Gogotea Cafe

As our group made our way through Richmond en route back home, their sign caught our attention. I parked the car on the street and we ventured to the second floor to check it out. It was half full on the weekend with chattering teens and twenty-​somethings at each table. Huge booths and other fixtures from IKEA dotted the interior landscape as we waited to be seated. We quickly snagged one of the bouncy banquettes and were brought menus shortly thereafter. They offer a large variety of cold and hot drinks, usual teahouse food and oh yes… waitstaff bedecked in themed outfits like maid costumes or Japanese school girls.
The food was tasty. One of my friends absolutely loved her doria with unagi + cheese. I enjoyed my fried rice dish though it was on the oilier side for my tastes. Our fried tofu appetizer was good, not greasy in the slightest. The list of Taiwanese beverages was long and inviting. The four of us ordered blended drinks and then proceeded to taste each of them. They were served in tall glasses with long fat straws in case there was tapioca or jellies involved.
My only complaint was the service. Our server was less than attentive until the check was dropped, then she hovered as if to prove that she was paying attention. We asked multiple times for napkins and refills of water. Another server finally brought us our items but it was only after we flagged her down.
I don’t know if I’d return. I’m sure there’s other options in the area without the kawaii eye candy. Oh yeah, and bring cash. They do NOT accept credit cards.

* Simply bad *
Stopped in for a quick lunch as I needed a place that had easy parking — which this does.
But the goodness stopped with the easy free parking there:
1) Watery bubble tea
2) Undercooked hard bubbles
3) Chicken knees had more salt than a person should consume in a year, yet still had not enough flavour.
4) Incredibly terrible service with a single waitress that was indifferent to the 4 or 5 tables of customers. She was just chatting and flirting with the young guy «cooking» (and I use the term loosely) in the kitchen.
I think I figured out why parking was so easy — Definite «meh» all around!

Gogo tea is a good place to hang out. The waitresses are dressed up. But nothing is really skanky though, and they wear runners so they can walk around quickly with your order. It is a very family-​ish place. I’ve seen families in the afternoon sitting around munching on snacks and drinking BBT.
If the waitresses are flustered or not bringing things to you, just raise up your hand to bring them over, they’ll be there. They will take a picture with you if you ask nicely too.
I went on a typical french maid day. I heard they dress as school girls, space-​age costume, whatever.
Nice booths to sit in and catch up on life.
Crunchy fried chicken is good.
Bubble tea comes in big glasses. Order without bubbles if you are watching your carbs, though. A project from my Food Sciences 200 class reported that 7 bubbles = 100 calories.
But beware — this place is closed on TUESDAYS. So in case that has changed, double check and see if it is open before you venture out.

What a strange place.
The actual restaurant is pretty nice– big booths, big windows.
The servers are… strange. They are dressed up in costumes of some sort. Obviously, it’s not quite clear what they’re going for. One girl resembled a sailor, while another was wearing some kind of really funny headband with things sticking off it. Not sure what they’re going for…
In regards to service, we placed our order, got our food, and were completely abandoned. Not sure where everyone went, but we jumped at the chance to get our check the first time we saw a server appear (even though she wasn’t even ours).
I had an almond milk tea, which had a nice flavor. My husband had the coconut milk tea, which was too sweet for him.