Searching For The Best Bubble Tea in Austin

At the risk of sounding stereotypical, I love bubble tea (sometimes referred to as boba). I actually love even just the tea part of it. Back home, especially near my parents and having access to Alhambra, Diamond Bar, etc, there were plenty of good choices. So of course the first thing on my list when I moved to Texas was to find the best bubble tea in Austin! It’s been a year and a half journey now and while I am always on the hunt for bubble tea, these are my top spots:

Teapioca Lounge

I gotta be honest. When I first saw this place and its logo, I judged. This is not going to be impressive is what my internal dialogue was saying. Don’t get me wrong, the red panda character is adorable. The look just reminded me of some poorly franchised spots back home that tasted heavy of powder flavorings. Well, I was very pleasantly surprised! The bubble tea was delicious and the boba soft and chewy. Tapioca Lounge has multiple locations, but I prefer the Arboretum, especially since there is a fun spice store I like to visit while I’m there.

Ding Tea

Ah Ding Tea, a familiar name. But not necessarily in a good way. Back home, this place was on my just okay list. A good alternative if I didn’t want to drive more than 20 minutes out of the way. But in Austin, it is one of my top bubble tea spots. I guess they just make it similar to how I expect, more of the Taiwanese style. They also have my favorite drink, honey green milk tea, which isn’t always available at other tea shops. Ding Tea also has multiple locations, but I choose the Round Rock one because I can get a car wash next door to make the drive worth it, or if I’m feeling like being extra bad, get Round Rock Donuts also on the trip.

Teacup

Out of these options, Teacup is where I frequent the most for bubble tea in Austin. The quality and taste is good, and it’s closest to where I live. Teacup is in an unassuming strip mall, tucked away behind a gas station on Riverside, and next to a donut shop that always seems closed when I go. I usually get the green milk tea, but I have gotten the boba before and it is tasty.

Honorary Mention – 85C Bakery

I say honorary mention for 85C Bakery, or what I just call 85 degrees, because it’s not my first thought for the best bubble tea in Austin. I like to browse the pastries and usually get a sea salt coffee when I’m there. But, I cannot deny that the bubble tea is consistently delicious.

TL;DR

My choices for the best bubble tea in Austin are Teapioca Lounge, Ding Tea, Teacup and 85C Bakery. I’m always on the hunt for something new and better though. What are your favorite spots for bubble tea in Austin?