The Alley

Rany

I usually visit places like Tap House or Mr. Wish, but I came here for a K-pop pop-up and ordered the taro milk tea with added pudding. The taro flavor was superb! I didn’t have high expectations, but I left still thinking about it...and seriously considered going back the next day for another.

36. Võ Thiên Thanh Quý

Five stars for both the drinks and the service! The employees are always smiling and polite, and the prices are reasonable. Every time I come here, I leave happy and satisfied.

jeck benss

I was visiting from italy and i was craving boba and stumbled across this place and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was really nice, the drink was very refreshing and the girl who served me was really polite as well, she was wearing some lovely brooches. Racommended

Hung Bui

I stopped by The Alley in Chinatown on a busy Tuesday morning and was really impressed. Despite the crowd, the staff was super attentive, polite, and efficient. They took time to explain the menu and even helped me customize my drink. I ordered the Brown Sugar Boba Creme Brulee Milk and it was absolutely perfect — warm, rich, and just the right level of sweetness. The pearls were soft and chewy, made fresh. The space was clean, stylish, and had a welcoming vibe. It’s clear the team puts care into both the drinks and the customer experience. Definitely one of the best bubble tea spots I’ve been to — I’ll be coming back for sure!

I usually like the crème brulee milk tea, just wanna change for a less calorie drink this time. The jasmine green tea is not bad, not too sweet. Quiet place to sit and talk to friends.

Pros: Bright and well-lit — great for studying, with nice décor and a modern vibe. Cons: The flooring material makes it easily look dirty even when it’s clean

Queenie D.

I usually like the crème brulee milk tea, just wanna change for a less calorie drink this time. The jasmine green tea is not bad, not too sweet. Quiet place to sit and talk to friends.

Justin Phan (JustinPhan)

Pros: Bright and well-lit — great for studying, with nice décor and a modern vibe. Cons: The flooring material makes it easily look dirty even when it’s clean

I never tried the alley so this was my first time trying a drink here. I ordered the brown sugar deerioca crème brûlée boba milk for the first time ever and I took it home. So I had no idea I wasn’t supposed to shake the drink and when I did all I could taste pure milk. I tasted 0 sugar in the drink. Pretty disappointing experience, also I didn’t get the dark brown sugar syrup at the bottom of my drink like the other pics, it was just plain.

Waited 20 minutes for an order, there was only 1 person before me. I ordered the "Brown Sugar Deerioca Creme Brulee" but it was extremely bland, no brown sugar around the cup. I often go to The Alley at Katy and Westheimer and have never had to wait long despite peak hours and the quality is always good

Victoria A

I never tried the alley so this was my first time trying a drink here. I ordered the brown sugar deerioca crème brûlée boba milk for the first time ever and I took it home. So I had no idea I wasn’t supposed to shake the drink and when I did all I could taste pure milk. I tasted 0 sugar in the drink. Pretty disappointing experience, also I didn’t get the dark brown sugar syrup at the bottom of my drink like the other pics, it was just plain.

M H

Waited 20 minutes for an order, there was only 1 person before me. I ordered the "Brown Sugar Deerioca Creme Brulee" but it was extremely bland, no brown sugar around the cup. I often go to The Alley at Katy and Westheimer and have never had to wait long despite peak hours and the quality is always good

Alley went downhill in the last 2 years. Regardless how many chances i give them - the milk tea flavor is not great. Their fruit teas are boring - without fresh fruits. Tier 3 boba chain nowadays…

The service was fine, but the tea was burnt causing the milk tea to taste a burnt and grainy. The boba was also overcooked, so it was extremely mushy overall not a good drink.

Ngan Dang

The service was fine, but the tea was burnt causing the milk tea to taste a burnt and grainy. The boba was also overcooked, so it was extremely mushy overall not a good drink.

Came in to order a drink for a friend. Upon getting the drink, I immediately realized I’d ordered the wrong topping. I politely asked, without touching the drink, if it was possible to swap the topping, not a full remake, just to pop the top and swap it. The staff member making the drink seemed okay with the idea, but I was really disappointed by how dismissive the cashier was. I completely understand if it’s a policy issue, but I wasn’t given any explanation beyond “the drink is already made.” When you’re paying nearly $8 for a drink, a little understanding or at least a polite explanation would’ve gone a long way.

Alick Yu

Came in to order a drink for a friend. Upon getting the drink, I immediately realized I’d ordered the wrong topping. I politely asked, without touching the drink, if it was possible to swap the topping, not a full remake, just to pop the top and swap it. The staff member making the drink seemed okay with the idea, but I was really disappointed by how dismissive the cashier was. I completely understand if it’s a policy issue, but I wasn’t given any explanation beyond “the drink is already made.” When you’re paying nearly $8 for a drink, a little understanding or at least a polite explanation would’ve gone a long way.

I went here at about 2:00 with my friends, I got the strawberry green tea it was supposed to be about $6.42 like it said on the menu, for some reason it was $6.95 with about a 2 dollar tax. This wouldn’t have been a problem if it was a good drink but it tasted like straight acid, I made all my friends try it to see if it was just me, but no they all said it was disgusting and tasted like nail polish remover. I’m not one to complain and ask for refunds but my friend decided it was deserved because of how bad it was and asked for me. The lady had absolutely no sympathy or even a doubt in her mind that maybe someone made the drink wrong it came off as very rude and frustrating to me the customer who spent 8 dollars on a drink my body was literally refusing. Train your employees better get better ingredients I don’t know but I would not go here. I usually don’t make reviews, but this has been on my mind all day, do better.

This might win the worst Boba Tea in town award!! People expect a chain like this to be just as good as their staple in Katy and this was a complete let down. I ordered 1 drink and then had it remade and even that was watered down. 1* for being terrible.

Tried the lychee green tea, but where did all the lychee go?? Barely any flavor. Tastes like a knockoff version of The Alley. Definitely not worth the price — I’d recommend spending your money elsewhere.

Boba tea was good but bad service. I had to use the restroom but the girls didn’t give me the code because it’s on the receipt even though my husband was already ordering. They could just tell me right? Also the rr was dirty, so it makes me wonder how clean their “kitchen” is.

Shannon Masterson

I went here at about 2:00 with my friends, I got the strawberry green tea it was supposed to be about $6.42 like it said on the menu, for some reason it was $6.95 with about a 2 dollar tax. This wouldn’t have been a problem if it was a good drink but it tasted like straight acid, I made all my friends try it to see if it was just me, but no they all said it was disgusting and tasted like nail polish remover. I’m not one to complain and ask for refunds but my friend decided it was deserved because of how bad it was and asked for me. The lady had absolutely no sympathy or even a doubt in her mind that maybe someone made the drink wrong it came off as very rude and frustrating to me the customer who spent 8 dollars on a drink my body was literally refusing. Train your employees better get better ingredients I don’t know but I would not go here. I usually don’t make reviews, but this has been on my mind all day, do better.

Levy Ly

Tried the lychee green tea, but where did all the lychee go?? Barely any flavor. Tastes like a knockoff version of The Alley. Definitely not worth the price — I’d recommend spending your money elsewhere.

Nicole

Boba tea was good but bad service. I had to use the restroom but the girls didn’t give me the code because it’s on the receipt even though my husband was already ordering. They could just tell me right? Also the rr was dirty, so it makes me wonder how clean their “kitchen” is.

Every The Alley I have been to use HORIZON whole milk to make their most popular drink which is the brown sugar boba milk. From Katy to Sugarland to Arlington in North Texas This location use completely different whole milk which I think was Kirkland Whole Milk from Costco. So they use lower grade ingredients but the price is also the highest out of every place I have been to. I will never come back, this is the only drink I order from The Alley and this ruined my total experience with the brand image and also drink quality/ drink taste.

I really had a terrible experience here, I ordered 2 drinks and waited for more than 20 minutes without receiving them. The bartender and order taker were not friendly at all, their attitude was extremely impolite. If you really don't know how to smile, don't go to work and don't open a business when you don't know how to treat customers professionally.

Tung Dinh

Every The Alley I have been to use HORIZON whole milk to make their most popular drink which is the brown sugar boba milk. From Katy to Sugarland to Arlington in North Texas This location use completely different whole milk which I think was Kirkland Whole Milk from Costco. So they use lower grade ingredients but the price is also the highest out of every place I have been to. I will never come back, this is the only drink I order from The Alley and this ruined my total experience with the brand image and also drink quality/ drink taste.

Tit JF

I really had a terrible experience here, I ordered 2 drinks and waited for more than 20 minutes without receiving them. The bartender and order taker were not friendly at all, their attitude was extremely impolite. If you really don't know how to smile, don't go to work and don't open a business when you don't know how to treat customers professionally.

Bryan Melchor Pepito

I usually order the alley by Katy And the taste usually just kicks in, and you could taste it in your taste buds however, in this area, it was very bland It tasted like the water was dirty. And when I say the water tasted dirty was because I ordered a cup of water and had a funky taste to. It tasted like it came from a rusted pipe. The Boba didn’t taste like it should compare to the one in Katie very disappointed one star do not recommend this place

Andy Vu

Drinks are ok but service is definitely a big minus. I walked in as the only customer in line, but the 2 girls never acknowledge me, letting me stand there like I’m invisible. The way they work seems like they’ve never been trained. They seem lost now knowing what they’re doing, walking around behind that counter with no directions. Even when they call out order numbers, only they can hear it. If they don’t wanna work, they can quit cause making customers wait for 20 minutes for one order is unreasonable. The owner should consider hiring more staff, or retrain the current staff, to improve their work flow and customers’ experience