Best Boba in Encino: Bubble Tea Near Ventura Blvd, Encino Marketplace, and the 405
Encino has no dedicated boba on Ventura Blvd. The 405 south to Sawtelle and West LA (25 to 30 minutes) and Sepulveda south to Westwood (20 to 25 minutes) are the nearest quality clusters. Every shop below personally visited by Justin Sather, zero sponsorships.
The Honest Guide to Boba in Encino
Encino sits in the western San Fernando Valley, bordered by Sherman Oaks to the east at the 405 freeway, Tarzana to the west, Van Nuys to the north across the 101 Ventura Freeway, and the Santa Monica Mountains foothills to the south. Ventura Blvd runs through the center of Encino west from the 405 freeway toward Tarzana, with an active commercial strip of restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques. Encino Marketplace at the Ventura Blvd and Balboa Blvd intersection is the neighborhood's primary retail anchor, drawing the Valley's affluent residential base for shopping and dining.
Dedicated boba, however, is absent from Encino. Ventura Blvd through Encino has no bubble tea shop as of 2026, and the Encino Marketplace has not attracted any boba tenants. For Encino residents, the two most practical routes to quality boba are the 405 south to Sawtelle and West LA (25 to 30 minutes, with Boba Guys and Yi Fang as the primary targets) and Sepulveda Blvd south to Westwood (20 to 25 minutes, with Milksha as the best stop). These two routes are more accessible from Encino than from any other San Fernando Valley neighborhood in this guide network.
Encino's position at the 405 and Ventura Blvd corridor is its most useful asset for boba. The 405 south connects Encino directly to the Sawtelle and West LA boba cluster in under 30 minutes, and Sepulveda Blvd south is an alternative surface-street route to Westwood that avoids the freeway entirely. Koreatown, the best boba neighborhood in Los Angeles, is 40 to 45 minutes via the 405 south to the 10 east, a longer drive than from Sherman Oaks or Studio City but still reachable for a planned boba outing.
The Best Boba Near Encino, Ranked
Every shop personally visited. Ranked by overall quality, value, and accessibility from Encino.
Boba Guys
West LA / Rideback Ranch (405 south, 25 to 30 min)
The highest ingredient quality of any boba chain in Los Angeles. Boba Guys uses organic tea, fresh dairy, and house-made syrups in place of powder and artificial flavoring, which sets it clearly apart from every other chain in the city. The Strawberry Matcha is the drink that defines the brand nationally. The West LA Rideback Ranch location is 25 to 30 minutes south of Encino via the 405 freeway, making it the best premium boba option for Valley residents willing to make the Westside trip. For Encino specifically, the 405 south to the West LA exit is a more direct route than navigating through Sherman Oaks and Westwood.
Full Review →
Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea
Sawtelle Blvd (405 south, 25 to 30 min)
Yi Fang is built entirely around one principle: real fresh fruit instead of syrup. Every fruit drink uses produce cut in-house, not a flavoring concentrate, which makes the Pineapple Green Tea and Taiwan Lemon Green Tea the most genuinely fruit-forward drinks in Los Angeles. Located on Sawtelle Blvd in West LA, the same 405 south corridor as Boba Guys, making the two a natural same-trip combination for Encino residents. The Sawtelle Blvd strip has several Japanese restaurants and cafes, making it a full destination for a Valley day out. Yi Fang is a 5 minute walk from Boba Guys at Rideback Ranch.
Full Review →
Milksha
Westwood Village (Sepulveda Blvd south, 20 to 25 min)
Milksha is Taiwan's largest fresh milk tea brand and uses only real dairy milk rather than the powder that most boba chains rely on. The result is a noticeably cleaner, creamier base that makes even the simplest milk tea drink taste more genuine. The Westwood Village location is Milksha's US flagship, and at 20 to 25 minutes via Sepulveda Blvd south from Encino, it is the most accessible non-freeway boba option in this guide. The Sepulveda route from Encino through Sherman Oaks and Bel Air directly into Westwood Village avoids the 405 entirely and is often faster than freeway alternatives during midday traffic.
Full Review →
Tiger Sugar
Koreatown (40 to 45 min via 405 south to 10 east to 110)
The best brown sugar boba in Los Angeles by a significant margin. Tiger Sugar uses Okinawa black sugar, which is richer and more complex than the caramel syrup used by competitors, cooks pearls fresh every four hours in small batches rather than pre-cooking them in bulk, and makes the cream mousse in-house without powder. There is no equivalent anywhere on the Westside or in the San Fernando Valley. From Encino, the most efficient route is 405 south to the 10 east, then the 110 north to Olympic Blvd in Koreatown, approximately 40 to 45 minutes in typical traffic. It is a longer drive from Encino than from most other neighborhoods in this guide network, but Tiger Sugar is worth it for a planned boba outing.
Full Review →Happy Lemon
Koreatown (40 to 45 min via 405 south to 10 east to 110)
Happy Lemon introduced cheese foam to Los Angeles and its Rock Salt and Cheese Oolong remains the defining version in the city. The drink is straightforward: cold oolong tea base with savory-sweet cheese foam and a balance of salt that prevents it from becoming cloying. Happy Lemon also has SGV locations in Alhambra and Arcadia, which are accessible from Encino via the 101 east to the 134 east to the 210, a comparable drive to the Koreatown location. For most Encino residents, the Koreatown Happy Lemon and Tiger Sugar are best combined in a single trip. The Olympic Blvd corridor between Vermont and Western has both within a few minutes of each other.
Full Review →Gong Cha
Multiple LA locations accessible from Encino via 405 or 101
One of the world's largest boba chains with 2,000 locations across 20+ countries, and the most reliably accessible chain option from Encino via the 405 or 101 freeway corridors. Gong Cha's differentiator is its High Mountain Oolong base, which gives the milk tea more tea depth than most competitors. The Brown Sugar Milk Tea with Pearl is the most ordered drink globally. For Encino residents who want a reliable chain option without committing to the full Koreatown or Westside drive, Gong Cha locations in the West LA and West Hollywood area are accessible via the 405 south and are a practical choice for a routine boba order.
Full Review →More Worth Visiting Near Encino
Additional shops worth the drive from Encino when the occasion calls for it.
Machi Machi
Koreatown (40 to 45 min via 405 to 10 east to 110)
The only boba shop in LA built entirely around cheese foam as its brand identity. Earl Grey with Cheese Foam is the essential order. Best combined with Tiger Sugar and Happy Lemon on a single Koreatown trip. Read the full review.
Full Review →Sharetea
Westwood Village (Sepulveda south, 20 to 25 min)
The Three Mates (black, green, and oolong blend) and Taro Milk Tea are the reliable orders. Located in Westwood Village near Milksha, making both a natural same-trip stop on the Sepulveda south route. Read the full review.
Full Review →Kung Fu Tea
Multiple LA locations
One of the most accessible affordable chain boba options in the LA network. The Kung Fu Milk Tea is well-balanced and priced at $5 to $7. Read the full review.
Full Review →CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice
Multiple LA locations
4,000+ locations globally with the unique Avocado Smoothie Milk Tea. Affordable at $4.50 to $7. Read the full review.
Full Review →Feng Cha
Multiple LA locations
Brown Sugar Milk Tea and Oolong Milk Tea with Cheese Foam are the essential orders. One of the highest-volume boba search keywords in LA. Read the full review.
Full Review →Sunright Tea Studio
Pasadena (101 east to 134 east, 40 to 50 min)
Built around Sun Moon Lake black tea from Taiwan. The best tea-forward boba in the greater LA area, accessible via the 101 east from Encino through the Cahuenga Pass and then the 134 east. Read the full review.
Full Review →Boba by Area Near Encino
Ventura Blvd and Encino Marketplace (Encino core)
Ventura Blvd runs east-west through Encino from the 405 freeway west toward Tarzana, with a busy commercial strip of restaurants, coffee shops, fitness studios, and boutiques. Encino Marketplace at Ventura Blvd and Balboa Blvd is the neighborhood's primary retail anchor, with a Whole Foods, sit-down restaurants, and chain coffee. Despite the density, there is no dedicated boba or bubble tea shop on Ventura Blvd in Encino as of 2026. The corridor is strong for dining and coffee but has not attracted the quick-service Asian beverage shops that define boba clusters in Koreatown, Sawtelle, and Westwood.
405 South Corridor: Sawtelle and West LA (25 to 30 min)
The 405 freeway running south from Encino is the primary route to the best boba accessible from the neighborhood. Boba Guys at Rideback Ranch in West LA and Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea on Sawtelle Blvd are both approximately 25 to 30 minutes south via the 405, and both represent the highest quality boba on the Westside. The Sawtelle Blvd strip around the Boba Guys and Yi Fang locations is also a strong Japanese food corridor, making the 405 south trip a full destination option for Encino residents. These two shops are within walking distance of each other on the Sawtelle and West LA strip.
Sepulveda Blvd South to Westwood (20 to 25 min)
Sepulveda Blvd runs north-south parallel to the 405 freeway, connecting Encino south through Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Bel Air, and into Westwood Village. The drive from Encino to Westwood Village via Sepulveda is 20 to 25 minutes and avoids the 405 freeway entirely, making it faster than the freeway during midday and weekend traffic. Milksha in Westwood Village is the primary boba target on this route, with Sharetea also in the Westwood area. The Westwood Village location near UCLA is the most pedestrian-friendly boba stop accessible from Encino and is an efficient route for residents who prefer surface streets.
Sherman Oaks (5 to 10 min east via Ventura Blvd)
Sherman Oaks borders Encino to the east along Ventura Blvd, past the 405 freeway. Like Encino, Sherman Oaks has no dedicated boba on its section of Ventura Blvd. The Sherman Oaks Galleria at Sepulveda Blvd and Ventura Blvd is 5 to 10 minutes east of Encino by car, but does not have a boba shop as of 2026. For Encino residents, Sherman Oaks functions as a transit point toward Studio City (further east on Ventura Blvd) rather than a boba destination in itself. The boba routes from Sherman Oaks and Encino are largely the same: 405 south to Westside or 101 east toward Hollywood and Koreatown. Read the Best Boba Sherman Oaks guide for the full breakdown.
Van Nuys and Tarzana (north and west, limited options)
Van Nuys borders Encino to the north across the 101 Ventura Freeway and is one of the most populous neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley at 110,000 or more residents, but has not developed significant boba density. Tarzana borders Encino to the west on Ventura Blvd and is similarly limited for dedicated bubble tea. Residents of Van Nuys and Tarzana share the same boba routes as Encino: the 405 south to Sawtelle and West LA, or the 101 east toward Hollywood and Koreatown. Read the Best Boba Van Nuys guide for the full breakdown of boba access from the neighborhood directly north, or the Best Boba Tarzana guide for the next neighborhood west on Ventura Blvd.
Koreatown (40 to 45 min via 405 to 10 east to 110)
Koreatown is the best boba neighborhood in Los Angeles and 40 to 45 minutes from Encino in typical traffic. The most efficient route is the 405 south to the 10 east, then north on the 110 to Olympic Blvd in Koreatown. Tiger Sugar, Happy Lemon, and Machi Machi are all within a compact stretch on or near Olympic Blvd between Vermont and Western Ave. An alternative route is the 101 east from the Encino area through the Cahuenga Pass to Hollywood, then south to the 110, which is occasionally faster depending on traffic but longer in distance. Of the San Fernando Valley neighborhoods in this guide network, Encino has one of the longer Koreatown drives, but the destination has no equal in Los Angeles for boba quality and density. Read the Best Boba Koreatown guide for the full 30+ shop breakdown.
Encino Boba FAQ
What is the best boba in Encino?
Encino has no dedicated boba shop on Ventura Blvd as of 2026. The best nearby options require a short freeway drive. Via the 405 south, Boba Guys at Rideback Ranch in West LA and Yi Fang Taiwan Fruit Tea on Sawtelle Blvd are both 25 to 30 minutes from Encino and represent the best boba on the Westside. Via Sepulveda Blvd south, Milksha in Westwood is 20 to 25 minutes and serves fresh milk rather than powder. For the full Los Angeles boba experience, Koreatown is 40 to 45 minutes via the 405 south to the 10 east or via the 101 east through the Cahuenga Pass, with Tiger Sugar, Happy Lemon, and Machi Machi all within a few blocks of each other on Olympic Blvd.
Is there boba on Ventura Blvd in Encino?
Ventura Blvd in Encino runs west from the 405 freeway toward Tarzana and has an active commercial strip with restaurants, coffee shops, and retail. However, there is no dedicated boba or bubble tea shop on Ventura Blvd in Encino as of 2026. The corridor is dominated by sit-down dining, coffee chains, and boutiques rather than the quick-service Asian beverage shops that anchor boba clusters in Koreatown, Sawtelle, and Westwood. Residents looking for boba after a Ventura Blvd outing will need to drive south on the 405 or Sepulveda Blvd.
Is there boba near Encino Marketplace?
Encino Marketplace at Ventura Blvd and Balboa Blvd does not have a dedicated boba or bubble tea shop within the shopping center or in the immediate surrounding blocks as of 2026. The marketplace is anchored by Whole Foods and restaurants, but bubble tea has not moved into the Encino Marketplace tenant mix. The nearest quality boba requires driving: Sepulveda Blvd south to Westwood for Milksha (20 to 25 minutes), or the 405 south toward West LA for Boba Guys and Yi Fang (25 to 30 minutes). For chain options, Gong Cha and similar boba chains can be found at several locations accessible from the 405 corridor in the West LA and West Hollywood area.
How far is Encino from Koreatown for boba?
Encino is approximately 18 to 22 miles from Koreatown, a drive of 40 to 50 minutes in typical LA traffic. The most efficient route is the 405 south to the 10 east, then north on the 110 to Olympic Blvd in Koreatown. An alternative is the 101 east via the 101 on-ramp near Balboa Blvd, through Calabasas and over the Cahuenga Pass to Hollywood, then south to the 110 toward Koreatown, which is scenic but often longer in traffic. Of all the San Fernando Valley neighborhoods in this guide network, Encino has one of the longer Koreatown drives. For Valley residents determined to reach Koreatown, Studio City via the 101 is a slightly faster route on most days.
What boba is open late near Encino?
Late-night boba near Encino is limited. Koreatown remains the best answer for late hours, with Happy Lemon and Gong Cha typically open until 10 or 11 PM on weekdays and midnight on weekends, though the 40 to 45 minute drive from Encino makes it less practical for a quick late-night run. On the Westside, Yi Fang on Sawtelle and Boba Guys in West LA tend to close earlier than Koreatown shops, usually by 9 or 10 PM. For the most reliable late-night boba within 30 minutes of Encino, CoCo Fresh Tea and Gong Cha locations in the West LA and Westwood corridor are the most accessible. Always confirm current hours directly with the shop before making the drive.
How far is Encino from Westwood for boba?
Encino and Westwood are connected by Sepulveda Blvd running north-south, making Westwood one of the most accessible boba destinations for Encino residents. Milksha in Westwood Village is approximately 20 to 25 minutes south via Sepulveda Blvd, which runs from Encino through Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, and Bel Air before entering Westwood. The route avoids the 405 freeway entirely. This Sepulveda corridor is Encino's most direct route to quality boba and a genuine differentiator compared to neighborhoods further east in the Valley that must use the 101 freeway for any Westside trip. Sharetea is also in the Westwood Village area, making the Sepulveda south trip a two-stop option.
More LA Boba Guides
Best Boba in Sherman Oaks →
Sherman Oaks is 5 to 10 minutes east on Ventura Blvd, at the 101 and 405 interchange. The guide for the adjacent Valley corridor toward Studio City and Koreatown.
Best Boba in Koreatown →
The complete guide to 30+ boba shops in Koreatown, the best boba neighborhood in Los Angeles. Tiger Sugar and Happy Lemon are 40 to 45 minutes via the 405 south to the 10 east.
Best Boba in Tarzana →
Tarzana is 5 to 10 minutes west on Ventura Blvd. The guide for the next Valley neighborhood, with 101 east access toward Koreatown via the Reseda Blvd on-ramp.