BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A growing restaurant franchise, with more than 50 locations across the country, will soon be welcoming foodies in Northampton County.
The first Lehigh Valley location of Taichi Bubble Tea, offering hand-crafted bubble tea, poke bowls, ramen and rice boxes, will hold a soft opening at 11 a.m. Friday at 21 E. Third St. in Bethlehem, franchise owner Grace Sun said.
Taichi Bubble Tea, established in 2015, blends authentic Asian flavors with modern twists and has grown to more than 50 locations across the United States over the past 10 years.
A location of Taichi Bubble Tea is coming soon to East Third Street in south Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
Restaurants operating close to the Lehigh Valley include those in Glen Mills, Delaware County; and Exton, Chester County.
In south Bethlehem, Taichi Bubble Tea occupies an updated space that previously housed other fast-casual eateries, including Toastique and, most recently, Café Crewy.
“I’ve wanted to open my own restaurant for many years,” Sun said.
“I dreamed of owning my own ramen or noodle house, and I love bubble tea as well. So, when I discovered Taichi, I fell in love with it because I think it’s the perfect blend of so many great flavors and items. I’m excited to bring it to the Lehigh Valley and give the people around here more high-quality options.”
Taichi Bubble Tea
Taichi offers a wide array of customizable, made-to-order dishes.
For example, guests ordering a poke bowl start by choosing their rice (white, brown, white rice with sesame or brown rice with sesame) before then picking their protein (salmon, tuna, shrimp, chicken, bacon, spicy tuna, spicy salmon, crab meat or organic tofu) and other components such as lettuce, red cabbage, spinach or kale.
Additional add-ins include your choice of at least one flavor (spicy mayo, wasabi sauce, Thousand Island, ponzu, eel sauce, yuzu, Thai sweet chili, mango sauce or chili hot sauce) and up to 16 other ingredients (pickled radish, cucumber, cream cheese, avocado, red onions, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, mushroom, white onions, jalapeno, edamame, black beans, corn, olives or carrots).
There are also optional topping selections such as masago, mango, wasabi, green onion, seaweed salad, ginger and cilantro; and crunch options such as fried onion, fried garlic, fried wonton noodle and teriyaki seaweed.
Taichi Bubble Tea
“We also have a lot of ramen options, like miso, tonkotsu and spicy tonkotsu, as well as rice boxes with veggies and your choice of protein, including chicken, beef, shrimp and eel,” Sun said.
Other menu highlights include appetizers such as fried chicken karaage, yakitori chicken skewers and gyoza (pork, shrimp or veggie); milk tea such as brown sugar, coconut, honeydew, matcha and taro; and fruit tea such as kiwi, kumquat, lychee, mango, passionfruit, pineapple and strawberry.
Drinks can also be customized with ice amount and toppings such as tapioca pearls, herb jelly, fruit jelly, passionfruit boba, crystal boba, pudding and red bean.
“With 50+ locations across the U.S., we’re proud to offer a vibrant, customizable experience where every meal and drink brings people together,” reads a message on the business’ website.
The new Bethlehem location will offer seating for around 40 guests at booths, counters and tables with chairs.
Take-out service also will be available, and customers will be able to place orders in-person at the counter or at a digital kiosk, Sun said.
Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Ryan Kneller
A grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 15, Sun said.
Taichi will join a growing number of Asian dining spots on East Third Street, including Shang Wei Szechuan, U & Tea, 24 East Asian Bistro, Hocaa Bubble Tea, Hi Pot and Mister Lee’s Noodles (temporarily closed).
Other customizable options include ramen dishes such as miso, spicy miso and tonkotsu
“We also have a lot of ramen options, like miso, tonkotsu and spicy tonkotsu, as well as rice boxes with veggies and your choice of protein, including chicken, beef, shrimp and eel,” Sun said.
Other menu highlights include appetizers such as shrimp tempura, vegetable spring rolls and popcorn chicken; milk tea such as brown sugar, coconut, honeydew, matcha and taro; and fruit tea such as kiwi, lychee, mango, passionfruit, pineapple and strawberry.
Drinks can also be customized with ice amount and toppings such as tapioca pearls, herb jelly, fruit jelly, passionfruit boba, crystal boba, pudding and red bean.
“With 50+ locations across the U.S., we’re proud to offer a vibrant, customizable experience where every meal and drink brings people together,” reads a message on the business’ website.
The new Bethlehem location will offer seating for around 40 guests at booths, counters and tables with chairs.
Take-out service also will be available, and customers will be able to place orders in-person at the counter or at a digital kiosk, Sun said.
Taichi will join a growing number of Asian dining spots on East Third Street, including Shang Wei Szechuan, U & Tea, 24 East Asian Bistro, Hocaa Bubble Tea, Hi Pot and Mister Lee’s Noodles (temporarily closed).