Molly Tea (San Gabriel)

Good light floral teas. I tried my Camelia Zest tea, and it was delicious, but not worth $6.79. Unfortunate how much drink volume is taken up by the fresh orange slices inside. Oranges took up even more space than ice, so that’s robbing you of more drink. My mom tried the Snowy Gardenia $7.79 and she enjoyed it. She did not have to do the work of coming here and ordering, though. I'll take her word for it. I ordered at 11:08pm and my number was 1213- my heart dropped when I looked at the monitor and the “ready” orders were barely in the 1100s. Which is crazy when you consider there's no drink limit per order. May as well have been a 1,000 drinks ahead of me. I received my drinks an hour later at 12:12am. I ordered my drinks on Sunday and got them on Monday!! Even if the tea is good (it is!) no tea shop deserves above 3 stars if it takes over an hour to get drinks out. Nice or clean the shop aesthetics don't make up for poor service. Looking at other reviews here, some people had to wait 2 hours plus! Maybe it's worth revisiting at some point and see if they act on any of their metrics and make improvements to the operation. There are clearly some bottlenecks on drink output. You can always take steps to improve like less drink options overall, limit options during rush hours or late at night, set a maximum # of items per order, hire more people, complete orders in batches, etc. It just goes on and on! Something (anything!) to improve the wait time. The parking lot is super small but there's street parking around residential and other businesses, since this is off Valley Blvd. Some indoor and outdoor seating but also not enough for how many people are coming in and out from online orders and in-person ordering tea.

Located in San Gabriel on Valley Boulevard, directly across from the Province Apartments. Place an order using the self-order kiosk as there is no one available at the register to take your order. Extremely long wait time. I went on a Saturday and from placing my order to my order being ready, it took 1 hour and 22 minutes. So be prepared for a long wait especially on weekends. I tried the Snowy Peach Oolong Milk Tea (Iced - $7.99). It’s a peach oolong tea mixed with fresh milk, topped with jasmine whipped cream and pecan bits. Combination of peach oolong tea and jasmine whipped cream tasted really good. I highly recommend this drink. Parking is limited so I recommend finding free street parking nearby. Plenty of seating indoor and outdoor, but it’s packed.

I understand the hype now. One of my new favorite places for tea now. There’s just too many to have one favorite, but Molly tea is right up there. Delicate is probably the best way to describe their drinks. Parking is the worst part of Molly tea’s location. I think there’s only 4 or 5 spots in front. One large car or one bad parking job (common) and good luck parking. Just park on the street somewhere and it’ll be much easier for you. Outside there’s some photo-ops and tables to sit as well as inside. Bright and clean setting. It can get really busy here. There’s two kiosks for you to order, but lines can get fairly long depending on how long it takes for people to put in their order. I’d recommend you look at the menu on the wall while you’re waiting to get an idea of what you want. I believe if you get a seat/table, there’s also a QR code you can order from or you can order ahead From there you’ll wait a bit for them to prepare and pack your order. So Molly Tea (word play on Jasmine) is known for their Jasmine teas. And wow they’re delicious. With jasmine tea, it’s light, refreshing and pairs well with floral notes which Molly does really well. If you’re looking for more of the bitter, darker teas, this isn’t the right place for it. Their high mountain tea is also very good. You really can’t go wrong with any of their drinks though I would recommend the white Champaca milk tea. Very floral, light, refreshing without losing the essence of the tea The jasmine milk tea or just plain jasmine tea are why I’d consider their drinks delicate. Well prepared, excellent flavors. The floral and tea scents really come through. One thing I thought was slightly off and unnecessary was a staff going around offering a Molly tea branded paper bag for positive reviews. We didn’t do it since I think they deserve it, but I’m not a fan of places “buying” reviews. Give this place a try and I’m sure you’ll understand the hype around it. It’s one of my favorite places.

These are my favorite drinks from Molly: Premium Jasmine Milk Tea: 9.5/10 - The signature drink. Highly aromatic, high-quality jasmine tea base; consistent and smooth. White Champaca Milk Tea: 9.0/10 - A unique, sophisticated floral note. Scores high for its rich, velvety aroma and strong, elegant flavor. White Champaca Oolong Milk Tea: 9.0/10 -The Oolong base adds a deeper, slightly nutty, roasted undertone, beautifully balancing the floral champaca sweetness. Osmanthus Milk Tea: 8.5/10 - A delicate, comforting, and subtle option. Popular for those preferring a light, slightly apricot-scented sweetness that isn't intense. White Champaca Matcha Milk Tea: 8.0/10 -The lowest due to the clash between earthy matcha and bright champaca. It's an acquired taste and less consistently favored. I usually go for 100% sugar and no ice because their regular 70% sweetness isn't quite enough for me, and I prefer the full, undiluted flavor of the tea.

Absolutely love Molly Tea in San Gabriel! The store has a great vibe — clean, trendy, and welcoming. Their packaging is also really well-designed, which adds a nice touch to the overall experience. The teas are delicious and full of flavor — definitely among the better spots in the area. I recommend coming early to beat the rush, as it can get quite busy during peak hours. A couple of things to note: • The restroom is just okay — fairly decent, but could use a little more attention. • Parking is very limited and tight. If you’re driving a larger vehicle, I’d suggest finding street parking nearby instead of using their lot. Aside from that, this place is a gem. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area!