Boba Guys
San Francisco-based boba chain expands past LA locations to include one OC shop at The Camp
Officially opened as a single San Francisco shop in 2013 following experimental pop-ups in 2011 and 2012, Boba Guys expanded into a chain with additional locations in New York City and Los Angeles, then debuted an Orange County location in 2021. This space – at Costa Mesa’s not-quite-anti-mall The Camp – is currently a spartan operation, with modest exterior signage, a touchscreen ordering system rather than a person, and a mostly closed kitchen that dispenses drinks from a pass-through counter. Unlike most of the Boba Guys in LA County, this shop has very modest seating and little in the way of charm, substantially different from the bright 2nd & PCH Long Beach location that we visited for Care Bears collab drinks and merch years ago.
At this point, the menu, drinks, and experience are all sort of forgettable. Guests can choose from six loose leaf-brewed teas, each served either iced or hot with or without milk, at 0-100% sweetness in 25% steps. Cold versions of these drinks and Thai tea go for around $5.50, while versions with matcha, matcha and strawberries, or hojicha and black sugar syrup are around a half-dollar more. Coffee fans can choose from cold brew for under $5.50, a latte for $6, or espresso mixed with horchata, banana milk, or milk tea for around $7. None of the drinks comes with boba, almond jelly, aloe jelly, or chia seeds, which can each be added for 65 cents to $1.
We were most recently lured in by a seasonal drink – a Midori Chocolate Latte with a “matcha cloud” on top, milk, and dark chocolate cocoa with chocolate bits – and wound up trying a strawberry puree/milk combo called Strawberry Fields, and an intriguing-sounding Caramel Matcha Latte, as well. Although we’d describe each as fine, they were little more than the sum of their parts, and a lot less special in flavor once mixed than when initially delivered in separate layers. Too many of Boba Guys’ drinks taste like sweet flavored milk, and without included boba, the drinking experience tends to be over too soon.
With so many other great boba shops to choose from in the area, and Blackmarket Bakery offering better treats and seating only steps away, we’re not likely to head back to the Costa Mesa Boba Guys again. More compelling recipes, collabs, and service might draw us back to the Long Beach location in the future, though.
Stats
Price: $
Service: Tablet/Counter
Open Since: 2011-2013 (SF), 2021 (OC)
Addresses
2937 Bristol St. D102
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Instagram: @bobaguys