Twinkle Tea

Nice addition to South Lake Avenue! Twinkle Tea is probably my favorite tea shop on the street. Their drinks are nice and fresh! My favorites are probably their fruit teas. Grapefruit has grapefruit slices in it, Kumquat has kumquat chunks in it, Lemon has lemon slices in it, Ginger has chopped ginger in it, Fruit has diced mixed fruit in it, etc. They also have a nice sitting area inside and outside. Snacks are also available. Another highlight is their service. Everyone I encountered are nice, but I usually come in at night when Eddie is working and he's super cool and on top of it! Looking forward to trying more stuff on the menu! Cute shibe cup attached.

Super cute place and great drinks! I couldn’t use straws because of dental work and they helped to get me a proper lid :) great service!!

Our fifth time here since their opening last month! My favorite is Honey Green Tea with Agar boba, very refreshing and smooth taste! They also change their interior design regularly. A milk tea stop full of fun!!!

Tastes just like the little Tokyo location, parking is just street or go to gas station and pump up and grab boba at the same time 😎

Dani M

Visiting caltech from Stanford and needed a boba boost! Randomly chose this place and was pleasantly surprised. Boba is yummy (I ordered 25% and brown sugar milk tea) and great place to work

Joseph Papa

Drinks are very tasty. Tea tastes very fresh and authentic. The cheese foam is unlike any other boba spot, not too cheesy, not too sweet, perfect flavor. Located on Lake Ave, so parking is found behind the building. Brown Sugar Milk Tea is their staple, and they don't disappoint. Also ordered a Jasmine Green Tea with Cheese foam. Definitely coming back.

Cloudy Hernandez

i am lactose intolerant, but that doesn’t stop me from getting milk tea boba😈however i wanted to be nice to my stomach this time and got the pineapple lemonade slushie while my friend got the strawberry lemonade slushie. i asked for boba and egg pudding at the toppings and they were very nice with their portions :3 the also have a kiosk for those who wish to have no human interaction! would recommend ✨

leslie H

Stumbled upon this cute boba place. Not only is it welcoming (met the owner and she's the sweetest person ever) but they also have the cutest cups I ever saw and their boba is amazing! I fell in love with their taro milk tea. They had an amazing backdrop for photos since it was the opening weekend and their chairs were ultra comfy. Went again yesterday and still amazing flavors! Wish they had reusable cups to buy or merch since their store is seriously so cute and welcoming. Don't forget to grab a free sticker too while you're there. Update: They got honeydew milk tea!!!! Since I've moved to pasadena I haven't found a boba place that had honeydew & I mentioned it in passing one time when I was here & they got it!!! Seriously love them for this!! Will definitely come around more often

Tina Raksin

Sweet little place! The tea was really good. I got a hot tea but there are so many options! And they have food, including the bubble waffles that smelled delicious!

Omar Laguna

At work we normally order from this place regularly and my top picks have to be: -Brown Sugar Milk Tea 🧋 (added:pudding) -Signature Milk Tea slush🧋 I highly recommend! If you want a pick up after lunch and need something sweet. I just wish my bank account can handle the punishment 😒 😪 🙄 😕 😩 😫 Take out order/grubhub

Sofia C

I got Hokkaido milk tea with oat milk and grass jelly. They run out of boba so I didn't get a chance to try their boba. The milk tea was pretty creamy and delicious. The store has a kiosk inside where you can order and pay so that's pretty convenient. They also have a few tables and chairs inside where you can sit. This location has more seating inside compared to their Alhambra location so I appreciate that. 😊

Owen Chen

Finally a real Boba milk tea in Pasadena! Service is great and their milk tea have a very rich and balanced flavor of brewed tea and milk. The boba is at just the right sweetness and very chewy. Definitely going to be my default milk tea spot in Pasadena

Dominik Richter

This is my favorite Boba place in LA! They have 2 locations: this one in Pasadena and another just south of here in Alhambra. They have great recommendations a d you can also completely configure your favorite Boba. I often take trips over here just to pick up some of their delicious teas

Kelsey

I was in the area and craving milk tea, so I stopped by Twinkle Tea. It looks like a run of the mill boba shop, but it was one of the best brown sugar milk teas I've ever had. Everything was perfect, from the flavor of the tea to the texture of the boba. The service was fast and there are a few tables inside. The bathroom is closed as of this review, which was the only negative but not enough to take away a star. If you're in the area and need your boba fix, definitely go to Twinkle Tea.

Richard Lin

Nice addition to South Lake Avenue! Twinkle Tea is probably my favorite tea shop on the street. Their drinks are nice and fresh! My favorites are probably their fruit teas. Grapefruit has grapefruit slices in it, Kumquat has kumquat chunks in it, Lemon has lemon slices in it, Ginger has chopped ginger in it, Fruit has diced mixed fruit in it, etc. They also have a nice sitting area inside and outside. Snacks are also available. Another highlight is their service. Everyone I encountered are nice, but I usually come in at night when Eddie is working and he's super cool and on top of it! Looking forward to trying more stuff on the menu! Cute shibe cup attached.

Melody McBride

Super cute place and great drinks! I couldn’t use straws because of dental work and they helped to get me a proper lid :) great service!!

Phoebe Hu

Our fifth time here since their opening last month! My favorite is Honey Green Tea with Agar boba, very refreshing and smooth taste! They also change their interior design regularly. A milk tea stop full of fun!!!

Twinkle Tea is one of my favorite places to be. It has such a calming environment with amazing food and staff. Ive been going almost weekly for 3 years now and I havent found any place that could even compare. On Fridays its bustling with kids from nearby schools and on any other day its usually a few ajummas having fun gossiping or a nice quiet empty place to work. I love going here for studying, getting a snack or drink, or hanging out with my friends. Not to mention to food and drinks are amazing. Currently the fridge broke down so theres only egg puffs but the popcorn chicken was so crunchy and the fries were the perfect texture of crispy on thr outside and barely mashed on the inside. The egg puffs have a crispy exterior and inside are soft and fluffy. Their brown sugar milk tea is wonderful, not too sweet and tastes fresh. The Twinkle fruit tea is one of my favorites. It has crisp fresh fruit and a refreshing flavour. The strawberry matcha is also DELICIOUS. Its probably my number one intake of caffeine and helps me study when Im tired. The boba is delicious and always thoroughly cooked. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing eith nostalgic elements. Love this place.

went there today, the drinks came pretty fast. It was so yummy and the vibes of the shop was very nice. Me and my friends really enjoyed their drinks. The owner/manger or employee not sure he was working alone and he was super nice to us. Would always go back there and support them.

This place has decent drinks and snacks. I forgot to take a picture but just know the snacks are on the smaller side. The combo is a bigger side and you can choose 3 items . The seasoning on the snacks is really good. Prices are reasonable and the lower price for popcorn chicken reflects in the smaller portion.

Drinks Order: Twinkle Fruit Tea (jasmine green tea, passionfruit tea with housemade pineapple juice, strawberry, kiwi, mango bits) with Rainbow Jelly $6.50 Twinkle Fruit Tea with Lychee Jelly $6.50 Strawberry Matcha (whole milk, strawberry matcha, strawberry bits) with Agar Boba & Aloe $7.25 Strawberry Matcha with Pudding $6.74 Strawberry Matcha with Agar Boba $6.74 HK Style Milk Tea with Boba $2.75 Free WiFi: Network: Twinkle Tea Pasadena PW: Twinkle@626 I was in Pasadena for an event, & wanted to pick-up a couple of drinks for the kiddos... Twinkle Tea opened not too long ago & had it bookmarked because I was into fruit teas at the time. The boba shop is located on busy Lake Ave. between San Pasqual St. & Granite Dr. with a limited street parking; if you don't mind walking, there's some lots available nearby (Macy's, Ross). Upon entry, there's a kiosk to self-order or you can go to the counter to place your order. On my 1st visit, I needed some help ordering since their drinks don't have descriptions/listed ingredients (i.e. Twinkle Fruit Tea, Strawberry Matcha); I mostly use the kiosk on subsequent visits unless there's a line. The drinks are 1 size only, at 32 fl. oz., & they're usually good about filling the cup with ice that I don't have to request for an adjustment (less ice) but I typically ask for 50% or 75% ice levels & sugar levels. On my initial visit, there was a promo of HK Style Milk Tea at $2.50 with additional toppings for 25¢. Wowza... now that's a deal! It's even cheaper than my 1st boba experience 20+ years ago. O_o I also added their best seller Twinkle Fruit Tea with Rainbow Jelly & Strawberry Matcha with 1/2 Agar Boba & 1/2 Aloe. The milk tea has a creamy, robust black tea flavor with a balance sweetness & boba "qq" texture that has a pleasant chewy mouthfeel. I love their best seller fruit tea! I can taste the floral jasmine tea, tangy & citrusy passionfruit tea, & tropical pineapple juice... it's truly a "fruit tea" that it can be served without toppings. I really like their Strawberry Matcha, & feel it's one of the better made ones, though the matcha's depth isn't as prevalent (not sure if it's ceremonial/culinary grade quality matcha). It has a moderate earthy, grassy blend with a decent serving of sweet strawberry purée/bits. Fast, friendly service, even when they're busy. I think my longest wait was 15-mins. Drinks are well-made with a moderate amount of toppings that almost last until the very last sip. Price points are lower than the South Bay, but it's a trek out here, though I will detour to Twinkle Tea when I'm visiting my sibling who lives out here. There's a loyalty program, but I'm not sure of the platform's name. Recommended: Twinkle Fruit Tea, Strawberry Matcha, HK Style Milk Tea; toppings: agar boba, boba, lychee & rainbow jellies, pudding, aloe.

Kimberly Lundell

Drinks Order: Twinkle Fruit Tea (jasmine green tea, passionfruit tea with housemade pineapple juice, strawberry, kiwi, mango bits) with Rainbow Jelly $6.50 Twinkle Fruit Tea with Lychee Jelly $6.50 Strawberry Matcha (whole milk, strawberry matcha, strawberry bits) with Agar Boba & Aloe $7.25 Strawberry Matcha with Pudding $6.74 Strawberry Matcha with Agar Boba $6.74 HK Style Milk Tea with Boba $2.75 Free WiFi: Network: Twinkle Tea Pasadena PW: Twinkle@626 I was in Pasadena for an event, & wanted to pick-up a couple of drinks for the kiddos... Twinkle Tea opened not too long ago & had it bookmarked because I was into fruit teas at the time. The boba shop is located on busy Lake Ave. between San Pasqual St. & Granite Dr. with a limited street parking; if you don't mind walking, there's some lots available nearby (Macy's, Ross). Upon entry, there's a kiosk to self-order or you can go to the counter to place your order. On my 1st visit, I needed some help ordering since their drinks don't have descriptions/listed ingredients (i.e. Twinkle Fruit Tea, Strawberry Matcha); I mostly use the kiosk on subsequent visits unless there's a line. The drinks are 1 size only, at 32 fl. oz., & they're usually good about filling the cup with ice that I don't have to request for an adjustment (less ice) but I typically ask for 50% or 75% ice levels & sugar levels. On my initial visit, there was a promo of HK Style Milk Tea at $2.50 with additional toppings for 25¢. Wowza... now that's a deal! It's even cheaper than my 1st boba experience 20+ years ago. O_o I also added their best seller Twinkle Fruit Tea with Rainbow Jelly & Strawberry Matcha with 1/2 Agar Boba & 1/2 Aloe. The milk tea has a creamy, robust black tea flavor with a balance sweetness & boba "qq" texture that has a pleasant chewy mouthfeel. I love their best seller fruit tea! I can taste the floral jasmine tea, tangy & citrusy passionfruit tea, & tropical pineapple juice... it's truly a "fruit tea" that it can be served without toppings. I really like their Strawberry Matcha, & feel it's one of the better made ones, though the matcha's depth isn't as prevalent (not sure if it's ceremonial/culinary grade quality matcha). It has a moderate earthy, grassy blend with a decent serving of sweet strawberry purée/bits. Fast, friendly service, even when they're busy. I think my longest wait was 15-mins. Drinks are well-made with a moderate amount of toppings that almost last until the very last sip. Price points are lower than the South Bay, but it's a trek out here, though I will detour to Twinkle Tea when I'm visiting my sibling who lives out here. There's a loyalty program, but I'm not sure of the platform's name. Recommended: Twinkle Fruit Tea, Strawberry Matcha, HK Style Milk Tea; toppings: agar boba, boba, lychee & rainbow jellies, pudding, aloe.

Marise Faye

Twinkle Tea is one of my favorite places to be. It has such a calming environment with amazing food and staff. Ive been going almost weekly for 3 years now and I havent found any place that could even compare. On Fridays its bustling with kids from nearby schools and on any other day its usually a few ajummas having fun gossiping or a nice quiet empty place to work. I love going here for studying, getting a snack or drink, or hanging out with my friends. Not to mention to food and drinks are amazing. Currently the fridge broke down so theres only egg puffs but the popcorn chicken was so crunchy and the fries were the perfect texture of crispy on thr outside and barely mashed on the inside. The egg puffs have a crispy exterior and inside are soft and fluffy. Their brown sugar milk tea is wonderful, not too sweet and tastes fresh. The Twinkle fruit tea is one of my favorites. It has crisp fresh fruit and a refreshing flavour. The strawberry matcha is also DELICIOUS. Its probably my number one intake of caffeine and helps me study when Im tired. The boba is delicious and always thoroughly cooked. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing eith nostalgic elements. Love this place.

michelle

went there today, the drinks came pretty fast. It was so yummy and the vibes of the shop was very nice. Me and my friends really enjoyed their drinks. The owner/manger or employee not sure he was working alone and he was super nice to us. Would always go back there and support them.

Sharn Kung

This place has decent drinks and snacks. I forgot to take a picture but just know the snacks are on the smaller side. The combo is a bigger side and you can choose 3 items . The seasoning on the snacks is really good. Prices are reasonable and the lower price for popcorn chicken reflects in the smaller portion.

I loved coming to this place a year ago to study! Today I visited during LA's heatwave and the cafe space was incredibly warm. They seem to stay short-staffed (one person working on a Sunday) so drinks take a second to get made. That said, drinks are pretty good and it is one of the only boba shops in the area with ample outlets for bringing a laptop and getting some work done!

Xylo DenBoer

I loved coming to this place a year ago to study! Today I visited during LA's heatwave and the cafe space was incredibly warm. They seem to stay short-staffed (one person working on a Sunday) so drinks take a second to get made. That said, drinks are pretty good and it is one of the only boba shops in the area with ample outlets for bringing a laptop and getting some work done!

JDyan G

Best Takoyaki I’ve had. I also love the Hokkaido Milk Tea.

We stopped by Twinkle Tea while visiting Pasadena, hoping for a good boba fix — but the drinks were a letdown. They were overwhelmingly sweet and didn’t taste like real tea at all. It seemed like they were using tea powder instead of brewed tea, which gave everything a fake, syrupy flavor. We tried adjusting the sweetness level, but even then, the drinks were barely drinkable. Sadly, we ended up tossing what we bought — just couldn’t finish them. If you're looking for boba that actually tastes like tea, this isn’t the place. We recommend heading to Sunright Tea Studio or Proleće Tea nearby — both offer much better quality and real tea flavor.

Angela Noriega

We stopped by Twinkle Tea while visiting Pasadena, hoping for a good boba fix — but the drinks were a letdown. They were overwhelmingly sweet and didn’t taste like real tea at all. It seemed like they were using tea powder instead of brewed tea, which gave everything a fake, syrupy flavor. We tried adjusting the sweetness level, but even then, the drinks were barely drinkable. Sadly, we ended up tossing what we bought — just couldn’t finish them. If you're looking for boba that actually tastes like tea, this isn’t the place. We recommend heading to Sunright Tea Studio or Proleće Tea nearby — both offer much better quality and real tea flavor.