Ethan Zhao ’26

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Strake Jesuit is placed right in the heart of one of the nation’s greatest Chinatowns. With four Asian supermarkets, over a hundred restaurants, and 30 teahouses, Jesuit students are well-placed to explore the diverse cuisine and culture of Asia. I’ve been drinking boba since elementary school, and Chinatown as always housed the best and most unique teahouses in the world. Nowhere else can you find five successful boba shops lined up right next to each other (DunHuang Plaza – Tasty Point, Gong Cha, Hui Lau Shan, Xing Fu Tang, and Feng Cha). Thus, this article sets out to highlight the growing enterprise of boba available to students and recommend the best places both to study and hang out, right in Strake Jesuit’s front yard. Each boba shop highlighted will be reviewed on five main factors: The boba tea, snacks, environment, cost, and location. 

The Big Three boba shops (Tapioca House, The Teahouse, and Twinkle) are the most popular teahouses for Jesuit students. Located in the up-and-coming Diho Square, these three shops are a convenient 5 minute walk from campus. All three have extensive options of both drinks, snacks, and toppings. 

Tapioca House, 9104 Bellaire Blvd suite b, Houston, TX 77036

• Boba Tea – 3/5
• Snacks – 4/5
• Environment – 4/5
• Cost – 3/5
• Location – 5/5

Tapioca House is a classic hangout spot for Jesuit students. As the nearest of the three, this teahouse attracts students daily as well as events for clubs like ACC. While they offer an extensive array of tea and snacks, the tea itself is just average, on par with many other teashops in the area. The costs are similarly average and the environment is comfortable for both studying, with plenty of seats and chargers, and for meeting with friends. 

Twinkle, 9188 Bellaire Blvd Suite G, Houston, TX 77036

• Boba Tea – 4/5
• Snacks – 5/5
• Environment – 2/5
• Cost – 5/5
• Location – 5/5

Twinkle is a less well-known teahouse also located in Diho. While this teashop is noticeably smaller than Tapioca House, it similarly provides a diverse array of drinks and snacks. However, where Twinkle shines most is in its cost-effectiveness. Not only are drinks and snacks sold at a significantly lower price than at other Chinatown shops, they also provide a greater quantity of food and drinks. They allow you to add as many toppings without extra charge, sell popcorn chicken in full takeout box sizes, and have a free discount program that shaves 10% off every visit. Even though the teahouse isn’t perfectly suited to hangouts or studying, it is perfect for picking up a drink or snack to take home. 

Teahouse, 9198 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036

• Boba Tea – 3/5
• Snacks – 4/5
• Environment – 3/5
• Cost – 3/5
• Location – 4/5

The Teahouse is the only massive boba chain in the Diho area. This shop shares many similarities with Tapioca House. The prices, options, and boba tea are all relatively equal. The Teahouse is just slightly farther from campus and is slightly smaller than Tapioca House. 

The next three boba shops are all relatively farther away from campus, scattered around different shopping centers. However, they are all established chains and provide high-quality tea and excellent environments to work and have fun in. 

Fuji Tea, 9312 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036

• Boba Tea – 5/5
• Snacks – NA
• Environment – 4/5
• Cost – 3/5
• Location – 3/5

Fuji is a boba shop in the Metropole Center next to Jusgo and many restaurants. Although much smaller than other tea shops, it still has ample seating and space to work. Additionally, Fuji’s tea is some of the best in Chinatown as it combines high quality tea and sophisticated flavors. Although it is slightly more expensive, it provides top-tier tea and a quiet environment to study in. 

Feng Cha,  9889 Bellaire Blvd STE C316, Houston, TX 77036

• Boba Tea – 5/5
• Snacks – NA
• Environment – 5/5
• Cost – 4/5
• Location – 2/5

Feng Cha is one of the most popular brands for boba nationwide, with 10 branches in Houston alone. The tea at Feng is of the highest quality and flavors, delivering delicious boba every time without costing too much. However, what sets Feng apart is its excellent study and hangout environment. Furnished with ample seating and booths, staying at Feng is comfortable and perfect to work in. The only problem is its location in DunHuang Plaza, approximately a 15-20 minute walk from campus. However, if you are willing to make the trek, the tea and environment are definitely worth it.

Tiger Sugar,  9393 Bellaire Blvd #D, Houston, TX 77036

• Boba Tea – 4/5
• Snacks – NA
• Environment – 4/5
• Cost – 3/5
• Location – 3/5

This chain is also a nationally recognized brand, but slightly less expansive than Feng, with just four locations in Texas. Located on Bellaire Food Street, Tiger Sugar is just a 10-minute walk from campus, on par with Fuji. Tiger Sugar is most renowned for its Black Sugar Boba drinks, a classic loved by students and mastered by this teashop. Although slightly more expensive and sweeter than most shops, Tiger Sugar also maintains an excellent workspace and has ample seating to hang out in.  

Other notable boba shops in the area include Sharetea, the Bunny, YumCha, Tea Top, Gong Cha, Kung Fu Tea, Moge Tea, and Xing Fu Tang. To get the best tea in Houston, you might have to travel farther to DunHuang Plaza which hosts nearly 15 teahouses and many of the most iconic chains. 

Overall, here are the best boba shops in Chinatown:

• Best Overall: Tapioca House
• Most Cost-Effective: Twinkle
• Best Study Environment: Feng Cha
• Best Snacks: Twinkle