dishes of rice also got them a few minutes after their main dish, leading to some confusion and a rapidly cooling main course.

• - Table Goo. One of the trays an order of food arrived on had a slimy coating of *something* on the bottom of it, which left a streak along the table. This was conveniently ignored by the server.

As stated above, though we appreciate determining a level of service is very subjective, our overall impression of the service at Estea was not a good one. While we don't expect perfection, our experience at Estea was significantly reduced by the fairly low level of service we received. In the 'upstairs' part of Estea, small button stations at each table provide a fast way to call for service or request the bill, and while this feature didn't help our reviewers in our most recent visit (or anyone else seated 'downstairs'), it can enhance the experience for some customers. Further integrating technology into their business, Estea has the option to pay by debit card, fairly significant when the majority of bubble tea establishments are cash only.

[rating:overall]

Estea Beverage Club in Richmond mixes bubble-tea with notable menu variety and the polished atmosphere found in a normal restaurant. The lack of focus on drinks makes us consider alternatives for a regular bubble-tea excursion, and the unpredictable service may detract from any experience one might have... leading to a cautious recommendation for Estea as a (possibly good) place for bubble-tea with dinner and/or late-night snack.

100-7911 Alderbridge Way, Richmond BC

[rating: 5/13]

(five out of thirteen)

I found this drink to be rather problematic. First off, the spoon provided was too short for the glass, causing it to be rendered useless when nearly done the drink (this is also noted in a below review, making it not just a drink-specific problem, but rather  a problem for the whole place).  The drink itself was also sub-par, as it was not blended nearly enough, giving it chunks of ice liberally mixed throughout. There were also cookie chunks, but while the drink does not call for chunks, I find it hard to complain about anything cookie-related.  The drink also came with the prerequisite Oreo™ cookie topper that is no longer a treat, but rather expected. 

Overall, while it was not a terrible drink, I have had much, much better and I would be hesitant before ordering this particular item when (if) I next visit Zephyr.

(And, as a side note, isn't "Zephyr in the Sky" a little redundant?) 

8400 Alexandra Rd, Richmond B.C.

8400 Alexandra Rd, Richmond B.C.



Drink [rating:4]

I found this drink to be very refreshing and flavorful.  The drink was not over powered by anyone flavor but had a perfect mix of mango and strawberry.  The presentation of the drink leaves a bit to be desired but it is not horrible, there is nothing extra fancy about this cup that some other bubble tea places seem to serve bubble tea in.  I did not order this drink with any pearls or jellies so I cannot comment on this aspect.  Over all I would recommend this drink as a good choice when choosing a drink at Estea Beverage Club.

100-7911 Alderbridge Way, Richmond BC
Tel: 604 276 2628

 

Drink [rating:3]
It was a nice, full drink presented in a tall glass that complimented the decor of the restaurant. Too bad the drink was a little bit sour to my personal liking. Perhaps the fruits were not very ripe. It was definitely a good serving though since I couldn't finish mine. Overall, I would go back to Zephyr because they do have excellent choices but I will likely try a different flavor next time around.

 

Pearls [rating:2]

The pearls sat at the very bottom of the tall glass and the drink required some mixing up so that I can evenly distribute the bubbles in my drink. I did this because on its own, the pearls tasted a little syrupy and it was not very sweet. Once mixed in, they tasted much better! Only other complain is that their spoon was a little too short for the glass! Mine sadly fell in after a few stirs. :(

[rating:overall]