Cherry Hill has long been a destination for mall shoppers, suburban explorers, and bubble tea enthusiasts seeking their next fix. It’s the Princeton of South Jersey, only with way more tapioca pearls. But the bubble tea scene? It often leaves something to be desired—until now.
Kung Fu Tea
$ | (856) 532-0044 | WEBSITE
Cherry Hill isn’t just a great place to grab a quick drink—it’s a boba destination worth planning a trip. The move at this counter-service spot is to come with friends for an afternoon treat. That way, you’ll be able to order a bit of everything: Peach Oolong tea, Mango slush, and a cup or two of their caffeinated Thai ice tea. Just make sure to include their crispy chicken popcorn.
We like it served fresh and perfectly seasoned, a satisfying snack that’s sure to please even the pickiest of tea enthusiasts. Yes, we’re looking at you, boba purists.
Rayaki Ramen Cherry Hill
$ | (856) 520-8629 | WEBSITE
A break from the usual ramen spots? Head to Rayaki Ramen Cherry Hill. This anime-themed restaurant has waffle fries, chicken Bao down, ramen, and other things you’d want to eat after a long day. But we usually focus on their pork belly bao buns. From tender and flavorful pork belly bao buns to lychee tea and banana milk tea with bubbles, Rayaki’s offerings are more modest in size than some places, but offer a lot more fun.
If you want to dine in, Rayaki has an open seating layout where you can relax in the cozy environment and sip bubble tea.
Bubblelicious Lab
$ | (856) 489-9898 | WEBSITE
The custom bubble tea experience is basically a Cherry Hill way of life, and Bubblelicious Lab is where the locals get theirs. This place has a fun and modern lab theme, with bar-style seating, a wall featuring various drink options, and a surprisingly well-decorated, laptop-friendly atmosphere. If you see the create-your-own station, try it.
It’s simple—with a choice of drinks like cold or hot tea, milk tea, yogurt drinks, or smoothies, plus different flavors, sweetness levels, and toppings—and not too expensive, and if you bring your kids, you can pretend you’re all mad scientists in a flavor lab.
Cloud9 Tea
$ | (856) 754-9999 | WEBSITE
There’s no shortage of quality bubble tea spots in Cherry Hill. But for our money, it doesn’t get better than Cloud9 Tea. From the passion fruit green tea to the peach slush with boba, everything at this cozy family-owned shop is fantastic. There will definitely be a wait during peak hours, but you will not care. The atmosphere is welcoming, there’s friendly conversation in the air, and you can smell the fresh ingredients from your spot in line.
Shangri La
$ | (856) 428-5866 | WEBSITE
A general rule of thumb is that the closer a restaurant is to a strip mall, the more generic the food is. And if the restaurant is actually in the strip mall? Forget it. Shangri La, however, bucks the trend. This cozy neighborhood spot has a simple, crowd-pleasing menu filled with fresh, kind-of-hearty dishes like shrimp wonton soup and pad Thai—nothing groundbreaking, but good enough to get the job done. Plus, those friendly staff and quick service never hurt.
If you want a quintessential Cherry Hill experience without having to break the bank, Shangri La is a reliable option.
Mr. Wish Barclay Farms
$ | (856) 428-2492 | WEBSITE
Mr. Wish at Barclay Farms is a bubble tea spot that draws a steady stream of travelers and locals, and though this location might not have the bustling energy of a downtown tea house, the constant flow of customers will still keep things lively. You’ll spot airport shuttle riders grabbing last-minute drinks before their flights, and regulars who seem to know the entire menu by heart. Mr. Wish is more than just a convenient pit stop, though—the drinks are genuinely good, too.
Do your best not to get distracted by their wide selection of boba teas, start with the hot coconut milk with red bean and sago for something comforting, then try whatever creative recommendation the friendly staff suggests—they’re particularly helpful with dietary restrictions.
You Cha cafe LLC
$ | (856) 888-2668 | WEBSITE
Did you really think we were going to start this list with anyplace else? You Cha cafe LLC is the unofficial bubble tea spot of Cherry Hill. Combine fresh poke bowls you build yourself, the most welcoming little space in town, and regulars chatting with the passionate owner, and you’ve got a neighborhood gem brought to life. To be clear, you are going to spend very little money here. Almost no money.
But this is the flagship cafe of affordable freshness, where you sip taro boba tea made with real taro in a clean, calm space that could belong to your favorite aunt—and oh look, someone just ordered another crunchy pork onigiri.
Gong cha – Cherry Hill Mall
$ | (856) 662-2188 | WEBSITE
Whenever we need a break from the chaos of shopping, we head to Gong cha. Right in the Cherry Hill Mall, it’s in a modern storefront that’s clean and bright, decked out with a minimalist aesthetic not unlike a tech startup cafe. The menu stays pretty consistent, but generally involves lychee green tea with tapioca and the unique ‘Bloody Taro’ drink. The latter is described as tasting like a mixed berry Oreo cookie mixed drink.
The fast and efficient counter service is self-service, but you can also take it to-go, which is more of a grab-and-go operation where you find a parking spot and watch shoppers patrol the lot.
Ten asian food hall
$ | (856) 330-4695 | WEBSITE
Let us be clear—Ten Asian Food Hall does not have the friendliest service in Cherry Hill. And that 25-minute wait they recommend can feel like an eternity. That said, once you actually taste the food, all that fades away. Most Korean spots in Cherry Hill advertise themselves as having great chicken, but Ten Asian Food Hall is the only one with wings this perfectly crispy. And if you think you want anything else besides digging into those honey garlic wings with a side of fries, you’re wrong.
Mr. Wish – Route 38W
$ | (856) 484-3001 | WEBSITE
Cherry Hill’s Route 38W is lined with strip malls, chain restaurants, and, our favorite stop, Mr. Wish, a bubble tea cafe that serves the best drinks in town, which get packed by evening. Their secret is the fruit: fresh mango pulp imported from the tropics. The options are different each visit, from passion fruit green tea with boba to colorful fruit tea with chunks of apple, kiwi, and pineapple. There’s no need for a menu, so you just have to walk in and see what they’re blending.
And grab a custard waffle while you’re there—the staff is also skilled on the waffle iron.
