Best Boba Spots in San Gabriel
You must be as excited as I am if you clicked on this Article. I have been an avid boba drinker since I was around 12 years old. I drink coffee, Milk Teas, Fruit Teas, all of it. Growing up in the San Gabriel Valley, especially being born & raised in Monterey Park, I was never a mile away from the closest boba spot.
Unfortunately, not all boba is made the same. While nothing is particularly ‘gross’, I think I can speak for a majority of the audience when I say that I try to avoid powder bobas as best as I can. If you aren’t familiar with powder, it’s a cheap alternative to spending hours making concentrated tea & natural flavorings.
I’m always on the hunt for the best boba spots near me when I need a sweet pick-me-up. Here are the newest boba shops coming to San Gabriel, as well as some OG’s you maybe weren’t aware of.
PS : If you do 50% sweetness on all your drinks like I do, I hope you have a wonderful day =)
New Boba Spots in San Gabriel
It’s not everyday that a new boba shop opens up in San Gabriel. Mainly due to the high competition and concentration of boba spots in the area, most new stores close within 12 months of opening. Here are the latest additions to come to San Gabriel, most of which are here to stay and quickly gained momentum since their grand opening.
A Little Tea
On 158 W Valley Blvd, A Little Tea opened it’s store doors around Late 2023. It’s grand opening event had deals such as buy one get one 50% off, but that’s not what brought customers in. It was their insane prices! With their large sized drinks ranging between $3-$5.50, A little Tea has cemented it’s name into San Gabriel as the new ‘best cheap drinks’ in town….
Best of all, their drinks taste authentic, avoiding any powders and shortcuts typical discount boba stores will use. Calm vibes, cool interior, this is one of the few boba places that gets busy with customers all throughout the week.
I personally recommend Large Boba Milk Tea, 50% sugar, for $4.5, it’s an unbeatable price in this economy as always hits the spot.
Molly Tea
The hype is real. The 2 hour lines are there for a reason. Their jasmine tea has been masterfully crafted & perfected throughout the years. Their presence on social media lead to an insane grand opening.
I personally recommend any of their Jasmine Tea drinks!
Cotte Coffee
A super affordable, coffee x boba spot bringing exciting new drinks to the menu. Not much else to say, they opened up their doors around 2024 and immediately became a staple for locals.
I personally recommend their Coconut Matcha!
Chicha San Chen
Have you ever tried Michelin Rated Boba? Chicha San Chen is one of the only Boba stores rated by the International Taste Institute for all of their drinks. Essentially, these awards are the equivalent of a 3 Michelin Star reward, except the awards are only given out to beverage shops. If you pass by the Plaza and see a line outside of a unit with a Green sign, that’s probably Chicha San Chen, and there’s a line for good reason!
They didn’t get achieve this success by luck, the moment you walk in the scent of floral green tea hits your nose. It smells like the smoothest tea you’ve ever tasted, and you haven’t even drank anything yet! Every drink has it’s Tea made fresh to order. Yes, that can make the lines longer, but it’s well worth the wait. Perfectly sweet & balanced, Chicha San chen really lets the tea shine for itself. Even after taking your first sip, the floral scent of tea leaves linger in your mouth, allowing you to enjoy the flavors long after the drink is gone.
I personally recommend their peach Green Tea. (Although the price is high, splurge a little for this 😉
13 Boba Shops in a 1 Mile Stretch
Between New Ave & San Gabriel Ave, there are 13 boba shops all tucked away in this 1 mile stretch on Valley Blvd… Almost all the boba spots in San Gabriel are inside this stretch. There are countless hotpot and family style diners as well. On most weeknights and weekends these streets are often well lit and packed with hungry locals.
Some spots are new, just like Molly Tea and the other stores listed above. But others are timeless classics, like Wushiland and Boba 8090. There really are no bad choices however. If there’s one thing that San Gabriel does right, it’s Boba.
So the next time you’re craving a drink, just drive from New to San Gabriel on Valley Blvd, I promise you you’ll have so many options you won’t know what to choose!
The History of Boba in San Gabriel
Quickly used to be king of boba. It was the only option anyone had to this weird concept of a drink with tapioca pearls inside. Now there it can feel like new stores are opening on the daily.
San Gabriel has always had a long history and relationship with baba. With Wushiland being one of the original spots that first opened up in the area. Being an already established brand, it didn’t take long for Wushiland to spread it’s success to San Gabriel. Regardless of the poor location of the store, it still receives tons of attention from locals daily.
Ever since, Quickly has quickly gone out of business (haha, see what I did there). Wushiland stands and the rest is history, the other 12 boba shops in the area slowly but surely, opened up one by one.
FAQs
When Will DaVien & SummerField Tea Bar Open Up in SGV?
They are both currently open as of the publishing of this article! However they are both located in Rosemead, not San Gabriel.
What is the Best Affordable Boba in San Gabriel?
A Little Tea has got to be the best tasting, affordable Boba that won’t set you back $7 for a drink! Their Medium Boba Milk Tea starts at just $4!
Is Molly Tea overhyped?
Molly Tea has been getting controversial reviews due to the long lines and underwhelming drinks. If you like big bold flavors, it might not hit the spot for you. However, if you can appreciate subtle aromas and slight sweetness, Molly Tea’s Jasmine drinks are some of the best in the area!
What are the Best Non-Diary Boba shops in San Gabriel?
While most Boba spots actually offer non-diary options, they often come at a cost. Chun Yang Tea, located at 311 E Valley Blvd Suite 111, is popular for their fruit teas, making it a go-to for anyone who is lactose intolerant!
📍 Final Thoughts from a Local Realtor
San Gabriel has something for everyone — whether you’re a lactose, or if you’re feeling adventurous. The lifestyle in San Gabriel is definitely influenced by Boba. Whether it’s entire shopping plazas being built to accommodate more boba stores, or restaurants building next to favorited drink spots.
Life here is great, whether you like boba or not 🙂
Have questions about specific neighborhoods, I’d love to help.
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