Updated February 2023! Bubble tea isn’t an ancient beverage steeped in tradition. Rather, it’s a somewhat modern culinary creation out of Taiwan. Giant chewy tapioca balls, or boba, are suspended in a milk tea and often served with fat straws. But the founders of Boba Guys have taken bubble tea to the next level of quality, and haven’t forgotten dairy-free consumers along the way. We’ve been able to create the extensive guide below with both their permanent and seasonal options.
Boba Guys Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen & Vegan Options
Boba Guys makes a full range of bubble teas and bubble coffees. They used to offer soymilk and rice milk as dairy-free options, but they’ve transitioned with the times. They now serve almond milk and oat milk as options for dairy-free customers. When ordered without milk or with one of these milk beverages, all of the drinks listed below are dairy-free.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: All of the following are also vegan, unless otherwise noted. They’re all egg-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, and soy-free by ingredients, too. None of these items contain tree nuts when made with oatmilk or without almond milk.
Dairy-Free Milk Alternatives for Drinks
- Califia Almond Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Oatly Oat Milk
Heads Up! Boba Guys does not have an upcharge for ordering a dairy-free milk alternative instead of dairy milk.
Permanent Menu: Tea Boba Drinks (ordered with dairy-free milk)
- All Build-Your-Own Tea Varieties, including black, oolong, chai, green, and herbal teas
- Black Sugar Hojicha
- Fruit Frescas – Strawberry Jasmine, Berry Hibiscus, Lychee Oolong
- Horchata
- Korean Banana Milk
- Matcha Latte (swap out honey for strictly vegan)
- Strawberry Fields
- Strawberry Matcha Latte
- Ube Latte
Heads Up! Their Thai Tea and Hong Kong Milk Tea are made with condensed milk, and can’t be ordered dairy-free.
Permanent Menu: Coffee Boba Drinks (ordered with dairy-free milk)
- Caffe Latte
- Caffe Mocha
- Coffee Milk Tea
- Dirty Banana Milk
- Dirty Horchata
- Espresso Milk Tea
- Shaken Cold Brew Coffee
Seasonal: Boba Drinks (ordered with dairy-free milk)
- Coffee Mojito (spring/summer)
- Golden Milk (spring/summer)
- Hibiscus Mint (spring/summer)
- Lavender Matcha Tonic (spring/summer)
- Pink Pitaya (spring/summer)
- Soul Mate (spring/summer)
- Black Sesame Latte (fall/winter)
- Butternut Spice Latte (fall/winter)
- Chai (fall/winter)
- Dirty Chai (fall/winter)
- Grape Oolong (fall/winter)
- Spiced Mocha (fall/winter)
Heads Up! The Pandan Caramel Matcha Latte and Chocochata, which are often served in fall and winter, contain milk. They cannot be ordered without dairy.
Toppings
- Boba
- Chia Seeds
- Aloe Jelly
Heads Up! The Almond Jelly contains dairy.
Grab & Go Drinks
- P.O.G. – Passion Fruit Orance Guava (spring/summer)
- Slanted Calamansi w/ Oolong Jelly (spring/summer)
Heads Up! The Grab & Go varieties at Boba Guys change seasonally, and aren’t always dairy-free. The London Fog and Hong Kong Style Bottles, which are available certain times of the year, do contain milk.
Food
Heads Up! Some Boba Guys locations offer freshly baked goods and some offer grab and go snacks. We checked with several locations, and there weren’t any baked goods made without dairy at that time. All locations with packaged snacks offered a few unique dairy-free options, but most are not vegan-friendly.
Artisan Touches at Boba Guys
At Boba Guys, they brew real tea leaves for their bubble tea – they don’t use powders. They also craft their own syrups from an all-natural brown sugar base. Consequently, their sweetener is fructose-free. They’ve also switched to bamboo straws (not shown in the pictures), as a part of their ongoing sustainability efforts.
Boba Guys is a little more expensive than your average boba shop, but they do boast higher quality ingredients. And many readers have told us, it’s worth it. But please note that this is a midday spot for an afternoon refresher, pick-me-up, or treat. Boba Buys shops are not open in the morning.
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find Boba Guys
They now have locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York. See their website below for locations and hours.
Website: www.bobaguys.com
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4 Comments
Thank you so much for this! I am running to a last minute meeting there and now and I’ve never had bibs. So thankful I don’t have to play the 20 questions game of is-it-vegan!
They also make a dairy free Horchata which is great! Thanks for providing such great resources!!
Thank you for letting me know about the change Leanne! We’ve done a full update on this guide.
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