Jellyman
Donald Glover's Los Angeles boba tea shop was (and maybe still is) a true original
Opened in 2023 by actor and musician Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) in LA’s Silver Lake neighborhood, Jellyman is a boba tea shop with legitimately compelling drinks, a small but stylish initial location, and a cute logo design.
As just one example of the beverages, a limited time Year of the Dragon beverage replicated and elevated a creamsicle, combining tangerine, pomegranate, and oolong tea, then topping it with saffron cream foam, szechuan peppercorn, chili oil and candied kumquat. It flew completely in the face of “less is more” drink recipes, and fully worked as a sophisticated, multi-layered collection of complementary flavors. The fact that it looked beautiful from top to bottom only helped make the case for its maximalist approach.
Other drinks included Peanut Butter and Jelly, Man – a tasty PB&J latte, and Thai Limeade, a Thai iced tea mixed with citrus. The drinks included Blue Spots (butterfly pea-colored crystal boba) to add to their visual and textural appeal.
Our reaction after visiting: “Could this place become the next big thing? Maybe!” As of late 2024, the restaurant is “temporarily closed” with a supposed re-opening date of January 2025. We hope that’s correct, as we’d like to see Jellyman continue making interesting drinks (and expand southward to Orange County).
Stats
Price: $
Service: Counter
Open Since: 2023
Addresses
4019 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
323.928.2134
Instagram: @jellymantea