Food Scene
Best Boba Shops in Tempe, Arizona
July 26, 2024
Find out where tapioca, tea, espresso and vibes delight boba fans in Tempe.
With boba tea popping up left and right in Tempe, it’s safe to say this beverage craze is not slowing down any time soon. With this long list of bubble tea spots — and new ones always joining the scene — we’re confident it won’t take ling to find your new favorite go-to boba drink.
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re a boba-holic. But just in case you’re wondering what boba is, it’s chewy tapioca balls that first originated in Taiwan. These chewy pearls are commonly found in bubble tea drinks that are usually feature a tea, mile, or fruit juice based. And in most cases, customization are welcome.
Boba Toko
Tempe Marketplace: 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Suite 1069, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-247-7540
Conveniently located at Tempe Marketplace, Boba Toko offers the perfect refreshments after a day of retail therapy. They are a Japanese inspired Sakura Hanami boba shop with options from flavored fruit teas to milk teas. You also can’t miss their “Feeling Thirstea” mural, the perfect backdrop for a boba picture.
DaYung’s Tea
3126 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-219-7286 | Instagram
DaYung’s Tea is a crowd favorite among boba aficionados. So, just know that if even if the line is long, the service is quick. Here, you’ll find an assortment of flavored teas, macchiatos, smoothies, lattes. They do the classic milk teas — not too sweet, not too bland — just right. You can also customize sweetness and ice level, making it even better if you’re not too into sweet things.
Duplex 双拼记 (Boba) Tea Station
1845 E. Broadway Road, Suite 121, Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-265-9131 | Instagram
Duplex Boba Tea Station is a Hong Kong-style café with plenty of boba flavor options and desserts. The interior is decorated with vintage Hong Kong-style decor, including wallpaper featuring the streets of Hong Kong. It may look small from the outside, but they have a very large space with plenty of seating. The Real Mango Coconut with boba bursts with mango flavor — and real fruit is so refreshing.
Dragon Tea
740 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | 602-377-8081 | Instagram
Among the newer additions to Tempe’s boba roster, Dragon Tea opened on Mill Avenue in late 2023. Located in Downtown Tempe, this family-owned shop specializes in fusing flavors from all over the world. As such, you’ll find influences from Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Mexico (to name a few), including unique and exotic flavors ranging from dirty horchata with boba to coconut butterfly (pea tea). Or just opt for the create-your-own option and assemble your own fusion of flavors.
iTea
825 W. University Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-256-0181 | Instagram
iTea on University Drive has amazing milk teas and a variety of treats. The extensive menu — ranging from various fruit-flavored teas and “Kreama Teas” (Tea with sweet crème) to other milk tea and other specialty options — pairs perfectly with such snacks as the Basil Popcorn Chicken. Order the Okinawa Milk Tea (Okinawa black sugar and pudding) or the Hokkaido Milk Tea (boba and pudding). Of course, you can customize the sweetness level to your liking.
Mango Rabbit
1250 E. Apache Blvd., #112, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-912-6283 | Instagram
If there was an award for the most creative and themed boba drinks, it would likely go to Mango Rabbit. Known to have over-the-top drinks and desserts with lots of adorable toppings and such pop culture themes as Taylor Swift, Star Wars, BTS and Harry Potter, you never know what will be the next creation. If that’s not your thing, there’s still an extensive menu of classic milk teas, coffee and flavored drinks as well. The Pink Mermaid Drink with boba, which is made of dragon fruit and strawberry, it always in season.
Mochi Fresh
960 W. University Drive, Suite 114, Tempe, Arizona 85281 | 480-597-3115 | Instagram
Known for homemade boba and mochi, Mochi Fresh make boba pearls by hand with no preservatives or artificial food coloring. You can really taste the freshness in the drinks here because they only use real fruit and ingredients. Strawberry Bubble Milk tea, made with real strawberries and strawberry boba, is the best-seller. Before you leave, be sure stop at the gigantic Mochi Fresh figurines for that perfectly adorable photo op.
Pho Fresh Alley & Boba Tea
1000 E. Apache Blvd., Suite 103, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-247-9000
Pho Fresh Alley & Boba Tea is the hybrid concept you never knew you needed. As the name suggests, the menu consists of a variety of pho noodle soups and boba tea drinks. Here, you’ll find such classic milk tea flavors as Thai tea, ube and matcha, as well as more unique flavored tea drinks, including Kumquat Delight made of Kumquat passion fruit green tea. Bonus: This spot is open until midnight for those late-night cravings. This location can be found on the ground floor of RISE on Apache Blvd. Parking is available in the garage marked for businesses and retail. Street metered parking is also available along Apache Boulevard.
Tea Swirl
725 S. Rural Road, Suite 107, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-479-4255
As one of the first boba shops in Tempe, Tea Swirl is a certified OG. A recent remodel brought about a more modern vibe that blends seamlessly with the city’s urban-college scene. The always popular Dutch Milk Tea is made of Assam Milk tea, a pinch of coffee and caramel flavor (pro tip: bring the sweetness down a few notches to accommodate all the other toppings). If you want to branch out, try one of the super-photogenic dessert drinks, which include Mango Swirl Slush and Rising Phoenix.
Here are a few more boba shops for your consideration:
Bobacutea
1805 E. Elliot Road, #106, Tempe, AZ 85284 | 480-306-7676 | Instagram
Bobazona
6436 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283 | 480-590-0933 | Instagram
Dragon Tea
740 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | 602-377-8081 | Instagram
Tan Cha Boba Tea Shop
1751 E. Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 | 480-795-8775 | Instagram
Quickly Boba Tea
7707 S. Kyrene Road, Suite 102, Tempe, AZ 85284 | 480-454-4429 | Instagram
Urban Boba Tea House
1015 S. Rural Road, #103, Tempe, AZ 85281 | 480-264-2003 | Instagram
