To understand the sheer appeal of the beverage known as boba and the impact it’s had on the Asian-American community of Los Angeles in particular, we must travel back in time to the early 1990s – before the advent of specialty boba spots and shops. During that period, “boba milk tea” was merely sweet tea in a thick Styrofoam cup mixed with nondairy creamer, ice and a spoonful of black tapioca pearls, which sellers kept in a bucket of syrup on the bottom shelf of a fridge. Fast-forward to the late 1990s, when the first dedicated boba tea shop in Los Angeles County opened inside a food court in Arcadia…a phenomenon that led to the early 2000s welcoming in a slew of shops dedicated to the beverage.

Today, nearly every block in the Valley boasts a boba shop, and surprisingly, business is not slow; after all, boba is to the youth of L.A. what coffee is to the rest of the city. The following represents what’s hot in the world of boba spots around Woodland Hills.  

The Boba Café, located at 22941 Suite A Ventura Boulevard, is an Asian-American female-owned mom-and-pop operation that opened amid the COVID shutdown – essentially a vision over a decade in the making, inspired by a love for boba from many date nights exploring tea shops in the San Fernando Valley, 626 and even as far as Taiwan. The café specializes in new-age boba and freshly brewed teas, bringing you all the traditional flavors from all across the world without having to travel outside of Woodland Hills. On Boba Café’s menu, you will find milk teas (nondairy), flavored teas, fresh fruit teas, galaxy teas, matcha specials, smoothie creams, slushies, cultural drinks and much more.

Boba Bar, located at 21028 Victory Boulevard, often gives off – according to the legions of return customers – Korea Town vibes, what with the shop’s offering of Thai Tea, Lychee Black Tea, Cookies and Cream drink, Blueberry Blast and even delectable food items like Thai Tea Toast, Tom Yum Fries and Tom Yum Chicken. With an attentive and caring staff, coupled with great food/drinks and fantastic service, Boba Bar is the real deal in the Valley. Open daily from 10:30 am to 9 pm.

Snap Boba, located at 19936 ½ Ventura Boulevard, was established in 2023 and offers boba ingredients that are premium and fresh—the staff cooking its boba every day to maintain optimum freshness for the best flavor. Though there are many flavors to choose from, Snap Boba will always customize to your taste – for example, its crepes are cooked fresh upon every order and are created with ingredients that are bought daily, assuring top freshness and taste…and, ultimately, happy return customers. Try the Caramel Macchiato with Brown Sugar Boba for a real kick to your day. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm.

Boba Guys, located at Topanga Village at 6220 Topanga Canyon Boulevard Suite 9060 in the San Fernando Valley, was established in 2011 and adheres to a business strategy that incorporates quality, passion and transparency above all else. The drinks here were deconstructed so small batch methods could be used when possible – along with the finest of ingredients. The owners believe in changing the way people see boba and tea, beginning with being transparent above and beyond what you’d expect from a garden variety business. Boba Guys sources responsibly, priding itself on customer service and caring about what customers think; its team members give 100 percent in everything they do, from making a cup of tea and sweeping the floors to milking a cow. Open Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm.

Tang & Java, located at 22776 Ventura Boulevard Suite D, is known for its chic atmosphere and warm ambiance, the friendly staff and vibe-driven background music adding to the overall incredible experience. This relaxed, friendly backdrop is complemented by thirst-quenching beverages and savory bites that are rarely experienced in Woodland Hills. Still, the goal here is simple: provide the best gelato and coffee/tea indulgence in Los Angeles…period. Established in 2011 by a culinary-trained chef with a passion for creating delicious gelatos, Tang & Java now offers a variety of teas for the ultimate connoisseur as well, including Oolong, Jasmine, Earl Grey, Apple, Flora, Eucalyptus, Hibiscus, Moroccan Mint and Matcha Brown Rice. Open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 8:30 am to 7 pm.

Mc BOBA, located at 7222 Canoga Avenue in Canoga Park, serves Espresso, Freshly Cold-Brewed Tea, Fresh Fruit Tea, Milk Tea, smoothies, slushies, milkshakes and taiyaki while allowing you to add your favorite toppings and cheese foam. As one of our favorite boba spots in the Valley, you can genuinely taste the essence of the teas in Mc BOBA’s drinks – and that’s coming from folks who have been to many places around town. Clean and spacious with very attentive staff, Mc BOBA has become a go-to boba spot for many Woodland Hills boba fans, with many of them returning to favorites such as the Taro Milk Tea, Thai Milk Tea with Boba and Almond and Vanilla Milk Tea. Open Monday through Thursday from 12 pm to 8 pm, Friday and Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm.

Indeed, boba isn’t just a chewy addition to your tea – it’s a social experience. All the boba spots included in this roundup take the art of making boba and tea to new dimensions, crafting each and every drink meticulously, with thorough research and care. Moreover, each business masterfully creates intricate beverages while bringing something unique to the table.