8 delicious boba places in Phoenix, Arizona that use fresh ingredients

boba in phoenix

Over ten years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find any boba spots in the Phoenix East Valley other than The Street in west Mesa or Boba Tea House in Chandler. At the time, milk tea and smoothie options were usually limited to powdered mixtures and questionable, hardened boba.

Since those dark ages, you can say that the Phoenix area has experienced a bubble tea Renaissance. Hardly a month seems to go by without a new boba place opening up somewhere in Tempe or along the flourishing Asian District lining Dobson Road.

All this variation and healthy competition has spurred a wider selection of tea shops to choose from with dessert-y spins or fresh fruit focuses. So without further ado, let’s dive into some of my favorite boba places in Phoenix!

(Disclaimer: I am biased towards boba spots with real brewed teas and an emphasis on real, fresh(er) ingredients)

Mochi Fresh is tucked away in an unassuming older plaza in Tempe, but is the absolute number one hidden gem any true Arizona boba fan should visit. What makes them unique is that they are the first boba place in Phoenix to make their own tapioca pearls from scratch. And let me tell you—the boba is indeed premium.

The owner is always there filling tea orders himself and he also makes fresh mochi with different fillings each day. All products use real milk and real fruit, leaving out preservatives or any mystery powders you might find elsewhere. An added photo op bonus is Mochi Fresh’s adorable life-size mascot boba couple at the entrance.

One visit and you’ll be life-changed. Don’t forget to ask for a loyalty stamp card.

📍 Location:

  • 960 W University Dr Ste 114，Tempe, Arizona 85281

🏆 Best for: Anything with boba

😋 Recommended drink: Real taro milk tea

DaYung’s is a Taiwanese chain and offers a colorful selection of real fruit tea concoctions and refreshing tea infusions. They also offer some more exotic drink options and toppings for those in the boba big leagues or with adventurous palettes—think wintermelon guanyin tea with chia seeds. DaYung’s also has some menu options that can be served warm.

Ask for a stamp card when you visit either of DaYung’s two locations in Arizona: Tempe and Chandler.

📍 Locations:

  • 3126 S Mill Ave Tempe, AZ 85282

  • 4055 S Arizona Ave Ste 3 Chandler, AZ 85248

🏆 Best for: Fresh fruity drinks

😋 Recommended drink: Guanyin latte with boba

Tea Swirl is an Arizona State University treasure, opened in 2016 by Taiwanese ASU alumni who felt a need for authentic boba drinks nearby campus. Tea Swirl’s menu features traditional milk teas, slushes, and signature soda-tea fushions for those wanting to expand their boba drink passports.

You can skip the line and order ahead online and also input your phone number for regular rewards.

Expert tip: Around the first and last week of classes at ASU, scheduled breaks, and final weeks, Tea Swirl will regularly announce BOGO deals and discounts on drinks.

📍 Location:

  • 725 S Rural Rd. Suite #107, Tempe, AZ 85281

🏆 Best for: Tea-based drinks and brown sugar boba

😋 Recommended drink: Green milk tea with brown sugar boba

Boba Tree has two west Mesa locations only a few blocks from each other conveniently located near the Mesa Community College crowd. They have the usual milk tea selections, but Boba Tree has carved out a name for itself in the Phoenix boba community with other options. This is the go-to place for cheese foam fans looking for a colorful menu of teas. They also are popular for the Fruit Yo Yo series, mixing Yakult with a number of fruity options of your choice.

Ask for a stamp card to work your way to a small or large sized free drink!

📍 Locations:

  • 1139 S Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202

  • 2740 S Alma School Rd #6, Mesa, AZ 85210

🏆 Best for: Cheese foam

😋 Recommended drink: Crazy fruit green tea

Miss Dessert features Hong Kong style desserts and boba drinks. This is a Phoenix-area treasure for anyone craving refreshing vanilla snow with durian or yoji nectar with green tea ice cream. Even if some of those desserts don’t ring any bells, you should definitely come in to take a sip of familiar boba teas or fun seasonal picks like an avocado smoothie.

Those trying Hong Kong desserts for the first time may want to stay away from durian fruit (unless you’re a brave soul), but it’s hard to go wrong with any menu options at Miss Dessert! Their Mesa location has been open for a few years now, but Miss Dessert expanded into Gilbert as of March 2021 and is opening in Phoenix in fall 2021.

📍 Locations:

  • 1832 W Broadway Rd #105, Mesa, AZ 85202

  • 2484 S SanTan Village Parkway #107, Gilbert, AZ 85249

  • 1339 W Thomas Rd #4209, Phoenix, AZ 85013 [Opening Fall 2021]

🏆 Best for: Real fruit infused teas

😋 Recommended drink: Milk tea with purple sticky rice

Milk Run is the Phoenix boba jewel, well-known on social media for its colorful drinks in glass bottles and decadent milk tea ice cream floats. They have an assortment of homemade ice creams, opening the door to a ton of desserty boba milk tea options you can’t find elsewhere. And unlike many other boba places in Phoenix, Milk Run has the option to substitute in an almond, soy, or coconut milk for non-dairy drinks.

Milk Run definitely has its Instagram game perfected, so any foodie photographer will have a field day with this pretty menu.

📍 Location:

  • 1702 W Camelback Rd Phoenix, AZ 85015

🏆 Best for: Milk tea floats

😋 Recommended drink: Thai tea float

Meet Fresh is a newer boba shop addition, bringing authentic Taiwanese desserts and fresh boba tea drinks to the Phoenix area. Their menu includes all sorts of colorful dessert and drink combinations using fresh ingredients like taro, red bean, mochi, and boba. There’s quite an extensive list of teas to choose from, including classic milk tea, herbal tea, fresh milk tea, a wintermelon series, and a ton more!

If you’re looking to sip on something new, try the jin xuan oolong tea with almond pudding—a combination you likely can’t find anywhere else in the valley.

📍 Locations:

  • 1832 West Broadway Rd., Ste 102, Mesa, AZ 85202 (Coming soon!)

  • 1900 W Chandler Blvd, Ste 23&24, Chandler, AZ 85224

🏆 Best for: Taiwanese dessert toppings

😋 Recommended drink: Fresh milk jin xuan tea

Tiger Sugar is a Taiwanese dessert chain that has been opening new stores around the States for the past few years. Die-hard boba fans may recognize this brand from its very Instagrammy tiger stripped caramel dripped drinks. Until now, Phoenix residents have had to drive to Las Vegas for the closest taste of Tiger Sugar (where I’ve had it), but the boba gods have been kind and are blessing Mesa with it’s very own store.

📍 Location:

  • 67 N. Dobson Rd. Suite 110

🏆 Best for: Creamy, indulgent drinks

😋 Recommended drink: Brown sugar black tea with boba

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about the author
about the author

Hello, is it tea you’re looking for? Raquel is an Arizona-based tea drinker who writes about tea as a side hobby. Her current favorites are Earl Grey with a splash of milk and any Japanese green tea.

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