Today is National Tapioca Day so I went out to get a bubble tea and put together this list for y’all! There are several spots in Austin to get bubble tea and I’ve tried them all so I wanted to share my favorites.
But first, what’s tapioca? Tapioca balls are sweet, chewy balls made with tapioca flour that can be found in Asian desserts and bubble tea. Bubble tea (or boba tea) was invented in Taiwan (where I’m from!) that’s tea with milk and tapioca balls.
SEE ALSO: 22 Best Margaritas In Austin Texas
To go along with this bubble tea list, check out my list on the Best Asian Food in Austin.
Gong Cha
While I like supporting local bubble tea shops in Austin, I just love how consistent the boba is at Gong Cha and how the bubble tea isn’t too sweet. Gong cha is a bubble tea chain headquartered in Kaohsiung, Taiwan with over 1,500 locations worldwide. The teas are sourced from tea estates in Taiwan. Gong Cha has traditional milk tea, milk foam, slushes, and tea lattes.
I like the Earl Grey milk tea 3J’s – the 3 J’s are boba, pudding, and herbal jelly. It’s fun to drink and eat!
What to order: Earl grey milk tea 3J’s
2021 Guadalupe St, 3210 Esperanza Crossing suite #126, & 13201 Ranch Rd 620 N #206, gongchausa.com
Kung Fu Tea
Kung Fu Tea used to be my favorite bubble shop in Austin until Gong Cha opened. I still love the classic oolong milk tea with boba.
Kung Fu Tea specializes in milk caps that’s a salty thick milk cap on top of the bubble tea. They also have vegan bubble tea.
What to order: Milk strike, milk cap, or the Kung Fu Milk Tea.
2001 Guadalupe St #A & 9070 Research Blvd Suite #102, kungfutea.com
ShareTea
I would go to ShareTea more often if it wasn’t in North Austin. ShareTea is a chain but this store is locally owned. Choose from fruit tea, milk tea, brewed tea, fresh milk tea, mojitos, and iced blended.
I like the QQ Happy Family Milk Tea that comes with a lot of different toppings.
What to order: Hokkaido Pearl Milk Tea, Okinawa Pearl Milk Tea , or QQ Happy Family Milk Tea.
13343 US-183 #275, shareteaaustin.com
Tapioca House
When I was going to school at UT Austin, I would eat here a couple of times a month. The combo meal comes with a free green or black tea ($1 more to upgrade to a milk tea). I loved the 147 crispy chicken nugget or the 154 spicy beef noodle.
The bubble tea definitely isn’t that great but the combo meal makes it a great deal.
What to order: 147 combo meal
1906 Guadalupe St, tapiocahouseatx.com
Coco’s Cafe
Next door to Tapioca House is Coco’s Cafe on Guadalupe across from UT Austin. The bubble tea at Coco’s Cafe is better than Tapioca House with a different variety of slushies and fruit teas.
What to order: Pasion fruit slushie and almond milk tea
1910 Guadalupe St, cocos-cafe.com
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Bambu Dessert & Drinks
Bambu is located the shopping center of MT Asian Supermarket next to New Fortune. I usually like getting a bubble tea from Bambu after getting dimsum at New Fortune on Sundays.
The drinks at Bambu aren’t your typical bubble tea with just pearls but with a lot of different toppings like pandan jelly, fresh coconut, basil seed, and more. My go-to is the Bambu favorite with red tapioca, grass jelly, pandan jelly, and coconut milk.
What to order: Bambu favorite
10901 N Lamar Blvd, drinkbambu.com
101 By Tea Haus
I partnered up with 101 By Tea Haus to launch a pop-up menu so I had to put them on my best bubble tea in Austin list!
What to order: Jasmine boba milk or sea salt coffee with boba
6929 Airport Blvd #132, teahaus101.com
