been meaning to write this review for quite some time now but then it got temporarily shut down. who and their mothers said this place was hands down the best shop? the milk teas are something i can make at home. it’s cool and all to have these fancy names be the title of each drink but really? it’s like they want to be on par with chicha san chen and bopomofo but their “tapiocas” aren’t even great. lowkey felt like the employees were gaslit to thinking that their teas are the best.
Nik Taheri
Disgusting treatment of workers.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 5
Tani A
I wouldn’t return. Poor service, the hype for the tea is a scam. Disappointed in quality and overall let people inside! They keep it outside to create hype for no
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
michelle nguyen
Treat your employees better.
anthony morales
Closed for the time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jules
Closed temporarily due to staffing shortages.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frederick Jones
Best tasting tea I have ever had in the us
s sun
heard rumers that it gonna move to replace the cloudy co which has more space
Yin-Yin Yang
Please update your hours on Google maps. Apparently it’s closed on Mondays now since last week to this week. Such a waste of time
Michael K. Byun
In short, it’s great if you generally love tea and know exactly how you want your boba tea to taste like. You can taste the tea aroma and so it feels like an elegant cold British tea. But the caffeine will hit you hard at the end.Long version: So every time we visit Irvine, we see this long line at this mall. We asked our friends who travel a lot to Irvine if they know this place and usually they do. They say how different their boba milk teas taste. Also, the reviews are mixed; some praise them to the max, the others say they are so-so.We finally tried them and can say why people have mixed reviews. We tried the top two: Rising Phoenix and Metal Buddha, both oolong tea based.First, you can definitely taste the aroma of the tea; this is where the first divide happens. If you’re not used to regular hot tea like Earl grays or Green teas; the boba teas may feel like they’re watery. However, if you are a regular tea drinker and know brands like Fortnam or Mariage frères, you’ll appreciate the balance Orobae created in their drinks. My friend easily explained it as: “like drinking cold British tea with bobas.”Second divide is the sugar and ice control: Orobae’s recipe will put the tea taste first and the milk will not interfere with it, meaning at first taste you may feel less of the milk. So no matter what level of sugar or ice you put in, the drinks will either taste like elegant milk tea (for fans) or watered down boba teas (for non-fans). And this can be a put off for non-tea drinkers since boba tea is generally known for its strong taste, creaminess and milkiness. Though you can definitely feel the creaminess at the end of the drink (or maybe it’s the caffeine hitting you hard at the end.)Recommended to try, if you’re sick of the redundant taste of general boba milk teas.If you aren’t so particular about boba milk tea tastes then only try when there isn’t much of a line.Hope this helps for those on the fence for waiting in line for milk teas.Other notes. You order outside. Mention you are first-timers and you can adjust the taste after your order comes out. Orders come out in batches so be alert for numbers at least 2-3 above you. Service was great, kind and professional.Personally, I liked the first few sips, but I’m now an old millennial so can’t take too much caffeine and sugar.And that’s my review.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Metal Buddha Oolong Milk Tea Elarge Onlyi, Rising Phoenix Oolong Tea Ilarge Only
Line moves fast. Came at recommendation of a friend.Took us 9 minutes to order at ~7:30 pm on a Saturday night. Took us another 28 minutes to get our order.We got the rising phoenix and one of the metal buddhas. Zero sugar, half ice. +boba.They make their teas espresso style. Tea tasted very good and strong through the drink. However, w/ half ice it tasted not hot and not cold either. Would recommend either hot (no ice choice) or full ice to be cold. Additionally, I like my milk teas a little creamier, this one tasted a little more watered down. Which is not necessarily a big negative but I suspect it was due to the ice?Overall decent milk tea, but don't think it met the hype for me. Probably won't be going back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
L. C.
I was trying to ask the water for my dog, and they charge $0.25 for a cup of water - ridiculously amusing! Other than that, boba is good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
SoCal Review
Slowwwwww service.Boba was average.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Thomas L.
I've been going to Orobae since their soft opening and most of the time their Rising Phoenix has been consistently great. When it comes to tea aficionados, these guys know what they serve. Rising Phoenix is my absolute favorite milk tea, so my subjective opinion is 10/5 stars. Everything from taste, texture, and tapioca has made this milk tea spot the golden standard.Fun tip:Oro = GOLDBae= CUPLet's just say, they live up to their name.
Elyse Ching
Line is usually like always 20-30 mins but if you go with friends it's chill. I've been here 5+ times and always got the metal buddha or rising phoenix but yesterday got the Ruby Grapefruit gyokuro and it's SO GOOD. if you like grapefruit of fruit teas, definitely try it. It's my new fav drink there. Pretty florally, strong tea flavor, but also good grapefruit flavor. Probably the most underrated thing there.
been meaning to write this review for quite some time now but then it got temporarily shut down. who and their mothers said this place was hands down the best shop? the milk teas are something i can make at home. it’s cool and all to have these fancy names be the title of each drink but really? it’s like they want to be on par with chicha san chen and bopomofo but their “tapiocas” aren’t even great. lowkey felt like the employees were gaslit to thinking that their teas are the best.
Disgusting treatment of workers.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 5
I wouldn’t return. Poor service, the hype for the tea is a scam. Disappointed in quality and overall let people inside! They keep it outside to create hype for no
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Treat your employees better.
Closed for the time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Closed temporarily due to staffing shortages.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best tasting tea I have ever had in the us
heard rumers that it gonna move to replace the cloudy co which has more space
Please update your hours on Google maps. Apparently it’s closed on Mondays now since last week to this week. Such a waste of time
In short, it’s great if you generally love tea and know exactly how you want your boba tea to taste like. You can taste the tea aroma and so it feels like an elegant cold British tea. But the caffeine will hit you hard at the end.Long version: So every time we visit Irvine, we see this long line at this mall. We asked our friends who travel a lot to Irvine if they know this place and usually they do. They say how different their boba milk teas taste. Also, the reviews are mixed; some praise them to the max, the others say they are so-so.We finally tried them and can say why people have mixed reviews. We tried the top two: Rising Phoenix and Metal Buddha, both oolong tea based.First, you can definitely taste the aroma of the tea; this is where the first divide happens. If you’re not used to regular hot tea like Earl grays or Green teas; the boba teas may feel like they’re watery. However, if you are a regular tea drinker and know brands like Fortnam or Mariage frères, you’ll appreciate the balance Orobae created in their drinks. My friend easily explained it as: “like drinking cold British tea with bobas.”Second divide is the sugar and ice control: Orobae’s recipe will put the tea taste first and the milk will not interfere with it, meaning at first taste you may feel less of the milk. So no matter what level of sugar or ice you put in, the drinks will either taste like elegant milk tea (for fans) or watered down boba teas (for non-fans). And this can be a put off for non-tea drinkers since boba tea is generally known for its strong taste, creaminess and milkiness. Though you can definitely feel the creaminess at the end of the drink (or maybe it’s the caffeine hitting you hard at the end.)Recommended to try, if you’re sick of the redundant taste of general boba milk teas.If you aren’t so particular about boba milk tea tastes then only try when there isn’t much of a line.Hope this helps for those on the fence for waiting in line for milk teas.Other notes. You order outside. Mention you are first-timers and you can adjust the taste after your order comes out. Orders come out in batches so be alert for numbers at least 2-3 above you. Service was great, kind and professional.Personally, I liked the first few sips, but I’m now an old millennial so can’t take too much caffeine and sugar.And that’s my review.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Metal Buddha Oolong Milk Tea Elarge Onlyi, Rising Phoenix Oolong Tea Ilarge Only
Restaurantji Recommends
Line moves fast. Came at recommendation of a friend.Took us 9 minutes to order at ~7:30 pm on a Saturday night. Took us another 28 minutes to get our order.We got the rising phoenix and one of the metal buddhas. Zero sugar, half ice. +boba.They make their teas espresso style. Tea tasted very good and strong through the drink. However, w/ half ice it tasted not hot and not cold either. Would recommend either hot (no ice choice) or full ice to be cold. Additionally, I like my milk teas a little creamier, this one tasted a little more watered down. Which is not necessarily a big negative but I suspect it was due to the ice?Overall decent milk tea, but don't think it met the hype for me. Probably won't be going back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
I was trying to ask the water for my dog, and they charge $0.25 for a cup of water - ridiculously amusing! Other than that, boba is good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Slowwwwww service.Boba was average.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I've been going to Orobae since their soft opening and most of the time their Rising Phoenix has been consistently great. When it comes to tea aficionados, these guys know what they serve. Rising Phoenix is my absolute favorite milk tea, so my subjective opinion is 10/5 stars. Everything from taste, texture, and tapioca has made this milk tea spot the golden standard.Fun tip:Oro = GOLDBae= CUPLet's just say, they live up to their name.
Line is usually like always 20-30 mins but if you go with friends it's chill. I've been here 5+ times and always got the metal buddha or rising phoenix but yesterday got the Ruby Grapefruit gyokuro and it's SO GOOD. if you like grapefruit of fruit teas, definitely try it. It's my new fav drink there. Pretty florally, strong tea flavor, but also good grapefruit flavor. Probably the most underrated thing there.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5