Boba drinks are definitely one of the staples in LA. Who doesn't like it? It comes with so many different variations that you can almost have something different every time. Also, you can personalize it with the toppings, the level of sweetness, the amount of ice, etc.. It is the most customized drink you can have.
There are hundreds of boba places around LA, and one of my favorite places is half and half. It has more than 5 locations, and they are all located in East LA. Whenever I am in the area, got to go and get one! You can see from the picture below, there's always a long line, especially on a hot day. If you have an order more than $10, you can call and make a phone order, and when you arrive at the location, go straight to the cashier and pay (skipping the huge line!) and wait for your drink. No surprises if you are familiar with Asian food places in LA, it's cash only, so remember to bring some cash with you if you go!
They have a list of top selling drinks right next to the cashier, for those who are overwhelmed by the options, you can pick from the smaller list! For an especially hot day, they do have slush, and that might help you cool down more!
This is my thought process when I am picking what to get for the day:
First question: Do you want a milky drink or a tea drink?
Second question: Do you want black tea or green tea?
Third question: Do you want it plain or flavored?
Last question: What kind of topping do you want?
Then, a little customization, how sweet do you want it, and do you want it with less ice (if you are a slow drinker, you might not want your drink to get too diluted with the ice). I usually do half sugar because I don't like things too sweet, a hint of flavor would be enough for me. But bear in mind that the sweetness comes from the syrup, so the flavor is also diminished if you order less sweet.
Personal favorites: Honey milk green tea w/ boba, Caramel milk tea w/ boba, peach black tea w/ grass jelly, green apple green tea w/ green apple jelly, passion fruit green tea w/ aloe.
These are just my personal favorites, there are way too many other options that other people love and you might like! I would recommend trying different things!!!! I promise you I have never had a bad drink there!
Personal tips: Everything goes well with boba, milk drinks also go well with pudding, tea drinks go well with grass jelly or any kind of jelly!
