Bubble Tea Reviews

Restaurant Name: Ajisen Ramen
Address: 1190-4380 No. 3 Road, Richmond BC (Parker Place Mall - back entrance facing Hazelbridge Way)
Payment Options: Cash, Debit & Credit

I am no stranger to Ajisen Ramen. As a matter of fact, I've been there a few times for some ramen and share plates... but never for bubble tea. I always thought it was a bit strange that this little funky japanese restaurant in Parker Place features bubble tea in its menu. Although there are less than 10 flavours to choose from, I figured I would give it a try or else I will always be curious.

 

Ambiance [rating:5]

The bold hot pink color coats the restaurant walls and dresses the cushioned seats in style. Aside from the crazy bright color, amusing sumo wrestler wall art adds to the funky atmosphere at Ajisen. Looking around the restaurant, it is obvious it is a popular place among youth and young families.

 

Drinks [rating:1]

Mango Milk Tea  My tea arrived in a regular to-go plastic container with a flat lid and straw on the side. The plastic cup was very plain and generic and the colour of my drink, very dull. There was no excitement felt upon getting this drink at all. In one word: boring. After taking a sip, it was worse. The powdered mango flavor was not sweet enough to be a sugar rush powder milk tea drink that would often satisfy my sweet tooth. On top of that, I didn't taste much of the mango either. Maybe the measurements were all wrong or perhaps the supplier where they get their bubble tea from just has a horrible mango flavor. I do NOT recommend this drink. It was too difficult to even drink half of the glass.

 

On a slightly more positive note though, I do find it intriguing that they have a few flavors for the bubbles/jelly. I did not try it this time but I may give them one more shot just because I am curious about the lychee flavored jelly.

 

Service [rating:3]

Our server was very friendly. Strangely enough, she was also quite timid. We did not get superb customer service but she didn't mess up our orders either. Overall, it was a nice, quiet late dinner.

[rating:overall]

Although Ajisen serves delicious ramen, this is not the case for bubble tea. I may have paid only $2.99 for my milk tea without pearls since I ordered a menu item, but it is still not worth it. I think they should consider expanding their menu, changing their drinks, or completely getting rid of bubble tea from their menu.

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!

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]

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]

Peanuts - Richmond Public Market - tel 604-278-9372 - cash only - stamp card



Strawberry Banana Slush - $4:00

Drink [rating:5]

Delicious! The real fruit gives it a fresh taste, its not overpoweringly sweet. A great blend of banana and strawberry. Highly recommended

-yum



Pearls [rating:5]

great consistency - taste wonderful. Very addictive.

[rating:overall]