Chicha San Chen

I stopped by a café after work for drinks and a little time to unwind. It was a bit tricky to find at first because the name I was looking for didn’t match the sign on the building. Once inside, I was welcomed by a calm atmosphere with soft elevator music playing in the background. They only serve drinks, which was perfectly fine with me. There’s seating available, though no outlets for charging devices. The staff was also very patient and kind, which made the experience even better. (4/5)

I heard this place got a Michelin star in Taiwan, so I had to try it, and I have been back many times since. The shop is small and quaint, with a little seating area and a clear view of the tea being made, which I really like. It feels similar to a specialty coffee bar, but for tea. The tea flavor is very strong in a good way. You can tell a lot of care goes into it. There is not a huge menu, but that seems intentional since they focus on doing a few things really well. Because it is so popular and the tea is made using an artisan drip method, the wait can be pretty long. The staff works hard, but the brewing process itself takes time, so this is not the place to go if you are in a rush. Overall, the tea is delicious and high quality. Just be ready to wait, because the wait is part of the experience.

This place genuinely stands in a different league when it comes to tea. We tried the classic black tea with mousse and boba milk tea, and both were exceptional. What really sets Chicha San Chen apart is how pure and clear the tea flavor is — you can actually taste the tea itself, not just sugar or milk masking everything. The classic black tea with mousse was incredibly soothing. The tea had depth, slightly malty and aromatic, while the mousse on top was light, creamy, and not overpowering. It balanced the bitterness of the tea perfectly instead of drowning it. The boba milk tea was equally impressive. The milk felt clean and smooth, not heavy, and the boba was fresh, soft, and chewy — not rubbery like many places. Even with milk and boba, the tea flavor still came through, which is rare. Nothing felt artificial or overly sweet. The drinks were calming, refined, and very well-crafted, almost meditative. Honestly, this is one of those places that makes you realize how far real tea can be from regular bubble tea chains.

Chicha San Chen’s boba milk tea is very fragrant with a strong, authentic tea aroma 🍃🧋. The quality is great and the drink is delicious, though it’s still a bit sweet for my personal taste even when I asked for less sugar 😅—I usually prefer my milk tea on the lighter side. Overall, it’s still an excellent and enjoyable drink, especially for true tea lovers ✨💚

I went in with high expectations, but both the Brown Sugar Bubble Tea and the classic Bubble Milk Tea tasted too light for me—soft tea notes, not much brown sugar depth, and overall a bit flat. Aesthetics-wise, the place is a win: bright, crisp, and I liked to watch the whole drink-making process start to finish. It just didn’t hit flavor-wise for my palate, so it felt a bit overhyped. That said, my friend absolutely loved it, called his drink a 10/10, so if you prefer a lighter, less intense boba, this might be your spot!