Tapioca Express

RIP tapex :(

What? They seriously closed? This was the best boba in town, with wifi, friendly service, and comfy seating as perks. Granted, they left green bean on the menu sign even after discontinuing it… let’s face it, in a predominantly caucasian neighborhood your clientele will assume you’re talking about the vegetable and not azuki’s mung cousin. Best red bean milk tea boba I’d had since leaving LA, though you weren’t always going to get it made the same way twice. Depending on who was working, one would let the red beans swirl in with the boba, another would blend the beans into a nice shake. Off days on the tapioca bubbles were few and far between. Maybe they were hoping too hard for the food menu to work out?

Was around the area today and walked over to find out that the place was empty as in no signs, no chairs, no nothin’. Apparently they shut down this month. Haha did anyone see this coming? With all their bad customer service and whatnot: P

I frequent this place often because I actually like their tapioca. And by «like their tapioca» I mean it was definitely better than the stuff Lollicup makes.
Whatever the case, though, my real qualms lie with the lack-​luster customer service. There have been countless times during my 4 year college career at UOP where I walk in to find no one at the counter. Lord knows how many times I had to grudgingly stomp out of TapEx muttering to myself that I will never come back… lot of good that did lol.
Sometimes, though, when the employees do make it out of the kitchen giggling, they have that embarrassed look on their face like they were caught doing something they shouldn’t have been doing. For instance, making out with one another because that hickey on your neck is screaming at my face «LOOK AT ME!». I am definitely convinced that their employees date one another.
Other times when they aren’t fooling around they sit on the lounge chair when you first enter on the right or sit outside smoking with their buddies. How professional. Then as I stand at the register waiting to order they look at me (still sitting on their butts) as if I’m bothering them. What do these clowns get paid for anyways?
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–3 Stars for incompetent service
*2 Stars out of 5*

This place is fine. There may be better place out there but I haven’t been to them.
Boba consistency? I don’t know the different viewpoints on that one– it all tastes like plain Gummy Bears to me. Which is good. Chewy, not chewy, soft, not soft, clustered, not clustered. I don’t really care. It’s always been fine to me.
The only problem I have is that a lot of the snow bubble flavors are WAY too sweet. I usually ask them to put half the amount of syrup in whatever drink I get– then it’s perfect. Even if I have to sound like some high-​maintenance drink snob.
And they need to keep a better stock of red beans. 80% of the time I go in there they’re out of it. If it’s that popular, order more!

over priced! lollicup is way better and you dont need to buy that many drinks to get a free one!

Been here once, so can’t say my review will help much. I forgot what I ordered but I remember the drink was alright. Kind of just darted in there and sped right out after I got my order.

Breaking it down: Awful tapioca. Rude service.
I went in for a milk tea. I had to wait for the cashier to finish his conversation with a friend at one of the tables before he’d walk around to the other side to take my order. I asked to sample the tapioca– I like to see if I’d like it before committing to an entire drink of the stuff. I decided against adding the tapioca to my drink and the cashier sneers, «What, sorry it was disgusting.» Well, Tapioca Express Cashier Guy, sorry you just lost a ton of business. And yeah, you’re right– the tapioca really was disgusting.

Why can’t someone open a decent tea house in Stockton?! I’m sick of the limp boba and too sweet milk tea. Oh how I long for Q-​Cup or Fantasia Tea House in the Bay Area!
Yeah I guess for Stockton this place is decent but not when you compare it to tea houses in Sacramento or San Jose.

This is the first place on the West coast that I’ve ever had bubble tea. My husband and I go there when we need an afternoon pick-​me-​up/​snack. Better than coffee, or ice cream, because it doesn’t come with the guilt of all those extra calories.
As far as the tapioca/​boba goes, I think it depends on your preferences. I like the softer less chewy, and my husband prefers the chewy. We’ve gotten it both ways before here. I haven’t had a problem with the bobas sticking together.
I like the atmosphere, the service is friendly, preparation quick, and there is never any long lines. I also love the vast selection! I just wish they had fruit smoothies options, like in the East coast.

**½ Stars.
Tapioca Balls were toooo squishy, as a reviewer liked to describe boba. Needed a little more stiffness. Probably caused by over-​cooking. Eventually you’ll get a whole mess-of-‘em just sticking together at the bottom of your drink. YECHH! No matter how good the drink tastes, you’ll eventually get to the boba…
As a politician said once… «It’s the BALLS, stupid!»

Out of the places that offer boba, tapioca, bubble teas in Stockton, this is my favorite place.
I stopped in here today after grocery shopping. Because I deserved a little treat. I’m good like that… treating myself for any reason I can think of.
This place is always sparkling clean. Service is always efficient and polite.
Don’t visit after school gets out. You’ll be ‘fer shur’ stuck in line, for like, fucking ever.

Boba & Pearl Teas in a myriad of flavors. The list of flavors is almost overwhelming. It’s a great alternative to ice cream if you’re not afraid of sqooshy tapioca balls :)