Asha Tea House

Tea house · Union Square

Asha Tea House

Tea house · Union Square

17 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108

3 Postcards

Highlights

Nestled in a tranquil vibe, Asha Tea House offers an artful selection of exquisite matcha lattes and soothing teas, perfect for a cozy catch-up.

17 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108 Get directions

ashateahouse.com

@ashateahouse

$$ · Menu

@eater

"Asha Tea House owner David Lau is serious about sourcing antioxidant rich matcha in both standard and ceremonial grades from family farms in Uji, Japan's premium growing region. There's a regular line at the Financial District location (it originated in Berkeley, which is also worth a visit) for the matcha latte, ceremonial matcha, matcha shot, shaken matcha, and matcha macchiato, some of which can be finished with boba or grass jelly." - Laurie Jo Miller Farr, Janelle Bitker

The San Francisco and East Bay Matcha Map

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@onthegrid

"When you need to change up your everyday coffee routine, head over to Asha Tea House for a fresh cup of hot (or iced) matcha latte. Entering into the shop will make you feel like you have walked into a zen tea room, decorated with stone ceramic teapots and pine wood trimmings. This downtown outpost has a small menu, but you really can’t go wrong with anything that’s on there. Every drink consists of high quality ingredients and made fresh to order — you can even watch the baristas hand-whisk your drink right in front of you while you wait eagerly with anticipation. You can customize your drink order with the varying levels of sweetness, ice, and even throwing in some boba pearls. Aside from having the best matcha lattes in downtown SF, switch it up and try their hoji-cha lattes or quench your thirst with a fruit infused iced tea instead. Pair your beverage with their Asian-inspired pastries such as sesame mochi muffins and assam spiced tea cookies" - outlier

On the Grid : Asha Tea House

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@onthegrid

"Asha Tea House, Fidi by outlier. When you need to change up your everyday coffee routine, head over to Asha Tea House for a fresh cup of hot (or iced) matcha latte. Entering into the shop will make you feel like you have walked into a zen tea room, decorated with stone ceramic teapots and pine wood trimmings. This downtown outpost has a small menu, but you really can’t go wrong with anything that’s on there. Every drink consists of high quality ingredients and made fresh to order — you can even watch the baristas hand-whisk your drink right in front of you while you wait eagerly with anticipation. You can customize your drink order with the varying levels of sweetness, ice, and even throwing in some boba pearls. Aside from having the best matcha lattes in downtown SF, switch it up and try their hoji-cha lattes or quench your thirst with a fruit infused iced tea instead. Pair your beverage with their Asian-inspired pastries such as sesame mochi muffins and assam spiced tea cookies"

San Francisco

test

Alastor Marsh

Google

I enjoy the sparkling strawberry drink, its a great place to hang out, make friends, i see couples talking, honestly overall a Japanese Cafe like experience! I recommend those that want matcha, milk, or sparkling drink! You wont regret it!

Victor Wang

Google

Really enjoyed their ceremonial grade organic matcha latte with oat milk. Super creamy and delicious. Quick to order and fast to come out as well. Limited seating but we were able to find 3 seats on Tuesday afternoon without too much issue.

Jonathan Luu

Google

I think this is one of the few times that a boba shop says “lightly” sweeten and it’s actually not that sweet. I got 100% sweetness and this might be 50% sweetness at other places. This lets the tea really shine through which is something i really like. They have more traditional teas as well so would recommend. I got a matcha cookie and this was excellent as well. There are a few chairs and table here so it’s good spot to work.

S Sum

Google

Came at noon on a monday and there was no line, both of the staff working greeted me immediately. I got the strawberry matcha latte and it was delicious. I could distinctly taste the matcha and the taste wasn't covered by the milk, the strawberry jam added a nice sweetness. I also got the guava danish and matcha white chocolate cookie.

Lydia Cheng

Google

Was in the area and needed a caffeine hit and stumbled across Asha Tea House. There are a lot of tea focused options here and less coffee options. The interior was well decorated - cozy and inviting vibes. I got the matcha latte and added blueberry to it (seasonal fruit option) and it was delicious. I like my drinks on the less sweet side and this was perfect. Will definitely be back to try their other options!

Cory Anderson

Google

Really amazing tea house :) great matcha (with tons of add ins), boba milk tea, herbal tea, chai, and more! Design is beautiful too!

Krishin Asnani

Google

Looks cozy and inviting from the bus stop opposite; I haven’t been here yet, but I enjoy the architecture of the neighborhood it is located in .

nabska

Google

Great place to grab a breakfast tea or coffee. If you can grab a table, it’s a good spot to casually catch up with a friend or two. There aren’t very many seating options however. Highly recommend the Hong Kong milk tea or coffee

Alastor Marsh

Google

Victor Wang

Google

Jonathan Luu

Google

S Sum

Google

Lydia Cheng

Google

Cory Anderson

Google

Really amazing tea house :) great matcha (with tons of add ins), boba milk tea, herbal tea, chai, and more! Design is beautiful too!

Krishin Asnani

Google

Looks cozy and inviting from the bus stop opposite; I haven’t been here yet, but I enjoy the architecture of the neighborhood it is located in .

nabska

Google

Susanna L.

Yelp

Asha Tea House was born from a love of tea first founded by engineers David and Diana Lau. This establishment's namesake "Asha" is Taiwanese for "someone that enjoys life", and the hope is that patrons of Asha Tea House will enjoy the flavorful drinks and be reminded of the little joys we have in our lives. Asha uses only high-quality whole leaf tea in crafting their specialty tea beverages. In addition to their tea beverages, patrons can also purchase a variety of whole tea leaves to take home and enjoy. In partnering with local artists as well, one can find plenty of Asha-branded and tea-themed merchandise as well as pottery. Asha Tea House has two locations - one in Berkeley and one in San Francisco. The San Francisco location is near Union Square, which makes it a perfect pit stop for those already exploring the Union Square area. The store itself is on the smaller side, but does have a seating area for individuals looking to enjoy their tea treats in store. There's also a tea bar of sorts at the back where one can reserve time slots for tea tasting sessions in-house. I was in the Union Square area and decided to pick up a couple drinks to enjoy. I went with their hojicha latte (hot), a classic Hong Kong milk tea with boba, and a Hong Kong coffee milk tea. The hojicha latte was not to sweet and well balanced with the earthy roasted hojicha working seamlessly with the smooth creamy dairy in the beverage. The Hong Kong milk tea was easily my favorite as a fan of the good ol classics, and you can really taste the difference in the quality of tea that Asha uses. Last but not least, the Hong Kong coffee milk tea. Personally I didn't sample this one as I'm not a huge coffee fan (sacrilegious I know, but what can you do); however, my friend who did try (and finish it) said it was a good blend of coffee and tea for those of you looking for a drink with a bit of an extra caffeine kick to it. If you're a fan of high-quality tea, then Asha Tea House is definitely worth the visit (at either of their locations, whichever is more convenient for you)!

Julia S.

Yelp

I've come here a few times now, and each visit has been slightly disappointing. The boba is decent, but definitely not the best. I don't remember every drink I've tried, but I do recall getting the hojicha latte with extra hojicha and the chai latte. Unfortunately, each drink I've had tasted kind of watered down, and I couldn't really taste the tea much at all. That said, the boba pearls are cooked pretty well. Maybe I need to try something other than their milk teas, but that's usually what I'm craving when I go to a boba place. The interior looks nice, and it's a good spot if you want to chat or get some work done. They also have both self-service kiosks and a cashier, which is convenient.

Tiffany D.

Yelp

I decided to stop by Asha tea house during the SF heat wave and I was not disappointed! I got the mango black tea, mango sparkler and blueberry black tea. I've read some reviews and it said that the drinks at regular sweetness levels aren't that sweet and I would agree. For the mango sparkler, I got more sweet and thought it was perfect. I got normal sweetness for the mango and blueberry drinks and thought it tasted less sweet. I usually get less sweet in my drinks do I didn't mind. I'm glad this is one of the tea houses that sells fresh blueberry flavored teas. It's really hard to find in sf! I will definitely be back to try the other drinks like the matcha :)

Laney C.

Yelp

I got the matcha latte and my boyfriend got the hojicha latte hot but both drinks weren't very flavorful or rich, and was pretty watered down.

Miranda L.

Yelp

Headed over to grab a quick drink at 3 pm on a Thursday and there was a decent amount of people in line. The interior is very bright and modern with light wooden fixtures. You order once you enter at the cashier and they call you when it is ready at an inside counter. Strawberry Black Tea - The first couple of sips of this drink was delicious, the tea mixed with the strawberry was the perfect balance of sweetness. The drink goes downhill after that, becoming very bitter and even adding more strawberries, which I paid 50 cents for, didn't help to resolve the overwhelming bitterness. My friend ordered the Hong Kong Milk Tea with Boba and it tasted good with soft, warm boba. Would try to go back for some of their other tea options.

Qinnan L.

Yelp

Had high expectations but actually found the drinks too watered down. We ordered a matcha spritz with strawberry puree and oolong milk tea with pearls. Both were more diluted and less flavorful than I had hoped unfortunately. The inside is a nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Union square though.

Elizabeth G.

Yelp

Really cute place ! It's very cozy. They have matcha,tea, coffee etc. They have self service too if you want to order yourself.

Thomas G.

Yelp

Asha has a cozy interior with friendly service. My lemonade came out pretty fast despite them being quite busy.

Raneem R.

Yelp

The best matcha I've had in the city. It's not too milky or sweet, you can really taste the quality of the matcha. I got a regular matcha latte. There's a few tables inside and a "tea bar" that you can sit at for tea tasting.

Nuran S.

Yelp

This was such a cute place to stumble upon on a rainy day. Love the aesthetics and they made my lavender matcha the traditional way. I loved how it wasn't overly sweetened. Ordered one of their huge snickerdoodle cookies and it was delicious! Generous amounts of cinnamon and sugar. I could tell they used pure ingredients, just like in their teas. My friend got a masala chai and she really enjoyed it as well. Also not overly sweet, with perfect amounts of foam. The employees were very helpful with informing us what teas were seasonal. I can tell this is going to be added to the rotation.

Joanna T.

Yelp

Time for some authentic tea! Even Chai, Japanese and Chinese teas. They have HONG KONG teas with boba/grass jelly! I am a fan of both cold and hot tea. They have my favorite: HojiCha and will make it into a oat milk tea. The ambiance will very natural inside. It is sort of meditative or for low voice conversations. Love the vibe!

Sarah C.

Yelp

looks pretty but it was soo milky I could barely taste the matcha :( the strawberry puree was nice but got kind of lost once mixed in. I like the vibes of the cafe though

Jinny K.

Yelp

The tapioca is sweet and chewy--absolutely delicious! The milk tea was refreshing and flavorful. The strawberry fruit tea was enjoyable at first but became diluted quickly. I loved the initial burst of flavor, but it didn't last long. Next time, I might try a different drink to see if it holds up better.

Nhu L.

Yelp

Didnt like the drink one bit. Just overpriced and drink isn't even good. There so much better places. In my opinion dont recommend and it a waste of money.

Karen C.

Yelp

I was a regular at Asha Tea House in Berkeley and now that I'm in San Francisco, I may become a regular here too! The menus are exactly the same, as far as I can tell, as well as the quality and preparation. I'm a big fan of the seasonal fruit teas and I think those are their strongest cafe offerings. They cycle in/out fruit that is in season and the fresh flavor of fruit complements their tea very well. The matcha and milk teas here are not potent enough for my liking and I find that their teas are harder to taste when mixed with something as heavy as dairy. This location is smaller and feels dingier than the Berkeley location and it's a certainty that the area between the cash register and the door will be packed to the gills during rush hours, which makes the experience unpleasant. If I know I'm getting there at a busy time, I'll order in advance on their square site. This is a great place for fresh fruit teas to go, but not the best place to linger. Fortunately they're located in a place that's very walkable and you can easily take your drink to Union Square or the water!

Sarah C.

Yelp

Wow after 7 years, I came back. I enjoyed my drink and the lady helping me was very helpful. Didn't take long for my drink to be made. I am happy their survived the pandemic. Pleasantly surprised to see they are still around when I was visiting the city.

James T.

Yelp

Great ambiance and wonderful staff. Come for the tea and stay for the teaware and selection to take home

Stephanie Z.

Yelp

Cute little boba shop right by Union Square with pretty quick service. I thought the matcha latte was just ok. It was on the watered down side and the milk overwhelmed the matcha flavor. I had a sip of the Hong Kong Milk Tea and really liked it though!

Michelle Z.

Yelp

Not my favorite tea place in SF. The drink I got (taro jasmine milk tea) tasted very watered down and flavorless. My friends who have been here and gotten other drinks have said the same thing about theirs. Normally I love real taro chunks in milk teas because it adds to the creamy flavor and texture, but since this milk tea was so thin and liquidy, the taro didn't add the right texture. It was just way too chunky with the watery milk and didn't sit well with me. The jasmine flavor was nice though. There's usually a line here but it moves fast. Service is fine and the drinks come out quick. It's a really small shop with limited seating inside so it can get pretty crowded while you're waiting for your drink.

Anh-Dao T.

Yelp

Now that the Oakland/East Bay location closed, this is the only accessible Asha for me. The rest of Market St might be quiet but Asha here is still going strong. I stopped in after lunch today to grab my usual honey lemon jasmine and it was packed. Every table, and bar stool, was taken. Good for them. Other updates include their new self ordering pad next to the register and while they no longer carry Third Culture, there are still delicious local baked goods. I really really hope they stay here in SF. It's definitely my favorite of all the boba shops in the area.

Tim Y.

Yelp

I visited a fantastic teashop that is a must-try for tea, boba, or matcha lovers. The authenticity and smoothness of the tea were evident in every sip, and I look forward to returning. The customer service was beneficial in navigating the complex menu. The ambiance is ideal for hanging out and chatting, but seating can be limited, and it tends to get crowded and noisy.

Keira C.

Yelp

Love! One of our favorite places to get matcha or hojicha drinks, or even chai lattes! They use superior quality ingredients from Japan resulting in strong flavors. Service here is also awesome!

Joe H.

Yelp

Quality almond milk oolong boba tea with a fancy interior and good seating area. You can self order, which is super convenient, or if you prefer, you can order with the friendly barista as well. There seems to be a tea bar at the back, which I presume to have a tea master that is able to explain the various selections if you are curious, but I did mot explore that part so can't really speak to it.

Demi S.

Yelp

Amazing atmosphere, especially for studying. You must try the iced matcha latte with almond milk and don't forget to add the house special lavender mix;) Thank me later

Talia B.

Yelp

I don't remember what I reviewed Asha at last time, but I will say that having tried their Matcha, which is probably their forte, I really enjoy the way it's made. I wanted to give more credit to the fruit black tea but I feel like other places make that way better. I am really into the Matcha here and since it's near my office now I'm tempted to buy it all the time, however pricing wise I cannot afford to. I don't think it's that overpriced considering San Francisco and inflation but I don't think I should make it a habit to be buying a seven dollar drink that I can make at home. That said, I *can* make this matcha at home, but I have not had matcha as good as my own when I order it out, so props to this place for getting the sweetness and the matcha intensity just right, and making it a smooth experience to drink. The café itself is pretty nice, and even though it gets busy, there's a decent amount of space to sit if desired (and timed right). Also, for a place that is hand whisking their Matcha, their service is pretty fast overall.

Mary V.

Yelp

The teas are good with lots of variety in flavors. I got yuzu green tea with grass jelly (zero sweetness) and matcha with oat milk. Highly recommend the matcha; SO GOOD!!! I wish they would break the grass jelly down a bit because I received two large chunks that never made it up my straw. I prefer the balance of grass jelly with the tea instead of having them separate. Otherwise, shop is cute and service was very quick.

Ananya S.

Yelp

Came here on a Saturday morning for a treat and so enjoyed my experience. I got a iced matcha latte with strawberry purée and this was possibly the best matcha drink I've had in a long time. The matcha was tasty and very lightly sweetened and the strawberry flavor was perfect and the consistency of the purée wasn't too thick so it mixed into the drink really nicely. The space was really nicely decorated too and had some cute seating. I'll definitely be back to try more matcha drinks!!

Mira D.

Yelp

i've been wanting to try asha tea house for years after my friend raved about their milk tea in berkeley. so glad i got to come on a saturday morning! // ambiance // asha tea house is located near union square/financial district. it's a smaller interior but a really nice ambiance. there's a few tables to enjoy your drinks or pastries and you can see the baristas making your drinks. i like the dim lighting and decor--feels very cozy. // service // the cashier answered my questions about the sweetness of the hong kong milk tea. after we placed our order, our drinks were ready in three minutes // hong kong milk tea (boba, less ice, less sweet) $6.25 // i really liked their hong kong milk tea. the black tea flavor was strong and it was sweetened with condensed milk. i got less sweet because i was worried the condensed milk would make it really sweet, but it actually wasn't much. i enjoyed the less sweet version but i think regular sweet would've been good too! the boba was chewy and a good consistency. // would i reorder/return? // i would come back especially if i was looking for a boba shop in SF that has a nice ambiance and sitting. i think their tea is good quality and strong.

Tiffany T.

Yelp

I personally did not have the greatest experience at Asha :( The decor and ambiance are great and so cute! I wanted to stay longer but parking was difficult and so we had to just grab and go. While one of my friends loved her strawberry matcha latte, none of the rest of us enjoyed our drinks that much. The blueberry matcha latte lacked matcha and milk flavor in comparison to the strawberry matcha latte. You can see in the picture how much less matcha there is in the blueberry compared to the strawberry, too. My other friend and I got jasmine milk teas, which were not the best. I must preface this by saying I consider myself quite the boba connoisseur--as in, I drink more boba than I should, and have worked at two different boba shops--but I'm not a San Francisco local and am from Socal. My jasmine milk tea with lavender infusion tasted very watered down, with a lavender flavor that was overpowering compared to the jasmine flavor. In fact, I really couldn't taste the jasmine or milk flavor much at all. I so badly wanted to like this because I've been looking for quality tea leaves and was excited to see that they sold their leaves. I felt bad asking for a remake, but having worked at boba shops, I know they are usually very willing as it's not difficult to do so. I've never been to a boba shop that was not willing until now. We were told they couldn't offer a remake and something along the lines of "we should just order something else next time." The employee was also quite rude. I was just asking to dilute the lavender flavor a bit. I had not even drank more than two sips of the drink. This was pretty frustrating. Again, I'm not a local, but sadly if I am in the area I would not come back.

Claire M.

Yelp

My favorite tea place in the Bay Area! The workers are always so kind and there are usually tables to sit at to hang with friends. My go to is the matcha latte, but if you are a tea person, you can't go wrong with any of their teas.

Anusha G.

Yelp

I stopped by here, in all honesty, because of the aesthetics of this shop. I'm a huge tea fiend and I enjoy tea houses a lot. Asha seems to be a place that really cares for their tea drinks and you can taste it too. I'm a fan of Hojicha lattes and this one didn't disappoint. It was beautifully roasted and lightly sweetened just as I like it. The boba was okay but this place doesn't price itself on its topping so I wasn't too fussed about that. The staff at the cashier were super kind and offered to help me as I walked in. I also was able to ask questions freely about the merchandise they sell. Overall this place is a little expensive but definitely worth it if you want to explore new teas and have a wonderful experience. I got take out but the indoor decor was very cute and would make a wonderful catch up sport for friends.

Katie M.

Yelp

This place has always been one of my favorite boba place in the bay area - consistently delivery on quality and flavor. Their matcha latte with boba has the perfect balance between earthy notes of matcha and the chewy yet tender pearl, creating a satisfying sensation with every sip. Their fruit teas are also every refreshing with unique fruit and tea combinations - just the right burst of natural sweet and tangy notes complemented by the aromatic tea.

Lauren Y.

Yelp

Hojicha Latte Extra Shot of Hojicha +1, Half Sweet, Less Ice I like how you can add additional tea depending on your taste. I personally like stronger tea taste so the additional shot brought out the strong roasted flavor of the hojicha. The tea flavor was also balanced out with the milk. There was no powdery feeling from the hojicha.The brown sugar boba had the right qq texture and flavor. Service quick. A little more expensive than the usual boba but good quality. Worth it.

Victor C.

Yelp

one of my goto boba spots in SF whenever I'm in that Union Square area! (Especially now that I'm working only a few blocks away )Asha Tea House is a staple boba shop that's very focused on their craft of tea, and their extensive matcha/house tea options showcase this! They do boba and more traditional teas, showcasing a wide range of teas from China and Japan which also makes them a great place for sourcing any loose leaf teas. My usual gotos are a Hong Kong Milk Tea, an Asian Pear Matcha Latte, or a Hojicha Latte, all with boba, and they're definitely on the less sweet side compared to a lot of boba places (especially for Hong Kong Milk Tea which tends to be sweeter). Boba texture is chewy and not too sweet, and the tea quality is strong. There's some seating inside but not the most, but could be a decent WFH spot (no wifi there post-reopening). Definitely visit here if you're a fan of high quality tea in your boba drinks! only slight con is parking - but that's a given in the SF Union Square area, there's not really anywhere great to park so it's def a better shop to visit if you're already in the area unless you want to try a quick park and pick up online order with a friend (which I have too many times...)

Akiko I.

Yelp

- Locale Destination - It's on Geary st and Kearny St, Union square, SF. Ambiance: modern, clean. Some inside seating for tea and work. Service: friendly Menu: normal tea to higher-end tea w boba Parking: probably within a block for parking structure - Gluttony Expedition - Yuzu jasmine tea: I didn't think it stirred well, so it was too sweet at the beginning and not sweet for the rest.. Another floral tea: it was just a tea bag and weak. - Conqueror's Deduction - We just went to a fine Chinese tea place, so the quality difference is just severe. If you tried a really high-end Chinese tea, you'll know what I'm talking about. Complex, elegant, and pure quality - that's the way it should be. Overpriced so so tea.

Kristen B.

Yelp

Overall thoughts - slightly expensive, and tea flavors aren't strong enough I love hojicha so whenever I see an option to order it I will! I got the hojicha latte and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed. The tea flavor was very weak - it tasted more like a flavored milk than anything. I rarely don't finish my drinks, but I just couldn't get myself to finish it this time. The price point is also slightly higher, but I think given the SF location it is expected. The service was fine and the interior was nicely decorated, so really the only area that fell flat for me was the drink itself. Perhaps some of their other flavors and types of drinks are better, but seems like the hojicha is a pass on this menu.

Jacob M.

Yelp

Must-try: their taro jasmine Why go? The interior design is probably one of the best in the city, between the great service and large selection of loose leaf you can't go wrong Protip: trust their sweetness recommendation!

Nancy Z.

Yelp

Awesome matcha drink spot. Love: Ginger matcha latte - unsweetened. I add the boba, which are already sweet. So it's a perfect balance. Matcha sparkler- super refreshing.

Yih R.

Yelp

I loved this tea place. It was raining and I came in to the warm joint. I ordered jasmine tea. It was very floral at first, and then the bitterness came up, so I would recommend to wait only a few mins to drink it. This place is not big, but I was lucky to get a table while waiting for my friends. I am excited to come back to try some special boba. People here are very helpful as well. I took some time to order, but the girl there was very nice and suggested me what to order next time. The place is beautiful and stylish. I am literally going back tomorrow.

Alyssa S.

Yelp

Came here on a Tuesday afternoon & got the strawberry matcha latte. It was so good!!! Not too sweet & the strawberry was the perfect addition. Service was quick. I will definitely come back to try the ube matcha latte with boba!

Kate N.

Yelp

The matcha quality is definitely there, and I didn't necessarily dislike what I had, but the experience here was odd. I had an iced blood orange matcha latte that I was very excited to try. The matcha quality is great, very earthy and robust in flavor. When I tasted the drink, the blood orange flavor wasn't very strong, so I asked if I could have some more of the flavor put in my drink. They said they couldn't because it would cost extra, so I said okay, and I would pay for extra blood orange. They then told me it was not possible because the drink was already made. I'm not gonna argue with anyone because their rules are their rules, but it was just strange that nothing could be done. I still enjoyed what I had, it just wasn't as sweet or strong in blood orange flavor as I would have liked. So heads up to anyone coming here, if you don't like how your drink came out, you're stuck with it, and you can't pay for extra syrup afterwards.

Andy N.

Yelp

Asha Tea House is one of the best boba shops in downtown SF! During a recent conference, I came here twice for boba since they serve quality tea grades for their drinks and there is less emphasis on the sweetener to complete the drink. They have a range of quality steeped teas and some mixed concoctions you choose. A few of them sounded delicious like their HK Milk Tea and their Horchata, but unfortunately those couldn't be made vegan friendly. Instead, I went with their Black Tea with a Lavender syrup and boba of course. On my return, I got their Hojicha Latte. Both of my drinks were delicious! Even as I forgot to lower the sweetener level, neither drink ever felt overly sweet, and you can really taste the tea. That doesn't mean it was bitter by any means, but a welcome change from other shops that rely purely on the artificial sweetener. Plus, the vibe inside Asha was fabulous and it made for a great location to catch up with my colleague from school. Major props to Asha and I'll be back again the next time I come up to the City.

Jenny T.

Yelp

I always love trying new boba places, so I came here over the weekend. The interiors are very pretty, and there are a lot of tables to sit at. I got the Jasmine green milk tea with tapioca. It tasted very watered down, and I could barely taste any jasmine or green tea flavor. The only thing I could taste was a slight herbal flavor. The boba was perfectly chewy but not very sweet. I think I would have to come back and try the other drinks, but I was disappointed with the one I got.

Savannah L.

Yelp

I got a sparkling strawberry lemonade it was really nice and refreshing. I'd love to come back and try some teas, they have sooooo many. The tea barista was really nice and considerate as well. I'd come back!

Julianne T.

Yelp

Super solid tea + boba spot near Union Square! They have a huge variety of teas, from milk and fruit teas to pure teas and matcha. I ordered a warm Hojicha Latte with boba. The barista was very helpful and suggested getting it warm instead of hot so that the boba straw wouldn't break down as I'm drinking it. The tea itself was very subtle and toasty with just the right amount of sweetness and creaminess. I wish the hojicha flavor was a bit stronger, but I did enjoy the gentle latte taste. The boba was perfectly chewy too! The inside of the shop is so cute, perfect spot to just relax and sip on your tea. Pricing for add-ons were on the more reasonable side for SF ($0.50 for boba/jelly, $0.25 for non-dairy milk).

Anthony D.

Yelp

A cool place to stop at if you are in the mood for more straight tea drinks rather than your typical boba shop. They do serve both milk tea and fruit tea drinks. They have diverse tea selection as well as some seasonal flavors depending. I really liked the interior and aesthetic of the shop as well. We got the Masala Chai Latte and the Asian Pear Oolong Tea. Both were pretty good and I really liked the texture of the pureed/soft asian pears put into the drink. It has a strong tea flavor with a hint of asian pear. I'd prefer it more if it had a stronger fruit flavor but it was still refreshing. The Masala Chai had a nice kick of spice to it and was really good.

John S.

Yelp

This tea place is no joke. This is not a regular coffee shop. They take tea very seriously here. The teas here are ceremonial grade and go for about $5 a cup. They use high-quality whole leaf tea. I strongly recommend going for the Matcha. Its delicious. The owners names are David and Diana. They are super friendly and have hired a wonderful staff to run the place in their absence. Asha Tea House has 3 locations... on Grand in Oakland, on University in Berkeley, and on Kearny in SF. My favorite Matcha items are (in order): #1 Matcha Latte #2 Strawberry Match Sparkler #3 Matcha Fresco Try them all!

Monica C.

Yelp

A few years ago, I discovered Asha Tea House while hanging out in Berkeley. I remember their milk tea was very good with a strong tea flavor and chewy, honey boba balls. Then, SF opened their first store and I was super excited. The drinks were strong too! Now that I tried the SF Asha Tea House again a few years after the pandemic started, I felt like the quality of the hojicha latte went down. It tasted like foamy, warm milk with a light taste of brown rice. So disappointing especially since this store was located on the busy streets of financial district. On top of this, they charged a lot for a small size. I ordered a hot hojicha latte with boba balls which came out to be $6.50 in a small compostable cup. They charged an extra $.25 cents for the paper cup which I thought was ridiculous. Hopefully, it was just that one server who did not know how to make good drinks, but from what I read on Yelp, their hojicha latte tasted like steamed milk to others as well. Maybe I would skip this location and just order Asha Tea House whenever I was in Berkeley. Note: Another crazy thing was they charge $13 for a Japanese chocolate bar!

Michelle Y.

Yelp

I like that they use real fruit that is also in-season! Their drinks are not super sweet, which makes me feel like their drinks would be perfect for Asian parents who don't like sugary desserts haha. I got the Hong Kong Milk Tea, and it was pretty good; boba had good texture too. The interior decor is pretty cool and they have a good amount of seats.

@eater

The San Francisco and East Bay Matcha Map

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@onthegrid

On the Grid : Asha Tea House

Alastor Marsh

Google

Victor Wang

Google

Jonathan Luu

Google

S Sum

Google

Lydia Cheng

Google

Cory Anderson

Google

Really amazing tea house :) great matcha (with tons of add ins), boba milk tea, herbal tea, chai, and more! Design is beautiful too!

Krishin Asnani

Google

Looks cozy and inviting from the bus stop opposite; I haven’t been here yet, but I enjoy the architecture of the neighborhood it is located in .

nabska

Google

Alastor Marsh

Google

Victor Wang

Google

Jonathan Luu

Google

S Sum

Google

Lydia Cheng

Google

Cory Anderson

Google

Really amazing tea house :) great matcha (with tons of add ins), boba milk tea, herbal tea, chai, and more! Design is beautiful too!

Krishin Asnani

Google

Looks cozy and inviting from the bus stop opposite; I haven’t been here yet, but I enjoy the architecture of the neighborhood it is located in .

nabska

Google

Susanna L.

Yelp

Julia S.

Yelp

Tiffany D.

Yelp

Laney C.

Yelp

I got the matcha latte and my boyfriend got the hojicha latte hot but both drinks weren't very flavorful or rich, and was pretty watered down.

Miranda L.

Yelp

Qinnan L.

Yelp

Elizabeth G.

Yelp

Really cute place ! It's very cozy. They have matcha,tea, coffee etc. They have self service too if you want to order yourself.

Thomas G.

Yelp

Asha has a cozy interior with friendly service. My lemonade came out pretty fast despite them being quite busy.

Raneem R.

Yelp

Nuran S.

Yelp

Joanna T.

Yelp

Sarah C.

Yelp

looks pretty but it was soo milky I could barely taste the matcha :( the strawberry puree was nice but got kind of lost once mixed in. I like the vibes of the cafe though

Jinny K.

Yelp

Nhu L.

Yelp

Didnt like the drink one bit. Just overpriced and drink isn't even good. There so much better places. In my opinion dont recommend and it a waste of money.

Karen C.

Yelp

Sarah C.

Yelp

James T.

Yelp

Great ambiance and wonderful staff. Come for the tea and stay for the teaware and selection to take home

Stephanie Z.

Yelp

Michelle Z.

Yelp

Anh-Dao T.

Yelp

Tim Y.

Yelp

Keira C.

Yelp

Love! One of our favorite places to get matcha or hojicha drinks, or even chai lattes! They use superior quality ingredients from Japan resulting in strong flavors. Service here is also awesome!

Joe H.

Yelp

Demi S.

Yelp

Amazing atmosphere, especially for studying. You must try the iced matcha latte with almond milk and don't forget to add the house special lavender mix;) Thank me later

Talia B.

Yelp

Mary V.

Yelp

Ananya S.

Yelp

Mira D.

Yelp

Tiffany T.

Yelp

Claire M.

Yelp

Anusha G.

Yelp

Katie M.

Yelp

Lauren Y.

Yelp

Victor C.

Yelp

Akiko I.

Yelp

Kristen B.

Yelp

Jacob M.

Yelp

Nancy Z.

Yelp

Awesome matcha drink spot. Love: Ginger matcha latte - unsweetened. I add the boba, which are already sweet. So it's a perfect balance. Matcha sparkler- super refreshing.

Yih R.

Yelp

Alyssa S.

Yelp

Kate N.

Yelp

Andy N.

Yelp

Jenny T.

Yelp

Savannah L.

Yelp

Julianne T.

Yelp

Anthony D.

Yelp

John S.

Yelp

Monica C.

Yelp

Michelle Y.

Yelp

Asha Tea House

Asha Tea House

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