Highlights
- Great tea selection
oChef » Urban Bubble – San Diego
Urban Bubble - San Diego
Photo from Urban Bubble
Urban Bubble at a glance
San Diego Kearny Mesa
- 🍜 Taiwanese Restaurant
$
Price per Person $1–$10
mentioned by 32 of the guests
#583 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#5 Taiwanese Restaurant out of 5 in San Diego
Good
6.2 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
273
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious drinks
- Cozy atmosphere
Frequently criticized
- Slow service
- Limited parking
The restaurant Urban Bubble in San Diego’s vibrant Kearny Mesa neighborhood offers an authentic Taiwanese dining experience. You’ll discover a truly impressive and great tea selection here, perfect for complementing your meal or enjoying on its own.
This spot is a must-visit for anyone craving delicious Taiwanese cuisine in the area.
Overview: Introducting Urban Bubble
Urban Bubble offers a mixed experience, with many appreciating its delightful beverages and inviting atmosphere. However, some visits are hampered by service inconsistencies and occasional operational hiccups.
The overall impression leans towards a pleasant, if sometimes uneven, outing. Customers often praise the staff for their kindness and the quick orders, yet others have noted issues with customer service at self-service screens and general disorganization.
The value proposition, including various deals, generally resonates well with patrons.
Good
6.2
out of 10
273
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
95
negative
25
neutral
153
positive
Urban Bubble earns an overall score of 6.2, placing it squarely in the average category. Customer satisfaction stands at 56%, indicating a mixed reception among its patrons.
This assessment is drawn from a substantial pool of 273 customer observations, with 153 positive remarks and 95 negative ones. The Food (6.6) is a clear strong point, frequently praised for its quality and variety.
The Ambience (7.1) also receives high marks, contributing positively to the dining experience. However, the Value (5.9) is considered average, and Service (4.7) appears to be an area needing attention, often cited for slow delivery and occasional disorganization.
What people like
- Delicious drinks
- Cozy atmosphere
- Reasonable pricing
What people don't like
- Slow service
- Limited parking
- Poor cleanliness
With a recommendation score of 6.5, Urban Bubble presents itself as a place worth considering, particularly if you prioritize tasty beverages and a pleasant setting. It’s a solid choice for a casual visit, especially if you catch one of their promotions.
However, be prepared for potential service delays and parking challenges, which might detract from the experience. If you value efficiency and pristine facilities above all else, you might find aspects of Urban Bubble less appealing.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Urban Bubble
Food (6.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 88% of the guests
Many customers rave about the delicious and unique flavors, especially the creative bubble teas and specialty drinks like the Urban milk tea and mango yogurt. The fried corn dogs and other food items like popcorn chicken also get a thumbs up for being yummy and satisfying. With 94 positive remarks out of 149 total, theres a lot to love, contributing to an average score of 6.6 and a mixed customer satisfaction of 63.1%.
However, some experiences highlight areas for improvement, with 42 negative comments noted. Concerns include drinks being unexpectedly very sweet, issues with raw boba, and a perceived decline in the quality of certain items like the Crème brûlée and matcha lattes, which were sometimes described as a clumpy, bitter mess'.
Food
149
Reviews
63%
Satisfaction
42
negative
13
neutral
94
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Creative drink options
- Delicious boba drinks
- Tasty corn dogs
What people don't like
- Overly sweet drinks
- Inconsistent boba texture
- Poor matcha quality
Often praised
- drinksThe owner's personal touch, remembering my name, made me feel incredibly welcome. The food was awesome, and even the drinks were fantastic. What stood out most was the reasonable price, making it a great value.
- foodThe food is high quality and delicious.
- Taro BubbleTheir blended drinks are especially delicious. Our favorites are the Strawberry Love & Taro Bubble. Definitely recommend stopping by here for a tasty & refreshing drink!
- Strawberry LoveOur favs are the Strawberry Love
- Urban Milk TeaUrban Milk Tea and Taro Bubble were very good
- hotdogsThe hotdogs were fresh and hot.
- mango yogurtI tried their Urban milk tea, which features crème brûlée and brown sugar, and it was absolutely delicious – chef's kiss! I also enjoyed their mango yogurt, blended with cheese cream and Greek yogurt; it was also amazing. I loved the interior, decorations, lighting, and logo.
- 50% sugarI would definitely recommend the Strawberry Love and Urban Milk Tea. I suggest getting 50% sugar for everything.
- 50% sweetThe chocolate bubble and the Mango sago drinks were good (50% sweet)
- Blended Thai teaBlended Thai tea tastes great
Frequently criticized
- bobaMy experience was disappointing because the restaurant forgot to put boba in my drink. I didn't realize this until 15 minutes later.
- drinkdidn’t look or taste like the original matcha latte
- Matcha latteMatcha latte, and it ended up being a disaster!
- drinksThe drinks are meh. The taste does not match the fancy names
- manduthey were covered in old bay seasoning
- matcha latteordered a matcha latte and got a clumpy, bitter mess
- milk teaI only give 4 stars because the drinks are unexpectedly very sweet by default as compared to other boba shops. My friends and I tried a blended drink, a fruit tea, and a milk tea, and all were very very sweet. If you don't want a sugar rush, go for 50% sweetness or below as even 75% was a little much for me.
- Bubble Wafflehoping for a Bubble Waffle
- Crème brûléeEspecially the Crème brûlée. The cream used to have roasted top now it’s just super watered down.
- Matcha to milk ratioThe ratio of matcha to milk was not respected.
If youre looking for creative bubble teas and tasty corn dogs, this spot offers some delightful options, especially if you specify your sweetness level. However, be mindful of potential inconsistencies in drink quality and sweetness, particularly with certain specialty items. Its worth a try for the unique flavors, but manage expectations for some of the more complex drinks.
Service (4.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 62% of the guests
When it comes to service, youll find some bright spots! Many customers rave about the friendly staff and quick order kiosk experience, with orders often coming out quickly. Out of 69 total opinions, 23 were positive, highlighting great customer service.
While the overall score is an average 4.7, theres definitely a positive vibe from those who had good interactions. However, the picture isn't entirely rosy, with 40 negative opinions indicating significant room for improvement, reflected in a poor 33.3% customer satisfaction. Issues like ignorant staff, long waiting times, and an inefficient and disorganized approach, sometimes due to being understaffed, frequently pop up.
It seems consistency is a major challenge here.
Service
69
Reviews
33%
Satisfaction
40
negative
6
neutral
23
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Quick orders
- Helpful employees
What people don't like
- Long waiting times
- Inefficient staff
- Poor customer service
Often praised
- staffStaff was good at explaining what ingredients would go well together.
- customer serviceMy experience at the restaurant was great, primarily due to the awesome customer service. Lini took my order and she was very kind and sweet.
- service10/10 service, very swift and responsive
- workersthe workers did remake the drink, which we were thankful for
- Linishe was very kind and sweet
- LouisLouis is super friendly and patiently explained
- Orders come out quicklyOrders come out quickly
- ServiceService:5
- lady in the frontthe lady in the fromt made another drink for us no questions asked
- machinesCan order via the machines
Frequently criticized
- customer serviceMy experience began with being directed to the self-service screens immediately upon entering, despite being the only customer and seeing multiple employees. The screens were not immediately visible, which was an annoying lack of customer service. This was compounded by the audacity to ask for a tip on the self-service screen.
- serviceAs a cook myself, I found the service to be very slow. There were only three people working, and I witnessed two errors during the time I was waiting for my order.
- staffthe staff insisted it was the same drink and gave me attitude
- waiting timeAs a cook myself, I found the service to be very slow. There were only three people working, and I witnessed two errors during the time I was waiting for my order.
- waitI waited about 5-10 minutes until it was since the shop looked busy.
- attitudegave me attitude instead of trying to fix the issue
- business hoursbusiness hours posted on Google Map but they were closed
- busy and disorganizedThey were so inefficient and disorganized, wasting most of their time walking around, grabbing items, and chatting. This was not even a busy time, yet they managed to be so busy and disorganized.
- clerksWatching three clerks taking orders, making drinks, and rinsing blenders was a chaotic show. They were so inefficient and disorganized, wasting most of their time walking around, grabbing items, and chatting.
- delivery appordered 12 bobas ... through a delivery app
If youre looking for quick, friendly service, you might get lucky, but be prepared for potential delays and disorganization. Its a bit of a gamble, so manage your expectations, especially if you're in a hurry.
Ambience (7.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 37% of the guests
When it comes to ambience, this spot generally hits the mark with a 7.1 score, which is quite good! While customer satisfaction sits at a mixed 69%, many patrons appreciate the vibe. Based on 42 total comments, with 29 positive remarks, guests often praise the tasteful interior, great dining space, and overall atmosphere.
Many find it a cute, cozy place with engaging music and plenty of seating options. However, not all experiences are glowing, with 9 negative comments highlighting some areas for improvement. The most frequent concern revolves around limited and tricky parking.
Some visitors also noted issues with cleanliness, mentioning dirty windows, tables, and even wilted plants, alongside a messy bathroom. These points suggest that while the core atmosphere is appealing, maintenance and accessibility could use a boost.
Ambience
42
Reviews
69%
Satisfaction
9
negative
4
neutral
29
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Tasteful interior decor
- Fun, engaging atmosphere
- Plenty of seating options
What people don't like
- Limited, tricky parking
- Cleanliness issues
- Wilted plants
Often praised
- atmosphereMy experience at this restaurant was marked by great drinks and a very busy atmosphere. The menu is expansive, so it's advisable to know what you want before ordering.
- interiorI love their interior
- seatingShe felt her topping wasn't flavorful and would have preferred something else. On the positive side, the environment is fun, the music is engaging, and there's lots of seating, making it a good spot for a quick study session. However, the place felt poorly ran.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- bright and sunny roomThe bright and sunny room is crowded with patrons
- chill placeVery chill place
- cute & cozy placeIt's a cute & cozy place
- cute designI like the cute design of their cups
- cute spotThis is a really cute spot with yummy food! The rice cakes are really good.
- decorGood decor
Frequently criticized
- parkingParking here has got to be my biggest complaint. Smallest parking lot and spaces are more compact
- bathroomThe windows were dirty, the tables were dirty, and all the plants were wilted and dying. The bathroom was messy and dirty. I would consider coming back to try a different drink, but I hope the place is better maintained next time.
- limited parkingParking is limited
- parking lotThe parking lot is really small and tight.
- plantsall the plants were wilted and dying
- tablesdirty tables
- windowsdirty windows
If youre looking for a place with a generally good atmosphere and plenty of seating, its worth checking out. Just be prepared for potentially challenging parking and keep an eye out for cleanliness, as those seem to be the main drawbacks.
Value (5.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 18% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot presents a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5.9 indicating it's pretty average. Many customers appreciate the various promotions, like the buy 2 get 1 free promo and other deals, finding the pricing and price per person to be quite reasonable compared to competitors. These positive sentiments come from 7 out of 13 total customer remarks.
However, the customer satisfaction sits at 53.8%, which is firmly in the mixed category, reflecting some clear downsides. A few folks felt it was a waste of money, especially when faced with an unexpected tip on the self-service screen. These concerns, highlighted by 4 negative comments, suggest that while some find good prices, others believe there are better and cheaper nearby options.
Value
13
Reviews
53%
Satisfaction
4
negative
2
neutral
7
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Buy 2 get 1 free
- Reasonable prices
- Good deals
What people don't like
- Waste of money
- Self-service tip screen
- Better cheaper nearby
Often praised
- base drinkFor $6 base drink, this was an overall well-rounded find
- buy 2 get 1 free promoWent during their buy 2 get on free promo!
- dealdeal where you buy 2 boba drinks and get one FREE
- pricethe price is reasonable
- price per personPrice per person:$1–10
- pricesReasonable prices than Daboba
- pricingI'm eager to try other flavors soon. The drinks were not too sweet, and the pricing isn’t too bad compared to other establishments.
Frequently criticized
- $8wasting $8 on something I couldn’t even finish
- optionsThere's better and cheaper nearby
- tip on the self-service screenThe screens were not immediately visible, which was an annoying lack of customer service. This was compounded by the audacity to ask for a tip on the self-service screen.
- waste of moneyTotal waste of money
If youre looking for a good deal, especially with their promotions, this place could be worth a try. Just be mindful of the self-service screen for tipping, as some customers found it off-putting. Its a mixed bag, so go in with balanced expectations.
How are the prices at Urban Bubble?
On average, you’ll spend around 9 per person – from 32 guests. That puts the restaurant in the $1–$10 category. For a Taiwanese Restaurant, that’s wonderfully budget-friendly!
Looking at what people actually spend, most diners (24 out of 32) keep it within the $1–$10 range, but a few (8 guests) do venture into the $11–$20 bracket, showing there’s room for a slightly bigger treat.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 32 reviews.
Comparing value for money at this Taiwanese spot against similar restaurants in San Diego.
We think the pricing here is quite fair, especially for delicious Taiwanese cuisine. Its a great spot if youre looking for an affordable and satisfying meal.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Urban Bubble
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Quick, Chill, and Delicious Creme Brulee
My experience at this restaurant was very positive. I found it to be a quick order kiosk with a very chill place atmosphere. Orders came out quickly.
The creme brule brown sugar was the best.
- quick order kiosk8
- chill place8
- Orders come out quickly9
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
8
Great Flavors, Dry Chicken
My experience at this restaurant involved ordering some snacks and Boba. The smoothies with Boba were amazing, offering really great flavors. We also tried the sausage and rice cake skewers, which were a unique and tasty snack, as was the fried calamari.
The flavors on the basil popcorn chicken were delicious, but unfortunately, the chicken itself was very dry. Overall, we would visit this spot again!
- smoothies with Boba9
- sausage and rice cake skewers8
- fried calamari8
- chicken3
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Takeout
9
Reliable Bubble Tea Spot
I've ordered from Urban Bubble so many times and have not been disappointed. I usually get the taro or mango sago. I haven't tried any of their food yet.
Anyway, I highly recommend Urban Bubble for a Bubble tea fix.
- taro sago8
- mango sago8
- Bubble tea fix9
Visit Type
- Delivery
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Delivery
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
6
Delicious Boba with Raw Surprise
I ordered the crème brûlée brown sugar boba on DoorDash for pickup. Upon arrival, my order wasn't ready, and I had to wait an additional 5-10 minutes. The shop appeared busy, but it has ample seating with WiFi. The workers were friendly and apologized for the delay.
Unfortunately, my drink contained raw boba, which was a first for me. My husband's drink also had raw boba. While the flavor was delicious and the cooked bobas were good, the presence of raw boba was disappointing, especially since I was late for an appointment and couldn't return to have it fixed.
- crème brûlée brown sugar boba8
- cooked bobas7
- workers8
- raw boba2
- wait4
- parking lot3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
2
Disappointing Matcha Latte and Service
My experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing. I ordered a matcha latte and was unhappy with both the drink itself and the customer service. Initially, the boba was completely forgotten.
When I inquired about it, they remade the drink. However, the replacement drink did not resemble or taste like the original matcha latte; its color and flavor were off. When I politely pointed this out, the staff insisted it was the same drink and responded with attitude instead of attempting to resolve the issue.
Consequently, I ended up wasting $8 on a drink I couldn't finish. I will definitely not be returning.
- matcha latte2
- boba1
- drink2
What Urban Bubble offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Parking
- Free street parking
FAQs
What service and accessibility options does Urban Bubble offer?
At Urban Bubble, you can enjoy your meal with convenient dine-in, takeout, or delivery services. The restaurant is also fully accessible, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lot, and restroom, ensuring a comfortable experience for all guests.
What parking and payment methods are available at Urban Bubble?
You’ll find free street parking readily available when you visit Urban Bubble in Kearny Mesa. For your convenience, the restaurant accepts a variety of payment options, including major credit cards, debit cards, and modern NFC mobile payments.
How does Urban Bubble generally perform?
Urban Bubble holds an average overall score of 6.2. Its Food (6.6) and Ambience (7.1) are well-regarded, while Service (4.7) and Value (5.9) could see improvement.
What are some popular drink options at Urban Bubble?
Customers frequently enjoy the Taro Bubble, Strawberry Love, and Urban Milk Tea, often recommending them with 50% sugar for optimal taste.
What are common complaints about Urban Bubble?
Patrons often mention slow service, disorganization, and issues with parking. Some also note cleanliness concerns and inconsistent drink preparation.