A favorite for those walking the path from Union Square to North Beach via Chinatown. Whereas other shops pride themselves on lots of options and customization, simple and straightforward is the approach at Plentea. Heavy hitters at Chinese-born Henry Tang’s shop include the Sea Salt Crema Oolong and the CoffMilk Tea made with Cafe du Monde.

This shop opened in summer 2021, a relative newcomer to Grant Avenue and the boba scene writ large. One key differentiator at this venue is the coffee selection; San Leandro roaster Proyecto Diaz provides the beans for drinks like the iced boba mocha and iced boba latte.

A 2019 addition to the boba matrix of the city, two young sisters run this Mission District shop with hits that include mango green tea and jasmine milk tea, and the recent Vietnamese coco coffee. This shop even sells an at-home boba kit and half-gallon orders of their mixes ($22) for those diehards who can’t get enough.

The main focus at this San Francisco original is a healthier approach to tea across the board. That means house-made syrups and lots of loose leaf options to encourage mindful consumption. But, when it comes to the main attraction, the boba tea is just as much a dynamo as any other sugary competitor; try the shop’s signature Creme Brulee Boba for $6.95.

A little over a year into business, Honeybear has become a major part of the boba game in San Francisco — especially for the city’s eastside residents. A honey milk tea costs just $4.50, not bad for an average price, whereas a signature option like Uncle Larry’s Dreamsicle costs $5.25. And if you notice Bayview rapper Larry June’s songs tilting through the air, that’s no surprise; he launched the Dogpatch business in 2021.

A player since 2012, this local chain now touts six shops and a loyal fanbase. Prices are a bit higher here, though — think $5.25 for a typical milk tea and $8.25 for a mango sago signature drink. This shop is one of the few to offer a robust selection of salted cheese foam-topped drinks, though, and the Rose High Mountain Milk tea is a particular high watermark for its subtle and sweet balance.

Bay Area powerhouse Yi Fang entered the game in 2018 and opened locations all throughout the area in no time at all, even opening in the Inner Sunset during the pandemic. Prices are a little bit higher than average here, but there are a number of customizable options (including cheese creamer as an accessory for 65 cents). Most ingredients here are organic, and mini taro balls are a recent addition to the menu. 

Don’t let the stripped-down facade fool you — this Ocean Avenue shop is worth a visit. Most boba teas go for about $5 here, though the options are quite limited in comparison to some of the crazier competitors. A bonus of this westside option is the plethora of food available, however, including banh mi, pho, and vermicelli.

This Broadway Avenue shop has closed and reopened throughout the pandemic, but is back to serving Royal Ceylon Boba. The vibey shop hangs quirky stencils and bright paintings, making for a pleasant stop on a Chinatown (or boba) tour. The uji matcha, with tiramisu milk foam and boba, looks pretty outrageous.

A caramel pudding milk tea runs $4.50 at this Chinatown mainstay, but a “regular” boba milk tea costs just $2.75. Coffee milk tea runs for $3.50, and a taro milk tea for $3.25. You get the idea — this restaurant has not only plenty to offer for cuisine, but loads of cheap, slept-on boba teas.

This organic-only boba shop sports three Bay Area locations and, interestingly enough, one in Houston, Texas. Fans love the Purple Kow Milk Tea with caramel, pudding, and, of course, tapioca pearls.