As a teenager, NYC boba shops were my go-to hangouts after school. I once waited an hour in line with friends when Tiger Sugar, a Taiwanese bubble tea chain, opened in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Today, a generation of boba kids has grown up, some dedicating themselves to their own drink ventures. Every time I walk by a small Kung Fu Tea, Vivi, or a HeyTea, and I see young kids inside, I realize another generation of Asian youth can find solace inside these shops, through the teensy promise of a cup of black sesame latte or strawberry matcha.
Today’s options have bigger footprints than the mom-and-pop shops of my youth. We are in the heyday of boba coffee shops opening in Chinatowns across New York City, ventures combining two vibrant drink cultures under one roof. They’re often established Chinese chains, such as Cotti, Luckin, and Mixue. These shops have eliminated the need to choose between sitting down at a cafe or a grab-and-go boba shop. These chains market themselves not on cultural authenticity or boba’s Taiwanese roots, but on scale — how many people they can reach and how efficiently they can reach them. As these shops establish themselves in NYC Chinatowns, offering caffeine and sugar on a budget, here are some of the highlights.
804 56th Street, at Eighth Avenue, Brooklyn
In May 2025, Cotti Coffee opened its first NYC storefront in Sunset Park, a neighborhood with a strong working-class Chinese presence. It has since opened more storefronts in Bensonhurst, Chinatown, Chelsea, and Williamsburg. Cotti Coffee comes from former Luckin workers and also originated in China. The brand is now among the three biggest coffee shops in the world, with 18,000 stores in 28 countries. Cotti Coffee on Eighth Avenue is a hole-in-the-wall shop. The menu includes fruit coffees, lattes, teas, and frappes with prices ranging from $3 for the classic coffees to $5 and $6 for lattes and fruit coffees. These drinks are brightly colored, with coffee diffusing into a pop of orange or foamy white striped with syrupy lines. Order either a medium or dark roast Americano, or the orange Americano, as I did.
221 Grand Street, at Elizabeth Street, Manhattan
China’s largest coffee brand, Luckin Coffee opened its NYC storefront in June 2025, one of 26,000 stores around the world. Inside, boba shop cues disappear. When I visited, there was no friendly but bored East Asian woman at the counter taking orders, who might occasionally drop a word in Mandarin. The minimalist Ikea-esque decor was a far cry from the glossy white tiles and bright colors of boba shops of Chinatown from an earlier era. You can only order on their app or online; the servers don’t take orders in-store. The menu breaks down into four categories: fruity Americanos, barista coffees, signature lattes, and matchas. I could get my first drink for $0.99; then, lattes between $7 and $8, variations of Kyoto matchas for around $7. A drip coffee is priced at $3.80, and a cold brew is priced at $5.20. Like Cotti, Luckin’ emphasizes its high-quality coffee beans, and its single-origin offerings are clearly labeled: the Yirgacheffe Americano, for instance, uses beans from a region in Ethiopia known for “delicate, floral, and tea-like, with shimmery citrus notes,” according to Bean Box, a coffee subscription service. The seating in the store invites customers to stick around. Luckin offers a choice of croissants, cookies, and muffins, between $5 and $6. Most recently, Luckin is reportedly acquiring the coffee chain, Blue Bottle.
266 Canal Street, between Broadway and Lafayette Street, Manhattan
Upon arriving outside of Mixue’s Chinatown location, a large red store banner featuring a smiling snowman greets customers with a tune in the background that would give “Baby Shark” a run for its money. The cutesy maximalist shop founded in China in 1997 specializing in ice cream and tea-based drinks is a stark contrast to the minimalist style of Cotti or Luckin. Inside, there is a long line and no seats. Mixue’s website highlights one of its strengths as its own supply chain, which allows it to mass-produce all key ingredients, from dairy and sugar to coffee and tea. Bestsellers include the $2.49 Mixue fresh lemonade and the Mixue ice cream, a $1.19 soft serve. My friend and I ordered their sundae, which cost $3.49; milk teas are $4.49. Mixue has 45,000 stores worldwide.