Bubble Tea Reviews

Totoro Cafe
2140-8391 Alexandra Road, Richmond, BC
Payment Options: Cash Only

It's true, there are a lot of bubble tea places in Richmond, especially if you're on Alexandra Road. Some might even say there's too many choices! Another place to add to your bubble tea house list is Totoro Cafe on... you guessed it, Alexandra Road across from Estea (another bubble tea place - see previous reviews) and on the same row as Chubby Lamb.

Nestled in the always busy "downtown" street in Richmond, it's easy to miss the smaller restaurants like Totoro Cafe simply because there's only a single lane to drive on and slowing down or stopping to peek at restaurants will cause your ears pain due to excessive honking by the car behind you. Because of this, finding a parking space first then walking is recommended! Anyway, the next time you're on Alexandra with a small group, don't forget to stop by Totoro Cafe. Why? Read on!

 

Ambiance [rating:4]

Even though it is a small restaurant that doesn't boast a lot of seats, they sure maximized the space and still managed to make the place comfortable and very inviting. I really liked the vibrant colors on the walls and the kooky cat-related artwork and display all over the restaurant. It's a definite conversation starter. Plus, I think this adds personality to the place and at the same time, it sure makes it more memorable in my mind when it comes to thinking of a bubble tea place in Richmond. One thing is for sure, the owner must like cats! =^.^=

On another note, it is great that this location has free wi-fi. With Totoro being so close to Kwantlen Polytechnic University, students can go to Totoro and be able to study on their own or with a group comfortably.

 



Drinks [rating:4]

Orange Chocolate Bubble Tea   I wanted to try something different than my usual Taro and this drink definitely caught my eye in their elaborate (but slightly hard to read) menu of hot and cold drinks and snacks.

 



Upon receiving my drink, I was eager to try it and I must say, it did not disappoint! The bubbles were nice and chewy and the blended iced chocolatey goodness was delicious! Although I would have preferred a little bit more orange in my drink, I still enjoyed it very much. As a matter of fact, even after a very filling dinner, I managed to finish my drink including the bubbles (where in most cases, I'd be too full to finish the drink).

 

Hot Ovaltine   As far as I know, everybody loves Ovaltine as I'm sure we all have fond memories of eating it out of the can when we were kids (and adults alike). This drink was ordered with a hefty side of bubbles and delivered in an adorable kitty mug. Taste-wise, there was nothing innovative as it is your standard Ovaltine drink. The pearls add a tad bit of excitement but since the drink is already very sweet, the bubbles just end up being chewy things at the bottom of the mug that you can do without. I think it's just hard to mess with the original Ovaltine drink. ;)

 

Service [rating:4.5]

There weren't too many people working the Friday night we came but the server was fast and efficient. We got our table right away and although I really wanted to sit by the loungey area at the front, our table for four did not disappoint because we were near the TV, magazines and the tea bar. By the time we were about to leave, the place was packed and the staff at Totoro continued to work hard and keep all customers happy. Well done!

[rating:overall]

Totoro Cafe is a delightful little bubble tea house in Richmond. It is a good alternative to the other very busy and often overly crowded bubble tea places in Richmond. It is perfect for small parties due to the limited seating. But before heading there on a weekend, be sure to be prepared for parking space hunting!

Bubble World
137-10090 152nd Street, Surrey, BC
Payment Options: Cash Only

So where can you find a bubble tea house in Surrey? The simple answer: Bubble World. It is centrally located on 152nd Street, across from Guildford Mall by the T&T Supermarket complex. With already established locations in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Vancouver, customers can expect the same kind of selection and quality of drinks at the Surrey location. While other Bubble World locations are only tea houses, this location offers plenty of lunch/dinner/snack menu items to choose from.

 

Ambiance [rating:4]

This brightly lit restaurant with modern and minimalist decor is very similar to other cafes found in Richmond. However, a place like this in Surrey is not all that common. This is why while waiting for our seats, multiple groups of customers of various ethnicities walk in and out with their take-out drinks. It is obvious that this busy establishment is a late night hotspot for teenagers and families alike. From the outside, the place stands out with its vibrant atmosphere inside which definitely appeals to and is inviting to the passersby outside.



Food [rating:3.5]

Once you crack open the nicely bound menu, you'll be greeted with a variety of hot and cold tea drinks and food items that are sure to solve your hunger. For under $10, you can have a good sized meal with your favorite bubble tea drink on the side. This is exactly why I love asian cafes and restaurants!



During this visit to Bubble World, my group and I decided to order a food item for each of us and a couple of appetizers. The fried tofu was just the right amount of softness and firmness. Although it could use a crunchier shell for my liking, it tasted pretty good and was easy to share with a small group of people. The beef wrapped in onion pancake was OK. The green onion slices were a bit big and therefore had a stronger, dominating taste over the beef (which tasted good!). The only other tiny complaint with this dish is that I wish there was some sort of toothpick to keep the roll together. As you can imagine, it is not that easy to hold a huge roll with your chopsticks. I can't say I know too many people who can have that in one bite!

 



The main dishes we ordered included Salty Peppery Chicken with Rice, Shrimp & Egg Fried Rice and Satay Lamb Noodles, all under $7 each. Out of these three, the chicken was the biggest serving and probably the most interesting one. The chicken was boneless and it came with some salad and tofu too! It's a pretty good and complete serving for someone like myself. The fried rice was unfortunately nothing special as it was a little bland and the noodles was a little soupy. But, bonus points for having lamb as a menu item for such a small restaurant.







Drinks [rating:4.5]

Taro Slush   One of the best taro bubble teas I've had. Although this artificially flavored taro drink may be too sweet for some, it's just right for my taste. However, the bubbles were a bit too soft, making them not all that chewy but at least easy to swallow with your meal.

 

Papaya Milk Tea   This is a great refreshing drink for those seeking something a little different than the typical. If you are planning to order this, keep in mind that the drink will not really taste anything close to a real papaya, but perhaps candy. ;)

 

In addition, my group and I enjoyed receiving our drinks in mugs. Although it doesn't look all that big when you compare it to the typical to-go plastic glass, you'll be surprised how much that mug can hold!

Service [rating:3]

The customer service at Bubble World when we went (after 9pm on a weekend) was not as great. Although we did get our food and drinks at a very reasonable amount of time, the interaction between taking the order, delivering the order and dropping the bill was lacking. In a way, there was this slight feeling that we were being rushed to get out simply because there were more people coming in for a late snack. As much as we appreciate the quick service when it comes to clearing our tables, the not-so-subtle lingering around our table was a bit of a nuisance.

[rating:overall]

Overall, this first visit to Bubble World in Surrey was a success. We enjoyed our late dinner and left with full stomachs! The drinks were excellent and the atmosphere within this small restaurant in Surrey is a great place to have some good bubble tea and a late snack or dinner with friends and family. If you feel like having bubble tea on the go, Bubble World also has take-out bubble tea that they neatly place in plastic bags specifically designed to carry bubble tea drinks so it's likely you'll leave a mess in the car on the drive home! Plus, it doesn't hurt that you can use your stamp card when you order bubble tea to go. Like other establishments, all you need to do is buy 10 and get 1 free!