Tapioca Express

Tapioca Express is a great place to sit and enjoy a cool refreshing drink: o)

We always get boba here every time we visit sd. We came here today and everything was just not the same. The avocado snow bubble had some other flavor mixed into it maybe because the they didn’t wash the blender all the way. The thai and milk teas wrapper lid was not sealed properly in the machine so the they tore apart. Horrible quality, going to go get boba somewhere else next time.

I venture to this place whenever time permits.
The service is awesome. I have a boba addiction.
Coconut snow with double boba :)

This is the only boba chain I know of that has small boba. I love the milk tea snow bubble with small boba. It’s so addicting. Normal sized boba isn’t the same for me anymore. The service is good, I never have any issues with my orders. Depending how busy it is you may end up waiting. I recently got into the crispy chicken combo. You get lots of food plus a drink is included, how awesome is that?! I hope they consider taking phone orders in the future because I’d like to call ahead so I can just pay and pick up when I arrive.

Very very disappointed. Screwed up my order after a very long wait. Never coming back to this sucky boba shop. This is not the first time.

I don’t normally come to this particular tapioca express because I hardly ever come out here anymore. But since I was in the area I figured why not. Guy behind the counter kept asking us what we wanted, and we clearly weren’t ready to. Ordered the crispy chicken and calamari and came out a bit too crispy. Drinks were fine. Everything else was good until they started playing music with profanity. How do you claim I o be a friendly environment, then proceed to play music that’s not appropriate for children. Get your act together.

Good food but menu is not always accurate to what they have in stock! Calamari fries vary from small pieces to larger pieces– sometimes more batter than actual food! The one in convoy is way better

Horrible customer service. I can’t really say anything about the food because I didn’t give them a chance. Just honest but if I decide to come to a place to make my food when I normally make it for myself and decide to pay good money to do so, then I would expect at least a greeting or some kind of acknowledgement when waiting in line and there is no one else waiting.
Went next door to Rubios. Greeted right away even though she had a few people in her line.

I’m surprised this places doesn’t have more stars! I go here almost everyday. I love this place, and all the refreshing drinks. I recommend this place to anyone in the area.

I gave this place 3 stars because I’ve ordered their buffalo fries and they are a hit or miss. Sometimes they are generous with their portion of chicken, & the fries are evenly seasoned and wet in buffalo sauce. I have ordered them twice where they hardly put chicken, but the pieces I thought were chicken were more fried fatty tissue than chicken.
I do love the Tapicoa Milk Tea with Boba! They also have a good specials to choose from that include and entrée and a jasmine/​other tea or substitute for water bottle.
They used to be part of FiveStar program and after reaching a certain amount of points they would give you a free drink. After the new year 2015 started, they no longer have that point system. I find myself going to the Lolitea cup shop across from SWC during my breaks from class. Less gas, & I don’t have incentive to drive to this as much anymore. Their drinks are delicious from what I’ve had. Lychee snow bubble w/​boba is delicious as well.

The minute I walked in, the smell of the drinks is what got me. It was outstanding. It was clean inside and not that many people when I was there. It’s really a nice, cool spot for the young audience to chill at or for a little get together. The only thing I wish for this place to improve on is their menu on the wall. Wish it had Pictures of what the drinks would look like. Or better yet, use TV’s as the menu. Been seeing it a lot, especially over there at Tap Tap Boba on Telegraph Canyon Road. I have a 4 year old son that I go with here all the time and it would help for the kids to be able to pick the drinks they like! Other than that, this place is cool.

I come here often but seriously, there’s no customers and my order takes half an hour just for one order of crispy chicken with rice. I know that doesn’t seem that long but being the only one to order this one thing and it takes this long, it’s ridiculous. It would have been one star but I like boba too much. Thank you for not letting me know that it’s coming soon. Jskfkaldhaldjalshsj!
Okay update: he apologized at the very end saying the order didn’t print in the back, I wish they had checked sooner with the lack of customers in the building. This is bound to happen now and again, I understand but 3 stars just for today.

So I’ve been frequenting this place for the past few years and have seen the staff and quality of their food and drinks change.
I finally stuck with ordering hot, plain green tea with boba when it’s colder out and a kiwi icy with apple jelly when it’s warmer out. Both are great in the right temperature. The amount of boba or jelly they give is fair, though sometimes during a rush it feels like you’ll get a little less. But when there’s a lot of orders to fill you don’t really have time to think.
The current staff is friendlier in the sense that they smile and don’t have a bored look on their faces all of the time. During dead hours you can usually hear a lot of laughter and/​or chatter among the employees, which makes for a more welcoming environment. I feel like this is important to their business model because it’s a place where people hang out. My group of friends and I would play our board/​card games here and we never felt like anyone was going to give us and grief. In fact, two of the workers played with us one time.
Overall, I feel like the current staff has a handle on what they’re doing in terms of customer service and food prep. When these workers move on I hope that the new workers keep the same attitude and are as good as the current ones are.

On a good day I would give this location 3 and a half stars at most. However today I was pretty disappointed. I walked in and there was no line, but a few people sitting at tables. I noticed the girl working and hiding in the back corner talking to another employee. I had to stand a few feet away from the register for her to acknowledge me. This wouldn’t ordinarily bother me too much, but I was on my lunch break and only had 30 minutes to get food for myself and my other coworkers.
The second coworker, a guy, took my order. Sisig fries and a crispy chicken combo. Both came with milk tea and I was pleased that I got both drinks before my transaction was finished.
However waiting for my food took a very long time. I would say at least 15 minutes. During this time, more customers came in and ordered, but that wouldn’t have affected the cooking time in my food since they all ordered drinks. I also overheard that this location was out of avocado, passion fruit, and another flavor.
Also the two employees working at this time were very friendly with each other, and we’re hugging and talking in the corner away from customers view.
Nothing special about this TapEx. I would rather go to the Convoy location. I’m only here for food runs on behalf of others.

I come to this Tapioca Express every once in a while, and every time I do, there is always some kind of complication. If it’s not because they charged me for a different drink, it’s something else. Like today, Easter Sunday– I called around 7:30pm to see when they were closing since it’s a holiday, and it went something like:
«Hi, do you guys close early today?»
«I wish we did, but we close at 11.»
«Haha… Cool, thanks!»
So I get there around 8:40pm and there’s a sign taped to the door saying they close at 8:30pm and that the location on Palm Ave. would still be open. There were still plenty of customers hanging around inside on laptops and chillin. I actually disregarded the sign since I called beforehand and attempted to order along with another customer in line, when one of the workers frowned at us that they were already closed. OK… So whatever, I left and ended up going to Starbucks a few stores down and got a Cap’n crunch frap to satisfy my sweet tooth. At least they were still open.

Okay. I really dig this place and for the most part, it’s my go-​to place for boba drinks here in Eastlake, but I’m SO, SO, SO disappointed in today’s visit, I just have to Unilocal.I’m totally hoping management sees this. I’m probably going to call over tomorrow anyhow.
They were playing rap (like most always, which is TOTALLY cool with me) but not when Lil’ Wayne is dropping F-​bombs and I hear «bitch» and f*** every other word. I was mortified standing there with my three kids and their friend. I couldn’t believe it. And it wasn’t like the music was on low. Nope. Totally loud and obvious. I quickly shooed my kids out to go to Game Stop to wait for me there. I get it here, People. There are cuss words everywhere. But I shouldn’t have to subject my kids to this to get a boba drink. Maybe put «Explicit lyrics played here» outside your business so I know it’s not a kid-​friendly place. Totally caught off guard!
Seriously rethinking visiting here again, and I’m a total regular, at least once a week.
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We use to come here more frequently when they first opened… Not so much these days. But we did stop by the other day, on a weekday. It wasn’t busy.
Customer service is so-​so. It really depends on who I guess. Some seem to be friendly and helpful… Others seem to be there to make the drinks, no smile no courtesy… Way too cool I guess.
Place is clean for the most part.
Most drinks are made with powder flavor and/​or syrup. But they do have some flavors that are made with fresh fruit. Husband likes the cantaloupe icy (made with fresh cantaloupe).
I like their food though. We usually get their crispy chicken or fried tofu. Both crunchy and with a good flavor, you choose your level of spiciness. And it comes out to you super hot, Fresh out of the fryer. Generous portions.
Back to the drinks… They have 2 sizes (regular and large)… I usually order 1 and ask them to «split cup» it for 25cents for my kiddies to share.

Extra-​EXTRA spicy crispy chicken with a milk tea chaser to cool my tongue. Seriously… Best snacking combo. I cannot get enough. Please, please, PLEASE open a location in DC. This waiting months (or years) between fixes is cruel.

I never leave reviews but this was the last straw.
I have never been to a Tapioca Express with such rude employees. They literally have you standing there for at least 3 minutes while they all laugh and talk behind the counter before they consider taking your order. This is the third time it has happened. Definitely taking my money elsewhere.

I remember going to the original TapEx in Convoy, and I fell in love with the whole feel and idea of it. Then when I heard there was going to be one in Eastlake, I was even more ecstatic. The setup in Convoy is definitely a tad bit cooler, though. What they both have in common, with no doubt, is kind workers.
If you couldn’t tell, or if I hadn’t mentioned it before, I’m a boba fiend. Thai tea boba, especially. My go-​to order is a Thai tea slush with boba, in this case, a Thai tea snow bubble with boba (because that’s what it’s called at TapEx). Their drinks are lush and enjoyable, but I always have to mix it in order for it not to melt. That’s with all places though, I believe.
My favorite foods from TapEx are the calamari and crispy chicken (both flavored mild). I get them either as a snack, or as a meal. If you get it as a meal, it comes with a salad, corn, rice, and an egg if you want. Also, there’s a black/​green tea for free, but if you want to upgrade to another drink, you must pay. I’ve always gotten this meal because that’s what I would get at the Convoy location. I don’t think the Convoy location has sisig fries though, and those are a must.