Best Boba in Long Beach: Top Bubble Tea Shops, Ranked
Long Beach has a strong mid-tier boba scene with a standout top end. Boba Guys at 2nd and PCH and Sunright Tea Studio on Ximeno Ave are as good as anything in the greater LA area. Every shop below has been personally visited by Justin Sather.
The Long Beach Boba Scene
Long Beach is LA County's second largest city, and its boba scene reflects that scale: a solid mix of premium chains and local independents spread across a city of 450,000 people. The 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Hwy corridor in Belmont Shore is the main boba destination, anchored by Boba Guys. East Long Beach, near CSULB, has Sunright Tea Studio and Ding Tea within a short radius.
Long Beach boba does not reach the density or quality ceiling of the San Gabriel Valley, which is about 40 minutes northeast. But within the city, Boba Guys and Sunright are genuinely excellent, and the local shop Cha For Tea has been a community staple for years.
All ratings below reflect multiple personal visits. No sponsorships, no free products. Every drink paid for out of pocket.
The Best Boba Shops in Long Beach, Ranked
Ranked by overall quality, tea sourcing, and consistency. Every shop personally visited.
Boba Guys
Long Beach · 2nd & PCH Shopping Center
The best boba shop in Long Beach and one of the best in all of Southern California. The 2nd & PCH location anchors the shopping center at 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Hwy with the same premium ingredient sourcing as every Boba Guys location. Straus Family Creamery milk, Assam black tea, and hand-shaken drinks made to order. The Earl Grey Milk Tea is essential. Expect to pay $8 to $10, and expect it to be worth it.
Full Review →
Sunright Tea Studio
Long Beach · 1827 Ximeno Ave
The best everyday boba in Long Beach. Sun Moon Lake black tea from Taiwan and Alishan high-mountain oolong are brewed fresh to order, never from powder. The Ximeno Ave location near East Long Beach is clean, consistent, and serious about tea quality. Better base teas than almost any chain operating in Long Beach.
Full Review →Ding Tea
Long Beach · Clark Ave, Long Beach
Ding Tea is a serious Taiwanese tea chain that uses precision brewing timers to ensure every batch is extracted correctly. The Red Tea with Tapioca is the essential order: a Taiwanese red tea with clarity and depth that most chain boba cannot replicate. The Long Beach location on Clark Ave holds up well compared to other LA-area shops. A good choice for tea-forward drinkers who want more than sweet milk.
Full Review →Tastea
Long Beach · 3860 Worsham Ave
Tastea is a Southern California-grown chain with a Long Beach location in the South Street Marketplace area. The Rose Matcha Milk Tea is one of the most creative specialty drinks at any Long Beach boba shop, and the Strawberry Milk Tea and Passion Fruit Green Tea are reliably good. Good value for the quality at $6 to $8 per drink.
Full Review →More Boba Worth Knowing in and Near Long Beach
Solid shops in Long Beach plus the best nearby South Bay options.
Gong Cha
Long Beach
Taiwanese-founded global chain at 6346 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. The world's most recognized boba brand delivers consistently. Brown Sugar Milk Tea and Oolong Milk Tea are the best orders. Full review available.
Full Review →Cha For Tea
Long Beach
Located at 5720 E. 7th St. One of the longer-running boba shops in Long Beach. The Roasted Brown Sugar Boba Latte and Mango Green Tea are standout orders. A local favorite for years.
Teatopia
Long Beach
An independent Long Beach boba concept on Clark Ave. Worth visiting for the local perspective. The menu focuses on classic milk teas and seasonal specials.
It's Boba Time
South Bay (Nearby)
No Long Beach location, but It's Boba Time has South Bay spots in Artesia, Torrance, and San Pedro within 15 to 20 minutes. One of the best value boba chains in LA County.
Full Review →Happy Lemon
Greater LA Area
Known for introducing Rock Salt and Cheese foam to LA. The Alhambra and Arcadia locations are the closest options if you want the full Happy Lemon experience.
Full Review →Kung Fu Tea
Harbor City (Nearby)
The Harbor City location is the closest Kung Fu Tea to Long Beach, about 15 minutes north on the 110. The Kung Fu Milk Tea and Brown Sugar Boba are the reliable orders.
Full Review →Boba by Area: Where to Go in Long Beach
Belmont Shore and 2nd Street
The 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Hwy area is the best boba destination in Long Beach. Boba Guys at the 2nd and PCH shopping center is the top shop in the city, with premium sourced ingredients and a drink quality that rivals any LA boba destination. The corridor is walkable and has plenty of dining options alongside the boba.
East Long Beach and CSULB Area
The stretch of East Long Beach near Cal State Long Beach has the best concentration of affordable boba in the city. Sunright Tea Studio on Ximeno Ave is the standout, with single-origin Taiwanese teas brewed fresh. Ding Tea on Clark Ave is nearby and offers a more traditional Taiwanese boba experience with precision-brewed red teas. Both are excellent for the student budget and the tea-focused drinker.
South Street and the Douglas Park Area
The Worsham Ave area near the Douglas Park commercial corridor has Tastea, which is a solid choice for creative specialty drinks and value pricing. The Rose Matcha Milk Tea is a standout for this part of Long Beach. Cha For Tea on E. 7th Street has been a local anchor for years and is worth visiting for context on the Long Beach boba scene.
South Bay: The Best Nearby Option
If you are willing to drive 15 to 20 minutes north, the South Bay has It's Boba Time locations in Torrance, Artesia, and San Pedro that expand the value boba options significantly. Ding Tea also has a Hawthorne location for a second visit option. For the absolute best boba within 45 minutes of Long Beach, the San Gabriel Valley is the destination.
Long Beach Boba FAQ
What is the best boba in Long Beach?
Boba Guys at the 2nd & PCH shopping center is the best boba shop in Long Beach. The premium ingredient sourcing, Earl Grey Milk Tea, and Horchata Milk Tea are among the best in Southern California. For single-origin teas, Sunright Tea Studio on Ximeno Ave is the best alternative.
Where is boba in Long Beach CA?
Long Beach has a solid boba scene. Boba Guys is at 2nd & PCH (the 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Highway shopping center). Sunright Tea Studio is at 1827 Ximeno Ave. Ding Tea and Tastea both have Long Beach locations as well, and Gong Cha is on E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Is there good boba near Cal State Long Beach?
Yes. Sunright Tea Studio on Ximeno Ave is within a short drive of CSULB and is the best option near campus. Ding Tea on Clark Ave is also close. For a wider selection, the shops along 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Hwy are about 10 minutes from campus.
What are the best bubble tea shops in Long Beach?
The top bubble tea shops in Long Beach are Boba Guys (2nd & PCH), Sunright Tea Studio (Ximeno Ave), Ding Tea (Clark Ave), and Tastea (Worsham Ave). For local independent options, Teatopia on Clark Ave and Cha For Tea on E. 7th Street are worth visiting.
How much does boba cost in Long Beach?
Boba in Long Beach ranges from about $5 at Ding Tea and Tastea to $8 to $10 at Boba Guys. Sunright Tea Studio runs $7 to $9 for specialty drinks. Most shops let you customize sweetness and ice level, and adding toppings like tapioca or popping boba usually adds $0.75 to $1.
Is Long Beach good for boba compared to LA?
Long Beach has a solid mid-tier boba scene anchored by Boba Guys and Sunright Tea Studio, both of which are as good as anything in central LA. For the deepest concentration of premium boba, Koreatown (45 min north) and the San Gabriel Valley (40 min northeast) are better overall destinations.
More LA Boba Guides
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