Highlights
- Great tea selection
oChef » Poppy Boba – San Diego
Poppy Boba - San Diego
Photo from Poppy Boba
Poppy Boba at a glance
San Diego Mesa College Area
- 🍜 Taiwanese Restaurant
$
Price per Person $1–$10
mentioned by 36 of the guests
#380 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#4 Taiwanese Restaurant out of 5 in San Diego
Good
7.3 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
320
Reviews
71.3%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Boba quality
- Quick service
- Cute ambiance
Frequently criticized
- High prices
- Inconsistent hours
- Food quality issues
The cafĂ©, Poppy Boba, is a charming Taiwanese restaurant nestled in San Diego’s vibrant Mesa College Area. You’ll discover a true gem here, especially if you appreciate a fantastic beverage experience.
This spot is celebrated for its great tea selection, offering a refreshing escape. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere to enjoy authentic Taiwanese flavors and expertly crafted drinks.
Overview: Introducting Poppy Boba
Poppy Boba offers a delightful experience with its unique beverages, particularly the homemade boba that many appreciate. The friendly staff often makes for a pleasant interaction, and the cute spot itself adds to the charm, making it a convenient stop for many.
However, some find the offerings to be on the expensive side , questioning the overall value. There have also been occasional concerns regarding inconsistent hours and some quality issues with certain drinks, which can be a point of frustration for patrons.
Good
7.3
out of 10
320
Reviews
71.3%
Satisfaction
73
negative
19
neutral
228
positive
Poppy Boba generally earns a respectable 7.3 overall score, reflecting a good experience for many. Customer satisfaction stands at 71.3%, indicating that a solid majority of visitors leave content.
This assessment is drawn from 320 customer remarks, with 228 positive observations outweighing 73 negative ones, suggesting a generally favorable perception. Delving deeper, the Food (7.3) and Service (7.7) aspects are particularly well-regarded, with staff often noted for their friendliness.
The Ambience (7.1) also contributes positively to the overall visit. However, the Value (5.7) aspect presents a more mixed picture, suggesting that while quality is appreciated, some find the pricing a bit steep.
What people like
- Homemade boba quality
- Friendly, quick service
- Charming, clean spot
What people don't like
- High drink prices
- Inconsistent operating hours
- Inconsistent food quality
Poppy Boba presents a generally positive experience, particularly if you’re seeking well-crafted beverages and efficient service in a pleasant setting. With a solid recommendation score of 7.5, it’s certainly a place to consider for a quick and satisfying stop, especially for those who appreciate fresh ingredients.
However, be mindful of the pricing, as some items can feel a bit steep, and check their operating hours before you go to avoid disappointment. If these aspects align with your expectations, Poppy Boba offers a worthwhile visit for its core offerings.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Poppy Boba
Food (7.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 95% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot generally hits the mark, boasting a 7.3 score and a 73.4% customer satisfaction. With 149 positive remarks out of 203 total, many rave about the homemade boba, delicious food, and clean ingredients. Guests appreciate the fresh quality, variety of teas, and customizable options, making for a delightful experience.
However, not every bite is perfect, as 45 negative comments point to some areas for improvement. Concerns include chalky or gritty texture in some drinks, issues with items being too sweet, and inconsistent taste across visits. Some also noted warm ice and general quality issues, suggesting a mixed bag for certain items.
Food
203
Reviews
73%
Satisfaction
45
negative
9
neutral
149
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Homemade boba praised
- Delicious food variety
- Fresh, clean ingredients
What people don't like
- Inconsistent drink quality
- Chalky, gritty textures
- Overly sweet drinks
Often praised
- bobamake their boba from scratch and they do it so well with no artificial ingredients!
- drinksGood drinks but definitely on the expensive side
- Vietnamese coffeeMy experience at this restaurant was a MUST TRY! I have been dreaming of their homemade boba and perfectly prepared Vietnamese coffee. I stopped by while on work in the area and I am going to need to start inventing reasons to make the drive to RB just to get more of their ambrosia!
- banh miI really enjoyed the banh mi here.
- brown sugar bobaI enjoyed the delicious bao and boba. Specifically, I had the chicken bao buns and a cold brew jasmine tea with brown sugar boba. The service was friendly, and the environment was super clean.
- Thai TanicTheir Thai Tanic with coconut milk, boba, and egg custard is amazing
- chicken baoBao + Boba = Profit! The pork bao is the Vietnamese-style, and the chicken bao is Chinese-BBQ style. However, the breakfast bao is an amazing fusion food, featuring a hot breakfast burrito filling with melty cheese sauce, all surrounded by a biscuit-like bao bread.
- foodtheir food is so delicious
- food optionsthe food options were delicious
- homemade bobatheir homemade boba is amazing!!
Frequently criticized
- bobaI ordered an avocado and black sesame smoothie, but I couldn't taste any avocado flavor, and the drink itself was very mediocre. The boba was still hard in the middle. The drink was approximately 22 oz and cost $7.
- milk teaIt barely tastes anything like milk tea.
- Grilled Chicken Banh Minoticed mold on the bread
- Taro drinkTaro isnt good. It came with ice but tastes warm and gritty like I’m drinking a sandy sweetened goop.
- avocado flavorcouldn’t taste any avocado flavor
- banh mifound a long light colored hair inside it
- blended taro drinkblended taro drink with boba and it was awful
- boba drinkboba drink we ordered tasted just like sweet water with minimal flavor
- chalkymuch too chalky
- cupsThe cups are long and narrow
If you're seeking a place with genuinely homemade boba and delicious food made with clean ingredients, this spot is definitely worth a try. Just be mindful that some drinks might have inconsistent quality or be overly sweet, so you might need to find your perfect order.
Service (7.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 70% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot generally hits the mark! With a solid score of 7.7 and customer satisfaction at 74.1%, it's clear that many appreciate the experience. Out of 81 opinions, 60 rave about the super friendly and accommodating staff, often highlighting the fast service and convenient drive-thru.
However, not every interaction is perfect, with 16 negative opinions pointing out areas for improvement. Some customers have faced frustration with incorrect online hours, occasional long wait times, and a few instances of unprofessional staff or orders not being quite right.
Service
81
Reviews
74%
Satisfaction
16
negative
5
neutral
60
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, accommodating staff
- Fast, convenient service
- Efficient drive-thru
What people don't like
- Inaccurate operating hours
- Occasional long waits
- Order errors
Often praised
- staffI love this friendly place for tea and fruit drinks with Boba. The drive-thru is quick, and the staff is always friendly. I often pass other Boba places because I'm in too much of a hurry to park and go inside, or the parking lot is not easy to navigate.
- serviceThe banh mi was also delicious. The staff were super friendly and the service was very fast.
- customer serviceGreat customer service and really friendly staff
- catering needsPeople were even hoarding them. I highly recommend working with them for your catering needs.
- drive-thruI love this friendly place for tea and fruit drinks with Boba. The drive-thru is quick, and the staff is always friendly. I often pass other Boba places because I'm in too much of a hurry to park and go inside, or the parking lot is not easy to navigate.
- friendly staffreally friendly staff
- ownerYen (the owner) is so sweet and cares about the ingredients
- waitI might ask them to cut the grass jelly into smaller bits next time for easier straw access. We didn't have to wait long, and there was ample parking. It's very well planned.
- attention to detailVery much appreciate the attention to detail
- awesome and accommodatingthey were so awesome and accommodating to work with
Frequently criticized
- drive thrusat in the drive thru over 5 minutes
- employeesThe employees do not know what they are doing most of the time.
- girl working theregirl working there rather be on the phone texting than helping customers
- hoursThis is our favorite Boba shop, and the staff are so sweet! Just knocking a star because there have been numerous instances where they should have been open but weren't. It would help if hours were correctly reflected online.
- hours onlineJust knocking a star because there have been numerous instances where they should have been open but weren't. It would help if hours were correctly reflected online.
- opening hoursconfused by this place. Google said they opened early
- orderI placed my order online and then waited 30 minutes. After leaving, I realized that my order wasn’t even right! It was totally not worth it, and I want a refund.
- order anythingI didn’t get to order anything
- othersIdk what the others are doing but on at least 5 different occasions I had to throw it out
- owner's responsesthe same spiel every time going on about how the menu is all natural
Overall, if you're looking for a place with generally friendly and efficient service, especially for a quick drive-thru experience, this spot is worth checking out. Just be mindful of potential inconsistencies with operating hours or occasional longer waits during busy times.
Ambience (7.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 19% of the guests
Hey there! When it comes to ambience, this spot has some real charm. Many folks absolutely adore this place, calling it a friendly place with a cool concept and a super clean environment.
Its often described as a cute spot and an adorable kiosk. With 9 positive remarks out of 14 total, its clear that the vibe is generally well-received, contributing to a good score of 7.1. However, its not all sunshine and boba.
A few customers (3 mentions) pointed out some practical downsides. The lack of a no restroom is a definite concern for some, and the parking lot can be pure pandemonium. Others noted that it lacks the ambience and seating' found in more established boba places, leading to a mixed customer satisfaction of 64.3%.
Ambience
14
Reviews
64%
Satisfaction
3
negative
2
neutral
9
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Cute, clean spot
- Cool concept
- Friendly vibe
What people don't like
- No restroom
- Parking issues
- Limited seating
Often praised
- conceptthe concept of this boba shop is cool
- Boba ShopMy experience at this restaurant was with the cutest and smallest little Boba Shop I've found. It's like a little fish bowl located off to the side in a grocery shop's parking lot.
- adorable kioskI love the adorable kiosk
- close to my Housesuper close to my House
- cute spotSuper cute spot right in the heart of Rancho Bernardo
- friendly placelove this friendly place
- spotReally cute spot though
- super clean environmentsuper clean environment
Frequently criticized
- ambience and seatingcompared to good boba places with ambience and seating
- no restroomNo restoom at this place!
- parking lotParking lot is pure pandemonium
If youre looking for a quick, adorable, and clean boba stop, especially if youre nearby, this place is worth a visit. Just be prepared for potential parking challenges and know there isnt a restroom on site. Its a charming grab-and-go spot, not a lounge.
Value (5.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 22% of the guests
Youll find quite a few folks raving about the "value for the price" here, with many feeling its worth it and offering straightforward pricing. They often mention a good price for what you receive. With 10 positive remarks out of 22 total, its clear many customers walk away feeling satisfied, contributing to an overall customer satisfaction of 45.5%.
However, not everyone agrees, as there are 9 negative comments suggesting some items are "overpriced" or "on the expensive side. " Some felt their purchase was "not worth it, " citing concerns about the "total cost" or specific "drink price" being too high. This mixed feedback results in an average score of 5.7, indicating theres definitely room for improvement in consistency.
Value
22
Reviews
45%
Satisfaction
9
negative
3
neutral
10
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great value
- Reasonable pricing
- Worth the cost
What people don't like
- Overpriced items
- Not worth it
- Expensive drinks
Often praised
- priceYou might think their price is not cheap but when you know what do they use for your drinks, you will agree it is totally worthy.
- Banh Mi pricethe Banh Mi was $10
- drink priceThe highlight for me was definitely the pricing. The Banh Mi was only $10, and the drink was about $5, which I found to be excellent value. The food was delicious, and the prices made it even better.
- good pricegood price
- pricessuper well priced
- pricingThe highlight is definitely the pricing
- straightforward pricingproviding straightforward pricing
- value for the priceGreat value for the price!
- worth itbut still worth it
Frequently criticized
- drink pricethe drink I got was expensive
- expensive sidedefinitely on the expensive side
- menu pricesthe prices on the menu at the time were not updated!
- overhead costsoverhead costs shouldn’t be that much compared to a shop!
- pricesIt is overpriced others have mentioned.
- purchaseNot worth a $22 purchase
- topping costThe topping cost ($1.00) is a bit on the higher side
- total costit costs $7.35 ... So it came out to be $9 after tax!
- worth itAfter leaving, I realized that my order wasn’t even right! It was totally not worth it, and I want a refund.
If youre seeking good value, this spot can be a hit, especially for its core offerings. However, keep an eye on specific drink prices or extra toppings, as some found these to be on the expensive side. Its worth trying if you're selective, but be aware that not every item might feel like a steal.
How are the prices at Poppy Boba?
Expect to pay about 10 per person, based on 36 reviews. That places it in the $1–$10 category. For a Taiwanese Restaurant, it’s quite budget-friendly.
Most guests find their meals within this $1–$10 range, though a few choices might push the bill a little higher.
This chart shows what people usually spend per person, using the 36 most recent reviews.
See how this restaurant’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing here feels very fair for a Taiwanese spot in San Diego. It offers good value without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Poppy Boba
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
9
Sweet Owner & Delicious Taro Ube Drink!
My experience here was wonderful! Yen, the owner, is incredibly sweet and genuinely cares about the ingredients used in your drink. I tried the taro drink and loved the added texture from the ube (purple sweet potato).
It's great knowing I don't have to worry about preservatives đź’•.
- owner10
- taro9
- ube9
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
6
New Ownership, Same Location
This place has undergone a change in ownership. While it was previously marked as permanently closed, it appears to be open again. Driving by, the 'open' sign is on, indicating a new company has taken over the spot, though the exterior hasn't been updated yet.
The menu is currently limited, but there are plans for expansion. I see this coupon showing up as permanently closed and now open again. If you drive by you will see that the open sign is on, another company has taken over this spot and they just haven't updated the outside of the building yet.
Menu is limited, but they plan on expanding.
- menu5
- ownership5
- outside of the building5
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
10
Outstanding Catering for Our Wedding!
I highly recommend Poppy Boba for any catering needs! I worked with them for my wedding reception this past November, and the drinks and snacks were a huge hit. We ordered a variety of drinks and snacks, and everything went smoothly without any major issues.
The owner was incredibly communicative, responding quickly and providing straightforward pricing. She went above and beyond by adjusting the sweetness and adding extra lychee flavor to the "I, Really Lychee You" drink after our initial tasting. While we didn’t get to try the nem nuong musubi beforehand, we’re so glad we trusted her recommendation—they disappeared within minutes!
Thank you, Poppy Boba, for being part of our special day and for your outstanding customer service!
- drinks and snacks9
- straightforward pricing8
- outstanding customer service10
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
7
Favorite Boba Spot with Inconsistent Hours
This is our favorite Boba shop, and the staff are so sweet! Just knocking a star because there have been numerous instances where they should have been open but weren't. It would help if hours were correctly reflected online.
- staff9
- hours3
- hours online3
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
9
Tasty Banh Mi and Great Prices!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I had a really tasty Banh Mi and a refreshing drink. The highlight for me was definitely the pricing.
The Banh Mi was only $10, and the drink was about $5, which I found to be excellent value. The food was delicious, and the prices made it even better.
- Banh Mi9
- drinks8
- pricing10
What Poppy Boba offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Crowd
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Curbside pickup
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
FAQs
What service options does Poppy Boba Cafe offer?
At Poppy Boba Cafe, you can choose from a variety of convenient service options including no-contact delivery, onsite services, takeout, curbside pickup, dine-in, and standard delivery.
Is Poppy Boba Cafe accessible and does it have parking?
Yes, Poppy Boba Cafe is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot. You’ll also find free street parking and a free parking lot available.
What is the overall rating for Poppy Boba?
Poppy Boba has an overall score of **7.3** and a customer satisfaction rate of **71.3%**. Its **Food** (7.3), **Service** (7.7), and **Ambience** (7.1) are rated well, while **Value** (5.7) is considered average.
What do customers particularly enjoy about Poppy Boba?
Customers often highlight the homemade boba and other delicious food items like banh mi. The friendly staff and quick drive-thru service are also frequently mentioned as positive aspects.
What are some common concerns at Poppy Boba?
Some patrons note that drinks can be on the expensive side , and there have been instances of inconsistent hours . Occasional issues with food quality, such as hard boba or specific drink flavors, have also been mentioned.