Food Scene
Boba shops to check out in Tempe, Arizona
Boba drinks have been all the craze lately and they are popping up left and right in Tempe. With this long list of boba spots in Tempe, Arizona, you’ll be sure to find your favorite go-to boba drink in no time.
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re a boba-holic like me, but just in case you’re wondering what boba is, boba is the chewy tapioca balls that first originated in Taiwan. These chewy pearls are commonly found in bubble tea drinks that are usually tea-based, with milk, fruit or other flavored juices.
Boba Toko
2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy. Ste. 1069, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 247-7540
Boba Toko is the latest addition to the growing list of boba shops to join Tempe. They had just opened in June 2022 and it is conveniently located at Tempe Marketplace, offering the perfect refreshments after a full day of shopping. 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
DaYung’s Tea is a crowd favorite amongst boba tea shops. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and the line was out the door, but the service was quick! They have an assortment of flavored teas, macchiatos, smoothies, lattes. They do the classic milk teas just right, not too sweet, not too bland. They allow you to customize sweetness and ice level, making it even better if you’re not too into sweet things. My order here is Boba Milk Tea with 80% sugar and light ice.
Duplex Boba Tea Station
1845 E. Broadway Rd. Ste. 121, Tempe, AZ 85282 | (480) 265-9131
Duplex Boba Tea Station is a Hong Kong-style café with plenty of fun desserts and boba flavor options. I ordered Real Mango Coconut with boba and let me tell you, you sure can taste the mango. They use real fruit and it was so refreshing to drink on a hot Arizona day. The interior is decorated with vintage Hong Kong-style decor featuring wallpaper of the streets of Hong Kong. It may look small from the outside, but they have a very large space with plenty of seating. It is located right next to Old Town Taste!
DingTea
740 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 967-0556
When I saw photos of DingTea on Instagram with people taking photos of their drinks against the pink flowers backdrop, my phone and my sweet tooth could not resist. DingTea is located in Downtown Tempe and they specialize in different kinds of milk and fruit teas, handcrafted lattes and yakult/yogurt drinks. My order here was a Brown Sugar Milk Tea with 50% sweetness and it definitely satisfied my sweet tooth cravings without getting a sugar rush.
Kung Fu Tea
425 S. Mill Ave. Ste. #109, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (602) 875-9445
KungFu Tea is another boba shop located in Downtown Tempe, right on the corner of Mill Avenue and Fifth Street. If you’re looking for a quick grab and go, this is the spot for you. I frequent this location since it is close to Tempe Town Lake and it always hits the spot when I just want a sweet and refreshing treat. I usually get their Kung Fu Milk Black Tea with boba and if I want something more refreshing, I opt for a fruit tea drink like the Winter Melon Green Tea with boba.
iTea
825 W. University Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 256-0181
iTea on University Drive has amazing milk teas and snacks galore! They have an extensive menu with various fruit-flavored teas, “Kreama Teas” (Tea with sweet crème) and other milk tea specialties. I typically order the Okinawa Milk Tea (Okinawa black sugar and pudding) or the Hokkaido Milk Tea (boba and pudding). This may sound like sugar overload, but you can customize the sweetness level to your liking. I always get my drink customized to 70-80% sweet. Pair your choice of drink with their Basil Popcorn Chicken and you have yourself some great snacks to carry you throughout the day.
Mango Rabbit
1250 E. Apache Blvd. #112, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 912-6283
If there was an award for the most creative boba drinks, the award would go to Mango Rabbit. They are known to have over-the-top drinks and desserts with lots of adorable toppings and pop culture themes such as Star Wars, BTS, and Harry Potter. Some themes are seasonal, but they always come up with something new! They have an extensive menu of classic milk teas, coffee and flavored drinks as well. My personal favorite is their Pink Mermaid Drink with boba, which is made of dragon fruit and strawberry. We love this place so much, we have a dedicated blog all about Mango Rabbit.
Mochi Fresh
960 W. University Dr. Ste. 114, Tempe, Arizona 85281 | (480) 597-3115
Mochi Fresh is as fresh as you can get. They are known for their homemade boba and mochi. They make boba pearls by hand with no preservatives or artificial food coloring. You can really taste the freshness in their drinks because they only use real fruit and ingredients. Strawberry Bubble Milk tea is their best-seller made with real strawberries and strawberry boba. I tried it the other day and now I see the hype. Walking in the store, you won’t miss their gigantic “Mochi Fresh” figurines that are just so dang adorable!
Pho Fresh Alley & Boba Tea
1000 E. Apache Blvd. Ste. #103, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 247-9000
If you are craving a nice boba drink but don’t want to drink on an empty stomach, Pho Fresh Alley & Boba Tea is the place for you. As the name suggests, they serve pho noodle soup and boba tea drinks. They offer classic milk tea flavors such as Thai tea, ube and matcha, as well as unique flavored tea drinks like their Kumquat Delight made of Kumquat passion fruit green tea. Plus, they are open until midnight, perfect 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 Blvd.
Tea Swirl
725 S. Rural Rd. Ste. 107, Tempe, AZ 85281 | (480) 479-4255
Tea Swirl is one of the OG boba shops in Tempe; one of the first boba shops in town. They recently remodeled this location to match Tempe’s college urban vibe. One of their new flavors is their Dutch Milk Tea, it’s made of Assam Milk tea, a pinch of coffee, and caramel flavor. They recommend the sweetness level to be 20% to accommodate all the other toppings. If you want to branch out, try one of their photogenic dessert drinks like the Mango Swirl Slush and Rising Phoenix.
