Tapioca Express

I’ll admit it, I love going to Tapioca Expresses wherever they may be. They always have a variety of refreshing drinks to choose from and for the most part most locations serve some sort of snack/​meal.
If I happen to be in the Galleria area, this is my stop for a refreshing beverage, but a lot has changed with this place since I moved to Houston (2 years ago). The people who used to work the counter were friendly and held conversations with their customers, now you can hardly get a smile out of the counter person let alone feel welcomed. It’s changed into a what do you want and pay up kind of deal and minimal interactions. The place also has a weird smell to it. I didn’t notice it when I first walked into the place 2 years ago, but as time has passed and renovations were made and I don’t know if there was a management change as well, but now this place has a distinct odor that I can’t quite put my finger on. Some parts of me think it may come from a backup in the sewage system, which does not sound appealing at all especially if you’re ordering drinks and food at the location.
The drinks here are always good and they put the right amount of tapioca or jellies so it doesn’t take up too much of the drink. The crispy chicken is definitely bigger here than the Westpark location, but the flavor is better at Westpark. There are times when the place is crowded due to a number of students studying or people just hanging out and catching up on their lives.
I’ll be back for more, but with that smell I can only stay for so long. So I’ll order my drink and snacks and hang out somewhere else.

I used to visit Tapioca Express at least once a week when I was in school a few years ago. Back then it was cozy but spacious and great ambience for studying. Well, a lot has changed since then. I went there today and some remodeling seems to have taken place. For some reason, however, the place looks smaller. They built a «game room» in the back and I guess that’s taking a lot of space. They now serve food, which they didnt do before. I ordered the crispy chicken and rice combo MILD. It wasnt the best, my mild chicken was spicy. The guy at the counter was not really friendly, made me wait a while to give me the password to the wireless network and really didnt seem to want to be there. I did not see one smile from that side of the counter all three hours I was there! It was a little quiet, if not for the loud blending of the drinks. I have been to better coffee houses, but I guess Tapioc Express is ok.

This is why I come home to Houston. Not for the Rockets, not for the Astros, and not for my old neighborhood. For milk tea. Yah, it’s made in Austin too. In fact, there are two different places that make it close to my apartment. But those don’t have my Honey, Almond or Jasmine. Are you listening, Coco? Do not want.
What you’ll find here at TE:
— Extensive range of milk tea flavors, with adorable baby animal covers and large or small tapioca balls (go ahead and get that out of your system).
— Food: large bowls of noodle soup, eggrolls, small sweets and fried mushrooms with ranch. Scalding, but good once you poke ‘em.
— Games: Scrabble among other board games, then an entire blue-​lit room in the back for LAN parties.
— 15 min. minimum internet time included with any order. This means you can (roughly) send an email, pick up your nommy tea, update your status for somebody to read, write a short review, or flag somebody.
Don’t flag me.