Gong Cha

There are so many boba places in Chinatown, but Gong Cha is definitely a top contender. There are lots of menu items, both traditional and modern, that rotate frequently so there’s always something new to try. The cold options are perfect for a hot afternoon in Houston. The place can be a little packed which makes it hard to find a seat sometimes, but they are made quickly and efficiently. The quality isn’t consistent and drinks can be sweet one day and bitter the next, but this may be due to new employees. Overall a very promising spot to fulfill your next boba craving.

We have been to Gong Cha countless times, both in Austin and in Houston, and it remains one of our top favorite spots for boba milk tea. Vibe: Clean, modern, and simple look. I really like the informative schematic on the wall which demonstrates how the tea is sourced, processed, and brewed to cup. Drinks: The pearl milk tea with black tea or oolong tea are our favorite drinks to get here - great balance of creamy milk and robust tea. Prices are also reasonable and dare I say relatively cheap now as most milk tea places continue to raise their prices. The boba itself is also among the best we have had, with great flavor and texture. We usually go for 50-70% sweetness because the 100% sweet is like saccharine sweet.

First visit here and I was delighted to see the large variety they have on their menu. I ended up ordering and trying the Brown Sugar milk tea (you can never go wrong with it!) with Boba. It was very sweet and creamy, I enjoyed every sip of it. The tapioca was spot on, soft and chewy, one of the best tapioca I’ve tried! The shops environment is pretty laidback and chill, and for a Tuesday afternoon it was not so busy. Drink preparation was quick and staff was friendly. Please come by and take a peep and maybe get a treat! 😉