Boba tea has taken the foodie world by storm. But, have you heard of these equally delicious boba snacks? We picked out our favourites in Taipei.
Boba, or tapioca pearls, are the small, chewy balls made from gluten-free starch that have taken the world – and Instagram – by storm as the main event in Taipei’s extraordinarily popular export, bubble tea. Now, these delightful pearls can now be found in all sorts of tasty treats ranging from egg tarts to shaved ice and more. Here are our top five picks for Taipei’s latest sweet sensations – boba snacks.
Boba Waffles: Stayreal Cafe by Gabee
Situated behind a dark oak facade with floor-to-ceiling glass panels and a large gold-accented sign, Stayreal Cafe by Gabee perfectly replicates the flavour profile of traditional milk tea in their innovative Brown Sugar Bubble Tea Waffles. Baked in a beautifully-shaped and detailed flower mould, these waffles are topped with a delightful scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, smooth whipped cream and glossy black tapioca pearls. As a finishing detail, brown sugar bits are sprinkled all over, adding a slight crunch to your impressive looking and tasty dessert. Fans of bubble waffles will be glad to know that they also have a Brown Sugar Bubble Tea Bubble Waffle for you to sip on the side, should the main event not be indulgent enough!
Insider’s Tip: For those running low on data, don’t worry because they have free wifi here.
Address: No. 21, Lane 177, Section 1, Dunhua South Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Open From: Mon-Sun: 11am-9pm
Boba Egg Tarts: Liang Liang Hao
Having first opened their doors in 2015, Liang Liang Hao launched their highly-buzzed, caramel-infused take on Portuguese egg tarts three years later, in 2018. With a shiny glazed top, custard-like textured egg fillings and satisfyingly chewy boba pearls are encased in a golden-brown, buttery crust in this one-of-a-kind dessert.
Insider’s Tip: Travelling in a group? You save NTD 15 if you order a batch of six egg tarts.
Address: No. 158, Section 3, Tingzhou Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Open From: Mon-Thu: 8am-8:30pm; Fri-Sun: 8am-9pm
IG: @stayrealcafe
IG: @liang_liang_hao
Boba Shaved Ice: Ice Monster
Ice Monster’s Bubble Milk Tea Sensation has become a new favourite amongst dessert lovers and boba tea fanatics. A glorious mountain of creamy, not-too-sweet shaved ribbons, the fluffy ice tastes of the genuine milk tea beverages you’d expect to find in renowned bubble tea stores. Great for sharing, this icy treat is accompanied by house-made douhua (soft tofu) and a generous portion of black sugar syrup-coated warm tapioca boba.
Insider’s Tip: Minimum spend per head at Ice Monster is NTD 110.
Address: No. 204, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei (Dongmen Station Exit 5) (click here for details on their other location!)
Open From: Mon-Sun: 10:30am-10pm
Boba Wheel Pie: Uncle Wheel Pie
Basic ingredients for a wheel pie include starch and various fillings like red bean and pickled cabbage. But here at Uncle Wheel Pie, the classic Taiwanese street food takes on a sweet modern twist. Freshly made, black charcoal pies are filled to the brim with gleaming black tapioca pearls sitting delicately atop thick, vanilla-flavoured custard. Eating this boba treat can get a little messy, but it’s worth it!
Insider’s Tip: Expect to have your boba delight to-go. There’s no seating here.
Address: No. 106, Liaoning Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10491
Open From: Mon-Fri: 12pm-6:30pm
You might also like Taiwan’s Best Breakfast Joints
Boba Souffle: Wu Liao
Located in the heart of Taipei’s renowned Raohe Night Market, Wu Liao is a humble store that offers made-to-order pan-fried soufflés. The fluffiness of these airy, cloud-like snacks is contrasted by the chewy texture of glazed tapioca pearls found within. To top it all off, runny custard sauce and black sugar syrup are drizzled atop.
Insider’s Tip: Wu Liao updates their Instagram page regularly about days when the stall will be closed, so be sure to check their feed before you visit.
Address: Booth No. 198, Raohe Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Open From: Mon-Sun: 5pm-12am
IG: @dan1el413
Banner Photo Credit: FB: @StayRealCafe
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