Eba Cafe

Eba Café no longer has their own space-​they have moved into the vastly underwhelming WikiWiki Hawaiian Grill in Suite #14!
Gone is the nice open sunny space they had, instead welcome to Meat Land w/​unappealing seating and AZ Bro-​Dawgs ordering some wings.
However, while the space suffers, and so does the ambiance, a lot of the same food offerings are there and the same friendly Boba Barista is there to make my delicious Green Tea Soy Taro w/​traditional Boba-​YUM. The quality of the drink has not suffered and I am grateful the owner found a way to keep operating during this economic downturn, and while WikiWiki is yawn worthy, I give them huge props for letting Eba move in, …even with the weird Perfect Strangers vibe.

Spending a lot of my childhood in Canada led to a quick obsession with boba tea.
However, in Arizona, a really good boba place is hard to come by but then I found Eba a few years ago. Their drinks are so refreshing and as good as you can possibly find in this area. Plus, the boba come out just right, not too hard or chewy, which seems to be a huge problem for some places. I recommend the almond milk tea with boba, which is my personal favorite.
I almost cried when I thought they went out of business after they closed their old location but they ended up relocating so go to this one and try it out!

I’m ashamed that I invited someone to come here with me for our first time.
I can get over the fact that it’s in a strip mall and that the décor leaves much to be desired. But their boba tea was awful. I had banana with boba bubbles. We ordered edamame (which was fine… pretty hard to screw that up… as I’m sure they had a frozen package of it ready to go) and tofu. The tofu was the worst I’ve ever had in my life. And again, the drinks were below sub par.
Maybe I’m just spoiled by the boba tea I had back in IL. But I didn’t think central Illinois was exactly a hot spot for asian treats. I would assume that Phoenix should have a better taste for those sorts of things. But based on Eba Café I’d say that’s false.
I would not recommend this to anyone. Hopefully there are other boba places. Or maybe I really ordered the wrong thing. I’m always open to suggestion and correction. In the mean time, I’ll go on thinking that this was a waste of my time and money!

I love this place but my waistline cannot afford frequent visits!
I love boba drinks in all forms and sizes! My favorite is a mango smoothie with lychee jelly. The small is enough for me… once I got the largest size and I swear I was ill from carb poisoning! hee hee
The last time I went, I had taro with boba and it was so good I wanted the large! but no… i stuck with the small.
i reserve a star because they don’t have spicy popcorn chicken! It’s the ultimate companion for boba!
My rec is go and be creative for a fruity, chewy, icy treat!

Being a total Asian bobaface in a generally boba-​deficient state, I adore this joint. The chocolate mint smoothie is always on my mind if I’m in the Tempe area or passing through on my way north. I dig my boba firm and chewy, so I always ask for the drink to be made extra icy to chill the little pelotas to ideal suppleness. Eba has a pretty large menu and will gladly do flavor combinations. They use the proper plastic seal on the tops of the cups so you can shake the living daylights out of the drink (as one should).
Also, Eba has free wi-​fi and is close to the airport; it’s our favorite pre-​flight stop to do a final check of email.

mmmm. boba! this is definitely one of the best boba places in phoenix. not like there are a ton of options.
the workers here are all SO SO SOOOOOOOOOO nice!
the coffee drinks are pretty good, the almond milk tea tastes like almond jello (this is a good thing for those of you not familiar w asian desserts), AND the boba is fresh, chewy, and not too sweet.

So, boba isn’t that novel if you’re from an area with a bigger Asian community. For me growing up and in college, boba was everywhere. I never really got into it, so I don’t have a seasoned boba palate, but I do know a good boba café when I see one and Eba is the real deal.
The little details here struck me as legit.
* The boba flavors and extras are extensive — probably about 50 or so different flavors and way to order. I opted for the vanilla green tea complete with little tapioca balls at the bottom, which satiated my (at the time) liquid diet.
* Hot food lunch offerings. When I met Gabi and other Unilocalers I noticed I could have even had a full-​on rice chicken curry lunch.
* But the icing on the cake was the karaōke set in the corner. Hellz YES, how authentically Asian — Karaōke when you’re sober! Oh the horror, good thing no one spiked my boba otherwise I would have been strutting on the table singing «Humpty Dance» by Digital Underground much to my and your dismay.
I’m liking you Eba. I’ll warn you next time so you have sufficient time to confiscate the aforementioned karaōke machine. I will be back.

Eba is awesome.
Praise jeebus boba is available in these parts, because there is often nothing more refreshing or fun than an ice cold bubble drink on a hot day. Or smoothie. Or smoothie with jelly. Or Thai tea. Or Thai tea with pudding. Almond, vanilla, soy, green tea, black tea, coffee… the list goes on. And don’t be scared of the black jelly snot balls (as some have endearingly called them). They’re optional, and there are many «less-​exotic» choices on the menu (like plain coffees, teas, and shakes) if you’re not that ready to venture into delicious bubble-​land.
You’ll have to make quite a few decisions to get started. But the prices are so reasonable and the staff so friendly, you won’t need to debate coming back again to try limitless combinations of all their drink offerings. They also have some food items: I noticed steamed pork buns, tofu dishes, edamame… perfect selections for light snacking or a small meal.
Me? I have my staple Almond Black Tea w/​boba. It tastes just right (what a relief!) and brings me back to memories of boba goodness in Hawaii, Australia, Japan, etc…
The owner had me at «boba» but made a great first impression as well: despite buzzing around, prepping drinks for a party of eight without skipping a beat, she came right over to the register when I approached and said, «I’ll be right with you.» Such a rare but appreciated courtesy these days! And when I picked up a business card, telling her that I wanted to keep their hours in my wallet, she laughed and said she «kinda lied» on the card when it says they open at 8am… it’s closer to 9am… she just can’t make it that early! I laughed and told her there was no way in hell she would ever see me getting boba at 8am anyway…
…and she bagged up my drinks, reminded me to get my straws, and told me to have a great day. Aw!
Eba is awesome.

It goes by many names. Boba tea, bubble tea… Well maybe just two names. It’s really the texture that’s more up for debate. Melty gelatinous gummy balls that are sproingy on the teeth is one way to describe it. Black phlegmatic chunks of mucous laden smokers lung is another. It’s all about perspective.
I happen to like the gooey little pearls that collect at the bottom of milky green tea, and Eba Café is the best place in the valley to indulge. They used to be located just north of ASU and I would pop in before classes, until one day they vanished without a trace. I was adrift without my convenient bubbly study break fare, but as fate would have it, I was stuck in gridlock on Broadway and what should mine eyes behold? A bright red «Eba» in a strip mall across from the dairy plant.
What a sweet reunion it was! Jelly goodness afloat in milky green or black tea with one of thirty-​some possible flavors added!
The black and green tea are traditional stand-​bys, but if you’re feeling daring, try the wintermelon tea. It has no sugar added but the natural sugar is so incredibly potent that I couldn’t finish a thimble full sample without experiencing the puckered, day-uuum-that’s-sweet face. After you’ve chosen your tea, try to narrow down the flavor additives, red bean is a solid choice but watermelon is my ultimate trump card. Mango, taro and honeydew are also pretty tasty. Then decide if you want some kind of gelatinous goop added to your drink. They have several different types including boba and coffee jellies, which I’ve heard are great in, well, coffee drinks.
Eba also has some light lunch and munch options if you feel like nibbling. I’ve had the green curry chicken bowl, which is earthy with a nice spice, but the accompanying rice was a little dried out. If you’re just there for a snack, try the brick toast with coconut. Delish! They also serve gelato, but between you and me, it looked kinda nast. Eba should just stick with what it does best, wicked good tea with lovely little snot balls.

We’ve got another first timer here!!!
I am just as shocked as the next person that after many years in Seattle, I had never had Bubble Tea. Gasp! You can get it almost as readily as Starbucks. I learned it’s also called Boba and maybe one other name. It’s all the same to me. Same-​same.
I had my first boba initiation at the recent Office Hours with Gabi. I was completely overwhelmed by the options presented to me: what type of chewies (for the record, that term just doesn’t seem right), base drink, optional flavorings, etc. It was a lot for this gal to handle. Luckily, Alica B. was at my side leading me down the boba path.
She helped me pick out a concoction of Thai iced tea and regular boba. Gotta start with the original boba, right? She ended up with a coffee drink with coffee jellies. I feel like I’m now «in the know» because she asked for the coffee jellies and even though they weren’t on the menu, they indeed had them. That’s a little insider’s tip from me to you. Wink wink. She was so excited I thought she was going to consider this woman the Patron Saint of Boba and commence worship on the spot.
I was surprised to find how incredibly filling boba is. I wasn’t hungry for hours! Overall, it was good. I don’t see myself craving boba, but if someone wants to go, then I’m in. I’ll check out the jellies in my next go round. If the craving is boba, I would definitely recommend this place!

Oh, what a wonderful feeling…
Picture this: A Young Woman moves from a city known for its Asian fare and bubble (boba) tea — only to discover her new Dessert Playland is devoid of her favorite sweet treat. We’re talkin’ about all types of bubble tea, including mixtures with different flavored jellies. We’re talking Boba Heaven. So, imagine the vast disappointed of said Young Woman when she realizes she’s traded her Asian District fare and Boba for Mexican Food Mecca and Horchata. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of this… except a world without boba is a sad, sad world.
Enter Eba.
When I stopped here the other day for the first time, I had very low expectations. I was imagining limited options. Oh? Boba Tea of only milk and tapioca? Bummer. Little did I know that Eba is the real deal.
I walked up to the register.
Me: «Do you have coffee jelly?»
Owner: «Yes.»
Me: «I love you!»
I jumped for joy.
I ordered an iced coffee latte with coffee jelly. Talk about a blast from the past I never thought I’d have again. (Let alone find in Phoenix!)
Eba is now — by far — one of my favorite places in Phoenix!

This was my first time trying boba, and it was delicious! Eba has an amazing selection of drinks (and ways to prepare them). I decided on tea+soymilk, boba with coconut flavor. Mmmm! It was sweet and creamy and wonderful.
The café itself is bright and welcoming. I joined several other Unilocalers there for Office Hours and we lounged on comfy couches. In addition to food they sell a selection of gifty items too.
Is it sad to admit that I craved MORE later that day? Yeah, that’s right… if this place wasn’t so far from my house, I might have gone back for seconds.

I don’t like boba. Every time I’m around a boba place, I tend to give it yet another shot, convinced that somehow I should like it. I’m finally coming to terms with the fact that I just don’t like it. I’m the texture-​oriented type and boba throws me off in the same way oysters and gummy bears do. This probably makes me sound crazy.
Without scheduled Unilocal Office Hours, I never would have been drawn to Eba Café. I’m grateful that I was, though, because I enjoyed the iced green tea with ginseng enough to go back and get a second cup, the second sans boba.
I picked up a chicken wonton soup. The portion was huge and I was unable to eat more than half. The wontons were great, but it was fairly average The menu is small but varied and likely has something for everyone. I’d have to check out other items to give it more than three stars.
The vibe is laid back and friendly, but very much «not my style». Unless someone pulls me by, I probably won’t drop by on my own due to the location, but this is a nice and inviting shop that I’d highly recommend.

This was my first time for Boba! YAY BOBA!
It was surprisingly good! I ordered a green tea with milk and sugar syrup with regular boba… I Loved the flavor of the tea and the boba was cool, chewy like a gummy bear but doesn’t stick to your teeth.
Cute and comfy atmosphere with a ton of different ways to order your boba. They also have a small food menu which I didn’t look at but saw what people were eating and it looked pretty good.
And if you’ve gotten a little tipsy after all your Boba drinking they even have a karaōke machine!
I can’t wait to go back!

I met Gabi et al for Office Hours and it was a nice start to the day. When I lived in Boston I would go into Chinatown for Boba… I have to say that Eba was much more generous with the Bobas than they are in Chinatown in Boston!
However, as far as the tea part went I thought my tea was entirely too sweet (passion fruit)…I mean there should be a slight flavor to it but this was very sweet. I plan to try more flavors however so I will be sure to update on those. They do have a ton of options though so there is plenty of room to explore. I didn’t realize until after I ordered that they have shave ice! I loooove shave ice. Its definitely another item on the list to try at a later date.
Eba is located in the strip mall that has Fast Signs in it in case you drive right by like I did and didn’t even see it… I’m not sure it has a large sign on the storefront.
One of the big drawbacks for me is that Eba doesn’t open until 9am. I would love to be able to stop there before my summer classes to pick up a drink but with a 9am opening time its just not possible.

After reading all of the 5 star Unilocal reviews that came before mine, I knew I would like this place! I was looking for the best place to get my boba fix, and I think I found it!
This was only my 2^nd boba experience ever… I went with the green tea + soymilk boba; it was really good — not too sweet and just enough of the «chewies» as Amy D calls them or «gummy bear consistency balls» as several others referred to them!
Eba has a welcoming atmosphere and Susie (the owner) was sweet as can be… with free wireless and plenty of other snacks to choose from, you cannot go wrong.
I’ll be back for sure to try some of the other chewable additions and flavored drinks. For the health conscious, I noticed you can add protein to your smoothies and order your boba sugarless too! Gotta love Eba Café! FYI — Eba is located in a strip mall, I never would’ve noticed it if I didn’t know about it from Unilocal

Eba café is amazing. The boba tea here is some of the best I’ve had, and it’s so reasonably priced. I also love that they take cards! It seems every other little asian tea house takes cash only, and who the hell carries cash on them? They have a large menu of food, as well as tons of different drink options. They also sell gelato, lots of little random knickknack items, and Eba clothing. Oh — another great plus, they have punch cards! The perfect way to reward all of us boba addicts.
Anyhow, this place is great. It’s laid back, they have better hours (then that «other» boba place ;)), and the owner (?) is super friendly. Not to mention it’s even CLOSER to my place than that «other» boba place. Yay!
*If you are unaware of the «other» boba place, feel free to check out my Lollicup review (s). Support Eba!!!

YAY, BOBA! I lived in the Korea Town area of Los Angeles for 2.5 years and loved it. While there I developed a serious Boba addiction, thanks in part to the fact there was a great Boba spot on every corner… literally. Phoenix area… not so much. In fact, after moving here and seeing how things were as far as diversity, I figured my Boba days were over.
Enter Eba. My life is changed. Not only are their teas great, the price is right… $ 2.97 for a 24oz, plus staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I recommend the Thai tea w/​Boba or the Red Bean with Boba.
Ok, here’s the best part which separates this place from every other Boba spot in the East side… SOY MILK. Yes, they have soy milk and don’t charge extra for it! Awesome.

OMG!!! I CRAVE boba. Whenever I go visit my sister in the OC, we go everyday. I have been looking for one since my last visit, Thanksgiving.
I walked into Eba and found… HOME! I was so excited I nearly peed my pants!
They have a huge selection of drinks… tea, iced tea, milk and tea, etc. You can choose either green or black tea. Then, there is a wide range of «chewies» to add. I, of course, go the boba. I think I said «boba» at least a dozen times in there. The entire time I am there, I’m on the phone with my sister, asking her what I order out there.
So, I ordered two of the biggest chocolate-​black tea-​and-​milk boba.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I am playing Powerball today. This has to be a good sign!

I am a coffee snob.
At first I was put off by this place because of the lack of any décor or «coffee shop» feel. There is a huge bar, and a couple of couches, but it lacked the usual university students hanging out with their laptops and books. (Probably because of the summer, and distance from the university).
However, the woman at the counter was super friendly and ended up serving me the best coffee I have had in Tempe so far. Bubble Tea is their most popular drink here, but they also have ice cream, fappes, and espresso drinks.
They have only been open for 5 months (they had a different location before) but they have the drinks down pat.
EDIT: I noticed the other day that the espresso machine they use was a super-​automatic. That really surprised me because usually that is a signal for «run, the coffee will be bad.» Still, the coffee is good. A little on the sweet side for an iced latte with an extra shot, and just a little flavor. But everyone of my friends who have tried it have loved it.
I am also pretty sure the soy is free there: D yay.
So I guess the espresso must just be really good quality there if it can go through a super automatic and come out pretty good. I will keep looking for the best iced soy latte in town but so far this is my pick.