Tapioca Express

I’m pretty familiar with TapEx back in my hometown so I was excited to see this place open up so close to me!
But this franchise, like most people mentioned, isn’t quite similar to its Californian counterparts. They offer similar drinks but they cater to more of Filipino food aficionados, compared to the Taiwanese snacks that are found elsewhere. With longanisa fries and sisig, I’m not complaining.
The drinks are not bad but not that great. I like being able to taste the tea in my milk tea but unfortunately of the drinks I’ve tried, they’re either too milky or watered down. HOWEVER, I do recommend asking for your milk tea to be «blended.» Basically where they ice blend your milk tea into sort of a smoothie. It tastes great and it’s the easiest way to cool you down on a hot day!
Overall, it’s OooOoookay. Would probably come back just because of the space they offer to do work.

First and foremost i liked boba tea and this place was close to us. The cashier or order taker was grumpy young lady. I asked one question since its my first time here and she gave me a mean look while answering my question. It wasnt even busy so i don’t know what’s her problem. Then the person making the drinks was also grumpy, banging kitchen stuff. None of them smiled or welcomed us.
To the owner or manager, pls teach your staff customer service.
The drinks were alright. I ordered chocolate but tasted like it’s old.
Place doesn’t look clean.
Wont come back because of the attitude of the servers.

Tapioca express has been my go to spot for years since discovering it in San Diego. To me they’ve always had one of the best almond milk tea boba drinks and I can’t get enough of their crispy chicken as well! One of the best combo snacks out there!

This TapEx provides a nice place to study, the room room is spacious and mostly quiet. It is never too crowded because they do a lot of grab and goes.
This particular TapEx includes a lot of fusion Filipino delicacies such as Sisig Fries and Filipino variations on American snacks. So aside from your typical boba favorites, you can also get a quick meal here if you choose to.
My favorites at Tap Ex: Thai Tea Snow Bubbles, which is pretty much a Thai Tea flavored slushie, perfect for a hot day. I also like their french fries because they sprinkle the Asian spiced seasoning on it.
This place is not the place for super good boba, but they definitely get the job done and offers a variation to a café type setting.

I write this review as a former employee and fan of original Tapioca Express franchises back in Cali.
Sure this place had the logo and menu, but unfortunately falls far short of my expectations for a Tapioca Express, quality and customer service wise.
Customer service is atrocious by my standards. I’ve felt like I’m more nuisance than welcome on the few times I’ve been here. Also, when ordering for take out, check for straws because they’ve never put straws in there for me.
Drink quality, I notice that their blended drinks always have bubble caps rather than the sealed lid. Big no no on drink quality based on the measurements used to make blended drinks. If you have that much extra product after blending a drink, I guarantee you added way too much ice and your drink will taste watered down.
2 stars for the boba consistency, food, and nostalgia, but this is not the Tapioca Express I’m used to.
If you still want to check it out, try the squid balls and anything with their fries (though be ready for oil). Everything else is pretty average and you can do better at other boba shops in the Vegas Valley.

I got a taro icy from a pretty unhelpful teenage cashier. It was not that good. My boyfriend got a different flavor and he didn’t like his either. I wouldn’t go back. They get two stars for being fast.

I love their avocado snow bubble with boba and the spicy crispy chicken snack. Depending on who’s working their customer service skills could use some work. Last time I went in I stood there about 3 minutes while the 2 workers were talking to each other and on their cell phones. Like really what if I was the owner walking in. Anyway I’ll probably be back though when I have a craving.

I don’t mind boba/​bubble tea but since it’s often laden with sugar I tend to stay away from it. Tapioca Express isn’t bad at all, it is a different boba from the norm.
What I like about Tapioca Express is not only do you have drinks, but they have a selective menu of finger foods too! Almost like a little bistro type atmosphere. But honestly we stopped by here after a HUGE meal in Seafood City consisting of goodies from Grill City & Crispy Town. I was already stuffed! But the kid wanted a sweet drink to wash it all down. Nothing like spending $ 5 on copious amounts of sugar water! Oh, and tapioca balls.
I’ll give them this, their boba is smaller in size that just about all other places, making it much easier to drink through a smaller straw. But I dunno, I’m just not all that into boba anymore! I’ve done enough tapioca ball chewin’ to gain myself like 5 pounds back then. I drop all that sugar & starch… I drop weight. Plus I’m not on a sugar high! I just go back to sugar-​free Red Bull or Monster when I have to ha ha ha!
I don’t remember what flavor boba smoothie we got, but I’m pretty sure one of the flavors was ube. We halved it with another flavor. I took a few sips. Smoothie had good consistency, almost like a Slurpee & the boba was chewy but not too chewy. Kid liked it, I thought it was OK. Nothing I’m gonna drive all the way across town for. Like spending money on some hipster drinks? Go to Tapioca Express! Yes… at the time there were also hipsters hanging out.
But I may have to go back to try some of the food on their menu, looks tasty! Boy do I have a hard time resisting them croquettes…
#bobalife

I love this place! Specially their CHI CHI FRIES && PORK SISIG with rice are diggitybomb !!

Huh. never had a bubble tea I didn’t like. until today that is. I had a chance to try both the honey and the almond milk tea. They both tasted strongly of pre-​made mix and not fresh at all, mind you I wouldn’t count myself as overly picky either. Perhaps in the past this was the best you could get around here, but there are much better options within ~5 minutes of this place, and a metric ton of options if you’re willing to go a little further into Chinatown. I did not try any snacks or food here so I can’t comment on that.
To their credit I did find the boba to be a nice consistency (soft but not soggy) and the people working there were polite and helpful.

Wow!!! Vegas is the foodie n entertainment capital of the world! So many choices n varieties. Tapioca Express is one of those Boba Tea House that is above the rest of the pack. Their ingredients r fresh new natural. Not like so many Boba Drink stores that use artificial flavorings. I love the extensive selections of drinks which includes teas, juices, smoothies, shave ice, tea lushes, expressos, milk teas, n import sodas. Their snacks r great too, just wish they have more selection n not the norm I can find in another Boba place! But their specialty drinks like the Fruit Yogurt Frost Smoothies will keep me coming back for more!!!

This place wouldn’t be able to stay open in Chinatown. I like that they’re one of the few spots that offers the small boba, but if your tea is mediocre it doesn’t really matter. I prefer my tea drinks on the less-​sweet side and here it seems like everything is made to be a dessert, even if you don’t order a snow drink. Multiple orders for less sweet and «barely sweet at all» did not seem to be heeded. Not a fan.

I was able to leave UNLV just in time to stop by here! I wanted to try the hot & new Chewy Boba spot by missed it by half an hour. I use to be such a fan of Tapioca Express growing up when going to the Bobulard Mall was the thing to do and the middle of the food court had Tapioca Express kiosk! The good olé days when your only concerns as a teen are what your next outfit is and what spot to eat at at the food court while you’re at the mall!
I initially came here to get Thai Ice Tea with BOBA because Lotus of Siam doesn’t carry boba. That’s where I was picking dinner up. I love the consistency of their drinks! Regardless of location your drink will always taste as good as your first day. Also, when your traveling from UNLV to Northwest their spill proof sealed cups are great. I prefer coming here instead of my other usual Boba spot Tea Station because although they’re both busy Tapioca Express always serves you in a timely manner. Although the customer service can improve if your in the mood for a delicious cold or hot drink then stop by! The prices are fair game as well! They had some fun facts about Tapioca Pearls that I snapped a photo of!
The boba is prepared just right not soggy or extra slimy!

Tapioca Express reminds me of my youth. Back in 2002 my love affair with boba drinks began. In Cali, TapEx was thee shhhhhit. Pretty much the gold standard for boba drinks at the time. That was the life, listening to Beyonce’s crazy in love, sippin’ on some boba, chatting on AIM, while downloading illegal music… and no adult responsibilities.
Anywho, Vegas finally has TapEx as of last year?! Still the same! In a good way. It’s a solid chain. Can’t complain. Service is always so-​so.
TapEx is still cool because they are the only ones in town that have hazelnut snow bubble, mini boba, and decent spicy popcorn chicken!
The overall space inside is great. For a boba shop, plenty of seating!
Who is in the mood for a sugar high? TapEx advertises drink specials like: green tea kit kat, ferrero rocher, and tareo (taro+oreo?!). TapEx also offers more food items than other places, including some Filipino inspired dishes.
Side notes:
— I only order two things: caramel or hazelnut snow bubble. Same thing forever. It’s good and comforting. Not mind blowing.
— I have tried: earl grey milk tea. Not impressed. Actually, I dislike their milk teas here.
This is one of those places that I don’t make a special trip for. That means only if I am in the area shopping for Asian groceries lol.

I just love how convenient this place is and how close it is to UNLV. I’ve been here a number of times and each visit did not disappoint!
When you walk in, you’ll notice how spacious this place is and how clean it is. When you go to the register, you’ll notice a little black board filled with daily specialty drinks. When I went, they had captain crunch and nerds added to their board. Seemed very interesting to try later on.
I always, ALWAYS, always order the cantaloupe smoothie here. It is to die for if you’re a big fan of cantaloupe. Their coconut and yogurt drinks are amazing as well, but I stuck with my usual and ordered the cantaloupe smoothie. Since I was also hungry, what better way to pair it off with the crispy chicken rice plate (extra spicy please!). I always have the hardest time choosing between the crispy chicken rice and the longanisa fries because they’re both so yummy!
Such deliciousness in my mouth.
Food:
The crispy chicken rice plate consists of:
Chicken, steamed veggies, two scoops of rice, and an egg to top it all off. (Very filling)
This will always be one of my go to spots if I’m craving cantaloupe or near school. The workers have always been consistent with their service, food, and drinks. Will definitely see this place again sometime soon since I’m craving cantaloupe again!

Went 9−10−15 around 6PM cuz’ I was craving boba!
$ 11.60 got me some chicken fries and a large jasmine tea with boba.
The fries were great… hot and crispy. They were topped with some delicious popcorn-​sized pieces of fried chicken, cheese, and some kind of sauce. You can choose your level of spicy.
Years ago, Banquet made these fried, breaded, barbecue chicken wings that were outta this world good and I was on a perpetual search for them until I found out they don’t make them anymore. The chicken on these fries tasted exactly like the Banquet chicken. I was in heaven. The cashier said it comes with water or plain tea unless you want to upgrade to a fancy-​schmancy drink.
The jasmine tea… meh. I’m kind of a beginner in the world of boba but every other jasmine tea I’ve had from different places came already sweetened. The milk tea here did not. Note to self… next time ask for some Splenda. By the time I got it home the milk was curdling and separating from the tea. It still tasted fine, though. But the boba was reaaaaal mushy-​there was no texture left to it. Kinda turned me off.
Pretty neat place… can’t wait to take my husband here!

Great spot for studying or get some work done. It has outlets and was very spacious. This is one of my favorite spots to get crispy chicken snack.
There is a self serve water pot which is a big plus. I don’t like bothering busy workers for water.
The parking lot is only 30 – 60 min parking. If you wanna stay longer, use the unlimited underground parking.

Being a full-​time college student, I’m always on a hunt for a study spot with good drinks and food. Tapioca Express is conveniently located by UNLV, and its ample parking, wide selection of food and drinks along with lots of tables to study makes for my ideal study spot. Unfortunately, the quality of their drinks and customer service seems to be going downhill and I have been disappointed lately.
SERVICE
First off, some girls here got major attitude. I am a huge fan of milk teas and have tried many of the milk teas here. My most favorite (and sadly one and only drink I like from here) is their oolong milk tea. The problem is… they’ve been out of oolong tea for what feels like an eternity. Probably ever since dinosaurs existed. Too long!
Back in May, I kindly asked one of the girl if they have oolong tea back and she goes «Ooohhh, we are probably not getting it back for a loooong loooooooong time» with rude and snarky attitude. It made me want to choke on boba and walk out of here. She could’ve apologized for the shortage or at least be a little bit more professional.
I have also overheard these servers talking smack about customers. Unprofessionalism at its finest.
DRINKS
As stated above, I only like oolong milk tea here. It is one and only milk teas here that you can actually taste the tea. Their black milk tea is extremely sweet and taste very artificial. Not even a slightest taste of tea. Jasmine milk tea is ok, has a really distinct and weird taste that I am not a fan of. Other milk teas taste artificial as well, like it is made from powder and syrups.
I do enjoy the boba here. Has the perfect texture every visit. I also got to try their mini boba for the very first time. Personally not a fan but a lot of people seems to enjoy it.
CONCLUSION
Oolong milk tea seems to be the only thing worth coming to this place but they’ve been out for a while… I can’t speak for other drinks such as slushes or flavored teas since I have yet to try them but I am not sure if I want to deal with the servers here.

First time ever going to a Tapioca express. I know bubble tea and boba drinks pretty well (drink them all the time and make them as well). I ordered the milk tea, the hubby ordered a vietnamese coffee and one of our boys ordered the Ferrero rocher shake. All our drinks was good and tapioca was cooked perfectly.
I wished we had time and space in our stomach (we ate way too much while in Vegas) to try more of their drinks and menu items. They also serve Filipino inspired food here which I thought was pretty neat.

The gospel of small tapioca pearls, according to Chris V.
In the beginning, there was bubble tea. The masses tried the sweet drink and chewed thoughtfully on the tapioca pearls. And they saw that it was good.
The drink spread throughout Taiwan, and then across the ocean to America. So it came to pass that this beverage would build a devoted following.
Most establishments that served this beverage utilized large tapioca pearls. Giant straws that could convey the pearls were necessary. Many would enjoy the novelty of these tools.
But some people would feel that these unwieldy instruments forced them to consume the drink far too quickly. They did not like this, nor did they entirely appreciate the alternative of simply not ordering the chewy boba.
Some practitioners of the art turned to small tapioca pearls, rumored to be the original form used in the creation of bubble tea. They found a similar chewy texture that could be enjoyed through a regular, smaller straw. And with that straw, they would finally be able to sip their drink slowly.
Unfortunately, not all vendors would embrace small tapioca. Even in such locations as San Jose and Orange County, these providers appeared to be few and far between.
Lo and behold, the small tapioca pearls have finally been brought to the great desert oasis known as Las Vegas. Whereas other businesses have ignored the allure of «mini boba,» one franchise of the chain called Tapioca Express (not known universally for this particular add-​on) finally unveiled this option.
On the 11^th day of the 5^th month in the year of our Lord [that’s literally A.D.] 2015, I arrived at this first Tapioca Express of Las Vegas, and I found the small tapioca that I had only previously witnessed in the land of California.
Although TapEx’s standard milk tea ($ 2.98, +$ 0.50 for large size) is prepared from a product that is markedly sweet, an employee did indicate that they can adjust the sugar levels of certain flavored teas. This brings significant hope for the future.
Regardless, if the burden of an overly sweet milk tea must be weighed against the beauty of small pearls (+$ 0.50 per topping), I will cheerfully choose their small pearls because they are properly chewy and do not clump.
So come all ye boba lovers, and try the small tapioca! See what you’ve been missing all along.