Quote:The Bay Area is freaking out over this famous boba shop

Elena Kadvany

[/url]Sep. 29, 2023

People lined up on opening day for Chicha San Chen's first Bay Area location in Cupertino on Sept. 29. 
Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle

People waited in line for hours on Friday, Sept. 29, for the arrival of Chicha San Chen at a Cupertino strip mall. They said they were excited to try the international Taiwanese hit in part because it’s been awarded what’s referred to as the equivalent of three Michelin stars from the International Taste Institute.


Anticipation had been building for days — largely thanks to social media influencers — and many took their place in line an hour before doors opened. One man worked on a laptop while waiting. An employee doled out small samples of milk tea, while passersby ogled and took photos of the line.
Even in the [url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2023/bay-area-boba-map/#:~:text=The%20region%20is%20arguably%20the,establishments%20for%20every%2010%2C000%20people.]boba-saturated Bay Area, Chicha San Chen brings something new and special. The company, which has outposts all over the world, sources teas grown and hand-picked on Lishan Mountain in Taiwan. There’s green and black tea as well as dong ding oolong, described on the menu as having a “stronger, charcoal-roasted aroma.” Each cup is brewed to order in a proprietary “teaspresso” machine that reportedly uses a high temperature pressing technology to extract the best flavor from the leaves. 

Taiwanese boba chain Chicha San Chen is known for its high-quality tea.
Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle

Customers can choose from set combinations, like high mountain pouchong tea topped with mousse, or fully customize their dream drink. The store also offers tea tastings at a sleek bar, which may not exist at any other boba shop in the Bay Area. (Chicha San Chen will eventually offer online ordering, which may ease the wait.)
The shop opened at noon. Liwen Xu lined up at 11:15 a.m. She was willing to stand for two hours, but made it to the front after about an hour and a half. She’s been to Chicha San Chen’s only other California location in the San Gabriel Valley several times, where she said there’s almost always a wait, too. She planned to order her favorite, an oolong milk tea with cream.

“It’s easy on the tongue and really flavorful,” Xu said of Chicha San Chen’s tea. “I definitely think it deserves the recognition it gets.”

Inside Chicha San Chen's first Bay Area location in Cupertino.
Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle

Far behind her in line, one person wondered if the wait would be worth it. Then, she worried the store would sell out before she even got close to the front.
Adela Trinh said she was the second person in line on Friday. She had heard about Chicha San Chen on social media. She emerged triumphant, a friend holding their three drinks.

“I have high hopes for this,” Trinh said.  

Chicha San Chen. Noon-6 p.m. daily. 20688 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. chichasanchennorcal.com
Reach Elena Kadvany: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com

(10-20-2023, 10:26 AM)thatguy Wrote: Do any of you boba? (I don't...reminds me of the salmon eggs we used to use when fishing...totally gross).

(10-20-2023, 03:40 PM)Drunk Monk Wrote: What makes it savory is it's usually salted cheese. I shit you not. So tasty. Mmmmm. Now I gotz the craves.