So.... I ate at Chou's in the same plaza because I was craving good Chinese food and it was an excuse to try the bubble tea from this place afterwards. :) The shop has all your usual bubble tea suspects, with the option to choose what percentage of sweetness you want your tea at. They are currently running an introductory discount of 15% off for their grand opening.
I saw on the menu they had sea salt cream/foam green tea so I asked for that but the cashier said that it wasn't in season. There's a season for sea salt green tea? Odd, I guess it's a different season in Seattle because I had the same drink at Din Tai Fung a few weeks ago. :p
My second choice ended up being the green milk tea with pudding and I also tried some of the Earl Grey milk tea. We got it to go and as I was sipping it on the drive home it tasted weird and bitter to me. I appreciate that they use fresh tea leaves but it tasted like they had steeped the leaves for too long. The Earl Grey milk tea was similar, bitter like it had been steeped for way too long.
This is a minor point, but I also thought it was weird they don't use the bubble tea machine that heat-seals a clear plastic cover on top of the drinks. Our drinks had a normal clear beverage top that snaps on top of the cup. It really isn't a deal breaker for me if the finished product tastes good, but I have noticed that bubble tea shops not using the bubble tea machine tend to have inferior bubble tea. Basically, I think of it as, if you aren't willing to spend the money to get the machine that puts the final touch on your typical bubble tea drink, what other corners are you cutting? I'm totally NOT saying they are cutting corners here per se, but this is the image you are portraying to the public.
The actual shop is pretty cute though, with a huge stuffed bear mascot and a wall with some angel wings so you can take a photo of yourself being all angelic-like.
I'm hoping they will work out the kinks since they are still new. I'll give them another shot and hope their tea normally doesn't taste bitter!
Remember your milk tea 101: Don't oversteep your tea!
2.5/5.
P.S. I like this guide on how to judge the quality of your bubble tea:
https://www.quora.com/How-does-one-evaluate-bubble-tea