Ulike Tea

Dominika Staniewicz

Let’s go with the good things first ! My coffee and the fried banana cake absolutely amazing. Love the interior and cute little designs and colors! I wish the arm chairs were part of the seating next to the wall tables. What could be better? If you offer eating in house you have to have plates. Serving food in takeout packaging inside not too good. I did not like the second thing we had B3 it was hard to chew and average in taste. Service was a challenge to communicate as her language skills were well on the lower side.

2 years ago

Hong Phuc Nguyen (Meta7)

You know the problem with Houston food? There are too many average places. But what's average really? Well, let me take you to ULike Tea. You see, our definition of "average" varies from foodie to foodie. Most of us probably define an average place as somewhere we didn't like, but didn't quite hate it enough to call it bad. But truth is, we like most things. Going by that definition, most places are good. Great, even. The ample population of 5-star reviews across Google Maps will tell you that. There's a reason I set my "should try" threshold at 4.5 stars and above, rather than something like, 3. Some also say that an "average" place is a place that's merely forgettable. An experience they can barely remember and don't have much to talk about. This definition is fine, too. Personally, I take a slightly different approach. For me, an average place is a place that turns out exactly how I expected it to. Somewhere that didn't disappoint me, but didn't quite impress me either. And that brings us back to ULike Tea. You see, ULike Tea is not forgettable. It was actually kinda special. They bank hard on the popular Vietnamese street snack "bánh tráng trộn" (rice paper salad) and fully commit to different variations of that, as well as certain cool-type Vietnamese "chè" desserts. And then they built their boba-based beverages menu around this concept. The menu itself is quite exciting, and very few places actually do this. I commend them on that part. And ULike Tea is not bad, either. I didn't dislike it. Hell, if you just asked me out of the blue, I'll probably just shrug and say I liked it. And yet, I struggle to see what the sell is here? If authenticity was the point, why bank on the exotic menu in the first place? There's a difference between authenticity and deliciousness. To seek authenticity is to seek familiarity. To diners who know nothing about Vietnamese food, a bánh tráng trộn menu is too unfamiliar. To those already acquainted to this dish, there's nothing to see here. And truth be told? An authentic Vietnamese restaurant in some Midwestern town is cool. An authentic Vietnamese place in Houston? That's a dime a dozen. If being special and avant-garde was the point, then I'm disheartened to say you failed. The bánh tráng cuốn (basically bánh tráng trộn but rolled) I ordered wasn't a particularly GOOD bánh tráng trộn, nor is it a bad one. It's just... bánh tráng trộn. Exactly what you'd get out the gate in middle school. Except now you're paying Houston sit-in café prices for it instead of 10,000 VND/box. You see what I mean? Other dishes I ordered had this problem too. The popcorn chicken is just popcorn chicken (at least they didn't use chicken breast; kudos to that). The panna cotta dessert is just chè khúc bạch, the Vietnamese coffee with egg foam was creamy and good, but also too similar to any other decently self-respecting boba place in the area. For such an exotic menu, everything just tastes too auntie-out-the-school-gate-y for me to feel anything other than a passing sense of mediocrity about it. TL;DR Go if you like bánh tráng trộn, I suppose. You already know what you'll be getting.

2 years ago

Marianne Alfaro

Such a cute place! I love the Fresh Milk Boba Flan and my husband really loved his Tropical Fruit Tea. The owner said they make their peach jelly in house, as well as in house made flan and yogurt! So cute!

2 years ago

M K

first time trying this place but via Doordash and the drinks were good, delicious and refreshing. followed my requests on the comments well definitely give them a try in person. and the drinks are large size too not sure if they're are different sizes or not but on doordash there was none other to pick from so it is a good deal compared to other boba drinks places

3 years ago

Amber

It's one of the best bubble tea place very cute and nice. My kids love it .. will definitely come by again .. service was excellent.

3 years ago