Banh Mi Che Cali: 6.75/10

Boba boba boba... banh mi? We decided to stop by Banh Mi Che Cali today to get some boba FOR CHEAPZ. If you don't already go here for their sandwiches and other Viet deli items, I'd recommend it. Especially because you will not drop more than a honest Abe ($5 bill) on a light meal. The only item I would not recommend is their banh pate chaud (apologies for lack of textual accent marks) because it has a slice of sausage inside instead of ground pork. So wrong. ANYWHO, we review boba. This place is limited to only milk tea with tapioca pearls, but IT IS BOGO for $2.25 ($2.45 w/ tax). Bottoms up.

Milk tea w/ tapioca pearls.

BANH MI CHE CALI (ALHAMBRA)

Drink Taste: 7.5/10

Boba: 6.5/10

Cost-to-Size: 9.0/10

Available Drink Options: 4.0/10

Available Food Options: Viet cuisine

Customer Service: 6.0/10

Ambience: 6.0/10

Recommended: Yes, especially for the budget-saavy or someone wanting a quick lunch

Summary of Scores: Even though their milk tea comes from a spout, it has a surprisingly pleasant depth and richness which makes for good milk tea. Good balance of sweetness, imo. Today's boba was pleasant with its chewy consistency. However, mentioning that today's was good... Banh Mi Che Cali definitely has off days where the boba is overcooked and sad. Their boba is mini and not flavored, which I'm indifferent about. Cost is excellent, where two 16oz milk teas are $2.45 with tax. You get the portion control and when split with a friend, you get boba for super cheapz. Food options are great, with the various banh mis, pastries, noodles, and rice dishes. Drink options are literally: milk tea (w/tapioca), green milk tea (no tapioca)... and I do not remember the other two. But really, your only boba option is the milk tea. Though I'm sure they'll add tapioca to the green milk tea at your request, but you may be charged extra. Since Banh Mi Che Cali is so cheap, with so many options, it is always busy. So customer service and ambience is lacking. Overall, the recommendation is a definite yes for the going in-and-out for a quick and affordable meal.

Overall Experience: 6.75/10

It was hard to give an overall score because BMCC is not a boba specialty shop. Their boba is not outstanding, but the drink will still hit the spot and the price/convenience is fantastic. Therefore, a 6.75 was the most fair score for BMCC relative to other boba places reviewed. I hope you agree! :)

-T

Half & Half Tea Express: 6.5/10

Greetings Boba Friends! It's been a long time, apologies. Apologies to Esther as well because I am stealing her review (though she will write one about Ten Ren this upcoming break, keep your eyes peeled). This was my first Half & Half experience, versus Twee and Esther's one thousandth time. To me it was "aight". And I'm aware of the Half & Half die-hards, like Twee. Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe my taste buds be lackin'. Maybe it's because we were at the Express location. Maybe I should give Half & Half another try. Either way, there's always a shoulda coulda woulda situation. But I will attempt to justify my score to you now.

The Half & Half specialty.
Photo credz to Esther.

HALF & HALF TEA EXPRESS (PASADENA)

Drink Taste: 7.0/10

Boba: 7.0/10

Cost-to-Size: 7.0/10

Available Drink Options: 9.0/10

Available Food Options: Not Existent

Customer Service: 6.0/10

Ambience: 6.0/10

Recommended: Sure... if you're in Old Town. 

Summary of Scores: I got the milk tea with boba and pudding. The milk tea was good but nothing remarkable. Boba was good because it was honey flavored and warm. Though I think the whole "drinking boba while it's warm" is still... not kosher. But peeps be in to that, and all the power to 'em. Their cups are squat and reasonably priced for their size. I don't like the cups since they don't fit in most car cup holders. IF ANYTHING BRINGS YOU HERE -- let it be their drink options, it gets pretty crazy. Apeshit crazy. Such as strawberry jam topping... yogurt tea... ginger milk tea... I consider Half & Half the Phoebe in Friends. No food, probably due to its "expressness". Since I like food, I docked for this. Customer service, meh, not great. The cashier gave me the wrong change and the dude that made my drink was a robot. I'm no princess but the environment was not as welcoming if compared to other places. Ambience score is a given. Express location = coziness is impossible. 

Overall Experience: 6.5/10

In retrospect, my score might be a tad harsh. But we gotta dish some tough love sometimes. I also think this location just did not have a chance because it was an "express". However, I do dig their mini menus. I also like their spunk. If you choose to try this place, look for mine, Esther's, and Twee's initials scratched into a table! You can see it etched in our image above ("TET"). HAPPY NEW YEAR! Get it?

-T